Palace of Artworks

Hwan immediately went to the hospital where his dad was brought. His dad was put in a private room where the doctors were checking his status. Hwan saw her mother and younger sister outside the room while his mother’s crying in his sister’s arms.

“How’s appa*?” Hwan asked his sister. (Dad)

“He needs an open-heart surgery by tomorrow but we don’t have money to pay for that. What are we going to do, Oppa*?” His sister said. (Older brother, for females only)

“I’ll do something about it, don’t worry,” Hwan assured his sister. “I’ll be back.”

Hwan left his mother and sister for a while. He went on an empty staircase while holding his phone. He tried to dial a number on his phone.

“Seonsaengnim*, I’ve decided to sell my painting. Do you know anyone who would be interested?” Hwan asked. (Professor)

###

Hwan with his professor went to a huge and marvelous house with lots of painting displays on the walls. The paintings are a mixture of traditional Korean artworks and modern with geometrical abstract structure. They are sitting in a living room with gold as part of the sofa and tables. Hwan can’t stop himself from looking around the house that looks like a palace of artworks and gold. Minutes later an old man with slanted eyes came down walking on a Cinderella-like staircase in front of them.

He’s wearing casual attire but with a gold expensive watch on his wrist.

The professor stood up upon seeing him, which made Hwan stand as well.

“So, he’s the student you’ve been telling me.” The rich man said. “Please, sit down.”

All three of them sat down. Hwan and the professor sat side by side on the sofa and the rich man sat on the solo chair in front of them.

“Yes, sajangnim*, he brought his artwork for you to see.” The professor said with a long white beard and wearing thick eye-glasses. (President or CEO)

“Can I see it now?”

Hwan immediately took the artwork on the left side of the seat. He carefully removed the cover of it before he gave the canvas to the rich man. When the rich man held it, he examined the painting deliberately. His eyes looked at the artwork with scrutiny as his lips were curved down.

“You made this?” The rich man asked Hwan.

“Ne, sajangnim.” Hwan said.

“What’s your name?”

“Nam Ye-sung, my pseudonym is Hwan.”

“You are a skilled artist. I’m impressed.”

“I never failed to recognize my students’ talents, sajangnim.” The professor said.

“You do have a good eye, Jeong-hoon.” The rich man said to the professor. “I would like to introduce myself...” He dug on his back pocket to reach his wallet and then he opened it to get a calling card. He handed over the calling card to Hwan. Hwan courteously received the calling card from him.

“My name is Bu Hyun-woo, I own a company and an art gallery. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ye-sung-shi.” The rich man said.

“No, it’s my pleasure to meet you, sajangnim.” Hwan slightly bowed his head.

“How much is this painting?” Bu Hyun-woo asked Hwan.

Hwan and his professor looked at each other first. Hwan swallowed for a second before he stared at Bu Hyun-woo. “I know I’m just a new painter, but I need money for my father’s immediate surgery. Will it be alright to sell it at the price of the surgery?”

Bu Hyun-woo slightly smiled, “Since I’m amused by this artwork of yours, I think I can give you that.”

“Jeongmalyo*? Kahamsamdinida, sajangnim!” Hwan bowed his head. (Really, formal)

“Appa.” A girl going down the staircase called her father.

“Chung-ae, look at this painting.” Bu Hyun-woo called her daughter.

Chung-ae came down from the staircase to walk towards her father. She looks exactly the same age as Hwan while she’s wearing a lavish dress. She stood next to her father and held the canvas to observe the artwork. She examined it with distinctive eyes as she slightly gazed at Hwan.

“How could he make this?” Chun-ae asked his father.

Bu Hyun-woo slightly chuckled, “I told my daughter about you earlier, I think she loves it also.” He said to Hwan.

“I don’t think a student like him would do this,” Chun-ae said.

Jeong-hoon and Hyun-woo laughed.

“Did you really create this?” Chun-ae asked Hwan surprisingly.

“N-n-ne, I did,” Hwan said unsurely.

“I don’t believe you,” Chun-ae said.

“I-I-I really did,” Hwan assured her.

“I never taught him that, Chun-ae-shi.” Kim Jeong-hoon said. “He did it on his own.”

“Make another one. If I’ll like it, we’ll display it in our art gallery.” Chun-ae challenged Hwan.

“N-ne?” Hwan asked unsurely.

“Make me another one, we’ll display it in our art gallery. You might become the next Kim Sang-soon.”

“Arasseo, I’ll make another one for you,” Hwan promised her.