If pain has a forecast
16
김석진
I think I need to go abroad.
윤여주
Foreign? Where in foreign country?
김석진
It's America. I got a call from author Jay Cook saying he wanted to meet me.
윤여주
Really?!!! Why did you say that now? Of course I should go. When it comes to American landscapes, author Jay Cook is a master of the art!
김석진
I think I'll be here for a while.
윤여주
Long? How long?
김석진
As short as 6 months... and as long as 1 year.
윤여주
Yes...?! That long...?
김석진
He said that if it was okay after we met, he would like to draw together and that he was even thinking about holding an exhibition.
윤여주
uh···.
It was a wonderful opportunity for the author. However, six months is by no means a short period of time, so it was difficult to speak up. Still, I felt it wasn't right for me to block the author's opportunity.
윤여주
I should go. It's a good opportunity.
김석진
So, I have something to say...
윤여주
What is it?
김석진
Well... I think it's right for us to sort things out. We won't be able to keep in touch. You can't just wait for me like that.
윤여주
Just think of it as waiting for the military. Don't tell me you're going to clean up after me. I don't want to.
김석진
···all right.
윤여주
Have you set a departure date?
김석진
The day after tomorrow.
윤여주
What the... So soon? If I hadn't said anything, when were you going to say it?
김석진
...Go in and get some sleep now. You have to go to work tomorrow.
윤여주
Okay... Let's meet again this evening, and tomorrow, and the day after.
김석진
Yes... Come on in. It's already past 2 o'clock. Good night.
Even though I'd said everything I wanted to say, I still felt a strange, uneasy feeling. More than that, I was upset that I wouldn't be able to see the author for a day or two.
I was a little annoyed that the author had even considered breaking up with me because of this. The conflicting emotions gave me a headache, so I stopped thinking and ended the day.
···
The day to send the author off came so quickly. I thought I'd finally caught up with him and grown closer, but as always, our timing was always off.
윤여주
Take care and have a safe trip...
The author nodded silently. He didn't even say he'd come back soon. And his last words plunged me into depression again.
김석진
I... wish I didn't have to wait.
윤여주
I said no. Why do you keep telling me not to wait? You weren't serious when you asked me to date, were you? Why do you keep saying things you don't mean...
김석진
I'm not just saying this without thinking. I had no choice but to flirt with you because the curator kept saying that.
I wondered if he really wanted to end things with me, or if he really thoughtlessly said things he shouldn't have said to me. I was speechless at the sight of this writer, who was so articulate, speaking his mind so well.
김석진
Now forget me and meet someone good. I'm serious.
윤여주
You need to hug me. You don't mean it. You don't mean it. Why do you keep saying things you don't mean?
김석진
You won't have to cry because of me anymore. Take care. Thank you for coming to the airport.
윤여주
Author... Author!!
I grabbed the writer's wrist as he was about to leave. It felt like it was truly the end, like if I just let him go like this, I'd never see him again. I held on tight, crying, and held on tight, trying to keep him from leaving. But it was no use.
김석진
Stop it, now.
윤여주
Author... sob... Author!!!
The author was the first to push his hand away. He really didn't understand, but he was so busy crying that he couldn't think of anything else. He just sat there on the airport floor, practically collapsing in tears. He couldn't leave for hours.
···
김태형 큐레이터
Curator Yoon!
윤여주
Curator Kim...? What's going on here...?
김태형 큐레이터
I came because the author asked me to.
윤여주
Author...? Author Kim Seok-jin?
김태형 큐레이터
Yes, I told you to take me with you because I was crying...
윤여주
Ha... What does it matter to you whether I cry here or not? You just left me there and left.
김태형 큐레이터
Can you get up?
윤여주
This is really too much...
I felt empty. The person who should have been by my side suddenly disappeared, and it didn't feel real. My happiness was short-lived, and misfortune befell me once again. Ultimately, our end was the same old story: a breakup.
[ 3 months later ]
윤여주
This is a special exhibition plan to commemorate the 5th anniversary of Utta.
김남준 관장
Is this a solo exhibition by former artist Jay Cook? The former artist I know?
윤여주
Yes, that's right. I've never seen a Korean artist exhibit before. To celebrate our fifth anniversary, I thought it might be a good idea to invite a foreign artist for the first time.
김남준 관장
I wonder if the artist will approve. Other museums have also rejected it. He's already announced that he won't exhibit in Korea.
윤여주
I'm sure it will be different.
김남준 관장
No matter how great Curator Yoon is, confidence isn't something you can just spit out like that.
윤여주
Trust me, I have reasons for my confidence, right?
김남준 관장
What does that mean?
윤여주
So, the manager approves it?
김남준 관장
Don't have an accident.
윤여주
Don't hit me~ I'll do what I did again.
김남준 관장
Okay. Then I'll report back once the author approves. If you can, please invite me.
윤여주
All right!
There is indeed a reason why I am so confident.
Author Kim Seok-jin went to see Author Jeon, so the two must have become somewhat close. I know Author Kim Seok-jin, and there's no way I couldn't bring Author Jeon back. I can make it so he wants to exhibit in Korea.
And one more thing. If we invite the writer, Kim Seok-jin will automatically come to Korea. You mentioned you were considering an exhibition at that time. We could even propose that exhibition as a special 5th anniversary exhibition.
I really hate and annoy writer Kim Seok-jin, but I also miss him. If only I could see writer Jeon again, I could see writer Kim Seok-jin again.
김태형 큐레이터
Curator, tomorrow is the weekend, so you don't have any plans, right?
윤여주
Hmm... maybe? Why?
김태형 큐레이터
It's a blind date.
윤여주
Blind date? Why?!
김태형 큐레이터
Why? Because the curator said so.
김태형 큐레이터
Yeah, I get it. You said you were going on a blind date!
윤여주
I···?
김태형 큐레이터
It makes me sad to hear you say that. I've already said everything.
윤여주
no···.
김태형 큐레이터
Even if you hate it, please at least meet me once. I've been waiting to see you, Curator. If you break up this time, I won't be able to see that senior's face again.
윤여주
No... I understand. Just do it.
김태형 큐레이터
Here's that senior's phone number. Try calling him.
윤여주
Me first···?
김태형 큐레이터
Then, can I give you the curator's phone number? If you're hesitant to do so, please do so first.
윤여주
Just... I'll do it.
김태형 큐레이터
Yeah. What happened to that plan?
윤여주
Oh, the manager has approved it. Now I need to contact the author.
김태형 큐레이터
Really?!
윤여주
Why are you so surprised? Did you think it wouldn't work? Who am I?
김태형 큐레이터
But curator, please be honest with me.
윤여주
what?
김태형 큐레이터
Isn't it because of writer Kim Seok-jin that I'm trying to invite you?
Curator Kim is quite perceptive. Well, Curator Kim knew that Seokjin Kim went to the US because of the previous writer, so he probably sensed it from the very beginning of the meeting.
윤여주
That's true, but I'm not necessarily supporting writer Jeon because of writer Kim Seok-jin. I really wanted to support writer Jeon.
김태형 큐레이터
Yes, yes, let's do that.
윤여주
Curator Kim? Are you ignoring me?
김태형 큐레이터
Me? I'm off work~ Have a good time on your blind date tomorrow.
윤여주
I have no choice but to do it. I can't guarantee the results.
김태형 큐레이터
Just meet up. It'll be okay.
I was honestly curious about how good a person Curator Kim must be to keep saying everything would be okay. I wasn't really interested, though. Still, since he'd been waiting to meet me, I figured it was worth meeting him.
When I got home, I dialed the number Curator Kim had given me and hesitated for a moment. Honestly, I wasn't really interested, but I was nervous. I calmed down a bit and pressed the call button.
윤여주
What should I do... Why am I shaking? Did I say I would do it first for nothing?
‘Ttuk’
윤여주
📞 Oh, hello. My name is Yoon Yeo-ju, and I work with curator Kim Tae-hyung.
MEY메이
I couldn't come yesterday because my head hurt so much ㅠㅠㅠ In the future, I won't be able to post anything, and most of the comments will be posted on the 'May Saddam Room', so please check there!! Thank you for coming today too. 🫶💙