[Journey with JongKey]

Winter Chapter: Remember to Stay

Snow ... We walked hand in hand along the riverbank Perhaps your eyes made me understand I didn't want to let go of your embrace I wanted to hold you tight We parted, the dream ended I turned on the light, the room was empty You'll be back soon, won't you?

This is Hongik University in South Korea, a place art students aspire to attend. Kim Ki-bum, stage name Key, is 29 years old and already quite popular. He has not only designed and collaborated with brands but has also worked as a model, and his fan base is steadily growing. However, he is considered relatively old for a university student, yet he hasn't considered leaving to start his own studio; no one knows why.

Seeing his deep passion for art, the school allowed him to stay at Hongik University to support his development and bring honor to the school. He enjoyed drawing with his classmates, but he also had his own studio, which was always filled with his presence. A classmate who frequently passed by that secluded classroom told him that Key, with his back to him, was always drawing the same person, a person he could vaguely discern he had never seen before.

Snow is beloved in South Korea, and people are incredibly happy when it snows heavily. Even university students seem like little kids in the face of a heavy snowfall. The students who were steadily entering the school gate all had happy smiles on their faces. Actually, it wasn't just because of the snow, but also because of Hongik University's [SNOW P] event this year.

SNOW P, as the name suggests, is a snow painting competition. This is an online campus competition open to all students. Hongik University, a prestigious institution, has a long-standing tradition of holding such competitions, so it has garnered significant attention from reporters. The process is as follows:

All entries were divided into ten groups, each in a separate classroom. The teacher determined the winner of each group. The ten selected artists presented their work, and the final winner was decided by a school-wide vote. The competition was streamed live, starting promptly at 2 PM.

Two hours before the match began, the students were all eating in the cafeteria, but Key walked alone on the snow behind the school building, his eyes unfocused, lost in thought. That year, Seoul experienced a rare snowfall. Key looked up at the sky; the pure white snowflakes drifted endlessly down from the colorless, transparent sky, a beauty beyond words. You, leaving on that snowy day, must have seen this same scene in your final moments.

Key

I haven't finished drawing it for you yet... Don't go... I haven't finished talking to you yet... I'm leaving.

Key looked dejected, head down, muttering to himself as he walked. Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from behind. "Kibum hyung!" "Ah!" Key's sudden stumble startled the hurried figure.

Cloudy

Kibum, I'm so sorry, I scared you!

Key

It's okay, Cloudy, what's up?

Cloudy

No, no, no, it's nothing, I just couldn't find you, and I was worried about you...

Key

Ah...don't worry, I won't fall into the river like before.

Cloudy

Yeah, yeah. Then we can rest assured~ By the way, Kibum-ge, why did you participate in the competition this year?

Key

I just feel like this year, it seems like I have a good feeling about it.

Cloudy

Huh? Why?

Key

Hmm... because the snow was very heavy.

Cloudy

Huh? That's it? Okay... Well then, let me ask you something, Brother Fan, what's the reason you've been so determined to stay here all this time?

Key lowered his head and thought for a moment, then immediately blurted out: "To see the snow..."

Cloudy

What?! To see snow?!

Key

Haha, am I too stupid to have stayed in this school for so many years just to see snow?

Cloudy

No way! Hongyi is indeed a great place to see snow! But... why? I see that you paint a lot of snow in your works.

Key

I'm sorry, Cloudy, I can't talk to you.

Cloudy

Yeah, it's okay. The person I admire most has their own little secrets, so of course I choose not to pry!

Key

Thank you.

An hour before the event began, staff started moving all the paintings, and the supervising teacher sternly ordered that all works be handled with care. The movers simply followed orders and dared not slack off. Once all the works were in their respective classrooms, they awaited the arrival of the reviewing teachers and reporters. At that moment, a figure entered classroom number three, glancing somewhat absently at the paintings.

？

I saw it moved here… found it! The style has changed, but it's still so well drawn… I really admire you for achieving your dream, keep it up! Kibum, I believe in you! Ha, I really have the nerve to say that…

The competition finally began. All the classroom doors opened, and the twenty renowned teachers were divided into pairs, each in a classroom. Students, both participating and not, watched the broadcast nervously, fearing that a teacher might stop in front of their painting, glance at it without taking notes, and then leave. That would be terrible. Key, however, calmly returned to his studio, wanting to finish his painting. Instead, he thought about the strange tales his students had told him about the school.

For example, regarding the theft, although he was a little worried, he didn't take it too seriously. When he returned to his studio and saw that his paintings were still intact and the classroom was still tidy, he felt relieved.

Key

It's quite common for things to be stolen these days, so you have to be extra careful. Luckily, my things weren't stolen.