One day in July, just before summer break,
my homeroom teacher called me to the teacher’s office.
And then, they made an unbelievable proposal.
“What?”
I asked again, wondering if I had misheard.
My teacher, Ms. Lee Nahyun, gave me a faint, awkward smile at my reaction.
“…New York?”
“Yes.”
“That big city on the east coast of America?”
“Yes.”
“The one with the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, and Broadway?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re saying I’ll be participating in a contemporary art fair there?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why? You’re the first person among young artists in our country to go. Because you’re an outstanding genius, you have to go and show your work to the world.”
“…”
Ms. Lee Nahyun answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Faced with her unwavering confidence, I was left speechless.
No…
Honestly, more than her belief, the fact that I was going to New York was what shocked me.
Not as a tourist,
but as an artist participating in an international art event.
“….”
With a hammer-like impact, the word “New York” started endlessly replaying in my mind, accompanied by a soft jazz tune.
New York.
The Statue of Liberty.
The city that never sleeps.
Images I’d only seen in countless movies, documentaries, and history books began to flood my thoughts. Even though I’d never been abroad in my entire life, the scenes felt so vivid, like I’d already been there.
‘…Even though I’ve never actually been. It already feels like I can smell hot dogs wafting through the stadium, car exhaust, and the stench of trash cans.’
What more could I say?
It’s basically the cultural capital of the world and the cutting edge of modern culture.
For anyone alive in today’s society, just closing your eyes conjures images of that iconic place.
And that wasn’t all.
New York was the largest hub for modern art since the contemporary era began, home to the biggest money and influence in the art world. It was a city that global artists couldn’t help but focus on a Vatican of contemporary art.
And to that dazzling city,
I was going.
“…”
My jaw hung open in disbelief.
Even Tokyo, where I had recently visited, was a major force in modern art. But New York? That was a completely different league.
The overwhelming excitement sent chills through me.
“…”
“Hana, you’re drooling.”
“…”
“Hana?”
“…”
“Goodness… What’s this? Such a pretty girl being so sloppy.”
Ms. Lee Nahyun pulled a few tissues from the box on the desk and dabbed at the corner of my mouth. That gentle gesture snapped me back to reality, and I hastily took the tissues from her to wipe my mouth.
“S-sorry, I was just so shocked by the news.”
“It’s okay, I understand. Actually, I’m glad you realize how amazing this opportunity is.”
“For anyone in the art world, it’s like a dream city.”
“True. There’s still no stage as big as the U.S., right? Though plenty of people still argue that Europe holds the most prestige.”
“…That sounds like something Professor Jung Jeonjin, who loves German art, would say.”
Ms. Lee gave a small laugh but didn’t bother responding to that. Instead, she shrugged and smoothly transitioned to the next topic.
“So, have you decided what piece you’ll be showcasing in New York this fall? Media art again? Or maybe more subculture?”
“Hmm… It’s media art again this time, but not subculture. Still, I think it’ll take a lot of time, so I’ll probably be running around all summer break working on it.”
“I see. No matter what people say, you keep pushing forward with media art instead of sticking to painting, which you’re confident in. That’s exactly why people pay attention to you—because you’re bold and daring, just like the genius they say you are.”
“…”
This constant talk of “genius” was making me uncomfortable.
If you really thought about it, my work wasn’t anything revolutionary in terms of technique or philosophy.
But at this point, if I honestly said I wasn’t a genius, people would start taking it as false humility or even insincerity.
So, I responded quietly.
“…I’m just doing what I can right now. And I get help from the people around me for the things I can’t do on my own.”
Ms. Lee smiled wryly and said,
“You’ll realize someday that what you’re doing is the hardest thing of all. People tend to obsess over things they can’t do right now, and if they can’t do something alone, they just give up entirely.”
“…”
“Well, in any case, it seems like you’re really looking forward to New York. That’s a relief for me. Work hard over summer break, and once you’re done planning your piece and writing your artist’s note, let me know.”
“…Yes, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.”
“Oh, it’s not me giving it to you it’s the country that’s providing the chance. It’s all because of how talented you are.”
Ms. Lee covered her mouth as she laughed softly.
*
<Comic Research Club> clubroom.
Juri and Mija clapped their hands and cheered loudly.
“Wow! After Tokyo, now New York? Hana, you’re really getting invited to all these global events!”
“This time, it’s not exactly an invitation; the country’s sending me along with them.”
“Oh, come on! When stuff like this happens, just admit you’re excited!”
“…Honestly, I do want to jump up and down in joy, but it doesn’t feel real yet, so I’ve just gone calm instead.”
“That’s… kinda sad in its own way.”
Mija crossed her arms and nodded thoughtfully.
“Hoho… As expected of a friend of someone as great as me! One day, I too will make my name known as a genius and gorgeous author, contacted by countless foreign publishers!”
Juri chimed in enthusiastically, backing her up.
“Mija, you’re amazing too!”
“Hoho!”
“…”
I stared speechlessly at the smugly triumphant Mija.
‘Mija, Mija… It’s great to dream big, but don’t you think you should start by studying English first? I mean, your English score in finals was so bad you have to take remedial classes.’
Despite making lots of foreign friends during her past workshop experiences, Mija still struggled with English. As a result, she was stuck attending summer remedial classes at school.
Just a few days ago, she had been begging in front of the teachers’ office, on her knees with her hands clasped together.
—“P-please, Teacher…! Just let me skip the remedial classes! I already have plans with my foreign friends!”
—“I’d love to help, but don’t you think this is something you need to reflect on, considering you had the lowest English score in the entire school?”
In the end, Mija’s summer remedial classes were set in stone, and her dream of traveling to Japan again over summer break was shattered into pieces.
– “What?! G-Go-to-san, I’m so sorry! It looks like I won’t be able to go to Kyoto this summer…!”
“See? That’s why you should’ve studied harder from the start…”
Since then, Mija started avoiding topics related to English, as if trying to escape reality.
“Heh, heh…! I’ll just study Japanese even harder this time and get a certification…!”
“…”
I turned my eyes away from Mija, who was clearly in denial, and looked at Juri, who still had her hands clasped together, eyes sparkling.
Then I asked her, “Is Yujin sunbae really busy these days?”
“Super busy. She’s always sending and receiving stuff via fax. She’s practically glued to books filled with English text and doing a ton of projects. It made me realize how intense being a third-year high school student really is.”
“…I see.”
I decided to delay visiting Yujin sunbae for now.
‘Even though we go to the same school and live in the same dorm, it feels awkward to approach a senior who’s preparing for exams.’
The once carefree seniors of Dorm 7… The third-years, including Oh Yujin, Kang Jina, and Na Aeri, had now transitioned into a solemn mode. They juggled cram schools and applications to foreign universities, leading incredibly hectic lives.
I quickly shifted the topic, asking Juri another question.
“By the way, has Mari not shown up yet?”
“Huh? Oh… No, I haven’t seen her at all today.”
“…I see.”
“Maybe she’s just taking the summer break as a chance to fully rest at home?”
“…”
Juri casually suggested, “Next time Mari comes by, the four of us should hang out together.”
I gave an appropriate response, though my thoughts wandered to Mari.
Mari was in her third year of middle school this year—about to enter high school soon. But lately, her attendance had been sparse. Even when she did show up, she never left the studio or the club room.
To other students, she had practically become a rare creature you might spot on occasion. Thanks to that, when people mentioned “genius” at school, the word only referred to me now.
Still, no one seemed genuinely concerned about her attendance or her future plans.
‘A granddaughter of a chaebol family deciding to live however she wants—who’s going to question that? Besides, even if she slacks off, she’s already better at art than most professional illustrators.’
Yet, for some reason, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
So, I made a suggestion to Mija and Juri.
“Why don’t we visit Mari’s house together tomorrow, since it’s the weekend?”
“…”
“…”
Mija and Juri exchanged awkward glances.
*
– Sorry, my mom told me to start attending an English academy from this weekend…
– Sorry. My parents asked me to visit Jeju Island with Yujin unnie this weekend.
So I decided to visit alone. I had already sent Mari a message saying, “I’ll visit your house,” and soon received a reply:
「Mari: Since you’re coming, stay over! Otherwise, I won’t open the door~ hehe」
「Hana: Alright.」
‘Since my uncle said he’ll be busy this weekend anyway, should I stay over at Mari’s house for the first time in a while?’
After leaving the dormitory over the weekend, I hailed a taxi and gave the driver Mari’s address. The taxi, speeding like a bullet, broke all traffic laws and reached Mari’s house in no time.
The taxi driver spoke in a puzzled voice.
“This area only has that mansion over there. Are you sure this is the right place? I mean, is there even a house this big in Seoul…?”
“Ah… Yes, this is correct. Thank you.”
“…”
I handed the money to the strangely silent taxi driver. Then I began the long trek through the sprawling garden, climbing the uphill path with my short legs, struggling until I finally reached the front gate.
“Huff… Huff…”
To be honest, although I’ve been here a few times before, it still leaves me speechless every time. It’s hard to believe that someone actually lives in a house that looks like it came straight out of a movie or drama.
‘How does it take over five minutes just to walk to the front gate of a house? Didn’t I hear somewhere that rich people prefer apartments? Is Mari’s family just unique?’
I caught my breath and reluctantly pressed the doorbell. I even went on tiptoes to show my face to the camera at the gate.
– Ding-dong!
“…”
A few seconds later, the gate opened with a metallic *clink*.
– “You must be the young lady’s friend, right? Please, come in and wait inside.”
Beyond the gate, in the garden that radiated the warmth of early summer, automatic sprinklers sprayed refreshing streams of water. Workers in the distance glanced in my direction and gave me a slight nod.
“Hello.”
I, too, slightly bowed my head to them. Originally, the butler, Mr. Kang, would have been here, but he was no longer staying at the mansion since he became busy with his work at the securities firm.
“Thank you for letting me in.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. You’re the young lady’s friend, after all.”
Finally, I reached the mansion’s front door, where Mari greeted me with a bright smile, dressed casually.
“Welcome~”
“Here I am.”