As if they were fighting, somewhat intense voices flowed from inside the main building.

This is not a place for me to intervene.

Making a proper judgment despite the alcohol, Ga Eul held her breath and immediately turned back.

“Is that your gallery? Didn’t this old man give it to you?”

‘Gallery…?’

Although she didn’t plan to eavesdrop, Ga Eul suddenly stopped as if entranced.

‘Were they talking about TS Gallery?’

Knowing well that the chairman had been trying to bring her into TS Gallery lately, Ga Eul pricked up her ears.

“It was a small gallery you were doing as a hobby. I’m the one who grew it to this size.”

“How impudent. Where do you get off talking back to an old man like this! Constantly! If you keep acting on your own, I’ll take back the gallery, the department store, everything!”

“Haa… Grandfather. I know you care for Yoon Ga Eul, but I have no intention of making her part of my gallery.”

Despite Chairman Han’s voice filled with anger, he did not back down.

However, Ga Eul’s ears could no longer hear anything else.

-I know you care for Yoon Ga Eul.

The voice uttering her name was quite cold. It felt like she had overheard something she shouldn’t have.

That gallery was the goal the chairman had set for her.

She was to show her skills at the gallery, gain recognition, and prove her worth.

It had been her predetermined future since she took his hand and entered at 14 years old.

The more sponsorship she received, the more absolute the instructions became. The two of them were arguing loudly over something she had no choice in.

Why on earth…

The two of them were still in conflict over whether or not to put her in the gallery.

Though it was the chairman’s side that was one-sidedly pushing and getting angry.

“Oh my… Oh my! That Ga Eul, I hear she draws well? Han Gi Tae, that’s why this old man told you to come see her drawings! Said you’d change your mind if you saw them.”

“Then she might be able to join someday.”

“…What?”

“With her own skills. Even me going to see her work is giving her an advantage. Am I someone who personally goes to see drawings when asked? She should think about catching my eye by drawing well. That’s why it’s not possible.”

“…”

“So, give up now and rest. If you call me again about this, I won’t come to the main house, Grandfather.”

“You impudent thing! You disrespectful brat!”

She hadn’t had a proper conversation with him, so she didn’t know well.

It seemed he made no exceptions for anyone once he made a decision.

He was the first person who didn’t hesitate even when the chairman pushed him like that.

The more she listened, the more his words were not wrong.

They certainly weren’t words just to reject her.

After all, the TS Gallery he ran had been focusing on differentiation by changing contract conditions to not accept just anyone since four years ago.

So Ga Eul had been drawing non-stop to meet the standards.

But to think that just showing her drawings would be preferential treatment.

Somehow, it felt like she was seen as someone trying to get unfair employment before even showing her skills, and a corner of her heart wavered.

Ga Eul gave up on listening to more of the conversation and turned around.

Just as she was about to take a step to leave the main building, his voice suddenly came from very nearby.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“…!”

At the sudden greeting and the sound of footsteps approaching her direction, Ga Eul’s face turned pale.

Though she hadn’t intended it. At this rate, it would seem she had eavesdropped on the conversation.

Well, she did end up overhearing by chance… No, this isn’t the time for this.

Ga Eul tried to run towards the annex at the footsteps getting closer and closer to her.

But her body, still not completely sober, could only manage a few steps. Moreover, she couldn’t even run because she was wearing heels.

Drrrk, tak!

“Ah.”

“…”

At the single exclamation, Ga Eul flinched. But she didn’t turn around.

It was in the hope that he might not recognize her and pass by, hidden in the darkness. The area in front of the main building was indeed a bit dark.

But he seemed to recognize her immediately.

“Yoon Ga Eul.”

“…Hic!”

Like a child caught stealing, Ga Eul suddenly hiccuped, covered her mouth with both hands, and slowly turned around. When her eyes met his, cold sweat trickled down her spine.

He asked in a voice cold enough to be chilling.

“How long have you been here?”

“Th-that…”

“Answer.”

“…I’m sorry. I think I heard… everything…”

“Haaa…”

Ga Eul barely raised her head, shrinking as if about to be scolded.

“…!”

He suddenly came close and placed his hand on her head, then said:

“It’s not that I don’t want you to join my gallery. It has to be fair.”

“Ah, yes…”

His hand was neatly withdrawn.

Ga Eul responded, dazed by his answer that was different from her expectation of being scolded.

‘So it wasn’t that he disliked me…’

Contrary to expectations, he was sincerely explaining.

Inappropriately for the situation, somehow the corners of her mouth seemed about to curl up.

Not wanting to show such a side of herself, Ga Eul rubbed her innocent mouth with her hand.

‘He might not be able to come if he’s busy. He sent a bouquet too, and he said he doesn’t dislike me.’

He, who had been difficult to even see, kindly wiped the paint off her face yesterday. And now, as if he felt sorry for her, he placed his hand on her head, though it’s hard to describe it as a pat.

Even if just for a moment.

Perhaps because of the mood that didn’t fit the situation, an odd question circled in her mouth.

Maybe he might answer. Such expectation grew.

“Um, Han Gi Tae.”

“What.”

Ga Eul, feeling a bit braver, called out to him, something she wouldn’t normally do, and asked:

“By any chance, the note in the bouquet… Did you put it there?”

“Note?”

Ah…

So it wasn’t him.

His expression was as if asking what she was talking about.

As he asked again, Ga Eul shook her head as if it was nothing and started to walk away.

It was foolish to have expected a little.

* * *

A few days later, Ga Eul called Ju A and Do Jin to a neighborhood cafe.

After calling them out for several days in a row, Ju A complained.

“Yoon Ga Eul, why are you wandering around outside so much these days?”

“Achoo!”

“Oh, now you’ve even caught a cold?”

Ga Eul replied, feeling embarrassed.

“Um, that… These days when I’m at home, I feel… kind of uncomfortable.”

“Huh? Why?”

Ga Eul sipped her hot chocolate, stalling for time, then slowly opened her mouth.

“Because I don’t have anything particular to do, it feels awkward to stay at home…”

At Ga Eul’s answer, Ju A spoke loudly as if she was even angrier.

“Already? Hey, it’s only been a few days since we graduated. To expect something from us already is against conscience…!”

Ju A, who had been speaking loudly, suddenly covered her mouth with a gasp. Then, carefully watching Ga Eul’s reaction, she asked:

“Ah, you meant your parents, right? Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Ga Eul smiled brightly and waved her hand.

“It’s not about my parents, so don’t worry. Really.”

At that moment, Do Jin, who had been quietly drinking his Americano, spoke to Ga Eul as if to change the slightly awkward atmosphere.

“Ga Eul, we got a studio just up ahead.”

“‘We’? Who are you sharing it with?”

“Me and Ju A. We decided to share, and split the cost half and half.”

At Do Jin’s words, Ju A chimed in.

“Hey, I have no balance left because of that! I spent all my part-time job money I saved bit by bit for 4 years, and now I’m broke, broke. I wonder if I’ll really starve to death at this rate.”

Ga Eul unknowingly smiled at Ju A’s cheerful words.

Being with Ju A made her feel like she could escape the pressure of drawing for a while.

They say it’s difficult to become lifelong friends with someone you meet in college, but Ga Eul rather discovered the gem that was Ju A there.

After her father’s death, she had deliberately run away to a distant university where no one knew about her.

Suddenly feeling grateful, Ga Eul hugged Ju A’s waist tightly and said,

“If you starve, I’ll feed you.”

Ju A, very pleased with Ga Eul’s response, started to make a fuss.

“Oh my, look at her? How can she say such pretty things. Yoon Ga Eul?”

Unable to bear Ju A’s constant loud fussing in the quiet cafe, Do Jin finally stopped her.

“Baek Ju A. This is a cafe. Be a little quieter!”

“…Tch, okay.”

As Ju A quieted down, Do Jin smiled brightly again and asked Ga Eul:

“Come to think of it, Ga Eul, what are you doing now that you’ve graduated? Are you still drawing in your studio at home?”

“…No. I’ve been taking a short break these days.”

At Do Jin’s question, Ga Eul sighed deeply as she was reminded of a fact she had momentarily forgotten.

Originally, she would have been drawing in her studio behind the main building at this time. But caught between Chairman Han with his bad mood and Han Gi Tae who might come again at any time to argue about her, Ga Eul couldn’t even go near there, watching their moods.

Where did it go wrong…

Lately, she had been having doubts about whether her initial choice to grab the chairman’s hand and enter to draw was wrong.

As they say, when whales fight, the shrimp’s back is broken – her current situation was exactly that.

Even today, as she passed by the annex, she thought she faintly heard the chairman’s angry voice venting about the gallery.

In the end, fearing that anger might spill over to her, Ga Eul couldn’t even go near the studio.

“Haaa…”

Seeing Ga Eul sigh deeply, Ju A, who had been quiet until now, opened her mouth again.

“This, this. Looking at Yoon Ga Eul, she’s going through a period of wandering! Am I right?”

Despite Do Jin’s incredulous expression at Ju A’s confident demeanor.

“Hey, is Ga Eul the type to do that?”

Ju A just added one more comment.

“Oh my, this oppa doesn’t know. Usually quiet friends sometimes go off track later, you know?”

“Huh, really. Ga Eul going off track, as if.”

As Do Jin was at a loss for words at Ju A’s statement, Ju A, seizing the moment, stuck out her tongue and smiled at him teasingly.

Shaking his head and turning away from Ju A, Do Jin smiled at Ga Eul again and readily suggested:

“Ga Eul. Then, do you want to draw together at our studio? Well, if you have nothing else to do.”

“Can I really…?”

At Ga Eul’s question, Do Jin nodded vigorously, his face brightening even more, and replied:

“Of course. Of course you can!”

“Wow. Then, I’ll… impose on you for a few days.”

‘Thank you.’ Ga Eul, not forgetting to express her gratitude, smiled brightly at his offer, full of thankfulness. That smile was as radiant and fresh as a fully bloomed lily.

Do Jin, who had been calmly conversing with Ga Eul face to face, bowed his head deeply at that smile.

Ga Eul didn’t see it as she turned her gaze away to drink the remaining hot chocolate, but Do Jin’s face had turned bright red.

Ju A, who had been quietly keeping her mouth shut until now, saw Do Jin like that and snickered, “Pft.”

* * *

Before she knew it, a week had passed since Ga Eul started drawing at Ju A and Do Jin’s studio as if she were living there.

Time flew by quickly even though she hadn’t done anything.

She had drawn several works, but as her heart couldn’t find its bearings, not even a single satisfactory painting came out. Today too, she had to head home without obtaining a single painting she liked.

“Ju A, bye. Oppa, take care on your way home too.”

“Okay, bye!”

“Take care, Ga Eul.”

Ga Eul waved her hand slightly and smiled brightly as she turned in the opposite direction from them to go home. At the same time, the corners of her mouth that had been forcibly smiling fell weakly.

These days, she always felt like this when alone.

“What am I supposed to do…”

Ga Eul didn’t even take the bus, trudging several stops to arrive at the annex. When she entered the annex, her mother, who had arrived even earlier than her, was in the living room.

Happy to see her mother early after a long time, Ga Eul thoughtlessly hugged her from behind.

Her only remaining ally.

For some reason, today she felt like she might cry, so Ga Eul tightly hugged her mother’s back as she tried to turn around, not letting go. Then, a faint laugh flowed from above her head.

“Ga Eul, you’re home? Mom got off work early today. Should we make something delicious for dinner? Ga Eul, what do you want to…”

“Mom, should we move out now?”

“Why, did something happen?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m 24 now, don’t you think it’s right for us to be independent? How long are we going to live here mooching off others? And… it’s suffocating. It’s not like we can only repay the kindness by staying here.”

It was the first time she had revealed her true feelings since entering this mansion.

She had always endured or only repeated it to herself…

Ga Eul bit her lower lip nervously, waiting for her mother’s response to the words she had just uttered.