“Are you leaving already when the exhibition has just started?”

“Yes, Mr. Park. I’m not feeling well today…”

“I see. I kept you here without knowing. Go ahead, Autumn.”

“Is it okay for me to leave?”

“Of course. You don’t need to stay long. If any of your paintings sell, I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you. Then…”

“Take care on your way.”

Autumn bowed her head to Mr. Park and left the gallery. It was the opening day of her first exhibition at the gallery, a day she had been eagerly awaiting, yet she felt no joy.

Her head was throbbing with pain.

Rrrr… Rrrr…

The continuous vibration of her phone made Autumn check it. The familiar chat room was buzzing with messages.

[Ju-ah: Autumn~! I’ll be there soon.] [Do-jin Oppa: Me too.] [Ju-ah: I’m so envious of your first exhibition. And congratulations.] [Do-jin Oppa: Autumn, shall we grab a drink after the exhibition today?]

‘Since they’ve made the effort to come… I feel so sorry.’

After repeatedly typing and deleting her response, Autumn finally sent a message of regretful decline.

‘I’ll be fine after resting tomorrow, but I just can’t muster the energy to do anything today.’

[Ju-ah, Do-jin Oppa, I’m sorry. I’m feeling really unwell today. I stopped by the gallery and now I’m heading straight home.]

Her headache was getting worse.

[Ju-ah: On your first exhibition day! Where does it hurt?] [My head keeps hurting, and I just don’t feel well… I’m sorry. You came all this way for me.] [Ju-ah: No worries. We were going to look at the paintings anyway.] [ㅠㅠThank you, Ju-ah.] [Ju-ah: It’s okay, just go home, take some medicine, and rest! Okay?] [Yes, yes.]

Turning off her phone, Autumn felt even more somber leaving the gallery.

‘It’s all a misunderstanding. There’s no way I dislike the director.’

She sighed. Even though she wanted to say it wasn’t true, the director had brushed off all her words as lies due to a few forced deceptions caused by the chairman’s orders. She tried to explain, but he had turned his back on her, telling her to leave.

That day, while working in the studio, feeling down, she stepped outside and saw his car. She thought he wouldn’t come to see her in anger… Fearing another hurtful encounter, she fled the studio without tidying up.

‘I should’ve cleared up the misunderstanding…’

How could she convey her true feelings so that he would sincerely understand? Autumn’s dilemma deepened.

The worry about his misunderstanding had been causing her headaches, and now she felt feverish as if she was coming down with a cold.

‘I’ll take medicine and rest when I get home.’

Once she’s better, she planned to apologize to the director, not sure if he would accept it.

Unlike usual, it was difficult for Autumn to leave the gallery. Due to effective publicity, a large crowd had gathered, making the entrance crowded.

Jostled by the crowd, Autumn barely managed to exit the gallery.

A man then blocked her way.

Thinking he had accidentally blocked her, Autumn stepped aside first, but the man turned in the same direction. Feeling like he was intentionally blocking her, Autumn lifted her head. The man, his face hidden under a hat, was blatantly standing in her way.

Eventually, Autumn had no choice but to ask.

“Could you please move out of the way?”

“Autumn.”

Autumn’s eyes widened in surprise.

The man in front of her had called her name accurately. She now noticed his familiar attire.

‘Where have I seen this before…?’
Autumn frowned and struggled with her aching head to recall. The attire seemed familiar, but on a second glance, it appeared common enough to have been mistaken.

The man, feeling Autumn’s gaze, stooped to pick up a phone.

“You dropped this. Here.”

“Ah, thank you…”

Distracted by her pain, Autumn hadn’t even noticed her phone falling. As she awkwardly reached out to take it, a realization struck her.

‘Wait, isn’t this the person I bumped into before…?’

Now that she looked again, the clothes, voice, situation, and even the dialogue seemed identical.

Feeling uneasy, Autumn quickly snatched her phone. Barely standing on her weak legs due to malaise, she forced herself to speak.

“Who are you?”

Then, the man slightly lifted his hat.

A man with unkempt beard, his age discernible by the mix of black and white strands in his beard. The faint smell of alcohol made Autumn’s brow furrow further.

Even on a closer look, he was not someone she recognized.

Feeling suspicious, Autumn rolled her eyes and stepped back, planning to escape.

But the man, sensing her intention, grabbed her arm and spoke urgently, thumping his chest.

“Autumn, it’s me, your uncle. It’s been a long time, but don’t you recognize me?”

“You… Who are you exactly?”

No matter how hard she thought, no one like him existed in her memory.

As Autumn shook her head, the man sighed, his breath laced with alcohol.

“It’s Uncle Dae-jun.”

Autumn’s eyes widened, then narrowed in disbelief. Surely, if there was any decency, this man should not be appearing before her.