I Became an Artist in a Romantic Comedy

Chapter 17: A Young 10-Year-Old, and a New Friend (The End)

Life never goes the way we want it to.

Even if it’s something that’s going to happen in just ten seconds.

Let’s think of a scenario. You’re crossing a crosswalk, but anything could happen in that brief moment.

You could be in an accident in that short span of time.

All because of a difference of just a few seconds. And if it extends to minutes?

The saying, “No one knows what lies ahead,” didn’t come from nowhere.

“Life is full of twists and turns…”

“Isn’t it a bit early for you to be saying that, Eun?”

The homeroom teacher tried to poke fun, but nothing reached my ears right now.

“Sigh.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Does it look like I’m okay…”

I was utterly drained. Things had gone completely off track from what I expected.

Fine, I get it. My parents showing up is understandable. Okay.

And I’m sort of in the position of a victim. Okay.

Then we’d get an apology here, wrap it up, and end it simply.

“Isn’t it absurd? My son ended up a victim without even knowing what’s going on, you’re saying.”

“No, sir, it’s not like that—”

“What do you mean it’s not? My child, who has nothing to do with this incident, is currently—!!!”

My father’s raised voice echoed through the principal’s office, and the teachers flinched as they tried to calm him down.

Ha… well, yeah. My usually mild-mannered father becomes fiery when it involves family.

He raged at the adults, while my mother…

“…”

She was silently observing the situation. But her eyes glinted with hostility.

‘Looks like she’s ready to snap at anyone.’

“They tried to pin all the blame on an innocent child. What kind of parent would let that go quietly?!”

My father glared daggers at Byungjun’s parents.

If we were somewhere else, he might have thrown a punch…

‘I hope he keeps his fists down.’

I worried that his nails might dig into his palms and draw blood.

“I’m truly sorry… We will make it right, no matter what.”

Since the moment my parents arrived, Byungjun’s father seemed intent on staying bowed.

His elderly wife trembled, and Byungjun looked so pale I thought he might pass out.

“And what? You’re saying Eun hit him? That doesn’t even make sense… Look at the size difference!”

Dad bluntly pointed out the facts. If it weren’t for the situation, I would have given him a standing ovation.

He was repeating what I said yesterday, word for word.

If anyone was going to get hit, it’d be me. I can’t stand a chance against someone that big.

“And what’s this about cheating? Ha!”

Dad chuckled in disbelief.

The staff broke into a cold sweat, and the principal desperately tried to smooth things over.

“It seems there was a misunderstanding on Mrs. Byungjun’s part—”

“That darn misunderstanding, damn it—! Ha.”

Hey, Dad, there are kids here. Of course, once you’re ten, you start to naturally pick up on swear words.

But maybe that wasn’t exactly appropriate.

“If my son had a mental issue, and had simply answered ‘yes’ to everything the principal said earlier—”

Dad began hypothetically describing an unlikely scenario.

“How would you take responsibility?”

His voice was low, clenched with intensity.

The facts were all laid out in the morning. But if I had said “yes” back then, I’d have been marked as an accomplice.

And that scenario? It’s happened before.

In another country, a man thought to be a criminal turned out to be mentally unstable, someone completely unrelated to the crime.

Because he unknowingly answered “yes” during the investigation, the mentally unstable man received a death sentence.

An innocent person died.

In some ways, I think my dad’s anger is justified.

People have different views on it, but my dad, at least, was deeply hurt by this.

But he’s not the only one affected.

‘Sigh. Where’s that cheerful mom who went with me to the hospital this morning?’

The queen of ice…

“I apologize. It’s my fault for not raising my child properly.”

“Is it only your child?”

My dad followed up on Byungjun’s father’s words.

“My wife also made a grave mistake. I sincerely apologize for that as well.”

The ones who committed the wrongdoing were his wife and child. But the one bowing was the father.

The world really is a strange place. Damn it, world.

“We don’t want your apology.”

Dad sighed deeply, looking resigned.

“The person you should be apologizing to is my son, not me. And the ones offering the apology aren’t even the ones who did anything wrong. What more could I ask for?”

He openly sneered, but no one could look up.

“There will be no settlement.”

With that final statement, Dad walked over to me.

“Son, let’s take the day off and go home. Let’s eat something nice.”

I had barely arrived at school.

But as my dad knelt down to look me in the eye, how could I say no?

His voice was soft, a stark contrast to how he’d been with the adults.

I ended up nodding without thinking.

As I stood up, holding Dad’s hand, I glanced at Mom.

The one person who hadn’t spoken a word since arriving here.

‘…Looks like I’m in for a rough time with her later.’

Right now, the person I feared most was Mom.

As I sighed internally, the homeroom teacher approached.

She quietly slipped me my phone.

“Oh, right.”

When did she go all the way to the teachers’ office to get it? She’s quick like a ghost.

“Take care, Ha-eun. See you tomorrow~.”

She kept smiling, even in this situation. She’s a real hero.

I bowed and left the principal’s office with my parents.

The heavy silence was suffocating. What am I supposed to do?

“Oh, my bag is in the classroom. I’ll go get it.”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t grabbed my bag. Is it just me, or does it look especially nice today?

“Don’t run, just go slowly and say goodbye to the kids.”

Dad gave a slight smile and waved his hand. Maybe his mood was lifting a bit? I hope so.

As I was about to go up the stairs, I overheard Mom and Dad talking.

…I doubt there’s anything I’d want to hear. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

It’s just… I didn’t want to hear Mom crying.

I got my bag.

Ha Soyeol and Choi Yeseo looked worried when I told them I was leaving early, but they waved goodbye.

…Somehow, I feel like I’ll see Ha Soyeol again this evening.

With her mom, a hundred percent. This is going to be a headache.

On my way down, I saw Mom sobbing in Dad’s arms.

‘Really bad timing. Should have come down later.’

But it was too late. Dad had already spotted me.

“Shall we go?”

Mom quickly pulled herself together and looked at me.

Actually, there’s not much for Mom or Dad to ask me.

I don’t even know what this incident was about. There’s no way I would know.

Mom’s eyes were slightly red. I pretended not to notice.

“But isn’t it a bit early to eat something?”

Mom tried to change the subject.

“Oh, right. Haha. It hasn’t been long since lunch.”

“How about some shaved ice? There’s a café near the apartment that opened recently.”

“Oh, I saw that place. It was packed with people.”

“It should be fine at this hour. Look at the weather; it’s almost boiling out here.”

Mom fanned herself.

Dad chuckled at her and, honestly, I liked that the mood had lightened.

“I brought the car, so let’s get there nice and cool.”

Dad’s the best. Love him always.

‘It’s only a few minutes away, but still.’

Who cares about the distance? It’s the cool ride that matters.

The car’s AC is a blessing.

“But what about Yoon?”

“Isn’t she still at daycare?”

Mom, who got in the back seat with me instead of sitting in the front, answered.

“I feel a bit guilty eating without him.”

“Oh, come on~. It’s fine as long as we don’t get caught!”

Glad to see Mom’s back to her usual cheerful self, but is that okay?

“We can just get him some to-go.”

Dad started the car and turned on the AC.

That’s one way. But won’t Yoon be upset that she missed out?

…Hmm.

‘I just won’t mention it.’

If all three of us keep quiet, it’ll be a perfect crime.

We’ll just say we happened to bring some back. That’s all there is to it~.

And so, we went off to have a shaved ice party without our little one.

Who told him to go to daycare?

Lee Seong-hak opened a can of beer on the table and drank it in one go.

“Haaa…”

He didn’t like alcohol, but he drank occasionally when he had troubling things on his mind.

As he exhaled, the smell of alcohol lingered in the air.

“Why do people drink? Especially soju.”

He crushed the empty beer can and picked at the peanuts on his plate.

His wife, Kang Eun-chae, chuckled beside him.

“Some people wish they could drink but can’t. Are you teasing me?”

“No, no, I didn’t mean it like that…”

Lee Seong-hak looked

like a deer caught in headlights.

Kang Eun-chae couldn’t drink because her body couldn’t handle it.

So, she would always tease him about it whenever he drank.

“Haa…”

A troubled look spread across Seong-hak’s face. Anyone could see he was deeply concerned.

Kang Eun-chae picked up on the mood and softened her gaze.

Her lips smiled, but her eyes were sad.

It was 11 p.m. Their children had been asleep for a while now.

Finally, they had some time alone.

Yet, neither looked happy.

“I want to protect Ha-eun, but it’s harder than I thought.”

Her husband gave a self-deprecating laugh.

“I want to protect Ha-eun no matter what.”

But this damned, awful world keeps getting in the way.

Kang Eun-chae understood his unspoken words.

How could she not? She’s the one who gave birth to Ha-eun.

Kang Eun-chae wished she could carry her son with her everywhere.

He was so small that it would be nice if she could carry him in her pocket.

But, unfortunately, Ha-eun didn’t seem to think that way.

“Why are these insane people targeting Ha-eun? Ha.”

His twisted smile was enough to send chills down one’s spine.

Kang Eun-chae didn’t say much either. She just smiled sadly.

“I should be his shield…”

But that’s not so easy. I only raise the shield after it’s all over.

When my body is already riddled with arrows, what’s the point of holding up a shield?

“I feel so guilty towards Ha-eun. Like I can’t protect him.”

Tears eventually fell from Kang Eun-chae’s eyes.

Seong-hak wrapped an arm around her shoulders, holding her close. His expression was one of grim determination.

Then he picked up his phone.

“…Brother, are there still openings?”

After talking with someone that night,

the following week,

Lee Seong-hak found himself in the position of Department Head of IT Security Communications at S Group.

Only his college senior knew the true abilities of the “ordinary salaryman” Lee Seong-hak.

Although he could have joined a big corporation, he had preferred a modest salary job.

All he wanted was to spend more time with his family.

The position of department head was merely a means to protect his family.

In his eyes, money was just paper.

There were always ways to earn money.