He was a second-year student. Compared to the bright, deep blue name tags of the third-years, his light sky-blue name tag was proof of that.
"A sky-blue name tag."
"Really."
The third-years whispered as they watched the black-haired boy walking toward Go Doohan.
The rumor that a second-year would fill Kim Maria's place was true. The third-years recalled Kim Maria, who had immediately flown off to Germany for language training after passing the special early admission at Baedae University.
She had said that with her leaving, the competition would be easier, so they should be grateful. And here was the second-year who replaced her.
"That's the rumored guy..."
However, as Kim Maria had said, the idea that the competition rate would drop because of the second-year didn't seem right.
"He looks like he has a strong spirit."
"Honestly, they wouldn't just put anyone in just because one spot opened."
"Would Go Doohan just put someone randomly into the third-year project?"
Go Doohan was a true meritocratic elitist.
The third-years still remembered what Go Doohan said on the first day of class.
"I despise people who are all talk. Those who sugarcoat their words always stink."
It wasn't just a cool phrase. Go Doohan was serious.
He truly valued actions and results over words or intentions. That was the Go Doohan they had seen for three years.
So for Go Doohan to suddenly bring a second-year into the third-year project—it wasn't just because a spot opened.
"It's because they have that level of skill."
"Still, if they're filling Kim Maria's spot, aren't they kind of weak?"
Kim Maria was the weakest among the third-years.
"Who doesn't know how she got into Baehwa Women's University? It was the non-art practical early admission. She passed because she was top in grades at Cheonghwa Arts High. If she weren't from Cheonghwa, she wouldn't have made it."
This was the patch for Kim Maria. Thinking that this new guy might be a threat hurt their pride.
"Hey, that doesn't mean Kim Maria didn't prepare for Baedae's regular admission. Can't she draw sketches?"
"She's the worst among us."
"That's just among us."
Kim Maria was also from Cheonghwa Arts High. And a third-year.
There were so many prodigies in the practical arts that the third-years at Cheonghwa usually hated it if someone left in early admission within a 100-meter radius.
So the fact that a second-year was filling the void of a Cheonghwa third-year was remarkable.
Whether he really had that level of skill or not was something to find out.
"Hurry up and show it."
The third-years' eyes lit up.
Their eyes resembled those of wild beasts lying on the savannah waiting for prey to appear.
"Can I just take out anything?"
crrrrrrk
Like parting through bushes and revealing an animal, Jaek reached down and opened the portfolio.
Without looking much, the black-haired boy, Kang Seok, rummaged through the drawings, and Go Doohan nodded.
"Any drawing you prepared today is fine."
"Yes."
Kang Seok then pulled out whatever he grabbed.
The third-years' faces showed puzzled expressions. Didn't he take out his best drawing?
Usually, they would pick their best work carefully and present it. But Kang Seok seemed to have no such worries. Without hesitation, he pulled out one drawing.
Before the third-years could prepare themselves mentally, the large sheet slipped out of the file into the world.
The beasts waiting for prey, just as the third-years thought something was wrong, Kang Seok's drawing took over their sight.
"Hmm."
Similarly, Kang Seok, whose view was blocked by the large sheet he was holding up, stared intently at the back of the paper with a vague expression.
Now, what should he do? He had said he'd introduce himself through his drawing, so was it enough just to hold it up like this?
Kang Seok's mind filled with questions, but no one recognized it. So Kang Seok just quietly looked at the back of the paper.
······.
············.
How long had he stayed silent?
Suddenly, Kang Seok realized the sketch room had become so quiet it was suffocating. No one said it was okay or asked questions anymore.
He figured he should say something. Kang Seok rolled his eyes and added a few words.
"My name is Kang Seok. I'm a second-year student. Nice to meet you."
"·········."
"······"
No applause or cheers followed his rough greeting. Instead, an eerie silence settled.
What? This was strange. Kang Seok peeked one eye beyond the paper and slightly tilted his head to scan the room.
Ah.
They sat frozen, like people who stared straight into Medusa's head.
That's him.
Yu Miji, who had been frozen as she admired Kang Seok's drawing, suddenly realized as if struck by lightning. This was the genius her younger sister had spoken of. She was certain.
Yu Miji remembered her younger sister Yu Migyeong's harsh words that no one could compete with the top sketching class A group at Cheonghwa Arts High for three years straight.
It was just a few days ago.
.
.
.
"Crazy. Crazy. How do you draw like that?!"
Watching her younger sister Yu Migyeong lying on the living room sofa pounding the cushion with her fists, Yu Miji frowned.
She doubted where the cushion, used like a punching bag, had come from.
"Hey. Where did you get that cushion? Isn't that mine?"
"Wow! How can a person draw so well! Aaaah! Crazy! Crazy!"
"You're crazy! How dare you take my cushion and beat it up!"
Yu Miji pushed Yu Migyeong's butt up like a cat's tail with her foot.
"Ack!"
Yu Migyeong fell roughly to the floor. Yu Miji clicked her tongue and grabbed the cushion.
As she was about to take it away, Yu Miji became curious about the person who had driven her younger sister into such a fit.
"Hey. Who draws that well?"
Yumiji was also an art student. Naturally, she was curious about someone who was good at drawing. At the same time, a competitive pride rose up—would they really be better than her?
"There is. Someone who draws a hundred, a thousand times better than you."
Yumigyeong, lying face down on the floor, pressed her two hands together like a praying girl and stared into the air. Then, blinking awkwardly, she continued:
"There's a terrifying genius in the second year at Cheonghwa Arts High School who's no match for you. She draws well, is quiet, and good-looking..."
"That's nonsense."
Yumiji made a spitting motion and then went into her room.
"That's ridiculous."
A second-year student.
Better at drawing than a third-year who had finished their first semester grades and was desperately focusing only on practical skills for early admissions?
And better than herself, who was one of the top practical skill students at Cheonghwa Arts?
Before Yumiji could even pity her younger sister for having a distorted view, she sat back down in front of the easel.
Although she had already been accepted through early admissions, the most important life drawing publication project still remained. Yumiji gripped her pencil again.
"I have to catch Mr. Goduhan's eye in this publication project...!"
She knew that only four people would be finally selected for this life drawing publication project. Out of the twelve chosen from Class A, excluding Kim Maria who had dropped out, it would be four out of eleven.
For Yumiji, who had never lost first place in practical skills, this seemed like an easy standard. But her goal wasn't just to be selected as one of the final members.
"I will definitely get in! The Goduhan Squad!"
This time, she was determined to leave a strong impression and join the art studio operated by Mr. Goduhan.
Her eyes blazing, Yumiji rubbed her pencil vigorously on the Kent paper.
.
.
.
That had been a few days ago.
"There's a terrifying genius in the second year at Cheonghwa Arts High School who's no match for you. She draws well, is quiet, and good-looking..."
Yumigyeong's voice, almost dazed and ecstatic, echoed in Yumiji's head like a radio on repeat.
A terrifying genius no match for me.
It was accurate.
The A3 sheet drawing of a person sitting in a café drinking coffee completely shattered Yumiji's arrogant pride.
The hand gripping the mug, the lips pressing the straw, the sunken cheeks, the nose smelling the aroma, the slightly wrinkled bridge of the nose, the eyebrows relaxed from caffeine, the lively eyes despite tiredness.
The roughly tied hair and stray hairs, the slumped shoulders, the other hand resting on the table, the hips pushed back far in the chair, the crossed legs, the tapping foot, and the dangling shoe.
The monochrome person was alive and moving.
In the drawing.
The person was breathing and living in the picture.
"Ahhh..."
A sigh mixed with admiration and lament escaped Yumiji's lips. Would she ever be able to express such a drawing?
Could one believe that such deep experience and skill could be felt in an eighteen-year-old's drawing? Yumiji bit her lip.
She lost.
This was an undeniable loss.
Yumiji admitted it. And once she accepted it, she was freed from the grasp of the picture that had been tightening around her whole body. She barely averted her eyes from the beautiful drawing and glanced sideways at Kangseok.
Yumiji's eyes turned toward Goduhan. Becoming part of Goduhan's squad was practically her dream as a life drawing artist. Above all, she was curious about Goduhan's reaction.
And then she saw it.
Goduhan was covering his mouth with his hand. But whether because he had relaxed, his smile was clearly visible through his fingers covering his lips.
It was the brightest smile she had seen from him in three years.
"This is way beyond expectations."
Unaware that someone might be sneaking a look at him laughing so openly, Goduhan took off his hat.
Perhaps because the heater was turned on too high, the drawing room felt hot. Strands of hair stuck to Goduhan's forehead.
Brushing the hair away as if wiping sweat, Goduhan reflected on the past.
How could I have missed such a pearl for two whole years? I'm still far from perfect. I've lived with drawings my whole life, but my taste was still lacking.
Goduhan shook his head.
To realize only now that this kid can express a person's personality and values in a single drawing… there's nothing to say, even with ten mouths.
But aside from that, what should I do with this thrill and exhilaration? Goduhan washed his face.
Jackpot.
Kangseok wasn't some pearl found in the mud.
"This is a raw diamond."
He had planned to include Kangseok in the life drawing publication project to have him clash with the third years and improve his skills. But that wasn't even necessary.
Just this practice piece already proved that Kangseok was at the very top of the pyramid.
While organizing thoughts about whether to kidnap Kangseok to the studio—rather than the publication project—to complete a few more life drawings for a solo exhibition—
Kangseok's voice pierced Goduhan's ears.
"Teacher."
It was a voice filled with irritation, asking how long he had to keep holding this.
Goduhan snapped back to reality. He remembered where he was—the drawing room. Kangseok was still holding his drawing and giving his introduction.
Lost in thought, Goduhan finally regained his senses.
"Oh, yeah. Yeah! Okay. That's enough of an introduction. Come in."
"An introduction?" Kangseok looked at Goduhan with confused eyes, then shoved the drawing back into the folder.
Then sounds of heavy breathing came from around.
It wasn't just Yumiji or Goduhan who were unable to recover from the shock of Kangseok's drawing. Everyone in the drawing room was captivated by Kangseok's artwork.
The drawing room, which had been wrapped in silence, only burst into noise after Kangseok's drawing was put away.