Van Gogh Reborn! Chapter 116

“Tda!” 

Aunt Mirae also gave me a present. 

It's a horizontally long hexahedral box, and I don't know what it is. 

“Thank you.” 

“Untie it,” 

Aunt Mirae shines her eyes more excited than me. 

This situation is a little strange because most of my birthdays were only Theo and me, before I left for Arles. 

When I opened the package, a blue electronic device appeared. 

“Isn't it a Playbox?” 

It seems like Uncle Bang knows about it. 

“What's this?” 

“A game console. I heard it's very popular these days?” 

It seems to be an electronic device for playing. 

I look around at the box, but I don't know how to play. 

“It's a portable game console that Playbox released 10 years after its visual appearance. It's an ambitious work that Uni made with great effort. It must have been hard to get it because it's out of stock everywhere.” 

“I know.” 

Listening to Uncle Bang's explanation, it seems to be a very valuable item. 

Aunt Mirae smiled as she pressed the tip of my nose. 

“Studying is good and drawing is good, but playing is also important.” 

She's right. 

Arles' natural scenery inspired me, but there was no exchange as it was in the countryside. 

At that time, it was impossible to know how the art world worked. 

Although I did not regret living there, I overlooked the importance of information and communication. 

Although I heard the big news through Theo, I had no understanding of what masterpieces were born at the time and who painted what paintings. 

It is also true that it protected my individuality and made me completely independent, but I had fewer opportunities to encounter good works. 

Since there was a lack of conversation with others and only one-sided conversation, it is natural that I was not recognized in my lifetime. 

Vincent van Gogh could not have existed if it wasn't for my brother Theo and my sister-in-law Johanna. 

Without Theo and Johanna, who connected me with the world, Vincent van Gogh would have been forgotten. 

In order to get information and form a consensus, there must be at least a story to enjoy together. 

That is the culture. 

As I started to experience the culture of paintings, I realized so many things I didn't know, so I think I need to experience the play culture of this era. 

Aunt Mirae is also giving advice with that thought. 

“It will be helpful,” 

Aunt Mirae said seriously as she conveyed her thoughts. 

“It's kind of like you to think only about painting, but there are times in life when you should come out of your world.” 

“When?” 

“When you're tired from working hard. There are times when you want to rest for no reason, and sometimes you just don't want to work.” 

“…..” 

“Everyone needs to rest, that's why hobbies exist, but your hobby and job are painting, so you might not know what to do when you want to rest.” 

I drew even if I was sick, and when I wanted to rest, I got angry at myself for being lazy. 

If I couldn't finish the work I was supposed to complete that day, I took off my clothes on a cold day and poured cold water on my body as a punishment. 

I just sat in front of the canvas if I could not conceive any idea. 

What aunt Mirae is saying is something completely different to what I have done so far. 

“You must rest to work healthy. For the sake of your body and mind, it's important to eat good food and sleep well, and it's good to forget the painting for a while to cool off your head.” 

“As your aunt said, you can do good work only if you rest well.” 

Grandpa asserted Aunt Mirae's words. 

“You have to concentrate when you work, but you can't live long if you just push yourself like that.” 

The concept of resting is not a crime, that Grandpa and Aunt Mirae said felt a little unfamiliar. 

I was nothing without painting. 

I existed without meaning if it wasn't for painting. 

Because of that thought, I felt anxious if I didn't work, and no matter how painful and difficult I was, I couldn't let go of the brush. 

I thought I should take a rest, and I wanted to take a rest, but I didn't dare to take a rest because I didn't want to waste the living expense given to me by my younger brother by taking a rest. 

I thought that I could not rest and and should not rest because the workers who were oppressed by a heartless society and peasants who were losing their homes were not resting. 

Jang Mirae felt proud and sad looking at Ko Hun. 

When preparing for [Mask] Ko Hun was stuck in front of the canvas for hours without taking a break for weeks. 

At first, she thought it was like an obsession that's common among geniuses, but Ko Hun was a little different. 

The boy sitting in front of the canvas was fierce. 

It looked precarious. 

She wondered whether it was normal for an 11-year-old child to be that obsessive without eating or sleeping. 

It was never a bad thing to concentrate and try. 

It was commendable to see him appreciate and study various works, and Ko Hun seemed to enjoy the process. 

But that enjoyment disappears when creating a work. 

The fanatical obsession may be the driving force behind painting works such as [Sunflower] and [Frost Wheat Field] but Jang Mirae judged that it was not very good for Ko Hun. 

It was a knowledge she gained from experience. 

Jang Mirae, who has been running nonstop to draw great pictures since she became an art graduate, was broken at some point. 

She concentrated only on her work activities and obtained serious sleep and gastrointestinal disorders due to an improper lifestyle. 

Jang Mirae couldn't free herself from being worried about the art world, which felt like it was slowly getting forgotten by the common people. 

Jang Mirae, who began to draw attention at the time, participated in various art competitions curiously, but the judges' sons and disciples swept away all the grand prize and the best prize. 

At one such competition, she poured paint on the judge's face to vent out that anger.

Because of the incident many Art Critics associated with the association mocked and slandered Jang Mirae's work which she drew by putting her soul, under the name of criticism. 

Still, she didn't give in. 

The genius who worked tirelessly eventually made her name known to the world as the most beloved painter despite various checks of the association and the media. 

Some critics still sarcastically criticized her work and the people who agreed with them cursed Jang Mirae, but she continued to move forward thinking that there are still her friends who support her. 

She happily hid the bruises and wounds while smiling in front of her friends. 

But one day everything shattered, when she found out that the account that cursed her continuously on SNS was actually her best friend from college – the friend who cheered and comforted her when she was having a hard time because she wasn't recognized. 

At that moment Jang Mirae lost faith in people. 

She suffered from the panic disorder due to the unbearable mental stress. 

She cut off all contact with people because she thought she would only get hurt when she gets involved with them. 

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She couldn't hold on to the brush and paint, which she loved more than anything. 

When she was left alone like that, she suddenly didn't know what to do. 

She only lived for drawing, and when she put down the brush, she didn't know what to do. 

She didn't know what to do alone. 

After great efforts, she started cleaning up the mess and found other things to do when she finished organizing. 

However, anxiety did not disappear. 

At that time, Ko Sooyeol, who was her teacher, reached out his hand. 

“What's the big deal if you don't draw?” 

Jang Mirae asked Ko Hun. 

When the boy couldn't answer, she smiled and opened the box containing the game console. 

“You might like working hard now. But one day, when you look back and see who Hun is, I don't want our Little Hun to be lonely. You should experience many things, make many friends and try many hobbies. Your life should be as colorful as your paintings. Do you understand?” 

Ko Hun nodded as he stared at Jang Mirae. 

“I don't know, but I'll try.” 

“Okay. You'd better try everything.” 

“How do I play this?” 

“Uh… Well?” 

Jang Mirae smiled broadly as Ko Hun narrowed his eyes. 

“I don't know because I don't play games. I bought it because kids like it these days.”

“Don't worry, Hun. I'll set everything up for you.” 

Bang Tae, who loves playbox, stepped up and promised to help Ko Hun. 

Cha Sihyeon, who was watching the scene, wiggled his fingers. 

“I don't have a gift…” 

He resented Ko Hun for not telling him that it was his birthday, thus he came to Ko Hun's house with the intention of drawing as usual. 

If he knew it was his Best friend's birthday, he wanted to give the best gift even by using all his allowance. 

Ko Hun smirked. 

“You can give me the picture you drew today.” 

“Can I?” 

Cha Sihyeon asked his friend who received a famous painting book and a game console from his uncle and aunt earlier. 

“I'm not good at drawing.” 

Ko Hun nodded. 

“It's all right. I like your picture.” 

“Really? Where? What do you like?” 

Ko Hun hesitated for a moment. 

Sihyeon's paintings were honest and unpretentious. 

Although stereotypes remain, it was good that Cha Sihyeon had his own style of using colors. 

While watching many difficult and serious works, Ko Hun suddenly felt good when he encountered the freshness in Sihyeon's drawing. 

Ko Hun after a small pause spoke. 

“I like the crayons you use” 

“That's just saying I'm bad at drawing!” 

Cha Sihyeon yelled. 

Ko Hun laughed and soothed his friend, while Ko Sooyeol, Bang Tae, and Jang Mirae burst into laughter. 

“Come on, come on. Let's eat.” 

Ko Sooyeol stopped the two children, who were arguing. 

In the kitchen, there was a birthday table prepared by Ko Sooyeol. 

Soybean paste stew carefully boiled with coriander, Korean beef, and garlic leek, salad, and water kimchi bought with beef are prepared together. 

“Oh, my. Did you prepare all this by yourself?” 

“I just bought the ones they sell.” 

“But this is not good enough. Hun, it's Korean beef. Korean beef.” 

“Korean beef?” 

Ko Hun blinked. 

“It's been a while since I've had beef. Professor, I'll grill it.”

“That's all right Bang. You're a guest, so please take a seat.”

“How can I do that? Give it to me.” 

“Oh, Teacher. You're calling Mr. Bang casually, when did this happen?” 

Jang Mirae interrupted the conversation. 

“That happened after a while.” 

“Then why do you keep using honorifics while calling me?” 

Ko Sooyeol looked at Bang Tae for a while and then opened his mouth. 

“Because I'm close with Bang.” 

“What?” 

“Hahaha!” 

“It's not something to laugh about. How can you say that you're closer to Mr. Bang than me, who you have known for more than 10 years. I'm really upset.” 

Jang Mirae became sulky hearing Ko Sooyeol's joke. 

It was disappointing to see Ko Sooyeol, who had been her teacher since she was a freshman in college, called her with honorifics just because they worked at the same university. 

“Let's talk about that later. Sit down now.” 

“I can't!”

“Professor, I'll grill it.” 

“Mr. Bang, get out of here!” 

“Hahaha. Professor Jang sometimes gets angry like this. Don't mind it Bang.”

“Teacher!” 

While the adults quarreled, Ko Hun only looked at the wrapped Korean beef. 

“It looks delicious.” 

Ko Hun turned his head at Cha Sihyeon's words. 

“Is this good? Isn't it beef?” 

“Yeah, beef. Beefs are really good.” 

“…more than pizza and jajangmyeon?” 

“Maybe?” 

Ko Hun was even more troubled by his friend's words.

Chapter end