I Became an Artist in a Romantic Comedy-Chapter 82

"We’re short on time. Please, I’m begging you!" she said, bowing her head abruptly.

Startled, I quickly waved my hands in response. "Oh no, it’s fine! I was going to offer to help with the streaming anyway. As for the painting…"

"Oh! We’ve already selected the theme for it."

"Ah, well, then I’ll try to finish it as soon as possible. I guess I’ll need about a week or so—"

"Um, Ha-Eun… no, sir!"

"...Huh? What now?"

Without warning, Kim Yoo-Jin dropped to her knees in front of the sofa and shouted, "Please make it a masterpiece!"

"...What?"

Why would they need a masterpiece for a simple school festival? It’s not like a masterpiece would be particularly helpful.

"You’re aware that each department hosts its own event during the festival, right?"

"Yes, but could you please get up before continuing—"

"Our art department has traditionally held exhibitions!"

"Okay, I get it, but please, just sit—"

"And that’s why—!"

"Just sit down and talk!"

This wasn’t the student council I’d imagined. The one in my mind was full of charisma, composed, and almost mechanical. But this…

After preventing her from banging her head on the floor, I managed to guide her back onto the sofa.

"Anyway, our art department really needs a masterpiece," she continued.

"...That’s leaving out a lot of details."

Where was the process here?

"Up until last year, we managed to make it happen with the help of teachers. It usually took two years of preparation, starting in the second year and culminating in the third year."

That’s what the previous council president had done, so couldn’t they just follow that example?

Unfortunately…

"There was… an incident recently," she said, her voice sinking as she lowered her head.

So the painting they worked so hard on had been ruined, and now there were only about two months left. No wonder she was so desperate.

But still, asking me was a bit…

‘Even I take three months to finish a proper piece.’

Considering how much work I already had on my plate, adding this to my schedule seemed physically impossible.

This was going to be a hard no—

"Of course! Of course, we’ll compensate you!" Kim Yoo-Jin cried out, clearly panicking at the hint of rejection in my expression.

"It’s not that… it’s just not feasible for me right now," I said hesitantly. Even if I had more time, creating a true masterpiece was no simple feat.

Besides, I couldn’t just turn in a half-baked piece.

‘Maybe I should pass my current work off to Lee Ah-Reum or Hong Ye-Hwa. My part is already done anyway.’

I’d been working on a major piece, but the bulk of my contribution was finished. From here, it was up to them to refine and polish it.

Though, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy about leaving it entirely in their hands.

‘Let’s just trust them.’

If I handed it off completely, I could focus on this new request. My last piece, [Gumiho], was already done, after all.

But this wasn’t a decision I could make on my own. I needed their approval first.

For now, my painting only needed to be refined and stored properly before the submission period for the Prize. But without my attention, finishing the remaining emotions in the piece would be challenging.

"For now, I’ll need to assess the situation before deciding. I can’t make the call on my own," I said, scratching my head.

At that, a hopeful expression spread across Kim Yoo-Jin’s face.

After exchanging pleasantries, I left the student council room and ran into the thug from earlier, Cha Ji-Wook.

His hunched shoulders and pained expression were a clear sign of his earlier ordeal.

As I passed him, I simply gave a small nod.

"Please tell me it’s not broken… It’s not, right?" he muttered under his breath.

Well, at least it seemed intact. If it weren’t, he wouldn’t be walking around.

Returning to the classroom, I found Hong Ye-Hwa back in her seat. She must’ve been let go by her group.

"Hey, where’d you go?" she asked, stretching her arms.

"The student council called me. I just got back," I replied.

Her expression soured slightly as she leaned in closer. "Did you meet the president?"

"I did. She’s… interesting."

"...Do you like her?"

"She’s pretty, but we wouldn’t be a good match."

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Hong Ye-Hwa let out a sigh of relief before lightly smacking my arm.

"Ouch. What was that for?"

"For leaving without saying anything."

"But you were the one who got dragged away first…"

This was completely unfair. She left first!

"Oh, right. Can I ask you for a favor, Ye-Hwa?"

"Sure. Anything, as long as it’s something I can do."

How reassuring.

"Well, I was thinking it’s time for me to step back from the current project. Is that—"

"Denied. Absolutely not."

"…I see."

Her immediate rejection left me feeling dejected. I avoided her gaze as she glanced at me sideways.

"Why?" she asked with a sigh, though her tone suggested I was in for another scolding.

Still, I opened my mouth. "It’s just… the festival. They need a masterpiece."

"Why are you doing that? The council should handle it."

"They had something prepared, but there was an accident, apparently."

"An accident? Oh… that."

Her brows furrowed, as if she’d remembered something unpleasant.

"Look, I get that they need a masterpiece, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it."

"I know, but I couldn’t just ignore them when they asked for help."

"...Ugh. Did you talk to Lee Ah-Reum about it?"

"I will. But I think they’ll manage fine without me. I trust their skills."

The current project was nearly finished and didn’t require my constant attention anymore. At least, I believed so.

Though clearly displeased, Hong Ye-Hwa didn’t push the issue further. It felt like her way of stepping back for now.

‘Still, I don’t need any payment for this.’

The council mentioned compensation, but I didn’t need money. I’d just consider this volunteer work.

With two months left, it seemed doable if I managed my time well.

Later, I checked the email they’d sent with the festival’s theme ideas. My sigh deepened as I read.

‘This is Korea, right?’

Why did the themes feel like they were straight out of subculture fanfare?

Fortunately, there were several options. I just needed to pick one that suited me.

But first, I needed permission from Lee Ah-Reum.

***

The creation of the artwork for the festival, specifically for the art department’s exhibition, progressed smoothly.

‘Thankfully, I found a normal theme.’

Amid the countless options, there was only one that stood out to me.

Party. Just that one word brought clarity to my mind.

The rest were obscure Japanese names I couldn’t even pronounce. While they might have niche appeal, I couldn’t justify choosing them with broader audiences in mind.

Even the theme of "party" could be split into different interpretations—like a pajama party or a birthday party.

I decided to combine the two into one painting:

A few kids lounging around in pajamas, playfully sprawled out on blankets.

In the center of the scene stood a slightly lopsided strawberry cake.

After sketching out a rough draft, I snapped a photo and sent it to Kim Yoo-Jin.

[Student Council President: Thank you so much...]

[Me: Don’t mention it. Let’s just say you can return the favor by doing me a solid later.]

[Student Council President: Oh, of course! Whatever you need.]

It seemed like she was satisfied, which meant I could move forward with this idea.

‘But about the live broadcast for the festival… Should I run it by the chairman just to be safe?’

Even though the student council is in charge, they’re still just people. It’s impossible for them to execute everything perfectly.

After all, they’re still growing—bound to make mistakes.

‘Though Yoo-Jin doesn’t seem like the type to slip up.’

Well, if anything went wrong, the student council could handle it, right?

It had been a while since I’d last worked on a masterpiece, not since Hollow Snow. Back then, I’d practically lived in my studio, barely seeing daylight.

But this time, there was a strange sense of calm. Not having the pressure of creating a "masterpiece" lifted a weight off my shoulders.

I felt confident that Ye-Hwa and Ms. Lee Ah-Reum could handle the rest of the big project on their own.

‘As for the matter in China… hmm, that’s for later.’

For now, I had to focus on the task at hand.

Two months until the festival.

I needed to complete the painting in that time. And yet…

I didn’t feel rushed.

It was as if I trusted myself completely.

‘Ah, what should I do during the festival?’

I was so at ease that I could afford to let my mind wander while painting.