I Became an Artist in a Romantic Comedy

Chapter 57: Side (Ha Soyeol)

The first time I met him was at the playground.

A boy sat alone on the swing, his gaze exuding a weariness with the world.

At first, I thought he was just another child like any other.

At daycare, all the kids would always stare at me, and he had glanced my way too.

But, like the others, he didn’t approach.

I shouldn’t have come. I wasn’t even here because my mom brought me; it felt like a pointless visit.

He was alone at daycare, alone at the playground, alone everywhere.

That boy would probably start playing with unfamiliar kids soon enough.

I got on the swing next to him, mirroring his movements.

It wasn’t fun. I didn’t have anything else to do.

My mom gently pushed my swing from behind.

Five minutes passed like that.

Then, out of nowhere, my mom spoke to the boy beside me.

“Hey there, little one. Do you want to play with my daughter?”

Mom, why are you doing this? I’d rather just play with you.

The boy glanced up at her with a detached expression.

“Me?”

“Yes! I saw you swinging by yourself and thought you looked lonely.”

“I wasn’t really… Um, okay, I was lonely. Thanks.”

“…Oh.”

Isn’t this kid a little too mature?

Mom murmured under her breath as she lifted me off the swing.

“How old are you? You look so young. Are your parents here with you?”

“I’m four. And no, I came by myself. I live here anyway.”

“Huh? Even if this is an apartment complex, you’re four, and you came alone…?”

“I snuck out. I was getting too frustrated staying indoors all the time.”

Mom’s face twisted in disbelief.

She crouched down to meet the boy’s gaze.

“You can’t do that. It’s too dangerous. I’ll take you back home. Do you know your building and apartment number?”

“Hmm. That’s okay. Someone’s coming to get me soon anyway.”

“Who?”

“My mom.”

The moment he finished speaking, a woman appeared from behind the playground.

“There you are!”

She had a slightly rounded belly—likely his mother.

“Son! Did you leave the house without a word again?!”

“You knew I’d be here anyway. I even left you a note.”

“Still! Do you want to give me a heart attack?”

The boy shrugged casually in response.

Mom straightened up and greeted the woman.

“Hello. Are you this child’s parent?”

“Oh, yes. I’m Ha-eun’s mother. Thank you so much for looking after my son.”

She bowed slightly to express her gratitude.

“Oh no, it’s nothing at all,” Mom said, waving it off before turning back to the boy.

“But how did you sneak out?”

“Ahaha, I was napping, and… Well, I guess he didn’t want to wake me.”

The mother answered instead.

“He looked so peaceful sleeping. I felt bad about waking her.”

“You’re impossible.”

The mother and son exchanged knowing smiles.

Mom, looking flustered, asked, “Does this happen often? It seems so dangerous.”

“Don’t get me started. Last time, I was washing dishes when I heard the door lock beep, and it scared the life out of me. My heart can’t take it.”

“Oh my…”

She let out a sigh while stroking the boy’s hair.

“But since Eun only goes to a limited number of places, he’s easy to find. Plus, he always carries a safety buzzer.”

“Ah, so that’s why…”

“Yes. Though incidents like today are pretty frequent—about once a week.”

“Then maybe you should take me out to play sometimes.”

The boy—Lee Ha-eun—interrupted bluntly.

“Mommy doesn’t have the energy for that, sorry,” she said, smiling faintly, though a hint of guilt crossed her face. Of course, I didn’t notice that back then.

“In any case, since we’ve met, why don’t we grab a drink together? Our kids are the same age.”

“Oh, really? Your daughter is four, too?”

“Yes. Soyeol, say hello!”

Mom nudged me forward gently. Startled, I stepped forward, though I wasn’t sure what to do.

“…Hi, I’m Ha Soyeol.”

“Oh, how cute~. Nice to meet you. This is my son, Lee Ha-eun. Go on, son, say hi.”

“The difference in tone is something else…”

Ha-eun sighed, then muttered, “Fine. Hi.”

He raised his hand awkwardly in a half-wave.

I stared at him, puzzled.

“What?”

Maybe it was my intense gaze, but he asked again, “What is it?”

“…Why don’t you run away?”

“Why would I?”

“It’s weird. All the other kids run away from me. Why don’t you?”

“I’m telling you, why would I?”

Why? Every time I approached other kids, they’d run. Why didn’t Lee Ha-eun?

“Ahaha. Soyeol doesn’t have any friends yet. Would you mind being her friend, Ha-eun?” Mom asked, resting her hand on my shoulder.

But her words didn’t reach me.

“Aren’t my eyes scary?” I asked.

“Sweetie…”

Even as Mom murmured softly, I stood firm.

“My red eyes. They don’t scare you?”

“Not at all. They’re unique.”

He gave me two thumbs up and said, “Could it be a lack of melanin? Or maybe albinism? But that would mean white hair.”

He mumbled something I couldn’t quite understand, but I did realize one thing:

This kid wasn’t afraid of me.

A good person? A kind person?

Maybe that’s why I felt a strange, unfamiliar emotion for the first time.

“Ain’t I the weird one? What kind of 4-year-old talks like this?”

“I don’t know. It’s my first time making a friend.”

“Oh, is that so? Uh, sorry about that.”

I didn’t know why he was apologizing, but it made me happy. I felt good, plain and simple.

“Actually, my son doesn’t have any friends either. This worked out perfectly!”

Ha-eun’s mom—no, the lady—clapped her hands cheerfully as she laughed.

“Mom, my heart hurts,” Ha-eun said.

“What…? What?!”

At those words, her face turned pale in an instant. She hurriedly crouched down and began checking his body.

What was wrong?

“No, no, I mean I’m hurt because you said that so casually. You said I don’t have any friends like it was nothing.”

“Haah. Son, you’re going to give me a heart attack.”

Seeing her break out into a cold sweat, my mom spoke hesitantly, her tone heavy.

“Is Ha-eun unwell? That reaction seemed so extreme.”

“Haha… Well, yes, he’s not in great health.”

Her awkward laughter was unsettling. Why was she smiling like that?

“Shouldn’t you be more worried about yourself than me? Who’s calling who unwell?”

“At least I’m healthier than you are,” she retorted.

The two of them bantered about health, but it was hard for me to understand at that age.

“Um, if it’s too much for you, we can…”

“Oh, no, it’s fine! I have plenty of energy today. Besides, he’s well enough to come out and play, isn’t he?”

“That’s what a normal lifestyle should be…”

After a series of back-and-forths, the four of us headed to a nearby café.

We spent time chatting idly, and when it was time to part, I felt a strange sense of regret.

“Let’s meet again and play sometime,” my mom said.

“Of course! We’ve got plenty of time, so anytime works!”

“Bye.”

“Bye…?”

“It means ‘goodbye.’”

I learned a new word. I’d have to use it sometime.

Even after that day, we met and played together several times.

And maybe, that was the turning point of my life.

“Shark.”

“Stop clinging to me, geez.”

“Shark.”

“What’s with you after that art café visit? Ugh, go away.”

When I glared at him, applying pressure, he sighed and trudged to the sandpit to draw a shark.

Ha-eun was endlessly weak to persistence, even if he refused once or twice at first.

“There. Happy now?”

When he turned back to check, I only nodded.

But if there was something different this time…

I was smiling—a smile I didn’t even realize I was making.

“You should smile like that more often. It’d make people want to be closer to you.”

“No thanks. I’m fine as long as I have you.”

“If you keep that up, your social life’s going to fall apart.”

“I don’t care. I just don’t like it.”

This happened not long after we visited the art café.

I stared at Ha-eun as he lay there.

What was this feeling? It was irritating.

‘Why isn’t he getting up?’

It had already been three minutes. Why wasn’t he awake yet?

Why did this have to happen during a trip?

Why couldn’t I do anything?

Why did it have to be you risking death?

Why only you…?

“Cough! Gah, ack!”

Just then, Ha-eun spat out water and sat up.

“Ugh.”

He grimaced, coughing out breaths, probably from the seawater.

“Ha-eun!”

The lady rushed to embrace him, sobbing.

‘Thank goodness.’

I really thought I’d never see him again.

Mom and I approached cautiously, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

Mom anxiously fussed over Ha-eun, checking him all over.

But I didn’t know what to say, so instead, I blurted out, “That was mean.”

“Sorry.”

I didn’t fully understand my emotions, but I knew I was angry.

When Ha-eun saw my tear-streaked face, he chuckled.

‘…Annoying.’

But somehow, it didn’t feel unpleasant. I couldn’t define this feeling yet.

“…Don’t do it again.”

“I’d rather this never happens again in the first place,” the lady interjected.

Of course, Ha-eun didn’t miss the opportunity to say something, and oddly enough, it was reassuring.

—

When I was 10, and later when I was 16, not much happened.

Ha-eun kept busy, but I couldn’t always stay by his side.

Oh, and there was a kid who tried to frame him once, but I couldn’t deal with them myself. That was a shame.

If I’d found out sooner, I could have handled it.

That way, Ha-eun wouldn’t have had to bother with it.

I really regretted it. Truly.

The fact that it ended with them being sent to juvie felt too lenient. I should’ve killed them.

—

The first time I came to America, it was with my friends Yeseo and Yehwa.

Honestly, I’d prefer to be the only one by Ha-eun’s side, but I knew he wouldn’t want that.

It was disappointing, but I could compromise to this extent.

After all, Yeseo and Yehwa were my friends too.

But when it comes to firsts, I won’t compromise.

Not even for my friends.

—

The awards ceremony ended.

I gathered the others and called for Ha-eun and Yoon.

As soon as the door opened, I pressed my face into Ha-eun’s shoulder.

Sniff, sniff. “No issues detected.”

While I checked his scent, Ha-eun pushed my head away with his hand.

“What are you even doing?”

‘Making sure no more girls join us.’

I kept the thought to myself because if I said it aloud, Ha-eun would definitely argue.

Ha-eun, the only girl I’ll ever allow is Yehwa.

If there are any more, I don’t know what I might do.

…I love you?