Van Gogh Reborn! - Chapter 27

“What?”

“What does that mean?”

“Are you saying that you will reject the exhibition with Henry Marceau?”

“Yes.”

The reporters’ eyes almost grew as if they were about to pop out.

Questions poured out again with the sound of taking pictures.

“Why do you refuse?”

“Wasn’t it planned”?

I want to answer one by one, but too many people are asking at once, so I don’t know who I should deal with first.

He’s popular.

Just offering an exhibition is enough to attract so many people, so I think I know how loved the man named Henry Marceau is.

But I don’t know a bit about what kind of work he makes and what aesthetics he pursues.

Furthermore, there is an appointment with the WH Art Museum.

There was no contract and they didn’t promise to hold an exhibition, but I and curator Bang Tae decided to meet again three months later and talk.

If I throw away my work at Henry Marceau’s exhibition, there will be nothing to show curator Bang Tae.

“Tell us why!”

A reporter’s cry caught my ear.

“I have a prior promise.”

“Promise?”

“Is it because of the exhibition that you’re preparing in Korea?”

“Yes. Nothing has been decided, so I can’t tell you in detail. I appreciate Marceau’s offer, but I refuse.”

Grandpa wrapped his arms around my shoulders and told reporters.

“Its causing disturbance to the visitors of the art museum and we have a schedule today, so let’s stop here. If you need anything, please contact me in my email.”

Reporters lost momentum at grandpa’s words.

“Don’t you think about the coordination?”

“It’s the first time Henry Marceau has proposed an exhibition. What do you think he discovered in your grandson?”

It’s not that they stopped ask questions, but they didn’t rush in recklessly as they did a while ago.

The Seoul Museum of Art was like that, and Kevin was also very careful while treating grandpa.

This is probably because he is recognized for his works as a great artist.

Entering the Van Gogh Museum, Kevin came out with a worried face.

“Are you okay?”

“What a fuss to begin the morning with?”

“Haha.”

Grandpa laughed hearing Kevin’s comment.

“Hun must have been really surprised.”

Kevin, tried to soothe me by giving a chocolate.

I immediately took the chocolate from Kevin’s hand.

I really love the chocolates of this era.

It tastes so rich and sweet.

While I was munching on the chocolate given by Kevin, he asked grandpa.

“Is it because of Henry Marceau?”

“That’s how it looks. That pest……keeps loitering around our little Hun.”

I’ve felt this for a long time, but it seems grandpa hates Henry Marceau so much.

I asked grandpa, his reasons for hating him.

“Why do you hate him so much grandpa.?””

“I don’t like his attitude. What’s the point of making a great work? I don’t like his way of thinking that money can solve everything.”

It seems to be because of Henry’s snobbish side.

However, it is a fascinating relationship as he seems to acknowledge Henry Marceau’s work while saying so.

“Anyway, you did a good job. Nothing good will come from exhibiting your work with such a guy.”

“I have made a promise to Mr. Bang Tae.”

“Right. You should always keep your promises, even if its verbal one.”

Grandpa rubbed my hair while saying that.

⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩

Henry Marceau, who was trimming [Marceau’s Jewelry] in a private studio, narrowed his eyes.

He put down the hammer and chisel and observed [Marceau’s jewelry] from a little away .

He liked the texture that could not be thought of as a marble and the dazzling color of the Gold Iranian Marble that had been airlifted from Iran, but he thought, it was not enough to express his beauty.

The most important was eye.

No matter how he tried to express it, he couldn’t find a jewel that matched his emerald eyes.

Henry Marceau repeatedly pondered over a sip of kale juice.

If it was difficult to get in Europe, he was willing to get it even from Colombia, the world’s largest emerald region.

But it’s just one of the options.

Henry Marceau was not impatient and devised several other ways.

Then secretary Arsene visited the studio.

“El patron, Artist Ko Hun has replied.”

“Really?”

He didn’t even turn his head.

The answer was obvious whether he hear it or not.

It was a great honor to be invited to Henry Marceau’s individual exhibition.

An opportunity to become a hot topic in itself and establish a position in the art world.

No one could refuse.

Since it was publicly proposed through the media, Ko Hun had no choice but to respond ‘yes’ .

Now, only completing [Marceau’s Jewel] was Henry Marceau’s concern.

“He said no.”

Henry Marceau slowly turned his head at the words of secretary Arsene.

“Rejected.”

“Yes. He said he has a previous appointment with another museum.”

“Another art museum?”

” The WH Art Museum.”

“What…WH?”

“This is a private art museum located in Seoul, Korea. It is operated by WH Group. It is the largest in Korea except for the National Museum.”

“How dare he reject my offer for such a small fry museum.?”

“I think they’ve decided that it’s worth it in terms of building national awareness.”

Henry Marceau threw a glass containing kale juice.

He couldn’t stand it.

Everything in the world revolves around him and was unbearably humiliating for Henry Marceau, when something doesn’t go the way he wanted.

“You rejected Henry Marceau’s offer……..for something like that?”

Henry Marceau, who was grinding his teeth, walked out.

“Where is he?”

“…… Amsterdam.”

“Get ready to leave in an hour.”

“Yes…..!”

Secretary Arsene breathed a sigh as he watched Henry Marceau heading to the main building.

He was so sorry for the immature employer who lost his parents as a child and grew up enjoying everything in the world under his grandparents.

After the demise of his grandfather Philippe de Marceau, there was no one in the world, who could stop the self-righteous, rude, and impulsive El patron.

⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩

Henry Marceau, who arrived in Amsterdam in the evening, was just in time to find the people coming out of the Van Gogh Museum.

“You!”

When Henry Marceau approached recklessly, Kevin stopped him.

“What are you doing?”

“Get out of my way.”

Henry Marceau glared at Kevin, with his burning eyes.

Kevin, director of the museum’s management department, was nervous and didn’t back down, but he didn’t know what to do.

“Don’t you know who I am?”

“I know. Henry Marceau.”

“How dare you block my path even after knowing that.?”

Kevin swallowed his saliva.

“Isn’t it Henry Marceau?”

“Wow…..He really is handsome.”

“Why is he here? Did he visit the museum.?”

“ But it looks like they’re fighting”.

Just in time, people leaving the museum because of closing time, stopped their feet .

“El patron.”

Secretary Arsene warned him, by calling Henry Marceau.

Recognizing the surrounding gaze, Henry exhaled heavily and calmed down his excitement.

“What’s going on”?

Ko Hun stepped up and asked despite Kevin’s dissuasion.

“You rejected my invitation?”

Blood vessels sprang out of Henry Marceau’s temple.

“Why?”

“I have a previous promise.”

“Just for that reason?”

Ko Hun frowned his eyebrows.

I couldn’t understand the invitation through the article or the sudden threatening visit.

“Are you obsessed to the point to come all the way here and act up?”

“What? Obsess”?

“Yes, Why are you so obsessed? Do you like my drawing that much?”

Henry Marceau’s eyes became as calm as a lamp in the confusion.

“Oh my. I guess it’s real.”

“How much did he like, for him to come all the way to Amsterdam to invite him.”

“I heard Ko Hun rejected the exhibition invitation.”

“I know. That’s why he’s upset?”

Henry Marceau heard the voices of people around him.

There were words that were incomprehensible, but English and French were accurately stuck in his ears.

‘This guy can’t be.’

Henry Marceau never thought this little kid would use him.

However, looking at the attitude now, there was no other reason.

Otherwise, he could not refuse his proposal for ridiculous reasons, such as a prior engagement with a place like WH museum, a place he had never heard of.

‘Come to think of it, it was like that from the beginning.’

‘Even when selling Sunflower, two interviews, and now the question of ‘Is my painting so good,’ all seemed to be trying to take advantage of my reputation.’

Henry Marceau smiled in vain.

“This smart kid…”

It was to show Henry Marceau’s dignity to the media, critics, and some ignorant haters.

He had to make sure the difference in level for the fearless little boy who wanted to use him to gain fame.

“Are you so confident?”

“What?”

“Are you that confident with your skills?”

It was a random question, but Ko Hun felt sorry for Henry Marceau.

Ko Hun couldn’t understand what kind of life he lived.

He had so much money and popularity, but somehow his inside felt empty and lonely, like how it used be when he was Vincent Van Gogh.

Ko Hun, who thought it was because of some big wound in his heart, took a step closer to Henry Marceau.

He looked into Henry Marceau’s eyes and grabbed his hand.

“Don’t be too impatient. Even if it doesn’t seem to work out the way you wanted, one day… a day will come when people understands your sincerity .”

Although he died as Van Gogh without being recognized by anyone.

Ko Hun, who regained happiness and courage amid the interest and love of countless people who visited the Van Gogh Museum for a few days, sincerely thought so.

What kind of wounds Henry Marceau has…

Ko Hun didn’t know, but he could infer how he felt.

He also had a time when his nerves were sharpened due to occasional hallucinations, seizures, and paralysis.

Ko Hun hoped Henry Marceau would regain peace of mind.

“I’ll give you this, so if you wish, you can exhibit on your exhibition.”

Ko Hun gave Henry Marceau a painting of a guest, he drew when they visited the Van Gogh Museum today.

“Live with a smile. Angry and hatred can’t solve anything. Love everything as much as you can.”

Henry Marceau’s face heated up at Ko Hun’s words.

It felt like he was giving a toy to a whining child.

He felt like he was going to burst right away at the attitude Ko Hun.

But

“Oh my. Look at how mature he is.”

“I guess He’s giving him a painting as a token for his sincerity”.

“That’s great. Marceau! Congratulations!”

The people watching the scene cheered for the two.

When Henry Marceau, who was angry at being rejected from the invitation to the exhibition, got the painting of Ko Hun, which he had hoped for so much.

People felt heartwarming to hear Ko Hun’s mature attitude and warm words.

Secretary Arsene whispered.

“El patron.…We should go.”

Henry Marceau gritted his teeth at the thought of being beaten by a 10-year-old kid.

But, there was nothing he could do now.

“Hmph.”

When Henry Marceau and his secretary left, some people chased after them.

Kevin, whose tension wore off, sighed and looked at Ko Hun.

“You’re really incredible.”

“What?”

“You’re probably the only one who treats Henry Marceau like that.”

Ko Hun nodded at Kevin’s words.

When he was sick, most of the people treated him as a madman.

Looking back now, from their perspective, it was not unreasonable for them to think like that.

He deserved to be considered strange.

However, Ko Hun sympathized with Henry Marceau because that did not mean that the sadness he felt at that time disappeared.

“He’s a lonely person. You have to treat people like that with love not with prejudice.”