CH16

Boston, USA.

Jo Soo-deok's work style was like a bulldozer.

He never took a break.

Moreover, he didn't think much, so there was no need for jet lag adjustment.

Thanks to him, the graduate students who accompanied him felt like they were dying.

But what could they do?

With the professor sifting through documents with eyes wide open, the students had no choice but to go out and run around.

Jo Soo-deok was totally Korean style.

"Always bring a gift. Then recite just three sentences."

'I am a poor graduate student.'

'I need the painting for research purposes.'

'I came all the way from Korea.'

When 'Korea' came out, it always softened people's hearts.

As soon as the homeowner slightly opened the door, he shoved the fruit basket through the crack.

Once they accepted it in confusion, the game was over!

Jo Soo-deok's method was remarkably efficient.

Thanks to it, each person could visit four houses a day.

So, well.

The game was over in three days.

Indeed, on the third day, good news came.

Riiiiing!

(Professor! The painting you mentioned… the one with the mother holding a child.)

"Did you find it?"

(Yes! Just looking at the texture of the paper, it seems to be hundreds of years old. More than that, the lines are different. Even if it looks like it was drawn carelessly, there's a definite strength to it.)

"Are you sure?"

(Yes, I'm sure.)

"Where is it? Should I go to the Boston University area?"

(But, Professor. There is one problem.)

"What? Are they asking for a high price? It's okay. We have enough budget."

(No, it's not that.)

"...?"

(Even if we offered millions, he wouldn't sell it.)

Did he perhaps realize it was an original?

"What did you say to him?"

(I didn't say anything, but he talked a lot.)

"What do you mean? Explain so I can understand."

(I don't quite understand the situation myself. Just....)

"Just what!"

(He said he wanted the painting to rot in the storage forever.)

"What? What the hell does that mean!"

(He muttered like a crazy person that he would make the painting rot in the storage, just like himself.)

What kind of nonsense is that?

"Hang up. I need to make a call to Korea."

***

"Want it to rot in the storage...."

I slowly chewed over the words I heard on the phone.

Not just rot, but with 'like himself' attached to it?

That means his life is rotting away in storage.

"Is the person in a really bad situation?"

(No. He lives in a wealthy neighborhood near the Charles River. It seems like he has enough construction work coming in....)

"He's not struggling financially?"

(At least, it looks that way. Definitely.)

Even if he is financially well-off, he can certainly have dissatisfaction.

Health, family, relationships, etc.

There are a lot of problems in the world.

But what I want to know is… why is he taking out that dissatisfaction on the painting?

And why specifically on Dürer's last work?

"Professor, how about you go there yourself?"

(Yes, I will head there right after this call.)

It's 6:30 PM in Boston right now.

There's still enough time if we move diligently.

"Professor, there's no need to rush. Instead of thinking about buying the painting, focus on understanding the person's character."

(Character?)

"You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their home. Whether they leave the TV on, what programs they watch, whether there's a newspaper on the sofa, whether it's the Wall Street Journal or the Washington Post… what books are on their desk, and what records are next to their audio equipment."

(So, you're saying to check even things like the arrangement of the furniture… is that it?)

"Exactly. Whether the dishes are piled up, if the trash can is emptied on time, if clothes are piled up or neatly hung on a hanger, etc. Even trivial things, gather as much information as possible."

(It's like being a detective, huh.)

In my version, it's about being a 'novelist.'

Observing people, imagining their lives, and unfolding stories.

That's what I've done my whole life.

"You can't remember every scene perfectly. It's better to carry a notebook and jot down everything meticulously."

(I'll sketch if necessary.)

Even after the call ended, I stared at the receiver.

"Rot in the storage?"

Holding on to the words I couldn't understand.

"Like himself...."

I muttered to myself for a while.

***

Boston.

Jo Soo-deok, sitting in a taxi, was slightly tense.

The destination was near Fenway Park, the home stadium of the Boston baseball team.

If there was a game, the area would be paralyzed.

It might be faster to walk then.

But contrary to his worries, the road was wide open.

There were hardly any people on the street.

When he asked the taxi driver why, he answered immediately.

"It's a day with a Yankees and Red Sox game. Everyone's glued to their TVs."

"Ah, so Boston is on a road trip to New York?"

"That's right. The three-game series starts today. I'm heading to the pub to watch right after I drop you off."

It took about 15 minutes to reach the destination.

A typical American middle-class neighborhood.

A garage that could easily fit two cars.

A large garden spread out next to it.

He didn't seem to be struggling financially.

The graduate student assistant who called him was waiting at the door.

"How did it go?"

"Yes, um… I tried talking a few more times, but the reaction is still cold."

"Even if you say it's for research?"

"Yes. He just said he wanted it to rot and disappear."

"My, oh my."

Jo Soo-deok shook his head in disbelief.

Even so, he pulled out a small notebook from his back pocket.

"Is he inside?"

"Yes. But…"

"But what?"

"He said he had to watch the baseball game… and asked us to leave."

"Baseball? Oh, the New York series?"

"I'm not sure about that…."

Jo Soo-deok rang the bell as if to say it's enough.

Then.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

There were some rather irritated footsteps from inside.

Soon, the door opened wide, and a bear-like large man peeked out.

"I told you to leave today."

"Hello. I'm the supervising professor of the student who visited earlier."

"Professor or whatever… I told you to leave today, didn't I? Didn't you hear?"

"Oh, today I'm not here because of the painting."

"What?"

"Can we watch the baseball game together?"

"...?"

"I heard there's a three-game series with the Yankees starting today? But our accommodation is two hours away from here. Even if we leave now, we'll miss up to the fifth inning."

"So you want to watch the game at my place?"

"It's nice to cheer together as Red Sox fans, isn't it?"

"No way. I'm different from those who watch baseball while eating popcorn. I need to focus all my attention."

"Me too. I keep my mouth shut and don't say a word during the game. Instead, I…"

Jo Soo-deok confidently showed his notebook and continued.

"I seriously take notes on the game, like a record keeper."

The man looked him up and down.

He seemed to think there was no connection between him and baseball.

But then.

"Being a professor is just my job, but my dream is for a Korean player to play for the Boston Red Sox. Do you understand? I'm pretty crazy about baseball too."

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees.

When Jo Soo-deok sat on the sofa, the second inning was already underway.

"I'm Jo Soo-deok from Korea."

"I'm James Baker. Born and raised in Boston."

That was the end of the conversation.

Baker focused on the game.

During a commercial break after the Red Sox's attack.

He opened a thick college notebook and made brief notes.

Like a coach.

Thanks to that, Jo Soo-deok could freely write down information in his notebook.

<The house is relatively clean.>

<There are hardly any architecture-related books on the bookshelf behind sofa.>

<Most of the books are about baseball statistics… There over twenty well-used college notebooks.>

<There's an expensive-looking display case next to the TV. On top shelf, there are kid-sized baseball gloves. They look like catcher's mitts due their thickness.>

<On the second shelf, there are four worn-out baseballs. One of them seems to be autographed. It's too far see whose signature it is.>

<On the lower shelf, there's a neatly folded gray uniform and an aluminum bat. It's clear he's crazy about baseball.>

Anyway, it's written in Korean.

He won't understand… so he wrote down everything he could see.

The only regret.

'That I couldn't see the painting.'

He couldn't talk about the painting after coming in to watch baseball.

While he was subtly looking around.

"Whoa- Ah!"

Baker, who was watching TV, raised his arms and shouted.

It was 0-0.

In the game that had been running parallel.

"Yes, that's it!"

A 3-run home run had just been hit.

In the 8th inning, 3-0.

If they just hold on for two more innings, it's Boston's victory.

So… when the homeowner's mood is good… maybe he could ask to see the storage?

When his thoughts reached there.

"Let's go! Red- Sox!"

Jo Soo-deok cheered for Boston as if he were a third-generation fan.

Game over.

3-2.

The Yankees made a fierce comeback, but Boston held on till the end.

Baker finally exhaled the breath he had been holding.

Jo Soo-deok was also relieved.

Now, all he had to do was find the right moment to ask.

"You came to see the painting, right?"

What a surprise.

Baker spoke first.

"You kept getting distracted during the game. What's up?"

"Well… that is."

"Do you want to see the painting in the storage?"

"If that's possible, I'd be grateful."

"I already told your student, but you can see it, but it's not for sale."

"May I ask why...."

"I just want it to rot in the storage."

Ask once more.

He'll probably frown and tell him to leave.

What could he do?

He agreed to show the painting, so he had to be satisfied with that.

Maybe because Boston won.

Baker hummed as he led Jo Soo-deok to the storage.

Clank.

"Take your time."

Baker turned away indifferently.

The storage was vast.

Given its size, it housed quite a few artworks.

If the baseball items in the living room display case were well-maintained.

"...."

Here, they seemed neglected… more like a junkyard.

'So, where is it?'

He couldn't ask the homeowner.

While wandering around the spacious storage.

'…Huh?'

A painting caught Jo Soo-deok's eye.

A large oil painting.

He came to find Dürer's last work, but he stumbled upon an overwhelmingly imposing piece.

'This wasn't expected.'

Jo Soo-deok's eyes widened.

TL/n - 

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