I Became A Renowned Genius At My Arts High School - Chapter 219



Only Noblemtl

Episode 219. A small blessing (2)

At first I thought it was a coincidence.

‘There’s no way I could have known this… … .’

As coincidences repeated themselves, doubts arose.

‘How did you not know this?’

The picture on the new tile seemed to have been drawn by someone who knew Jerome’s tastes and experiences well.

Jerome frowned.

‘How much do you know?’

Apple pie, tickets to your favorite movie starring your favorite actor, a Christmas party, and the mystery board game you’ve been obsessed with for years with Freesia.

There’s no way Soo-hyun’s tastes were the same as his, and there’s no way she could have figured this out on her own.

Swish.

Jerome looked up and slowly looked around at the onlookers.

There was only one person who knew all about this and told it to Soo-hyun.

Manager Hans.

As expected, he was standing among the onlookers, looking at the stage from a corner with nervous eyes.

It stings.

Jerome glared at him fiercely. Judging by the way he flinched and turned his gaze away, the source was clearly Hans.

“ha.”

Jerome sighed.

Maybe Soo-Hyeon thought that she might have realized that she was dying.

The day I asked for the collaboration, I was so excited that I dropped too many hints.

Life and death. Choices and surrender.

Even when dealing with topics that are on the opposing side, I reacted more emotionally than necessary.

Moreover, he appeared to be collapsing and even asked Hans to contact him.

‘The excuse about being anemic was a bit flimsy. Besides, Hans would have contacted Soo-hyun again. He had already suspected something was wrong with me lately. If the two of them had talked about me, and if he had guessed something, Hans would have definitely stepped up as an active helper. It wouldn’t have been difficult for Soo-hyun to learn about my tastes and experiences.’

Jerome chuckled.

Anyway, it was touching.

What an expansion this is.

New tiles that appear to be more than twice as large as the existing tiles.

Even though it was a transfer, it was surprising that all the tiles were focused on Jerome.

These are drawings based on keywords from the characters he has played as well as his own tastes.

“under.”

Jerome shook his head and looked down at the newly laid tiles.

So, it’s a lot about my tastes, my experiences, and things I might experience in the future, right?

If I give up, the days I won’t be able to meet will be filled with these small events of happiness and joy, sadness and pain, joy and sorrow.

So are you trying to convince me not to give up and to go a little further?

Jerome bit his lip with a lonely expression.

“I will continue to show you death, and you will continue to show me the choice of life?”

“Then let’s see who gets convinced.”

A month ago, he remembered what he had said to Soo-hyun at the cafe.

Su-hyeon calmly accepted the offer to confront him. And after much thought, it seemed that what Su-hyeon came up with was another option other than death.

Just now, Su-hyeon turned the clock.

The reason we turned back time to when Jerome’s performance began was because Jerome had already chosen death on stage.

Soo-hyun tried to turn back time to the beginning of the performance and summon Jerome, who was still alive.

And Jerome gladly accepted the call.

I thought that whatever unfolded could not be more shocking than death. There was nothing to be surprised or be surprised about.

What appeared before Jerome’s eyes were overturned tiles.

“… … .”

It was interesting.

The tiles, whose identity could only be revealed by flipping them over and checking their contents, symbolized the future to come.

The question is, with so many days left, will you head towards death without turning any of them over?

That was the message that Soo-hyun was sending, and that was her method of persuasion.

It was a pretty good piece of work. There was nothing to criticize about the direction or the pictures. It did shake my hardened heart a little though.

‘It’s not like I haven’t thought about this too.’

Jerome laughed bitterly.

Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Even before he went to the hospital last spring, Jerome had an inkling that something was wrong with him.

I saw the beginning and the end through my father, so my memories were vivid.

It started with cramps in my limbs, loss of strength, and frequent falls.

I became scared when I thought about it.

“I’m sorry.”

The doctor confirmed his hunch, and told him some unhelpful tales.

Gradually, you will lose the ability to use your muscles, your speech will become slurred, it will become difficult to swallow food and breathe, and eventually you will become completely unable to use your body.

There is no cure.

After the onset, death occurs on average in three to five years. We all knew this.

“Then I’m already as good as dead.”

Jerome thought so.

If you can’t move your body or speak, you can’t survive as an actor anymore.

Then what should I do?

Should I just wait for death like this?

While you helplessly watch me slowly and gradually die?

Even amid the conflict, the disease progressed.

Jerome thought again.

While I can still move as I wish, I will take my own life.

Instead, let’s finally put on a really great show.

Let’s put on a performance that will become my last will and testament.

“ha…….”

Jerome sighed deeply.

Such a determination could not be overturned by a few possibilities.

“you.”

Jerome stopped flipping tiles and stood up, calling out to Soohyun.

I was trying to say that although the effort was virtual, it was not enough to keep me in life.

Apple pie will no longer be swallowed, conversations will no longer be possible at parties, and flowers that threaten to choke your breathing will no longer be necessary.

however.

chuck.

Su-hyeon, who was standing in the same spot where she started, stamped her hand on the tile that Jerome had turned over.

“I’ll be with you on the day you eat apple pie.”

Soo-hyeon said as if making a promise.

And then, with a stride, he moved to the next tile.

“Tell me why you like this actor, and why you think it would be good to watch this movie together.”

widely.

Su-hyeon stamped that tile too.

“If you want a flower that never wilts, I can draw it vividly for you. I’m quite good at drawing.”

Su-hyeon also stamped her handprint of promise on a tile with a flower design on it.

Swish.

And Soo-hyun slowly looked around at the onlookers who were holding their breath and watching her and Jerome.

“… … .”

“… … .”

When Soo-hyun, who exchanged glances with someone, tilted her head slightly, the person who was attracted to her walked out, timid.

Squishy.

He placed his hand on Soo-hyun’s palette and dabbed a lot of paint on it, then looked around the floor. Then he walked over quickly and stamped his hand on a tile.

“I love Christmas. I’ll invite you to my party.”

“Me, me too!”

This time, a volunteer stepped forward. A student who had been watching walked to the center and put his hand on the paint.

“I’ll prepare a picnic lunch. Let’s go together on a day when the autumn leaves are beautifully colored.”

“I like rainy days too! On rainy days, I’ll prepare a picnic.”

Starting with Soo-hyun, the onlookers came to the center one by one and began stamping their hands on the tiles Jerome had turned over.

“What? Why is everyone doing this?”

Jerome’s voice shook with embarrassment.

Most of the crowd thought it was an act as well, but Soo-hyun and a few others knew that it was Jerome’s true feelings.

chuck.

widely.

Swish.

Chul-chul.

The ritual continued without stopping.

People stamping their hands one by one.

After stamping their seal, they approached Jerome and each said a few warm words.

“Cheer up.”

“No, you don’t have to be strong. We’ll be here for you.”

“I’ll hold your hand. It’s not for personal gain.”

“Bless you. I will pray for you.”

“You are so cool!”

“He’s really handsome!”

“Your smile makes me happy. Thank you. Really.”

“Well, if it’s hard, you can cry, right?”

Before he knew it, Jerome had his handprint on every tile he had turned over.

There were even several handprints that overlapped and covered the entire tile.

Jerome watched the scene with a blank expression.

And then Zuruk.

A tear flowed down Jerome’s eye.

“what.”

Swish-.

Jerome wiped away his tears.

The seasons are almost over.

I thought that whatever happened in there didn’t really matter.

It’s ridiculous to wait for tomorrow with something like apple pie.

But what if there are this many people?

What if we fill the remaining seasons together?

That was unexpected.

“Isn’t everyone making promises too easily?”

Jerome pouted and spoke to Soo-hyun, who had come closer.

“Maybe so. But it could be really easy. It’s just a promise to share a little bit of time. When it comes down to it, it seems like a big deal.”

“… … .”

Jerome, who was still looking at the kids stamping their hands with a somewhat sad expression, opened his mouth.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“know.”

Su-hyeon nodded.

“And my persuasion is just beginning.”

“what?”

Jerome looked at Soo-hyun with a bewildered expression.

“So, just postpone your decision until tomorrow once a day.”

“Ha. What are you talking about?”

“Instead of trying to decide life or death right away, let’s postpone the decision and turn over the tiles one by one. Do you know? There might be something that you almost missed.”

Jerome looked at Soo-hyun with a look of bewilderment at her nagging.

That was enough for now.

Soo-hyun smiled and whispered.

“I’ll give you a hint. See those tiles over there that are different sizes? Flip them over. You won’t regret it.”

Jerome also burst into laughter at Soo-hyun’s words.

***

“When are you coming back?”

“Yeah. It feels empty.”

“But I’m still looking forward to it.”

“Well, that’s Jerome. I’m sure he’ll bring something amazing.”

A week later.

In front of Jerome’s little square.

Several students were looking disappointed in front of a sign indicating that they would be returning after reorganization.

The day I collaborated with Soohyun.

Jerome strode briskly toward the center of Su-hyeon’s small square and shouted.

“Looking back on the time I spent, I realized things I didn’t know before.”

It was the Jerome I saw on stage earlier. Those who guessed who he was from his voice and tone of acting cheered.

“You showed me what fear had blinded me from seeing.”

Jerome’s voice was small but powerful.

“Thank you. Thank you. I really do.”

Jerome’s eyes sparkled.

“Death is still imminent. There is no way for me to avoid it.”

Jerome said, holding his trembling arm with the other.

“But I still have so many tiles that haven’t been turned over.”

A small laugh broke out in the crowd as Jerome pointed to the tile.

“So I think we need to think a little more about how to deal with this death. We still have that much time.”

Jerome gave a formal greeting.

“I’ll be back soon. To keep my promise to you all.”

Jerome’s performance ended there.

A death show that may never be resumed.

People asked Soo-hyun, who showed great synergy, about Jerome’s well-being, but Soo-hyun just shook his head.

Separately from that, Su-Hyeon’s work on life and choice continued to attract attention.

The tiles expanded day by day, and people looked back on themselves and imagined the future, crossing the time lines of past, present, and future.

There are also more teams requesting collaboration.

Lighting, video, games, music.

Artists from various fields participated in Suhyun’s work on the theme of life and choices.

Each time his distinctive new work was released, it received a great response, and Jerome’s performances were gradually forgotten by the people.

And a month later.

“Me?”

Su-hyeon was very surprised when she received a phone call from an unknown person.

An unexpected person was looking for Soo-hyeon.