Chapter 14 – Senior, I Have a Favor to Ask
The night had grown deep, streetlights and neon signs flickering to life.
Four people walked along the main road in Bucheon.
“Ahh, Writer Kim~ Come on, let’s sign a contract!”
“Hey, stop it, man! You’re embarrassing yourself in front of the kid!”
Perhaps because of the drinks he’d downed at the barbecue place.
Go Gwang-jin—face bright red—clung to Min-hyuk’s leg, pleading. Pil-ho tried to pry him off.
Seung-heon, watching from the side, sighed and shook his head.
“Jeez.”
As they caused a scene on the sidewalk,
“Is that okay?”
“Shouldn’t we call the police?”
Passersby began murmuring with worried faces.
Pil-ho waved his hands awkwardly at the crowd.
“No, no—it’s nothing! We know each other—just keep walking!”
“Nothing my ass! Writer Min-hyuk and I are destined to be best friends!”
“Best friends, my foot—hey, let go. Everyone! Really, it’s nothing! …We should just get him home.”
Pil-ho did his best to prevent the police from showing up…
“Taxi! Taxi!”
He flagged one down and shoved Gwang-jin inside.
“Writer Min-hyuk! If you ever want to serialize, call me first! You have to!”
“Just go already! Driver—go, go!”
Thud!
Pil-ho kicked Gwang-jin back in as he tried to crawl out, slammed the door, and the taxi sped off into the distance.
After the commotion died down,
Pil-ho wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a big sigh.
“Phew… sorry, Min-hyuk. He’s usually fine, but… when he drinks a bit, he gets like that.”
“It’s okay—it was fun. We ate a lot of beef too… and I’m not completely uninterested.”
“Hah, really? Then I’m glad.”
After the chaos, a comfortable silence settled among the three.
Pil-ho smiled and said,
“Well, we ate. Shall we head home?”
“Um… senior, sorry, but I have a favor to ask…”
“Sure, let’s go to the studio.”
“Huh?”
“I prepared something. Let’s go to the studio.”
What does that…
Min-hyuk tilted his head in confusion.
“Come on, sir.”
“Man, it’s so hot tonight.”
Pil-ho and Seung-heon started walking quickly.
As if trying to leave Min-hyuk behind.
A short while later, when the three entered the studio…
“Here, take this, Min-hyuk.”
“…”
Thud.
Shin Pil-ho handed him an art supply box.
It was heavy enough that Min-hyuk needed both hands to hold it.
“How did you know to prepare this?”
“Seung-heon told me. You’re entering the animation high contest, right?”
Pil-ho patted his shoulder. Beside him, Seung-heon stood with arms crossed, nose in the air.
‘This guy… his mouth’s as light as ever.’
Min-hyuk’s mouth curved slightly. He hugged the box tightly and said,
“…Thank you. Really… I learned so much.”
Pil-ho shook his head.
“I’m the one who’s thankful. Thanks to you, I met deadline… and got a new chance. This is all I could do—I’m sorry it’s not more.”
“It’s plenty. More than enough.”
Thump! Thump!
Min-hyuk’s heart started pounding.
A feeling of fulfillment began to spread.
He’d felt it all along, but now—truly—he was taking a step toward his dream.
“Since you’re going… take first place. You… can definitely do it.”
“Yes. I’m going in the name of Writer Shin Pil-ho’s studio, after all.”
Both their mouths lifted into smiles at the same time.
‘I really… made the right choice coming here.’
Truly.
And so… a period was placed on the time spent with Writer Shin Pil-ho.
***
A few days later, just as the sun began to rise.
“Grrraaah…”
In Hong Mi-seon’s used Matiz.
Kang Min-hyuk, riding shotgun, gazed into the art supply box on his lap.
Pen nibs, white-out, ink, manuscript paper, and screentone—packed full.
According to Pil-ho, these were his “ultimate” screentones, hand-picked.
‘Senior Pil-ho really is generous.’
This was way more than Min-hyuk had asked for.
He’d only intended to borrow the bare minimum…
But this was enough for a full-fledged pro.
Just looking at it…
—“Since you’re going… take first place. You… can definitely do it.”
Pil-ho’s words came back, and an inexplicable emotion washed over him.
‘I’m glad I went to Senior Pil-ho’s studio.’
He learned a ton, and above all… it was fun.
Min-hyuk’s mouth curved into a wide grin as he closed the lid.
Just then—
“You’re that excited about the contest?”
“Excited? Me?”
“Yeah—you’re grinning ear to ear.”
“Ah, that’s…”
Min-hyuk stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment.
‘The contest…’
In a few hours, he’d arrive at the animation high school he’d wanted so badly.
There… he’d compete with other kids through comics.
A 34-year-old feeling like this might be a bit ridiculous…
‘But it’s going to be fun.’
Thump! Thump!
His racing heart carried a pleasant tension.
Min-hyuk shrugged and answered,
“Well… drawing comics sounds fun. Competing with other kids too.”
“You really say the darnedest things…”
Hong Mi-seon furrowed her brow deeply and let out a big sigh.
Seeing that expression, Min-hyuk could guess how she felt.
‘Mom’s probably got mixed feelings.’
Her son—who used to live without a care, picking his nose all day—suddenly declares he’ll draw comics and go to animation high.
If it were my kid, I’d grab him by the neck and sigh nonstop too.
Someone with a temper might even threaten to break his legs.
But what could she do?
It was already happening—he’d even worked at a comic studio for the contest.
Still… Mom was probably thinking this even now.
‘There’s no way he’ll actually take first. The world’s full of talented kids.’
As if proving it, Hong Mi-seon—hands on the wheel—sighed heavily and closed her eyes tightly before opening them.
“Min-hyuk… if you don’t win, Mom won’t allow it, okay? If you lose, no more of this nonsense—just study.”
“Of course. That was the deal. The deal. And if I wasn’t going to take first, I wouldn’t have come.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“I’m your son, Mom. And… I made a promise with the artist who gave me this. To take first.”
Min-hyuk lifted the art box he was hugging. Mi-seon tilted her head.
‘Was he always like this?’
The original Min-hyuk was quiet, few words, just did his own thing silently.
But ever since declaring he’d draw comics…
‘He’s gotten cheeky. Or… like an old soul.’
Anyway, watching her son change overnight made sighs spill endlessly.
‘Is he really this confident?’
Sure, the drawings Min-hyuk showed her were pretty good…
—“Animation high? That place… isn’t easy to get into. I heard Gwang-soon’s mom said her kid prepped hard for the entrance exam and still failed.”
—“The competition rate is insane. Even the art academies say they can’t send kids there—recommend Hongdae prep instead.”
Mi-seon had asked around the neighborhood moms when her son said he had a school in mind.
From what she heard, Korea Animation High was the top among animation highs—where only the most talented art kids in the country went, with sky-high competition.
No matter how talented or determined Min-hyuk was…
There was no way he’d take first.
‘Well… it doesn’t matter. This will be the last time anyway.’
If he didn’t win first, it would hurt as a parent, but she’d stop him from comics.
And that wouldn’t be bad for Min-hyuk either.
Something that doesn’t even pay should stay a hobby.
A family with only one son—how could she let him struggle like a beggar?
‘When he grows up… he’ll thank me for this.’
Hong Mi-seon’s complicated feelings and Kang Min-hyuk’s carefree grin.
In the subtle atmosphere between mother and son, the worn-out used Matiz sped toward Hanam City.
How much time passed like that?
“Oh, we’re here.”
Min-hyuk looked toward the far end of the road, mouth slightly open.
A massive building greeted them—like a giant square rice cake topped with traditional roof tiles, as if designed by a foreign architect.
The words “Korea Animation High School” on the wall confirmed this was their destination.
‘So that’s the famous animation high.’
Strength surged into the hand clutching the art supply box.
His heartbeat grew louder; it was hard to suppress the twitching of his mouth.
In his webtoon days, it was the place many famous “genius” artists had passed through.
A talent factory for the comic world, overflowing with maniacs obsessed with comics.
The thought of discussing comics until their mouths foamed, competing, helping each other, and drawing together filled him with overflowing anticipation.
‘Today… I’m definitely taking first place. And I’m getting in there.’
A pleasant tension washed over him.
What kind of kids would be waiting?
What theme would come up in the contest?
What kind of comic would pour out from his head and fingertips?
Nothing was set—everything was a variable.
It faintly revived the feeling from long ago—when he quit his job and challenged the webtoon contest.
Creak!
The car pulled into the parking lot.
“Then I’ll come back at 4?”
“I can go home alone. You don’t have to come.”
“No way—I’ll be here at 4.”
“Fine, fine.”
“Check if you forgot anything. The application form?”
“It’s all here. I’m not a baby.”
Min-hyuk lifted and lowered the art box as he answered. Hong Mi-seon let out a big sigh.
“Not a baby… you’re still a kid, you know?”
She sighed deeply. Min-hyuk flashed a cheeky smile and replied,
“Mom, didn’t you want me to fail this contest? If I lose the form, I’m instantly disqualified.”
“…”
Mi-seon’s eyebrows wiggled like worms.
Her lips moved as if to say something, but she exhaled and said quietly,
“Don’t talk nonsense. Since you’re here… do your best. No regrets.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll do my best so I don’t tarnish the Hong family name.”
Min-hyuk answered energetically, opened the door, and stepped out.
He started walking forward briskly.
Just then—
“Min-hyuk.”
“Yeah?”
He turned. Through the lowered passenger window, Mom stared straight at him.
Her expression still complicated and bittersweet.
Their eyes met briefly. Mi-seon closed hers tightly, opened them, and said softly,
“Do well.”
“…”
Min-hyuk looked at her face for a moment, lips moving silently.
Then…
“Yes. I will.”
He grinned widely, turned his back, and walked deeper into the parking lot.
“…”
Vroom!
Mi-seon watched his retreating figure, closed her eyes briefly, opened them…
Then turned the wheel and drove out of the parking lot.
A complicated expression crossed Min-hyuk’s face as he watched.
When the car disappeared from sight…
Min-hyuk slowly turned, gazed at the full view of the animation high school, and said,
“Well then… let’s go.”