8. HE CONFRONTED HIM

“That’s all for today. See you again next week,” René ended his lecture today.

The students showed a happy expression before they started leaving the classroom.

The lecture went smoothly. He explained some drawing theory and the technique, and the students seemed to be interested in what he was explaining. He was slightly in doubt about that, though. He wasn’t sure whether the students were interested in the course of his handsome face.

No one could deny that his handsome face was like a magnet that attracted the people's attention. He didn't know whether he should be happy about that or not.

He was about to pack his things up, but then his sharp eyes caught a glimpse of someone walking toward the door. Subconsciously, he left his bag and rushed to catch up with the person.

He then stopped right in front of the person, making the said person halted his steps as well and looked up at him confusedly.

“What’s wrong, Mr. Huang?” The young man asked him with his puzzled look.

René looked awkward as he cleared his throat. “Can I have a talk with you for a moment?” He asked the clueless student.

The student, Alain Kim, glanced at his side and found Brielle Park gawked at the handsome painter.

“What do you want to talk about with me, Sir? You can talk to me now,” the student replied.

René peeked at the girl as well. It was obvious that he didn’t want the girl to be there with them. He wanted to have a private talk, but the student was insensitive. Or perhaps, he simply didn't care about his wish.

“I want to talk in private with you,” the painter said as he turned back to Alain.

He glared at the shorter boy as if trying to intimidate the innocent student.

The innocent student didn't look frightened, though. Instead, the shorter man scowled at him before he said, “You can talk to me here, Sir. Brielle is my friend. It’s okay if you want to talk to me here.”

René glowered at him even more. 'What's so difficult about talking with me alone?' He grumbled inwardly.

“Ehm...” Both men turned to the girl who suddenly broke the tense atmosphere. The girl looked a bit timid when she continued, “I’ll take my leave first. I have an appointment with my friend, so I have to go now.”

The handsome painter raised his eyebrow as he stared at the long-haired girl. He didn’t have a good impression of the girl, but it seemed that the girl knew him better than her friend. She could read the situation so well.

“I don’t know that you have an appointment with someone today,” Alain stated while staring at the pretty girl.

René could see the young girl became more awkward after she heard her friend’s words. He sighed heavily. The student named Alain Kim was truly an inconsiderate person.

“We should let Miss Park leave first. Her friend must have been waiting for her.”

Alain turned to the taller man and frowned at him. He was about to argue, but Brielle spoke again.

“Mr. Huang is right. I need to go now, Sir.” She then turned to her best friend. “I’ll call you later, Al. Bye.”

The girl then left the two men in the empty classroom. The two men looked stiff as they stood facing each other.

“She called you Al? Aluminum?” The painter broke the awkwardness.

Alain turned to him as he sighed. “It’s not aluminum,” he replied. “Anyway, what do you want to talk with me, Sir?”

It was time for René to prepared his mentality. He was not sure, but it was the only way for him to find out.

“Do you know a girl named Park Ah Reum?” The painter asked softly.

Unexpected to him, the student furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “Who is Park Ah Reum?”

The streaks of hope that living in his heart for a moment died in an instant when he heard the student’s question.

“You don’t know her?” The painter asked weakly.

He could see the student tried to recall the memory in his head as he frowned deeply. He patiently waited for an answer. Secretly he hoped the student could give him information about the girl.

“Sorry, Sir. I’ve never heard of that name before.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Can you try harder? Maybe she’s your sister or something. Her face looks a lot like yours. You guys are even like twins.”

Now, Alain looked annoyed. Why was the painter suddenly urging and forcing him? Hadn’t it been said clearly that he didn’t know the girl?

“I really don’t know who Park Ah Reum is. I’m sure that I don’t have any relatives with that name.”

“But, there really is a girl who looks like you, Alain. I’m serious.”

Alain scowled as he tried to hold back his anger. It was only then that he realized that the young painter had abandoned formality when he spoke to him. Somehow, it all made Alain annoyed even more, and he no longer wanted to give respect to the painter.

“Sorry, Mr. Huang. I don’t have time for nonsense like this. I’m sorry—”

“Wait.”

Alain’s steps were halted because a hand was holding his arm.

As if realizing that he had been presumptuous, René let go of Alain’s arm and mumbled an apology.

“I didn’t talk nonsense. I also have proof. I can show the proof to you if you—”

“Sorry, Mr. Huang. I don’t have time.”

And the younger man immediately walked away from the painter. Perhaps, in his eyes, the painter was no more than a mad man who talked nonsense.

Meanwhile, René couldn’t do anything and just stared blankly at Alain’s back that moved away from him so fast. He just lost his only clue.