Semantic Error

When he opened the drawer, he saw a familiar cover. He had been using that design for years, so he couldn’t help but recognize it. It was a note that Jaeyoung had stolen 2,000 won from Sangwoo. That day, Sangwoo had ripped the picture that Jaeyoung had drawn. That was during the first week of the semester, so at some point, six weeks had already passed. It had been the time when Jang Jaeyoung had followed Sangwoo around like a stalker and tormented him. Sangwoo opened the notebook while feeling a strange longing.

There were quite a few sketches on the note that needed to be thrown away. There were some sketches of cars and guns, and apart from those, everything else was of people. They were all wearing black ball caps. The skin around their eyes were torn and the dark circles came all the way down to the cheeks. Only the eyes were large and the body was as skinny as a tree branch. They had been drawn as double-figures. After flipping through a few more pages, he found a <Killing C S W> series.

‘When did he draw this?’

In the four-cut cartoon, Sangwoo, who had been cut off at the waist, had died in agony, turned into dust after swelling up, and bursting like a balloon.  His cap had been taken away as well. It was a grotesque setting, and Sangwoo giggled at it as it was drawn in a comical way. On the last page, unlike Jaeyoung’s usual style of drawing, the profile of a man wearing a cap was realistically drawn like a photograph.

‘Is this supposed to be me?’

He had drawn the person so good-looking to the degree that you’d even believe it was an idol singer. The eyelashes were densely packed, the nose was straight, and the mouth had a crescent shape and looked soft. The neck was especially pronounced with the help of lighting and shade. The tendon that extends all the way to the shoulder was bulging, and there was even a mole on the neckline. Sangwoo looked down at his shoulder and for the first time discovered that there was a mole there.

“Hey. Does Jang Jaeyoung know you’re here? Don’t just sit there. Try calling him,” said the poacher from behind.

Sangwoo put the notebook back in the drawer and closed it.

“I don’t have anything planned today, so I don’t mind waiting.”

“What if he doesn’t come? I’m asking since I’m uncomfortable. Do you want me to do it for you?”

“Do whatever you want.”

The poacher made a deflating sound with her mouth and picked up her cell phone. Shortly after, she made a call. He heard a loud ring tone since the speaker was on.

Ring… ring… ring…

The ring tone was heard once, twice, thrice, piling up and adding to the tension.

Ring… ring… ring…

Jaeyoung didn’t answer the call. The same was true even after two more times. The poacher cursed while exclaiming “Let’s see who wins,” but the result was the same even after calling a few more times.

“I think he isn’t picking up on purpose since it’s too bothersome. Hey, you try calling.”

Sangwoo obediently complied with her request. When he called Jaeyoung and handed over his cell phone, the poacher turned the speaker on again.

Ring… ring… ring… ring… ring… ring…

– Hello?

”What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you answering my calls!”

– Are you with Sangwoo?

The poacher raised her darkly made up eyes.

“Where are you?”

– At home. I asked if you’re with Chu Sangwoo.

“He came to the studio and he isn’t leaving. He’s just sitting here doing nothing wearing a sour look on his face! Come and take him away cause I’m really uncomfortable. Drive here immediately.”

A low sigh was heard through the speakerphone.

– Got it.

That was the last thing he said before hanging up.

“Anyway, it seems like it’s easier for me to deal with this bastard. He didn’t answer the phone when I called, so he intentionally didn’t pick up.”

The poacher returned his cell phone after a long time of fuming. Sangwoo grabbed the device and put it back in his backpack and took out a book.

“He…..y. Chu Sangchu.”

“Please accurately memorize other people’s names.”

He must have told her that ten times by now. Sangwoo tried to recall the poacher’s name, but he didn’t have any information stored. Then, he saw a golden necklace on her neck that read Yoona Choi.

“Do you want me to call you Choi Yoo-choi?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Then I’ll call you that from now on. Choi Yoo-choi.”

“…”

From the look on her face, Sangwoo made her uncomfortable. Well, he didn’t think it’d be a good look since all he remembered was arguing with her when he came to this place. One didn’t need to have a good relationship with such a stubborn human anyway.

“Did you guys fight? Something… You haven’t been around lately and Jang Jaeyoung’s state has also been odd.”

“Please get rid of your need for meaningless conversations. You can pretend I’m not here and keep doing your work. Choi Yoo-choi.”

“I’m just curious. You fought, right? Why did you fight?”

“We didn’t fight. And it’s none of your business, Choi Yoo-choi.”