Of all the paintings I made, I didn't expect Rainier to choose the bridge I drew. After giving the drawing tube yesterday, he quickly wrote a two-page essay about X bridge, narrating how it was built for social connectivity but ironically became a dividing point between the low-income residents and the upper class in society because of gentrification. Reading it made me feel like I finally understood many things about urban development problems. Rainier read the essay while I stood beside him holding the 10 X 10 inches watercolor paper when we presented our output during Art class. I was initially nervous, but the atmosphere changed when Rainier began speaking on behalf of the two of us.
"Excellent work, Rainier Seo." Teacher Yoon commended him. At that cue, I thought it was over, so I finally calmed down and began to return to my seat. But Mrs. Yoon did not let me go quickly. "Please stay, Sky Lee. I still have a lot to ask you."
I stiffened and worried about what to answer if she asked me about gentrification. Rainier noticed it and tapped my back. "Relax," he whispered close to my ear.
That did not help me calm down at all as the hot breath brushed through my sensitive ear.
"So, Sky..." Teacher Yoon called my name, and I nervously responded, "Yes!".
She smiled, and her kind demeanor lightened my burden a little bit.
"Relax. I only want you to tell me how you painted this wonderful art piece."
"Ohh. I just did how anyone usually paints on paper. I had some watercolor papers at home, so I used watercolor for the base and primary layers and gouache to top it over... Ah, I drew an outline first, of course, before applying the colors."
"You make it sound so easy. Stay behind after this class so we can discuss joining Mirin National Painting Competition again, okay?"
I was taken aback by learning that someone recognized me in my prime years as an amateur artist. I did not know how to respond to that and ended up looking stunned like the others. With nothing else to do, we returned to our seats. The chairs and desks were arranged in a circular shape, and the presenters had all the center space of the classroom to show their output and read their essays.
Like a cliched scene in a primetime drama where the protagonist and antagonist wear the same dress, the next group who presented theirs, Warren Kang and Levi Kim, exhibited their acrylic painting of the same bridge where a silhouette of a woman dressed in white was standing on the railings.
We painted the same bridge, so no one couldn't help but compare us.
"As the previous group said, rapid gentrification occurs in the area, but it's not because of the bridge's existence. It's just a byproduct of development. If you've been to N bridge, you'd be apprehensive about passing by, and it's hard to imagine why this bridge still looks desolate while the surrounding neighborhood is developing at a fast pace. It was neglected along with the lives that passed away on this bridge. Hence, for this activity, we want to narrate the urban myth in N bridge where the mysterious woman dressed in a white dress took her own life with my painting and our informative essay." Levi explained first before letting Warren read their paper.
It was only a few words, but he completely discredited Rainier's points in his essay. Meanwhile, theirs explained that the bridge was neglected the same way society does not give enough attention to mental health and continuously vilifies those who resort to suicide like the ghost in the urban myth. If it was a contest, they'd already won. And this is Rosevale International School... so everything is a contest.
Suddenly, the phone in my pocket vibrated in the middle of the class. Rainier tapped my shoulder, and when I turned to look at him, he mouthed, "Read it."
I opened my phone and saw a text message notification. It was his message.
010-123X-456X: "In my defense, gentrification is still related to the bridge. The neighborhood used to be a slum, but the influx of high-income residents altered the community structures. The cost of living consequently increases, and those who couldn't afford the living costs left. The neighborhood near the bridge is where low-income families reside. There are development plans for the bridge, but the residents oppose them. I admit they have their point, but we're definitely not wrong here. Just wait... sooner or later, the residents there will be transferred, and the bridge and the park near it will be redeveloped. So, don't worry anything about it, okay? :P"
010-123X-456X: "I should have written it better though. T.T"
After cheering me up, Rainier raised his hand and asked them many questions as he tried to reason that what he wrote in the essay was not wrong. After that, he had more questions making the mood in the class get heated, watching the high-ranked students fight.
"Lastly, I want to ask about the existence of the urban myth about the lady in a white dress in N bridge. Yes, there have been reported incidents, but I don't recall having that specific urban myth related to N bridge and this city. Is the urban myth you discussed here really originating in that place, or just some made-up tell-tale you got somewhere else, like some cliched movie perhaps?"
The two could not answer back, and Teacher Yoon mediated to stop things from going out of control. "We're going off-topic. The important thing in this activity is portraying social issues through arts in a more artistic way and essay where we could explicitly tell the audience about the issue. And as we know, essays do not have to be very, very factual. They could be creative, provocative, and so on. Now, let's move on to the next—"
"There are many discussions about a ghost roaming in N bridge online. In the previous year alone, two suicides have been recorded on that bridge, adding to its infamy. Yes, the story about ghosts on the bridge is not that famous yet for it to be called an "urban myth," if we're being politically correct here. So, to answer the rude question, the urban myth we discussed here exists and is very factual. Mr. Seo, you, of all people, should know the truthfulness of this myth after what you did. Isn't that right?"
An eerie silence erupted. I was the only one who didn't understand why the response was like that. No one dared to scold Levi for going too far, and Rainier did not fight back further either. Lucky for us, the bell rang and saved us from this deadly awkwardness.
"Okay, class dismissed. Congratulations to everyone, you did great," Mrs. Yoon smiled, showing a lot of relief at that stressful class that had just thankfully passed. When she saw that I was observing her, she immediately called me before I escaped.
She gave me a poster about the contest and admitted that she already knew about me as soon as I was enrolled. Apparently, she became a fan after that contest she attended too.
"Why don't you join? Extra-curriculars can help you develop your transcript when applying for Fine Arts in college. And it will give you some merit points in some subjects. Joining can definitely help you," she persistently convinced me.
What she said was very enticing, and if I did not see Levi's painting earlier, I would have agreed immediately. Furthermore, aside from the insecurity, I still don't feel good at drawing. If not for the deadlines and provocations from Rainier, I wouldn't have drawn at all. And, to add to my list of excuses, I don't think I'd want to draw more after this. Call it art block or plain laziness; I don't think I can do it at all.
"I'm sorry, teacher, but I don't think I will."
Using the same drama plot, she grabbed her belly again and mumbled, "Ouch! It hurts! My classes are so stressful. It's hard to teach overcompetitive students, while some amazing painters here do not want to compete at all. Aww, I want to be a regular teacher soon. If only I could bring a student to win a national-level contest, My performance rating would go up, I'd get a stable job with higher pay, and I'd have full employee benefits. How I wish! Then I could surely support my baby when she grows up if my student agrees to participate."
My head hurts. She's pulling this drama again. It's too awkward to refuse her.
"Teacher, it's been over a year since I draw anything. When I was trying to draw for your assignment, it was too perplexing for me. And honestly, I don't draw as well as before. Add to that, it's hard to find inspiration for me to draw. I don't think I could do better even if I agreed to join. I'm really sorry." I honestly reasoned out.
She took my work and showed it to me. "Although this doesn't look like the best you've made, I feel a lot of inspiration from it. The longer I look at it, the more I get petrified for some reason as if a ghost actually exists in this."
"Are you sure you called for the right student? I did not paint a ghost, as you can see. Please don't add unnecessary interpretations."
"You can't stop me from doing so. That's how art works, it's open to interpretations. Anyway, I can wait. Why don't you think about it more? I'll give you one week. If you think you really can't, feel free to refuse me."