---
Damian La Vinci is the host of the dinner that I went to. He is a sculptor, a collector, and the owner of the well-known La vendemmia. Surprisingly, I won a sculpture called the Cuori di Lu Esi. It is a sculpture of the human heart.
What's even more important is that Iseul finally showed up for me again. But she was summoned by someone inside the venue. Blood was all over her body, proving that she's really in trouble.
I felt overjoyed before dinner started because I was surrounded by such great artists. And they also acknowledged the painting that I created. But knowing that one of them is a suspect, my heart was immediately filled with anger. I was towering with rage.
Howard Brent is Sai's father. He's the painter that I admired for his abstract paintings and how he never accepted commissions. Surprisingly, he invited me to go to the East, and I accepted that offer. I will definitely search for Iseul's home once I get there.
I also met Dae Jin, who was the Owner of Jin's Misulgwan. That's where I found Iseul's sculpture before.
Iseul told me to trust no one. The three of them can be potential suspects for creating anima perdutas. All I know is that the bastard is on this island, and I even breathed the same are with that scoundrel. I just need to find more clues.
-Y. Chavez
---
I sketched Iseul's face on the next page. As expected, she didn't appear again. All I ever did was worry about her, I feel so bad that I couldn't do anything for now.
The following morning, I left earlier to explore art galleries I hadn't been to before. I dragged my feet through ten galleries for more than five hours. I left the final exhibit full of disappointment after being unable to uncover anything concerning Iseul.
I covered my face while sitting on a table inside the Korean restaurant that I've been to before. I just ordered my lunch, and I'm waiting for it right now. I feel frustrated and pressured, and it feels like time is running out.
"Gwaenchanayo?"
Nari's sitting in front of me and I didn't notice her right away. I removed my hands from my face.
"Halmeoni, I didn't notice you... mianhe. How are you doing?" I asked.
She laughed. "I'm the one who should be asking you that. Gwaenchana?" she repeated what she asked.
"I don't understand," I said apologetically.
"It means are you okay? You looked really down when I saw you," she said.
Really? Was it too obvious?
"I'm okay. I'm just... tired of walking."
My order was placed on the table. The waitress even asked if Nari was bothering me, so I shook my head immediately. I just ordered shrimp fried rice, some glazed potato marbles, and fishcakes.
"You're not with your chingu," she said, referring to Sai.
"She's only available on Fridays. I can't disturb her at work." I started eating. I wouldn't mind if Nari was in front of me.
"I see. Why are you tired of walking? Where have you been too?" she asked.
I smiled bitterly. "I'm just searching for something to help your chingu." I can't tell her Iseul's in big trouble. I don't know how she'll react, and I don't want her to worry too.
"Thank you for helping her but you must be overworking yourself with that. Don't forget to rest after your tasks, Arraseo?"
I nodded. "Of course."
She left afterwards since her granddaughter called her. I checked the list that I have on my phone to see if I missed any art galleries here in the north.
I gasped. I've been to all of them already, except for one. La vendemmia that Damian La Vinci owns... I haven't visited there yet; I'll try tomorrow morning since it's too late to go there today.
After eating, I told Nari that I was going home already. I've actually become friends with her too because she's the second person who knows about what I've been doing on this island. I went back to my apartment and took a quick shower.
My phone was ringing when I glanced at it on my bed. I immediately answered when I saw Luke's name.
"Hello?"
"Yohan, sorry for randomly calling. Are you available later for a drink?"
"Sure, I have no plans later; I can drink with you."
"Nice! Where are we drinking? Oh, sorry, I should be the one telling that!" I heard him laugh. Is he drunk already? "Just there in my apartment. I'll call you later; I'm still at work."
I stayed inside my apartment until nighttime. I distracted myself by painting, but I eventually threw my drafts away. Nothing's looking good; everything's just... dull and monotonous.
Someone knocked on my door, and it was Luke. We went inside his apartment, and I gasped when I saw what he had prepared. There was alcohol on his coffee table, along with a bunch of food that I assume he cooked.
"Is there a celebration?" I asked and sat on the sofa. He handed me a glass with alcohol in it.
"No." I immediately looked at him when I heard him sniffing. "My girlfriend broke up with me."
"Oh, crap. I'm sorry to hear that." I drank some alcohol, and he finished a bottle already! "Hey, you should drink slowly."
He laughed a bit. "I have a high alcohol tolerance. But, damn! She broke up with me because..."
"Because?"
"I had no time for her. She said I was always cooking, cooking, and cooking. What does she even expect? That's my work here!" he rested on the sofa. "I make time for her whenever my schedule at the restaurant is free, you know?"
I pursed my lips while hearing his story. As someone who has never been in a relationship, I don't freaking know what to say. I was just nodding my head the whole time! And eventually giving him love advice without actually experiencing it personally.
I went back to my apartment after five bottles. Wow, I feel lightheaded, but I was able to walk by myself. Luke's already sleeping there, and I also cleaned up our mess. I'm drunk; I can feel it.
"No, I'm not drunk. I'm sober. I'm stupid!" I announced to nobody.
I saw a pencil on the sofa, and I grabbed it, laughing at myself.
"Iseul, I'll draw you! He... he... he..." I dozed off to sleep after using the pencil that I saw.
I woke up with a terrible headache, and it's just midnight. I went to the kitchen to grab something to drink because I felt dehydrated. I placed the glass on the sink and walked towards my bedroom.
"What a terrible, terrible thing to do." I heard from someone.
I'm already sober, I definitely heard someone inside my room. I opened the door slowly and took a peek.
My heart stopped beating when a man also peeped through the door. Our eyes were so close to me that I took a step back. FUCK!
"Look who we have here!"
He went through the door and stood in front of me. He was grinning, and it was creepy. Another anima perduta is inside my apartment. How did he get here?!
"Who are you?" I ran towards the living room, remembering that I grabbed a pencil before sleeping.
I looked at the paper on my coffee table, and I closed my eyes in disappointment. I fucking drew that guy when I was drunk! What a stupid thing to do!
"I'm here to tell you more about the girl you're helping."
I looked at him, who was so close to me. I couldn't blink. He was holding his knees so we could be on the same level. The smirk on his face is still there, and his eyes were fixated on mine.
"How did you know about that?" I frowned.
"You must stop helping her. She's the one behind everything that's happening. Iseul's the bad one."
"What did you say?" I gritted my teeth.
"You are helping the one who caused everything to fall apart." He declared.