Chapter 16 (1) - The Mysterious Art Museum


    Even though it was just a dream, I mourned for him who was about to face death.


    The perspective in dreams seems to change freely, but I wondered how I would feel seeing him in his youth? No, there''s Monica''s exam tomorrow, would it be helpful to see the sessful and thriving Mucha that I wanted to seest time?


    Or am I getting ahead of myself drinking the celebratory ''kimchi soup'' before having that dream again? [T/N:


    Dont drink the kimchi soup first (  )!


    ]


    The digital media art exhibition is still scheduled to feature Alphonse Mucha, and still, no one is there.


    Everything remains the same, yet here I am, feeling disoriented. I hesitated in front of the museum for a moment, then entered.


    I didn''t go there looking for hints or answers to the problems I''m facing.


    Maybe it was a kind of escapism chosen in a hopeless situation?


    As I familiarly bought a ticket and went downstairs, as always, the grand music was ying. It seems I entered in the middle ortter part of the program this time.


    The wall disying the fascinating women Alphonse Mucha always drew.


    The enchanting woman captures the viewer''s attention with her flowing hair, beautiful decorations, and fluttering clothing.


    Space beautifully illuminated with numerousmercial advertising posters he created during his lifetime, including biscuit ads, publishing house ads, bleach ads, beer, bicycles, etc.


    I chuckled to myself as I looked around the empty auditorium.


    ''It''s really going to fail here.''


    But it shouldn''t.


    I haven''te here often, but it''s a ce where my heart finds peace.


    Having such a ce of tranquility for only five thousand won is a great blessing for me. It would pain my heart to lose this ce.


    Sitting next to the rock sofa where I always sit, with my belongings ced beside me, I leaned my chin on my hand and watched the paintings adorning the walls and ceiling, waiting for the picture of the Zodiac constetions.


    ''Those constetions.''


    The lights of the constetions turn on and stop at one. And then I dream.


    ''The first time I saw the picture, it stopped at Leo.''


    If you list the twelve constetions in order, they are as follows: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces. If this were a person''s life?


    ''When it stopped at Leo, I went to his 30s.''


    And the second time to his time just before death. That time, it stopped at thest position, Pisces. If there is a connection between them, maybe when I see the Zodiac picture, I could know which moment of the dream I would go to.


    I waited for the picture, chuckling and washing my face with my dry hands.


    ''I''m not crazy, what kind of imagination is this?''


    Yes, it was just a dream.


    I fell asleep looking at his painting and dreamt something rted.


    There''s no way the museum is talking to me and forcing me to dream, right?


    I shook my head from side to side and propped my chin, staring at the wall.


    Then, the image of the Zodiac constetions came to mind again.


    With a hopeful heart, I stared intently at the constetions as the lights started toe on again.


    Lights came on in each constetion one by one, and after thest Pisces constetion shined and flickered, all twelve lights came on and went out at once.


    Finally, the lightes on in one constetion.


    I narrowed my eyes and murmured.


    ''Pisces again.''


    If my hypothesis has credibility, I will dream again, and the Alphonse Mucha I meet in that dream will be him just before his death.