Chapter 27. The Last Struggle
Two days later.
The presentation day arrived, without fail.
President Park Changsik, wearing an uncomfortable expression, could not understand how things had come all the way to a student vote.
“I’m building my building on my university, so why does it have to be this hard, damn it!”
From his president’s office, he looked out the window. The small sports field, empty like a barren desert, still grated on his eyes
Why were they making such a fuss about leaving that kind of thing as it was?
With the originally allocated budget, it was nowhere near enough, so the money he had scraped together from here and there wasn’t one or two won either.
And yet with that precious money, why did they have to build the building underground where you couldn’t even see it?
‘It’s literally throwing money onto the ground.’
If they built it underground, wouldn’t it collapse even once? Thinking that, President Park Changsik wanted Professor Bong to nod along inside, but after this man stared at the design report for a long time, what he said was,
‘Well, it’s mostly small sizes like futsal or a half-court basketball setup, and the lecture rooms and other convenience facilities are placed in modules that fit well, so structurally there shouldn’t be a problem. There’s also a structural engineer’s review attached, and above all, the plan is laid out very well. You can look forward to it.’
Instead, he only got Professor Bong’s infuriating answer telling him to look forward to it.
“This is why you have to hire all professors from the alma mater too. It’s not their school, is it? How can they vote for some weird proposal where you can’t even see the building. Bunch of idiots.”
President Park was irritated with Professor Bong’s attitude beyond measure.
Because of this sports center construction, he had even boldly decided to raise tuition starting next semester.
A lot of rice had left the storehouse, so shouldn’t he at least collect it back in taxes?
But when they were spending that much money, what was this about making something underground.
‘Why is there never an easy way!’
It was a building the students would use anyway. Money used to improve their learning environment. If it ended as a win-win for everyone, how nice would that be.
Anyway, this was all because of that guy, Professor Bong.
‘Not architecture, but he says he’s doing “art” and won’t listen to me? Seriously, I can’t talk with so-called fucking experts. A guy who at best just collects a paycheck…’
Knock, knock, knock.
“Who is it!?”
At President Park’s shout, the Facilities Manager awkwardly opened the door. Ever since the judging two days ago, President Park had been in a foul mood, so of course the Facilities Manager had no choice but to watch his face.
“President? The presentation is about to start… shouldn’t you go?”
“Presentation? Ah… right.”
Since it had come to this, President Park thought he would pick at this and that and push the students to vote for Mirim Architecture’s design. Because that side would be better for the students, and for everyone.
‘I’ll check it with my own eyes. What kind of bastards are the ones who shoved that kind of proposal in my face!’
In front of the entrance to the auditorium waiting room.
In the narrow hallway, sparks flew.
Mirim Architecture Director Ham Seokjun and Yeongjo Architecture Director Yoo-uk.
With blazing eyes, they glared at each other like they might swallow the other whole.
The two of them, who had already traded blows during the Gwangseong University design studio student screening, were extremely displeased.
And behind them, the team members were awkwardly facing one another. From the perspective of salaried workers, it was simply uncomfortable.
Director Ham had, in fact, already secretly obtained Yeongjo Architecture’s proposal through the Facilities Manager. And after looking it over, he came to understand, in his own way, how it had become a tie.
Objectively, it was better than he expected.
Of course, that did not mean he lacked confidence in their own proposal. He truly, still, believed that a large and flashy sports center had to go on this site.
Because it was a problem with no single correct answer.
“Director Yoo-uk? It’s like you clearly knew our plan, you brought a plan that’s the complete opposite. I don’t know how you got through, but fine, let’s say you got lucky up to that point. But your plan is rotten from the start. Let’s see today. It’s time for Mirim to kick Yeongjo aside.”
At Director Ham’s arrogant provocation, Director Yoo-uk let out a hollow laugh.
“Heh heh, we’re Yeongjo Architecture’s slop-bucket division anyway. But you’re supposed to be Mirim’s signboard, the direct-report division, aren’t you? If the direct-report division rubs up against the slop-bucket division and it ends half and half, if it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to even open my mouth. Anyway, I guess that’s Mirim Architecture’s level. You’ve still got a long way to go. A long way. Ahem!”
At Director Yoo uk’s words, Director Ham’s face twisted completely. Because of where they were, he did not say it out loud, but even with his father-in-law’s solid backing, to have things come to this point, at this stage it had to be seen as a Yeongjo-side win on points.
But you couldn’t end it like this.
“After the vote, we’ll see who’s laughing.”
“Let’s do that.”
With that, the two teams went into their respective waiting rooms. Before he even put his things down, Director Yoo-uk said strongly to Team Leader Seungjin.
“Hey. Team Leader Mo. Today, you can’t let that guy’s mouth corner lift even once. Got it!”
“Yes, we can’t. But is there something bad between you and them? You really hate them.”
“That bastard is Division 1… just like ours too.”
“Ah…”
“Division 1 bastards are all annoying, whether it’s here or there. Seriously. Tch!”
The students had already filled the auditorium.
They were murmuring as they waited for the presentation. But they did not look like they were in a good mood and no wonder because rumors were already widespread that tuition would be raised by a significant amount due to this sports center.
The student council and each department’s representatives gathered here had, strictly speaking, not come to decide which of the two designs should be built, but rather to make people reconsider whether Gwangseong University even needed that kind of sports center at all.
In 2002, the headline in the “Top 10 Campus Year-End News” was the struggle to freeze tuition.
The remnants of the IMF sweep had clearly divided the gap between universities too.
Seoul universities tried to bounce back through a new image improvement so they would not fall behind. The solution was facility expansion. This implicitly became the starting point that increased students’ debt.
Seeing those sensitive students, Assistant Manager Soomin started to feel tense for no reason.
Even she, who wasn’t going out to present, was shaking like this, so how did Team Leader Seungjin keep his composure every time.
Assistant Manager Soomin looked around at the team members preparing to present inside the waiting room, and she felt both reassured and envious at the same time.
People full of talent and passion, none of them lacking compared to others. She whipped herself, trying to match their pace, but she could only worry whether she was becoming dead weight.
“Soomin!”
“Yes, Director.”
“In your eyes, which of these two pictures seems better?”
As expected, even right up to the presentation, these PPT edits never ended.
“I think this one.”
“Yeah? You too? Ha. Maybe I’m getting old. Maybe my eyes are getting country.”
“Come on, Director. You said architecture is done with years of experience.”
“I did, but when I look at this Geonshin bastard, it feels like maybe not. Hahaha!”
While the two talked like that, Geonshin was matching the presentation materials with Team Leader Seungjin.
A design pool was something you could flip through alone, but in a big auditorium like this, you needed someone to flip the PPT according to the scenario.
The presenter had to move from one side of the auditorium to the other to win votes.
“Here, after I finish speaking, wait one beat, then flip. You have to give people time to understand this picture.”
“Yes! Understood.”
Team Leader Seungjin, a master of presenting, did not miss those detailed points and prepared them too.
Before they knew it, Mirim Architecture’s presentation was ready to begin. From outside the waiting room, they could hear the students murmuring.
They had prepared carefully, but Team Leader Seungjin was anxious all the same.
“Is this scenario really okay? It’s obvious what Mirim’s presentation will be like.”
“You said it before, Team Leader Seungjin. It’s all or nothing.”
“So this is what it feels like when someone looks at me. Seriously.”
Director Ham came out in a neat suit with slicked hair and stood in front of the students. With a sly smile, he greeted them and began his presentation. On the huge screen, Mirim’s powerful aerial view looked like it might leap out.
And you could see Director Ham’s proud expression.
“Your sports center! Gwangseong University’s future, and a new landmark!”
The students also reacted strongly to Mirim’s sports center. At the bigger and more magnificent appearance than they expected, their eyes widened. And no wonder. It was Beta Digital’s CG.
In a dark corner with his arms folded, President Park watched the reactions and smiled.
‘Of course. Like hell they wouldn’t fall for it. Hmph.’
To keep the mood going, Director Ham continued to show perspective images capturing every corner of the sports center. The intent was simple.
He would raise the status of the university they attended.
Watching Mirim Architecture’s presentation, Geonshin nodded.
As expected, it was not ordinary. Of course, the childish fonts and excessive animation effects in the PPT were just like the old days to Geonshin, but for students in 2002 who were just starting to use PPT, it was a whole new world.
Each time an icon popped out of the screen and images disappeared in pattern shapes, gasps came from the seats.
It was like it was teaching, “This is what PPT skill is!”
Expensive materials, programs to go inside, special equipment systems for energy saving, and even the benefits the school would gain.
In a short time, they compressed the maximum amount of information and presented it in detail.
Director Yoo-uk, watching that, spoke as if uneasy.
“We don’t have those kinds of tricks, are we okay? Looks like they like those gimmicks.”
“It seems like Mirim Architecture made the presentation flashy, targeting university students. It’s the age where they’re really into that stuff.”
Team Leader Seungjin was bothered too. Because Yeongjo Architecture’s PPT had no gimmicks at all.
‘Don’t tell me the votes swing because of PPT technique differences rather than the proposal differences.’
Sure enough, when Mirim Architecture’s presentation ended, applause poured out from the students.
The worried faces about tuition from earlier vanished, and they showed favor toward the sports center that was better than they expected.
“It’s better than I thought?”
“Seeing that picture, our school really is old.”
“Now that I look, there’s a cafe inside too. It’d be perfect to meet up and do group projects.”
“Wow, can we get that PPT file? It’s insane.”
It was the reaction Geonshin expected too.
No matter how the students, based on what he had interviewed, felt regret about losing the sports field, that was before seeing Mirim Architecture’s dazzling proposal.
Mirim Architecture had seized their eyes with intense aerial and perspective images the students would like.
And with high-level PPT skill, they had even gained the students’ trust in Mirim Architecture, so Geonshin thought, as expected, this wouldn’t be easy.
“Good! Hahahaha!”
President Park beamed at the appearance of his son-in-law, smiling broadly. Humans really were creatures swayed by visuals.
At that moment, Professor Bong, who had finished class and entered late, approached President Park. He gave a light greeting and said,
“It was an excellent presentation.”
“Of course! Naturally. Ahem.”
Showing his displeasure outright, President Park began to spin fantasies about how, once everything was wrapped up, he would “educate” Professor Bong, who had made a different choice even knowing what he wanted.
But whether he knew those thoughts or not, Professor Bong smacked his lips bitterly.
Because he had realized there was something missing from Mirim Architecture’s presentation.
“Now, next will be Yeongjo Architecture’s presentation.”
With the Facilities Manager’s announcement, Team Leader Seungjin and Geonshin quickly moved to their positions.
The students, apparently still affected by how strong Mirim Architecture’s presentation had been, did not seem able to focus much. The restless atmosphere continued like that, and then—
Maybe there was a problem with the equipment. While they were transferring the PPT file, music started playing from the laptop. It seemed the school’s prepared laptop was, of all things, connected to the speakers.
Loudly, a song rang through the auditorium. Team Leader Seungjin, looking flustered, looked at Geonshin, and Geonshin frantically pressed this and that button and shut the music off.
Maybe the music played for about seven seconds.
Team Leader Seungjin bowed his head and apologized.
“I’m sorry. It seems there was an issue with our PPT. We’ll start again right away.”
The students began murmuring at the clumsy progress.
President Park, as if he had been waiting for it, snorted and shook his head. An absurd mistake at such an important moment.
“Tch! You didn’t even do a rehearsal? Bunch of amateurs. Tsk tsk tsk.”
Director Ham, too, standing by the side of the stage, looked over at Director Yoo-uk on the opposite side and sneered. Director Yoo-uk scratched his head awkwardly.
After a brief commotion, the auditorium calmed down again.
But then, in the seats, a student who had been thinking hard about something said to his friend beside him.
“Hey. But that music just now… doesn’t it feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before?”
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