Chapter 134

<The Eccentric Negotiator (3)>

He took a deep breath.

‘Deep breaths, deep breaths.’

Huff huff-.

He decided to run because his mom and dad liked it, but being in the spotlight still wasn’t pleasant. At least he didn’t faint, which was a relief. It was thanks to his mechanically polished presentation skills and experience.

Anyway, even though he was running for his parents, he hoped his intentions were pure. So he pondered. What could he do as student council president? What could he do for those kids?

He pulled the mic closer.

[I-.]

They say speeches are better when short.

It’s not just because the students were standing under the scorching sun, breathing in dust.

If the point gets across clearly, there’s no need to drag it out.

Trying to justify actions and weave narratives into messages tends to make things longer.

Jin-hyeok decided to skip the narrative and omit the persuasion process needed to establish justification. He needed to grab the voters’ attention, surpassing the popularity of other candidates.

[We’ve secured a budget through a partnership with a company based in Taeyang County.]

It was a bold statement, but he delivered it as calmly and plainly as possible.

He knew that starting off too strong or with exaggerated actions could backfire.

The indifferent students began to murmur.

Buzz buzz-.

“What’s a budget?”

“Is it the Chungnam budget?”

Damn these kids…

Jin-hyeok bit his lip.

[……]

They say dad jokes are on par with elementary school puns, and that was spot on. Even now, kids not in uniform had their hands in their pockets, snickering.

Suppressing a reflexive sigh at the sudden nonsense, Jin-hyeok recalled his next script. He deliberately didn’t prepare a speech to give the impression that he was fully in control of the situation. Sadly, no voters were paying attention to that.

‘I need to control the situation.’

I can’t fall for the sabotage of election disruptors!

It’s best to start with promises that can be implemented immediately.

First, I’ll make sure no one envies their friends over small things.

[From now on, free milk will be provided to all students.]

This promise was inspired by Jo Seol-chan.

Despite his mother Han Yu-young’s support, Seol-chan used the money for his grandmother’s medicine and hospital bills instead of himself. Jin-hyeok confirmed it wasn’t a small amount.

The murmuring grew louder.

The students stared blankly, exchanging opinions among themselves.

“Is this for real?”

“Is it a bribe?”

“Is the county budget supporting the milk?”

Ignoring the nonsense, Jin-hyeok pointed to the hill next to the playground with his left arm.

[Second, do you see the empty lot next to the playground?]

“What’s an empty lot? I see a swing.”

“Is a swing the fancy word for an empty lot?”

Now, even Jin-hyeok had built up a tolerance for lame jokes.

He decided to ignore the nonsense and stick to his prepared speech.

[A cafeteria will be built there soon. Our third-year students might not benefit much, but our juniors and high school students will be able to eat there using meal tickets. It will operate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The school and the operating company are negotiating, but the meal prices will be very affordable.]

By now, he thought it would have the impact of a nuclear bomb.

No more carrying two lunch boxes, and if you come early, you can even have breakfast. Plus, with a nutritionist on-site, balanced meals would be provided.

But.

“What’s a cafeteria?”

“Are we supposed to go there to drink milk?”

Oh my, these country bumpkins.

He had prepared a groundbreaking promise, but the audience’s response was pitiful. It was worse than kids in front of a medicine seller. At least the city-savvy friends who watched foreign teen dramas seemed to understand Jin-hyeok’s words.

Jin-hyeok wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Maybe it was the lack of response, but it felt several times harder than presenting at work.

[And the third promise-]

Coincidentally, the student council election day was also Disability Awareness Day. It was tradition to hold the election on the third Wednesday of April.

From the podium, Jin-hyeok glanced at a first-year junior sitting in a wheelchair on one side of the playground. He quickly averted his gaze and spoke clearly.

[Accidents can happen to anyone. No one knows when or how an accident they never wished for might occur.]

“What’s he talking about now?”

“They say he’s the top student, but he sure talks complicated.”

The first-year buzzcuts scratched their heads.

[But even those friends should be able to attend school without inconvenience. So, as you may know-.]

This time, Jin-hyeok stretched his arm behind him.

The high school building blocked the view of the middle school building.

But by now, the students had caught on to what Jin-hyeok was trying to say.

Construction was already underway to install elevators for disabled students, not just in the middle school but also in the high school building. Just two days ago, they had torn down part of the building’s side wall and put up safety fences to keep students away.

Someone had donated, and it turned out to be the local company Jin-hyeok mentioned.

Some students rubbed their noses with their index fingers.

[We’ve secured support for installing elevators connecting each floor to the corridors.]

Wow-! Clap clap-.

It wasn’t huge, but finally, cheers and applause erupted.

Did he push for this before running for election? Seeing the teachers clapping too, it must be true. Where else would you find a middle school third-year like this? The students, who had been joking around, finally showed serious expressions.

Along with that, Jin-hyeok’s tension eased.

‘Now I can breathe.’

Phew-, the reaction he wanted finally came, albeit a bit weak.

They didn’t react to food, but they cheered for elevators.

They’re good kids after all.

[Lastly, I have one more thing to say.]

The venue quieted down.

[I’m here to share the matters I’ve mentioned. I believe that as the owners of the school, we students should know what’s happening here. So, with the joy of sharing good news, I stand here today. I wasn’t interested in being student council president.]

“What’s he talking about now?”

“If he’s not interested, why is he running?”

“Is this an election or a joke?”

Ignoring the murmuring students, Jin-hyeok said what he wanted to say last.

It might sound like an old man’s nagging, but when else would he get to say this in front of students with a mic?

[Everyone feels alone at times. But humans can never live alone. I hope our friends and juniors will help the weak, avoid discrimination, and stand up to ensure no one is treated unfairly by the school or teachers-.]

He mixed past and present experiences appropriately.

Finally, everyone held their breath and perked up their ears.

[And if you grow into warm-hearted adults, I’ll have nothing more to wish for. If there’s anything I can do as president to help in that process, I’d like to give it a try during my remaining school years.]

That seemed like enough.

He wanted to shout, “The times have called me here!” but held back. A famous line about shouting his name to make a wish came to mind, but he shook his head.

While others were rambling, Jin-hyeok differentiated himself by not joining the nonsense.

‘I’m the only sane one here.’

Jin-hyeok is reserved.

Many students are afraid of him. Even high school seniors are scared, so how much more so his peers or juniors?

There were also sensitive remarks that could upset teachers. Some people, whether teachers or students, view Jin-hyeok with disdain. Knowing that not everyone in the world is loved, and not seeking that love, Jin-hyeok didn’t care.

After all, the free milk, cafeteria construction, and elevator installation were already decided. They would happen regardless of the election.

‘If I lose, I’ll feel bad for Dad.’

Dad had made calls and met people for Jin-hyeok’s requests.

The education office, county office, school, and even Hong Ki-jun.

He just wanted to live quietly, but his parents wanted a president son.

[Candidate number 5.]

He stepped back from the mic and bowed lightly.

A brief silence followed. It was quieter than when he greeted before the promises.

But soon, the reaction came.

Wahhhhh-!

Wheeeeee-!

Cheers, applause, and whistles. It wasn’t thunderous, but it was definitely encouraging.

Jin-hyeok’s brow furrowed as he gauged the reaction.

‘This isn’t enough…’

Elections are about momentum.

To ride the wave, you need a wind-catching strategy. Jin-hyeok had planted wind-catchers. It’s dirty, but they say elections are war. What’s dirty in war?

If it’s unfair, just win.

Jin-hyeok signaled to Lee Seung-hoon, who had a commanding presence among the middle schoolers.

“Son Jin-hyeok! Son Jin-hyeok!”

Lee Seung-hoon and Shin Woo-sung, the wind-catchers, chanted Jin-hyeok’s name with fists raised.

Son Jin-hyeok! Son Jin-hyeok!

Then, all the students in the playground joined in.

Whoa-.

Thanks to the wind-catchers, the response was hotter than expected, and Jin-hyeok’s eyes widened.

‘This feels like an election rally.’

It is an election rally.

Watching the playground turn into a full-blown election rally, Chae Kyu-ho chuckled.

“How can you beat the class president?”

Building construction, free milk support, and elevator installation.

Handing out gifts really is the best election strategy.

Chae Kyu-ho learned one more thing. While other friends didn’t know, Son Jin-hyeok was always a class president who gave him insights.

Jin-hyeok bowed to the playground and glanced at the junior in the wheelchair.

He couldn’t hear the conversation, but the junior was smiling brightly, chatting with a teacher.

He didn’t expect the kid to be moved.

He just wanted to help that friend, but somehow ended up running for student council president. Well, he did get caught up in election fever, but the trigger was that friend.

‘You’re not alone.’

Jo Seol-chan once asked him a question.

Why do you help me when others don’t even care?

Jin-hyeok doesn’t remember how he dodged the question back then.

He just wanted to say that small acts of kindness can keep someone from feeling lonely. He only experienced kindness when he stood tall and succeeded socially.

‘Feels good.’

If I become president, my parents will be happy, and if the elevator is built, that kid will be happy. I thought I’d get nothing from the deal with Dad, but the reward was the satisfaction of doing something good.

‘Should I promise artificial turf for high school?’

Optimistic about the results, he started planning the next election. Election fever is strong indeed.

He never knew that starting something and gauging people’s reactions could be this fun. It’s like a child seeking their parents’ praise.

Hehehe-.

*

Teachers also participate in student council elections. They’re part of the school, so excluding them would be strange.

The vote counting took place with the candidates, vice principal, and student affairs supervisor present.

Intermittent coughs and the rustling of ballots filled the broadcasting room.

Class presidents counted votes, while vice presidents tallied them, but Jin-hyeok, as a candidate, sat quietly.

Reflecting on his role as a student.

‘We were supposed to learn apple tree grafting in agriculture class today. What a waste.’

Looks like I’ll have to learn apple tree grafting on my own.

The ballot box opened, and numbers and names were called out.

“Son Jin-hyeok.”

“Number 3.”

“Chae Kyu-ho.”

As hands moved busily, the counting sped up.

The vice president of class 8, tallying votes on the board with the character for “correct,” asked the vice principal.

“He’s past the majority. Should we stop?”

“We should continue.”

For the sake of other candidates, it might be better to stop, but to transparently disclose the results to voters, 100% counting was necessary.

The vice principal’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as he muttered about democracy.

Student council elections are no different from popularity contests. He thought the candidate with promises akin to a politician’s would sweep the votes.

But.

‘No landslide?’

Even if classmates and schoolmates voted for him, the free milk support alone should have been enough to rally votes for number 5.

Considering past elections where winners had 70-80% of the votes, Son Jin-hyeok’s vote count was disappointingly low.

‘If he had consistently participated in athletics, the result might have been different.’

Since he only participated in his third year and was mostly inactive in his first and second years, it was inevitable that students would lose interest. The vice principal analyzed the reasons.

“I’ll announce the results now-.”

The head counter, the class president of third-year class 3, scratched his buzzcut and grabbed the mic.

Beep beep-.

[Uh, uh-.]

[Just announce it, man-.]

[Yes, yes-.]

Amidst Lee Byeong-se’s scolding, the results came through the speakers.

[Before announcing the results of the 45th Taeyang Middle School student council election, I’d like to express my gratitude to all students who exercised their precious votes to realize the values of democracy-.]

[Just announce it, man, why’s he making a speech?]

[Yes, yes. The third-year class president is elected-.]

[Call out the number and name, man!]

Out of 1,112 voters, Son Jin-hyeok received 699 votes and was elected as the 45th student council president. Chae Kyu-ho unexpectedly came in fourth, so Jin-hyeok decided not to feel bad. Well, it felt like Chae Kyu-ho’s votes went to Jin-hyeok, but no one knows the voters’ minds.

“Jin-hyeok, congratulations.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Other candidates congratulated Jin-hyeok without ulterior motives.

They also expressed gratitude for improving school welfare.

Shaking hands with each competitor, Jin-hyeok smiled graciously.

‘They’re good kids…’

He regretted not getting along better with them before, not worrying about his reputation.

He realized that in this small world of school, good grades and a clean record aren’t everything.

‘Even if I live again, the human world is tough.’

Without his dad’s help, winning would have been impossible.

***

Achoo-!

Son Kwang-yeon, enjoying tea time with Yang Gang-wook in the lounge, rubbed his nose.

It wasn’t sunlight or pollen allergies, so why the sudden sneeze?

Then, the head of business support interrupted their tea time.

“President, the town middle school wants to present a plaque of appreciation.”

Putting down his teacup, Son Kwang-yeon scratched his earlobe with a blank expression.

Avoiding Yang Gang-wook’s gaze across the table.