< The Thieves (2) >
You can’t fight a dog just because it ignored you.
There are idiots who say that if a dog bites you, you should bite it back, but thankfully, Jin Hyuk isn’t one of them. After subtly getting his revenge by glaring at Jang Gun-i, Jin Hyuk resumed his work.
“Can’t you do it all at once?”
“Nope.”
“But why not do it all at once?”
“I might forget where the hole is.”
Yoo Jin, this oppa has an incurable disease of not being able to find holes properly.
In his past life, he could never plug in a USB cable correctly on the first try, and it took him several attempts to find the right socket for appliances. His teammates would whisper among themselves, saying that even he has things he can’t do.
‘I heard you, you jerks.’
Speaking of holes, you can’t leave out pool. He once went to play pool with Executive Director Hong Soo-jung and got thoroughly beaten. Ah, that woman even wore professional gloves. She had her own cue too.
“Oppa? Can’t you just mark it with chalk?”
“That’s right…”
I should grab some chalk when I go to school on Monday.
Every time he answered a question, Jin Hyuk felt like his energy was being drained, but he didn’t miss a single one of his sister’s questions. It was inevitable that he felt more tired than when he was exercising.
“Oh! I think it’s done now!”
“Yeah. I guess there are no more holes.”
After sealing the second hole the same way and testing it again, no more bubbles came up.
Now, all that’s left is to insert the tube inside the tire and fit the tire onto the wheel.
After fully inserting one side into the wheel, the other side is pressed in using the handle of the pliers.
“Do you like mom more or dad more?”
“Both.”
Just because you have super strength doesn’t mean every task is easy.
It’s not all about brute force. Tasks that require fine muscle and joint movements are even more so.
“Hey, you’re supposed to pick one!”
“Still, both.”
You have to breathe life into your movements with rhythm and move regularly. If your concentration falters, the rhythm breaks, and everything falls apart. Holding onto his focus tightly, Jin Hyuk continued the rhythmic work, putting more strength into the hand holding the pliers.
“Do you like pretty sisters or ugly sisters?”
“Hong Soo-jung.”
Without even knowing what answer was coming out of his mouth, Jin Hyuk responded reflexively, pouring his heart into the task. But it’s not like he was just answering randomly. Hong Soo-jung was the only one who had stolen Jin Hyuk’s heart.
“Do you like tall sisters or short sisters?”
“Hong Soo-jung.”
Sometimes, he even held his breath to focus.
As his hands moved, Jin Hyuk’s brow furrowed, and his mouth clenched.
“Do you like skinny sisters or, uh, chubby sisters?”
It’s not just Jo Il-hun who ditches the neighborhood kids. Yoo Jin, imitating a scene she saw on TV, placed both hands on her chest to express something.
“Hong-.”
Jin Hyuk stopped his reflex and paused his work again.
While focusing on the task is important, as a responsible older brother, he couldn’t give an insincere answer to his sister’s question.
‘Let’s see…’
That’s a bit tricky, isn’t it?
Pretending to be serious, Jin Hyuk grabbed his chin, not realizing the soot on his hands was dirtying his face.
“Hehe, I should tell Soo-jung unni later that our oppa is like this.”
Hey.
*
If you were to name the invention that contributed the most to world peace, Jin Hyuk wouldn’t hesitate for a second to point to cola. It can prevent tattling and temporarily shut up a talkative younger sister.
Gulp-.
Even as she winced from the burning sensation in her throat from burping, Yoo Jin looked happy.
“Hehe, cola is good for you.”
It must taste good.
Huff huff-.
While hugging the cola bottle and sipping it sparingly, Yoo Jin kept her eyes on her brother, who exhaled with every effort.
Watching him slowly turn the wheel of the laid-down bicycle and move his hands continuously, it looked like a fun task.
So.
The cola’s effect didn’t last long.
“Is it harder to take it out or put it in?”
Oh man, I’m exhausted.
The bicycle and Yoo Jin each steal Jin Hyuk’s time and energy.
It’s the price of affection, but Yoo Jin is a master at draining her brother’s energy.
“Which is harder?”
Oh, you’re so cute, but you don’t know when to stop.
I don’t mind her chattering by my side, but I wish she’d vary her energy levels a bit. Always being high-energy is draining when you’re around her.
Once again, the flow of work was interrupted.
Sigh-. Another deep breath.
“Huh? Oppa, is it easier to take it out or put it in?”
Finally, Yoo Jin shook her brother’s arm, urging him to answer.
“Huh? Huh? Which is harder, easier?”
Pop-.
The tire he had just managed to fit slipped out again.
Jin Hyuk wanted to cry.
*
When they were younger, Choi Mi-kyung used to do this kind of thing often.
Meaning, she would say things that drained people’s energy without a care.
She would open the bus window and shout at Jin Hyuk, who was running to school.
– “Isn’t it tiring to run to school every day?”
– “Hey! If you can keep up, try following me!”
– “Open your mouth! Dust is getting in!”
While it was nice to see her friend laughing and having fun, Jin Hyuk would curse inside every time.
Not because he hated her, but because she was annoying. Is that it?
Yoo Jin isn’t annoying.
Anyway, I have to answer this curious sister’s questions.
“Hmm? Well… I think taking it out is a bit harder?”
After wedging the pliers’ handle between the tire and the wheel, you have to pry it off, which is no easy task. Even though he’s gotten used to it now, holding the wheel in place while using the pliers to widen the gap and pull it out was a lot of work at first. It’s a good thing the bicycle is an inanimate object and just lies there quietly.
‘If it moved around and resisted, I might have lost my temper and hit it.’
Sigh-.
Jin Hyuk sighed as he vigorously worked the upside-down pliers.
“Thinking about it, putting it in might be harder too…”
There’s nothing as boring and tiring as redoing something you’ve already done.
Why is it so tight? Every time I push it in and pull it out, it clings so tightly, it’s harder than pulling a stick out of a rice cake hole.
Wetting the pliers’ handle to continue the work, Jin Hyuk glanced at his sister and Moon Seok-il.
Maybe the work isn’t going well because my sister is watching.
Moon Seok-il, sitting on the bench with his arms crossed, is also distracting.
‘That guy just laughs without helping.’
Did I get heatstroke from the harsh autumn sun?
*
He replaced the rubber brake pads and adjusted the clearance. He applied grease and oil to the chain and turned the pedal by hand.
Clatter-.
The sound of the gear and chain meshing perfectly was soothing.
He also tightened the brakes.
Screech-! The bicycle responded with a smooth friction sound.
“It’s like new, right?”
“Nooo-?”
“I see…”
Telling the truth is a good attitude. Like your oppa.
But you don’t have to widen your eyes so much to deny it.
The awkwardness was so overwhelming that it almost hurt his feelings.
True to its name, Iron TB, the frame was peeling and rusting in places.
It only has 7 gears. These days, kids ride 21-gear bikes.
The bike Jin Hyuk chose was an early model with no chain gear, only a 7-speed sprocket on the rear wheel. A bike with a gear shift lever only on one handle.
He didn’t buy this model out of choice. It was the only one left at the local bike shop, so he had no choice but to take it.
Maybe it was waiting there alone just to meet Jin Hyuk. He gave it meaning, grew attached, and has been riding it for nearly three years.
He still doesn’t want to replace it.
‘Because it’s my first bike.’
He thought about buying a new one, but it’s hard to let go of something you’re attached to.
Even Jin Hyuk, who isn’t materialistic, is full of affection for things he’s grown fond of.
As if waiting for the bike repair to finish, the village hall speaker crackled.
[Ah, ah-. This is Kim Chun-sik, the village head, making an announcement-. The village festival will be held as scheduled this evening. All residents, no matter how busy you are with work, please attend without fail-.]
The news was that the village would hold a festival on Saturday evening.
All the villagers had already been informed, and it was an invited event.
‘Finally!’
It’s a lively celebration for Jo Il-hun, who’s getting married next week.
Probably everyone except Choi Tae-yang, who’s in college, will be there.
Of course, Choi Mi-kyung will be there, and so will Kim Eun-jung, who’s been busy with high school, and other classmates like Lee Jae-young and Park Jeong-im.
‘Let’s see…’
Jin Hyuk checked his watch.
The uncles are probably already setting up tents and preparing, but it’s still early afternoon, and there’s plenty of time.
Jin Hyuk waited for the next announcement.
[- Also-, as I’ve emphasized many times-, recently, dog thieves have been rampant-, so all residents, please make sure to secure your gates well-.]
The message Jin Hyuk requested also came through.
[- Also, for houses without walls-, please-.]
[Ah-, why do you keep saying ‘also’!]
[Ah, I’m broadcasting, so just wait a minute-. Also, Jin Hyuk asked me to make this announcement. So, the script is a bit rough-.]
Are you doing a radio show…?
He sighed but felt relieved. Even Yoo Jin, who might not understand, was shaking her head with her eyes closed.
‘At least I’m not the only one embarrassed.’
The shame caused by foolish adults always falls on the children.
The bickering voices of Village Head Kim Chun-sik and Youth Association President Yuk Young-gu split the early autumn countryside air. Those free-spirited uncles don’t seem to care what the villagers think of their broadcast.
[Anyway, also, for houses without walls-, please leave your dogs at Son Kwang-yeon’s house for a day-.]
[Is Son Kwang-yeon your friend? Don’t just casually call the CEO of a big company by his first name!]
[Also, we’re about the same age, so in the community, just roughly-.]
Kim Chun-sik and Yuk Young-gu are three years older than Son Kwang-yeon.
They didn’t have much direct interaction, and after Son Kwang-yeon’s social success, it became even harder to get along.
[Hurry up and finish!]
[Bang!]
It seemed Yuk Young-gu had slammed the door and left.
[That brat doesn’t know how scary the village head is, just keeps messing around-. He’s going to get beaten up until he’s black and blue-.]
Kim Chun-sik grumbled and continued the broadcast.
[Also-, please leave your dogs at Jin Hyuk’s house for a day-, and the food will be provided there, so you don’t need to bring anything-.]
[Bang!]
[Just finish up and come out!]
***
The black motorcycle he saw a few days ago will definitely come back.
Jin Hyuk was sure of it.
‘He made eye contact with me and ran away.’
Who knows what a thief is thinking, but isn’t it natural to target a wealthy neighborhood with lots of dogs? Since you never know when they’ll return, it’s only natural to be careful when leaving the house. At night, when people are asleep, it’s better to bring the dogs into the front yard and lock the gate.
Anyway, life is a series of pain and suffering.
Now, on top of everything, we have to worry about dog thieves.
“Oppa, let’s play rubber band before we go to Uncle Jjorang’s house.”
“Huh? Should we?”
The siblings’ eyes lit up simultaneously.
It was the ignition of their will to make themselves hungry and eat a lot of delicious food.
You can’t steal seeds, but you can’t hide blood, they say. The siblings inherited their pig-like appetite from their family.
‘The market is the best side dish, and moderate exercise stimulates appetite!’
Therefore, playing rubber band means you can eat delicious food until you’re stuffed. Truly, there’s no flaw in a genius’s logic.
Jin Hyuk set up the rubber band on the bench legs and around his calves for his sister, just like he used to do when Hong Soo-jung came over to play.
“Alright, shall we start?”
“Don’t laugh too much if I mess up, it’ll make me sad.”
“Haha. Got it. I’ll only laugh a little.”
Although she learned rubber band games from Hong Soo-jung and Choi Mi-kyung, Yoo Jin, who has no female peers in the neighborhood, plays alone. Her clumsy skills are both amusing and cute, so her mom and Jin Hyuk gladly help with her games.
“Over the comrade’s corpse, forward, forward-. Nakdong River, take care- we are advancing-.”
“Don’t you have another song?”
Yoo Jin’s voice is pleasant to listen to, but the emotional content of the lyrics is a bit much for a child to sing.
You know, it’s a bit much, isn’t it?
“Write me a letter when you go to Naseong-.”
“Dubiduba- High Mat-.”
Ah! That was close.
Jin Hyuk quickly cut off the song by taking a breath.
Without realizing it, he almost sang along and transcended eras. It could have even turned into stealing future creations.
‘TV is scarier than I thought.’
It’s not just TV’s fault, but even events that shook the world are fading from memory, while lyrics exposed repeatedly through media subtly invade people’s minds and try to control their consciousness. I can vaguely understand why people who blindly believe in cheap and sensational articles act so foolishly.
“Yoo Jin, that song is too old. You know a lot of cartoon theme songs, don’t you?”
Hmm-. What’s good?
After pondering for a while, Yoo Jin quickly changed her song choice.
“Beyond the blue sea, far away- new hope surges-. High in the sky, high in the sky- clouds bloom-.”
That’s better.
Jin Hyuk also liked the song, so he sang along.
“Here, the reborn Earth opens its eyes. Greeting the dawn, ah!”
He hit a wrong note.
Ah, Yoo Jin. The octave is too high. Yoo Jin has a vocal range that even the blue squid alien from The Fifth Element couldn’t follow.
Despite her brother’s interference, Yoo Jin showed professionalism by maintaining her tension.
“Swim through the rough waves-. Run, kick the ground with all your might-. The beautiful pig-.”
It’s ‘land,’ not ‘pig.’
Seeing her always swallowing her saliva at that part, Yoo Jin must be doing it on purpose.
Jin Hyuk and Yoo Jin’s rubber band game continued until dusk, when the village hall announced that the festival preparations were complete.
‘I’m hungry.’