Chapter 229

Choice (3)

***

Min Yong-rak, who was visiting Thailand for the first time, kept clicking the camera shutter while sweating profusely.

“Ugh! It’s so hot!”

He was walking around with a heavy backpack.

Clearly, his tadpole-like belly was playing the role of an energy source.

‘Is it because he’s still young?’

His knees looked strong too.

Jin Hyuk, who had no interest in sightseeing, waited for Min Yong-rak to enjoy himself fully.

It felt like the main character had changed, but since they were already out, it was good for anyone to have fun.

“Jin Hyuk, look over there! Wow! It’s amazing!”

He didn’t seem to realize that his own belly was even more amazing.

“Should we eat that?”

“Yes.”

He couldn’t resist food.

Even the quiet team doctor nodded positively.

“Excuse me.”

Min Yong-rak kept apologizing, while Jin Hyuk and the doctor followed, mumbling words they didn’t understand.

Min Yong-rak, who was cutting through the crowd like a turtle ship with his majestic belly, looked back.

His face, flushed with heat and excitement, looked happier than ever.

“But shouldn’t Jin Hyuk manage his condition?”

If he can’t even speak.

Shouldn’t he at least look worried when saying such things?

“Wow. How great would it be if Jin Hyuk set a world record this time? No, no. A universe record.”

Min Yong-rak stretched his arms like a baby with short arms.

It was a nuisance in a crowded place, but the passersby skillfully avoided him.

‘That would be nice.’

But Jin Hyuk knew in his heart.

With his current condition, he couldn’t take the next step.

‘Such things don’t even happen in movies.’

Track and field isn’t a point event, so you can’t rely on luck.

It’s not a martial arts match where you compete with other athletes’ skills, so you can’t expect biased judgments.

It’s a primitive movement where you resist gravity and wind with only your body.

That’s why it’s honest.

*

At the January competition in Thailand, his record remained the same.

It wasn’t unexpected, but why couldn’t that 0.01 second be reduced?

[New Competition Record-.]

Whatever the competition record was.

Huuuu-.

The hot air was unwelcome, but his body felt light, though the lack of explosive power was frustrating. Anyone who has poured their all into an extremely short time would understand Jin Hyuk’s feelings.

‘Condition management isn’t easy.’

Maybe it’s because of the foreign land with a different climate from home.

Like any junior athlete, the short stay made rhythm management and training difficult.

The only encouraging thing was that he easily overwhelmed athletes from Japan, China, and the Middle East, who were classified as strong countries.

They must have gritted their teeth watching the tall Korean athlete’s back. Especially the athletes from Qatar and Bahrain, who looked too tall and old to be juniors. Still, they were shorter than Jin Hyuk.

[Jin Hyuk!]

It was an international competition he had prepared for, but in Asia, there was no match for him. Both in physique and speed.

“Congratulations! You’re a good runner! I’m very deeply impressed by your victorious run!”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

Congratulations, you ran like hell.

Yeah, thanks.

Well, everyone knows English.

The Indian-looking competition chairman raised his thumb and patted his chest. Jin Hyuk’s sprint must have left a deep impression.

Shaking hands with him, Jin Hyuk finally felt like he was abroad. Except for the day he arrived, he had been living between the accommodation and the stadium to maintain his condition, and had no interaction with other athletes, so it was understandable.

Jin Hyuk scratched the gold medal with his nail. Biting it would look too uncool.

Eek-.

‘This is just gold-plated.’

He had a vain fantasy that international competitions would give pure gold.

Fantasies tend to remain just fantasies.

‘Today was really a waste. I should change my spikes.’

The spikes provided by SI Sports didn’t grip his feet well.

They were fine indoors, but the environment must have caused subtle changes. An athlete must be sensitive to such small changes.

‘Find the right shoes, change the training method…’

He checked what he needed to do while listening to new music.

He couldn’t place his right hand on his left chest. Since he competed as an individual, the national flag wasn’t raised.

After the award ceremony, he immediately went to where Min Yong-rak and the team doctor were waiting.

He glanced around, but the national team athletes who had competed with him seemed to have already left for home.

“Well done! You worked hard! But it’s still a bit disappointing.”

“I’m fine.”

He didn’t feel like he had reached his limit again.

He knew that progress isn’t a straight or curved line but a series of steps. Like suddenly growing taller during a vacation.

Problems and worries that seemed about to be solved but weren’t, suddenly get solved, and things you couldn’t remember suddenly come to mind when you lie down to sleep. The threads of thought also unravel unexpectedly, like being struck by lightning.

He decided to enjoy the fact that he was playing solo among athletes who managed their rhythm for competitions over years or seasons. Of course, with so many eyes on him, he had no intention of doing just enough.

“Let’s go home.”

“Yeah-, this time, be careful with your head on the plane.”

Ugh-.

Jin Hyuk, who let out a hollow laugh, rubbed his forehead for no reason.

Maybe his record didn’t improve because he hit his head on the plane.

*

There were more reporters at the airport than expected.

He answered the interviews carefully so as not to sound political.

“I don’t know much about the issues with my agency or federation, and it doesn’t seem like something I should mention.”

“As a student, I just conveyed the very basic intention to study and take exams.”

“Yes, it’s a pity the national flag wasn’t raised.”

He finished the interview quickly for his parents, who were sending proud looks from behind the reporters, and his siblings, who were watching him from their parents’ arms.

“Alright, alright! The athlete is tired. Detailed interviews will be handled by the company’s official statement. Thank you, reporters!”

Thanks to Min Yong-rak, Jin Hyuk could reduce the psychological discomfort of refusing reporters’ questions.

*

「The Korean high school student dominating Asian short-distance track」

「The second Sohn Kee-chung, who suddenly became a stateless athlete」

While some articles mixed excitement and sentimentality.

「The athlete shows off his skills, but SI reaps the fame」

「Taxes leaking to a stateless athlete」

There were also provocative articles attacking Yoo Se-ra.

They were written by reporters from media outlets that didn’t show up at the airport.

‘What are they talking about? I didn’t receive a single penny of support.’

He lightly ignored the situation where the media fought among themselves, and public opinion was sharply divided.

After all, to ordinary citizens, it was just their own league, not even a storm in a teacup.

‘I’ll just enjoy myself.’

Enjoying himself meant sweating more than others, focusing on every movement, and thinking repeatedly. Training the same way as others would only lead to similar destinations.

How to enjoy.

Now, Soo-jung, who called frequently about once a week, said that. It was when Jin Hyuk asked if it wasn’t tough attending so many academies.

– It’s fun. Everything is just fun. There’s no specific purpose, but if I don’t do even one, I feel regretful, and if I take a day off, I feel empty, so even if it’s tough, I go. But when I go, it’s fun, so I work hard.

Jin Hyuk smiled at the clear voice flowing through the receiver.

He even learns from Yoo Jin, who is much younger than him. Hong Soo-jung’s calm reflections were another encouragement and motivation for Jin Hyuk. It’s a mindset he wants to emulate.

– It’s not just about fun, but since I chose it, I should work hard even if it’s tough. You said running is fun, right? That’s why you run every day, you told me that.

Not only is her thinking deep, but her memory is also exceptional.

Isn’t she just spitting out what he said when he was young?

“You asked me something else back then. Don’t you remember?”

– Nope. I don’t.

So firm.

“I remember. You asked me-.”

– I don’t. Even if I remember, I don’t.

This brat, she’s embarrassed.

– What did you say back then?

“I don’t remember.”

Because I didn’t answer.

– “Do you like running, or do you like Soo-jung?”

That’s what you asked.

It’s already a difficult choice, but choosing between two incomparable things is like torture.

‘I like both.’

*

Jin Hyuk was the only one who didn’t know he was popular.

Because no one told him.

Choi Mi-kyung said if you don’t say it, you won’t know, and isn’t that a truly truthful and gracious statement?

[You don’t have to say it, I know-, just by looking at your eyes-.]

Watching a TV commercial, Jin Hyuk shook his head.

‘No, I don’t. Even if I know, I don’t.’

Humans react differently just by making eye contact with others. You might feel fluttered, thinking that person likes me, or that jerk is messing with me?

Reality is like this, so how can you know if you don’t express it?

“Jin Hyuk-.”

“Junior-.”

In early February, when the winter break ended, interest in Jin Hyuk heated up.

It must be because the country was briefly excited by the news of his double victory at the Asian competition.

“Just one more, please. I’ll give it to my cousin.”

“What’s your cousin’s name?”

“Oh-, you’ll write the name too? Kim Eun-mi.”

A girl’s name.

“Eun-jung, your name is similar.”

“She’s my cousin.”

Even the airhead Kim Eun-jung is saying pretty smart things now that she’s in high school.

After signing and taking photos together, the chit-chat begins.

Finally, I realized that even young men have their energy go to their mouths. Not to mention the female students.

“Jin Hyuk, did you hear about that?”

“No.”

“Jin Hyuk, did you meet her?”

“No.”

“Ugh, she’s so pretty-.”

“No.”

“My eighth cousin’s family is super rich.”

“No.”

Someone likes you, someone wants to go on a blind date.

Some even knew the names. Going on a blind date with someone you already know, imagining it in my head, it felt strange and subtle. It was like sitting across from Choi Mi-kyung, a friend I grew up with, and awkwardly clearing my throat.

‘Ugh-, so tacky.’

Just imagining Choi Mi-kyung acting coy made me want to throw up the pho I ate in Thailand. Ugh-.

Around that time, I felt mischievous.

To be precise, it was a petty and mean thought to tease the little kid Hong Soo-jung.

“Blind dates seem to be popular in high schools these days.”

– What are you talking about? Elementary students, no, starting this year, elementary students are doing blind dates too.

Hong Soo-jung said nonchalantly. Her tone had a hint of treating Jin Hyuk like an old man, reminiscent of the new employee Hong Soo-jung.

Is it because it’s Seoul and there are many people? Seoul kids are fast!

“No, I mean, I got such an offer too…”

I was wondering if I should go…

– You’ve never been on a blind date?

“Of course… not.”

– What do you mean ‘of course’? I go once a month.

Hey, let’s break up.

No, that’s not it.

It was shocking.

Not because an elementary student was going on blind dates, nor because it was Hong Soo-jung.

‘Why do I feel sad and my heart hurts?’

It was a strange feeling, so the silence dragged on.

– Why aren’t you saying anything?

“Oh-, I see. I was worried if someone might feel disappointed if I went on a blind date-.”

– Why would they be disappointed? You’re funny.

Damn. That was the moment my heart was truly hurt.

Still, how could you say that?

I hated her more than Choi Mi-kyung, who made Yoo Jin cry.

We never dated, but it felt like it was time to break up.

– On blind dates, you just eat hamburgers, drink milkshakes, and go to arcades. You just meet new people and talk, like, oh, they live like that, or they live like this.

Huh? Is that how it is?

Come to think of it, Jin Hyuk had no idea what people do on blind dates.

He never paid attention to what his friends said, so it’s natural.

Choi Mi-kyung seemed like she couldn’t even go on blind dates, being such a precious person.

– Are you worried I might get a boyfriend? What’s with this? I’m Yoo Se-ra’s daughter. Do you know how high my standards are? It’s just to cool my head, okay?

Ah, I see.

So, Miss Yoo Se-ra goes on blind dates for healing.

Got it-.

Anyway, let’s break up.

– Did you think if you went on a blind date, you’d meet some other girl and start a life together?

Soo-jung, you…

You really know how to talk.

Seoul women are scary.

– But you know, oppa.

“Huh?”

Jin Hyuk, who was playing the drums and gongs alone, following the sad, petty romance routine, was stopped by Hong Soo-jung’s voice.

– It’s all a lie. I’m so busy with lessons on weekends, and Mr. Cheol-min is with me all day, what blind date? It’s all stories from friends who’ve been on blind dates. I just wanted to tease you.

Hong Soo-jung had a knack for lifting people up and dropping them.

A promising sprout, it seems I’ll have to stay tense in the future.

– Go on a blind date. If you want to…

It sounded like ‘if you want to die.’

It might just be my imagination, but Jin Hyuk’s sharp intuition was warning him. No matter how clueless he is, he knows that a single choice can determine life or death.

You have to think carefully before answering and choose your words wisely.

Especially with special relationships.

“Okay. I will.”

– Hey.

I don’t think you get it yet.