Chapter 23

#23 <Out into the World>

***

“Nice to meet you. I’m Choi Eung-muk, the homeroom teacher for the 6th grade.”

Wahaha-!

The teacher laughed awkwardly, and the kids couldn’t hide their laughter either. There were a couple of transfer students and a teacher who had just moved here. Still, the class size of thirty remained almost unchanged.

And from 2nd grade to 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. The same teacher ended up being the homeroom teacher four times.

For Jin-hyuk, who had been forced to transfer to a town school after finishing the first semester of 3rd grade in the past, the fact that he was completing elementary school in this rural school with only one class was particularly emotional.

“Alright, let’s elect a class president. Who wants to be class president? Raise your hands!”

As expected, no students raised their hands, and everyone looked at Son Jin-hyuk.

‘Is this fate?’

Because of the expectations of the kids and the teacher, he always had to reluctantly take on the role of class president. They said they would change the president every semester, but they never did. His friends practically begged the teacher to just let Jin-hyuk do it. Why on earth did he dislike it so much?

Attention, salute to the teacher. The rural school kids were even embarrassed to give that command.

Jin-hyuk sighed lightly and, feeling resigned, just scratched his desk with his nails.

But then, the kid sitting next to Jin-hyuk raised his hand.

It was Choi Mi-kyung.

Choi Eung-muk, the teacher who was Choi Mi-kyung’s distant relative, lit up with joy.

“Oh-, Mi-kyung, do you want to try being class president?”

“Vice president.”

Ugh. Jin-hyuk sighed silently.

Choi Mi-kyung, who had already outgrown her elementary school look, smirked at Jin-hyuk.

Thanks to this kid with outstanding combat skills who completely blocked the seat next to Son Jin-hyuk, Jin-hyuk never got to sit with anyone else.

“Then… Class president is Son Jin-hyuk, and vice president is Choi Mi-kyung-.”

“I want to be vice president too!”

“Me too!”

“I want to do it too!”

“Teacher! Me too!”

Suddenly, the vice president election started heating up.

Out of 30 students, ten candidates for vice president emerged.

Teacher Choi Eung-muk took a 30-centimeter plastic ruler and tore up a lifeless-colored large sheet of paper. He handed it to the front-row student, and like flowing water, the paper was passed to the back. The kids, who had been living like this for six years, were more mechanical than machines.

“There are too many candidates, and since we all know each other well, let’s skip the formalities like campaign promises.”

Wahaha-.

The classroom erupted in laughter. What kind of promises could a vice president even make? It’s not like they could keep them anyway. Usually, they would vote to elect a class president, but this time, a unique vote was held to elect a vice president while keeping the president fixed.

“Let’s make the second-place student the vice president for the second semester. We need to save paper.”

Wahaha-.

Perhaps because they were entering the sensitive age of puberty, the kids burst into laughter at every word from the teacher.

Choi Mi-kyung became vice president with 15 votes. It seemed she had the full support of the girls. Yook Seong-chan, who came in second with 6 votes, was decided to be the vice president for the second semester.

“Then, the student council president will also be Son Jin-hyuk…”

Teacher Choi Eung-muk muttered while jotting it down in his notebook.

At those words, Jin-hyuk, who had been sitting blankly, raised his head.

Oh no. Since there’s only one class, the 6th-grade class president also has to be the student council president.

Still, Jin-hyuk stayed silent. It’s not like there’s much to do anyway. Even if he’s a student council officer, he’s still just an elementary school kid. If it were a 21st-century elementary school, maybe there would be something, but…

Anyway, compared to his previous life of intense corporate work, rural school life was more like recreation. There was no need to wave his hands and refuse.

“Jin-hyuk, can you prepare for the Chungnam Math and Science Competition in April?”

Yes.

Finally, a normal 6th-grade life has begun.

He had always participated in the competition in the past, consistently bringing home the top prize for Taeyang Elementary School in town. The second time should be even easier.

Slap-!

Choi Mi-kyung slapped Jin-hyuk’s shoulder with her palm.

“Hey! Son Jin-hyuk, why aren’t you answering the teacher?”

Choi Mi-kyung’s nagging had also begun.

Jin-hyuk rubbed his stinging shoulder.

Choi Mi-kyung’s hand is quite strong.

He almost reflexively hit back.

***

A banner was hung at the small rural school with 115 students, who knows where they’re all hiding.

〈Congrats! 6th-grade Son Jin-hyuk wins top prize at Chungnam Math & Science Competition!〉

〈Congrats! Eodong Elementary School wins Chungnam Math & Science Competition three times in a row!〉

As always, Jin-hyuk, who arrived at school first today, glanced at the banners spread across the school entrance and main gate. He had participated in the competition every year since 4th grade.

In his previous life, banners like this were hung at Taeyang Elementary School in town, just with a different school name.

Whoosh- The spring breeze carried a peculiar smell. It was the smell of fertilizer spread in the fields before planting rice. The banner fluttered once in the cow dung-scented wind. Along with it, Jin-hyuk’s bad memories also resurfaced.

…

〈Congrats! Son Jin-hyuk from 〇〇 High School tops Korea University Law School!〉

If he had known the world and how to deal with it, he would have challenged independence much earlier, but he was a scared and naive kid. In middle school, he memorized books from the school library, delivered evening newspapers, and lingered around friends’ houses. He tried his best to return to the attic late.

Partly because of the human instinct to return to where he belonged, but also because his aunt had hidden the only family photo he had, Jin-hyuk couldn’t leave the attic.

To escape the attic and separate from his adoptive parents’ family, he entered a prestigious private high school in another region with a dormitory as a scholarship student.

After that banner was hung, his adoptive mother’s second daughter, three years older than him, came to the attic in her underwear. Jin-hyuk pushed her away without a second thought and ran out. He searched the drawer he had been eyeing, found the family photo, and without looking back, ran to the terminal with an old bag. That was the day he said goodbye to the attic forever.

He crouched under the sign of a pharmacy and spent the night. Above Jin-hyuk, transitioning from a child to an adult, a banner fluttered, groaning under the torment of the wind and rain. But it held on so strongly that it never fell, no matter how fiercely it howled.

〈Congrats! Son Jin-hyuk from 〇〇 High School tops Korea University Law School!〉

Jin-hyuk vowed to survive, just like that long printed banner.

…

“Phew-. It’s so vivid.”

Even the devilish people and the memories of shivering in the cold came back vividly, triggered by a single banner.

Perhaps that day was the first time.

‘I ran all the way to the terminal without stopping.’

How liberating it felt to run through the wind and rain.

Maybe that day was the catalyst for him to feel alive while running and to fully enjoy freedom.

Several youthful voices pulled Jin-hyuk out of his thoughts.

“Hi, Son Jin-hyuk?”

“Hi, President Oppa.”

“Hi, Jin-hyuk Oppa?”

Yeah, come on, friends.

As the school time approached, the small single-story school started to suck in the kids.

Jin-hyuk still answered in his heart and waved to the kids.

Choi Mi-kyung ran up and stuck to Jin-hyuk’s side.

As they walked together, the kids chattered behind them.

“How does that Oppa become president when he’s so quiet?”

“That Oppa is a real man, so even if he doesn’t talk, other Oppas and Noonas listen to him.”

“How do you know that so well? Are you close with President Oppa?”

“Of course. Last year, he even bought me a Choco Bar-. We’re super close-.”

Was that so?

Jin-hyuk wanted to turn his head to see that friend’s face but decided to hold back. Who knows what meaning his actions might convey. He does remember buying 100-won strawberry-flavored Choco Bars for the younger kids playing in the field during the sweltering summer last year.

As if she had heard her own praise, Choi Mi-kyung looked up at Jin-hyuk with a proud smile. Then, as if remembering something, she opened her mouth.

“Jin-hyuk, did you bring that?”

That? That’s quite a comprehensive pronoun.

That… Today’s art preparation materials are washed milk cartons, scissors, scotch tape, and colored paper. I also brought the recorder and triangle for tomorrow’s music class. I wrote my diary and packed my lunchbox.

“… There doesn’t seem to be any special mistake.”

What is this kid talking about?

Choi Mi-kyung’s eyes narrowed.

“Did you bring that?”

Jin-hyuk pursed his lips and breathed heavily through his nose.

He felt the need to supply oxygen to his brain. Why on earth does she keep using pronouns? Well, sometimes it’s unavoidable, but for smooth communication, specific expressions are essential.

He recalled scolding a team member in the past. It was an employee who kept using vague words during reports or meetings.

– “Manager, the expression ‘part’ makes it unclear what you’re trying to say. Is it difficult to explain in detail?”

– “Ah, that part is… What I’m saying is, for the part the customer wants, we need to process this part into a process, and for the customer’s complaint part, or the company image part, there’s a positive part-.”

– “If you can’t explain it specifically, it’s the same as not knowing. If you can’t even convince the team leader, how will you get approval from the executives to push the project through?”

His head tingled for a moment. He felt his face flush, thinking he had acted too much like a strict boss. He regretted being too harsh and reflected on how rigid and inflexible he had been.

‘This manager, I’m so sorry.’

He was two years older than Jin-hyuk.

Anyway, before getting frustrated or interrogating, I should ask exactly what she means. With that determination, he nodded.

While Jin-hyuk’s soul was briefly out on a trip, Choi Mi-kyung touched her forehead.

This guy, whenever you ask him something, he creaks like a rusty tractor. Dad used to hit farm tools with a hammer when they creaked. But Son Jin-hyuk is like a rock; hitting him would only hurt your hand. She sighed deeply and shook her head.

“Sigh-, forget it. I’ll just ask Eun-jeong-.”

“What is it?”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know. What is this ‘that’ you’re talking about, Mi-kyung?”

Choi Mi-kyung looked around and spoke vaguely.

She was like Maeng-gu from “Bongsunhwa Hakdang.”

“Poo bag.”

Ah, what now?

I prepared well this morning. Since we moved into a new house with a flush toilet, I didn’t need to lay newspaper in the outhouse. It was very comfortable. Jin-hyuk fondly recalled the refreshing morning brought by modern conveniences.

But why is this thirteen-year-old kid in the awkward phase asking about that? Even though Choi Mi-kyung is usually bold in front of Jin-hyuk, this is a bit…

“Jin-hyuk, I…”

Choi Mi-kyung cautiously opened her mouth.

Still looking around like a scared rabbit.

“Can you share a little?”

This teenager must be crazy.

Jin-hyuk expressed his astonishment with his eyelids raised as high as possible.

In all my life, I’ve never seen a kid asking to share poop. Is she a dog? Even Jang Gun-i doesn’t make such requests.

“No? I accidentally flushed it.”

Ah, Choi Mi-kyung doesn’t have a flush toilet either. That’s a plausible reason. Everyone makes mistakes, and they should get a chance to make up for it. You can’t embarrass her in front of her friends during this sensitive age. Choi Mi-kyung is like family, and she’s practically a childhood friend.

Afraid Choi Mi-kyung might get hurt, Jin-hyuk forced a smile and reached out his hand.

“That… Do you want a bag?”

“Thank you.”

Afraid Jin-hyuk might change his mind, Choi Mi-kyung rummaged through her bag.

After a moment of clattering plastic pencil cases, a white paper bag came out.

Her name, ‘Choi Mi-kyung,’ was written in neat handwriting, as sharp as her appearance.

“Go to the classroom first.”

After receiving the poo bag and matches from Choi Mi-kyung, he headed to the corner of the playground.

Perhaps because he didn’t eat raw food or junk food, Jin-hyuk had never taken deworming medicine. Choi Mi-kyung probably knew that well, which is why she asked.

‘In all my life, I never thought I’d be donating poop.’

And to a girl.

Adding up both lives, I’ve lived almost half a century. Muttering, Jin-hyuk moved his steps. Arriving at the corner of the playground, he started the rustling preparation. It feels really bad to open this again. I even ate two bowls of breakfast.

Then.

A mysterious and divine sound reached Jin-hyuk’s eardrums.

“Ugh- ugh- ugh-.”

It was the sound of someone groaning in the nearby outdoor toilet.

Oh ho, it seems a diligent child is studying hard early in the morning.

Hah- Taking a deep breath, he moved towards the toilet. He pinched his nose tightly and held his breath. Jin-hyuk could easily hold his breath for three minutes.

“Who’s in there?”

“Ugh-, President?”

A familiar voice responded from inside.

A friend who even understands Jin-hyuk’s nasal voice, heaven must be helping.

‘Right.’

As if it were planned, the perfect time and place had a savior.

This too must be fate.