Chapter 36

# 36 <New Future>

“You, you jerk…!”

Choi Mi-kyung glared at him as if she wanted to eat him alive.

Apparently, this wasn’t the right answer.

“Uh… I have to exercise, and I have to go home to take care of my younger sibling…”

It was a lame excuse, no matter who heard it.

“Ah, right. Yoo Jin is still young.”

But it seemed to work on Choi Mi-kyung.

Though she couldn’t hide her disappointment, she didn’t push further. Knowing Jin-hyuk’s usual behavior, she could easily let it go. In that sense, he was a mature friend in many ways.

Because of Jin-hyuk’s running habits, they didn’t commute together often, but Choi Mi-kyung often visited Jin-hyuk’s house. They did homework together, picked and ate wild rose shoots in spring, and even put flowers in Yoo Jin’s hair. It was the kind of behavior you’d expect from a girl her age.

“Mi-kyung, eat a lot.”

“Thank you.”

Since Jin-hyuk’s mom was always home, Choi Mi-kyung didn’t do anything suspicious that would make Jin-hyuk worry. She did glance at Jin-hyuk’s face as he effortlessly solved problems, but since he wasn’t the type to act out, her expressions of interest stopped there.

So, Jin-hyuk didn’t push her away or act cold either.

Watching his friend prepare to leave after finishing homework, Jin-hyuk thought to himself.

‘I guess I overdid it.’

Feeling like he had misunderstood, he felt sorry for Choi Mi-kyung.

“Jin-hyuk, I’m leaving. Yoo Jin, sis is going. Take care.”

“Sis, bye-bye.”

“Take care.”

“……”

Her tone was still weird, though.

***

Dad was excited.

After coming back from the competition, he held the phone every evening, bragging.

“Wahaha! That’s right, that’s right. My son won at the athletics competition-. Oh, some middle school wanted to meet him, but my son refused, so I had to turn them down. It was such a hassle…”

From the way he was speaking informally, it seemed like he was talking to Mr. Hong Ki-jun this time. And how many times had he said this already? I heard Hong Ki-jun was busy with plant projects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Even though he won four events at the regional athletics competition, so what?

The life of a farmer’s son, a country kid, doesn’t change overnight. And that was the life Jin-hyuk wanted.

If it were the 21st century, setting a Korean record in elementary school long jump would have made the news, even briefly. But back then, not only was the internet not a thing, but even pagers weren’t widespread. And Jin-hyuk, aside from enjoying athletics, didn’t want to become famous.

‘I decided to live an ordinary life.’

And carrying his younger sibling Yoo Jin around, teaching her words, was more fun than athletics. Jin-hyuk thought he would have made a good dad if he had married and had kids.

“Butterfly.”

“Appi-.”

“Flower.”

“Kkoo-.”

“Chicken.”

“Kkoo-.”

“Frog.”

“Aewu-?”

It seemed like it would take time to have a cultured conversation with Yoo Jin. He thought she was a genius for learning words quickly, but now it seemed like she was regressing back to being a baby.

Whenever he had time, Jin-hyuk would wrap his sibling in a cloth and carry her on his back, walking through fields and rice paddies. Dad was still jotting things down in his notebook, and Mom smiled happily beside him. The workers, after finishing planting, took off their hats and greeted Dad, making it seem like they were serving a company CEO. Jin-hyuk felt proud too.

“Mom, is Yoo Jin asleep? She’s staying still.”

“Oh my-, our daughter. Your brother’s back must be so comfortable that she’s drooling while sleeping.”

No wonder it felt damp.

With all the kids out, it must have been on his mind. After exchanging a few words with the foreman, Son Kwang-yeon reluctantly opened his arms and gathered his family in a hug.

“Let’s go home. Today, I’ll play Go with my son.”

He looked too excited for someone who was reluctantly going home.

*

Was it when he was nine?

Seeing Dad bored while reading books or watching TV alone, Jin-hyuk suggested they play together, and that’s how it started.

“Hahaha, I lost to Jin-hyuk again.”

Dad, who was happy that his son wanted to learn Go, gave him a nine-stone handicap and took white stones. By the time Jin-hyuk turned ten, it became natural for him to take black stones. Eventually, Dad had to admit defeat even with a three-stone handicap.

Son Kwang-yeon stroked his chin and stared at the Go board.

White built a fortress in the upper left corner and encroached on the center. It was an aggressive style, but it wasn’t the kind of game you’d see from a seasoned Go player.

‘Skilled players tend to play more steadily.’

It was the kind of game you’d see from kids with unformed styles and fresh ideas. Dad, who couldn’t know Jin-hyuk’s true thoughts, only thought that much. Knowing one thing but not the other, it couldn’t be called the right answer.

‘Dad, I don’t know about courtesy games.’

Jin-hyuk, who wouldn’t hold back even against a group chairman.

Jin-hyuk pretended not to notice, peeled a banana, took a bite, and stood up. Even though he ate until he was full, it was still tasty for a young palate. He had to eat to replenish the nutrients in his tired muscles.

“Jin-hyuk, let’s play one more game. Huh?”

“It’s time to jump rope in the yard.”

“Then let’s play Janggi! Janggi is quick, right?”

Even though he couldn’t win a single game, he kept insisting.

Jin-hyuk reluctantly sat back down. If Dad was this happy, how could he refuse even a hundred Janggi games?

The game ended quickly.

“Dad, it’s checkmate.”

“Sigh-, it’s a dead end. I lost again.”

But there was no mercy. Filial piety was one thing, but the game was another.

Mom, who was preparing dinner, covered her mouth and laughed silently, while Dad scratched the side of his head. The Janggi piece, cornered and trembling, looked pitiful.

Tap tap tap-.

The sound of scratching on the living room window was heard.

It was Jang Gun-i.

In this house, even Jang Gun-i couldn’t just shout “checkmate” during a Janggi game.

***

This year, the test results came out quickly.

It was understandable that they tested for roundworms first, as they were often found in rural school kids. The reason given was the declining student population due to population decrease. The number of students decreased as the grades went down, with first grade having only 11 students. There were six kids registered in the attached kindergarten.

‘I think my high school closed down when I was in it.’

Knowing the school would close in advance, Jin-hyuk couldn’t hide his mixed feelings. And there was another reason his heart felt heavy. Because.

“Park Jeong-im-.”

The teacher was handing out deworming medicine.

Thirty sixth-grade elementary students watched the teacher’s mouth nervously. The girl whose name was called bowed her head deeply and stepped forward. Seeing her lips pressed in so hard that dimples formed, it seemed embarrassing. Her eyes wandered aimlessly.

Teacher Choi Eung-muk smiled as he gave three white pills to Park Jeong-im.

“Yo, yo- what did this young lady eat-.”

Still, the teacher didn’t go into details, not wanting to hurt the kids’ feelings.

Kang Jin-soo, sitting in the front row and sniffling, looked like he had won the world. And for good reason, since they were calling names by surname order, and Kang Jin-soo was skipped, with the next friend being called.

The kids whispered.

“Hey, Kang Jin-soo didn’t get any, huh-.”

“Every year he gets a handful, but now it’s the end, the end.”

“Did he clean the bathroom?”

“Did he drink bleach?”

Son Jin-hyuk clasped his hands and closed his eyes tightly.

Why was he trembling so much? After Park, it was Son.

“Seong Gong-han.”

“Yikes-.”

The boy whose name was called screamed and ran out.

Ah, there was a surname Seong among the surnames. Answering with a scream instead of words, what a unique kid. His heart was pounding, anxious. Even though he went through this every year in elementary school, he never got used to it. If he were still a child, would he have just laughed it off? Probably, even back then, he was nervous at this moment.

After Seong Gong-han went in, the next student with roundworms was called.

“Yook Seong-chan.”

That brat, I knew it when he kept picking up and eating anything he found.

Whew-. Jin-hyuk leaned back in his chair with a long sigh. A sense of relief washed over him. His rapidly beating heart also calmed down.

Phew-. Choi Mi-kyung also sighed in relief. Ah, I’m alive. She muttered that while patting Jin-hyuk’s back. It felt like she had just finished hard labor, more nervous than when getting a shot.

‘Since Kang Jin-soo didn’t get it, Mi-kyung should be fine too.’

Jin-hyuk looked around the classroom with a relaxed feeling. Each time a name was called, the kids clapped and cheered. It felt more like encouragement than teasing.

They were all kind and affectionate kids, without a single mean one. Returning to the past, three years and seven months later, these gentle friends contributed to a normal and peaceful life. After this year, the boys would go to the same middle school, while the girls would go to a different one.

‘It was nice.’

He looked at each of their backs, greeting them with his eyes. It wasn’t even the end of the first semester, but suddenly feeling sentimental like this must be due to hormones flowing like lava. Jin-hyuk was also helpless against the forces of nature.

Teacher Choi Eung-muk called the last student.

“Hwang Jin-hee.”

Wahhh-, clap clap clap-.

The annual event, second only to physical exams in embarrassment, was coming to a close with applause. The kids whose names weren’t called, and those who got a lot of medicine, all relaxed their expressions.

But.

“Kang Jin-soo, Choi Mi-kyung, you two come out.”

Huh?

It wasn’t over yet. Teacher Choi Eung-muk, who called both names together, frowned deeply. His arms trembled, making the test papers in his hand rustle and flutter.

“You guys, this…”

The teacher couldn’t continue.

Jin-hyuk, along with the other kids, stared at Choi Mi-kyung in surprise. Kang Jin-soo was expected, but why the neat class vice-president? Kang Jin-soo and Choi Mi-kyung were equally dumbfounded. The two friends hesitantly walked to the teacher’s desk.

“Take one each.”

As if no further explanation was needed, Teacher Choi Eung-muk handed out deworming medicine the size of an adult’s fist and left. Mumbling something about the disgrace of the Choi family from Gangneung.

That’s when it happened.

Choi Mi-kyung’s eyes, glaring at Jin-hyuk, were filled with murderous intent.

‘Ah… crap.’

He had handed Choi Mi-kyung’s sample bag to Kang Jin-soo, who was struggling in the bathroom, and asked him to take care of it. Who knew it would turn out like this?

Choi Mi-kyung returned to her seat with reddened eyes, looking like she was about to cry. In one hand, she held the entire bottle of deworming medicine.

Jin-hyuk cautiously opened his mouth, checking his deskmate’s mood.

“Uh, Mi-kyung. About that-.”

“Shut up-.”

Choi Mi-kyung clenched her teeth and moved her Adam’s apple.

Receiving the telepathic message from a master, Jin-hyuk obediently straightened up.

“Uh, got it. That’s probably for the best.”

Even during break time, Choi Mi-kyung just glared at her desk, not scolding Jin-hyuk.

Jin-hyuk grabbed Kang Jin-soo and asked for the full story.

“Hey, president. What happened-, no matter how hard I tried, it didn’t work.”

Okay, that’s enough. Jin-hyuk patted Kang Jin-soo’s shoulder to comfort him.

Fortunately, Choi Mi-kyung didn’t say a word until all the classes were over.

…… She must have been gathering all her anger to explode later.

*

“Hey, you jerk, ahhhhhhh-!”

On the way home, Choi Mi-kyung didn’t take the bus and chased Jin-hyuk, running hard.

Feeling sorry, Jin-hyuk didn’t run at full speed but ran slowly. He kept the distance just out of Choi Mi-kyung’s reach.

‘I can’t run too fast.’

If he ran too fast, Choi Mi-kyung might fall and get hurt while chasing him. It was Jin-hyuk’s way of caring for his friend.

“I was the one who carried your poop, not Kang Jin-soo’s, ahhhhhhh-!”

Usually gentle and cute, Choi Mi-kyung was great at swearing once she got going.

She even cursed at those who envied Jin-hyuk’s success, calling them idiots who had never worked a day in their lives.

“Stop right there, you jerk, ahhhhhhh-!”

Jin-hyuk was pleased to see Choi Mi-kyung’s transformation. The swearing didn’t sound like swearing.

Her voice was good too.

Wororororo-wowowol!

Look, even the neighborhood dogs were responding to Choi Mi-kyung.

Running down the wide paved road through the fields with his friend, Jin-hyuk felt truly satisfied. So this is why people run together. Realizing this, how could he not feel happy?

“Uhuhuhu-.”

An inexplicable laugh burst out of Jin-hyuk’s mouth as he ran non-stop with Choi Mi-kyung chasing him. He felt sorry, but strangely, it was fun? This kind of fun was a new feeling.

‘Choi Mi-kyung must be enjoying running too.’

The smell of cow dung from a nearby barn wafted in on the spring breeze.

It was the fragrant smell of home.

Choi Mi-kyung must have liked the smell too.

“Uweeeek-! Son Jin-hyuk, you jerk, stop there, ahhh-!”

Uhuhuhu, nuhuhuhuhu-.

The laughter kept flowing out because it was so much fun. It was a different thrill from running with Jang Gun-i. He turned his head and shouted, without slowing down.

“Mi-kyung-. Do you want to run with me every day?”

“Shut up and stop there, you jerk-!”

Nuhahahahaha-.

He felt like he understood a bit about romantic feelings.

Catch me if you can-.

“Uweeeek-!”