Chapter 48

#48 <I Made a Mistake>

***

At the beginning of the semester, friends were scared of Jin-hyeok. It was because of his consistently expressionless and quiet personality. However, since Jin-hyeok didn’t swear like other kids his age or intimidate or bully friends like those who relied on strength, their fear turned into a bit of awkwardness.

“Teacher, Beom-seok seems sick. He might have a fever too.”

“Huh, huh? Oh, okay. Should I, uh, write him a pass?”

Jin-hyeok actively stepping up to take care of friends who were sick or had family matters also became a turning point in how his friends perceived him.

Of course, there were still some who looked at Jin-hyeok with disdain. Those who believed the exaggerated tales of Jin-hyeok’s early semester heroics and saw him as a rival, thinking they could crush him at any moment.

‘Hey, is that guy the same guy from back then?’

‘Can’t you tell just by looking, dummy?’

‘Ugh, that guy!’

In a world where people gather, it’s only natural. Tales of heroism are sacred to those who believe, but to those who don’t see or believe, they’re just tall tales.

And that included seniors.

Among them were those who had been clumsily beaten and were grinding their teeth, former members of the wrestling club.

One day, after lunch, while helping Shin Woo-sung and Lee Seung-hoon with their studies.

Even the bookworm Chae Kyu-ho joined in, getting tutored by Jin-hyeok.

A kid from the next class, Park Yong-seok, nervously approached.

“Hey, Chae Kyu-ho, Seong-dong hyung wants to see you.”

“Huh? Me, me? Why, why, why?”

“Dunno, man.”

Because Jin-hyeok was there, Park Yong-seok didn’t make a face or swear, but his attitude was laced with a unique cockiness and annoyance.

Jin-hyeok glanced at Chae Kyu-ho and Park Yong-seok as they left the classroom, then stood up.

“Let’s take a break.”

With summer vacation approaching and the weather getting hotter, it was also a measure for the two wrestling club friends who couldn’t even complain about being sleepy because they were scared of Jin-hyeok.

‘Seong-dong must be Yoon Seong-dong from third grade. Woo-sung’s bullies are probably backed by that guy.’

Jin-hyeok was worried about his deskmate, Chae Kyu-ho.

Chae Kyu-ho wasn’t the type to complain about being bullied or having difficulties in school. Jin-hyeok felt a dirty, unpleasant air from the fact that Yoon Seong-dong had called his deskmate. It was a warning from Jin-hyeok’s instincts combined with past information.

‘The guy who stabbed Woo-sung with a knife.’

It was the year Jin-hyeok turned thirty-five. Yoon Seong-dong killed Shin Woo-sung in a bar but was released without charges, thanks to the extensive connections of his father, a mob boss, as Jin-hyeok heard from Lee Seung-hoon.

Yoon Seong-dong, a third-year who had been held back a year due to violence, must have been reigning as king among the third-years. Jin-hyeok had been keeping an eye on Yoon Seong-dong for his friend Shin Woo-sung’s sake. He had expected the third-year wrestling club members he disciplined at the beginning of the semester to make a move sooner or later.

Jin-hyeok patted Shin Woo-sung’s shoulder.

“I’ll check your homework tomorrow morning.”

“Ughhh, just kill me.”

Shin Woo-sung clutched his head and wailed.

Jin-hyeok pretended to be angry and glared at him.

“Oh, no. Please spare me.”

“You don’t have to do it all. Just understand and solve one problem.”

If you’re going to do it, do it right. That’s what Jin-hyeok had said to new employee Hong Soo-jung and to team members who were forcing a flawed project forward, prioritizing milestone deadlines.

Reluctantly nodding, Shin Woo-sung’s eyes read, ‘Math is hard.’

As Jin-hyeok left the classroom to find Chae Kyu-ho, he heard Shin Woo-sung’s complaints behind him.

“How does the class president study so well without staying up late or living close by?”

“Hey, is that what’s important now? Shouldn’t you be more curious about why the class president is dragging you guys to study? Woo-sung, you need to think more strategically, I think. Right?”

Lee Seung-hoon was a bit smarter than Shin Woo-sung. That’s probably why he could continue wrestling after entering Taeyang High School.

Listening to his friends’ conversation, Jin-hyeok’s lips curled up on their own.

‘Just memorize the textbooks.’

Innocent kids.

Jin-hyeok had practically memorized the Math Essentials and Comprehensive English.

It took longer to memorize than before, but since he had done it once, it wasn’t difficult.

“I know~ as this night flows and flows~.”

“Oh, my love~ don’t go~.”

When he went out into the hallway, most of the kids were humming the latest songs, swaying like squids.

Jin-hyeok sighed as he looked at them.

‘So old-fashioned. When will the BTS teachers debut?’

Maybe they’ve already been born. There was a time when he was hooked on the melody and lyrics of the song <Unspoken Truth> and listened to it every day.

‘Should I join ARMY?’

Blackpink and Red Velvet were good too. Who else was there?

His memory was hazy. He had a good head, but it’s strange.

‘Except for things I’ve experienced firsthand, I can’t remember much.’

Maybe the history of the era he lived in itself is hazy.

But the doubt was brief.

Now, his mind was preoccupied with important matters, leaving no room for reminiscing.

‘Why can’t I see him?’

He scanned the school but couldn’t find Chae Kyu-ho.

It’s obvious where he’d be.

Chae Kyu-ho wasn’t at the water fountain, the auxiliary playground, or the third-year classroom where Yoon Seong-dong would be. He had no choice but to return to the classroom.

“Huh? Class president?”

He ran into Chae Kyu-ho returning to the classroom.

In his hand were a few bills, and he looked both excited and bewildered.

Jin-hyeok called him over.

“What did they want?”

“I don’t know.”

Chae Kyu-ho just stared blankly at the bills in his hand.

After hearing Chae Kyu-ho’s explanation about meeting Yoon Seong-dong, Jin-hyeok let out a deep sigh.

‘Some things never change.’

As far as Jin-hyeok knew, it was called a ‘friendship fee.’

Delinquent students who had formed a group would give money to naive students under the guise of being friends, without any conditions. The victims, bewildered, would initially be unable to process the large sum of 50,000 to 60,000 won. And before they could recover, the nightmare would begin the next day.

They would be threatened and subjected to violence to repay the ‘interest.’

Would young students really do that?

The younger and less mature, the more sensitive and easily swayed by stimuli humans are, right? And the stimuli from wrongdoing are stronger and easier to replicate than those from good deeds.

Back in the day, Jin-hyeok, who looked like he had nothing and was unhappy, was far from the attention of such delinquents, so he had no experience of being victimized.

But it didn’t take long to remember that there had been a student who committed suicide because of it. Since Son Jin-hyeok was such an outsider and had no friends, he couldn’t remember the student’s name. But the incident itself was quite sensational.

‘What was the name······?’

It was a classmate whose surname and face he didn’t know.

It was shocking even to Jin-hyeok, who watched from afar. Not just because a student had committed suicide, but because the school and police had concluded the case as a simple suicide.

Still looking bewildered, Chae Kyu-ho muttered.

“That hyung just said let’s be friends and gave me some pocket money.”

“Anything else?”

“He just said see you tomorrow.”

While thinking there’s no reason to give money without any conditions, Jin-hyeok hoped it wasn’t a ‘friendship fee.’ He considered taking the money from his friend’s hand and returning it, but it seemed too presumptuous.

‘Maybe I should just keep an eye on it for now.’

That thought also contained Jin-hyeok’s hope that things would flow differently than in the past. Seeing Hwang Ga-young, he was surprised but didn’t grind his teeth or show hostility, as they hadn’t harmed him yet.

‘We’re living in a different world now.’

Even without anyone inciting him, Jin-hyeok had experienced enough misanthropy, but he wished for the people around him to enjoy a kind and peaceful life. In this new world.

“If he calls you again tomorrow, tell me before you go. You can do that much, right?”

“Uh-huh, class president.”

Chae Kyu-ho nodded like a good younger brother.

That was the best Jin-hyeok could do.

He wanted to tell Chae Kyu-ho not to spend a single penny of the money he received from Yoon Seong-dong, but he held back.

He’s a smart kid; he’ll figure it out.

Even if he seems clueless, he’s the second-ranked student in the school this exam.

***

After school, Jin-hyeok went to the newspaper distribution center.

“Jin-hyeok, today’s your last day? I’m really going to miss you.”

“Sorry I couldn’t stay longer.”

Taking the pay envelope, Jin-hyeok bowed deeply.

The distribution center manager patted Jin-hyeok’s shoulder with regret.

“No, no. Come back anytime. Delivering newspapers doesn’t pay much.”

Except for Sundays, delivering newspapers to over 50 households for a month earned him 5,000 won. Due to distance, he chose the evening paper, but the morning paper wasn’t any better. They only paid an extra 1,000 won for waking up early.

Naturally, Jin-hyeok, who needed every penny in his first round, also delivered the morning paper, but the evening paper actually paid better.

The morning paper was either collected directly by the manager or sent via mail, while the evening paper was collected by the delivery person with receipts. When collecting money at places like real estate offices or tea houses, the uncles playing cards would often tip 5,000 or 10,000 won, saying the young student was working hard. The tips were several times the salary.

Jin-hyeok saved that money diligently, buying market-brand sneakers, underwear, and clothes. He even opened a savings account at the local credit union, which later helped him escape the attic.

Though naive about the ways of the world, he managed to get by smartly in his own way.

Anyway, having achieved his goal, he didn’t need to deliver newspapers anymore.

Jin-hyeok headed to Lynx Chicken.

It was for his mom, who had never tried chicken because they lived in the countryside, though she had eaten fried chicken from the market. The market’s fried chicken was good too. But the old hens, called ‘retired chickens’ by the rural merchants, couldn’t compare to chicken in texture or flavor.

He confidently walked in and placed a takeout order.

“One chicken?”

The pot-bellied uncle, smoking a crooked cigarette, raised his index finger.

Let’s see, mom, dad, me, Yu-jin, Jang Gun-i.

“Five chickens, please.”

“Whoa-, that’s 30,000 won.”

“No, six chickens, please.”

“Whoa-.”

With the salary from delivering newspapers and the tips from collecting money, he had plenty. If he were short, he could even use the allowance his dad gave him, but what’s a few bucks for chicken to a rich kid?

The chicken shop owner, thinking Jin-hyeok was a physical education student on a teaching practicum, was happy to have a customer in the middle of the day.

Sizzle sizzle-.

Jin-hyeok was happy watching the chicken fry.

‘Mom will like it, right?’

Mom liked the market’s fried chicken, so she’ll be moved by this chicken too.

Thinking of his family enjoying the chicken made him both excited and hungry.

He had to get home before it got cold.

*

He hung three chickens on each side of his bike handlebars and pedaled.

Balance was important. That’s why he ordered an even number.

On the paved road with little traffic, Jin-hyeok’s bike was faster than a scooter.

He covered the usual 40-minute distance in 25 minutes and arrived home.

‘Huh? Is Soo-jung here?’

Hong Ki-jun’s car was parked in the yard.

He rarely came unless it was vacation, so something must have happened.

“Oh, our son’s home early today?”

“Jin-hyeok, come here-.”

His dad and Hong Ki-jun, sitting on the porch, welcomed Jin-hyeok.

Though he used to be intimidated by Hong Ki-jun, thinking of him as his former boss, Jin-hyeok’s face brightened upon seeing him.

‘Good thing I bought six chickens!’

As expected, it was for a very strange reason.

Jin-hyeok was happy watching his family gathered around the porch, eating chicken. He didn’t forget to give Yu-jin and Jang Gun-i the meat without the bones.

Hong Ki-jun, eating chicken even though it wasn’t dinner time, asked with his mouth shiny from grease.

“Jin-hyeok, are you going to keep delivering newspapers?”

“No.”

I bought chicken to eat. Today was the last day.

He swallowed the rest. Jin-hyeok’s answers were always like this.

Though it was frustrating, Hong Ki-jun just laughed it off.

“Today, I just stopped by on my way back from the countryside.”

“Okay.”

I see.

Why say that when I didn’t ask?

Does he think I’m uncomfortable around him? Well, it’s understandable. Jin-hyeok did find it hard to deal with Hong Ki-jun.

“Are you staying over?”

Son Kwang-yeon asked, his eyes sparkling as he ate chicken.

He looked just like Jang Gun-i growling over a pork bone.

“Since my sister-in-law might be uncomfortable, let’s eat this and go. I’m eating chicken bought with Jin-hyeok’s money, huh?”

“There’s nothing uncomfortable about it. Stay over.”

“Hahaha, should I?”

Han Yu-young smiled so much her eyes disappeared, clearly pleased with Hong Ki-jun’s response.

But she hid the cola behind her back so Yu-jin couldn’t reach it.

“Ack-, Yu-jin, you can’t have this-. It’s soy sauce.”

“Hehe-, no? Soy sauce is salty, right?”

Yu-jin, who didn’t know the taste of cola yet, lost interest.

Son Kwang-yeon got up from his seat.

With his wife’s permission, he was going to get some alcohol.

It was a rare chance to drink when a friend was over.

Jin-hyeok watched over his dad and Hong Ki-jun drinking beer while holding Yu-jin.

Even though it wasn’t necessary, his mom kept bringing out fruits and snacks. The food disappeared into Yu-jin and Jang Gun-i’s stomachs as soon as it was served.

“Jin-hyeok, when’s your vacation?”

“The last Saturday of July.”

“That’s the opening day of the Olympics?”

Has it already come to that? Jin-hyeok tilted his head.

Where was the 1992 Barcelona Olympics held again?

Ah, it was in Barcelona.

“Kwang-yeon, want to make a bet?”

Hong Ki-jun suddenly suggested a bet.

Jin-hyeok narrowed his eyes.

‘This uncle probably hates bets.’