Chapter 52

#52 <Two Fools (2)>

***

The parents who stormed into the principal’s office first checked Jin-hyeok’s physical condition.

Jin-hyeok, feeling guilty, bowed his head deeply.

“I’m sorry.”

Han Yu-young, who was quite shocked, touched Jin-hyeok’s face and surprisingly remained calm. Son Kwang-yeon meticulously examined Jin-hyeok from his fingers to his toes. His skills were more refined than those of a nurse checking a newborn.

“Open your mouth. Say ‘ah.'”

Ah.

“Your mouth looks fine.”

Your mouth looks fine-.

Dad’s voice echoed from inside Jin-hyeok’s mouth.

“Did they pull out any of your hair?”

His hair was too short to even grab, so what hair was he talking about? Jin-hyeok couldn’t lift his face and just brushed the back of his head.

“Dad, I’m fine. The seniors who were hospitalized-.”

“Seniors? Those damn bastards-!”

“Hey! Son Kwang-yeon! Calm down!”

Son Kwang-yeon tried to storm out, furious about what those so-called seniors had done, but Hong Ki-jun managed to stop him by grabbing his waist. It felt like Hong Ki-jun’s arm was about to break from trying to restrain Son Kwang-yeon, who had been toughened up by years of farming.

Meanwhile, detectives, the principal, and the vice-principal entered.

‘Am I going to be handcuffed?’

While Jin-hyeok was nervously touching his wrist, Kang Jun-seong spotted Hong Ki-jun.

It was easy to recognize him as someone from Seoul at a glance.

After exchanging glances with Hong Ki-jun, Kang Jun-seong spoke to Jin-hyeok.

“Student, could you step aside for a moment?”

“Yeah, sure. The adults need to talk, so Jin-hyeok, you should wait outside.”

At the request of Kang Jun-seong and Hong Ki-jun, Jin-hyeok stepped out into the hallway.

Sitting crouched in the hallway, he felt a mix of emotions.

‘Falling into the abyss of life can happen in an instant.’

So, do you regret it?

Absolutely not.

Violence can’t be justified, but Jin-hyeok’s anger towards those who messed with his parents and family was immense. It was something that could be described as a “reverse scale,” an act that provoked intense anger.

Even in children’s games, stepping over the line means death, and those who crossed Jin-hyeok’s final line were no different.

And he was prepared to face the consequences of that violence.

Hehehe-.

Having Jang Gun-i by his side was somewhat comforting.

When he first saw a stray dog wandering around the school, he found it amusing, but having Jang Gun-i there felt strange.

‘Our Jang Gun-i.’

Jin-hyeok plopped down and hugged Jang Gun-i.

Whether Jang Gun-i understood his complicated feelings or not, he kept licking Jin-hyeok’s chin.

***

While Jin-hyeok was sitting in the hallway, distressed, a meeting was taking place in the principal’s office. It was a negotiation led by Hong Ki-jun, the detectives, and the vice-principal. Son Kwang-yeon, seemingly overwhelmed, sat with his chin up and eyes closed.

Kang Jun-seong briefed everyone on the situation.

There was an unexpected twist in the briefing.

“Undercover detectives are also stationed at the hospital. Yoon Gil-joong, that guy, is on the run after killing the owner of the Songtan VIP Residence. We’ve been staking out near his house, but he hasn’t shown his face. We’ll see if he shows up now that his kid got hurt. Just in case, the school should contact the parents and have them come to the school. The hospital is too small, so it’s unlikely they’ll go there.”

“Do you think they’ll come to the school?”

That was Hong Ki-jun’s question. It was a relief to have someone unexpected step in and clarify the situation. He had been exhausted from dealing with his friends. Still, he didn’t expect a detective from the Gyeonggi Police Agency’s Special Operations Unit to show up. He had called his brother-in-law, hoping for some help.

“We don’t know how it’ll turn out, so we’re just keeping our hopes up.”

“But is it okay for you to share this kind of information with us?”

This time, the vice-principal cautiously chimed in.

“Well, Mr. Hong here contacted us, so…”

Kang Jun-seong vaguely pointed at Hong Ki-jun, who nodded lightly.

The principal and vice-principal assumed Hong Ki-jun was a big shot and didn’t ask further.

The suit he was wearing looked expensive, and just by his appearance, he seemed like a high-ranking person from the city.

“But what about Son Jin-hyeok?”

Hong Ki-jun’s gaze at Kang Jun-seong was sharp.

“To be clear, that’s not something I can get involved in. Even if a lawsuit is filed, it’s up to the local police station.”

“But if you could give your opinion…”

“I’ll leave it to the school’s discretion, but I think reaching a settlement with the victims is necessary. Whether it’s the law or just common sense…”

At the mention of “victims,” Son Kwang-yeon and Han Yu-young looked somber.

Still, they’re just students.

Thinking about the injured students and their parents made them feel guilty.

“But you know…”

Kang Jun-seong continued, glancing at Hong Ki-jun.

He also glanced at Han Yu-young.

“It would be good for the school to pay attention. I only briefly spoke with a student named Park Yong-seok, but there’s a violent club, drinking, smoking, extortion, habitual assault… I can’t say it in front of the mother here, but there are even more serious crimes. I won’t escalate the issue since Mr. Hong asked, but the nature of the crimes is quite severe. If word gets to higher-ups, it won’t be good for the school, right?”

The principal blinked in confusion, but the quick-witted vice-principal reacted swiftly. The “higher-up” must be someone connected to Hong Ki-jun. The fact that he accompanied them despite not being a parent and his influence over the detectives were suspicious enough.

“We’ll transfer all of them. We’ll also notify their parents.”

“It’s not my place to say, but I think that’s the best course of action for the school. Every boy goes through a rebellious phase, but these kids can’t be excused by that. They’re just criminals.”

“Yes. We’ll report to the education office and transfer them to different schools. If that doesn’t work, we’ll expel them.”

The vice-principal confidently spoke, as if addressing Son Kwang-yeon and Hong Ki-jun.

The principal was startled by the mention of the education office, but since it was the vice-principal, he couldn’t stop him. The principal was nearing retirement, but the vice-principal was aiming for the principal’s position.

He can handle his own future.

“Um, excuse me.”

Han Yu-young, who had been listening, cautiously drew attention.

“How did the fight start?”

As a mother, she wondered why her gentle son suddenly got involved in a violent dispute. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. She thought she might side with her son if she heard his explanation. She wanted to hear from someone objective, not directly involved. If Jin-hyeok was at fault, she wanted to discipline him properly.

While the principal and vice-principal hesitated, Kang Jun-seong cautiously spoke up.

“Those guys insulted your mother-.”

“Those damn bastards! How dare they insult my wife!”

“Oh, Dad!”

“Oh, Teacher!”

“Hey, you!”

They had to stop Son Kwang-yeon, who grabbed an ashtray and lunged forward. Hong Ki-jun, Kang Jun-seong, the principal, and the vice-principal all stepped in to restrain him.

Han Yu-young, holding Yoo-jin, tried to ignore her husband’s outburst.

Even though most farm work involves hired labor, Son Kwang-yeon’s strength was formidable. The four men were dragged around by him before finally stopping him at the door.

Kang Jun-seong shook his head and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

With a father like that, no wonder the kid took down multiple guys without a scratch.

***

Before heading back to Seoul, Hong Ki-jun called Jin-hyeok aside.

Sitting on a bench under a plane tree with Hong Ki-jun, Jin-hyeok felt strange.

‘This feels familiar.’

Whenever he went out for rounds, Chairman Hong Ki-jun would sit in the golf course shade, sipping canned beer and smiling warmly. During meetings or when they rode together, he always showed a particular closeness to Jin-hyeok. Maybe that’s why it felt awkward. He only acted that way towards Jin-hyeok.

‘Only my friends treated me like that.’

Looking back now, it was similar to how his dad looked at him. Jin-hyeok would awkwardly smile and avoid Hong Ki-jun’s gaze.

‘He must have been trying to make me feel comfortable.’

It was a late realization, but it didn’t change anything.

It was still uncomfortable. He was the boss among bosses, after all. His personality, which only spoke when necessary, still felt like it was choking him.

Jin-hyeok glanced at Hong Ki-jun. There, a younger Hong Ki-jun was smiling faintly, watching the schoolyard. Middle schoolers playing soccer, high school girls on swings, and wrestling team members pulling tubes with ropes would soon enter his view.

“Good. Full of energy.”

Hong Ki-jun took a deep breath.

The air smelled nice, but the sky was cloudy, as if a shower was coming. Hong Ki-jun’s face darkened as he looked up at the sky.

“Hmm-.”

Hong Ki-jun made a nasal sound while looking at the sky.

“Hmm-.”

Every time he made that sound, Jin-hyeok held his breath.

‘Can someone save me?’

It was more stressful than waiting in the principal’s office after causing trouble.

His parents were in a meeting with other students’ parents. Besides the parents, he noticed some people in suits and uniforms entering in official cars.

‘Who are they? Why are they here?’

To distract himself from the discomfort of sitting with Hong Ki-jun, Jin-hyeok tried to guess who they were and why they were there. It was his way of keeping his mind busy.

Hmmmm-, the nasal sound grew longer. Finally, Hong Ki-jun spoke, still staring at the sky.

“Jin-hyeok.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard in detail why this happened, and I don’t intend to tell you what to do with your life.”

As Jin-hyeok listened quietly, Hong Ki-jun’s hand rested on his.

It was a warmth Jin-hyeok had felt before.

“Come to think of it, I’ve never really asked you properly, have I? Let’s hear it now, without Son Kwang-yeon interfering. What do you want to be?”

“Ordinary-.”

“Don’t say ordinary.”

“Yes.”

Jin-hyeok quickly closed his mouth, and Hong Ki-jun chuckled.

“Do they still teach that in Chinese class? ‘The tree wants to stay still, but the wind won’t stop.’ Talented people can’t live quietly even if they want to.”

Hong Ki-jun’s grip on Jin-hyeok’s hand tightened.

“Cherishing daily life and living an ordinary life aren’t the same thing. Even I cherish time with my family. The same goes for friendships and family ties. But that doesn’t mean I ignore the expectations that come with my social position.”

He said he wouldn’t tell me what to do, but it feels like he’s doing it already. People who talk about themselves usually don’t consider how their words might affect others. Still, Jin-hyeok didn’t show it. He was a difficult person to deal with.

“A guy who beats people up to protect his friend or because they insulted his mom can’t be considered ordinary.”

The same words can mean different things. He knocked them down, but he didn’t beat them up. Someone might misunderstand. Jin-hyeok felt unjustly accused and awkward. He scratched his cheek with the hand not held by Hong Ki-jun.

“I’m not blaming you. Life has its ups and downs. It’s admirable that you care for your family and try not to stand out, but I don’t think you’re an ordinary guy.”

“I-.”

“Yes, go on.”

Surprisingly, Jin-hyeok interrupted, and Hong Ki-jun looked pleased. In all the years he’d known him, Son Jin-hyeok had never initiated a conversation.

“I’m not ordinary.”

From his very existence to his way of thinking, he couldn’t be compared to his peers.

His strength, speed—everything was beyond human. Even if he thought he was slow, he couldn’t ignore his superhuman abilities. Being “slow” was just another way of saying he was less sensitive to pain and adapted quickly.

‘I’ve gotten a bit dumber.’

His brainpower and intelligence might have decreased. It took longer to memorize textbooks, and his mind felt cluttered, like a noisy radio, when trying to reason things out. His past life memories weren’t clear either.

Anyway.

“My dream is to live an ordinary life. No matter how many times you ask, that won’t change. Even if you asked me at the gates of the afterlife, it would be the same. But when I say an ordinary life, I don’t mean hiding my abilities.”

His breathing, usually steady during exercise, became unstable. He had spoken too quickly.

Jin-hyeok took a deep breath and continued.

“It doesn’t mean I won’t do anything or live carelessly. It means I want the kind of daily life most people enjoy. My family is the most important to me. Friends are important too. I just can’t forgive anyone who tries to harm or take that away from me.”

There are many unhappy people in the world. Jin-hyeok was one of them. He can say he’s happy now, but he wasn’t always. It was a vow not to forgive anyone who disrupts his current peace.

That night in the car, Chairman Hong Ki-jun had asked:

– “Did you have a dream?”

Jin-hyeok finally had an answer to that question.

He mustered the courage to look into Hong Ki-jun’s eyes.