Chapter 58

#58 <Growing Pains>

It was when I returned home after completing the holy “meow meow” experiment.

“Ugh—”

“What’s wrong?”

As Jin-hyuk got out of the car, letting out a single groan, Son Kwang-yeon looked at him with concern.

Sudden pain had struck Jin-hyuk, who had been growing happier day by day.

Compared to his past life, it was a pain that could be dismissed as a minor trial, but it was by no means light.

‘My back.’

Just from getting out of the car, he couldn’t straighten his back.

***

It’s a sweltering season.

The yard of the house owner is made of very hard dirt, with a wooden bench and a large zelkova tree providing shade. It’s an extremely cool and dog-friendly environment. Jang Gun-i, being a smart dog, knows this.

Woof—.

The doghouse, made of logs when the house was rebuilt a few years ago, is also quite comfortable.

But Jang Gun-i has a favorite spot elsewhere.

The ditch between the yard and the field. Originally, it was where Jang Gun-i used to relieve himself. After observing humans, Jang Gun-i decided to designate a specific spot for his business. Suddenly, a sprout appeared there, and a tree grew.

It was an acorn tree.

Jang Gun-i remembers exactly where that tree came from.

Maybe… it was before winter changed three times.

Or was it?

Jang Gun-i vaguely remembers where that tree came from.

It must have been when the now enormous tree was as small as the yellow dog across the big field, named Choi Meong-meong. Well, even back then, it was bigger than Jang Gun-i, but anyway. The kid put an acorn in his food bowl back then.

Feeling sorry, the kid filled it with smelly but delicious stuff.

Jang Gun-i sniffed and looked up at the acorn tree with a distant gaze.

…The acorn that had traveled through Jang Gun-i’s body sprouted after a few winters.

‘Howl—.’

– I gave birth to an acorn tree.

Or did I lay it? I’ve never given birth to anything, so I don’t know the exact expression. Well, a dog might not know.

A dog’s toilet. Simply put, a dog poop field. Nothing is as toxic as dog poop, but this crazy acorn tree is even more toxic. They say even rolling in a dog poop field makes this life better, and it seems plants are no exception. They say life is strong at times like this. The acorn tree, rooted in the dog poop field, bore fruit even in midwinter.

I heard that a guy named Jjong from the neighboring village uses a magnolia tree as his toilet, and that tree also bloomed in winter. Since we can’t communicate, I don’t know how the tree feels. But Jang Gun-i thought:

‘Bark—.’

– If it’s more toxic than my poop, I lost.

So Jang Gun-i changed his toilet to another spot. The house owner’s kid doesn’t seem to like it much, though.

Grr—, hehe—?

No, what’s wrong with a dog pooping in the yard? Is it, or isn’t it?

In winter, he even plays golf, shoveling my poop. Humans, I tell you.

Anyway, except for sleeping and playing, Jang Gun-i decided to stay under the acorn tree. It was a sign of loyalty to the winner. Thus, the acorn tree became the second winner Jang Gun-i acknowledged.

The first was the house owner’s son, who cut his hair short and suddenly started running faster than Jang Gun-i. Maybe he had been holding back all this time.

Jang Gun-i thought that short hair makes you run faster.

But upon reflection, that wasn’t it either. As the season started to get hotter, the aunt trimmed Jang Gun-i’s fur, but his speed didn’t improve.

Back in the day, even Chicken Johnson, who ruled an era, couldn’t move a step when all his feathers were plucked, let alone show extreme stamina. So, there must be another secret besides fur.

Grr—.

Jang Gun-i observed the house owner’s son closely. Then he realized.

Ah, the secret is the lump behind the big head.

So Jang Gun-i rubs the back of his head on the dirt floor today too.

Hehe—.

Grow, lump.

Ah, so refreshing.

Thud—, footsteps are heard.

Heavy yet cheerful steps, it’s the house owner.

Lately, the house owner’s son hasn’t been around.

Sometimes he appears, but he doesn’t run like before, and he doesn’t feed me either.

He’s changed…

The way he walks, slouching, reminds me of the house owner’s son from the inner village, Mary’s house, when he got his horns cut. That guy’s name was Yuk Wal-wal, right?

Did the house owner’s son get his cut too?

These bipedal males.

***

‘My body must be growing bigger.’

They call it growing pains, right?

The back is one thing, but every joint in my body aches and itches.

‘I thought I was used to pain, but this time it feels unfamiliar.’

Too tired to go up and down to his room, Jin-hyuk settled in the living room.

Except for occasionally opening the glass door to call Jang Gun-i and petting him when he came running, Jin-hyuk refrained from outdoor activities.

Even when his childhood friend came to visit during vacation, he had to build their friendship while lying face down in the living room.

“Jin-hyuk, did that friend leave?”

Since they had grown apart during the semester, Choi Mi-kyung, the teenager, showed cautious behavior.

But it only took a few conversations to readjust. I guess that’s what friends are like.

“Hey—. There’s a kid in our class who lives in the grassland apartments, and she’s such a fake. She doesn’t act like that in front of the teacher, but when it’s just us kids, she swears and her skirt— are you listening?”

Jin-hyuk kept repeating “I see” before losing consciousness.

The clear voice of his friend, like the sound of the wind, was more effective than any painkiller.

“They said we’re going to the beach for summer Bible school, so come to church. No, our neighborhood has clean beaches too, why should I go to church for that— are you asleep?”

Choi Mi-kyung, the teenager, sat in front of the sleeping Jin-hyuk, flipping the hair behind her ears, and left, occasionally coughing—, a new habit she seemed to have picked up.

Though he couldn’t see her off, Jin-hyuk was happy to have a friend who came to visit even when he was in pain.

On days Choi Mi-kyung didn’t come, Choi Tae-yang visited.

“Jin-hyuk—! Wrestling—.”

“Hehe—. Is Yujin’s brother sick? Yujin doesn’t play with you, right?”

“Really? That iron man is sick?”

“Brother, can you give me a piggyback ride?”

“Huh?”

Yujin, bored because her mom put up an ironclad defense to keep her from bothering her sick brother.

Choi Tae-yang, who came to wrestle, ended up carrying Yujin around the neighborhood.

Even after playing with Yujin, he wasn’t free.

“Maybe if someone who exercises touches him, he’ll feel better—. Ugh— it’s hot.”

Because of what Son Kwang-yeon muttered while brushing Jang Gun-i’s fur.

“Is this cool?”

“No. I don’t feel anything. My knees feel cool.”

“Strange. Even with weight on it, it doesn’t feel soft. Did you put an iron plate under your skin?”

What are you talking about? The siblings are saying weird things to each other. But Jin-hyuk wasn’t bored thanks to the Choi siblings.

When Choi Tae-yang, who had massaged Jin-hyuk until his hands tingled, was about to leave.

Yujin jumped around like a cheerleader.

“Brother, you’ll come tomorrow, right? Yujin got a piggyback ride, right? It’s fun because you’re tall, right? Yujin said thank you, right? Hehe, brother, thank you?”

Ah, Yujin.

Choi Tae-yang looked at Jin-hyuk for help, but Jin-hyuk turned his head away.

“Haha—, Yujin speaks so well, short and long…”

Who could refuse Yujin’s gaze?

Choi Tae-yang, trampled by that gaze, came every day. He even made a mosquito net tent for her, saying he was worried she might get hot.

Yujin was happy even without her brother, so Jin-hyuk was happy.

Jo Il-hun, the know-it-all, gave him a green pill that looked like goat poop, saying it was a cure-all. Jin-hyuk tried it just in case, but it just tasted like grass.

‘Is this really goat poop?’

Ptooey—.

A thick green liquid shot out like a poison dart.

***

Around the time the Barcelona Olympics were ending, Hong Ki-jun’s family visited.

Since Jin-hyuk had improved a lot, he got up to greet the guests.

It was an earlier visit than usual, and Jin-hyuk and Son Kwang-yeon guessed that Hong Ki-jun had rushed over because of Jin-hyuk.

But that wasn’t the case.

“I dragged Soo-jung’s dad here because I was worried he might collapse from overwork.”

Hong Ki-jun said he had a lot on his plate.

He also added that a month felt like ten years.

“My, Jin-hyuk looks bigger than at graduation?”

“Brother, what did you eat to get so big? You look bigger than Daddy.”

Yoo Se-ra and Hong Soo-jung had the same expression. They looked like startled cats.

If you exercise, eat well, and sleep well, you grow. How do you explain that?

Jin-hyuk thought back to the past Hong Soo-jung.

‘Little kid.’

Let’s not think about that.

“Brother, brother! I also do yoga and dog training? And, uh, uh, itty, uh, ballet, and, uh—.”

Well, it sounded like she was doing all sorts of things.

Jin-hyuk patted Hong Soo-jung’s head as a compliment and carefully examined the little one’s mouth. Why was this proud kid making lisping sounds? He remembered her as sweet but not the type to act cute when sober.

‘She lost her front teeth. She might need dentures.’

He wondered how she could eat. Jin-hyuk’s face turned red from holding back laughter.

There’s a difference in growth rates, but Hong Soo-jung seemed a bit late. Baby teeth usually fall out by 7 or 8, right? Without parenting experience, Jin-hyuk thought it was just individual differences and let it go.

Anyway, she was cute. So cute that he unconsciously cupped Hong Soo-jung’s cheeks and sang a serenade.

“Toothless little seal— don’t go to the stream—. The baby carp is scared—.”

“Ouch!”

“Ugh!”

Hong Soo-jung punched Jin-hyuk in the solar plexus.

It was a solid hit, full of emotion and weight. Truly a special forces-level punch.

“Daddy says not to sing that song every day—. Don’t sing it—.”

Though she threw a spicy punch, Hong Soo-jung just pouted and didn’t act mean.

Jin-hyuk apologized by patting her head one more time and slowly sat on the sofa.

Seeing the bright and cheerful little one was enjoyable, but the pain rising from his back twisted his expression.

He supported his weight on the armrest and slowly sat down.

Seeing Jin-hyuk like that, Yoo Se-ra’s face darkened.

“Jin-hyuk, are you hurt? Did Soo-jung hit you?”

“Ugh—.”

An old man’s dying groan came out unintentionally, so Jin-hyuk shut his mouth.

He had to be satisfied with just waving his hand to signal he was okay.

“He says his back feels like it’s breaking, but even the hospital doesn’t know. Acupuncture only helps for a short while.”

Kind Son Kwang-yeon stepped in for Jin-hyuk, who bit his lip tightly.

After dropping off Jo Seol-chan, they thought it was just a scare from getting out of the car. Son Kwang-yeon had experienced something similar when farming, with sudden changes in temperature or humidity.

But when their son, who had never been seriously ill, couldn’t get out of bed the next day, Son Kwang-yeon and Han Yu-young panicked. He couldn’t even run or hike, which he loved.

Since he couldn’t bend his back comfortably, Son Kwang-yeon even fed Jang Gun-i for him.

“Shouldn’t you go to a big hospital? Like a university hospital. Isn’t there one in Cheonan?”

“We’ve been to all of them. After about ten days, he got much better, so we’re just watching and waiting.”

They had been to local and neighboring city hospitals, and even tried acupuncture and herbal treatments.

After a few days, he gradually improved, so they were just keeping an eye on him.

“Let this auntie take a look.”

What is this auntie doing!

Yoo Se-ra suddenly lifted Jin-hyuk’s shirt without warning.

“Oh—, look at those muscles. Can a human body really be like this?”

That’s not the point! Jin-hyuk wanted to argue but just closed his eyes tightly.

While Yoo Se-ra examined his back, he turned around quietly.

Might as well let her see comfortably.

“Does it hurt when I press here?”

“No.”

She pressed a few spots, but there was no pain.

Yoo Se-ra nodded and muttered to herself.

“This seems like that thing.”

“That thing? What thing?”

With hopeful anticipation, Son Kwang-yeon quickly asked.

Though she had always been quirky, Yoo Se-ra had a clever side, so maybe she could help.

“Growing pains.”

“What’s that?”

“I learned it when I studied youth sports—.”

Until the 20th century, not many teenagers openly experienced growing pains. But with proper nutrition and exercise, explosive growth occurs, and these kids have growth plates that seem to stay open. The process consumes a lot of energy, causing fever-like symptoms.

‘What is this? I don’t have a fever.’

Jin-hyuk, Son Kwang-yeon, and Han Yu-young were speechless.

Because Yoo Se-ra looked so proud of herself. Her explanation sounded plausible, but the symptoms were too different.

Hong Ki-jun, holding Yujin with a gentle face, closed his eyes like a meditating monk.

“Listen. So, what I mean is—. The speed at which the joints grow— the muscles and, uh, nerves—.”

Human intelligence Yoo Se-ra started to stutter and make errors.

Someone should stop her.

‘Where have I seen this before?’

It felt strangely familiar. Jin-hyuk’s gaze caught Hong Soo-jung.

The toothless little one was looking up at her mom with pride, mouth wide open.

As expected of Ms. Yoo, she’s so knowledgeable. That’s our mom.