Friends
Waah. I could see kids running around on the playground. Thanks to the horde chasing after a single soccer ball, I ended up covered in dust on my long-overdue walk to school, but it didn't bother me one bit. It was the nostalgia of heading back to school—and the fact that Jong-hyuk was walking right beside me, matching my pace, unlike before.
"I was seriously shocked yesterday. Were we even close?"
What even defines 'close'?
"You know my parents, right?"
"Yeah... I do."
Jong-hyuk trailed off, perhaps remembering my late father, but he quickly perked up with a vigorous reply.
"You know mine too. You've even greeted them."
"Exactly. That's what makes us close."
"What?"
"Glasses—you know his parents?"
"Huh?"
Glasses was Kyung-soo, one of Jong-hyuk's closest friends, the kid who wore glasses. Back then, even if kids hung out, if their parents were busy, it was rare for them to actually know each other's families.
"You don't, do you?"
"Come to think of it, Kyung-soo never mentioned his parents to me even once."
Like any middle schooler, Jong-hyuk had veered off the original topic into his own thoughts. I spoke to him like a pledge—or a declaration.
"If our moms are close and we all know each other's parents, that's close."
"I... guess so? But why don't we know Glasses' parents? I gotta ask him today. I thought we were the closest..."
Kyung-soo's dad was hospitalized with cancer, and his mom was basically raising him alone while caring for him. I hadn't known during school; I only heard about it later at a reunion. If anyone but Jong-hyuk asked that, it might strain their friendship. So I jumped in abruptly to change the subject.
"Dust's flying everywhere here. Let's hurry to the classroom. First one there buys snacks from the canteen. Go!"
"Hey, that's cheating—you started from there!"
Crossing the playground, running felt like sprinting from my old life into this new one—a rush of liberation that made me soar. In a word, I won.
"You sneaky bastard. You're Extraordinary now."
"Extraordinary?"
"Extra sneaky ordinary guy!!"
"Kekeke."
I laughed foolishly with Jong-hyuk as we entered the classroom. He must've still been hung up on the Kyung-soo talk from the walk, because he headed straight for him.
"Yo, Nerd. What's up with you coming in with the boss today?"
I tossed my bag onto my desk and joined them by Kyung-soo.
"We're starting Day One today."
"What? What the hell? Stay back!"
Kyung-soo made an X with his arms to ward us off, so I gave him a rough headlock for fun before heading back to my seat and sitting before the teacher arrived.
When was the last time I felt like this?
Back in school, I'd started keeping my distance from the other kids, convinced I was different from their wrinkle-free laughter and chatter. My build and height— inherited from Dad—kept me from outright bullying, but I felt subtly ostracized. Still, I mentally framed it as me pushing them away, and that's how I wasted my entire middle school years. It always haunted me that I'd tarnished memories that could've shone brighter with age. Choosing the humanities track wasn't just a whim from yesterday's mood; it was one of those regretful decisions that grew heavier over time, so I could decide on the spot.
Jong-hyuk sat right behind me, so after tussling with Glasses, he returned, glanced at the teacher, and passed me a note.
You're really going to Baeksin High?
Why? Think I can't?
It's a lottery anyway. You're going humanities, right?
Yeah. Not anymore.
Break time hit, and Jong-hyuk whipped around like he'd been waiting.
"Ugh, you're killing me."
"What?"
"You were telling everyone you're going vocational, and now you flip?"
"Gonna try studying."
"You?"
"Why not me?"
"It's suspicious... super suspicious."
"What's suspicious?"
A dark shadow fell over Jong-hyuk, aka Nerd.
"Nerd, you're so scattered today. I can't focus."
From the back row, legs stretched out, Jae-min—the guy who slept through class—piped up like he'd hit the jackpot, picking a fight with Jong-hyuk.
"Class was boring today, right? You were passed out the whole time."
I pinned Jae-min's shoulder lightly, chuckling.
He scowled at me but couldn't shake off my grip.
"Yeah, it was boring."
His muffled reply came out strained. I let go, and he glanced at me and Jong-hyuk before slamming the back door open and storming out.
I slung an arm around Jong-hyuk's worried shoulders.
"Morning bet."
"Hey, that was cheating on your part..."
He started excitedly but quieted at my arm around him.
"Anyway, let's go. Break's almost over."
"Glasses. Jong-hyuk's buying—canteen time."
"What?"
The tension from the Jae-min standoff eased as I dragged Glasses along too, heading to the canteen. The usual break-time buzz returned.
At the canteen, Jong-hyuk—looking glum—handed me and Glasses our buns and tried to pay.
As he did, that dizzying sensation hit again, like yesterday's eerie photo-listening combo. I saw my pre-regression, 40-something self, and Jong-hyuk looking about the same age. A conversation started unfolding.
I clenched my fist tight, focusing to catch every word without missing like last time.
Jong-hyuk, how could you do that...? We're friends, aren't we?
Does the boss really think of me as a friend?
What... do you... mean?
You barely hung out, then acted close just to get help from my dad? You think I didn't notice? I played along because your mom and little brother were pitiful. But you didn't even say thanks—next day, you treated me like your personal snack shuttle like it was natural? When did that become friendship?
I'd been a fool. Even before regression, my work relationships were shallow; I had no clue how to have real friends.
No, excuses. You just saw me as convenient.
I pulled out the pocket money I'd given Jong-hyuk yesterday for snacks and called the canteen lady.
"Sis, three banana milks please."
"Hey, the bet was just buns. Ma'am, it's fine."
"Ma'am? She's too pretty for that—sis it is. Three banana milks. Pay for everything with this."
"Huh? You?"
"Mom gave it for snacks with friends. Figured it'd be awkward if I just suggested canteen, right?"
The corny line made my skin crawl like hives were coming, but Jong-hyuk's even more awkward face burst into laughter.
With buns and the three banana milks in hand, I sat at the canteen table. Kyung-soo spoke up.
"You guys... when did you get close? Inviting me to the canteen too—and now I score buns and milk? Get closer. Next time, ramen."
Jong-hyuk sat with a dumbfounded look.
"See? Told you—being my friend pays off."
"Yeah... let's hang out more. Kekeke."
Kyung-soo teased, acting even closer. I played along while scooting over to make room for Jong-hyuk beside me. He grumbled.
"No fair—you cheated on the race, but now it's a win?"
"Everything's a win with me as your friend. You'll see."
"Whatever, I'll just watch and eat my bun."
Break was short, so we wolfed down our snacks and headed back.
Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo had been tight since elementary. Our family's new semi-basement place was where Kyung-soo lived. His dad worked construction, business boomed, and they all moved. Then cancer hit his dad, and things got tough.
Jong-hyuk never judged Kyung-soo for it. His dad was strict but kind, teaching him not to judge friends by appearances. I learned later—in elementary, kids teased Kyung-soo for the semi-basement; Jong-hyuk's dad went to school, made him apologize personally, and bought snacks for the class. Still a legend. He didn't punish Jong-hyuk harshly, which deepened his thoughtfulness.
With his mom's and Jong-hyuk's help, Kyung-soo passed the bar despite hardships—but late, since money issues delayed his studies. Jong-hyuk lost his parents in an accident, had family wealth stolen by an uncle, yet still supported Kyung-soo. At a reunion, seeing him cry alone after getting our "Ironclad Friendship" award hit hard. In my 50 years, I'd never had friends like that—and regretted it. Later in life, realizing old friends are what lasts, I attended reunions faithfully, but if you weren't tight back then, it was just nostalgic chit-chat with outsiders.
But back from the past, I'd make lifelong friends now.
To do that, first—stop the accident that takes Jong-hyuk's parents.