Chapter 233: Moving Forward
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 233: Moving Forward
Final exams were over.
Well, that might sound strange, but anyway, they were over.
"Ah, good job."
Exhausted and worn out, I patted myself on the back and offered some words of comfort.
"Where should I go?"
Since I’d decided to go on a bicycle trip during the break, it was time to plan the route.
"Hmm, should I start in Seoul? Just keep it clean and start from Seoul Station?"
The overwhelming sense of freedom.
Just the thought of it started to get me excited.
The fact that I could decide everything from start to finish made me feel a strange sense of exhilaration, beyond just the simple joy of going on a trip.
I opened a map to plan the bicycle trip starting from Seoul Station. Just then, a banner ad for udon popped up on the side.
"Hmm, udon, huh?"
Naturally, I started searching for famous udon places near Seoul Station.
"This is kind of exciting."
I’ll start by eating udon at a famous restaurant. I’ll order some tempura as a side dish, too.
What should I do after that?
Since I’ll have udon for breakfast, I’ll ride for a while and then have lunch around 2 or 3 PM.
Should I make it a Japanese food day?
Next was a Japanese tonkatsu place. Somehow, the route was being built entirely around food.
Maybe I should do a lap around Jeju Island.
I wasn't sure if I saw it on Neutube or a TV program, but I remembered there being a bicycle tour that went all the way around Jeju.
Or maybe a nationwide tour?
Anything would be fine.
Having a goal was a good thing, and the fact that it was something I wanted for myself made me feel even more motivated.
While I was pondering...
Vrrr! Vrrr! Vrrr!
— Ahn Hyun-ho —
I checked the vibrating phone, and a name I wasn't particularly glad to see appeared on the screen.
Still, since he called, it would be a bit rude to ignore it.
"Hello?"
— Hey, why aren't you here?
"I was planning a trip."
— You're planning that already? Finals just started.
You son of a bitch.
"I was just messing around, fantasizing that finals were already over."
— ...That is truly useless.
Well, what was I supposed to do?
I had already poured all my heart and soul into the midterms.
I never expected finals to come around this quickly.
— You said you were coming.
"Go where? I didn't get any separate message."
Besides, it's finals week; where would I even go?
— Oh, it wasn't you? My bad. I'm supposed to hang out with some girls from another university today, I guess I called Chan-woo instead of you.
What is with this guy?
"Did you call just to mock me?"
— Exactly.
"......Where are you?"
— You're going to send the Bald Uncle, aren't you? You're so predictable.
Dammit.
He figured it out immediately.
One visit from the Manager would have ended them.
"The Manager likes you guys."
— Shut up.
"Anyway, why are you taking Chan-woo to a place like that? He probably has a girlfriend."
I didn't know how many times his girlfriend had changed since I last checked, but either way, it was hard to imagine Chan-woo's life without one.
— They broke up.
"Again?"
— You know, Woo-jin. I honestly think it would have been great if he were a girl.
"......What are you talking about?"
— Think about it. If a crazy beautiful girl like him dated anyone who confessed to her, then even I would have a chan—!
"Ah, fuck off. I'm blocking you, you freak."
— ......I'm joking.
"Ugh, you're disgusting. Is your head filled with nothing but girls?"
Clicking my tongue, I vowed to tell Chan-woo exactly what this guy just said.
— Hey, it's not like I wanted this, okay? Senior Han-gang arranged it.
"Those guys again?"
— Yeah, those guys. Senior Han-gang and Jin-ho Hyung are going crazy trying to get girlfriends before they enlist.
"I mean, they could just date after they get out of the military..."
Even if their personalities were trash, their looks weren't half bad.
Han-gang had that handsome "church oppa" vibe.
Pyo Jin-ho was the reliable, bear-like type.
They both had different charms, so if they really set their minds to it, they wouldn't have a hard time dating.
The problem was that their standards were too high.
And women with high standards don't go out of their way to date men who are about to enlist.
— I guess the hyungs don't see it that way. Anyway, we're going to meet the girls. I heard they're from the Department of Dance.
"Yeah, I'm not even a little bit jealous."
I wasn't joking; I truly wasn't jealous at all. Despite my words, Ahn Hyun-ho let out a mocking chuckle.
— Woo-jin, men don't just like pretty or charming women.
"Is that why you confessed to I-seo?"
— ......You little shit.
He cleared his throat with a dry cough before continuing.
— Men like new women.
Click.
I just hung up.
I might be living a bit of a trashy life myself, but that guy was on another level.
I guess that's why we're friends...
Anyway, the fact that those idiots were going out to play without me didn't really bother me.
It just felt a bit dirty, like I was being left out.
"This feels weird."
I wouldn't have gone even if they'd asked, but the fact that they didn't even pretend to ask was annoying.
Sigh, whatever. At least it snapped me out of it.
Looking back at myself, who had been fantasizing about a trip until a moment ago, Ahn Hyun-ho's call actually ignited a fire in me to do well on my exams, unlike those guys.
I opened my book, intending to focus on my studies.
And a few minutes later, I closed it again.
Surprisingly, motivation isn't something that just happens because someone else pushes you.
"Ugh, this is so annoying."
I knew I had to study, but because I didn't want to, I felt strangely depressed.
As I was trying to snap out of it while cursing myself...
Vrrr! Vrrr! Vrrr!
Another call came in.
I thought it might be those idiots again, but it wasn't.
— Yoo Ah-rin —
As if she had read my frustrated mind, Yoo Ah-rin was calling. I picked up immediately, but there was a brief silence.
"Hello?"
When I asked why she wasn't saying anything, Yoo Ah-rin let out a low breath and replied.
— Are you busy right now?
It was unusual for her to ask about my schedule.
Usually, she just tells me to clear it.
"I'm not busy."
Sensing that this was no ordinary matter, I answered, but Yoo Ah-rin paused again before speaking.
It seemed it was that difficult for her to say.
— You remember when you pulled your pants down last time?
"Oh, during the exam?"
I remembered it being during midterms. Somehow, finals were already right around the corner.
Time really flies.
— You said you'd grant me a wish back then. Because I won the bet.
She still remembered that.
I thought it had naturally been forgotten.
"Right, I remember. Why? What do you want me to do?"
I had nothing to do anyway. I stood up abruptly, pushing away the book that seemed to be calling me to study.
— Could you go somewhere with me?
Is it a hotel?
I hope it's a hotel.
Come to think of it, Yoo Ah-rin bought a cat costume from our shop a while ago.
It would be great if she wore that.
"Anywhere."
With a bright smile, I immediately started getting ready to head out.
* * *
"Is it here?"
I didn't think a place like this still existed in Korea.
I stared blankly at the large building. It wasn't many stories high, but it stretched out long horizontally.
The sign read "Daehan Stay Strong Taekwondo," a name that was a bit tacky but showed its age.
"Why is 'Stay Strong' suddenly in the name?"
As I looked up at the sign in a daze, Yoo Ah-rin, who was standing next to me in casual clothes, tapped me on the back.
"It opened during the IMF crisis. It was meant to cheer up South Korea."
"It's really old for a Taekwondo dojang."
I tried to count how many years it had been, but Yoo Ah-rin pushed me inside, telling me to hurry up.
Perhaps because it was evening, there were many middle and high school students as well as adults, and they certainly didn't look like amateurs.
Should I say they looked professional?
"They've got spirit."
When I muttered that, Yoo Ah-rin smirked. She seemed strangely proud of the praise directed at the dojang.
"......Is that you, Ah-rin?"
Just then, a middle-aged man who had been watching the students' kicks recognized her.
the black belt around his waist was worn and frayed, and his hair was excessively black as if dyed. Though his face was wrinkled, his physique looked better than mine.
"Master, it's been a long time."
He had the exact aura of an instructor, and he truly was one.
"Oh my! How's university? Are you doing well? I heard Jin-ho saw you once."
"......Well, we did see each other."
She didn't add that she had torn him to shreds with her words.
Don't worry.
Jin-ho Hyung is probably busy playing with girls from the dance department right now.
"And the young man next to you is..."
"My boyfriend."
"Haha! Hahaha! Ah-rin's boyfriend! I'm Kim Woo-jin!"
When I immediately beamed and expressed my delight, the Master looked even more flustered.
However, seeing me so happy, Yoo Ah-rin didn't say much else and spoke with a smile.
"Um, Master. Actually, I came because I have something to tell you."
Then, Yoo Ah-rin subtly took my hand.
I was a bit surprised, and the Master standing opposite us also took note of it.
"Do you remember what you said to me a long time ago? You kept telling me I should become a professional athlete."
"I did, didn't I? But you refused."
The Master crossed his arms.
Then, in a tone markedly different from before, he drew a line.
"It's far too late now."
Yoo Ah-rin was now a sophomore in college.
It was a simple fact that it was far too late for her to transition back into being a professional athlete now.
But.
Holding her hand, I could tell.
Yoo Ah-rin had already expected this.
"I'm not going to be an athlete."
Ah-rin spoke confidently.
"I came to make... a sort of business proposal."
This was Yoo Ah-rin's true intention.
Perhaps that's why I found myself squeezing her hand tightly.
Hoping it would give her courage.
"Master, you used to do performances with the kids back in the day. With Taekwondo."
"......I did."
"Let's do that again."
The Master's mouth slowly fell open.
He seemed shocked by the unexpected suggestion, and I was a bit taken aback as well.
Performances?
I knew there were people who did Taekwondo performances. Weren't there videos on Neutube of foreigners reacting positively to them, calling it Korean dance?
"For the members, we can use the kids in the dojang who move well. If they find it burdensome, we can hire them as part-timers at first, or just make short-form videos and upload them to Neutube."
Neutube and Shorts?
I felt like things were starting to connect.
There was a time when Yoo Ah-rin became famous for a Short where she accidentally hit me while doing a windmill.
"People say a performance troupe needs a venue and an audience, but it's not that kind of era anymore. We can perform in videos, and the audience is limitless."
"......"
"We won't just show the final result; even the practice process will be part of a series that makes the audience feel invested in the performance."
I got the feeling that these weren't just random thoughts Yoo Ah-rin had come up with.
An expert in this field.
Since Yoo Ah-rin was quite close with my ex-girlfriend, she probably got some help from that side.
But surely.
The start of it was her.
"I've just explained the big picture for now. I'll give you the details inside."
Having said that, Yoo Ah-rin calmly let go of my hand.
As if she was okay now.
The Master glanced at me as he headed toward the office.
He seemed to realize something and gave a gentle smile before saying one thing.
"I'll give you a moment, so get as much as you need before you come in."
"Ugh."
Yoo Ah-rin made an awkward face as if she'd been caught. Then, instead of going straight to the office, she turned back to me.
Squeeze.
Even though there were other people around, Yoo Ah-rin didn't hesitate to hug me.
I hugged her back just as tightly.
"What are you doing?"
When I asked softly while holding her, Yoo Ah-rin buried her face deeper into my chest as if embarrassed and whispered.
"Recharging my courage."
"Heh."
I squeezed her tight, finding her adorable, and asked.
"How did you think of this? I had no idea."
I'd heard her say she was going to the Taekwondo dojang during the break, but I didn't know it was for something like this.
"Studying and exercising... I know you're doing all of it for us."
"......"
"So I wanted to do the same. I wanted to show you that I'm moving forward, too."
After saying that, Yoo Ah-rin pulled away from me. She hurried into the office without showing her reddened face.
Suddenly, a surge of motivation to study began to well up inside me.
I want to go back and study right now.
I wanted to do well on my finals.
I wanted to show the girls a better version of Kim Woo-jin.
And I made one more vow.
Later, I'm going to ask her to do it while wearing her dobok.