Farewell to Jeonju's Streets
This street wouldn't be around for much longer. Finally. The exams were over at last. Fresh air enveloped me, and warm sunlight bathed me gently. Hope really is the best thing. Good things never truly disappear. Having escaped the prison known as the academy, I spread my arms wide and savored my freedom.
"It's rare to see someone as consistently crazy as that guy."
"Tell me about it. What a spectacle in front of the underclassmen."
Jeong Hyeon-beom and So Ji-hu were chatting from a distance, acting like they didn't know me. Just like that line from some uncle: if you pretend not to know, then I want to act like I know you.
Well, if you're ignoring me, I'll make you acknowledge me.
"Brothers! Thanks for all your hard work these past months!"
I shouted loudly as I approached them. Thanks to that, any passing students nearby would now know we were acquainted. Of course, it was already famous at the academy that the three of us hung out together.
"Today, I'm treating! Let's go! You don't seriously plan to walk all the way home to your hometowns on foot, do you?"
It wasn't just the third-year first-semester exams that were over. Starting next semester, we wouldn't gather at the academy—we'd head to one of the forward bases for practical training. We'd spend three months there as trainees, get commissioned on-site, serve nine months at that base, and then receive official orders. The odds of all three of us being posted to the same base were slim to none. Unless we were extremely unlucky, today was the last day the three of us would walk together like this.
"I've reserved a great spot at Cheong-un-gak! You two just show up!"
"Kahahaha! Little brother Si-jin treating us to drinks? Hell yeah! Today, we'll drink till our noses twist off!"
"Uh, um. Little brother Jang. I, uh, still need to drop these books off in my room."
"Hey! You there, underclassman! Yeah, you! Could you take these books back to our room for us?"
I handed our books to a passing underclassman. Thanks to him, we could leave the academy with light hearts and even lighter loads.
Haah, so this really is the end.
The road from the academy to the brothel district was dyed with our memories. So Ji-hu-hyung puked against that wall over there. The homeowner chased him with a broom after seeing it. Oh, and over there—Jeong Hyeon-beom-hyung hurled that punk thug. He threw him so hard the guy's arm snapped.
"Ooh, little brother Si-jin! Remember that spot? You said that tree looked just like your wife—"
"When did I say that?! Let's hurry! This way! Come on!"
Anyway, this street wouldn't be around for much longer. It'd be years before I saw it again. Unless I got posted here as a military officer, came to buy something valuable, or—pure fantasy circuit overload—got appointed as the Jeolla Inspector.
We strolled along, taking in the sights. The brothel district was surprisingly lively even in broad daylight. Clearly, we weren't the only ones rushing straight from exams to the gisaeng houses.
"Ho ho. What brings you lot here?"
Especially since a guy like Park Seon-ryung was here.
"Oh. Yong-yong. Long time no see."
"Hmph! Strutting around like you're proud to be whoring in the middle of the day."
"Then what're you here for?"
"……."
Look at him, speechless. He's here to whore too, obviously. Not that I'm here for that—I'm just here for drinks. Wholesomely.
But why's he alone? The men visible in the brothel district fell into two categories: groups like us out for fun, or guys with girls already on their arms. Park Seon-ryung was the only one solo.
"Why're you by yourself? No one came with you?"
"Ha! You clueless fool! Lowlifes like you come in packs to whore around! A true connoisseur of elegance wanders alone."
"Aha! So you came to skulk around pathetically all by yourself, nursing drinks alone!"
"That's not it, you punk!"
If it's not, then just say so. Why yell like that? Did I hit a nerve?
"Why are you grinning at me?"
"Nah, just had a nice dream."
"What?"
Park Seon-ryung scowled like he couldn't comprehend. Knowing I wouldn't see that punchable face for a while felt refreshing, yet a bit bittersweet. Guess some affection had built up despite everything.
"Thanks for putting up with being my classmate all this time. Don't look down on me as a junior from now on. Or you'll end up like this again."
"Shut up!"
"Yeah, yeah. Sorry it was such a drag hanging with me. Let's never meet again."
"That's my line, you punk!"
Looks like our classmate days weren't wasted. He was pissed, but no fist came flying.
Kya. I turned this guy into a decent human. Why can't I do anything?
"Anyway, take care. Let's at least say hi if we run into each other."
"Hmph!"
He snorted like hell no and turned away.
"……."
But surprisingly, Park Seon-ryung didn't leave. Still turned, he side-eyed me, ears turning red, and muttered.
"You better greet me properly if you see me! You rude bastard!"
"When have I not? I always say hi to you as 'Yong-yong.'"
"That's a greeting? It's mockery!"
Damn if you do, damn if you don't.
"And you two! You better greet me properly too!"
He pointed at Jeong Hyeon-beom and So Ji-hu on either side of me. The two, who'd been quietly watching my one-man show, blinked in surprise but bowed politely.
"Y-yes. W-we will."
"See you again, sunbae."
"Ha! So you treat me like a senior! But that guy... how'd he end up like that?!"
Only after hearing their replies did a satisfied Park Seon-ryung grumble and walk off. Jeong Hyeon-beom and So Ji-hu stared at his retreating back, rooted in place.
"Heh, heh heh. I thought he really hated our guts."
"Yeah. Maybe he was grateful we always talked to him when he was lonely."
Grateful? That guy? To me? Why?
In my memories, Park Seon-ryung mostly clenched his fists and raged whenever I spoke to him. He was always alone among the classmates too. Still, whatever—he'd make friends once he got to a garrison.
"Brothers. This way."
We watched Park Seon-ryung's back fade, then turned toward Cheong-un-gak.
"Ahem!"
"Heh heh, little brother Si-jin! Let me handle it!"
We'd just reached the main gate of Cheong-un-gak and were about to call someone when Jeong Hyeon-beom pushed past me and bellowed.
"Come out here!!"
Whoa, that startled me. His voice was cannon-loud, vibrating the air. Even passersby jumped and glanced over.
"You punk. Don't you know the meaning of 'moderation'?"
So Ji-hu, equally startled, asked in disbelief.
Eh? Wait a sec.
"Hyung So Ji-hu. What do you mean, 'you too'?"
"Hm? What else? Exactly what I said."
"Explain that, hyung."
Before So Ji-hu could properly answer, the gate swung open.
"Welcome, sirs from the military academy!"
The familiar guard uncle greeted us. As we entered, gisaengs naturally attached themselves. The same ones who'd entertained Jeong Hyeon-beom and So Ji-hu on the first day. And for me, Cheong-yeon, Cheong-un-gak's popular gisaeng.
"You've arrived, my lord."
These days, seeing Cheong-yeon reminded me of "blossoming." Her pale skin shimmered like moonlight, her slender eyes held an irresistible allure, and her small, plump lips were blood-red like she'd just eaten a mouse.
"Did you catch and eat a mouse for lunch? Why're your lips so red?"
"Hoho, my lord. Such teasing."
She covered her mouth with refined grace and smiled, then leaned in to whisper.
"Wanna die? After two months, that's all you say?"
Ugh, this two-faced act. Women are said to have an outer and inner self, but hers was extreme. As Cheong-yeon the popular gisaeng, she never lost her elegance. As 16-year-old Kim So-yeon, her personality was thick from life experience.
"My lord. Shall we go? I'll escort you."
Switching back to her ladylike voice, Cheong-yeon reached for my arm. I scratched my head to lift it away, dodging the link-up, and changed the subject smoothly.
"Where to? This way? That way?"
"This way, my lord. Follow me."
Cheong-yeon led the way. I followed, but Kim So-yeon slowed, ending up walking beside me.
"Hey."
I asked quietly, out of earshot from the hyungs and gisaengs behind.
"When are you quitting? You whine about it every time."
It'd been nearly three years since she said she'd quit being a gisaeng. Yet every time I visited Cheong-un-gak, there she was, stubbornly working.
"Ha!"
Kim So-yeon lowered her voice to match mine and let out a hollow laugh.
"If I quit, you'll take me as a concubine, right?"
"Me? Why would I?"
"That's why I can't quit. Where else would I have to lean on?"
"Plenty of places. Last time, that rich Choi guy's family was dying to take you."
"What would I do with some old geezer with one foot in the grave? Better under a sturdy young guy."
"Even so, becoming a concubine is..."
"Ha! Ever seen a gisaeng become principal wife? Even as a concubine, if I'm treated like a person, that's enough."
"But why me, of all people?"
"Look here."
She tapped her chest lightly. Speaking as 16-year-old Kim So-yeon, not the gisaeng Cheong-yeon.
"You're the only guy I can chat so freely with. So, shouldn't I go to you?"
"I already got a wife and kids."
Kim So-yeon smirked, unperturbed.
"That's why I'm saying concubine."
"Don't come. Seriously."
I'll get stabbed. Her constant pushes to take her as a concubine were a hassle, but aside from that, our banter was fun. Knowing I couldn't have these easy chats much longer felt bittersweet.
"But..."
Suddenly, Kim So-yeon trailed off. For once, she avoided my eyes, glancing sideways as she asked.
"You heading home this winter too? To, uh, Chaekho Village?"
"Yeah. Of course. What's the point of staying here? Why?"
"Hmph. Nothing."
For "nothing," her smile was awfully suspicious, but a ridiculous thought crossed my mind, and I chuckled inwardly. As if she'd follow me?