Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Field Trip (1)
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After becoming third-years and right after our first exam ended.
Seol-i and I found ourselves wrestling with one dilemma.
"Haneul."
"Yeah, what's up?"
"This field trip... you wanna go?"
It was all because of this field trip.
Seol-i and I had almost never gone on these field trips. Actually, we pretty much never went at all.
I always thought they were kind of a waste of time, and staying at school to hang out with Seol-i during that period felt like the better option.
Seol-i had the same mindset as me, so we'd stay behind together.
But this time, it seemed like Seol-i actually wanted to go.
"Where's this field trip to?"
"Here... Dreamland."
I checked the crumpled permission slip and nodded.
Yeah, I could see why she'd want to go.
Dreamland was a place filled with memories for me and Seol-i.
They were fun memories now, but back then, they must have been terrifying for Seol-i.
"...Not scared or anything?"
"Huh? Why?"
"We got lost here together, remember?"
And rightly so—we'd gotten lost here together.
I hadn't been too worried myself. I figured we'd find our way out somehow.
But for seven-year-old Seol-i back then, it could easily have turned into a trauma.
That's why I asked if she was scared.
Seol-i listened to me, let out a small laugh, and shook her head.
"Nah, not really scared. If anything..."
"If anything?"
"This time, I kinda want to go with you, Haneul."
The way Seol-i said it with a gentle smile was cute and charming no matter how many times I saw it.
I couldn't help but nod in the face of that captivating smile.
"Yeah, let's go this time."
"Hehe... Thanks. I know you don't really wanna go..."
To be honest, I was more on the side of not wanting to.
Even if the field trip was to an amusement park, the downsides outweighed the upsides.
For starters, with around two hundred students going as a group, you'd have to wait forever for popular rides, and there was no guarantee they'd even be fun.
On top of that, you had to shell out money, and the prices inside were insanely inflated—stuff that cost two thousand won outside was five or six thousand inside, as a baseline.
So yeah, I preferred skipping group trips like that...
...but if Seol-i wanted to go, then going was the right call. She wanted to, so what was one day with my eyes squeezed shut?
That evening, I brought it up during dinner with my parents.
"Mom, can I go on the field trip this time?"
"You don't have to go again this... Wait, you're going on the field trip?"
Mom looked up from her meal in surprise, and Dad wasn't much different.
"...Haneul, did you just say you want to go on the field trip?"
"Yeah, it's to Dreamland this time..."
"...Honey, our Haneul finally wants to go on a field trip."
"This a dream or what?"
"Could be. Totally possible."
"......"
I had nothing to say to that.
Truth be told, when I was younger, my parents had tried coaxing me over and over: "You should go on at least a few field trips," "These are memories," "We've got plenty of money—no worries there," "Don't you have friends?"
And every single attempt had failed.
Because I'd stubbornly refused every time.
Eventually, it just became a given that I wouldn't go...
So this was the first time I'd ever told my parents I wanted to go on one.
No wonder they were shocked.
"What's got you wanting to go this time?"
"...Seol-i asked me to go with her."
"Knew it."
"Totally."
They both nodded in unison.
"What if he ends up bringing Seol-i home as his real girlfriend one day?"
"Says he's filing marriage papers right away?"
"Huh?"
I looked at them in panic.
They stared back—one with a dumbfounded expression, the other with a smug "Jackpot" grin.
"I thought our Haneul wanted to marry Seol-i or something..."
"If she's still not his girlfriend... Son, even if your tastes in lovers are unique, Dad gets it."
"...Dad, Da-som can hear you."
"Da-som's asleep."
I glanced at Da-som, sprawled out in the living room, snoring away.
Da-som, big bro carried you around when you were little. Help me out just once? If you wake up, they'll stop with the weird talk.
But unfortunately, Da-som was oblivious to my plea and kept sleeping adorably.
Fine, my sweet Da-som. If dreamland's that great, no helping it. Big bro understands.
I gave Da-som one last look, then turned back to my parents with full conviction.
"Me and Seol-i aren't like that. And I don't plan on it."
"For real?"
"......Yeah."
Yeah, no plans like that.
At least, not right now.
I mean, what would Seol-i see in a guy like me?
She's cute, kind, sweet, and has a great personality.
What good would come from her dating me?
She just needs to avoid clueless guys like Kim Do-yoon.
Of course, if—just hypothetically—Seol-i confessed to me...
...No idea. I wouldn't even know how I'd react.
Better not overthink it. Seol-i's too precious to me as a friend—practically like a little sister. Who dates their little sister?
"What do we do with our son? He's so clueless."
"All your genes, honey."
"Me? What'd I do?"
"Remember how I chased after you and you were oblivious?"
"Yeah, but I didn't take that long."
"True that."
Meanwhile, Mom and Dad were having this utterly rude conversation right in front of me.
Hey, isn't gossiping about someone to their face a bit much? Especially when it's your son.
I finished eating and stood up.
"Uh, here's the permission slip."
"Got it~ I'll sign it and give it back later~"
"Thanks."
I cleared my plate to the sink, then headed to Da-som.
She was awake now.
"Bwooppa~"
"Hey~ Da-som~ Wanna play with big bro~?"
"Ung~ Hehehe~"
Da-som snuggled right into my arms and settled in.
She didn't take her eyes off the TV.
It was playing some kids’ cartoon that practically screamed “childish,” but I didn’t mind. Sometimes they were surprisingly fun.
A lot of them snuck in adult tastes—dark worldviews or hidden meanings.
That's what made them interesting.
I stroked Da-som's hair and poked her soft cheeks, soaking in the healing vibes.
Seemed like she loved it, giggling away in my lap.
Now this is healing. Mmm.
A few days later, the day of the field trip arrived.
I had to get moving at 6 a.m.
Simple reason: departure at 7:30.
7:30 a.m. start—brutal. They could think about kids who live far away.
"Mom, Dad, I'm off."
"Okay~ Son~ Have fun and stay safe~"
"Bring souvenirs~"
"Got it~ Will do~"
"Da-som, big bro's going. Say bye-bye."
"Bwoopa, bye-bye..."
Da-som waved sleepily, and I waved back at my adorable sister.
"Bye-bye, Da-som. Big bro's off~"
Gotta pick up something for Da-som on the way back.
Not sure what, but a cute stuffed animal? She'd love that.
She loves her dolls.
Spring was starting to warm up, so I wore my summer uniform to school.
About fifty minutes on the bus, and I reached the school field at 7:00. Seol-i was waiting for me.
"Haneul...!"
She trotted over, as lively and cute as ever.
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"Wait long?"
"Nah, just got here."
She shook her head, also in summer uniform like me.
"Summer uniform, huh?"
"It's hot. Mom and Dad said why not wear gym clothes, but mine are at school..."
"Hmm~ Could've worn gym clothes."
"Yeah, it's allowed."
"Wanna change into mine then?"
"Hmmmmm... Nah, I'm good!"
"Alright? I'll change then."
"Uh... ummm... Do whatever you want, Haneul."
After her hesitation, I dashed inside, changed into gym clothes, and came back out.
More kids than I expected on the field.
Some in uniforms, some in gym clothes—both looked comfy.
But there was a pattern: most gym clothes were on boys, most uniforms on girls.
Split down gender lines again.
"Guys in gym clothes, girls in uniforms."
"Right? You're in gym clothes, I'm in uniform."
"True."
I nodded to Seol-i, and we headed to where our class flag was, waiting for the others and teacher.
Soon, everyone arrived for headcount, and the buses pulled up.
Seol-i and I grabbed seats in the back corner, ready to go...
"Alright, kids, we're off~"
And the bus rolled out.
Destination: Dreamland, the amusement park full of me and Seol-i's memories(?).