When Adults' Private Affairs Ease the Kids' Lives
The presidential election was one of the most important events in the Republic of Korea.
Of course it was. The head of a nation, its representative face. Under democracy, it meant choosing the person who would speak for the citizens' voices.
That was why Kim Seonhui—the party's leading figure and Kim Hyeongmin's mother—could not help but be on edge. Her entire political life up to this point could fairly be called preparation for next year. Anyone who entered politics inevitably dreamed of the Blue House.
Less than a year remained. The atmosphere inside the party was nothing like usual. Whether it was the recent ugly rumors or the sheer number of people aiming at Kim Seonhui, she had grown so sensitive she could no longer easily trust even her own allies.
"Heeya unnie. What's wrong?"
"Ah, Shinhye."
It was a nickname. The kind of word only possible after more than ten years of serving one person. No one else was allowed to call her that, and that was exactly why she had always believed it was special. Only one person in the world, yet still.
"The work?"
"Handled cleanly and came straight back."
"Good. You've worked hard. Really hard."
"It's nothing."
Her earliest memory was of assisting someone against her own convictions. Gang Shinhye's name never appeared. She was simply Kim Seonhui's right hand, the person always at her side. For more than a decade she had looked after her, yet people never remembered her. There had been much to learn from the woman, and her ideas had resonated enough that Gang Shinhye willingly handled even the filthy work.
Law and politics were inseparable. That was how a high-ranking prosecutor like Gang Shinhye had become such a reliable right hand.
But time was a terrifying thing. The romantic resolve of those early days had been worn smooth by the years, by greed, by reality, until it vanished completely. Desire blinded people. It even wounded the heart of the one who had truly devoted her life to another.
"Take a rest now."
"What are you talking about? Next year is the election…"
"Exactly. You've worked hard long enough."
Pat, pat. A hand tapping her shoulder. To an outsider it would have looked like a warm, affectionate scene—encouraging a comrade of over ten years and granting her rest. The gesture itself was exactly that. Dig beneath the surface, however, and a different meaning waited. "Rest" here was essentially the same as being discarded.
In ten years—especially at a moment like this—there had never been talk of rest. They had always urged each other on, saying let's push a little harder, let's cheer together. Or had that only ever been an act?
Gang Shinhye raised her voice, betrayal plain on her face.
"Rest? When next year is the presidential election?"
"You and I… we've both gotten old."
Hers had been a life no different from a shadow. For a politician, public attention was essential; they invented every kind of nickname and initial just to stay in the people's memory. Kim Seonhui soothed her gently. It was, in effect, a quiet promise of generous treatment. From Gang Shinhye's side, though, the betrayal was beyond words.
Of course it was. More than ten years of labor—nearly twenty. She had never refused the dirty work; she had cleaned it up and stayed loyal. And now, at the very moment the harvest was ready, she was being cast aside? There was no decency in it.
Reality did not change. Kim Seonhui, who could no longer trust even her allies, had thrown out her most faithful one. The years they had shared had turned to poison. Because she knew too many filthy secrets, Kim Seonhui promised good treatment and asked her to remain nearby. It was also a calculation: she knew that if Gang Shinhye left her side, there was nowhere else to go. It was the judgment of someone who had watched Gang Shinhye for over twenty years. And those eyes were not wrong.
"H-how… how…"
She did not explode. This was the party building. Even if the once-loyal subordinate raised her voice, nothing good would come of it. She swallowed the anger and headed home.
Fine. As you say, I'll rest quietly.
She had rolled and been rolled through the political arena long enough. Gang Shinhye began to weigh reality over raw emotion. What should she do next? She would think it through slowly, secretly. Whether she remained a foolish bear or became a ferocious madwoman who tore through the world—that remained to be seen.
April arrived. It was the third day since Jeong Ayeong and Han Sein had started dating—the day Thursday tipped over into Friday.
"Hi."
"Mm."
"Not running errands anymore?"
The moment he mentioned the Daiso bag, Jeong Ayeong's face twisted with guilt. Did it show that much? She had been wearing an iron mask, yet hearing it from Han Sein's mouth still flooded her with shame.
"Ugh."
"Hmm? Hmm? The distance feels weird."
"I-I missed you."
"Huh?"
Charge! Jeong Ayeong squeezed her eyes shut and blurted the reason like a shout. The one left flustered by such open honesty was Han Sein. Confessing her feelings like that? Even between a couple, the cringe was still cringe.
"Pfft. Me too."
"Ugh… uuuu…"
Jeong Ayeong's face blazed red. When Han Sein nodded in agreement, the heat only intensified. These were no longer ordinary emotions. What went around came around; reciprocal feeling made Jeong Ayeong bounce even higher.
"W-we have to get to school!"
"Grab gently this time. It hurts, you know."
"O-okay…"
He means my hand, right? Then why does it sound so filthy? Jeong Ayeong drew a deep breath, trying to banish the lewd devil that had sprouted in her head.
"It's warm. I like it."
"Mm?"
"It's not cold out, but… your hand."
"Ah…"
It was spring, not winter, yet Jeong Ayeong's heart began melting like snow. Han Sein's hand was strangely cold; the cool touch felt pleasant instead. Why is my face so hot? I feel like I'm going crazy. She steadied her pounding heart and looked straight ahead.
After that the day was much like any other—listening to class, zoning out through the boring stretches. At least the time she spent looking at Han Sein had increased. Before, she would only steal glances while reading the room; now that they were lovers she could stare at his face as much as she wanted.
When lunchtime finally came—
"Huh?"
Freedom arrived without warning. After eating they headed for the usual spot on the fourth floor, only to find an empty space waiting for them.
"…Should we go back?"
"Let's."
What was going on? The people who normally camped there were nowhere in sight, yet neither of them felt worried. Even at its best that place had never been happy.
On the stairs, Jeong Ayeong and Han Sein met someone coming up.
"Ah."
"……"
"……"
Silence hung between them. The woman climbing the stairs was Kang Hyeona. The gazes that locked held clear discomfort. Still, she was the first to speak.
"You two."
"?"
"Huh?"
"Don't come here anymore."
"……"
Kang Hyeona's breath came out strained. A brief silence followed. As if proving their freedom, she brushed past them without another word.
"What was that…"
"Yeah."
Bewilderment arrived before joy. Even Jeong Ayeong, who had suffered the bullying until now, looked dumbfounded. A new kind of harassment? The way she fretted anxiously was almost pitiful.
Anyway. Once they returned to the classroom, Han Sein began teasing Jeong Ayeong. In the emptied stretch of time she had been staring blankly ahead; now her body gave a little twitch.
"Ayeong."
"Mm?"
"Bring your ear closer."
"Uh…"
It felt awkward. Yet was it gloomy or painful? Not at all. Incomplete emotions—Jeong Ayeong was floundering in excitement. When she slowly offered her ear, warm breath brushed it. Han Sein leaned in and whispered in a soft, rustling voice.
"I love you."
"Hiiik!!"
Jeong Ayeong flapped like a switch had been flipped. Finding the sight adorable and hilarious, Han Sein chuckled. Heart thoroughly wrecked, she collapsed face-down onto her desk and built a private fortress.
"Huu… hoo… ha… hoo… ha… hoo… haa…"
Calm down. Heart, please calm down. The sudden love attack forced her to gulp deep breaths. What she failed to notice was that even face-down, the ear that had been attacked remained completely exposed.
"I love you."
"Hieeek!!"
Her whole body leapt. Face scarlet, she flailed. Classmates' eyes swung toward them.
"What."
"Why's she like that."
"Is she crazy."
Excitement mixed with pure shame. Jeong Ayeong, not knowing what to do with herself, straightened her chair and sat back down.
"Hehe."
"……"
"So? The answer?"
"Ugh."
"How mean. Ayeong doesn't even…"
Sob, sob. No actual tears fell, but he wiped at the corners of his eyes all the same. The sight made Jeong Ayeong jump.
No. Do you know how hard this relationship was to build? I can't mess it up! Still, the embarrassment was real. She loved him, yet putting it into words was terribly clumsy.
"I-I love youu…"
"Yeah, yeah."
A voice as tiny as an ant crawling. Eyes lowered in resignation. As lunch period raced toward its end, a fresh wind blew through the classroom.
"Everyone! Club applications!"
"Oh…"
April was club season. Weekly club activities would soon begin in earnest.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm here…"
"Oh, coding?"
Had her heart finally settled? Receiving the form, Jeong Ayeong pointed to a familiar spot as if by habit. When Han Sein asked, she nodded. From her expression she clearly hoped he would join her. He shook his head instead.
"Too hard for me. I'll pick somewhere else."
"Ugh, okay."
"Oh…"
"Why…"
"Nothing."
Unexpected. Han Sein looked at her with mild surprise. He had thought she would grit her teeth and follow him no matter what. There must be something special about the coding club.
"Where are you going, then?"
"Hmm… Oh. Me, here."
Jeong Ayeong asked. Han Sein made a show of thinking, then pointed just as she had—toward a quiet corner that barely caught the eye. A club that looked deliberately chosen.
Genre Literary Arts Club
Shortened to the Genre Lit Club. That was the name of the club Han Sein had chosen.