Seventeen, and the Accomplice (2)
The location for our first-year field trip experience was set for the Incheon Chinatown area. The timing was late May, right before the June mock exams. It felt like a quick trip to blow off some steam. Most schools do it early May, but ours always schedules things awkwardly. Maybe because we're still freshmen—the kids had been buzzing about it for days.
The route started at Freedom Park, looped roughly around Chinatown, then straight to lunch. Lunch was the real highlight, at least. No need to pack bentos? Total win.
In elementary school, we'd have taken a tour bus for group transport, but as high schoolers, we were taking public transit and meeting at the Freedom Park entrance at the set time. Meeting at the park entrance, though... I could already picture everyone's faces. That hill up to it is no joke.
I got off at Dongincheon Station on Line 1, passed through the underground mall, climbed the stairs, and there was the familiar bookstore sign. It used to be a full bookstore from the first floor to the fifth, but now the first and second are a bakery and cafe. Felt kinda weird. Time flies, huh? That's the vibe.
"Huff... huff... Oh man, my legs."
"What uphill is... this long..."
Half the class was already gasping on the way up to Freedom Park. Kids these days aren't like us back in the day—it's true. When I was little, I was sprinting up hills like this at eight. Pathetic.
"Seojin, you okay? You're sweating buckets..."
"Hah... kahak... huh...? Wha... what...? Kohook...?"
I was focused straight ahead when I looked up—Hyeji's face was right there. She looked all worried, like she was about to cry. Sweet if it was for me, but making a fuss over nothing. I was just too out of breath to even breathe properly, felt like I was dying...
"Hey, she gonna be okay like that?"
Kim Yuha slipped past with his usual sleazy grin. Sounded concerned, but 90% mockery in his tone. Jerk spikes my irritation levels instantly.
I'm gonna kill him. That bastard—someday for sure.
I grit my teeth and take one step at a time. Turn right, and there's a small old temple roof, next to the beat-up batting cage—still there. Meaning the real incline starts now.
"I... can't... go... any further..."
The slope ahead looked like something out of a Spon-O-Bob episode—straight-up Mocking City level. Dizzy as hell. I grabbed the roadside railing, staggering from vertigo, when Hyeji threw her arms around my shoulders. Saved me from face-planting.
Late May. On this brutally hot, blazing sunny day. They expect us to crawl up this hill? Is this school run by sane people? And in uniforms? Who came up with that madness...? Winter uniforms would've killed us.
"What do we do..."
I heard Hyeji's troubled voice, but couldn't see her face. Why no wind at all today?
Catching my breath, I glance up—sparse tree shade up there. If I make it, maybe it'll be okay. But my legs won't budge. Rested once, now they refuse outright. Breath up to my throat, feet glued to the ground—then Hyeji suddenly perks up.
"Oh? Kang Mincheol!"
The familiar name twitched my half-dead ears. Heavy sneaker thuds approach, and Hyeji calls out again.
"Hey, over here! Help us out a sec."
"What's up? Why's she like this?"
Kang Mincheol's deep voice. Sounded boyish in early middle school, now it's all bear-like. Matches his build, too.
"She walked up from the bottom. Can't even breathe."
"You could taxi from here... Silly."
Taxi for a hill? Come on! I nearly yelled, but no energy. Still, his cold words hid real concern. Total opposite of Kim Yuha.
"So... if it's okay, could you piggyback our Bunny? Really sorry!"
Hyeji asked carefully. Thought the Bunny thing had died down, but nope. I tried to frown, but no strength. Legs just shaking.
Then the bear silhouette strides up, crouches in front of me, offers his back.
"Hop on."
Staring blankly, Hyeji lifts my arms onto his shoulders.
"Thanks, seriously. Seojin, lift your legs slow. Yeah, good. One, two."
Finally draping my arms over, his broad back fills my hands. Neck damp with sweat, but piggybackee can't complain.
"Hold tight. Don't fall."
He pushes up from his knees. Gripping hard like he said, my shaky vision steadies.
Hyeji sighs in relief. "You saved us. Thanks a ton."
Kang Mincheol shrugs, scratches his neck awkwardly.
"Uh... uh... yeah."
"Thanks too. I'll pay you back someday."
I say from his back. His scratching hand bugs me up close, but tolerable.
He shakes his head. "Don't worry. Pays for all those picnics where I stole your bento."
"Oh yeah! You little—"
Old grudge flares, blood pressure up—but fades. Kid stuff; I'm the adult here.
"Sigh, fine. Forgiven."
Hyeji giggles beside us. "Wait, you stole Seojin's bento too?"
"Huh? No... well... y'know..."
Mincheol scratches his neck again. I glance between them—noticing he treats me different from her.
No way~?
Grin creeps up. Smirk slyly, but don't say it. Wonder if spring hits Kang Mincheol too~
Near the top, a cool breeze finally hits. Freedom Park entrance—we made it. Mincheol lowers carefully so my feet touch ground.
I bow deep. "Thanks again. Saved my life."
Then Kim Yuha butts in, smirking. "Ooh, Beauty and the Beast?"
Rage I'd bottled explodes. "Who's the Beast?!"
Without thinking, I shin-kick him full force. Thwack! Clear sound echoes.
"Yoww!"
Kim Yuha hops, clutching his leg. "Hey, I didn't call you the Beast!"
"Huh?"
I squint, tilt head at his aggrieved tone.
"Maybe... the Beast was me?"
Mincheol mutters softly behind.
"Pfft..."
Hyeji turns away, shoulders shaking, stifling weird laughs. Heat floods my face. Better bolt before it gets weirder—I dash to the homeroom teacher.
Wait, Beauty or Beast—neither fits me anyway. Why'd I even snap?
*
Soon after, teacher finishes headcount, leads us to the MacArthur statue. Lived nearby back then, so I know the area. Pre-Seojin, obviously. Nothing exciting now. Park's changed a lot, that's it.
Some kids teased "Beast" over earlier, but fizzled quick. My Bunny nickname's set, so no fun for them. Whatever—Beast or Bunny, same difference to me.
Looped Freedom Park, passed Hongyemun Gate. Preserved old form for cars—feels more relic than heritage. Wide enough for one comfortably. Light traffic, no issues.
Down to Chinatown, into the Romance of the Three Kingdoms mural street. Some kids shouted character names excitedly, but most faces were half-dead in early summer sun. Me included.
Took forever to hit lunch. Whole grade, so school split restaurant into shifts—ours first. Lucky.
"Seojin, we're this restaurant."
Park Jisu calls, puzzled—I'd been staring across blankly. Know where to go, but eyes drawn there. That famous spot from TV. Always booked solid—wanted to try once. When will I ever? Pipe dream over.
Follow kids, open door—cool AC greets me. Fan whirring too? Heaven. Plus cold wet wipes? Bliss. Straight to wiping down.
Menu varied, but choices limited: jjajangmyeon or jjamppong, pick one. Per four-top: dim sum, gun mandu only.
Sit, glance around, decide. Jjajang for me. Jjamppong in this heat? Death. Spicy's okay, but hot-spicy no.
Dim sum and gun mandu one each per person—center plate consensus.
"Seojin, check this?"
Mid-jjajang slurp, turn head—click, shutter sound.
Blank a sec, then pink phone behind grinning Jisu.
"Ooh, came out great?"
I chew-slurp noodles, frown. "Why snap pics of others eating?"
Grumble, she shows screen apologetically. "C'mon, don't be mad. See? Looks good, right?"
Not bad, yeah. Low-angle upward shot makes me look... mature? Not elementary-kid vibes, at least to me.
"So cute—post to group chat?"
Jisu's eyes sparkle hopefully.
"Hell no."
Firm no—she pouts. Hate sneaky shots. Looks good, sure, but group chat means teasing fodder. Nope.
"Too bad... Wanted to show others. Brag a bit."
Her words flip me. Always dodged photos fearing mocks, but hey—I got someone to flex(?) to. Rub it in with yummy food pic.
"Then send just to me?"
"Why? Got someone to show?"
She drags chair closer, leaning in. First time I react like this—curious.
"Yeah. Someone."
"Who, who?"
I poke bowl with chopsticks, turn away. "Someone, yeah."
Don't elaborate. Why spill? He's the ajusshi with my dirt.