Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: New World (2)
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Upon hearing that he'd cursed at the kids and laid hands on them, Mom's hand trembled as she held her spoon. Dad's face hardened menacingly. His eyes burned sharper than the day Hong Gi-jun had first visited.
"I wrote down the license plate number."
Son Gwang-yeon took the slip of paper and calmly sat down by the phone.
As Dad started making calls here and there, Jin-hyuk perked up his ears.
He was curious about who he was calling and where.
"Police Chief Ga-yong, it's been a while. This is Son Gwang-yeon. Recently in our neighborhood—"
Police station chief, right. That'll help. He could hear the chief's excited voice over the receiver. He seemed quite pleased. But the name's unusual. Does it mean "available"?
"Oh, Gi-jun? How's Su-jeong and the wife doing? Yeah, yeah. Nothing much? Lately, I've been—"
No idea why he's calling Uncle Hong Gi-jun, but when it comes to venting frustrations, nothing beats a friend.
"Is this Assemblyman Song Tae-geun's residence? Ah, Assemblyman. This is Son Gwang-yeon."
An assemblyman must have wide connections.
The longer Dad's calls went on, the more Jin-hyuk's curiosity grew, and Mom's expression gradually returned to calm.
'But why call the county governor and the agricultural coop head?'
He caught who Dad was calling, but not the details of the conversations. That was Dad's style on the phone. Loud and cheerful for greetings, calm and quiet for the point. Dad was never one to get excited. Except when catching loaches or sparrows.
"Battalion Commander, sir, it's been a while."
Huh?
Is he mobilizing the military too?
Dad's a strange guy.
When did he build all these connections?
Watching Dad's increasingly bright expression, Jin-hyuk thought the fatso might end up on a wanted list soon.
He clenched his fist under the table. It tightened as hard as if it would shatter. He hadn't lifted the fat kid during the day, but he could've easily.
He'd been so cautious around friends that he hadn't even arm-wrestled, avoiding using his strength. Maybe that's why he hadn't realized how strong he was. He should've suspected something when, at nine years old, he'd casually lifted millstones and yanked out whole arrowroot roots. But he'd just let it slide.
'I'm really dense. Gotta practice controlling my strength.'
Crunch—.
No friction in the joints, yet a weird sound came from his fist.
Son Gwang-yeon finally took the wheel himself.
It was the day Jin-hyuk was heading to Tae-yang Elementary for relay practice.
"Dad, I can take the bus by myself."
"It's fine. Riding with Dad's nicer and faster than the bus."
True enough.
No bus could compare to the speed and comfort of a sedan cruising on paved roads. Especially since Dad's car was top-of-the-line.
'Lucky me, having a great dad.'
Even blessings taken for granted by blood ties should be appreciated.
Having lost it once before, he didn't take this luxury as ordinary.
Jin-hyuk stretched his arm out the car window, grasping at the air, a bright smile on his face.
'At 80 kph, cup your hand like scooping water to feel the air resistance.'
Seoul housewife Choi Mi-kyeong had told him that.
She said it felt like fondling B-cup mlem-mlem.
Come to think of it, why'd she tell him that?
Pity for a lonely guy, offering a virtual experience?
'What the heck is this...'
Jin-hyuk's beaming face twisted like a dummy's.
Even trying as instructed, he couldn't tell if it matched that sensation.
He should've experienced it firsthand sometime...
When a luxury sedan pulled into the school field, Kim Young-tae and the kids' eyes went wide. They never dreamed a country school kid would arrive in something like that.
"Got your spikes? Gym clothes? Bus fare? Buy some hot dogs, eat tteokbokki with your friends."
Sounds more like Mom than Dad.
Son Gwang-yeon stuffed four 10,000-won bills into Jin-hyuk's pocket before turning the car around. Enough for 10,000 won worth of tteokbokki?
'What's Dad's sense of money...'
500 won per plate fills even big-eater Son Jin-hyuk; 1,000 won makes him stuffed. Jumbo hot dogs are 100 won.
Still, it warmed his heart, lifting the corners of Jin-hyuk's mouth.
'Gonna cry for real.'
Has life changed too much?
This was how it should've always been. Not something Jin-hyuk changed. He'd just returned to normal.
Thinking that, Jin-hyuk waved to his new kid friends.
Too soon to call them friends; it still felt awkward.
Teacher Kim Young-tae welcomed Jin-hyuk.
"Jin-hyuk, got your spikes?"
"Yep."
The track spikes felt both unfamiliar and familiar. The fit around the instep reminded him of climbing ridge shoes or soccer cleats. Cheap shoes, but they gripped his feet stably, so he adapted quickly.
'Makes me walk on my toes.'
Playing soccer or running, Jin-hyuk had always bounded on forefeet. Heels never touched ground—not taught, but he knew instinctively it exploded his speed.
"Don't just hand off the baton! Thrust it deep! Like this! Into the next runner's hand!"
Kim Young-tae demonstrated, raising his voice.
As track coach, his enthusiasm burned brighter than ever—thanks to Son Jin-hyuk. In short-distance relays, one second meant huge gaps. Jin-hyuk was over a second faster than the others. Before him, fastest Park Ji-beom barely hit one second ahead.
'If we do well in relay, we could place.'
Smooth baton passes could overcome 2-3 seconds in elementary relays. Kim Young-tae eyed Jin-hyuk in the blue Tae-yang team uniform.
Height: 165 cm.
Sumo club 6th graders sometimes topped 180, but rare for track kids. Plus, Jin-hyuk didn't train professionally, as far as he knew. All he could do was marvel at his natural build.
'Built in America?'
His deltoids screamed "born for sprints" like Carl Lewis. Split quads evoked wild horses, reminiscent of Jang Jae-geun's thighs from Asian Games 200m gold.
"Jin-hyuk, you do any weight training?"
"No."
Just running, pull-ups, sit-ups. Push-ups too.
Weights bad during growth spurts. Jin-hyuk knew from past solo training and books/videos.
'Hope I grow taller than last life.'
Even then, he was well above average. With good eating during growth, maybe more—looking at his tall-for-old-times parents.
"Good, no weights. Just bodyweight exercises. Got it?"
"Yes."
Kim Young-tae's affectionate advice.
In Korea's PE wasteland, proper explosive starts and enduring finishes could make 100m Chungnam rep—not impossible. Assuming good synth track times.
Anyway.
Chatting with Kim Young-tae, Jin-hyuk voiced a long-standing疑問.
'Why do PE teachers wear skin-tight tracksuits?'
Unresolved from past and present.
They're PE teachers, so gym clothes make sense—but why the clingy pants? Do they know it makes eye-movement hard for sensitive girls in PE class?
'They know and do it on purpose. Perverted bunch.'
Who can stop Korean men's pride? Even Jin-hyuk had boasted at public baths in his past life. Unseen, unused.
Thinking that far, a sigh escaped.
'What a wasted life.'
Hong Gi-jun got an unexpected call while working.
"Oh, yeah? Gwang-yeon! What's up, this hour?"
Hong Gi-jun realized his voice was too loud. Just that thrilled by the surprise from his friend. They respected work hours, hard to call daytime. Odd. He waved apology to staff, swiveling in his chair.
His friend blustered over the line.
—Hahaha! My son, he—
Hong Gi-jun sighed through his nose, closing eyes to listen.
No kids? Jealous life. Every call's son-brag.
"Oh? Entering track meet? Nothing he can't do? Fights well too—"
—Fight? What're you talking about? My son fighting who?
"Ahaha, slipped. Thought of him playing with that oggol chicken."
Hong Gi-jun wiped his brow with a handkerchief.
Sunny office, but sweat anyway.
Nodded thanks to coffee-bearing staff, continued.
"So, win provincial meet, what's the prize?"
—Win? Nah... It's about representing region. Worry he'll get hurt. Tough competition, feel the wall. We know, right?
Hong Gi-jun nodded, recalling college with Son Gwang-yeon.
College entry meant success then, but top uni's prestige left no room for campus romance. Thanks to constant buddy, he buckled down too.
Led to meeting Yu Se-ra—now, hundred times worth it.
'Gwang-yeon studied hard for scholarships.'
Son Gwang-yeon fretted others missed out because of him. Despite worst finances.
That thought made him feel his friend, now family man in countryside, finally found peace. Relieving.
—But coach says winning record possible. What do I know? If anything... er-hem.
"Still can't stand losing hints, huh? Fine with me. Asking how to support if he keeps track?"
Son Gwang-yeon's voice calmed over the line.
—As expected, only you, my friend.
"Duh. I'll check. Just raise him well. See kids on break."
—Yeah, thanks. Work.
"You too, stay healt—"
—Click.
"Ha, that jerk..."
Hong Gi-jun couldn't hang first again.
Vowed next preemptive strike, beckoned new hire outside door.
"Min Yong-rak?"
"Yes! Manager!"
"That thing I asked before ready?"
"Academy PE report?"
Hong Gi-jun grinned.
Hired by name after HR rejection—refreshing personality, sharp worker.
'Dropped exemption guy...'
Hong Gi-jun shook head.
Planned to purge power-abusers soon.
Min Yong-rak pulled report from shelf instantly.
Hong Gi-jun Manager's peculiar.
Quick rise from section chief to manager. Rumors of president sans exec director.
'Chairman son-in-law perks.'
Others say "Mr. Min, Ms. Lee"; he calls names warmly. Young? Nice anyway.
Min Yong-rak brought yellow-foldered stack.
"Here!"
"OK, thanks—"
Opening it, Hong Gi-jun's lips curved.
Like a man long awaiting his moment.
'Whatever you do, I'll back you.'
Properly.
Live happy doing what you want.
'Baby birds don't curse storks.'
Just don't understand.
Time to move.