Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: A New Future (3)
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"11.35"
From the stands, he could see his dad and Teacher Kim Young-tae cheering with raised arms before patting each other on the back. Jin-hyuk grinned at the cheerful sight.
'Heh. Is it really that great?'
Even when he'd been left alone, even after saving his parents. He'd lived constantly running, savoring the thrill of being alive. Seeing that obsession bear fruit like this filled him with pride.
'So this is the thrill of the short sprint.'
The rush after pouring everything into that brief moment invigorated his core.
Lee Joo-geun remained seated, grimacing to the end. His mouth twitched open and shut, as if muttering curses. The kids from Gongju glanced warily at their coach before rushing over to congratulate Jin-hyuk.
"Whoa! You run so fast!"
"Congrats!"
Jin-hyuk exchanged hugs with the kids.
Fatigue pooled in his waist, and his chest heaved wildly.
"Whew— that was tough."
He pressed a hand to his waist and took a deep breath. Had 100 meters ever left him this drained? It meant he'd given it everything. His broad upper body had faced significant wind resistance too.
The award ceremony followed right after the race.
After a short rest, he headed to the podium set up at one side of the stadium.
They checked the athlete's name and record, then hung the medal around their neck—that was the ceremony.
"Whoa, another record for you?"
The staff member grinned as he draped the gold medal around Jin-hyuk's neck.
Jin-hyuk recalled setting a record in the long jump yesterday too. He'd brushed it off since he wasn't in the mood to celebrate.
"Let's shake on it."
"Thank you."
"Ha, look at that cool composure. You're going places."
To the staff, his blank expression looked like bold confidence.
*
Son Gwang-yeon snapped photos nonstop, capturing his son's moment.
'Good job, my boy.'
He blinked hard to shake off tears.
He didn't forget to chat with the strangers around him either.
"Hahaha! That's my son."
"Whoa— he's speedy as can be!"
A man with a thick regional accent gave a thumbs-up, no clue where he was from. Son Gwang-yeon got far more congratulations than Jin-hyuk.
The day's events were over.
Jin-hyuk packed his clothes and bag, heading to the stands where his dad waited.
'Teacher Kim Young-tae must've gone.'
Staying more than two days would've been too much, he'd said. It was a shame now that Jin-hyuk had discovered the fun of making friends. Still, thinking of a delicious dinner with Dad lifted the corners of his mouth. Digging through old memories, he remembered how tasty the pork soup they'd shared had been.
'Today, we should go for grilled pork intestines.'
No one from the team was looking for him, so he chose to skip mingling. For Jin-hyuk, it was a bold act of rebellion.
'Thanks for the full belly!'
The setting sun in the west cast a long shadow over Jin-hyuk's back.
Day 4.
Today, headwinds blew fiercely down the straight track again.
But to Jin-hyuk, running through a typhoon, it was merely a gentle breeze.
He set a new record in the 200 meters too.
"23.17 seconds."
A man in a suit and white baseball cap gripped the mic. He was handling the event announcements and hosting.
[...Ladies and gentlemen in the audience, we have another Korean record in today's track events, following yesterday's. It significantly shortens the previous record...]
Clap clap clap—the applause cut through the wind.
It was the first sub-23-second time since official measurements began.
The runner-up trailed by over a second.
"Man, this one's gonna stand for 30 years at least."
Record keeper Jang Yeon-bae clicked his tongue in amazement.
He'd thought Eodong Elementary was obscure in track since it was just an elementary school. No reps from the school had come either. Given the reality, it was no surprise the staff didn't know the tucked-away place. The athlete was selected as Chungnam rep, running with kids from unfamiliar regions.
"Weird. Looked like he held back at the end."
"Nah. Kids' 200m times are always more than double their 100m. Stamina issue."
His colleague nodded half-heartedly at Jang Yeon-bae's explanation.
"How about other countries' records?"
"Gotta check in Seoul. Record chief Park Heung-sik would know. Guy's obsessed with track. Speaking of, is this our Carl Lewis?"
"No way. Korea's hopeless."
Like any sport, track was seen as tough foundation-building with no money. Any kid with speed and height got scooped into baseball or soccer.
No wonder an Asian Games short sprint gold earned hero status once a century. Carl Lewis in this country? Dream on.
"Anyway, it's an incredible record."
Jang Yeon-bae emphasized again, flipping through old logs.
First sub-24 since systematic records in 1985, shattering the prior 24.09 best by 0.71 seconds. Wonder what event this kid'll pick? Soccer, baseball—he'd crush anywhere.
"No reporters around, huh?"
"Asked for press releases post-event."
"Odd. Snap a few pics on assignment and pocket a full day's pay?"
"Who knows. Other meets going on. Head reporter hinted some bigwig pressured them to ignore this one."
"Bigwig? Who?"
"Beats me. For press, it's politicians or advertisers."
Jang Yeon-bae scratched his head. Didn't know the reporter life, so whatever.
His colleague chin-nodded indifferently.
"Looks like just those two broadcast crews."
A runner was calmly interviewing in front of the cameras, looking comfy like he'd done it plenty.
Jang Yeon-bae eyed the record again.
"Whew. Amazing. Wonder who breaks it."
Unmeasured factors too. Pre-wind gauge era, Jin-hyuk's tailwind went unrecorded.
Flags everywhere whipped wildly.
"Can my son ride with me?"
"Sure."
Lee Joo-geun stayed stiff to the end.
Of course. His trainees bombed quals. Annoying that Son Jin-hyuk set Korean records in the track crown jewels—sprints and long jump—and stayed chill.
"Get in the car, you brats!"
Lee Joo-geun snapped at innocent kids.
He'd blocked middle school reps all tournament. Turned down booze offers too. So promising scouts couldn't hover. Among them, Lee Hae-dong and Jeong Bong-su.
Inadvertently, Lee Joo-geun shielded Son Jin-hyuk.
The kids in the car timidly waved at Jin-hyuk.
A bitter smile tugged at Jin-hyuk's lips.
'Grow up well, guys.'
Probably never see them again.
Jin-hyuk waved back, then joined Dad in the car.
The three golds already hung around Dad's neck.
"Skipping closing?"
"Yeah. Don't know anyone."
Dozens to hundreds per region, varying dates—no team spirit. Jin-hyuk's take: three golds and Chungnam jersey.
Memories? This car chat with Dad was priceless. They'd asked him to stay for outstanding athlete award at closing, but he left early—missed Mom and sis.
On the highway in lane one, Son Gwang-yeon asked.
"Jin-hyuk, you like track?"
"Running yes, but not their training."
He blamed some coaches, but the ones he'd seen soured the sport. Hard to feel good about leaders lacking care for sensitive kids. Disappointment too deep for words. Love track or not, he'd pass on that treatment.
Did the interview to say his piece.
Stop hitting. Know how it feels? Blocking blows fearing death, finger breaks, head splits—consider the kids' hearts.
Ahem. Jin-hyuk cleared his throat, swallowing emotion.
"Dad likes me running?"
"Whatever you want, I'll support. That's why I worked hard. Couldn't play much when you were little—gonna make up big now."
Heh, changing the subject.
Smart, emotional types do that. Prefer roundabout over blunt. Jin-hyuk eyed his multifaceted Dad.
"You like cheering?"
"...Hahaha. Yeah. Felt great."
Son Gwang-yeon burst laughing at his son's persistence. The good-hearted fool's grin again. Laughed so hard the medals jangled. But clarified.
"Jin-hyuk. Do it if you want, skip if not. Got the means to help whatever. But blowing past everyone? So cool. I was fast as a kid—won notebooks at sports day. Grandma stopped me. Said I'd get hurt..."
Rare Grandma mention—he trailed off.
Jin-hyuk nodded faintly.
'Dad had dreams too.'
How many talented, willing folks get blocked? Past Jin-hyuk starved through growth, just avoiding hunger.
'Who was it...?'
Jin-hyuk recalled past-life stars. Teams built around them, individual sports fame. Swimming, figure skating? Others too, but those popped first.
"Dad, if no school transfer needed, I'd keep doing track meets."
Fun running, parents love watching.
"Possible?"
"Probably."
Great athlete repping school? They'd allow.
"I'll check. Uncle Gi-jun knows folks there."
Hong Gi-jun? News to him. Yu Se-ra made sense.
Yu Se-ra founded a foundation with Sein Group funds for grassroots sports, chaired it, nurtured talents. Jin-hyuk had planned support on Chairman Hong's orders.
Ah, hubby backed it quietly.
'Wonder how Great Magician's doing.'
"How was school, Su-jeong?"
"Dunno! Boring. Kids are immature."
Pfft.
Yu Se-ra found her barely eight-year-old's whining adorable.
She'd arranged elite school for chaebol kids. Husband opposed—send to local for normalcy. Rich school, no friends, lonely adult? Compromised on nearby upscale.
Only child—friends good, per hubby.
Anyway, daughter Hong Su-jeong griped classmates too low-level.
"Ugh, wish vacation already."
"Why? Miss Oppa Jin-hyuk?"
"Yeah! He's tall, handsome! Explains studies great."
Judging boys already? Studies excuse. First-grader studying what?
Noticing Mom's look, tiny Hong Su-jeong added.
"Jin-hyuk Oppa talks like grown-up. Yeah."
True. Even Yu Se-ra was stunned meeting him—ten-year-old?
'Less kid, more uncle.'
Mature poise, ingrained manners.
"And handsome."
Said that.
"Does whatever I want."
Never refused.
'No other like Jin-hyuk.'
Sick of bratty summer visits, yet hugged like real bro. Real bros? Yu Se-ra's were arrogant foes.
"And really handsome."
Threepeat. Let her ramble, it'd be anthem. Full-throated devotion.
"Su-jeong dear, attend school diligently, piano, violin, art, English, ballet academies fully—then Jin-hyuk Oppa plays in vacation."
"Argh, fine. Going! Mom's daughter Hong Su-jeong heads to academies!"
The spirited shout, then she grabbed her bag and bolted.
At the gate, fidgeting Kim chauffeur took the bag, bowed to Yu Se-ra.
'Who'd she get fidgetiness from?'
Not me. Probably.
Prepping outing, Yu Se-ra sighed at mirror.
Mirror showed 30s woman like Hong Su-jeong, comparing earrings.
'Liked handsome Gwang-yeon Oppa as kid.'
Tsk.
Knew he liked soft types like Jin-hyuk's mom—should've played coy. Might've birthed Jin-hyuk-like son. Yu Se-ra chuckled at wild thoughts.
'Kid stuff. Fades.'
Tastes change, nothing eternal.
Yu Se-ra knew.
Pouting lower lip, picking earrings—maid brought cordless phone. Sein Electronics hit, topping ads over Maxon, Bartel.
"Ma'am, call. Chairman."
Chairman of chairmen—house lingo.
Yu Se-ra puckered, nasal shrew imitation.
"Oh, Manager Hong? When you coming?"
- Kyaahaha. Got a video to review—
"What, what? Good one's share—
Yu Se-ra hyped sans hearing end.
Weekend nights, couple savored foreign erotica.
- Kyahaha. Not that. Our Jin-hyuk on broadcast—regional, hard-got—
"Sigh, fine."
Click.
Yu Se-ra hung first—no chance for hubby.
Late? Hang up sooner, what's issue.
Husband blurred Sein employee and Son Gwang-yeon butler.