Chapter 13, Section 3: I Am an Elementary School Student (1)

One morning in March 1992.

After waking up in my room, I was stretching in a way that was uncharacteristic of an elementary school student.

I rotated and extended my neck, shoulders, legs, and waist.

Stretching was an effective exercise that could make the body feel light in a short amount of time.

Many people might ask what the point is of moving each part of the body for 1-2 minutes, but those who have done it properly know how effective it is in loosening stiff muscles and correcting poor posture.

With a lighter body, I walked out to the living room.

Standing on the balcony, the scenery around the apartment complex was almost within reach.

The landscape of Mokdong, which used to be flat rice fields and shabby buildings, was becoming more urban.

Apartments were sprouting up like bean sprouts, and roads were stretching out straight and far.

If you listened carefully, it seemed you could hear the sound of property prices rising.

'Finally, it went as planned.'

Every time I stood on the balcony, I found it hard to hide my contented smile.

When I was in the second grade of elementary school, my father's book was finally published.

In fact, it could have been published earlier, but my father's perfectionism delayed the timing a bit.

In any case, my father's masterpiece, "The Door of Shadows," has sold a total of 200,000 copies so far.

For a writer who had not officially debuted, this was a huge success in terms of sales.

Thanks to this, my father's name and his novel were featured in newspapers and news.

My mother was proud, and I felt a sense of accomplishment.

After that, my father continued to write novels.

He said his next work would be a novel about family love.

He also contributed short stories and essays on request, and the royalties came in steadily,

making my father's income better than that of an average salaryman.

My mother also worked steadily as a nurse, taking responsibility for the family's livelihood.

Because my mother was a nurse, our family was able to take out a loan and buy an apartment in Mokdong.

Oh, by the way!

When I think of my mother, I can't forget another important person, Go Mal-sook.

The notorious villainess who asked for a loan guarantee and then ran away in my previous life.

Go Mal-sook left the neighborhood like in my previous life, but she didn't drain our family's finances.

Why?

Because the timing for the loan guarantee and the loan for the apartment purchase overlapped.

- "Sister, I'm really sorry. I would do it a hundred times if I could, but I recently took out a loan from the bank."

- "..."

- "I think it will be tight to pay the interest, so I can't guarantee it. But I can lend you some money if you need it."

Go Mal-sook, who came to our house to ask for a guarantee, left with a disappointed look.

A few days later, Go Mal-sook completely disappeared from the neighborhood. Whether her house was mortgaged or she was exploiting other family members, we had no way of knowing.

In any case, it was a moment when the pent-up frustration from my previous life was washed away.

My contribution to our family buying the apartment was also significant.

I used the dexterity I had honed through thoracic surgery to sew doll eyes diligently.

Later, I even took on the task of adding fabric to high-priced gift boxes.

So, what was my monthly income?

It was about 30% of an average salaryman's income.

And that was the result of playing and reading books to my heart's content so that my parents wouldn't worry.

Thanks to this, unlike in my previous life, our family lived harmoniously and comfortably.

We didn't have to suffer from debt collectors or live in a single room with poor heating and cooling.

We owned a decent apartment, my father was a successful novelist, and my mother was a head nurse in the internal medicine ward.

As for me, I was a promising thoracic surgery intern in my previous life.

'But there's still one thing left to resolve...'

I thought of my maternal grandparents.

My paternal grandparents passed away in a traffic accident when my father was young, so there was no way to do anything for them.

Getting back to the main point, my maternal family strongly opposed my mother's marriage because my father was poor and had no prospects.

My mother chose love with my father over a wealthy maternal family that ran a small business.

But now, reconciliation with the maternal family might be possible.

My father was no longer poor and had a bright future.

My mother was a head nurse, and I was a smart sixth-grader.

With a house in the family's name, we had met the material standards for a happy life that we could boast about.

While reminiscing, I washed up in the bathroom.

I dried the water with a towel and gazed at the boy reflected in the mirror.

The difference in family environment had made a difference in my growth.

Well-fed and well-rested, I looked more affluent than in my previous life.

I was 4 centimeters taller than in my previous life, and my face had a clean and pleasant smile.

From the age of one, I had smiled so much for my parents that the smile had become imprinted on my face like a stamp.

'I need to stay focused.'

I lightly tapped my cheeks.

Today was the day I would move up to the sixth grade and attend my first sixth-grade class.

It was also the day I would meet a person of interest.

* * *

"I'll eat well."

I picked up my spoon and started with the egg soup. Our family of three began a cozy breakfast.

"Good. Our little treasure, eat a lot."

"Believe will eat well on his own, so you should eat well too. Don't be picky all the time."

My mother scolded my father.

After the novel's success and moving into the apartment, my father started calling me "little treasure."

"Are you really that clueless? People are made by their likes and dislikes. If you like everything, you might as well be colorless and odorless. How can someone without character write a novel?"

"Ugh, if you can't talk, don't be so annoying. Stop nagging and eat your spinach."

My mother shook her head and put spinach on my father's plate.

Despite his frown, my father ate the spinach reluctantly.

Although it might sound a bit odd coming from me, my bickering parents were really cute.

It was a pity that they had such a twisted life in my previous life, even though they could live happily like this.

'How will this life turn out?'

Watching my parents' harmonious relationship made me think about my future romantic relationships.

In my previous life, I never got married.

I never had a proper relationship, and I only had a few brief flings.

I always blamed myself for being a failure, so I thought no one would like me.

Even though a few people approached me out of pity, I cruelly turned them away.

It was a foolish thing to do.

If I had held their hands, I would have at least had someone on my side besides my family.

Life is not meant to be lived alone, but I was too foolish to realize that back then.

"Believe, what are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"Did you end up in the same class as someone you don't like?"

"No, I don't have anyone I don't like."

"That's a relief... If you have any worries, tell me. I'll solve anything for you."

"Okay, Mom."

I answered with my trademark bright smile, and my mother finally relaxed.

"I'm off."

After finishing my meal, I put on my backpack and left the house alone.

The chilly spring weather of March was biting. The cold wind slapped my face and crept into my clothes, scratching my skin.

The trees lining the road looked even colder than me, stripped of their leaves.

After leaving the apartment complex, I stood near a shop close to the school.

Soon, familiar faces joined me.

Son Seung-woo and Kim Ji-won, who were also in the sixth grade, were my companions.

We had been close friends since kindergarten.

Son Seung-woo was at least two heads taller than me.

His build was already at a middle school level.

The school soccer team had scouted him early on for these reasons.

Kim Ji-won, on the other hand, had grown up beautifully without any awkward phase.

Her parents had connections in the entertainment industry, and she occasionally worked as a child actor.

"Hi."

"Hi."

We greeted each other by waving our mitten-covered hands.

"It's a shame we're not in the same class again."

Son Seung-woo pouted.

White breath puffed out of his pouted lips. Son Seung-woo and I were in the same class only once, in fourth grade.

"Hehe, I'm in the same class as Believe."

Kim Ji-won teased, and Son Seung-woo frowned.

"Good for you. Your poop is thick."

"I know. My poop is thick and colorful."

Kim Ji-won's playful retort left Son Seung-woo speechless.

If Kim Ji-won were Jerry, Son Seung-woo would be Tom.

It was a daily routine for him to be on the receiving end.

While chatting with the two of them, I headed to school.

The content of a middle-aged thoracic surgery intern talking with elementary school students might seem childish, but what can I do?

My consciousness is one thing, but my appearance is that of an elementary school student.

As I entered the school playground, it looked as small as a fist, just like always.

Anyone who has returned to their childhood school as an adult can relate.

The school that seemed as vast as the universe when you were young looks incredibly small when you grow up.

The school is like a well, and we are the frogs.

After parting ways with Son Seung-woo, I entered 6-2 with Kim Ji-won.

The classroom was chilly.

Cold wind whistled through.

A heater without charcoal was awkwardly placed in the center of the room.

A few quick-witted students had already placed their lunch boxes on the heater.

The classroom atmosphere was at two extremes.

Students who were in the same class as their close friends were already chatting noisily.

Those who weren't were awkwardly scanning the room.

"Hey, Dandruff, we're in the same class again?"

A bespectacled troublemaker approached and acted like he knew me.

By the way, my nickname is Dandruff.

It's not because I have dandruff, but because my name "Believe" is playfully mispronounced.

Nicknames in this era are usually childish.

"Hi, troublemaker."

"Was the tomboy in the same class too?"

"Why? Can't I be in the same class?"

"Well, just saying."

Kim Ji-won's sharp retort made the troublemaker back off.

She had a feisty personality despite her pretty appearance, which is why her nickname was "tomboy."

"Mom lent me an Ultraman video yesterday. Do you want to watch it after class today?"

"Ultraman?"

"Yeah, she lent me three."

"Can't. Believe is going to my house to play today."

Even though no one had offered to treat us, the two of them were already drinking the kimchi broth.

It was fun to watch them.

In my previous elementary school days,

I was timid and introverted.

The secondhand bookstore went out of business, my parents were stressed about loan guarantees, and we lived in a single room with poor heating and cooling.

I was too constrained by our financial situation to be active.

Now, I was a kid that friends fought over to play with.

In a way, my fate had changed through reincarnation.

I realized that I had the power to change not only myself but also those around me.

Even after graduating from medical school and starting my hospital life, I will continue to shape my destiny as I have done so far.

'Finally, here he is.'

While watching Son Seung-woo and Kim Ji-won argue, I noticed a male student entering the classroom.

Kim Yo-han.

One of the few classmates I remembered from my previous life.

There were two main reasons I remembered Kim Yo-han.

First, his name was unique.

Second, he would die around the school anniversary.