Chapter 10

0010 / 0419 ———————————————-

1-5. I'll only do it with you.

As he came down from the rooftop, Kim Mi-yeong, who had been sulking on one side, greeted him with a startled look. She seemed anxious while waiting in the classroom. But what was she anxious about?

During the descent, Kang Chan pondered what to do over the weekend.

He intended to make Yu Hye-suk as comfortable as possible. Therefore, he postponed the plan to Monday.

He believed that leaving some good memories for Yu Hye-suk, who would have to part ways with her son in a month and a half, was the least he could do.

He was in so much pain over what he couldn't share with his mother that he didn't want to inflict such pain on others.

"Chan. Can we walk?"

As they stepped out of the school gate, Kim Mi-yeong spoke hesitantly. Asking to walk was harder for her than asking Hye-sil for time today.

Sure, what difference would a little more walking make?

Kang Chan nodded, and Kim Mi-yeong set off with a happy face.

"Hey, do guys really like that?"

What is she talking about?

"You watch porn, right? They say the girl who does it is the best. Is that true?"

Kang Chan sighed, understanding what Kim Mi-yeong meant, even if he didn't know about porn.

"Hyun-sil..."

"Hey."

Kim Mi-yeong looked at him in shock, her face flushed red enough to be misunderstood by anyone.

"Stop talking nonsense and focus on your studies. You're good at them, right?"

Kim Mi-yeong walked with a dejected look.

"I don't have the charm like Hye-sil."

Is this what a third-year high school student should say?

Did she skip a grade from middle school?

"I'm clumsy and have a big chest that gets me teased."

Kang Chan forced himself to look away from her melon-like chest.

"Doing it more makes it better."

'Damn!'

Kang Chan clenched his teeth. He thought Kim Mi-yeong was like Snow White, but she turned out to be childish and naive, a big girl with no experience. He couldn't understand why her mental age was so low.

Hye-sil was too mature, and Snow White was like a kindergartener.

The school was messed up, and it was messed up badly.

Still, a determined ignorant person is truly scary.

'Why go to such lengths?'

Kang Chan suddenly thought of Hye-sil.

She didn't pull down her skirt when she went to get cigarettes, and he saw it.

She looked like a complete slut.

"Do you like me?"

The words made his skin crawl.

But it was maddening. When the question was asked, Kim Mi-yeong's face and eyes turned red, and she nodded.

Is this blockhead...?

"Am I your first love?"

"Yes! It's the first time in my life. Thinking about you makes my heart warm and makes me want to pee."

Kang Chan burst out laughing.

Snow White was indeed a childishly naive girl.

Kang Chan sighed without Snow White noticing.

"So, I don't want you to meet Hye-sil. If it's because of that, I... I'll do it too."

"Ah!"

An unintended sigh escaped him.

"If I don't know about it, I'll do it with someone else..."

If he rejected her harshly, she might die or become a rag. Or she might blame him for the rest of her life.

"Hye-sil."

But he called her by the wrong name.

When Kim Mi-yeong turned to look at him, her eyes were already brimming with tears.

"I'm sorry. It's not like that..."

He wanted to give up but clenched his teeth and held on.

'Let's not kill or be killed.'

He made a firm resolve in his heart.

But why are kids so extreme?

More so than children in that hellish Africa.

"There's nothing with Hye-sil. The gangsters just wanted to talk because of the fight yesterday."

Snow White's head remained lowered.

When he glanced at her, she was crying.

Damn!

He really wasn't cut out for this, and it didn't suit his nature.

He felt more comfortable facing enemies with knives than dealing with Yu Hye-suk or Kim Mi-yeong.

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"It's fine. You don't have to force it. I know I'm not charming."

Her voice was mixed with tears.

Would it be okay to leave it at that?

But the coldness in her voice and the way she looked at the ground kept provoking him.

"Do it with me."

Kim Mi-yeong stopped walking and looked at him with a doubtful eye.

People were staring.

A girl in a school uniform was crying and facing a boy with a bandaged left hand.

Kang Chan ignored the disapproving looks of passing old people.

"Will you do it with me too?"

How old is this kid?

But if he rejected her now, everything he said before would be a lie. Why did Hye-sil's name slip out? What a useless woman.

Snow White was looking at him with a desperate expression.

"Sure."

"Really?"

It felt like their roles had switched, but Kang Chan nodded.

"Then I'll be yours?"

Kang Chan couldn't help but laugh. He quickly added:

"It's because I like you. I really like you. From today, you're mine. You can't like other boys, and you can only look at me."

"I'll only do it with you."

Shit.

Leave that part out!

Kang Chan thought of changing Snow White's nickname to 'Simpleton.'

It took a little over 30 minutes to walk home.

During that time, Kim Mi-yeong chattered a lot, including asking, "Why am I Snow White?"

Kang Chan occasionally responded, saying, "It's a secret," to avoid saying her bangs made her look country.

When they reached the entrance of the apartment complex:

"Mi-yeong!"

A thin, sharp-voiced aunt called out to Kim Mi-yeong.

Snow White ran off, and Kang Chan walked leisurely.

"Mom, this is Chan. You know Chan, right?"

While introducing him, she glared, so Kang Chan briefly bowed in greeting.

"Aren't you going to a cram school?"

It was a pointed question.

Kang Chan glanced back and saw that Kim Mi-yeong had clearly lied about walking instead of going to the cram school.

"There's been a situation."

"Students have situations? If you don't go to college, you won't be a proper person. At least go to a university in Seoul. I've heard your reputation isn't good lately."

In front of the flustered Kim Mi-yeong, her mother scolded Kang Chan as if he were a husband who had gambled away his salary.

The moment her gaze fell on Kang Chan's left hand:

"I'll go in now."

Kang Chan headed home.

He didn't want to stay any longer and cause unnecessary tension.

"Be careful going in!"

Kang Chan didn't turn back but raised his hand in acknowledgment. He heard her say, "Do you know what will happen if you hang out with someone like that? I can't stand it!" but ignored it. In fact, he secretly hoped, "Please do it." It might solve one of his problems.

If he lingered on the bench, he might run into her.

Kang Chan took the elevator and went home.

"Are you back?"

"Yes."

Yu Hye-suk greeted him with a cautious expression.

He had decided to try his best. Even if it didn't work, he promised to do his best. It would be over in a month and a half at most.

"Is there anything to eat?"

"Huh? Eat?"

He wasn't hungry; it was just an excuse to start a conversation.

"What can we do? There's nothing. What should we do?"

Unfortunately, it was a bad question. Yu Hye-suk opened the fridge, but there was only a piece of cheese besides side dishes.

"Wait. I'll go buy some fruit."

Yu Hye-suk looked genuinely happy and grateful.

Finding something to eat seemed to be a good thing for her.

"Shall we go together?"

Yu Hye-suk, who had hurriedly grabbed her purse, paused with a startled look. Her eyes quickly turned red.

"Let's go together. It's heavy to carry."

"Is that okay?"

"What's wrong?"

Kang Chan put down his bag and put on his shoes again.

He guessed she was thinking, "Don't you hate me?" or "Can we really go together?" and didn't push further.

In front of the elevator:

"I'm sorry."

Yu Hye-suk looked straight ahead, pouting.

"I know you're trying, but I've been acting badly. I guess I was shocked by this. I'll try harder. Thank you."

In the small space, Kang Chan's voice echoed slightly.

He felt sorry for the body's owner and for the kind Yu Hye-suk, so he spoke sincerely.

Yu Hye-suk sniffled and wiped her tears with the inside of her long fingers.

When the elevator opened, Kang Chan held the door for her and pressed the button for the first floor.

Yu Hye-suk's emotions filled the small elevator, and Kang Chan couldn't speak. The sound of her sniffles and the release of her pent-up feelings through tears made him feel as if the sadness he had caused her was melting away.

Fortunately, they didn't stop in between.

Stepping out into the fresh air, Yu Hye-suk took a deep breath.

"Mom is so happy today that there's nothing to envy in the world."

How could a troublemaker who grumbled and acted recklessly be so good?

"Chan! Should we ask Dad to buy us dinner?"

She looked regretful after saying it, as if she had gone too far.

"Sure."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Yu Hye-suk's wide-eyed look made her look beautiful.

It was the face of a mother who truly loved her child. He never thought he would see such a look.

"I'll call him."

In front of the apartment complex, Yu Hye-suk gushed about "Chan said thank you" and "How much he loves me!" and then seemed to be deciding on a place.

"Let's go to Dad's company."

After the call, Yu Hye-suk realized she was still in her home clothes and felt very regretful. But it was too late, so they caught a taxi.

"Yongdong Bridge intersection."

After giving the direction, the awkwardness that had been hidden resurfaced.

"What are we going to eat?"

Kang Chan decided to try his best.

45 days.

It might be too short a time to create a memory that would last a lifetime.

Yu Hye-suk seemed to be a talkative person. Or maybe she was just excited for a moment, but she didn't stop talking.

When he heard her say, "When I was in the hospital, if the results were bad, I was going to die with you," and "After seeing your disappointed look, I had no taste for life," Kang Chan's emotions stirred.

How hard must it have been for her?

"By the way, didn't you say you had plans on Sunday?"

"Huh? Do you want to go? Can you go?"

"Of course. Where to?"

"Do you know Aunt Sung-hee? She's been bragging about her son so much that she wants to go to a French restaurant. Am I being childish?"

There are such mothers in the world.

Kang Chan found Yu Hye-suk cute and smiled.

"Not at all."

"Thank you, my son. Are you really going?"

"Yes. Let's go."

Yu Hye-suk's eyes welled up even at such a trivial comment.

Kang Da-kyung's company was on the way to Nonhyeon from Yongdong Bridge.

After a short wait, Kang Da-kyung came out of the building with a happy face.

"Hey!"

Kang Chan couldn't help but laugh at the affectionate tone.

"Are you done?"

"Yep! Let's see? Wow! Our son has turned his mother back to her old self."

Kang Da-kyung looked at Yu Hye-suk and Kang Chan with a happy smile.

It looked good. He genuinely looked happy.

"Wh-What did I do?"

"Sure, sure. Let's go."

The three of them headed to a famous seafood stew restaurant.

It was a Friday evening, and there were many people, but Kang Da-kyung seemed to be a regular, and the owner greeted them warmly. Kang Chan politely greeted him as well.

The owner led them to a tatami room and took their order, which Kang Da-kyung made.

"Can I have a glass of soju? You can drive, right?"

Kang Da-kyung's smile grew with Yu Hye-suk's changed attitude and Kang Chan's efforts.

It was a sight he had never imagined.

Kang Da-kyung's request for a glass of soju and his request for permission were both unfamiliar and endearing.

In front of them, Yu Hye-suk was boasting about Kang Chan's promise to go with her on Sunday.

***

After a pleasant dinner, they returned home in high spirits.

Kang Chan washed up and went to his room, lying on the bed.

"If only I could see you. I'm doing my best. So, don't be too upset about losing your body. Let's try harder for the remaining time."

Kang Chan muttered to himself, looking at the ceiling.

Buzz.

But then his phone rang.

He had left it behind out of annoyance, but it was still on.

It was a text from Kim Mi-yeong.

What should I do?

The time on the phone was 9:50 PM.

Texting is a hassle.

He wanted to smoke a cigarette.

Kang Chan pressed the call button.

"Sure. How long will it take?"

Kang Chan laughed and told her to wait, then hung up.

"I'll go for a walk!"

He heard a hurried "Sure!" from the bedroom and quickly left the house.

He seemed to have interrupted a good time, but he didn't do it on purpose.

As he stepped out, Snow White was still looking at the ground.

"Chan!"

Kim Mi-yeong's bright smile was a first.

She ran up to him as if she was about to hug him and bounced in front of him.

'Oh, this stubborn one.'

"Shouldn't you go in? Your mom will worry."

"The cram school ended early. I usually study and take the bus, but I came straight here. I have about 30 minutes."

She looked like she was in love.

"I'm sorry about my mom."

"It's okay. Adults can be like that. Did you eat?"

"Sandwich. I'll eat something when I get home. And I'm going to lose weight."

"What do you have to lose? You look good."

"Really? Hahaha."

Kim Mi-yeong laughed like an idiot.

"If you're hungry, let's go. I'll buy you a pork cutlet."

It felt like he was looking at a much younger sister, and Kang Chan gradually felt more at ease with Kim Mi-yeong.

"No, I'm going to lose weight. I'll be slimmer than Hye-sil."

"I don't like that type. You're just right."

"Really? Are you sure?"

Is there a place to smoke?

Kang Chan looked around for a secluded spot.

"Let's... go to the basement?"

Kang Chan snapped back to reality at Kim Mi-yeong's words.

"Snow White."

"Uh-huh!"

"I'll do it with you in a clean and nice place. Let's go on a one-night, two-day trip during the break. To the beach. Let's do it then."

He could see Kim Mi-yeong's eyes moisten and her cheeks flush red in the red light.

"In return..."

What else?

"Kiss me to confirm that I'm yours. Everyone else does it."

He couldn't hit her for this.

'Don't hit. Don't hit.'

Kim Mi-yeong seemed scared by the sharp look in Kang Chan's eyes.

"I'll kiss you if you get first place in the final exam."

Kang Chan smiled inwardly at Kim Mi-yeong's shocked face. Since he planned to disappear to France during the break, it was a perfect excuse.

He was even impressed by his quick thinking.

"I've always been first. I'll definitely be first this time too!"

Until her answer came.