Ah, right. Right. Gong Pyeonghwa corrected himself with an easygoing smile, saying “Yunseong, Yunseong.” What’s right? Who is this person now?
“Saebyeok?”
I was too shocked earlier to look carefully at the person standing next to Gong Pyeonghwa.
Thinking about it now, the face seemed familiar. So, so, when I think about it…
“Shin Saebyeok?”
“Huh?”
“The Shin Saebyeok you used to bully all the time?”
“Huuuh?”
“Shin Saebyeok?”
“Huh? Yes!”
Are you a seal? Making those sounds…
Right, Shin Saebyeok. Actually, when you think of Gong Pyeonghwa, you can’t leave out Shin Saebyeok.
Not in a good way—in my opinion, it was school violence that was overlooked only because Shin Saebyeok was too nice to speak up about it.
That bastard Gong Pyeonghwa, as if holding some grudge against Shin Saebyeok, was particularly harsh to him while not treating others that way.
Surprisingly, Gong Pyeonghwa was actually good at studying despite his behavior. He would hang out with me and still maintain top grades in the school.
And Shin Saebyeok, except for his first year, was the undisputed top student until graduation.
In other words, the two were rivals when it came to academics.
And between the two, it was definitely Gong Pyeonghwa who harbored resentment toward Shin Saebyeok, not the other way around.
He bullied the kid so thoroughly that it made me uncomfortable watching, and whenever they were about to be together, I would step between them to mediate.
But now they’re in love? Even married?
This is fucking bewildering, even without any prejudice involved.
I’m someone who knows exactly how Gong Pyeonghwa bullied Shin Saebyeok.
“My lovely fiancé cutie pretty beauty done.”
“Ah, stop being so cheesy… No, never mind, since when?”
“What?”
Since when did you two become like that?
If I were Shin Saebyeok, even if Gong Pyeonghwa had brought 3 billion won in clean, tax-free cash and begged me to date him, I would have taken the money and reported him to the police…
Is this some kind of drama my mom’s daughter watches? Regret drama or something? I thought he was just a childish kid, but was it really that he expressed his feelings through bullying?
Is Shin Saebyeok a pushover? No, was he threatened? With Gong Pyeonghwa, that’s entirely possible…
“Ah. We started dating in 11th grade. In 10th grade, we were just flirting.”
What did you say?
The world seems to be deceiving me right now. Is this a class reunion or The Truman Show?
“Didn’t I tell you?”
“Just don’t.”
I’ve had enough shock for today. It’s a good thing I’m a person and not an airbag—I would’ve lost my function by now.
“That reminds me of that time.”
“I said I’m not interested.”
“It was 23 years ago, when I was full of curiosity…”
“Hey, can’t you hear me?”
Gong Pyeonghwa’s eyes gleamed nostalgically.
“When I first met our Saebyeok at 5 years old, he was so fucking cute but had no manners. I went out of my way to talk to him, and he just ignored me.”
You’re also ignoring my words right now and just saying whatever you want. And you’re not even cute, you bastard.
◀◀◀
Gong Pyeonghwa and Shin Saebyeok had known each other since childhood.
That’s just how their world was, the world they lived in.
“Saebyeok, look over there. Do you see that kid? The one wearing blue clothes.”
Their parents competed with each other, and their children inherited that competition.
“Gong Pyeonghwa. Listen carefully. If you don’t concentrate, no snacks today.”
“Whaaat! Isn’t that child abuse?”
“You sure talk well. Anyway. Today you can’t hit anyone. This is more important than kindergarten. Understand?”
Thanks to parents who practiced keeping their enemies close, the children knew each other from an early age.
“Don’t even lose at rock-paper-scissors to that kid! Got it?”
“This is especially true today, but never show any weaknesses to that kid. Don’t show any vulnerability, understand?”
That’s how Gong Pyeonghwa and Shin Saebyeok got to know each other.
And Gong Pyeonghwa couldn’t understand the situation.
Just moments before, they were showering him with compliments like “You might present as an alpha when you grow up” and “You look so smart,” but now they changed their expressions and told him not to lose.
‘The world of adults—tsk tsk. They’ll say anything to their cute son.’
With that thought, Gong Pyeonghwa approached Shin Saebyeok first. Whatever happened, he preferred peers to boring adults.
‘I’ll play with him. I’ll ask if he wants to eat pudding.’
Gong Pyeonghwa ignored his parents’ instructions and ran to Shin Saebyeok.
“Hey. Do you like pudding? Want to eat some pudding?”
“…N-No!”
“Really? Then what do you like? Hey. Do you like dinosaurs?”
“…”
Gong Pyeonghwa already had his heart set on becoming friends with Shin Saebyeok.
“Do you know who would win in a fight between a Spinosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus?”
“…”
‘He’s ignoring me. So annoying.’
Gong Pyeonghwa had picked up corrupted language habits thanks to having an older brother.
‘What a jerk.’
Gong Pyeonghwa’s first impression of Shin Saebyeok was not good.
▶▶▶
“How should I put it, it felt like a boy’s shy heart was trampled on.”
“I said I’m not interested.”
“After that, we kept meeting because of our parents, you know? Every time I saw him, he was so annoying.”
“Are you ignoring what I’m saying?”
Seonwoo Jeong, with his improper language habits, cursed inwardly too.
‘He’s ignoring me. Gong Pyeonghwa is such an annoying bastard.’
Gong Pyeonghwa, not caring whether Seonwoo Jeong cursed out loud or inwardly, just continued with his story.
“Anyway, Saebyeok’s fath— I mean, now my father-in-law. My father-in-law’s business kept overlapping with my dad’s. So we met more often.”
◀◀◀
Gong Pyeonghwa and Shin Saebyeok were in the same school district.
Just like their parents’ businesses, Gong Pyeonghwa and Shin Saebyeok were constantly compared and pitted against each other. Whether they wanted it or not, they were the talk of the town.
Even though they didn’t exchange a single word with each other, it was an environment where they became aware of each other and grew to dislike each other.
Gong Pyeonghwa, who had initially liked Shin Saebyeok at first sight for his white skin, soft voice, and round eyes, now disliked him.
Even when playing soccer together, he thought Shin Saebyeok might file a lawsuit claiming broken bones if he fell by himself.
‘Weakling. A boy who doesn’t exercise and only studies all day, no wonder he’s pale. I get scolded for not studying because of that bastard. More tutoring… Tsk. So annoying.’
Yes, in fact, Gong Pyeonghwa just didn’t want to study.
And humans are naturally designed to dislike the accomplished child of their mother’s friend.
Moreover, the all-too-real, excellent, top-of-the-class Shin Saebyeok—not just a figment of his mother’s exaggeration?
Having to feel the presence of his mother’s friend’s son in the school rankings every exam, Gong Pyeonghwa had absolutely no reason to like Shin Saebyeok.
Gong Pyeonghwa firmly believed that only he disliked Shin Saebyeok.
“How can you not beat him even once?”
“It’s fine if our dad has more money! Why put pressure on your child!”
“Is that your money? Huh? Is that your money?”
Tsk… Gong Pyeonghwa blamed Shin Saebyeok for everything like a scapegoat.
It’s because Shin Saebyeok only studies that sparks fly this way.
He was only a tiiiiny bit worse at studying than Shin Saebyeok, and he had more friends and was better at arts and physical education. Human greed really has no limit.
‘Is this how one becomes a capitalist?’
Tired of parents who knew no satisfaction, Gong Pyeonghwa finally, during midterms, deliberately filled in all test answers as “2” and went to sleep.
Quickly recognizing that the stick approach didn’t work, Gong Pyeonghwa’s parents brought out the carrot.
The peaceful heart of Gong Pyeonghwa raced at the promise of increasing his shares by 1% if he beat Shin Saebyeok on this test.
For a comfortable retirement, Gong Pyeonghwa studied desperately and achieved a perfect score for the first time.
‘It was awful, and I’m never studying again.’
Gong Pyeonghwa shouted for freedom, thinking about burning the textbooks he had read until worn and the countless problem sheets he had solved.
“Gong Pyeonghwa got a perfect score?”
“You hung out with me and got a perfect score?”
“Don’t lie.”
Don’t believe me? Extra! Extra! Gong Pyeonghwa scattered his proud perfect score test papers.
He couldn’t be more pleased. With this one test, his shares increased by 1%! All the pain and bitterness melted away like snow.
His brother would inherit the company anyway, so just receiving dividends without working? Isn’t that sweet?
While basking in happiness, Seonwoo Jeong poked his side repeatedly and whispered:
“Hey. I think Shin Saebyeok is crying.”
Huh? Shin Saebyeok is crying? Gong Pyeonghwa was puzzled.
Looking at Shin Saebyeok’s seat, he had his head down, so at a glance, it did look like he was crying. But seeing his trembling fists, it seemed more like anger than sadness.
‘Is Shin Saebyeok trembling with anger because of me?’
How crumpled would Shin Saebyeok’s face be right now? Gong Pyeonghwa used all his imagination to picture that face in his mind, but it didn’t come clearly.
But, still.
“Ah. This feels fucking electric.”
Watching Shin Saebyeok walk away weakly, staggering, he felt electricity rising from his toes. A thrilling tremor ran through his veins.
“Why? Did you get static electricity?”
“This is so damn fun.”
“Are you a masochist? You pervert. Stay away from me.”
Is this what dopamine is? He was happier about the fact that Shin Saebyeok was frustrated because of him than about gaining an extra 1% share.
He wanted to see Shin Saebyeok’s frustration again.
‘I’ll study like crazy. And beat him again.’
Experiencing such an intense catharsis for the first time in his 16 years of life, Gong Pyeonghwa resolved to study voluntarily for the first time ever.
It was the first such day in Gong Pyeonghwa’s life.
***
Shin Saebyeok disliked Gong Pyeonghwa just as much as Gong Pyeonghwa disliked him.
‘I must never lose to Gong Pyeonghwa. Not even at rock-paper-scissors.’
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
