Chapter 3
Igeon really wanted to throw just one kick, just once, but he held himself back. If he made a mistake here and injured one of them, he could lose his qualification for the test, which would be terrible. So for now, he’d think positively and endure with a smile. Seo Igeon gritted his teeth and refocused.
And finally, the day of the written test arrived.
For the written test, you had to register with your instructor, and then only one test-taker would enter a classroom at a time to take the test. Meanwhile, the instructor who came with you would wait outside the classroom.
Igeon’s test time was 2 PM. Even though he felt like he might get indigestion, he forced himself to eat lunch before arriving at Korea National Sport University to take in its magnificent appearance.
So this is KNSU… He’d seen it many times in videos and photos, but this was his first time seeing it in person. It was a facility thoroughly designed for Korean national athletes, and if you didn’t have the proper qualifications, you’d be denied entry at the gate. Igeon had been working until now to earn those qualifications, and today he was standing right here. Though he wasn’t wearing his taekwondo uniform, just ordinary casual clothes, and instead of relying on his specialty kick, he had to depend on just a pen…
“Are you okay?”
Instructor Jin asked, checking Igeon’s condition. But Igeon wanted to ask the same of Instructor Jin. Are you okay? Looking at his face, which had been growing increasingly pale, Igeon’s own nervousness had completely disappeared. Worried that the instructor might collapse, he handed him a 500mL bottle of water as they slowly walked toward the test location.
“Hmm?”
There was a commotion in front of the building where the test was being held. Reporters were swarming around the stairs, and in the midst of them, a head stood out prominently. Seeing the owner of that head, Seo Igeon and Instructor Jin couldn’t help but stop in their tracks.
That figure who always seemed to follow him like a tail, yet someone he’d never seen in person.
“Isn’t that Han Taekyung?”
Is it really him? Am I seeing things? Unlike Igeon who was standing there in a daze, Instructor Jin, who had actually encountered him once or twice before, quickly identified who he was.
Han Taekyung… Han Taekyung?!
“Looks like he just finished his test.”
Instructor Jin seemed to be right. Though Taekyung was surrounded by reporters, his body was facing the entrance, and a black sedan was parked on the road a few steps down. This meant that Han Taekyung had finished his test and was on his way out.
“Athlete Han Taekyung! How was the test?”
“Look this way, please! Athlete Han Taekyung!”
The reporters were closing in on Han Taekyung, demanding something from him, but his face remained expressionless. With his lips tightly closed and his eyes slightly downcast, he had light brown hair and golden eyes. His features could be described as beautiful, but his thick facial lines, straight back and chest, and sturdy athlete’s body immediately showed how strong a person he was. Really…
“Wow, that guy is truly blessed with good looks. Truly blessed.”
As if reading Igeon’s mind, Instructor Jin exclaimed in admiration. Even from a distance, the aura he gave off was completely different from what Igeon had seen in videos until now.
“He’s not even acknowledging the reporters.”
Instructor Jin clicked his tongue.
“But why are there so many reporters here? Oh, is it because he’s Han Taekyung?”
“What else could it be? He’s a promising star, after all.”
“Hmm…”
That guy must be annoyed too. Reporters showing up just for a written test. Ugh, I should quickly escape before getting caught up in this…
“But wait, he’s taking the test too? Didn’t he get a free pass with his school records?”
Igeon finally realized something odd and asked. Instructor Jin sighed deeply in response.
“I heard he insisted on taking the test himself.”
“Why would he do something so unnecessary…”
“He must be confident. Don’t lose to him, Seo Igeon.”
“Y-yes…”
Igeon answered without confidence, glanced at Han Taekyung once more, and was about to enter the building when…
“Oh…”
His eyes met with Han Taekyung’s. The expressionless man who had been ignoring the reporters’ questions had his eyes waver slightly upon spotting Seo Igeon, and he gave a slight nod as a greeting.
A greeting? Was that right? He must have been greeting me?
“Uh… um…”
Igeon reflexively nodded back in greeting. At that moment, one reporter noticed Han Taekyung’s change and turned to look at Seo Igeon.
“Oh? Isn’t that Athlete Seo Igeon?”
“What? Really??”
“Athlete Seo Igeon!”
At those words, the other reporters all turned to look at Igeon, then with eyes that had found new prey, they all turned their bodies to approach him.
Wait, this doesn’t seem right…
It was awkward. He didn’t want to meet or get involved with reporters if possible.
“Today.”
Just as the reporters were about to give up on Han Taekyung, who had been ignoring them, and approach Seo Igeon who had suddenly appeared as the next best option, Han Taekyung spoke. At his voice, the reporters stopped moving and turned back to look at him. With a very slight smile, he continued.
“The test went well, I think. I’m expecting good results.”
He had such a deep, low voice. It both suited and didn’t suit his face in a way. His voice was truly wonderful. So good that you’d want to keep listening. Suddenly, Gyeongsu’s words came to mind: “He’s really annoying.”
“Igeon, now’s our chance. Let’s go.”
At Instructor Jin’s urging to hurry while the reporters were distracted by Han Taekyung, Seo Igeon quickly moved. Come to think of it, Han Taekyung’s timing in speaking up was perfect. Thanks to him, the reporters didn’t come after Igeon, saving him… but why did he suddenly do that? Did he just want to give an interview? Or did he do it on purpose because attention was being diverted from him? No way… Seo Igeon scratched his head, took one more look at Han Taekyung’s back as he earnestly answered the reporters’ questions, and then entered the building.
â—†
As the door opened and a large figure abruptly sat down beside him, the man who had been reading a book closed it and slightly moved aside to make room. The man who sat down sighed deeply, as if he’d had a difficult time. Yet the people outside seemed tireless, still knocking on the car door and calling out the protagonist’s name even after it had closed.
“Taekyung! Just one more word, please!”
He could have ignored them and had the car drive off, but if anyone got hurt as a result, it would create various complications. So Han Taekyung maintained his patience to the end and opened the window.
“I’m sorry. I’d like to talk more with you reporters, but I have an appointment with my father… I’ll make sure to have more discussions with you all next time.”
When Han Taekyung spoke with a smile so pretty it could steal one’s soul, the reporters’ excitement subsided somewhat. Moreover, the word “father” from his lips was enough to make the reporters take a step back.
“Thank you.”
Han Taekyung maintained his courtesy to the end, thanked the reporters, and quickly closed the window.
“Please drive away slowly.”
“Yes.”
The driver nodded in understanding. As per Han Taekyung’s request, the car leisurely and slowly left the scene. Only when the reporters appeared as small as a fingertip in the distance could he finally lean back comfortably in his seat.
“The appointment with Chairman Han is a lie, right?”
Kim Tae-woon, who had been watching his student’s tired face, asked.
“Yes, I apologize to my father, but that seemed to be the only way to escape.”
Indeed, the person domestic reporters were most cautious around was Han Taekyung’s father, the current CEO of NI Group, Han Taeseok. The second person they were cautious around was his partner, CEO Park Jaekyung. And needless to say, their child and his student, Han Taekyung. With his personality, he probably wanted to throw off the reporters and everything else, but he loved and cherished his parents very much, so he wouldn’t do anything that might tarnish them.
“By the way, why did you suddenly respond to the reporters’ interview earlier?”
“Hmm…”
Han Taekyung seemed to be thinking about something, then smiled slightly. It was a smile that made him look truly kind. Anyone who didn’t know Han Taekyung’s true feelings would immediately fall for that smile.
“Just because.”
“Just because? You?”
He didn’t mistreat reporters, but he also had no intention of accommodating their requests. That had been Han Taekyung’s consistent stance since childhood, but today he broke it for the first time. So Kim Tae-woon, who had been watching from the car, couldn’t help but be surprised. Why? Then, for a very brief moment, he noticed where Han Taekyung’s gaze had been directed, and following that gaze, surprisingly, he saw Jin Cheol-woon and his student Seo Igeon. They were afraid of the reporters who were about to descend upon them. And it was at that moment that Han Taekyung had spoken up.
“No way…”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
