“Oh my, I forgot to buy this.”
Mother said while rummaging through the refrigerator. I, who had been washing vegetables beside her, was also surprised and looked at the refrigerator. Mother closed the refrigerator and handed me the memo that had been stuck with a magnet.
“It’s for tomorrow morning’s ingredients, can you go buy them? It’d be better to buy them in advance today.”
“Yes, I’ll be back.”
“Wait, let me give you money.”
I received the memo. Mother busily moved around looking for her wallet. As I was leaving the house, my phone vibrated. It was a text from In-sae.
[Kim In-sae][5:41 PM] During the vacation, we’re distributing Five Great Kings study sheets as homework. Please gather in the fan club’s exclusive classroom after the closing ceremony. I love you today too.^^
Looks like he copied and pasted again today. What’s with that ‘I love you.^^’ at the end? Why did he copy that part too?
I don’t know what kind of position In-sae holds in the fan club. Is he close with the president so he takes charge of this kind of work too? Anyway, I need to protest about the fan club assigning vacation homework when even the school doesn’t give any.
I put my phone back in and walked down the alley.
***
While coming out after shopping, I saw familiar brown hair. The brown hair that stuck out slightly despite efforts to tidy it was familiar. I walked quickly and checked the face.
“Hee-ae? It really is Hee-ae. Your house is in the opposite direction, but we meet here.”
“Huh? Shi-dan?”
Hee-ae also recognized me and shouted happily. Hee-ae in comfortable casual clothes was a bit unfamiliar. Hee-ae asked affectionately.
“I was taking a walk and ended up here. Did you come out on an errand?”
“Yeah, I came out on an errand. Do you like walking?”
Hee-ae naturally walked beside me. Hee-ae smiled and answered when asked if he liked walking.
“I like it!”
I was a bit surprised. In the past, Hee-ae would hesitate for a while, but seeing him answer right away, I thought he’d really changed. I answered admiringly at Hee-ae’s words.
“Really? I have no connection with exercise.”
Hee-ae laughed refreshingly. I looked at Hee-ae for a moment, then looked around at the shopping district with lights turning on here and there. Downtown is crowded today too. The alleys are also noisy. From one side, they were having a chase shouting to catch that bastard, fake Five Great Kings, the rumored golden viper.
I was startled by the shouting heard from the alley. Come to think of it, I don’t know why Hee-ae is naturally walking beside me. When we arrived at the intersection, I quietly asked.
“Isn’t this too far since it’s the opposite direction from your house?”
“I usually walk this much. It’s okay.”
There must be a reason why Hee-ae has good stamina. I decided to treat him as a different species from me. I definitely couldn’t do that. Just then, the traffic light ahead turned green. I walked a bit quickly and crossed the street.
“I will definitely get revenge. The immortal Inwon High will triumph!”
Who’s delivering lines here? I was startled while crossing the crosswalk. What’s with all these motorcycles gathering and talking to themselves, causing a commotion? Still, there are many kids who ignore traffic lights and drive through, so they’re exemplary thugs for obeying traffic laws.
“Shi-dan, they’re not even driving, they’re just standing still doing that, so it’s really… uncool.”
Hee-ae whispered quietly. I wanted to say that too. Those guys are really uncool. Suddenly passersby on the street started cheering for the motorcycle gang and it became quite a commotion.
We quietly ignored them and passed by. When I looked to the side, my eyes met with Hee-ae’s. Was he looking at me again? The number of times our eyes meet is increasing.
Still, the shouting from the alley doesn’t stop. There are especially many alleys around my house. I’m worried someone might pick a fight while walking. I pointed at the dark alley.
“If you meet thugs in an alley, you have to immediately dial 112 and report them.”
“Shi-dan.”
Hee-ae’s eyebrows drooped and he made a worried face. Making such a sad expression, he literally looks like a puppy.
“I think you’re more in danger, I’m actually worried about you.”
“Me?”
Do I look a bit weak? I asked again with an incredulous face.
“You’re worried about me?”
“Of course.”
I don’t know what’s so obvious about it. Why are the kids only doing incomprehensible things lately? The streetlight and shopping district lights reflected, making Hee-ae’s golden eyes shine more.
“Right, you’ve been skipping meals often lately, haven’t you? Don’t skip them. Okay?”
Maybe because we always go to eat lunch together, he must have been concerned about me skipping meals often. As I was lost in other thoughts, Hee-ae put his face on my shoulder. I almost bumped faces with Hee-ae while turning my head.
“Make sure you eat your meals, okay?”
“Sorry, I was thinking about something else for a moment. I’ll eat properly.”
I was quite surprised by Hee-ae’s behavior. Friends don’t usually do this much, do they? Oh, I did it a lot. I had no choice but to reflect. I was the culprit.
‘Did the kids just get used to it?’
Since I do it often, the kids must have gotten used to it and are copying me. It’s all my fault. No matter how I look at it, it’s my fault. It’s overlooked because it’s me, but what if they act the same way to other kids and get misunderstood?
Now that I’ve found my own answer, I feel at ease. I walked again with a smile. The sound of Hee-ae’s footsteps echoed on the street.
“Right, do you know what I meant by giving you that photo?”
“An important person?”
“That’s part of it.”
An important person, those are grateful words. Saying that’s part of it means there are other meanings too? We entered a residential area with streetlights on. Hee-ae slowed his steps and asked.
“Do you have time during vacation?”
“Yeah, of course I do.”
“Then let’s go hang out together.”
“Okay.”
Hee-ae was relieved at my answer. Before I knew it, we were close to home. I stopped in front of my house and was about to say goodbye, but Hee-ae made the first move.
“You’re home, right? Get in safely.”
“Yeah, you hurry home too.”
“Wait a moment.”
Hee-ae rubbed my cheek with his hand. After some time passed, he removed his hand.
“You had an eyelash stuck.”
Did I? When I tried to look at Hee-ae’s hand, Hee-ae hid his hand behind his back. He avoided eye contact then met my eyes again.
“Really.”
He said quietly. I adjusted the black bag I was holding. Hee-ae put his hand on the wall and leaned as he said goodbye.
“Anyway, take care. Bye.”
“Don’t go in too late, you take care too.”
I said goodbye and opened the door to enter. Through the closing door gap, I saw Hee-ae’s disappointed expression.
***
“Everyone, have a good summer vacation and let’s meet in healthy condition. Homeroom is over.”
I greeted the teacher and packed my bag. Summer vacation has finally started. Maybe because I packed my bag quickly, In-sae approached and put a stack of papers on my desk.
“Fan club homework.”
“What happens if I don’t do it?”
“I’ll chase you down and collect it till the end.”
Lee Seung glared and said ominously. Wouldn’t it be better to just kick me out of the fan club? The determination to collect homework till the end is scary. I put the stack of papers in my bag.
Cho-yeon, who was sitting behind me, stood up first and left the classroom. I made eye contact with him before he left. I smiled slightly. Hee-ae, who received the stack of papers from In-sae, put on his bag and said goodbye.
“See you on August 12th!”
“Yeah, see you then.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah.”
In-sae, who heard Hee-ae’s words, asked. At my answer, In-sae quietly thought about something. Only when it was time to leave the classroom did In-sae open his mouth.
“August 16th.”
In-sae suddenly said a date. Uncharacteristically, he hesitated then asked.
“Can you?”
“Of course.”
Before leaving the school gate, I changed into my sneakers. In-sae, who had changed his shoes first, waited for me. I was roughly cramming my feet in and getting up when someone strongly kicked my indoor shoes that I had briefly taken off. One indoor shoe slid far away. The kid who kicked the indoor shoe made a “huh” sound, seemingly surprised himself.
“Sorry, I was in a hurry and didn’t see properly!”
The kid quickly apologized and picked up the indoor shoe for me. I almost became Cinderella who lost a shoe. I thanked him while receiving the indoor shoe.
“It’s okay.”
The kid ran off hurriedly again. I put the shoes in the indoor shoe bag. From somewhere, the sound of cicadas chirping could be heard. Without realizing it, I looked toward where the cicada sound was coming from.
I listened carefully to the sound, afraid it might stop again. In-sae, finding me strange, held my hand.
“Shi-dan?”
“Ah, I was just startled for a moment.”
I came to my senses at In-sae’s voice. In-sae continued to examine me. He stared at me silently then let go of my hand.
“What is it.”
“I was really just startled. Don’t worry.”
Fortunately, the world didn’t change again. The surroundings were also fine and unchanged. I relaxed and smiled again.
“Let’s go. It’s hot because it’s summer.”
I walked while receiving the beating down sunlight. There wasn’t much shade at the intersection, so I had to take the blazing sun directly. I sweated in the sweltering weather. As soon as I get home, I should wash up and turn on the fan. I desperately walked looking for shade.
Come to think of it, the dates I made appointments with the kids are all in midsummer. To think of going out to play in midsummer, I’m really amazing. Continuing my silly thoughts, before entering the alley, I called out to In-sae.
“Have a good vacation.”
“Yeah. You too.”
In-sae waved his hand while standing in the shade of a roadside tree. The shaded alley was cool. My mood improved with the timely breeze. I took out my phone.
[Yu Shi-dan][4:48 PM] Have a good summer vacation.
I sent a text to Cho-yeon and walked the path again. Summer vacation has begun.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
