VDN Ch 57

Nam-woon wanted to call Seo-oh’s name once more, but faced with his cold expression, he couldn’t bring himself to speak. Seo-oh distanced himself from Nam-woon.

Watching Seo-oh’s retreating figure, Nam-woon slowly turned around. His hand gripping the bicycle felt weak.

“I don’t know him.”

I guess I came for nothing. It would have been much easier if he didn’t have the confidence to approach him. He remembered what Na Dae-yeol said in the school bathroom, associating with a thug like him would not do him any favors. Why did I even come to school? I guess I was caught up in the moment.

He seemed very close to the person who was standing next to him just now. If Kwon Seo-oh could be so friendly with her, they must be close.

Nam-woon walked aimlessly, staring at the ground. His mind was blank.

How had he even made it to the Haengwon restaurant? When Nam-woon opened the door, the owner greeted them, thinking he was a customer. But upon seeing Nam-woon’s face, the owner blurted out.

“What happened?”

“No, nothing.”

Nam-woon replied nonchalantly and put on the apron hanging by the kitchen shelf. The owner stared at them intently.

“You can just take the day off. There aren’t many customers today, and there won’t be much work.”

“I’ll work.”

As Nam-woon quietly walked into the kitchen, the old man stretched his back and stared after him.

***

When Se-han came back home from school, he kicked off his shoes and entered the room. He opened his backpack and rummaged through the second drawer, searching for the frog-shaped coin wallet.

Clatter.

“How much is left?”

Se-han zipped open the wallet and checked its contents. Six one-thousand-won bills and some coins!

That should be enough. Se-han put the backpack back on. He had planned to stay at Min-chan’s house today, but if his backpack was at home, his older brother might get suspicious. Se-han put on his shoes again and dashed out to the yard. Se-han’s baseball buddy Min-chan, who was waiting near the front gate, raised his glasses from his nose.

“What are you looking for?”

“Hyung left something here. I think there’s a business card.”

Se-han and Min-chan sat down and thoroughly searched through the box. Pink toothbrush, shorts, shower towel… As Se-han rummaged, he tossed socks aside and found a small piece of paper underneath.

“Here it is!”

Se-han unfolded the business card and held it up. Min-chan asked.

“Did you get everything?”

“Yeah, we’re good to go!”

“Dong-soo is also waiting in front of the Seondang Plaza bus stop.” 

“What? Dong-soo too?”

Dong-soo was another baseball friend, he was big and had a booming voice. Se-han had thought Dong-soo hated him because he scolded him every day, but today Dong-soo surprised him by saying.

“You look like a kindergartener, Min-chan looks like a second grader, and I look like a sixth grader. So we should stick together.”

That way, they wouldn’t be ignored. Min-chan nodded in agreement.

As Se-han and Min-chan walked down the alley, they encountered Namnam, who was sitting on a bench drying beans.

“Hello.”

Min-chan greeted him first. Se-han also bowed politely. Namnam asked.

“Where are you going?”

“We’re going to Min-chan’s house!”

“Did you come home for something?”

“Um, well…”

Se-han hesitated, and Namnam gave them a cold stare. Min-chan stepped in.

“We are here to get that puzzle from Se-han’s house.”

“Where’s the puzzle?”

“In our bag.”

Hmm. Namnam went inside the store, saying he’d be right back. Se-han and Min-chan exchanged glances. Be careful. They warned each other with their eyes. A moment later, Namnam returned from the store, holding something.

“What’s this?”

Min-chan approached him first. Se-han followed closely behind.

“Oh, this is something a friend gave me because his business is doing well. It’s a toy car. Come on, take one each.”

Namnam handed them toy cars. They were quite large, so much so that it required both hands to hold. Se-han’s eyes widened. Namnam had never given them anything like this before!

“Be careful not to drop it, it’ll break. Put it in your bag.”

Namnam tapped the bench, indicating where they should place the cars. Se-han and Min-chan approached the bench, placed their bags down, and unzipped them. Namnam scrutinized the contents of their bags.

I don’t see any puzzles inside.

Se-han set down Nam-woon’s business card for a moment and picked up the toy car. Their eyes sparkled as they saw the toy cars and they didn’t notice that Namnam had picked up the business card.

[Good People Center… Representative… Seok Namwoon.]

Startled by the sound of his grandfather’s voice, he looked up in surprise. The business card was in his grandfather’s hand, who knows when he had taken it. Se-han shouted.

“G-Give it back!”

“No, are you two going to see that young man right now? Aren’t you going to Min-chan’s house?”

“W-We’re going to my house and also take care of some business. We’re definitely going to my house.”

Min-chan replied, his voice trembling uncharacteristically.

“No, why are two little kids like you going all the way there?”

“Later, a bigger kid will come too! Grandpa, please don’t tell my brother!”

“Your brother would be worried, why didn’t you tell him?” 

“Please don’t say anything! I just want to see Hyung, but he won’t allow it!

Se-han’s eyes welled up with tears, and he spoke with a choked voice.

I miss Hyung so much…Se-han’s sad expression tugged at Namnam’s heart. If Se-han had resolved to go all the way there, it must have been tough for him all this time. In the end, Namnam decided to turn a blind eye this time. But he wondered whether he should inform Seo-oh. That guy was also a worrywart about his younger sibling. Namnam hesitated, observing Se-han’s teary eyes.

“Then I’ll be at the bus stop to see you off.”

Min-chan’s and Se-han’s eyes widened, and then Se-han answered in a small voice, “Yes,” and sniffed.

***

“…So, last time, that senior got a C+ and when he went to see the professor, the professor said it couldn’t be changed.”

“…….”

“Are you listening to me?”

“…….”

“Kwon Seo-oh!”

“Huh?”

“Its me, Sol.”

“….Sorry.”

Suddenly, Seo-oh apologized to Sol.

“I need to go.”

“Where?”

Sol questioned Seo-oh and asked “Are you leaving now?” but Seo-oh turned away.

Sol watched Seo-oh’s retreating figure.

Lately, Kwon Seo-oh seemed to have a couple screws missing. So Sol had tried to lift his spirits, but since seeing that man near the entrance earlier, Seo-oh’s complexion had noticeably worsened. What had happened between them? Sol sighed.

Seo-oh headed toward his home. He didn’t have the mental energy to do anything outside. As soon as he arrived, he tossed his bag in the corner and plopped down on the floor, leaning his back against the wall.

Today was the night Se-han was staying over at Min-chan’s house, so he wouldn’t be coming home. It was a rare day when he could relax and express his inner struggles. Seo-oh sat there against the wall, doing nothing. After a while, he heard a creaking sound as the front door opened. Seo-oh jumped up.

“Oh, you were home that’s good.”

All the strength drained from his body when he realized it was his grandfather Namnam. Disappointment filled him. What was he expecting when he was the one who had coldly passed by him? Grandpa Namnam hesitated, watching Seo-oh, who didn’t respond at all.

“I was really worried with whether or not I should tell you, but I decided to just in case.”

“…….”

“About Se-han.”

“What about Se-han?”

“Oh, it’s nothing!”

Grandpa Namnam took a few steps back, as if Seo-oh were overwhelming him, and continued.

“Se-han went to the Good People Center today.”

Seo-oh’s eyes widened.

“To see his Hyung.”

Namnam looked at Seo-oh, unable to meet his eyes and spoke softly.

“It seems like Se-han gave a lot of affection. Please show Nam-woon’s face to the young man.”

***

“Good sir, is this bus going to Seondang Plaza? Please help my grandson get off safely.”

After confirming the destination, Namnam helped Se-han and Min-chan board the bus. With the driver’s assistance, they safely reached Seondang Plaza. Dong-soo, who had been waiting there, joined them and checked his phone’s map. The three of them got lost a few times before eventually arriving at the Good People Center building.

As they stood in line, staring up at the old building with their mouths agape, Dong-soo was the first to step forward, but Se-han’s words made him pause.

“I was kidnapped here once.”

“What?”

Dong-soo and Min-chan were surprised, but Se-han continued nonchalantly.

“But I was quickly rescued. My brother came to save me.”

Dong-soo stepped back and stood with Se-han and Min-chan. Min-chan spoke up.

“Se-han, don’t go inside.”

“Why?”

Se-han asked innocently, and Min-chan’s expression turned serious.

“You said you were kidnapped here. Dong-soo and I should be the ones to go.”

After taking a deep breath, Min-chan continued sternly,

“Dong-soo, you go first.”

“What? We should all go together! Why just me?”

“I look like a second grader and you look like a middle schooler.”

“That’s ridiculous! I’m in second grade, how can I look like a middle schooler?”

Suddenly, Dong-soo and Min-chan started arguing. Se-han, taken aback, tried to calm them down. But then a stranger’s voice came from behind.

“Who are you guys?”

It was a man with a long scar on his face. When he scowled, the scars distorted in a strange way.

“Waaahhhhh….”

Dong-soo, who always boasted about being undefeated in fights against sixth graders, was the first to burst into tears.