85. Neon thirty-nine
next day.
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Northwest High School.
“ruler! Time is up! Everyone, put your hands on your head, and pick up the answer sheet from the back seat.”
With this, today’s mock exam is over.
Throughout my past life and this life, I have taken countless tests, but it was the first time I had taken the test as nervously as I was today.
The initial goal was 375 points, but it was generously changed to 390 points or more.
I asked Yeong-mi during the break, and since he said that today’s mock exam was pretty easy, even if he gets 390, he doesn’t seem to be in the national ranks.
To be honest, I don’t care if I’m in the national ranks.
After all, you have to get a good score in the SAT, but it is true that it is time to raise your score.
And seeing, I feel like I’ve gained a little bit of guts through this work as a reporter.
In addition, when I remembered the advice Mr. Myeong-soo Jung gave me in the data field server room yesterday, I felt a little more at ease.
shit! No. 1 in the country, unless you have a ranking like this! is not it?
As I left school, I asked Youngmi.
“Young-mi, this test is really easy, isn’t it?”
It’s true that I’m a little worried though… .
“Yeah, the search difficulty was average, and the language and foreign language were definitely easy.”
I sighed in relief at Yeong-mi’s answer, when I heard In-cheol’s voice.
“What are you talking about!”
I looked at Incheol, and he continued.
“Today’s mock test language and foreign language were both really difficult. In particular, the foreign language field has never been this difficult.”
wait… !
what? this situation now?
Is this a familiar atmosphere?
no way… ?
While I shook my head, the author interrupted the conversation.
“The exams are over, the exams were very difficult, it was easy, don’t do it, it’s been a while since we’ve been together, let’s go to my house for dinner! My mom said she made something delicious.”
author’s house.
While Ji-eun’s mother was preparing dinner, we were chatting while sitting in the living room.
“Jieun-ah, where was that picture taken? I don’t think it’s our country?”
“That was probably a picture taken at Osaka Castle, Japan.”
“really?”
Yeong-mi got up and went to the place where the picture was hung, and said while checking the picture with an interesting expression.
“Jieun-ah, were you really cute when you were young? Here’s a picture of a dumpling head, it’s so pretty.”
Ji-eun nodded her head with a natural expression and said.
“I had the same elegance back then.”
Incheol poked my side and said.
“Hey, what’s the dumpling head?”
I shrugged my shoulders at Incheol’s question.
“men and horses! If you ask me that, will I understand? This is what this master always says! Think before you ask. You foolish disciple, huh?”
“Chae Jung-ho! Don’t bully our In-cheol!”
was the author
In-cheol sticks out his tongue towards me, and Ji-eun turns his head toward In-cheol and says.
“The head of dumplings is also called dango head in Japanese, but it is also called dumpling head or poop head.”
Looking at the picture on the wall, Youngmi asked the author again.
“If you look at the photos here, the atmosphere is similar, were they all taken in Japan?”
“That’s right.”
“Wow—! Did you often go to Japan to play when you were young?”
“No, I lived in Japan until I was five years old.”
“really?”
Ji-eun nodded in response to Young-mi’s question.
“Tsumimaseng!”
What?
Tsumimaseng means ‘I’m sorry’?
Ji-eun’s face was the expression saying yes, and Yeong-mi seems to understand it as yes.
I turned my head to look at In-cheol, this guy… His face is twitching to hold back his laughter.
Youngmi, who was looking at the picture like that, said.
“Ji-eun, but your father… .”
“hey! Youngmi Kim!”
It was In-cheol who cut Young-mi’s horse.
At In-cheol’s loud voice, we all looked at In-cheol, and In-cheol continued speaking with a serious expression.
“I just remembered, you borrowed five thousand won from me last time!”
“What?! Did I borrow money from you?”
At Yeong-mi’s question, In-cheol frowned and raised his voice.
“Then you borrowed it. last month! That’s right, think about it!”
what? What does this chubby sound like?
If Youngmi really needed money, she would probably have told me first.
The moment I was about to tell In-cheol what I was talking about, Yeong-mi changed her expression and said.
“ah… ! Five thousand won! Turns out, I forgot. Incheol-ah, I’m sorry.”
On the way home after having dinner at Ji-eun’s house.
We got on the bus and waved to the author who remained at the stop.
As the bus departed, Yeong-mi said to In-cheol.
“Why are you like that? Is it because I brought up the story of the author’s father?”
In-cheol nodded with a serious expression, and Young-mi opened her mouth carefully.
“Then maybe… The author’s father is back… Did you go?”
“I think so… .”
Incheol opened his mouth with a short sigh.
“I heard you don’t know exactly.”
“What do you mean?”
“When Ji-eun was five years old, Ji-eun’s father must have disappeared in Japan.”
“… !”
“I know that Ji-eun’s family was originally Korean-Japanese, but because of that, they had no choice but to return to Korea. It’s a bit difficult to go into details, but I think it’s better not to talk about my father in front of the author… .”
Youngmi nodded at Incheol’s words and said.
“I see… . I almost made a mistake earlier, thank you. Now I have to be careful about what I say in front of the author.”
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Namseo-dong apartment stop.
We got off the bus, and In-cheol checked the phone and spoke to Yeong-mi and me.
“Mom is looking for you, so I’ll go first!”
“okay! Be careful and go in.”
“Wait a minute! Incheol-ah! What time are you going to Yunseong Soft tomorrow?”
“ah… ! right. Let’s leave together at 11 o’clock. I’ll call your house when I leave.”
“Eunseong will also come tomorrow, right?”
“right!”
“OK!”
In-cheol ran towards building 105, and Yeong-mi and I were left at the bus stop.
Youngmi checked the time and said to me.
“It’s a bit sad to go home now… Shall we go to Namseocheon Park to play after a long time?”
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Namseocheon Park was a quiet park located 10 minutes away by bus.
So we got on the bus again, arrived at the park, and walked along the Namseocheon Stream.
“My dad complimented you a lot. Since yesterday, when I see only you, I’m talking about you.”
Youngmi smiled and continued.
“What the hell is that French bid, you talk all day long. It’s my first time seeing my dad like this, so it’s a little strange.”
At Yeongmi’s words, I nodded and opened my mouth.
“That’s enough for you to like it.”
Two days ago, the French bidding results came out.
The dream of exporting to Europe, which has been working hard for the past two years, has come true.
The successful bidding means more than just an increase in sales.
In this bid, we participated in the bid with our own brand, Bal-Hae, rather than a consignment production method, so now Balhae Sports has become the first domestic soccer shoe brand to enter Europe, the home of soccer.
The meaning of this winning bid must have been different for Young-mi’s father, who is a founding member of Balhae Sports and has a great attachment to the company.
“My dad said… Jung-ho, you said how about going to business school? Is it necessary to have two mathematicians in a family?”
“okay? But I wouldn’t be able to go to the business school because it’s science… .”
wait… !
Do you need two mathematicians in a house?
What do you mean?
I quickly turned my head to look at Youngmi, and Youngmi shrugged her shoulders with a fresh expression.
“That’s what my dad said. It has nothing to do with my doctor.”
“So, what about your doctor?”
At my question, Youngmi smiled and said.
“Well… .”
Youngmi continued speaking with an expression that she remembered something.
“By the way, Jung-ho, did you seem very nervous when you took the exam today?”
ah… ! Did you see it in your eyes?
I said with a calm expression on my face.
“Tension? Aren’t I nervous today?”
At my words, Youngmi held out her one hand and said.
“I told you before. Chae Jung-ho is in the palm of my hand. Even during the break, he asked me how many times the test was difficult… . Hmm—! There’s something here… . What are you doing?”
“Uh, what’s going on? I was just wondering if the test was difficult!”
Youngmi said while pointing her finger to my forehead.
“It’s written on your forehead right now. What is there, um. like this!”
“Oh, nothing. There is something there, right?”
“Oh? He stutters, you really have something!”
Also, Youngmi has a good eye.
In such a case, it is best to push it out ignorantly.
Youngmi asked me a few more times, but I kept my mouth shut.
That was then.
Youngmi grabbed my arm.
“Let’s take a break here.”
We sat side by side on the bench, and Yeongmi looked at me and carefully opened her mouth.
“Jungho, maybe you… Isn’t that a bad thing?”
The mischievous laughter disappeared, and Youngmi now had a serious expression on her face.
“No, absolutely not like that.”
“really?”
I nodded and said it was nothing, but Youngmi still looked worried, and the moment she bit her upper lip, I ended up telling the truth.
He said that he made a bet with his homeroom teacher on the condition that if he scored over 375 in this mock test, he would be able to withdraw from self-study at night.
At my words, Youngmi said with a curious expression.
“then… Are you so nervous about today’s exam because of falling out of palms?”
“It’s not… At that time, my homeroom teacher forced me to… .”
“Condition?”
“Yeah, if I don’t get over 375, I’ll have Minhyuk sit next to you, so… .”
Youngmi smiled and asked me with a look of disbelief.
“really? Did your homeroom teacher say that?”
“yes. I was really surprised too. If I had known that the teacher would put such a condition, of course I wouldn’t have made a bet.”
Youngmi opened her eyes slightly and looked at me and said.
“So, how many points do you think the test will give today?”
I cringed and opened my mouth.
“one… About 390 points?”
At my answer, Youngmi smiled and said.
“Hmm–! Well, I don’t feel bad.”
Youngmi came close to me and wrapped her right arm around my forearm, and as she rested her head on my shoulder, I could feel the mild scent of shampoo.
We didn’t say anything.
I just sat on a bench and looked at Namseocheon Stream glistening red in the evening sunset.
If it hadn’t been for the sound of the flowing water of Namseocheon, I might have thought that time had stopped.
After a while, Youngmi’s voice was heard.
“Jeong-ho, I mean… .”
After a moment’s pause, Youngmi lowered her voice and continued.
“I am really happy now.”
When I heard the words ‘I am happy now’, I looked at Youngmi with a surprised expression, and Youngmi also turned her head toward me.
Youngmi from the past life once said something like this to me.
Saying “I love you” makes my face tickle, so my mouth doesn’t come off easily… .
So, when you say ‘I’m happy now’, it means that I love you.
So we looked at each other for a long time.
As I bowed my head and came closer to Yeongmi’s face, Yeongmi’s eyes, who were looking at me, slowly closed, and I closed my mouth slightly to Yeongmi’s lips.
The sound of running water in the Namseocheon Stream is no longer audible.
It seems that time has stopped like this.