The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 3

< Intro. A Once-in-a-Lifetime >

Even as time passed, the headaches and phantom pains didn’t easily subside.

Fortunately, the phantom pains were gradually disappearing, but the headaches seemed to be getting worse.

“Ugh!”

For days, Sanghyun couldn’t sleep properly because of dreams where the walls of the entire house rushed at him. Every night, he woke up screaming at least three times.

Thankfully, Sangmi was on a school trip.

He was able to use the four-day holiday—Memorial Day, a Saturday off (a bi-weekly Saturday with no school), Sunday, and Memorial Day—to adjust.

After visiting his parents at the columbarium [a place for the respectful and usually public storage of cremated remains] in the suburbs on Sunday, Sanghyun pondered various things on the bus home.

1. Sangmi must not notice anything strange about my behavior. She is already emotionally unstable since our parents passed away, so I need to be extra careful.

2. I will protect Sangmi and succeed as quickly as possible.

3. I will not live being taken advantage of.

It was still heartbreaking not being able to see his parents, but fortunately, his relationship with Sangmi hadn’t completely broken down yet.

He had a chance to atone to his sister, to whom he had only demanded sacrifices.

-Buzz.

His phone vibrated, displaying a message notification. The feel of a flip phone, rather than a smartphone, was truly unfamiliar.

-Oppa [Korean term for older brother used by females], I think I’ll arrive after 5.

-I’ll pick you up from school.

-No need. Just make dinner.

-Is there anything you want to eat?

-Anything. I’m about to board the plane.

-Okay. Text me again when you get to Gwangju.

Sanghyun and Sangmi were relatively close compared to other siblings who were like enemies. Their father’s educational philosophy, as an orphan himself, prioritized family affection above all else.

However, while they were considerate of each other and didn’t fight much, they didn’t express affection or use affectionate words.

Even when Sangmi relied on him like a father after their parents passed away, he couldn’t be considerate or comforting due to the burden and sadness of becoming the head of the family.

Rather, every time he saw Sangmi’s dependent attitude, he was reminded that their parents were no longer in the world, which made him angry.

‘Stupid kid.’

He had also forced many sacrifices on Sangmi for the sake of achieving success as quickly as possible. Because of this, Sangmi wandered for quite a long time. By the time her wandering ended and Sanghyun became rich, their relationship was more distant than strangers.

‘We’re the only two left in the world.’

He is not a teenage boy.

He is a seasoned businessman who knows the bitter taste of the world.

Protecting Sangmi safely is the top priority, and next, he planned to use his experience and knowledge of the future to become wealthy.

-Oppa, I’ve arrived in Gwangju.

-Are you stopping by school before heading home?

-No, I’m going straight home.

-I’ll order chicken. Take a taxi.

-We need to save money. Why a taxi?

-You have money for a taxi, so hurry up and come.

‘We’re the only two left in the world.’

That’s how Sanghyun went from being a successful 38-year-old businessman in 2025 to an ordinary 18-year-old high school student in 2005.

***

Gwangju Unsan High School.

Sanghyun passed through the familiar yet unfamiliar school gate, which he hadn’t seen in 20 years, and entered the building.

Many students, suffering from Monday blues (actually Tuesday because of Memorial Day), looked like cows being dragged to a slaughterhouse, groaning.

Sanghyun’s expression wasn’t good because he had stayed up all night due to headaches and nightmares, but he was happy to see his alma mater after nearly 20 years.

‘But what class am I in?’

No matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t remember what class he was in during his second year of high school. Barely remembering his homeroom teacher’s name, Sanghyun headed to the faculty office.

He was worried they wouldn’t recognize him, but as soon as he entered the faculty office, he knew exactly who his homeroom teacher was.

“Oh, Sanghyun.”

“Hello.”

“Oh, hello. How are you? Did you have a good weekend?”

The homeroom teacher’s overly friendly tone was a bit funny.

As he remembered, the current homeroom teacher, who was in charge of physical education, was what they call a ‘real man’ these days [a straightforward and honest person].

‘I didn’t know about these considerations back then.’

At the time, he seemed to have a victim mentality, feeling isolated from the world. Anyway, he didn’t come to the faculty office to reflect on the past.

Sanghyun quickly scanned the teacher’s desk.

2-3 Attendance Book.

“Why? Do you have something to say to the teacher?”

“Teacher.”

“Yes?”

“Please act normal. Your tone is strange.”

“Well… I know it’s strange, but…”

Sanghyun chuckled. The homeroom teacher’s expression improved slightly at his laugh.

“You have a good voice, but your face doesn’t look good. You look tired?”

“I couldn’t sleep well.”

“Couldn’t sleep? How much?”

“It’s okay. I’ll get better. I came to ask you for a favor.”

“Tell me.”

“As you know, it’s just me and my sister now. In this world.”

“…”

At Sanghyun’s calm words, the homeroom teacher’s expression hardened.

But Sanghyun was really okay. No, it would be stranger if he were sad.

He still loved and missed his parents, but he had already overcome the pain of their passing. He had lived accepting and acknowledging it for the past 20 years.

There are scars, but no scabs to pick and bleed.

“I’m fine, but I think my sister, who is still in middle school, is spending too much time alone at home. Can I finish regular classes and go home immediately?”

“Hmm…”

In 2005, regular high school classes ended at 4 PM, just like middle school.

The two hours from 4 PM to 6 PM were for supplementary classes, and the time from 7 PM to 10 PM after dinner was for mandatory self-study.

In other words, the class time for a high school diploma determined by the country is until 4 PM.

“Since you have circumstances, it’s not a difficult thing if I suggest it at the faculty meeting, but the duration is the problem.”

“Duration?”

“Until when do you want to be excused?”

“Until Sangmi enters high school and starts attending mandatory self-study.”

“Your sister is in the third grade of middle school now, right?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, okay, I understand. Go back to your class and tell them to prepare for the morning assembly.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Sanghyun.”

“Yes?”

The homeroom teacher tapped his butt with the attendance book.

“It’s good to see you enduring well and caring for your sister even after experiencing such a big event. The insomnia will gradually get better.”

“Thank you. Then, to be even more grateful, please go to the faculty meeting and get my tuition and meal expenses waived.”

“What?”

Sanghyun smiled brightly at the homeroom teacher’s bewildered expression, bowed, and left the faculty office.

“That kid, he’s really cool.”

Anyway, the tuition and meal expenses will be waived.

The homeroom teacher cleanly dismissed the worry that Sanghyun might be unnecessarily prideful. His student was much stronger than he thought.

Sanghyun, who came out of the faculty office, headed to Class 3 of the second grade, feeling nervous. He remembered a few friends he had kept in touch with even after entering society, but he was worried about making mistakes since he barely remembered the rest.

Unsan High School was a school with good academics and strong internal discipline. Once, as an act of rebellion against strict hair regulations, most of the grade shaved their heads. After that, the school earned nicknames such as ‘Unsan Temple’ and ‘Shaved Spartacus.’

Sanghyun remembered his alma mater as a school far from bullying, violence, and ostracism, but he was also worried about how much his memory, which wanted to enjoy a quiet high school life, would match reality.

< Intro. A Once-in-a-Lifetime > End

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