Black Label [EN]: Chapter 64

Black Label Chapter 63

64. Before Leaving (2)

Eunpyeong-gu Middle School, selected as the 2011 GED [General Educational Development test, a high school equivalency test] test center, in front of the main gate.

Examinees who had just finished the test were rushing out of the school gate like a receding tide.

The age range of these examinees was truly diverse, ranging from students around Jaeseung’s age to housewives, monks, and soldiers.

Soon.

“Did you wait long?”

Jaeseung, who had just come out of the main gate, said to Youngguk, who was waiting while fiddling with his phone.

“No, I just got here too.”

“Anyway, thanks for waiting.”

Employees who heard about the GED test news made a fuss about holding up banners in front of the test center, but he strongly dissuaded them.

With half a lonely heart and half a hopeful heart, he revealed to Youngguk that today was the test day, and he came running right away.

“Don’t mention it between us… and when else would we see each other if not for this?”

Youngguk replied quietly, adding, “You need to be a little busy.”

Indeed, meetings had been infrequent lately.

This was the first time seeing each other since the F/W [Fall/Winter] show.

Even on the day of the show, there were so many people who came that he only had a few words with Youngguk.

Since it was the day the test ended and a rare meeting, he intended to spend a leisurely time today.

Soon, Youngguk put his arm around his shoulder and asked again in a gentle tone.

“By the way, how was the test? Do you think you did well?”

“The results will be announced in three weeks, but they told me the answers so I can check my score.”

“So? Did you check your score?”

“Of course, I did. You’ll be surprised when you hear my score.”

“Why? How many points did you get?”

After hesitating for a moment without answering immediately.

“A whopping average of 94 points.”

Jaeseung, in a very proud tone, made a ‘V’ sign with his hand, and Youngguk smiled brightly and asked back.

“Wow, really? Then you passed?!”

“That’s right.”

“You little rascal, congratulations!”

The passing cutline for the GED is an average of 60 points.

Even if the total score of the seven subjects exceeds 420 points, you pass, but he succeeded in recording a total score of 662 points, far exceeding the passing score.

It was a pass without any doubt.

Soon, Youngguk pounded his chest hard and said in a very cheerful tone.

“Let’s go grab something to eat first. Your hyung [older brother or male friend] will treat you today!”

“Really? What’s the occasion?”

Youngguk, who usually says, “You earn a lot for the time being, so you pay. I’ll pay you back double when I succeed later,” was taking the initiative to buy food, so he couldn’t help but wonder.

“Just, well, it’s a happy day…”

“Still, you waited for me, so it’s right for me to pay today.”

“Jaeseung.”

“Yeah?”

“Can’t I just buy you food today?”

Youngguk’s appearance as he said that felt different from usual.

What should he say?

Unlike usual, he felt a strange sense of incongruity.

Soon, Youngguk smiled faintly and added.

“If not today, I don’t know when I’ll be able to buy you a meal again. So, I’ll pay today.”

Once he goes to study abroad, it was clear that it would be much harder to see him than now.

Now, if he just makes time, he can see him, but from then on, even that would be difficult.

Moreover, he would definitely be busier than now, not less busy.

Even if he occasionally returns to Korea, it was obvious that he would be spending his time dealing with various tasks.

It seemed that he wasn’t the only one preparing for the upcoming farewell.

Youngguk also seemed to have a premonition of the upcoming farewell.

Yes, today isn’t the only day, but today isn’t the absolute last day either…

Still, let’s have you pay today.

* * *

In the end, the two headed to a somewhat shabby-looking Chinese restaurant near the school chosen as the test center.

Various dishes were set on the table, a hearty spread.

Sweet and sour sauce with a fragrant aroma drizzled over golden-brown sweet and sour pork. Finally, jajangmyeon [black bean noodles] that stimulates hunger.

It was truly a feast.

However, the two were focused on talking, barely eating their food.

“What? A broadcast appearance offer?”

When he told him about the text message he received this morning, Youngguk widened his eyes and asked back.

“Yeah, kind of…”

“Wow, damn… that’s awesome, really.”

After letting out a rough exclamation, Youngguk added, “Jaeseung, you really seem like someone living in a different world now.”

Feeling embarrassed for no reason, Jaeseung shook his head and began to explain in a soft voice.

“It’s not like that. It’s not a big program, just an audition program on a cable channel. They didn’t invite me as a panelist; they just asked if I would be willing to appear as a contestant.”

“Audition program?”

“Yeah. It’s a kind of designer audition program, do you know the American program ‘Project Runway’?”

Project Runway is a reality show that aired on the American cable channel ‘Bravo’.

Heidi Klum, a German-born supermodel who can be called the face of Victoria’s Secret, was the host, and the other judges were also quite impressive.

“Well? I think I’ve heard of it a few times…”

Just as Youngguk was staring upwards as if recalling his memory, Jaeseung added again.

“Anyway, I refused.”

“What? Why?”

“Hmm, there are many reasons…”

Jaeseung, who had been vague for a moment, smiled faintly.

Reasons for refusing the appearance offer?

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there were countless reasons.

First of all, if things go as he knows from the future, the Korean version of ‘Project Runway’ will turn into a flop program.

It wasn’t just a matter of viewership.

He would never appear as long as the format of the audition program itself didn’t change.

He didn’t want to be used as fuel for the ‘mass media’ because of the benefits he could get through the appearance.

He would be evaluated by the public based only on the character forcibly added by the production team, and there would be more people talking about ‘me,’ whom he didn’t even know well, saying, “He’s like this, he’s like that.”

Wasn’t this the second life he barely obtained at the end of all the reversals and hardships?

Every second is extremely precious.

Every moment, he feels emotions he rarely felt in his previous life.

He sees what he didn’t see and lives while realizing what he didn’t realize.

He has regained the youth, the prime of his life, that he couldn’t buy for billions of dollars.

Even if it’s just a part of it, he didn’t want to use it as fuel.

He would rather have a little more conversation with his family during that time.

He would rather have conversations with Youngguk that he could only have at the end of his teens, worry about pursuing greater happiness, and do things that could recharge his inspiration.

Even if someone belittles these beliefs and decisions with the words “spoiled talk.”

What can he do, he’s just this kind of person?

Jaeseung, who had been lost in thought for a moment, smiled faintly and opened his mouth.

“I thought it was too much of a waste of time to appear.”

“Time?”

“Yeah. I want to have as much fun as possible before going to study abroad.”

“Yeah… well, you always do well on your own.”

After a moment of silence between the two.

“But when exactly are you leaving the country?”

“I’m going to apply in September and go to the United States in advance.”

“What? Then there’s only a month left.”

“Yeah, well.”

He also had to solve the housing problem and have a period of adaptation before starting his full-fledged study abroad life.

Looking at him, Youngguk seemed to have a lot of regret on his face, pretending to be indifferent.

Farewell.

A word that always makes one side of his heart tingle.

When he first returned to the past, he was just being friendly out of old friendship, but before he knew it, they had become inseparable friends.

His mental age is anchored in his 30s, so it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this a friendship that transcends age.

Forcing a smile, he said in a nonchalant tone.

“Hey! It’s not like I’m going to be in America forever… why are you making such a sad face?”

“Just, because I’m sad.”

Yeah, actually, I’m a little sad too.

At that moment, while he was repeating words he couldn’t bring himself to say.

“You have to do well.”

Jaeseung frowned slightly at Youngguk’s sudden words and asked back.

“What are you talking about? You have to do well too.”

“No, well…”

“By the way, what about you, Youngguk?”

“Yeah?”

“I mean music. How is it going these days? Is it going well?”

Jaeseung opened his mouth again. He asked the question because he was worried that he had been talking about himself all the time because Youngguk kept asking about his recent situation.

Soon, Youngguk took a few sips of water for no reason and answered in a barely audible voice, “It’s always the same, well…”

“What’s wrong? You’re not acting like yourself today.”

“What do you mean?”

“No, if it were usual…”

Jaeseung, who was about to continue speaking, suddenly said, “No,” and swallowed the rest of his words.

Youngguk today was definitely strange.

If it were usual, he would have volunteered to tell all sorts of stories before he even asked a question.

He would tell him samples of the songs he recently made, or explain how to use the newly learned MIDI [Musical Instrument Digital Interface] program.

At that time.

“Hey, Jaeseung.”

“Yeah?”

“Actually, I…”

Soon.

Unexpected words flowed from Youngguk’s mouth.

“I quit music.”

“What?”

“Should I say I’m taking a break? Well, anyway… I’m taking a break.”

“What? Why suddenly?”

Youngguk, who was silent for a while as if looking for words to answer, smiled and replied.

“Just.”

Just.

It’s a word that you unconsciously utter when you have a problem that doesn’t seem to have a solution in sight.

A word that leaves a lingering feeling that is hard to describe.

Jaeseung, who was staring blankly at Youngguk, was about to ask something more.

“Jaeseung, let’s talk about this later, not today. Let’s do it later. Please.”

Youngguk cut him off.

* * *

He parted ways with Youngguk around early evening.

It was because Youngguk suddenly said that his part-time job time was up and hurriedly ended the meeting.

He didn’t even know that he was working part-time because he hadn’t been able to contact him properly, let alone talk to him, lately.

Anyway, this was also something that he couldn’t have imagined if it were usual. He was the one who would beg to play a little more even at midnight.

‘What the hell is going on…’

Because of all sorts of 잡념 [japnyum – stray thoughts] that washed over him like waves, he couldn’t go straight home and had to wander the streets for a long time.

What could have made him, who was so 극성 [geukseong – ardent/fervent], suddenly decide to quit music?

Was it because of his own 심경적인 [simgyeongjeokin – emotional/mental] change?

Was it a futile act to try to create a point of contact with music?

No matter how he thought about it, he didn’t think it was a decision based on 변덕 [byeondeok – a whim].

Yes, that’s definitely not it.

Because in the smile of the guy who revealed that he had given up his dream, there was still something as fresh as 들풀 [deulpul – wild grass].

Then, was it an unavoidable choice due to external factors?

“Hoo-.”

In addition to the Wall Flower 인수·인계 [insu-inge – takeover/handover] problem, in addition to preparing for the Parsons Design School 입시 [ipsi – entrance exam], it seemed that one more 숙제 [sukje – homework/task] that had to be solved before leaving Korea had increased.

Maybe it’s 오지랖 [ojilap – meddling] due to affection.

But if he left without knowing the exact reason and ignoring it, he couldn’t help but feel that 찝찝함 [jjipjjipham – unease/discomfort] would remain in one side of his heart for the rest of his life.

First of all, he will check.

What exactly broke his dream, and if he broke it himself, what was the reason?

He will check and then solve it.

If it’s something he can solve, really somehow.

As a small gift for the ‘short farewell’ that he will soon face.

First of all, he stopped walking and took out his smartphone.

He judged that it would be better to ask someone who might know the answer, since nothing would change no matter how much he worried alone.

First, he found out the number of the practical music academy that Youngguk attended and called right away.

– Yes, this is Arte Practical Music Academy.

“I’m calling about student Sohn Youngguk.”

– Ah, yes. What’s going on?

“Could I speak to the teacher in charge of Sohn Youngguk for a moment?”

He wanted to ask Youngguk’s parents about the situation right away, but he didn’t have a way to find out their number right away, so he chose this method.

In terms of musical aspects, he might have had more exchanges with him.

– I’ll connect you right away. Just a moment.

Not long after, he was able to hear a brief explanation of the situation through the teacher in charge of guiding Youngguk.

– Ah, you mean student Sohn Youngguk? It’s a shame…

Money.

In the end, money was the problem again.