Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 175

The Fifth Vitality – Episode 175 (175/502)

175. The Beginning

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem with Hyun-joon?”

Lee Soo-jung asked urgently, her voice growing louder.

All sorts of thoughts raced through her mind, and she even worried that her son might be hurt.

“Teacher! Is Hyun-joon hurt?”

-No, Mother. It’s nothing like that. It’s just that Hyun-joon didn’t sign up for the school trip, and he hasn’t been attending mandatory after-school study for a while now.

“After-school study?”

-Yes.

Lee Soo-jung was greatly surprised by the teacher’s words. The fact that he wasn’t attending after-school study was more shocking than the fact that he hadn’t signed up for the school trip.

Since becoming a sophomore in high school, her son had been participating in after-school self-study at school.

The school itself had a strong academic focus, so students who weren’t majoring in arts or sports generally participated in after-school study unless there was a specific reason not to.

“Hyun-joon not attending after-school study, what do you mean?”

Since her husband’s accident, Lee Soo-jung had been working part-time at a convenience store [a small retail shop], mainly in the evenings. By the time she finished her shift and came home, she was invariably later than her son, who was supposed to be at after-school study.

‘You’re back.’

‘Are the kids asleep?’

On days when the two younger children fell asleep waiting for their mother, it was common for her eldest son, having finished after-school study, to greet her.

‘You must be tired from after-school study. You can go to bed first; why are you waiting up for Mom?’

‘I’m not tired at all. I was doing homework anyway.’

‘Really? Son, Mom can leave work a little earlier tomorrow; should we come home together after after-school study?’

‘No. If Mom finishes early, come home and rest. I decided to borrow a workbook from Cheol’s place tomorrow.’

‘Really? Okay. Don’t overdo it.’

Even when she occasionally suggested coming home together after after-school study, she naturally assumed he was with his friends. So, the homeroom teacher’s words were hard to understand.

“Teacher, are you sure you’re not mistaken? I asked him a few days ago, and he said he was doing well.”

-Hyun-joon told me about a month ago that he wouldn’t be able to do after-school study for a while. When I asked him why, he said he had to go home early to take care of his younger siblings because of his father’s situation.

The homeroom teacher would have objected if Hyun-joon was trying to be cunning or if there was no legitimate reason, but he couldn’t in this case.

Frankly, he would have refused immediately if it were another child. However, he knew Hyun-joon’s family situation well, and above all, his learning attitude and grades were good, so he trusted that he would study well on his own and allowed it.

-So, I trusted Hyun-joon and agreed that he wouldn’t do after-school study for the time being. But something seemed off. Hyun-joon’s grades started to drop a little.

“Grades?”

Come to think of it, Lee Soo-jung, who had been preoccupied, had forgotten that Hyun-joon had recently taken an exam. Also, because he was such a self-sufficient child, she hadn’t been able to pay as much attention to him as to her younger children.

-Yes, and he started dozing off during class, which he never used to do, and couldn’t concentrate.

The homeroom teacher continued to explain.

Worried about Hyun-joon, he called him aside and asked him about it, but he only repeated that he was sorry, saying that he couldn’t sleep because he was studying at home.

The homeroom teacher eventually asked a close friend about Hyun-joon’s changed behavior, which had been going on for more than just a day or two, and learned the truth.

-Cheol said that Hyun-joon is working part-time.

“Our Hyun-joon is working part-time?”

-Yes, Mother. He was working part-time delivering food on a motorcycle.

“Wait a minute, Teacher! What did you just say? Delivering… is he doing deliveries?”

Motorcycle delivery. Lee Soo-jung was dumbfounded by the news she had never expected.

“Our Hyun-joon? On a motorcycle? How could this happen…”

-Cheol said that the delivery part-time job pays well, so he even got a motorcycle license. I was going to handle it myself, but I thought it would be right for you to know, so I contacted you.

-Ah! Yes, thank you for contacting me, Teacher.

-Mother, I don’t want Hyun-joon to work part-time because this is when he should be focusing on his studies, and motorcycles are dangerous.

“Of course. Of course. Um, Teacher. Do you know where my child is working?”

-Yes. Shall I go with you?

“No. I’ll talk to my son. Yes, thank you.”

Lee Soo-jung pressed her temples as if her head was throbbing and hung up the phone.

“Hello? Manager. This is Lee Soo-jung.”

After thinking for a moment, Lee Soo-jung called the convenience store manager and apologized, requesting sick leave.

“Yes, I think I’m coming down with a bad cold. I’m really sorry.”

Since she had been coming in diligently without missing a single day, the manager granted her sick leave without complaint.

In fact, Lee Soo-jung was the one who would suffer if she took a day off from the convenience store. That day’s pay would be deducted from her salary.

She had been trying to earn even a little extra by working weekends, but today she couldn’t concentrate on her work at all.

She couldn’t focus on anything after hearing the news that her son was doing deliveries on a motorcycle.

-Rrrrrrrr

-oo Chicken. Location: Go straight 500 meters from the back gate of the school, then turn right at the three-way intersection; it’s right there. The store number is xxx-xxxx.

Lee Soo-jung, who received the teacher’s text message, couldn’t stay still.

“Hyun-mi? Mom’s going out. I’ve prepared rice, so eat with Hyun-woong later.”

“Okay. Don’t worry.”

“Mom, are you going to work?”

“No, Mom is going to pick up Hyung [older brother] right now.”

“Hyung is going to the chicken place… uh!”

“Hey! Cha Hyun-woong!”

The second child, surprised that the youngest child had revealed the siblings’ secret, covered his mouth, but it was already too late.

“You all knew that your brother was working part-time?”

“No, Mom, it’s not that…”

“Let’s talk about it later. Lock the door well.”

Knowing that it was useless to talk to the two young children, Lee Soo-jung hurried to the chicken restaurant.

* * *

oo Chicken

Clang-

“I’m back.”

“Oh, Hyun-joon, are you back from a delivery?”

“Yes.”

The male boss greeted Hyun-joon, who had returned from a delivery, with a smile.

“You’re back early today.”

“The madam [the boss’s wife] nagged me for coming later than the other part-timers these days, so I came early. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

The store owner handed Hyun-joon an iced Americano [a diluted espresso] in a carrier.

“Thank you.”

“But do you even know what coffee tastes like?”

“Of course. I often drank it at home to stay awake when I was studying.”

“Anyway, Hyun-joon, would you like to sit here for a moment?”

The boss pulled out a chair at the table and gestured for him to sit opposite him.

“It’s been a little over a month since you started working, right?”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything difficult?”

“At first, it was hard to memorize the addresses, but now I’ve memorized them all, so it’s okay.”

“I actually try not to hire high school students for delivery part-time jobs if possible. Delivery work looks easy, but it’s not easy when you actually do it. That’s why students can’t last even a month and quit, but Hyun-joon, you work really hard.”

The chicken restaurant owner had initially refused when Hyun-joon first came to him looking for a job. But he hired him as a part-timer because of his earnest expression and difficult circumstances.

“How is your father doing?”

“Just… the same.”

“He will definitely recover.”

“Thank you.”

“Hey, Hyun-joon?”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been running my own business for quite a while, and I’ve seen so many people that I can generally tell what kind of person they are. I heard you’re very good at studying at school?”

“Yes? How did you know that, boss…”

“Your friend Cheol told me a few days ago when he bought chicken.”

Cheol, a classmate and best friend, told the boss that it was a pity that Hyun-joon, who was a good student, was doing deliveries.

“Really? He said unnecessary things.”

“Why is that unnecessary? It’s the right thing to say. Hyun-joon, are you going to continue doing delivery work?”

“For the time being. My mom is having a hard time working at the convenience store alone. There’s a lot of money going out of the house, and I have two younger siblings to support. Honestly, I think I can catch up on studying later, so I want to help out even a little now.”

Hyun-joon knew that the boss was saying this because he was thinking of him, but he had no intention of quitting the delivery job.

“If that’s what you think, then I can’t force you. But do you know that your mom knows you’re working part-time?”

“Of course. I gave you the consent form at first. Mom also allowed it on the condition that my grades don’t drop.”

“Okay, I understand.”

“Boss, I’ll fold the boxes.”

Hyun-joon, fearing that the boss might ask more questions, hurried to the warehouse to get the chicken boxes.

Clang-

“Welcome. This is oo Chicken, which is delicious even when it’s cold.”

With the sound of the bell on the door, the boss’s head turned towards the entrance.

A woman with her hair tied back in a ponytail and a small handbag in her hand came in with a very urgent expression.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, customer. Are you ordering takeout? What would you like?”

“No. That’s not it. Is there a part-timer working here named Cha Hyun-joon?”

“Who are you?”

The boss, seeing Lee Soo-jung after Hyun-joon’s name was mentioned, asked, anticipating the answer to some extent.

“I’m Hyun-joon’s mother.”

“Mom!”

As soon as Lee Soo-jung finished speaking, Hyun-joon, who had brought chicken boxes from the warehouse, came into the hall.

“Boss, I’m suddenly sorry, but I’m going to take Hyun-joon. I don’t think he can work part-time anymore.”

“Mom, wait a minute, talk to me.”

“Quiet! Don’t say a word and stay still.”

When the surprised Hyun-joon grabbed his mother’s arm and tried to stop her, Lee Soo-jung immediately changed her expression and stopped her son’s behavior.

“I just found out that my son is working because I’ve been so distracted. But our Hyun-joon has to study. I’m sorry.”

Lee Soo-jung briefly explained to the boss and politely apologized.

“No, Mother. Actually, I didn’t really like Hyun-joon doing delivery work here.”

Unlike Lee Soo-jung’s concerns, the boss was not at all concerned about Hyun-joon suddenly quitting. Rather, he thought it was for the best.

“I let Hyun-joon work because his situation was so pitiful, but I wasn’t comfortable with it either. I’m glad you found out now.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

After greeting the boss, Lee Soo-jung approached Hyun-joon, said something quietly, and left the store first.

“I’ll be outside, so say hello politely and come out.”

“Boss, I’m suddenly sorry. I think I have to go home today. I’ll go and persuade my mom…”

“Hyun-joon? Actually, I knew that the consent form you submitted when you came for the part-time job interview was fake.”

“I’m sorry.”

“If you’re sorry, go and do what you need to do now. Now is the time for you to study. And take this.”

“What is this?”

The boss handed over an envelope of money he had hurriedly prepared.

“Your part-time pay for working until today.”

“Boss, I appreciate your kindness, but I won’t take it. If my mom knows I received this money, she’ll really scold me. I don’t want to receive it either.”

“Okay, I understand. Instead, come anytime you want to eat chicken. Got it?”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll see you next time.”

“Hyun-joon, cheer up. Huh? Your father will definitely recover.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Hyun-joon bowed and left the chicken restaurant.

* * *

Lee Soo-jung kept her mouth shut and didn’t say a word until she got home. It was because she felt that she wouldn’t be able to control her emotions if she started talking outside.

“What’s wrong with you?”

She finally spoke to her son, who followed her into the main room.

“Why didn’t you sign up for the school trip, why did you skip after-school study, and a delivery part-time job? You even got a motorcycle license to work part-time? Huh! Are you allowed to do that as you please?”

As she spoke, her pent-up feelings burst out like a dam breaking.

“…I’m sorry. I wanted to help Mom.”

Hyun-joon, who had always felt guilty about deceiving his mother, apologized first.

“Who told you to help Mom? Huh! Haven’t you ever thought that you studying *is* helping Mom? Knowing how hard Mom is working, how can you act so selfishly?”

“…”

“Cha Hyun-joon! Aren’t you going to answer?”

“There’s… there’s no money in our house right now.”

The single sentence that came out of her son’s mouth rang in Lee Soo-jung’s ears like a high-pitched whine and then struck her heart with full force.