Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 175

175

“I don’t know. Do you think she’d actually kill me?”

“Is that confidence, or what?”

“It’s not confidence, it’s that I feel like I’m suffocating if I stay like this. What else can I do?”

“When did it start?”

It wasn’t this bad during the last surgery. That means something must have happened after the surgery.

Lee Soo-hyuk slowly opened his mouth.

“It started slowly about a month after the surgery.”

“What did?”

“She was anxious about me hanging out with my friends. That’s when she added two more hours of tutoring.”

Of course, Hyun-sung already knew that Lee Soo-hyuk was getting tutoring. Lee Soo-hyuk had mentioned his struggles when Hyun-sung visited him in the hospital last time.

Tutoring in the countryside?

It was something others couldn’t even dream of. But anything in excess is too much. As someone watching from the side, Hyun-sung couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

“Two more hours?”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m going crazy. And I guess my brain isn’t wired for studying. No matter how hard I try, it doesn’t work. Sometimes I really want to run away.”

In his past life, Lee Soo-hyuk didn’t get into the university he wanted. Of course, Hyun-sung heard later that he graduated and was retaking the entrance exam, but he never heard that he actually went to university.

Like Lee Soo-hyuk said, maybe studying just isn’t for him. But right now, Hyun-sung can’t say anything to him.

Was that why?

Sigh.

Hyun-sung sighed without realizing it.

Then Lee Soo-hyuk immediately said,

“You sigh just thinking about it, right?”

“Huh? Oh, I didn’t mean to… But have you talked to your mom about this?”

“My mom?”

“Yeah, if you really can’t do it, shouldn’t you say something somehow…?”

He felt like this couldn’t go on. Avoiding it wouldn’t solve anything. Once today is over, he’ll be back in the same situation.

Lee Soo-hyuk won’t be able to escape his mother’s shadow until he graduates, at the very least. No, maybe that period will be much longer than he thinks.

Then Lee Soo-hyuk spoke again.

“No way. You know what my mom is like.”

“Did you even try to bring it up?”

“No. If I did, she’d probably…”

Lee Soo-hyuk couldn’t finish his sentence and shook his head violently, as if in pain.

That’s how much he was suffering.

Hyun-sung didn’t say anything more.

Some time later.

The bus driver’s announcement came on.

“We will soon be arriving at Wonju Terminal…”

They had already arrived in Wonju.

The two got up from their seats and walked to the front.

“Thank you for your service.”

They said their goodbyes and were about to get off the bus.

Lee Soo-hyuk, who was getting off first, stopped right before stepping off the last step.

“Hey, what are you doing? Why aren’t you getting off?”

Hyun-sung urged him from behind, but Lee Soo-hyuk couldn’t get off the bus.

Strange words came out of his mouth.

“Oh, Mom…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t believe it.

When Lee Soo-hyuk said ‘Mom,’ it felt like he was dreaming. It was impossible.

How could Lee Soo-hyuk’s mother, Yoo Soo-min, be here at this time? But the important thing was that there was no time to indulge in such emotions.

The two, who had gotten off the bus, followed Yoo Soo-min like criminals.

After walking for a while, a car with its hazard lights flashing appeared.

“Get in.”

Yoo Soo-min said briefly and got into the passenger seat first.

Then Lee Soo-hyuk opened the back door and got into the car. Hyun-sung quietly followed him.

Lee Man-soo, Lee Soo-hyuk’s father, was in the driver’s seat.

Hyun-sung bowed his head and greeted him.

“Hello.”

“…”

Lee Man-soo only nodded slightly instead of answering.

“Let’s go.”

As Yoo Soo-min said briefly, the car started smoothly.

After driving for a while,

Yoo Soo-min called Lee Soo-hyuk.

“Lee Soo-hyuk.”

“…Yes.”

“Why did you do that?”

“…”

Lee Soo-hyuk didn’t say anything. He just leaned his head back and sighed softly.

Then Lee Man-soo called Hyun-sung.

“Hyun-sung.”

“Yes, Father.”

“What happened?”

“…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t say anything.

What could he say? He couldn’t tell the truth, and he couldn’t say that he had taken the initiative.

That’s when Lee Soo-hyuk interrupted Lee Man-soo.

“I started it first. So don’t say anything to Hyun-sung.”

“What?”

“Hyun-sung didn’t do anything wrong. I said I wasn’t going to school, so Hyun-sung said he would stay with me.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes!”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s voice had strength. It wasn’t the weak appearance he usually had.

Then Yoo Soo-min turned her head and looked at Lee Soo-hyuk.

“Why?”

“…”

“What’s the problem?”

“…”

Lee Soo-hyuk still didn’t say anything.

Yoo Soo-min was frustrated. What was lacking that he wasn’t going to school and causing this trouble?

When she received a call from the homeroom teacher in the morning, she felt like the world was collapsing. As soon as she received the call, she called her husband, Lee Man-soo, and the two decided to meet at the terminal.

The conclusion the two reached after checking the bus schedule was the Wonju bus.

It was a deduction that was possible because there was only one bus to Wonju at that time. Fortunately, the deduction was correct.

He wasn’t one of many children, but an only son. That’s why she couldn’t help but pay more attention to him than others. Eating and clothing were basic, and she made sure he had tutoring.

In fact, she wanted to send him to a high school in Seoul, not the countryside, but he refused to go to Seoul no matter what, so she had no choice but to let him attend school in the countryside. Instead, she made up for the shortcomings with tutoring.

The change started after he had appendicitis surgery last time.

For some reason, he suddenly started wasting time making friends he hadn’t made before. So she had no choice but to add two more hours of tutoring.

She thought it would be a little difficult, but nothing would happen. She thought she could endure it for just one more year.

But today, the accident finally happened.

Only the sound of the four people’s breathing was heard in the car.

Hyun-sung could understand what Lee Soo-hyuk meant by suffocating.

‘This isn’t right.’

Hyun-sung shook his head from side to side.

Lee Soo-hyuk was smiling brightly just a little while ago, saying he was going to the roller rink. His smiling face was still vivid in his mind.

But what about Lee Soo-hyuk’s expression now?

Lee Soo-hyuk was closing his eyes as if he had given up on everything.

A state of not seeing the future.

If he stayed still like this, everything would go back to square one.

Lee Soo-hyuk had clearly said it.

– He was suffocating.

Maybe he needed an escape for a while. He couldn’t send him back to that suffocating place like this.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Man-soo.

“Father!”

“Huh? Why? Do you have something to say?”

That’s when Yoo Soo-min, who was sitting in the passenger seat, said,

“Let’s just go!”

“…”

Lee Man-soo couldn’t say anything and just held the steering wheel.

Hyun-sung looked at Yoo Soo-min this time and said,

“Mother, this isn’t right. Let’s go somewhere and talk.”

“Talk? What talk? Can’t you see that I’m holding back? Okay, fine, say what you want to say here. What is it?”

“Yes?”

Hyun-sung was surprised.

It wasn’t an attitude of wanting to talk at all. It was just Yoo Soo-min venting her emotions.

That’s when Lee Soo-hyuk gently pulled Hyun-sung’s arm.

When Hyun-sung looked at him, Lee Soo-hyuk shook his head from side to side with his mouth closed.

He was telling him to stop.

Lee Soo-hyuk already knew.

That it was useless.

But Hyun-sung couldn’t give up. He didn’t want to send Lee Soo-hyuk back to that place without saying a word.

Hyun-sung looked at Yoo Soo-min again and said,

“Mother, Soo-hyuk is suffocating. So please listen to Soo-hyuk.”

“Soo-hyuk said that, that he’s suffocating?”

“Yes, that’s right. So let’s listen to Soo-hyuk.”

“That’s enough. He’s just spoiled…”

“Mother!”

“Student, stop now. I’ll take care of my son’s problems, so you just focus on selling ramen.”

Yoo Soo-min, having caught her breath, spoke again.

“Since we’re on the topic, you’re not doing the right thing either.”

“Yes?”

“If our Soo-hyuk said he wasn’t going to school, you should have persuaded him to go to school. What is this?”

“…”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say. He really didn’t expect Yoo Soo-min to say that.

When Hyun-sung didn’t say anything, Yoo Soo-min spoke again.

“And don’t hang out with our Soo-hyuk anymore. Keep my words in mind.”

“Oh, Mother…”

“And don’t call me Mother either. It’s very uncomfortable to hear. Of course, I’m grateful for what happened last time. But I hope you’ll keep a certain distance from our Soo-hyuk from now on. I’m going to do whatever it takes to send our Soo-hyuk to the university he wants.”

The moment Yoo Soo-min finished speaking.

Lee Soo-hyuk started covering his head with both hands.

Then he screamed.

“Aaaaaah… Stop!”

Screech!

Surprised, Lee Man-soo slammed on the brakes and stopped the car.

“What’s wrong, Soo-hyuk?”

“Soo-hyuk!”

Lee Man-soo and Yoo Soo-min called Lee Soo-hyuk almost simultaneously.

“…”

Silence flowed in the car for a moment.

Yoo Soo-min called Lee Soo-hyuk again in a loud voice.

“Soo-hyuk, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, Mom. Please, please stop. That studying, studying… What is it that makes people suffer like this?”

“Soo, Soo-hyuk…”

“And what did Hyun-sung do wrong that you’re yelling at him? Hyun-sung is the only friend who skipped school and stayed with me today because of me.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s voice was close to a scream.

Silence flowed in the car again.

After a while.

Yoo Soo-min looked at Lee Man-soo and said,

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you going? He’ll be late for school.”

“Oh, I understand…”

Lee Man-soo barely answered and was about to start again.

That’s when.

Click.

The back door opened and Lee Soo-hyuk ran out.

It happened in an instant.

“Soo-hyuk!”

Hyun-sung reached out to grab Lee Soo-hyuk, but it was already too late.

Hyun-sung quickly got out of the car.

Lee Soo-hyuk, who had entered the road, was walking with his arms outstretched.

Honk honk.

The passing cars were honking loudly and swerving over the center line to avoid Lee Soo-hyuk. Fortunately, there were no cars in the opposite lane. If there had been a car in the opposite lane, the accident would have been unavoidable.

Hyun-sung had no more time to hesitate.

“Soo-hyuk!”

Hyun-sung jumped into the road towards Lee Soo-hyuk. Fortunately, Lee Soo-hyuk was walking, so he was able to get close to Lee Soo-hyuk quickly.

Without thinking, he hugged Lee Soo-hyuk from behind and took him to the sidewalk.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Leave me alone. I’d rather die like this.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Did you see? Even in this situation, my mom is rushing because she’s afraid of being late for afternoon classes. That’s my mom.”

Tears were flowing from Lee Soo-hyuk’s eyes.

That’s when Lee Man-soo and Yoo Soo-min ran over belatedly.

Yoo Soo-min grabbed Lee Soo-hyuk and said,

“Why are you doing this?”

“Why am I doing this? A person has to be able to live. I’m suffocating, but Mom only tells me to study.”

“You’ve been doing well so far. Just bear it for one more year. Let’s just bear it until then. Okay?”

“Mom is always like that. I feel like I’m going to die right now, but just one more year, just one more year… Are you saying that again? I’m having a hard time right now, I feel like I’m going to suffocate right now. So please…”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s voice was more desperate than ever.

“Okay. Okay, so let’s go to school first today. And let’s talk about it again later.”

“Is school important to Mom even at this moment?”

“It’s not that it’s important, but we have to avoid being absent, right? No unexcused absences.”

“Ha! Unexcused absence…”

Lee Soo-hyuk sighed.

Then he continued.

“Okay, let’s go to school. I guess I have to go to school and die. Let’s go, I have to go, I’ll go.”

With those words, Lee Soo-hyuk started walking towards the car.

The four got into the car.

No one spoke first.

Then Yoo Soo-min said,

“Honey, what are you doing? Hurry up and leave. The lunch break will be over soon.”

“Oh, I understand. Fasten your seatbelts…”

Lee Man-soo glanced at the back through the rearview mirror and started the car. The car, which had left Hoengseong, started driving towards Seomyeon at a high speed.

As the car was almost arriving at school, Hyun-sung said,

“Please stop here for a moment.”

“Why?”

“Soo-hyuk’s bag is at the ramen shop.”

“Hurry back.”

As Hyun-sung entered the store, Shin Myung-soon was surprised and asked him all sorts of questions, but he couldn’t answer all of them. He answered roughly and quickly left the store and got back into the car.

The four arrived at school.

Yoo Soo-min got out first, followed by Hyun-sung. And Lee Soo-hyuk got out of the car last.

“Let’s go.”

Yoo Soo-min said, taking the lead.

Then Lee Soo-hyuk immediately said,

“Why are you, Mom?”

“Why? I have to see the homeroom teacher and talk to him.”

“No, just go. I’ll take care of it.”

“No. Mom has to go. Hurry up and follow me.”

With those words, Yoo Soo-min started walking ahead.

Then Lee Soo-hyuk sighed deeply and started following Yoo Soo-min.

Tch.

Hyun-sung, who clicked his tongue, also started walking behind Lee Soo-hyuk.

This was the moment when Lee Soo-hyuk’s rebellion came to an end. No, that’s what they thought. No one knew that something bigger was waiting for them.

After stopping by the faculty office to see homeroom teacher Shin Min-ho, Hyun-sung and Lee Soo-hyuk headed straight to the classroom. There were less than five minutes left before the fifth period started, so they decided to talk about the rest after class.

Of course, Yoo Soo-min remained alone in the faculty office.

The two arrived at the classroom and changed into their gym clothes. The fifth period was gym class.

But there was a problem.

His stomach started to hurt because of the milk he had drunk earlier.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Soo-hyuk and said,

“Soo-hyuk, I’m going to the bathroom first, so go straight to the playground.”

“Huh? O, okay. And thank you for today. And…”

“And what?”

“No, nothing…”

He seemed to have something to say, but Hyun-sung couldn’t hold it in any longer, so he ran out of the classroom.

Lee Soo-hyuk was left alone.

After thinking about something for a moment, Lee Soo-hyuk looked at Hyun-sung’s seat and turned around. Lee Soo-hyuk, who had left the classroom, started going up to the third floor instead of the first floor.