Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 217

217

“I’ve gained confidence.”

“Confidence?”

“Actually, most of the Jandi Faction kids didn’t care much about studying. But after successfully taking the midterm exams last time, their perspectives have changed.”

“That much?”

Hyunseong was a little doubtful.

Of course, it was true that their grades had improved slightly. But he didn’t think the atmosphere of the entire Jandi Fandi Faction would change so drastically just because of a small improvement in grades.

Even if it did change, he thought it would only be temporary.

Han Myeong-soo continued.

“That’s not all.”

“What else is there?”

“It’s pride. They have a sense of dignity they didn’t have before.”

“Confidence and pride…”

“Yes, that’s why our kids are enjoying life these days. So, how can I disband our Jandi Faction?”

Han Myeong-soo’s voice was full of conviction.

That meant he had a lot of affection for the Jandi Faction.

Hyunseong asked quietly.

“Is that because of my help?”

“Yes, that’s right. If you, Senior, hadn’t set those conditions back then, our group would still be a delinquent circle.”

“Hmm…”

Hyunseong had nothing to say.

The original purpose wasn’t that. He just wanted to get away from the Jandi Faction, so he set unreasonable conditions, knowing they were absurd.

He thought they would give up. But they invested a month and a half to meet those absurd conditions.

And finally, they met 80% of the conditions.

It didn’t end there.

Although they didn’t meet 100% of the conditions Hyunseong had requested, they achieved *seika* [成果 – results] in their own way.

Confidence and pride.

Hyunseong looked at Han Myeong-soo and asked again.

“So, you’re saying you can’t disband the Jandi Faction now?”

“Yes, that’s right. To be more precise, I don’t think we *should* disband it.”

“That means the value of the Jandi Faction has changed that much?”

Han Myeong-soo nodded and continued.

“That’s right. In the past, it wasn’t worth much, but now it’s different. As I said before, we’ve started not only studying but also *bongsa* [봉사 – volunteer] activities.”

“So, you’re going to keep the Jandi Faction going after all?”

“Yes, there is no change in that thought. But a problem has arisen.”

“You mean you can’t let go of the Jandi Faction in your heart, like you said earlier?”

“Yes, that’s right. I know I have to hand it over to the juniors now, but I keep getting greedy. So, it’s painful.”

Han Myeong-soo covered his head with both hands.

Looking at him, Hyunseong shook his head slowly from side to side.

“That’s called obsession.”

“I guess so?”

“It doesn’t help you at all. The more you do that, the harder it will be for you.”

“…Yes, I know, but I can’t help it.”

Han Myeong-soo still had a painful expression.

Then Hyunseong said.

“Believe.”

“Yes?”

“Believe in your juniors. You don’t trust your juniors right now, do you? That’s why you’re *buan* [불안 – anxious], right? Isn’t that so?”

“So, you’re saying that I can’t let go of this *jipchak* [집착 – attachment] because I don’t trust my juniors?”

Han Myeong-soo looked at Hyunseong and asked with a serious expression.

Then Hyunseong nodded and continued.

“That’s how I see it.”

“So, it’s a matter of *mideum* [믿음 – trust] after all?”

“That’s right. If you trust your juniors, you won’t have any regrets or *jipchak* like you do now.”

“Ah, yes…”

Han Myeong-soo’s expression seemed a little better than before.

Confirming that, Hyunseong raised his index finger and continued.

“And one more thing.”

“Yes? What else is there?”

“Get rid of the thought that it won’t work without you. You’ll realize later how foolish that *chakgak* [착각 – delusion] was.”

“Yes? *Chakgak*…”

Han Myeong-soo felt like he had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer.

To be honest, what he had been most anxious about so far was how long the Jandi Faction would last after it left his hands.

Will it last even half a year?

Was he anxious that they might cause an accident again like before? Everything made him anxious.

Perhaps he hadn’t been able to trust his juniors so far because of this feeling. But Hyunseong was now saying that it’s a *chakgak*.

Han Myeong-soo was silent for a while, thinking about something.

Only for a moment.

“*Seonbaenim* [선배님 – Senior].”

Han Myeong-soo called Hyunseong in a low voice.

“Yeah, tell me.”

“Do you really think they can do well without me?”

“Of course. From now on, what you have to do is to vacate your *jari* [자리 – position] for your juniors during the remaining period. Then they will fill all the *binjari* [빈자리 – empty spaces] on their own.”

“…”

Han Myeong-soo nodded slowly instead of answering.

Looking at Han Myeong-soo, Hyunseong said again.

“It’s going to be a little hard at first. But if a person doesn’t know when to *mulleona* [물러나 – step down], there’s nothing as *chuhan* [추한 – ugly] as that. Keep my words in mind.”

“…Yes, *seonbaenim*.”

“That problem is solved that way, and you said there was another problem earlier, right?”

“Yes, there is. But that’s…”

Han Myeong-soo cut off his words in the middle.

Then Hyunseong *piseuk* [피식 – chuckled] and asked.

“What is it? Why are you stopping in the middle of your words?”

“That’s…, I have a lot of *gomin* [고민 – worries]. So, I don’t know what to say first.”

“What? Did you set a *nal* [날 – day] today?”

“To be honest, I have nowhere to ask except *seonbaenim*. So, I deliberately made time today. So, please take some time today, even if it’s *gwichan* [귀찮 – bothersome].”

Han Myeong-soo glanced at Hyunseong’s face and smiled.

Then Hyunseong also *binggeut* [빙긋 – smiled gently] smiled.

It’s a connection (*inyeon* [인연]) that he never knew in his *jeonsaeng* [전생 – previous life]. It was amazing that the two of them had become so close.

Hyunseong said.

“I don’t know if I’ll be helpful, but let’s solve only one thing today. I have to go somewhere in a little while.”

“Yes, I understand. Then, I’ll ask you about my most important *mirae* [미래 – future] first.”

“Is it a *jinro* [진로 – career path] problem?”

“Well, you can say that. To be honest, I don’t know what to do.”

Han Myeong-soo sighed as he said this.

Then Hyunseong asked again.

“What don’t you know? Explain it specifically.”

“At this point, I can’t even find meaning in going to high school.”

“What are you talking about?”

Hyunseong couldn’t understand.

Han Myeong-soo’s words followed immediately.

“Since I can’t go to college anyway, I don’t see what difference it makes whether I’m a high school graduate or a middle school graduate.”

“Where did you hear that? Is high school a place to go only for college?”

“Isn’t that the truth? Why go to high school if you’re not going to college?”

Hyunseong was *eoiga eopseotda* [어이가 없었다 – dumbfounded]. He couldn’t understand why Han Myeong-soo was thinking that way.

“Han Myeong-soo, let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes.”

“How much do you think the college entrance rate of Seomyeong High School is right now?”

“Well, I don’t know that well.”

“At best, it’s only 3%, including vocational colleges.”

Han Myeong-soo looked at Hyunseong as if he was surprised.

“Is it only that much?”

“It’s the reality of this *sigol* [시골 – rural] school that can’t be helped.”

“That’s serious.”

“That’s right, it’s our *moseup* [모습 – reality] that we don’t want to admit but have to admit. My head hurts just thinking about that.”

Hyunseong’s expression darkened.

Then Han Myeong-soo continued.

“That’s why I’m wondering if I really need to go to high school. I’m saying it would be better to get a job early.”

“Did you say get a job now?”

“Yes, I think it’s better to go out into society quickly without wasting time.”

“If you go out into society at that age, who do you think will say ‘Welcome’?”

“Still, if I go out…”

Han Myeong-soo’s *gojip* [고집 – stubbornness] was still there.

Then Hyunseong said.

“There are people who are *himdeul* [힘들 – struggling] because they have nowhere to go even after graduating from high school, do you think there will be anywhere to go after graduating from middle school?”

“I think it’s better to earn time, even if it’s just time.”

“What are you going to do with that time?”

“Still…”

“Han Myeong-soo, don’t keep thinking strange things. And our *inseng* [인생 – life] is longer than you think. What meaning will it have later if you go out into society 3 years earlier?”

“Is it really not?”

Han Myeong-soo still didn’t seem to want to admit it.

Hyunseong said again.

“If you definitely say you’re going somewhere, I won’t stop you either. But you’re not saying that, you’re just vaguely saying that you’re not going to high school.”

“Of course, I haven’t decided for sure, but that’s what I’m thinking.”

“Our *inseng* doesn’t have practice. It would be nice to try this and that like you said, but we can’t. That’s why we call our *inseng* a series of choices. Of course, you are responsible for that choice.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Of course, it’s good to *gomin*, but I don’t think you should *gomin* about high school itself. I think it’s right to go to high school first. What do you think about *gomin*-ing even if you go to high school?”

Han Myeong-soo seemed to be *gomin*-ing for a while.

Only for a moment.

“*Seonbaenim*, you’re saying it’s right to go to high school first, right?”

“I think that’s the minimum starting line. Again, I think it’s right to graduate from high school and go out into society. No matter how I think about it, middle school graduation is not the answer. And the important thing is that it’s already too late when you regret it later.”

“I guess so?”

Han Myeong-soo nodded.

Then Hyunseong said again.

“And I’m curious, have you given up on studying?”

“I did improve on this midterm exam, but no matter how hard I try, I don’t think I can go to college.”

“You crazy bastard.”

“Yes?”

“What did you say a few days ago? You clearly said you gained confidence. But have you changed your *maeum* [마음 – mind] already?”

Han Myeong-soo scratched his head.

“That’s…, I was like that then, but no matter how I think about it, I don’t think I can go to college.”

“So, you’re saying you’re going to give up studying?”

“It’s not giving up, it’s reality…”

“Hey, were you only this much of a guy from the beginning?”

“…”

Han Myeong-soo was silent.

Then Hyunseong’s words continued.

“What grade are you in now?”

“Middle school 3rd grade.”

“Yeah, you’re only in middle school 3rd grade, and you’re already giving up?”

“Studying and I don’t seem to match…”

“Huh…, studying doesn’t match?”

Hyunseong was *hwangdanghan* [황당한 – absurd]. No matter how he thought about it, this was not it. He’s only in middle school 3rd grade. Does it make sense for such a guy to give up because studying doesn’t match him?

Hyunseong looked at Han Myeong-soo and said.

“Hey, do you know what it means to give up studying now?”

“Yes? That’s…”

“You’re giving up your *inseng*, you idiot.”

“*Inseng*?”

“Yeah, you idiot. It’s not just a matter of studying. You’re only 16 years old, do you want to give up your *inseng* already?”

“…”

Han Myeong-soo couldn’t answer.

Hyunseong’s words continued.

“You’re giving up your *inseng* at 16, isn’t this not it?”

“It’s a little scary when you say that.”

“Do you realize what choice you’ve made now? You’re not just giving up one study, you’re giving up your *inseng* itself. Do you know what I mean?”

“That’s…”

Han Myeong-soo couldn’t answer.

Looking at Han Myeong-soo, Hyunseong said.

“Han Myeong-soo, it’s not yet. No matter how I think about it, this is not it.”

“I guess…”

“You said that last time. You said you gained confidence. You’re starting over with that confidence. How about it?”

“Can I do it?”

“Believe in yourself. And believe in me. I’ll help you.”

“Really?”

Hyunseong nodded slowly.

Then Han Myeong-soo’s eyes began to shine.

It was the moment when another person’s *mirae* changed.