Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 398

Hyun-sung was descending the library steps on his way to his room after leaving the study hall when he heard someone call out.

“Hyun-sung!”

Turning around at the sound of someone calling him from behind, he saw Kim Myung-woo, the class representative.

“Oh? What brings you here so late?”

“I was waiting for you.”

“For me? This late?”

It was midnight. Usually, he studied until 4 AM and slept in the study hall, but today he had to go to Seoul tomorrow for the exam the day after. So, he left the study hall earlier than usual.

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be surprised that Kim Myung-woo was waiting for him outside.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“How did you know when I would come out?”

“Since you’re going to Seoul tomorrow for the exam, I figured you’d come out early today. I’m glad you came out sooner than I thought.”

“What? Are you saying you would have kept waiting here even if I came out later?”

Kim Myung-woo smiled and nodded instead of answering.

Then Hyun-sung continued.

“You could have just knocked on the study hall door, right?”

“That would be disturbing. I shouldn’t disturb you if I can’t help you. Don’t you think?”

“Hey, how is that disturbing? It’s just a friend asking to see me for a bit.”

“That’s what you think. We outside don’t think so.”

“We?”

Kim Myung-woo just said ‘we.’ That meant Kim Myung-woo wasn’t alone waiting outside.

Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“What do you mean? We? Are you saying you weren’t alone?”

“Yeah, actually, seven people were waiting, but they left a little while ago because of the last bus.”

“…….”

Hyun-sung was momentarily speechless. He couldn’t see his friends often because he was on leave from school.

Yet, when he passed the first exam last time, many friends came out to congratulate him. And this time, they deliberately came to encourage him to do well on the exam…

Hyun-sung stopped thinking and looked at Kim Myung-woo, saying.

“Thanks. I don’t know what else to say. And please tell my friends thank you tomorrow.”

“Okay, I will. And this.”

Kim Myung-woo held out an envelope to Hyun-sung.

“What’s this?”

“We chipped in a little. It’s not much, but use it for transportation and buy yourself a meal.”

“Ah…….”

Hyun-sung couldn’t bring himself to reach out. He honestly felt bewildered and sorry because it was something he hadn’t expected at all.

“The guys said to do well on the exam. They said to see you once the exam is over.”

“Yeah, let’s do that. Definitely!”

Hyun-sung grabbed Kim Myung-woo’s hand. At this moment, there was no other way to express his gratitude. He just wanted to convey his feelings by holding his hand.

Then, Kim Myung-woo called Hyun-sung’s name seriously.

“Hyun-sung!”

“Huh? Oh, why?”

“If we’re talking about who’s more grateful, we’re more grateful to you. Especially me.”

“Hey, what are you talking about? What did I do?”

“You might not know, but your friends don’t think so. Everyone is grateful to you. Everyone thinks that our class is more united than other departments because of you. Not only that, but our pride is the strongest in our school.”

“Hey, Kim Myung-woo. What are you doing, laying it on so thick in front of me…….”

Hyun-sung couldn’t say any more.

Because the friends who had left earlier to catch the last bus were coming back towards the library.

***

It was when he arrived at his room after parting with his friends.

“Are you just coming now?”

Han Soo-jin, the landlady, greeted Hyun-sung at the gate.

“Were you waiting for me, by any chance?”

“Not really, I just couldn’t sleep…….”

“You’re lying again. Mother, don’t you know? Your eyebrows twitch when you lie.”

“Oh? Hyun-sung knows that?”

“Of course.”

Hyun-sung smiled as he replied.

In fact, it was something Han Soo-jin had said herself in his past life.

It was probably a month before winter vacation in his third year.

One day, Han Soo-jin bought some clothes. It was a down jacket. Back then, Hyun-sung, who was poor, couldn’t even dream of owning such a jacket.

Han Soo-jin handed him the jacket, saying she had received it as a gift but had no one to give it to, so she told him to wear it.

At that time, he didn’t know that Han Soo-jin had a son named Park Min-seok. He didn’t find out until before graduation in his fourth year.

Later, Han Soo-jin said that she had bought the jacket because she was reminded of her son who had passed away in the cold winter. She also said that she strangely twitched her eyebrows when she lied.

Just now, when Han Soo-jin was talking to him, he saw her eyebrows twitching. So, he knew she was lying.

Han Soo-jin smiled and continued.

“Actually, I was waiting to tell you to come over for breakfast tomorrow morning.”

“Breakfast?”

“Yeah, you said you were going to Seoul tomorrow. You said the second exam is the day after tomorrow. I can’t do anything else for you, but I wanted you to have a warm meal before you go.”

A month ago, Han Soo-jin had asked him in passing, and he had mentioned it without thinking. But Han Soo-jin remembered it.

Hyun-sung looked at Han Soo-jin and asked.

“No, it was just something I said, but you remembered it?”

“I can’t forget it. Hyun-sung is my benefactor. My heart still races like this when I think about our Min-seok.”

How could he not know her feelings? It wasn’t just anyone, but her son who had almost been in an accident. He remembered her 모습 [Korean for ‘appearance’ or ‘figure’] from his past life, clutching her chest and weeping for her son.

Hyun-sung knew that in these situations, the best way to help her was to simply do what she wanted with a happy heart.

“Yes, Mother. I’ll come over tomorrow morning. But I eat a lot.”

“Hoho, okay, I understand. I’ll make a lot of rice, so eat a lot and do well on the exam.”

“Yes, I understand. Then I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“And also, Min-seok called earlier and told me to tell you to do well on the exam. He said he’s coming next month and wants to see you then.”

“Yes, please tell him I said thank you too.”

The two exchanged a few more words and parted ways. He later found out that Han Soo-jin had been waiting since 9 PM. She had been waiting outside for almost four hours.

A pleasant smile naturally spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he entered his room.

He never expected his friends to be waiting. Moreover, the moment he saw the friends who had left to catch the last bus returning, it was 감동 [Korean for ‘touching’ or ‘moving’] itself.

They must have 고민 [Korean for ‘worried’ or ‘agonized’] whether to take the last bus or not. Eventually, they chose a friend over the bus and decided to turn back. He could feel that moment’s emotion, so the gratitude felt even greater.

Thud.

He opened his bag and took out an envelope.

It was the envelope he had received from Kim Myung-woo earlier. The money that his classmates had chipped in for him.

52,000 won. All in thousand-won bills. Excluding himself, there were 39 people. Some must have given a thousand won, others two thousand won voluntarily.

“Thank you!”

Not all money is the same.

He didn’t know this feeling before. But thanks to living a little longer, he now knows that the value of this money is more precious than any other money.

Was that why?

He unconsciously held the envelope tightly with both hands.

***

Exam day morning.

Arriving at the main gate of Hanyang University, Hyun-sung couldn’t help but shout.

“Hey!”

His friends, whom he had never expected, were waiting for him at the gate.

Kim Il-soo, Lee Jung-woo, and Lee Soo-hyuk, the three of them were waiting for him.

He embraced them.

Overjoyed, Hyun-sung hugged the three of them at once.

After graduating from high school, he had only talked to them a few times on the phone and had never seen their faces. So, the joy was hard to express in words.

Hyun-sung, pulling away, asked.

“Hey, how did you guys come all the way here…….”

“We had to come because we’re us.”

Kim Il-soo ‘툭’ [Sound of a light tap] Hyun-sung’s shoulder. His face had changed a lot since school days.

But Hyun-sung’s gaze was directed not at Kim Il-soo but at Lee Jung-woo next to him.

“Jung-woo, how’s your leg?”

Of course, he had confirmed that the surgery went well when he visited him in the hospital after the first surgery. But surgery was surgery, and in Jung-woo’s case, rehabilitation was the most important thing.

At the time, the doctor said that he would have to 열심히 [Korean for ‘diligently’ or ‘earnestly’] rehabilitate for at least two years to recover to about 80% of a normal person. Only then would he be able to live his daily life without much inconvenience.

“It’s good. As you can see, it’s much better.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, man. Look.”

탁탁 [Sound of tapping].

Lee Jung-woo alternately tapped the ground with both feet as if to show off. He could definitely feel that his legs were more powerful than before.

Then.

저벅저벅 [Sound of footsteps].

This time, Lee Jung-woo started walking. Lee Jung-woo, who had walked a short distance, was walking back. In the past, his body had to shake severely because of the difference in the length of his two legs whenever he walked.

But it was definitely different now.

His gait was perfect to the point where you wouldn’t know the difference unless you looked closely.

When Lee Jung-woo walked back to him, Hyun-sung hugged him again and said.

“Jung-woo, thank you!”

“If we’re talking about who’s more grateful, I’m more grateful. I was able to have surgery and rehabilitate comfortably with the money you gave me. Hyun-sung, thank you so much!”

“Why are you saying that…… Never mind, I’m just glad it worked out.”

“The doctor said that if I rehabilitate for about six more months, I’ll be almost perfect. He said I might even be able to run then.”

Hyun-sung, 바라보다 [Korean for ‘looking at’] Lee Jung-woo, slightly turned his head. Because he felt like tears would pour out at any moment.

“Don’t even mention it, the doctor said he’s never seen such a tenacious guy before.”

Kim Il-soo, referring to Lee Jung-woo.

Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s rumored in the hospital.”

“Rumored?”

“Yeah, they say this guy is 악바리 [Korean slang for a very tenacious or determined person]. Others make excuses because they don’t want to do it after only a month or two, but he doesn’t miss a day for over a year and fills up his time with exercise.”

Hyun-sung 빙긋 [Korean onomatopoeia for a slight smile] smiled and looked at Lee Jung-woo again.

“Hey, 악바리 [Tenacious one]. Let’s endure for six more months. 응 [Korean for ‘right’? or ‘okay’?]”

“Of course. I’m really going to run in six months.”

Lee Jung-woo 힘을 양손에 줬다 [Korean for ‘put strength into both hands’].

Then Hyun-sung slightly tapped Kim Il-soo’s shoulder and said.

“Thank you. You still 열심히 [Diligently] took care of Jung-woo?”

“Who am I to refuse someone’s command?”

“You did well. By the way, how’s the chef job?”

“Honestly, I thought it would be over once I got my license, but that was just the beginning. Once I actually got into the field, it was a complete war. Especially during lunchtime…….”

Kim Il-soo’s 투정이 이어졌다 [Korean for ‘complaining continued’]. Hyun-sung, 바라보던 그가 끝나자 바로 말을 이었다 [Korean for ‘looking at him, immediately continued speaking when he finished’].

“Suffer for a few more years. I’ll call you when I come back from the military.”

“Okay. I’ll really 열심히 [Diligently] do my best until then.”

“Good, the head chef position is yours until then. Can you do it?”

“Head……chef?”

“Yeah, man. You’re in charge of the Korean food on the second floor. I’ll give you whatever salary you want.”

“…….”

Kim Il-soo 잠시 말없이 Hyun-sung [Korean for ‘was silent for a moment, looking at Hyun-sung’].

Then Hyun-sung 이번에 Lee Soo-hyuk [Korean for ‘this time, turned to Lee Soo-hyuk’].

“How’s Yonsei?”

“It was a bit tough at first, but it’s okay now. It’s definitely different as you said. So I 진짜 열심히 [Korean for ‘really diligently’] even when others were playing.”

“You did well. Effort never betrays you. You have to 찍 [Korean slang for ‘nail it’ or ‘dominate’] once you’re doing it.”

“Me?”

“Of course. Show them that a country bumpkin can do it once he sets his mind to it. What can’t you do if you do it like when we were preparing for the college entrance exam? Since you went to Yonsei, you have to come out on top. Okay?”

Lee Soo-hyuk 대답 대신 고개를 끄덕였다 [Korean for ‘nodded instead of answering’].

Then.

“Hey, take this and go in quickly. It’s almost time for the exam.”

It was Kim Il-soo. What he held out was 도시락 [Korean for ‘lunchbox’].

“Thank you!”

Hyun-sung 웃으며 고개를 끄덕였다 [Korean for ‘smiled and nodded’].

In his past life, he was the one who cheated his friends by selling them jade mats even after graduation. Now, he’s a chef who 직접 싸서 도시락 [Korean for ‘personally packed a lunchbox’].

And Lee Jung-woo, 웃고, 평생을 불편한 몸으로 힘들게 살던 그가 지금은 누구보다도 당당하게 서 있었다 [Korean for ‘smiling, who lived his whole life with an uncomfortable body, is now standing more confidently than anyone else’].

And another person, Lee Soo-hyuk, 재수까지 소식은 들었지만, 그 후론 어떻게 됐는지 모르는 이수혁. 지금은 또 이렇게 당당하게 연대를 다니고 있는 것이다 [Korean for ‘heard the news about retaking the college entrance exam, but didn’t know what happened after that. Now, he is confidently attending Yonsei University’].

Hyun-sung 그들을 보며 말했다 [Korean for ‘said, looking at them’].

“Hey, let’s all 파이팅 [Konglish for ‘fighting,’ meaning ‘good luck’ or ‘do your best’].”

그 말이 떨어지자 네 사람은 약속이라도 한 듯 손을 한곳으로 모았다 [Korean for ‘as soon as those words were spoken, the four people gathered their hands in one place as if they had promised to’].

“하나, 둘 [Korean for ‘one, two’].”

“파이팅!!!! [Fighting!!!!]”

네 사람의 목소리가 크게 한양대 앞에서 울려 퍼지는 순간이었다 [Korean for ‘it was the moment when the voices of the four people echoed loudly in front of Hanyang University’].