Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 81

Lee Soo-hyuk cut Hyun-sung off mid-sentence.

“I thought about it then.”

“You heard me even in that pain? And you thought about it too? That doesn’t make sense.”

Logically, it didn’t make any sense.

His appendix was about to burst if it was just a little later. It was amazing that he could hear someone’s words in that painful situation, but to think about it was incomprehensible.

Lee Soo-hyuk continued.

“I was amazed too. My stomach hurt so much, but I could hear everything you said.”

“You too… Anyway, what did you think about?”

After a moment of silence, Lee Soo-hyuk slowly opened his mouth.

“I decided that if I could get out of the hospital safely, I wouldn’t live like I do now.”

Hyun-sung was surprised by Lee Soo-hyuk’s answer.

It was because words he had never expected came out of Lee Soo-hyuk’s mouth.

‘Not live like now…’

Hyun-sung was curious about what Lee Soo-hyuk would say next.

“What do you mean?”

“I thought everything my mom said was right until now.”

Lee Soo-hyuk was only saying strange things.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“What did your mother say?”

“She told me to make friends when I go to college. She said that high school friends are useless anyway.”

“Your mother said that?”

“Yeah.”

“…”

It was a moment when he became curious about what was in Lee Soo-hyuk’s mother’s head.

When Hyun-sung was silent for a moment, Lee Soo-hyuk continued.

“But I know for sure now that that’s wrong.”

“Because of this incident?”

“Of course, honestly, there’s that aspect too, but it’s not just that.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s answer was unexpected.

Hyun-sung thought that he would have thought that way because he was able to have surgery safely with the help of his friends this time.

But different words came out of Lee Soo-hyuk’s mouth.

“It was actually from that day.”

“That day?”

“The day you beat up Kim Il-soo.”

“Huh! What…?”

Hyun-sung was dumbfounded by Lee Soo-hyuk’s unexpected words.

It was something he had never thought of.

That day is a special day for Hyun-sung if he gives it meaning. It was the day he first stood up against Kim Il-soo, who was bullying him, Lee Jung-woo, and the weak classmates.

A turning point.

In a way, that day was a special day that Hyun-sung could not forget.

Even if that’s the case for Hyun-sung, why did Lee Soo-hyuk say that day?

Hyun-sung asked again.

“Why that day?”

“I saw Lee Jung-woo’s 모습 [mosup – appearance/figure].”

“…?”

What is this again?

Even if he didn’t know, most of the attention would have been on Hyun-sung himself. But Lee Soo-hyuk was looking at Lee Jung-woo, not Hyun-sung.

It was natural to wonder why.

As Hyun-sung looked at him, Lee Soo-hyuk spoke again.

“Other friends were all looking at you, but I was watching Lee Jung-woo looking at you.”

“…?”

“That 모습 [mosup – appearance/figure] is still vivid in my eyes.”

‘What is this guy?’

Hyun-sung’s head turned automatically.

He couldn’t help but think that he was a guy whose thoughts he couldn’t understand.

Hyun-sung asked immediately.

“So?”

“He was crying.”

“…”

“Tears were flowing from Jung-woo’s eyes as he looked at you.”

“…!”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to shut his mouth.

It was a fact he didn’t know. It was a part that he had never thought Lee Jung-woo would do.

After thinking for a moment, Lee Soo-hyuk opened his mouth again.

“It was from that day. Actually, I thought my mom was right too. I thought I could make as many friends as I wanted when I went to college.”

“…”

“But seeing you rushing in for your friend, and seeing Jung-woo crying as he looked at you…”

Lee Soo-hyuk wiped his eyes with his hand and continued.

“I didn’t think this was right. I couldn’t get the thought out of my head that my mom’s words and my thoughts might be wrong. And then this happened.”

“…”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say.

Then, Lee Soo-hyuk spoke again.

“I’m not going to do stupid things anymore. I’ve already told my mom.”

“To your mother?”

“Yeah, I’m going to live the way I want from now on.”

“It’s going to be difficult for your mother to accept…”

That’s obvious.

It’s Yoo Soo-min who said that college comes before friends. He doesn’t think that she will easily accept it just because Lee Soo-hyuk says that.

It would be even stranger if she accepted it easily.

Even more, it’s almost the third year of high school [senior year].

Lee Soo-hyuk, who can’t not know that.

But the fact that he told his mother, Yoo Soo-min, means that he is already prepared.

Then, Lee Soo-hyuk said with strength in his voice.

“It’s my responsibility now. It’s going to be hard for each other for a while, but we have to overcome it. High school days don’t come back; it’s only once. Isn’t that right?”

“Huh? That…, that’s right.”

It was a difficult question for Hyun-sung, who was experiencing it twice.

Lee Soo-hyuk said again.

“Watch over me. I can’t do well from the beginning, but I’ll try from now on. And cheer me on.”

“You, I thought you were only good at studying, but you’re even better at talking. Okay. I’ll watch.”

“I’m not going to give up either studying or friends…”

Then something flashed through Hyun-sung’s mind.

‘Huh?’

Come to think of it, this guy can’t go to college.

A frog in a well, exactly that specimen [a person with a limited outlook].

I heard that he would retake the exam later, but I haven’t heard from him since.

He was a guy who couldn’t go to college even if he only studied, but now he’s going to find friends. I don’t know what the result of the choice will be, but he’s a guy I’m looking forward to in the future.

That’s how Lee Soo-hyuk’s visit ended.

What still remains a question is that there is a time difference of more than a month compared to the previous life. In his previous life, Lee Soo-hyuk collapsed during the midterm exam period.

Of course, he had no choice but to ruin the midterm exam.

Fortunately, that won’t happen this time.

“Then that’s it.”

Hyun-sung decided to take comfort in the fact that the time difference compared to his previous life was 불안 [buan – anxiety/unease], but the result was rather good.

***

Hyun-sung headed to the principal’s office.

When he arrived at the principal’s office, Lee Soo-hyuk’s father, Lee Man-soo, greeted Hyun-sung.

“Hyun-sung, welcome.”

“Yes, hello, sir.”

“I’m late to 인사 [insa – greetings/formalities]. I was really grateful that day. Thanks to you, our Soo-hyuk had a successful surgery, and they said he can be discharged the day after tomorrow. It’s all thanks to you.”

“You’re welcome. Aren’t we friends?”

Hyun-sung replied as if it was nothing.

Then Lee Man-soo smiled and said to Hyun-sung again.

“That’s just what you think, and from our point of view, we couldn’t be more grateful. Originally, 호의 [ho-ui – goodwill/favor] is what the receiver feels.”

“Ah, yes…”

Considering the characteristics of the word 호의 [ho-ui – goodwill/favor] itself, Lee Man-soo’s words were not wrong, so Hyun-sung did not show any other reaction.

Then Lee Man-soo carefully said again.

“So…, if it’s not rude, I’d like to express my gratitude in some way. Would that be okay?”

It is said that if you see one thing, you know ten [a proverb meaning someone is insightful].

Lee Man-soo asks for the other person’s opinion first, even while expressing his gratitude. Lee Man-soo was showing that he was more than basic with just one word.

At Lee Man-soo’s words, Hyun-sung said with a serious face.

“사례 [sarye – reward/compensation]? I don’t think I’ve done anything big enough to receive 사례 [sarye – reward/compensation]. I just did what a friend should do, so you don’t have to worry about it. And I’m just grateful for these words.”

That was true.

He just acted that way because of the memories of his previous life.

In his previous life, Hyun-sung couldn’t do anything and just watched Lee Soo-hyuk’s pain.

But that wasn’t the case from Lee Man-soo’s point of view.

“That’s not true. It was a very big deal for us.”

Lee Man-soo still felt dizzy when he thought about the first time he received the phone call.

He only has one child.

A being that wouldn’t hurt even if he put it in his eyes [a very precious person]. But what parent wouldn’t be surprised when their child suddenly collapsed?

Fortunately, he was able to have surgery safely with Hyun-sung’s help. Furthermore, in the case of acute appendicitis, how quickly the surgery is performed is key.

If time is delayed even a little, the appendix can burst. If that happens, the problem is peritonitis [inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity].

If the symptoms are not severe and the vital signs are stable, it can be improved by administering fluids and antibiotics, but that is not always the case.

Depending on the case, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, sepsis [blood poisoning], shock, and acute renal failure may occur. In some cases, life may be in danger if it progresses rapidly.

The doctor also said that it would have been dangerous if it had been a little later.

Lee Man-soo looked at Hyun-sung and said again.

“Don’t do that and think about me too.”

“I think I’ve already received enough 사례 [sarye – reward/compensation].”

“What are you talking about? I haven’t done anything…”

“You said thank you to me. Then that’s it. And above all, I’m most happy that Soo-hyuk’s surgery went well. Then that’s it. Isn’t that right?”

Then Principal Park Sang-hyun, who was watching the two, stepped forward.

“허허 [Heoheo – an interjection similar to ‘well, well’], what did I say? Didn’t I say that our Hyun-sung is not ordinary?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I really didn’t know there was such a great student.”

The two were painting gold on Hyun-sung’s face [praising him excessively].

The atmosphere was like that, and Hyun-sung thought it would be uncomfortable to stay any longer, so he thought he should leave.

“Then please continue your conversation. I think my business is over, so I’ll be on my way.”

As Hyun-sung tried to get up from his seat, Lee Man-soo grabbed Hyun-sung.

“No, wait a minute, I can’t just let you go like this.”

“Is there anything else you want to say…?”

When Hyun-sung asked again, Lee Man-soo looked at Principal Park Sang-hyun.

“Principal, isn’t there any good way?”

“허허 [Heoheo – an interjection similar to ‘well, well’], well.”

“Something that won’t burden the student…”

Principal Park Sang-hyun thought for a moment, then looked at Hyun-sung and Lee Man-soo alternately before continuing.

“In my opinion, how about having a meal together? I think there’s nothing better than a meal to express gratitude. And I don’t think it will be a big burden for Hyun-sung.”

“A meal? That’s a great idea. How about it? Hyun-sung?”

“Well, do we really have to go that far…?”

It was still an unappealing offer.

However, he thought that it was not right to ignore him outright when he was asking several times.

‘Wait a minute!’

Hyun-sung remembered what Lee Soo-hyuk had said in the hospital.