The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 37

One day, nearing July.

They had a training camp in Gongju with athletes from other regions of the province.

“Yes, I’m doing well. Training is just the usual.”

In Gongju, Jinhyuk called home every morning and evening. Hearing the voices of his dad, mom, and younger sister Yujin was a joy he couldn’t miss a single day.

On the other hand, training wasn’t enjoyable.

To be precise, it was disappointing.

“Hey! Jang Pil-won! Are you not paying attention to your ankles and toes? Get down, you bastard!”

The head coach, Lee Ju-geun, was the track and field coach from another elementary school in the city. He wasn’t interested in the children’s character development, only in producing results. If anything was slightly off, he would curse and hit them.

‘I miss Mr. Kim Young-tae.’

Jinhyuk enjoyed running, but the training camp with Lee Ju-geun made him furious. He also felt skeptical about the training camp because they had been notified that the 400-meter relay team for the upcoming competition would be from another school’s track and field team. It was a school that had been eliminated in the semi-finals of the provincial competition, and no one explained why that decision was made.

‘Was the school’s name Daesung?’

They were just training together as short-distance runners, as they were all competing as one team representing Chungnam, and there was no other reason. Every evening, Lee Ju-geun would drive out and return in the early hours of the morning, smelling of alcohol.

‘What kind of teacher is that…’

If he was behaving like this during a training camp with students from other regions, he must be even worse normally. The thought that his hitting, irresponsible departures, and drunk driving would be even worse on a regular basis made Jinhyuk feel sick.

‘I want to hit him.’

He had heard that this was the last time they would select provincial representatives for the competition. From next year, schools would participate in national competitions, but as Jinhyuk wouldn’t be competing next year, it was of no interest to him.

“Hey, you bastard! Why are you lifting your chin up!”

“You son of a bitch!”

“Ugh, that moron!”

Except for Jinhyuk, the other athletes were students coached by Lee Ju-geun. They were athletes in various events such as high jump and 800m. Lee Ju-geun would curse at the children as a matter of course and frequently slap them. It seemed like it was something the children, who had been doing sports since they were young, were used to, as they didn’t even look upset.

‘If he lays a hand on me, I won’t let it slide.’

I’ll tell my dad. Jinhyuk muttered, watching from afar.

In fact, Lee Ju-geun didn’t even glance at Jinhyuk.

It was probably because Jinhyuk wasn’t his student, no matter how well he did. Jinhyuk stretched alone, did his warm-up runs alone, and didn’t even expect to have his records measured. Lee Ju-geun’s attention was only on the athletes he usually coached.

“It’s probably because you’re so good,” said Kim Hee-nam, the 100m representative, to Jinhyuk as they lay in bed. Kim Hee-nam’s cheek was still swollen from where he had been hit during the evening training.

Jinhyuk just nodded without replying, as he felt uncomfortable looking at the boy’s swollen face.

‘Should I teach that coach a lesson?’

Even when Jinhyuk was an adult, school sports violence was an issue, but coming back to the past, the reality was even more terrible. He wondered if the children who trained while being beaten like this would naturally accept violence and repeat the bad habits after becoming seniors or coaches.

‘Even if I report it to the press, they probably wouldn’t cover it.’

He knew the media’s power to control issues, but he didn’t know how the adults of this era would react to the rampant violence in school sports. It was frustrating that even after coming to the past, he didn’t know anything. He felt suffocated and sighed.

“Hee-nam, Jung Hyun-woo, Jang Pil-won.”

When Jinhyuk, who hadn’t spoken much for two days, called their names, the children just looked up at him. It was like butterflies trying to emerge from their cocoons, only sticking their heads out to peek at the outside world.

Jinhyuk asked the children.

“Are you going to keep doing sports?”

“Yeah. I’m going to go to a sports university.”

“I’m going to switch to baseball. I’m going to go to a school with a baseball team.”

“I’m going to play soccer.”

Okay.

Jinhyuk held back from calling the children’s homes. It was a time when not all parents would question their children being hit by teachers at school. And if they wanted to continue doing sports, what was the point of upsetting their parents?

‘I should just live selfishly too.’

In his previous life, Jinhyuk went to school with a bruised and cut face. Some teachers and friends were curious, but it was only to satisfy their curiosity, and no one cared about the pain Jinhyuk was going through.

Jinhyuk covered his head with the blanket and closed his eyes.

He was going to Daegu tomorrow.

***

The public phone booths near the competition venue were extremely popular.

He had to wait a long time before he could put in a coin.

“Mom, I arrived in Daegu safely. I have the 100-meter and long jump preliminaries today, and the 200-meter is tomorrow.”

– Did you get motion sickness?

“No, I’m fine.”

– Did you meet your dad?

“Is Dad coming to Daegu?”

– He left six hours ago.

Jinhyuk’s heart sank.

Six hours and he still hadn’t arrived? That meant he had left in the early morning! What if there was an accident? No matter how hard he tried to shake it off, he couldn’t help but be filled with ominous thoughts.

“Hey, let’s go in.”

Lee Ju-geun urged him in a curt tone, so he couldn’t wait for his dad, who might not come.

Feeling uneasy, Jinhyuk was lingering for a moment when he met some familiar faces. People he was more than happy to see.

“Mr. Kim?”

“How’s your condition, Jinhyuk?”

It was Mr. Kim Young-tae, Park Ji-beom, and Yeom Byung-taek.

They said it was common for them to attend national competitions to gain experience. Jinhyuk said his condition was fine and asked, as he had more important business than his own condition.

“How long did it take you to get here?”

“Us? It took almost six hours.”

Only then did Jinhyuk feel a little relieved.

It was a time when road conditions weren’t good. It made sense that it would take that long to get from home to Daegu. Still, he felt like he wouldn’t be at ease until he saw his dad’s face.

“We met Jinhyuk’s dad at the rest stop. He even bought us udon.”

Thank you for letting me know, Yeom Byung-taek.

Jinhyuk entered the stadium with lighter steps.

‘If I have to be with a teacher like Lee Ju-geun, this will be my last time doing track and field.’

So what if he didn’t do track and field?

He had decided to live an ordinary life, and his father was rich.

*

The wind was blowing strongly.

A banner as long as the competition’s name was attached to an advertising balloon and fluttered in the wind.

Day 1.

The 100-meter preliminaries were held in the morning.

After easily passing the 100-meter preliminaries, Jinhyuk saw his dad talking to Mr. Kim Young-tae.

‘He arrived safely.’

The anxiety that had lingered like sediment disappeared as if washed away.

Seeing his dad’s face after a few days made his nose tingle for no reason.

Slap-!

It was after Kim Hee-nam finished the 100-meter preliminaries. It seemed like old habits die hard, as Lee Ju-geun ended up hitting an athlete in a corner of the stadium. It was probably an action born from the thought that it was a less noticeable place, but there was no secluded place in the stadium.

To Jinhyuk, it seemed like the athlete had performed as well as he usually did, so he wondered if that teacher was perhaps consumed by inferiority.

“Hey, you bastards! You guys who only eat and exercise, how can you run worse than a guy from the countryside?”

Lee Ju-geun’s voice, filled with anger, was laced with deep resentment.

He seemed to be jealous of Jinhyuk’s skills. There were many eyes watching, and some people frowned at Lee Ju-geun’s behavior, but no one stopped him. The leaders from other cities and provinces were no different from Lee Ju-geun. There were athletes in push-up positions everywhere. Among them were many female students.

‘Dad, I didn’t get any physical punishment.’

He deliberately smiled brightly and waved at his dad, but Jinhyuk’s heart was uneasy at his dad’s darkened face.

***

Day 2 of the competition.

The 200-meter preliminaries and the long jump finals were held.

Once he got into a rhythm, the long jump wasn’t difficult. How much had he practiced stepping on the board as much as possible and jumping during the training camp in Gongju? There were days when he only practiced running up and stepping on the board until the sun went down.

‘I’m not feeling it.’

It was a mechanical movement close to indifference.

“6 meters 10.”

The gold medal for the long jump went to Chungcheongnam-do.

Wow-!

Cheers were heard. It seemed to be cheering for the 800m athletes who were still in the preliminaries.

“Number 165, Chungcheongnam-do.”

The people in white hats were running around busily, but Jinhyuk didn’t pay attention. He was indifferent even to the gold medal around his neck.

‘I want to go home.’

The school name wasn’t called separately. It was natural given his affiliation, but he felt sorry for Mr. Kim Young-tae, who had come all the way to cheer him on. He wouldn’t have been able to do the long jump if it weren’t for Mr. Kim Young-tae. Ignoring the murmuring, he only looked at the expressions of his dad and Mr. Kim Young-tae, who were visible in the distance.

Seeing the two adults shaking hands and smiling brightly made him feel a little relieved.

‘I’m living with such useless emotions. It’s tiring.’

In his previous life, he couldn’t have sympathy because there was no one more pitiful than him, and he was comfortable being alone, so no matter how pretty a woman approached him, his heart didn’t move. What was going on that he was so concerned about everything after returning to his childhood?

‘Is this also the effect of hormones?’

He thought it might be. His clothes were getting smaller day by day, which was bothering him, and he was also adjusting his training volume to maintain his physical balance and coordination because his bones were itching.

***

Day 3.

The children hadn’t spoken to Jinhyuk since yesterday, as they were wary of the coach.

Jinhyuk hated looking at Lee Ju-geun, so he only glanced at where his dad was.

He was used to being alone in the crowd.

The 100-meter finals were held in the afternoon.

‘Dad! I’m here, here!’

Still, how happy he was to have someone who looked at him.

Jinhyuk smiled brightly and waved at his dad before stepping onto the track.

The headwind was quite strong.

The hot wind hit his forehead. The track was scorching from the sun that had been beating down all day, and the air announcing summer was hot. The pressure from the atmosphere and the track was not to be ignored, and the athletes who had been managing their condition in the shade and came out to the track puffed out their cheeks at the starting line.

‘Since it’s the last time, should I run my heart out?’

Looking at Lee Ju-geun, he decided not to do track and field anymore. There were plenty of things Jinhyuk was good at besides sports. The reason he decided to live an ordinary life also played a part.

The command came from the speaker.

[On your marks-.]

This was Jinhyuk’s last 100-meter race.

‘Let’s do it without regrets.’

At the ‘on your marks’ signal, he placed his feet on the starting blocks. The hardness of the aluminum frame that pushed his feet felt new.

He put his fingers on the starting line and knelt on the ground. The heat of the track on his skin made Jinhyuk’s heart beat faster. Despite the hot weather, the tension of it being the last time made goosebumps rise on his neck. He clenched his teeth so hard that his jaw muscles stood out.

[Set-.]

With the ‘set’ signal, he inhaled and locked his lungs. He lowered his head as if he would fall and lifted his waist.

They didn’t give much time after the ‘set’ signal. Yet, for the athletes, it was a time that felt strangely long. It was also the most fearful time.

But without exception, the gun went off before that fear grew.

[Bang-!]

He closed his lips tightly and puffed out his cheeks. He deliberately didn’t exhale. At the same time, he forcefully hit the air with his left arm and right leg.

Whish-! The sound of the wind brushing past his ears was even stronger as it met the headwind. There were quite a few spectators, but the cheering was drowned out by the sound of the wind. The stands were blurry, and only the white lines on the left and right, which defined 1.25 meters, were in his field of vision.

It was an eternity in a flash.

In that ironic concept of time, the finish line was closing the distance.

He squeezed his abs and lifted his legs, and when he pushed off the track, he stretched from his toes to his thighs. It was like unifying himself like a jumping frog. His legs kicked the ground again at a right angle as if they had never stretched out.

‘Ah, it feels good to run.’

He was like this, then like that. He couldn’t even understand his own emotions. They said people leave because they hate the person, not the job. There was no difference between office workers and athletes.

Ssh-ssh-! The very act of running as if his heart would burst, the feeling of squeezing his lungs and burning the last bit of oxygen, thrilled Jinhyuk. He added a sense of determination to his regret. He didn’t want to leave any strength behind.

‘I’m alive.’

Thwack-.

Son Jinhyuk was the first to push his chest across the finish line.

Shortly after, the results appeared on the scoreboard. It came out immediately, so the level of operation was different at a national competition.

Wow!

The officials and families who had come to the stadium cheered in unison. They had expected it since there was a considerable distance between him and the second-place athlete, but they didn’t expect it to be this much.

Startled by the cheers, Jinhyuk’s eyes widened as he looked at the scoreboard.

「Boys’ 100m Korean Record」