The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 52

The parents who rushed into the principal’s office checked on Jinhyuk’s condition first.

Jinhyuk, feeling guilty, hung his head low.

‘I’m sorry.’

Han Yooyoung, who had been quite shocked, touched Jinhyuk’s face and surprisingly seemed calm. Son Kwangyeon meticulously checked Jinhyuk’s fingers and toes. He was more skilled than a nurse examining a newborn.

‘Open your mouth. Say ‘ah’.’

Ah-.

‘Your mouth is fine too.’

Your mouth is fine too-.

His father’s voice echoed in Jinhyuk’s mind.

‘No hair pulled out, right?’

His hair was too short to be grabbed, so what was he talking about? Jinhyuk couldn’t lift his head and just stroked the back of his head.

‘Dad, I’m okay. The seniors who were hospitalized-.’

‘Seniors? Those damn punks-!’

‘Hey! Son Kwangyeon! Calm down, man!’

Hong Gijun hugged Son Kwangyeon around the waist to stop him from rushing out, yelling about what kind of seniors would do such a thing. It felt like Hong Gijun’s arm was about to break trying to restrain Son Kwangyeon, who had been hardened by years of farming.

Then, the detectives, the principal, and the vice-principal came in.

‘Am I going to get handcuffed?’

While Jinhyuk was touching his wrist, Kang Junseong looked for Hong Gijun with his eyes.

It was easy to recognize him since he looked like someone from Seoul at first glance.

Kang Junseong, after making eye contact with Hong Gijun, said to Jinhyuk,

‘Student, could you leave us for a bit?’

‘Oh, sure. Since the adults have something to talk about, Jinhyuk, you can go out.’

At Kang Junseong and Hong Gijun’s request, Jinhyuk went out to the hallway alone.

As he sat crouched in the hallway, many thoughts crossed his mind.

‘It only takes a moment to fall to the bottom of life.’

So, did he regret it?

Absolutely not.

Violence could not be justified, but Jinhyuk’s anger towards those who had touched his parents and family was immense. It was an act that triggered a fierce rage, like touching a dragon’s reverse scale [a metaphor for a point of extreme sensitivity or anger].

Even in children’s games, they say you die if you step on a line, so what about those who crossed the line Jinhyuk had set?

And he was ready to accept the punishment for that violence.

Hehe-.

It seemed like Janggun was a bit of a comfort by his side.

When he first saw a stray dog wandering around the school, he was just amazed, but now that Janggun was here, he felt strange.

‘Our Janggun.’

Jinhyuk sat down completely and hugged Janggun.

Whether he knew his complicated feelings or not, Janggun kept licking Jinhyuk’s chin.

***

While Jinhyuk was suffering in the hallway, a meeting was taking place in the principal’s office. It was a negotiation led by Hong Gijun, the detective, and the vice-principal. Son Kwangyeon had his chin up and his eyes closed, as if he was in a complicated state of mind.

Kang Junseong briefed the situation.

There was unexpected information in it.

‘My fellow detectives are also lying in wait at the hospital. Yoon Giljoong, that guy, is the one who killed the president of Songtan Gukbin Hall [likely a reference to a local establishment or gang] and is on the run. We’ve been staking out near his house, but he hasn’t shown his face. We’ll see if he comes since his son was hurt. Just in case, please contact the students’ homes and have their parents come to the school. Since the hospital is small, there’s a high chance he won’t come there.’

‘Do you think he’ll come to the school?’

It was Hong Gijun’s question. He was even glad that an unexpected person had stepped in to sort out the situation. He was getting tired of dealing with his friend. Still, he didn’t expect a detective from the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency’s Mobile Investigation Unit to come. He had called his older brother-in-law, hoping to get some help.

‘We don’t know how he’ll react. We’re just trying to have a little hope.’

‘But is it okay to tell us this information?’

This time, the vice-principal cautiously intervened.

‘Yes, well. Hong Teacher here contacted us, and…’

Kang Junseong vaguely glossed over it, pointing at Hong Gijun, and Hong Gijun nodded lightly.

The principal and vice-principal thought Hong Gijun must be an important person, so they didn’t ask further.

The suit he was wearing looked expensive, and just by his appearance, he looked like a high-ranking person from the city.

‘But what will happen to student Son Jinhyuk?’

Hong Gijun’s eyes were sharp as he looked at Kang Junseong.

‘To be clear, that’s not something I should be involved in. Even if a complaint is filed, the local police station should handle it.’

‘But if you could give us your opinion…’

‘I’ll leave it to the school’s discretion, but I think it’s necessary to reach an agreement with the victims. That’s how the law is, and even if it’s not the law, it’s common sense…’

At the word ‘victims,’ Son Kwangyeon and Han Yooyoung looked somber.

They were still students, after all.

Thinking about the feelings of the injured students and their parents, he felt guilty.

‘But, you know…’

Kang Junseong continued, glancing at Hong Gijun.

He also glanced at Han Yooyoung.

‘It would be good for the school to pay attention. I only had a brief talk with a student named Park Yongseok, but it seems they’re involved in a violent gang, drinking, smoking, extortion, habitual assault… There’s even unspeakable crimes, but I can’t say it here because the mother is present. Hong Teacher here asked me not to escalate the issue, but the nature of the crimes is quite serious. If it reaches the ears of a higher-up, it wouldn’t be good for the school, would it?’

The principal blinked, wondering what this was all about, and the quick-witted vice-principal reacted quickly. That higher-up must be someone related to Hong Gijun. The fact that he accompanied them even though he wasn’t a parent, and that he had influence over the detective, made it suspicious.

‘We will transfer them all. We will also notify their parents.’

‘It’s not my place to interfere, but I think it would be good for the school to do so. It’s true that boys go through a rebellious phase, but these kids can’t be excused by that. They’re just criminals.’

‘Yes. We will report to the Office of Education and proceed with transferring them to different schools. If that doesn’t work, we’ll expel them.’

The vice-principal said confidently, as if to make sure Son Kwangyeon and Hong Gijun heard him.

The principal was startled by the mention of the Office of Education, but he couldn’t stop the vice-principal, who was not just anyone. The principal was about to retire, but the vice-principal was aiming to be the next principal.

He was going to ruin his own future, so what could he do?

‘Um, but…’

Han Yooyoung, who had been listening, carefully gathered everyone’s attention.

‘How did the fight start?’

As a mother, she was curious why her seemingly weak and gentle son had suddenly gotten involved in a violent incident. Blood is thicker than water, after all. If she heard the explanation from Jinhyuk, she would probably side with her son. She wanted to hear the testimony of someone who was not involved and had an objective perspective. And if Jinhyuk was at fault, she thought she should scold him firmly.

While the principal and vice-principal hesitated, Kang Junseong cautiously opened his mouth.

‘Those guys insulted the mother-.’

‘I’ll kill those damn punks-! How dare they insult my wife!’

‘Oh, father!’

‘Oh, teacher!’

‘Hey, man!’

It took Hong Gijun, Kang Junseong, the principal, and the vice-principal to stop Son Kwangyeon, who was about to explode, grabbing the ashtray on the table.

Han Yooyoung, who was holding Yoojin, tried to ignore her husband’s behavior.

Although most of the farm work was done by hired hands, the strength of the farmer Son Kwangyeon was truly remarkable. The four men were dragged by Son Kwangyeon and only managed to stop him at the door.

Kang Junseong shook his head and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Since the son of such a bull-like man was able to knock down several people without getting a scratch, it was understandable.

***

Before heading back to Seoul, Hong Gijun called Jinhyuk aside.

Sitting on a bench under a plane tree with Hong Gijun, Jinhyuk felt strange.

‘It feels kind of familiar.’

Sometimes when they went out for a round of golf, Chairman Hong Gijun would smile kindly while drinking a canned beer at the golf course’s shade house. Even during meetings or when they were in the car together, he showed a particular fondness for Jinhyuk. Perhaps that’s why he felt more awkward. It was only towards Jinhyuk that he acted that way.

‘He was trying to make me feel comfortable, I guess.’

It was too late to realize that, but nothing would change. He was still extremely uncomfortable. He was the boss of all bosses, called the owner. His personality, which didn’t say anything unless it was necessary for work, was still choking him.

Jinhyuk glanced at Hong Gijun. There, the young Hong Gijun was looking at the schoolyard with a faint smile. The middle school students playing soccer, the high school girls swinging, and the wrestling team members pulling tubes with ropes would have been in his view.

‘It’s nice. Full of energy.’

Hong Gijun took a deep breath.

The air smelled good, but the sky was cloudy as if it was about to rain. Hong Gijun’s face, looking up at the sky, was dark.

‘Hmm-.’

Hong Gijun just made a humming sound while looking at the sky.

‘Hmm-.’

Every time he made that humming sound, Jinhyuk held his breath.

‘Can someone please save me?’

It was more burdensome than when he was waiting in the principal’s office after causing the incident.

His parents were in a meeting with the other students’ parents. In addition to the parents, he saw official cars coming in from somewhere, and people in suits and uniforms going inside.

‘Who are they? Those people.’

To forget the discomfort of sitting with Hong Gijun, Jinhyuk tried to guess who they were and why they had come. It was his own way of racking his brain.

Hmmmmm-, the humming sound got longer. Finally, Hong Gijun opened his mouth. His gaze was still fixed on the sky.

‘Jinhyuk-ah.’

‘Yes.’

‘I’ve heard in detail why this happened, and I have no intention of telling you what to do with your life.’

As he was about to listen quietly, Hong Gijun’s hand was placed on Jinhyuk’s hand.

It was the warmth that Jinhyuk had experienced before.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve never heard it properly, have I? Let’s hear it when that meddler Son Kwangyeon isn’t around. What are you going to be?’

‘Ord-.’

‘Don’t say ordinary.’

‘Yes.’

Jinhyuk quickly closed his mouth, and Hong Gijun chuckled.

‘Do they still teach such things in Chinese class these days? They say, ‘The tree desires stillness, but the wind does not cease’ [a Chinese proverb meaning that even if one desires peace, external forces may disrupt it]. A talented person cannot live quietly even if they want to.’

Hong Gijun’s hand, holding Jinhyuk’s hand, tightened.

‘Cherishing everyday life and living an ordinary life are not the same thing. This uncle also cherishes his time with his wife and children. The same goes for the relationship with friends and their families. But I don’t ignore the expectations that come with my social position.’

He said he wouldn’t tell him what to do, but it seemed like he already was. People who talk about themselves usually don’t consider changing the behavior of others, do they? Still, Jinhyuk didn’t show it. He was a difficult person to deal with.

‘A guy who beats people up to protect his friend and because they insulted his mother can’t be considered ordinary.’

Even if it’s the same words, ‘ah’ and ‘oh’ are different. He did knock them down, but he didn’t beat them up. Anyone who heard that would misunderstand. Jinhyuk felt unfairly wronged and embarrassed. He scratched his cheek with the hand that Hong Gijun wasn’t holding.

‘I don’t blame you. These things happen in life. It’s nice that you care about your family, and it’s admirable that you try not to stand out, but I don’t think you’re an ordinary guy.’

‘I-.’

‘Hmm, yes.’

Hong Gijun was delighted when Jinhyuk interrupted him for once. He had known Son Jinhyuk for years, but he had never spoken up first.

‘I’m not ordinary.’

From his very existence to his way of thinking, he couldn’t be seen as similar to his peers.

His strength and speed were far superior to what they were in his past life. Even if he called himself dull, there was no way he wouldn’t notice his superhuman abilities. The word ‘dull’ was just another expression for being insensitive to pain and adapting quickly.

‘I’ve become a bit stupid.’

His brainpower and intelligence might have decreased a bit. It felt like it took him longer to memorize textbooks than before. His mind was cluttered like a noisy radio when he tried to deduce something, and his memories of his past life weren’t clear either.

Anyway.

‘My dream is to live an ordinary life. It won’t change no matter how many times you ask. It would be the same even if you asked me at the gates of the underworld. But the ordinary life I’m talking about doesn’t mean hiding my abilities.’

His breathing, which hadn’t faltered even during exercise, became unstable. It was because he had spoken too quickly.

Jinhyuk took a breath and continued.

‘It doesn’t mean I won’t do anything, and it certainly doesn’t mean I’ll live carelessly. It means I want the everyday life that most people enjoy. My family is the most precious thing to me. My friends are important too. I just can’t forgive anyone who tries to harm them or take them away from me.’

There are many unhappy people in the world. Jinhyuk was one of them. He could say he was happy now, but it wasn’t always the case. It was a vow not to forgive any enemy who would break his current peace.

That night, in the car, Chairman Hong Gijun had asked.

– ‘Did you have a dream?’

Jinhyuk was now giving his answer to that question.

Jinhyuk mustered the courage to look into Hong Gijun’s eyes.