The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 1991

< [Extra Story] 1. Graduation Ceremony >

May this world that I love be a warm world for you.

Music echoes everywhere.

From the TV in the living room to the radio sounds from passing taxis.

Every store on the street plays music.

February in Korea is bitterly cold, the kind that freezes the moisture in your nose, but the steps of people walking through the music are cheerful.

Because of the occasion.

Passing a quiet street later than usual, he soon arrived at the familiar main gate.

Today, many cars are parked in front of the main gate. Adults, presumably the owners of those cars, are milling about.

Street vendors selling bouquets and groups gathered inside the main gate, chattering. Their cheeks flushed red, they didn’t seem to feel the cold at all.

“Congratulations, graduates!”

“You’ll visit often, right?”

“The ceremony starts at 11.”

“Then it’ll be over before lunch.”

“I hope it ends quickly.”

Jang Jin-soo raised his head in front of the main gate.

[The Nth Sunyeon High School Graduation Ceremony of 2034]

February 10, 2034. The eventful year of a 33-year-old student came to an end, and the graduation ceremony arrived.

It would be a lie to say there was no special feeling.

Because 33 was quite a special year for him, as it was for others.

A sense of relief that it was really over, a strange regret, and the joy of finally being an adult coexisted with anxiety about the future.

Jang Jin-soo took a deep breath and entered through the main gate.

At that moment,

“Son!”

At a woman’s voice, Jang Jin-soo unconsciously turned his head. A middle-aged woman was gesturing at him.

“Yes, Mom. What is it?”

And a student passed by Jang Jin-soo.

“Have fun with your friends. Buy something delicious to eat.”

The student naturally accepted the credit card and bouquet that the woman handed him. And then a hug.

“Congratulations on your graduation, my son. You’ve worked hard.”

The student seemed a bit annoyed, but he didn’t refuse the hug.

Jang Jin-soo stared at them for a moment and then went back to where he was going.

Unlike other kids, his parents wouldn’t come to the graduation ceremony.

The person sleeping at home probably doesn’t even know how old he is.

Of course, there are no underclassmen to congratulate him. It will be a pretty quiet graduation ceremony.

But he’s not that sad because—.

Jang Jin-soo recalled his smartphone background.

—

To Jang Jin-soo of the Practical Music Department, congratulations.

You have been accepted.

*Notice to successful candidates

You have been finally accepted into the Korea National University of Arts [K-Arts, a prestigious arts university] October admissions for the year 2034.

Please check the admission guide separately announced on the admissions website and be sure to register within the new student registration schedule.

—

That was enough for him.

Jang Jin-soo, happy again, entered the auditorium with light steps.

#

“Wow, seriously.”

Jang Jin-soo was amazed by the calm background music flowing out as soon as he entered the auditorium.

No matter how much Korea is the No Hae-il… no, the Halo Republic. It hasn’t been a few days since No Hae-il became the first Korean singer to win a Grammy Award.

But I didn’t expect to hear his song even at the graduation ceremony. It’s not that it doesn’t fit, it’s just.

Should I say it feels new.

Or should I say I feel strange about the influence of a close friend.

Seeing everyone listening to Halo’s song at the graduation ceremony as if it were natural, I saw it again.

Jang Jin-soo naturally thought about what his friend would be doing.

Of course, he would be abroad.

He’s probably living with music as usual. He might have run out saying he needed stimulation.

No Hae-il became strange at some point.

From some point on, he started looking for new and interesting things to do on his own.

Meeting broadcasters and hanging out with various people.

He was originally a free spirit, but he wasn’t just free, what should I say.

Desperate?

A free spirit living life to the fullest?

It’s a strange expression, but it was really like that.

Well, maybe it’s because he became an adult.

Anyway, No Hae-il would be making music with people on a beach in LA right now.

Clap clap clap.

Jang Jin-soo returned to reality with the sound of applause.

What happened was that awards were being given to students with excellent grades, that is, students who were accepted into Korea University and medical school. Teachers and parents applauded from the back of the auditorium, and the kids joked, ‘So and so is handsome!’ ‘It’s a good thing you’re good at studying!’

If No Hae-il lives in an ideal world, Jang Jin-soo lives in this reality. Unlike his friend, he was just an ordinary person.

It was then.

“Aren’t you going out?”

Someone sat in the empty seat next to him. The clanging sound of the steel chair rang.

For a moment, I thought it was a familiar voice, but Jang Jin-soo replied indifferently without turning to the side.

“Where to?”

“There.”

“Why would I go there.”

Who is this jerk talking to me?

Jang Jin-soo was just annoyed.

“It’s not like I’m receiving an award.”

“You don’t have to go out only if you’re receiving an award.”

“Then why are *you* going out.”

“Well—.”

Jang Jin-soo asked back and slowly tilted his head.

For some reason, the voice was strangely familiar.

Besides, there weren’t many people who could say nonsense as if nothing was wrong.

No way.

There’s no way.

That guy should be in LA right now.

It was only the other day that he received a Grammy.

“To sing?”

Jang Jin-soo quickly turned his head.

“!”

Smiling.

Eyes crinkled with laughter met his.

The one wearing a graduation gown and a mortarboard, pretending to be a graduate, was none other than No Hae-il.

He was wearing a mask, but there was no way he couldn’t recognize him.

No, why is that jerk who should be abroad here.

It was only the other day that he received a Grammy.

“No, No Hae- hmm!”

Jang Jin-soo barely closed his mouth as he was about to scream. Fortunately, his voice was drowned out by the principal’s congratulatory speech. Jang Jin-soo, who looked around like a meerkat, lowered his head and whispered.

“You, you, you! Weren’t you abroad? When did you come back?”

“The day before yesterday.”

“Ah, the day before yesterday. Did you come after receiving the award? No, that’s not it, is it okay for you to come out like this? In a place with so many people?”

“Why not?”

“That···.”

When the person involved asked as if it were no big deal, he was at a loss for words.

Jang Jin-soo opened and closed his mouth.

Damn it, isn’t it *not* okay?

He’s the guy who received a Grammy the day before yesterday.

There are more than one or two reporters looking for this guy.

And···.

Jang Jin-soo, who was refuting in his mind, suddenly discovered something even stranger.

“No, more than that, how did you get into the graduation ceremony? And why are you wearing that?”

“Someone said to quietly put it on and go in if they were late.”

So he was mistaken for a student.

The misunderstanding is a misunderstanding, and it was clear that he did it because it seemed fun. If not, he wouldn’t be the type to listen to others so well.

Isn’t he still fiddling with the graduation gown as if it’s amazing?

I don’t know if it’s okay to do this, but Jang Jin-soo quickly gave up. The principal’s congratulatory speech was coming to an end. It was already too late to go out,

“…I don’t know either.”

If he stayed quiet and took him out, no one would know he came.

The problem started from this point.

“Okay, let’s take a group photo. Please gather in your respective classes.”

“You stay quiet. Put on your sunglasses quickly.”

Unable to resist Jang Jin-soo’s urging, Hae-il rummaged through his things and put on his sunglasses.

Of course, masks and sunglasses were not appropriate fashion for a graduate, but if he said the mask was for a cold and the sunglasses were for LASIK [Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, a type of eye surgery], they would understand.

And at this time, when the teachers are having a hard time taking care of the students in charge, he will quietly get up as Jang Jin-soo wants.

Jang Jin-soo tapped his foot impatiently while watching Hae-il’s relaxed attitude.

“Class 3 of the 3rd grade. Please stand by in advance.”

“Stand in three rows of ten people each. Short kids go to the front.”

“Let’s do it quickly.”

“Wait here. Please.”

Hae-il shrugged his shoulders.

He was very untrustworthy, but Jang Jin-soo joined the line of class 3 right next to him.

The homeroom teacher was not visible, but the group photo shoot went well.

“Jang Jin-soo.”

It was then.

Looking to the side, Park Chan-soo was standing there with a bouquet and an award in his arms. It was rare for a guy who hadn’t called my name a few times in a year to call me.

“Hey, did you have a good vacation?”

“Well, yeah.”

Why is this jerk talking to me?

He didn’t look like he had good intentions.

Especially Park Chan-soo, who was accepted into Korea University [one of the most prestigious universities in Korea], was puffing out his shoulders as if showing off.

“Did you go to a good university?”

“Well, yeah. I went well.”

“Where?”

“…K Arts.”

Park Chan-soo’s eyes widened.

I thought he didn’t know, but he was surprised for a different reason.

“Isn’t that where only celebrities go? How did you get in? You don’t have any friends to write songs for you now.”

“What?”

“Are you still in contact with No Hae-il?”

Surprisingly, there was no malice.

Is this what it’s like to be so dumbfounded that you don’t even get angry?

I’m just worried that No Hae-il might hear it.

“No, there’s no way. He’s a son of a bitch who cut off contact as soon as he gained some popularity. He’ll be even worse now that he’s received a Grammy. Anyway, congratulations? I guess you have some talent too.”

“Hey.”

This made me feel bad.

It was when Jang Jin-soo was about to tell him to stop.

“Ah, I remember now.”

Someone suddenly came in between them.

“You went to this school too.”

“Uh, uh?”

“One of a, b, c, right? Nice to meet you.”

Park Chan-soo’s pupils shook at the voice filled with only genuine joy. He was armed with sunglasses and a mask, so he couldn’t tell who it was.

“Who, who?”

“You don’t know me?”

How would he know when he’s covering his face?

But before Park Chan-soo could refute, the photographer shouted, “We’ll start shooting!”

“Who, who is it?”

“This is a bit disappointing.”

Park Chan-soo was flustered because he couldn’t keep up with the pace of the guy who was suddenly acting friendly.

“Ten people in the first row, ten people in the second row. This class is lined up well. But are you not going to line up properly in the back?”

“What are you doing. He said to look forward.”

“Uh, uh.”

Park Chan-soo turned to the front for now.

“We’ll take two pictures. One in a formal pose, and one where we throw our mortarboards in the air.”

A faint laughter was heard.

Park Chan-soo heard the sound of the person next to him slowly taking off his sunglasses.

He tried to turn around, but the photographer shouted like a ghost to look straight ahead.

“One, two, three, kimchi [a common word shouted when taking pictures, similar to ‘cheese’].”

Click.

Park Chan-soo thought that he must have been photographed with a stupid expression. However, he turned his eyes to check the side first.

He meets eyes folded into crescents.

It was a pretty familiar look. One that I always saw on TV.

“Hi.”

“!”

“We’ll take it one more time. Everyone, grab your mortarboards, and when I say one, two, three, throw them. One, two-.”

“Hae-il?!”

“Three!”

Park Chan-soo’s voice was drowned out by the cheers, and the mortarboards were thrown into the sky, and a click was taken.

“Okay, everyone worked hard.”

With the photographer’s voice, Jang Jin-soo hurriedly pushed Hae-il.

“Hey, let’s go quickly. Where’s your mother?”

“She said she was coming after parking.”

“Let’s get out of here first. Put that on quickly.”

“Hae, Hae, Hae-.”

Park Chan-soo called him with a dumbfounded expression.

But they had already disappeared into the crowd.

#

Meanwhile, Park Seung-ah, who luckily found an empty parking lot, was entering Sunyeon High School with a bouquet of flowers.

She was too late finding a parking spot.

The graduation ceremony must have already ended.

Park Seung-ah quickened her pace.

“Oh my.”

Then she discovered someone and slowed down.

“Chan-soo’s mother?”

“No-. Oh my gosh. Hae-il···. Mother?”

The other person’s eyes also widened.

“It’s been a while, Chan-soo’s mother.”

“Yes. Really.”

Unlike Park Seung-ah, who was simply expressing her joy at seeing someone after a long time, Chan-soo’s mother was surprised and slowly became awkward.

She never thought she would see Hae-il’s mother in a place like this.

In fact, she thought she would never see her again after hearing that she had moved. Maybe she wanted that.

Because she said too many things when she didn’t know anything.

“What brings Hae-il’s mother here.”

“Ah, we decided to have a meal together, so I came to pick him up. And to congratulate him on his graduation.”

“I see.”

-I will at least not let him get carried away!

-Get carried away?

-Well, just because he got a little bit of attention doesn’t mean he’s successful. How many singers are there who become famous with one song and then disappear.

I couldn’t remember anything else like I had dementia, but the mistakes came to mind as clearly as yesterday.

‘If I had known that Hae-il was Halo, I wouldn’t have said that.’

Hae-il’s mother had a smiling face as if she didn’t remember that time, but Chan-soo’s mother wanted to leave quickly.

But there was one clueless human next to her.

“Honey, who is this person.”

The old man, who was scratching his stomach at home, asked politely. Whenever he saw a beautiful woman, he would ask in this greasy voice. It was a relief that Chan-soo didn’t resemble his father.

“Hello, you must be Chan-soo’s father? I’m Hae-il’s mother.”

“Ah, yes, hello.”

Chan-soo’s father, who didn’t know that Hae-il was that No Hae-il, just thought he was Chan-soo’s friend.

In Chan-soo’s mother’s opinion, what was important to that human was not Chan-soo’s friend’s name.

“Did Chan-soo get into a good university?”

“Ah, yes. He got into Korea University.”

“Oh my, that’s great. He always wanted to go there, and he finally went. He must have studied really hard.”

“Well, he was lucky. He’s a bit smart like me.”

Like what.

Chan-soo’s mother patted her chest while watching her husband laughing ha ha ha. She was anxious, was there no way to shut that human’s mouth.

“Did, did Hae-il do well too?”

Chan-soo’s mother was startled by that question.

But Hae-il’s mother answered as if nothing was wrong.

“No. Hae-il said he was going a different path.”

“Oh my gosh. You’re going through a lot.”

“Is there anything for me to go through? I’m worried that he might overdo it, but I’m just happy to see him enjoying himself.”

“Well, it’s true that the world where you have to go to college is over. Hae-il will do well, ma’am.”

Do well, what will he do well.

He’s already doing well.

He can stop doing well.

“Yes, I believe so too.”

Park Seung-ah smiled softly.

Chan-soo’s father also smiled.

The only one who was restless here was Chan-soo’s mother.

As soon as Chan-soo’s mother arrived at the entrance of the auditorium

“It was nice meeting you, Hae-il’s mother. We’ll go first then.”

“You’re already leaving? Why don’t we have a meal together-.”

“What meal. Let’s go quickly.”

Chan-soo’s mother wanted to kick her father’s butt, but she held it in.

“Yes, see you next time.”

Park Seung-ah greeted with an unreadable expression.

Behind her, Chan-soo’s mother hurriedly passed by like a criminal.

It’s not that she forgot that she had exchanged a few words with Chan-soo’s mother in the past. It’s just that that incident was really nothing, so she doesn’t bother to bring it up.

What’s important is,

“Son! Jin-soo!”

The kids who are waiting for her now.

“Auntie is very late, right? I tried to hurry. And congratulations on your graduation. Congratulations to our son on his award too.”

Park Seung-ah handed over a bouquet of roses that was almost too big to hold.

Jang Jin-soo shyly received the bouquet, which was larger than he thought.

“Thank you. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“It’s Jin-soo’s graduation ceremony, of course I have to come. Don’t you have to say goodbye to your friends anymore?”

“Yes, I’m done.”

“Okay, then let’s go eat something delicious.”

-Hey! Someone’s name was called from behind.

But Jang Jin-soo didn’t hear it and left the main gate with Park Seung-ah and Hae-il.

“You didn’t come to congratulate me on my graduation. Why did you come so early? Are you going to advise on a movie, or is there something new you’re doing in Korea?”

“Well, maybe.”

“So there is something to do.”

Too busy chatting with No Hae-il, there was no reason to look back anymore.

Jang Jin-soo, before he knew it, straightened his shoulders and walked forward.

Ticking.

The clock on the school’s main building pointed to 12 o’clock.

It was time to start today.