episode_0196

The bullying of Park Yu-jeong’s classmate Kim Young-hee became more severe as the days passed.

“Hey, Younghee. Did you really bring money this time? Huh?”

“Sorry… . I forgot… .”

“Oh my… What the hell is in this idiot’s head?”

At first, the bullies only verbally harassed Kim Young-hee, but when she remained quiet, they began to use increasingly more violent methods, such as extorting money or hitting her on the head.

At first, my classmates were just watching, but they gradually started to get agitated… .

“Isn’t that too much…?”

“No, what… , Younghee is still doing nothing, so what can we do… .”

Actually, no one came forward. It was obvious that meddling would only make things more troublesome.

And there was Park Yu-jeong.

Park Yoo-jung just watched Kim Young-hee while still wearing her mask.

but….

“Is the child this stupid because he is an orphan?”

“That’s because I didn’t learn anything from my parents when I was young.”

Among the insults directed at Kim Young-hee, there were many sentences that irritated Park Yu-jeong.

The atrocities of the bullies who treated and cursed at her for not having parents as if she had committed a crime made something well up in Park Yu-jeong’s heart.

And what’s most annoying is… .

“Sorry…, it was my fault.”

Kim Young-hee, who was the one hearing such groundless rumors, nodded as if what the bullies said was true.

‘If you do that, it really seems like not having parents is a sin.’

Why don’t you get angry when you get cursed at like that? Why do you just stay still?

Park Yoo-jung was very frustrated and suspicious of Kim Young-hee, who remained quiet despite the bullying from the bullies and the insults about not having parents.

And she soon gets a chance to answer that question.

“Okay, you worked hard today! Your shifts are…, Yeong-hee and Yu-jeong? I’ll ask you to finish up well! The rest of you, don’t go off somewhere else and go straight home! You worked hard!”

“Yes-!”

It just so happened that Kim Young-hee and I were on shift, so we were able to talk alone while cleaning the classroom.

“Younghee, I’ll wipe the blackboard. Can you push the desk back a little?”

“… Yeah.”

Kim Young-hee was a quiet person and never spoke first.

Park Yoo-jung, who quickly figured out her personality, decided that it was okay to take off her mask and immediately revealed her true feelings to her.

“Younghee.”

“… Huh?”

“Why do you stay quiet when the kids harass you because your parents aren’t home?”

“… … .”

Kim Young-hee probably thought Park Yu-jeong was just a cheerful and smiling child.

But when Park Yoo-jung took off her mask and showed her cold appearance, he was surprised and had a blank expression.

Park Yoo-jung vented all her frustrations to her.

“I don’t have parents either. They died in a car accident and I’m living with my aunt now.”

“… Ah.”

“That’s why I feel bad whenever you get scolded by them for not having parents. Honestly, it makes me a little annoyed. It’s not our fault that we don’t have parents, but when you act like that, it makes us feel like we did something wrong.”

“… … .”

When Kim Young-hee lowered her head, feeling intimidated by Park Yu-jeong’s urging, Park Yu-jeong asked with a skeptical tone.

“… Do you really think it’s our fault that our parents aren’t here?”

“…! Oh, no! That’s not it! Absolutely not! Why is that our fault!”

Judging from Kim Young-hee’s reaction, it seemed like she didn’t think being an orphan was a mistake.

“Then why are you just sitting there? Aren’t you angry?”

“Hwa… , of course not. But… .”

As Park Yu-jeong continued to fire, Kim Young-hee hesitated and answered.

and….

“… If I hit back there, the bullying will get worse later. … I’ll just put up with it. ”

“… What?”

Kim Young-hee’s answer made Park Yu-jeong even more frustrated.

“Just putting up with it?”

“… Yeah, if you just stay obedient, they won’t bother you too much. … You can live in peace. ”

“… Huh.”

The moment Park Yu-jeong heard those words, she realized that she was not communicating with Kim Young-hee.

“… Okay, do your best.”

So she gave up on talking to Kim Young-hee and focused on cleaning.

**

‘What? You’re saying I can just endure it? This is ridiculous.’

Park Yu-jeong returned to her aunt’s house, mulling over what Kim Young-hee had just said.

You think I can just endure it?

No, enduring is never the solution.

The more Kim Young-hee endures, the more the bullies will treat her.

‘Just like how if you hold in a wound, it will fester. The guys’ bullying will only get worse. Don’t you know that simple fact?’

Park Yu-jeong opened the door to her house, feeling frustrated with Kim Young-hee.

“I went to school.”

“Yoo Jeong-ah, are you here?”

“Yes, aunt.”

Since she started wearing a mask, Park Yoo-jung has always been smiling whenever she enters her aunt’s house.

Of course, she always had a cold, expressionless face whenever she was alone on her way home from school… but whenever she came home with a bright expression like this, her aunt really liked it.

“Are you hungry? Want something to give you?”

“No, it’s okay.”

Park Yu-jeong bowed her head once to her aunt and then went into her room.

My aunt and uncle were very kind people.

Even though he wasn’t my biological child, I gave him a private room.

Park Yoo-jung knew very well that her aunt and uncle were kind people, so she couldn’t cause them any more trouble.

In her room, there was already a bookcase full of civil service exam guides.

Park Yu-jeong planned to quickly become a civil servant and leave this house when she turned 20.

Phalang.

To become a civil servant, school grades were not very important.

So, instead of opening her textbook, Park Yu-jeong opened a TOEIC workbook, the first civil service exam, and solved the problems.

It was at that time.

dripping.

“Yoojung, I peeled an apple. Can I come in?”

“… Yes, come in.”

When her aunt suddenly said that she would come into the room, Park Yu-jeong shook off her cold expression and greeted her aunt with a bright smile.

“Wow! It’s an apple! Didn’t you eat them all last time?”

“Our Yujeong likes apples, so her aunt bought some for her this time.”

In fact, Park Yu-jeong doesn’t like apples that much.

However, since my aunt likes apples, I just pretend to like them and eat them.

Of course, my aunt, who couldn’t know this, smiled and put the apple on the table.

and….

“… Yoo Jung-ah, are you studying TOEIC right now?”

“Yes, for the first civil service exam.”

“… … .”

He made an ominous expression when he saw that Park Yu-jeong was preparing for the civil service exam.

‘…Huh?’

Park Yu-jeong couldn’t help but be flustered after seeing her aunt’s reaction.

‘You don’t like me preparing for the civil service exam? Why? I want to become independent quickly so I don’t cause trouble.’

Park Yu-jeong tilted her head, unable to interpret her aunt’s expression.

And, as expected,

“Yoo Jeong-ah, come out for a moment. I want to talk to your aunt and uncle.”

“… Yes.”

That night, the aunt and her husband called Park Yu-jeong with a serious expression.

As soon as Park Yu-jeong sat down in front of her with a fidgety expression, her aunt spoke first.

“… Yoo Jeong-ah.”

“… Yep.”

“I’ve had an inkling of it for a while now… Do you want to be a civil servant, Yujeong?”

Certainly… I never directly told my aunt and uncle that I wanted to become a civil servant.

Park Yu-jeong nodded, thinking that she would take this opportunity to tell the truth and put the two people at ease.

“Yes, I plan to take the civil service exam right after graduating from high school and become independent.”

“… What? You’re not even going to college? You’re even going to become independent right away… ?”

Park Yu-jeong tilted her head and continued speaking as her aunt and uncle seemed more surprised than she had expected.

“… Yes, so as not to cause any more trouble to my aunt’s family… .”

“… Lung? … Yoojung-ah. Did you really think that you were causing trouble for us all this time?”

“… … .”

Oh my.

Park Yu-jeong realized she had slipped up when she saw her aunt’s tearful expression, but she couldn’t take back what she had already said.

“… … .”

“… … .”

There was a brief silence between the three of them… .

“… Yoo Jeong-ah.”

“Yes, uncle.”

This time, my uncle let out a small sigh and spoke.

“We wish Yoojung would think of us comfortably.”

“… … .”

“Civil servant? Of course it’s a good job. But is that really what Yoojung wants to do?”

Is this what civil servants want to do?

Honestly, that’s not it.

It was just that in Park Yu-jeong’s current situation, becoming a civil servant seemed like the best path, so she chose that.

When Park Yu-jeong remained silent, her aunt and uncle exchanged glances and took out something.

Park Yu-jeong couldn’t help but flinch when she saw what the two people brought out in front of her.

“Aunt, uncle… , this is… .”

Park Yoo-jung, who had outstanding beauty since she was young, often received offers to become a trainee from various entertainment companies while walking down the street.

[Levi Entertainment]

The business card in front of her eyes was from the company where Park Yoo-jung most recently received a trainee offer.

I clearly rejected it back then, so why is it here…?

“At that time, your aunt and uncle secretly received your business card.”

“… Ah.”

“Yoo Jung-ah, when you were young, your dream was to be an idol. You really wanted to be one.”

Swish.

The aunt continued speaking, holding Park Yu-jeong’s hand warmly.

“I still remember, Aunt. How Yu-jeong’s eyes would sparkle whenever she saw an idol on TV when she was little.”

“… Aunt, that was when I was little.”

“It’s still like that now. When Yujeong’s eyes sparkle and she’s focused, isn’t it only when she’s watching idol videos on her phone?”

“… … !”

…did you know?

At that time, Park Yu-jeong’s hobby was watching girl group videos on her phone.

I tried to hide it, but I guess I couldn’t avoid my aunt’s eyes.

“Yoo Jung-ah, think carefully about what you really want to do.”

“… … .”

“Aunt and uncle… , will support our Yujeong’s dream. Okay?”

Park Yu-jeong gave a vague answer, saying she would think about it, before leaving the place, in response to the burdensome gazes from her aunt and uncle.

And then I lay in bed and thought about it clearly.

‘Yeah… I’m not an idol.’

Being an idol was realistically too high risk.

Of course, if it goes well, you can make a lot of money…, but what if it doesn’t?

My aunt and her husband run a small toast shop.

Even though she is somehow able to make a living right now, if Park Yoo-jung fails as an idol, it will be a huge burden.

Park Yu-jeong didn’t want to cause trouble to her aunt and uncle.

‘It’s still the same now. Isn’t it true that Yoojung’s eyes sparkle and she only focuses when she’s watching idol videos on her phone?’

… I admit that I still admire idols.

But longing is just longing.

Just because idols shine on stage and look cool doesn’t mean anyone can try it.

‘Yoojung, think carefully about what you really want to do.’

‘Your aunt and uncle… will support our Yu-jeong’s dream. Okay?’

… Honestly, I admit that I was greedy because of my aunt’s words.

But greed is just greed.

If she can’t control her momentary greed, her peaceful life will be ruined.

It is a peaceful life that I have obtained after wandering for a long time since my parents passed away.

Park Yu-jeong didn’t want to break it.

‘… Okay, let’s reject it tomorrow. It’s a problem I just have to endure.’

If you just hold back your greed… and pretend like nothing happened while wearing a mask again, everyone will be happy.

Park Yu-jeong closed her eyes as she thought about that.

But then it happened.

In the ears of Park Yu-jeong, who had her eyes closed… .

‘… If I receive it there, the bullying will get worse later. … I’ll just put up with it.’

‘… Yes, if you just stay obedient, you won’t be bullied too much. … You can live in peace.’

“… … !”

I remembered what Kim Young-hee said earlier.

And just as Kim Young-hee was enduring it… she realized that she was enduring it as well.

“… … .”

While Kim Young-hee is enduring bullying, Park Yu-jeong is enduring her inner dreams.

We live wearing masks, suppressing our dreams, our greed, and even our innermost feelings.

…for a peaceful life.

Isn’t this the same as Kim Young-hee, who felt suffocated earlier?

“… … .”

As soon as Park Yu-jeong realized that she was the same as Kim Young-hee, she opened her eyes with a blank expression.

‘It’s not our fault that we don’t have parents, but when you act like that, it makes us feel like we did something wrong.’

It’s not Park Yoo-jung’s fault that her parents passed away… .

Why does she give up and endure her dreams?

Park Yu-jeong couldn’t answer that question herself, so she just stared at the ceiling.

That night… I couldn’t sleep for a long time.