Chapter 131: Lawbreaker on the road

I got my driver’s license when I was 19.

There wasn’t any special reason.

It wasn’t like I really wanted to drive or buy a car.

I just figured I’d need it someday.

I thought it’d be good to get it in advance, and after taking the college entrance exam at nineteen, I found myself with some free time and decided I might as well get it done.

I passed the written test and the basic skills test on the first try, and I think I passed the road test on the second try.

The reason I had to take the road test twice wasn’t because I couldn’t drive, but simply because I couldn’t memorize the route.

I was supposed to go one more block on the set path and make a U-turn, but the roads all looked the same, and I got confused and turned early, which disqualified me.

Part of it was because I wasn’t familiar with the area where I was taking the test.

There wasn’t a suitable place near home, so I went to the closest option, but that was still an unfamiliar neighborhood to me.

I really struggled to memorize the four different driving courses.

Still, I passed the second test without any major issues.

Actually, not just without issues — I passed with quite decent skills.

The examiner sitting next to me even said it wasn’t bad, and that I’d probably be fine hitting the roads right away.

In short, I just have a bad memory for directions — my actual driving skills are solid.

I’ve even shown myself driving on stream before.

It was a drunken impulse and just a game, but my driving ability was real.

My clean driving record in my past life backed that up.

And that’s why I let my guard down.

I thought, “This is just a license. I’ve got experience. A driving test is nothing.”

Honestly, wouldn’t anyone think the same?

“You’ve failed. If you want to retake the test, please inquire at the front desk.”

That was the instructor’s rather businesslike tone.

Yes, I failed.

Not even at the road test — at the basic skills test.

Maybe the instructor noticed my sulky expression because he added something.

“Seems like your leg strength is a bit lacking. Whether it’s the clutch or the accelerator, you need to press harder than on a regular car, but that’s not going well.”

He nailed it exactly.

I didn’t use to be like that.

So what had changed?

The problem was my changed body.

Things like lower seating height or needing more arm strength to turn the wheel weren’t really issues.

The problem was the pedaling.

The cars at the license test centers are already old and stiff.

Some of them don’t even register the pedal unless you press really hard — and the truck I got this time was exactly like that.

Combine that with my weakened physical strength and it was the worst synergy imaginable.

“Do you really need to get a Class 1 license? Class 2 is fine these days. I mean, women don’t really need Class 1… Ah, sorry. My bad. You’re not supposed to say things like that nowadays. Sorry, please ignore that.”

“It’s okay.”

The middle-aged instructor apologized with an embarrassed face.

Considering all the horror stories floating online about driving school instructors, he was actually quite gentlemanly.

And he had a point.

There was really no reason for me to get a Class 1 license.

It’s not like I’d be driving a truck — at most I’d be driving a compact car.

The reason I even wanted a license was just so I could drive my own car.

I’d been going out more often lately, and thought it’d be convenient to have something to drive.

Constantly getting rides from Siyoung or calling taxis was getting old.

And taxi fares these days aren’t exactly cheap either.

I figured I might as well just buy a car since I could afford it.

The reason I went for a Class 1 license was simple.

In my past life, I got a Class 1.

It didn’t feel particularly difficult back then.

But when I compared it to Class 2, I couldn’t really say it made much difference in daily life.

Unless your job specifically required a Class 1 license, there wasn’t much use for it.

Some people get weirdly prideful about having a Class 1 over a Class 2.

They think real drivers must have a Class 1.

But I wasn’t one of those people.

Huh, now that I think about it, there really wasn’t any reason for me to get a Class 1.

I nodded, secretly agreeing with the instructor.

He looked pleasantly surprised that I was taking his words seriously.

Dragging my sore legs, I headed to the front desk and reapplied for the test.

This time, switching from Class 1 to Class 2.

I didn’t need to retake the written test — I just had to redo the skills test I failed.

Luckily, there was an open spot right away, so I went ahead and got it done.

Result: passed.

It was a satisfying outcome.

But the next day, I failed the road test — like some kind of curse.

“You’ve been disqualified due to point deductions.”

“What? Why?”

I asked the new instructor in a frustrated tone.

I was genuinely upset.

He replied matter-of-factly.

“You didn’t put the gear in neutral at the red light, didn’t use the left blinker when starting, or the right blinker when stopping.
Those three things were it, but the gear thing happened multiple times, so you lost a lot of points.”

I could only blink as I listened.

I really hadn’t expected that.

Who actually puts the car in neutral at every stop in real life?

You just step on the brake.

That habit showed clearly in my test.

“You actually drive really well. Among women your age, your driving is one of the best I’ve seen… I really want to pass you, but rules are rules.”

Hearing that, I couldn’t exactly argue.

It was my own fault for not reviewing the rules properly.

“That’s a shame. I hope you pass next time.”

“Yeah…”

And so, I had to register again for a second road test — something I thought I’d never have to go through again.

*

“You mean you had to take the test twice?”

“Yeah, and the driving slots were full until two days later, so I ended up taking it three days after.”

Jiyeon turned her head to look at her sister, who was driving and chatting with her.

“I got a car! I’ll come pick you up.”

Jieun had shown up with that sudden message.

She said she got a new car and offered to take Jiyeon home, so she came to the school.

After Jiyeon got in the passenger seat, Jieun had been busy explaining how she came to get her license.

Jiyeon didn’t know all the details about getting a license.

She was still a minor, and it was too early for her to be interested in such things.

Plus, she was too busy studying to focus on anything else.

Even so, her sister’s story was enough to spark her interest.

The topic itself wasn’t particularly exciting, but Jiyeon now understood why she still found it intriguing.

Because it wasn’t just anyone — it was her sister talking.

Swoosh—

As she thought that, Jieun smoothly ran her hand along the steering wheel and turned her left arm.

Despite the car moving at a decent speed, her other hand was still holding tightly onto Jiyeon’s.

With that motion, the car body rotated.

It entered the alley with a graceful curve.

Even Jiyeon, who knew nothing about cars or driving, could tell it was a relaxed and confident move.

The way Jieun held the wheel with one hand looked so natural — she didn’t seem like someone who had just recently gotten her license.

Lately, Jieun had been showing a lot of sides Jiyeon didn’t know.

This, too, was a part of her sister she hadn’t seen before.

Maybe she had a hidden interest in this kind of thing.

That wouldn’t be so strange.

Even among family, not everything is shared.

Besides, they’d spent quite a lot of time apart recently.

Thinking that, Jiyeon tilted her head slightly, wondering if this really was the same sister who used to be so timid she couldn’t even ride amusement park rides.

And that’s when it happened.

Honk—!

“Kyah!”

Jiyeon’s body lurched forward, and Jieun gripped her hand tightly.

“Son of a—! Who the hell drives like that?”

Jieun cursed loudly.

That, too, was unfamiliar.

She had never used harsh language in front of her little sister.

Let alone getting this angry.

After glaring at the car in front, Jieun quickly turned her head and asked,

“You okay?”

“Y-yeah…”

“That’s a relief. You must’ve been really startled, huh?”

Her gaze softened as she looked at Jiyeon — completely different from the look she’d given the car that had just cut her off.

Meeting that gaze, Jiyeon shivered unconsciously as she answered.

Jieun gently brushed her sister’s cheek once before turning her attention back to the road.

“There really are so many bad drivers out there…”

Just listening to her talk, Jiyeon thought she sounded like someone who had been driving for years.

Even though she had just gotten her license and hadn’t been driving long.

Still, Jiyeon didn’t mind seeing her sister like this.

No — she liked it.

She simply liked it.

What did it matter what kind of side her sister showed?

Lightly touching her warm cheeks, Jiyeon stared at the driver beside her.