Chapter 87: Sports Day (1)

Tap tap. The sound of someone tapping a microphone filled the schoolyard, followed by an ear-splitting feedback screech.

Students who had been chatting in groups with their classmates wrinkled their noses and turned to face the front.

This was probably the intended effect.

The schoolyard was packed with nearly 400 students, and all eyes were now fixed on the assembly platform.

These days, many schools are tearing down such platforms, calling them a bad practice that puts teachers on a pedestal. But in this place where authoritarianism thrived, one couldn’t expect such progress.

Soon, several shadows appeared on the platform.

The principal with his perpetually expressionless face. The vice principal forcing a benevolent expression. The head of student affairs rolling his eyes as he searched for someone to make an example of.

Those who would normally stand in the center holding the microphone had all stepped back. Instead, the person occupying the center was none other than the P.E. teacher.

After a moment, the P.E. teacher announced in a voice even louder than the earlier feedback:

“Now, let the sports festival begin!”

This was a school where students who excelled in various fields gathered. Among them were, of course, some who were gifted in sports.

Though they weren’t as competitive as those in academic, music, or art fields, I’d heard they still won awards occasionally.

The school’s sports festival was like a private stage that gave these athletes a chance to show off.

They were the type who always exercised and built up their strength. Naturally, they had no real competition at this school full of weaklings.

Because of this, the school didn’t waste time making us prepare for the sports festival.

On the other hand, on the day of the event itself, they made all of us useless extras participate. This seemed like giving with one hand and taking with the other.

Anyway, while I didn’t mind participating in the sports festival itself…

“Hey, aren’t you cold?”

Juho, sitting next to me, asked while shivering all over.

What a pointless question.

“Sitting here in just gym clothes at the end of October—how could I not be cold?”

“Fair enough.”

After hearing my answer, Juho chuckled as he continuously rubbed his arms. Perhaps he was trying to warm himself up by creating friction.

Well, that was probably the only way to endure until afternoon. I decided to follow Juho’s example and started rubbing my body too.

A sports festival at this time of year—what were they thinking?

Even if it was a playground for the sports students, this showed a complete lack of consideration. Not that I expected this school to show any consideration for its students…

Indeed, only the sports students were actively moving around right now. Everyone else, whether from the academic or arts track, was huddled up with half-dead expressions.

When their turn to participate came, they would get up with groans, giving the impression that we were at a slaughterhouse.

Of course, there were exceptions…

I slightly raised my head to look at the front row of our class.

Among the classmates shivering in the autumn cold, I spotted one person.

A girl standing in place, enthusiastically cheering with a lively face.

It was So-yul, of course.

“Fighting! Just a little more effort!”

So-yul cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and shouted with all her might.

Whether we won or lost, even if we came in last, it didn’t really matter. But seeing her cheer so energetically made me feel invigorated.

Indeed, smiles had gradually spread across the faces of our classmates who were watching So-yul. For me, it went without saying.

As I was taking this in, Juho snickered and lowered his voice:

“Wow, she’s completely different from her boyfriend.”

“Hey, what are you saying in a place like this…”

“It’s fine. It’s too noisy for anyone to hear anyway.”

With this carelessly confident response, Juho pointed his finger at me.

“Besides, you’re sitting there with your mouth wide open, staring at Han So-yul. If you don’t want to raise suspicions, you should hide that behavior first.”

“…”

It was a painfully accurate observation.

I decided to at least close my gaping mouth.

But what could I do?

So-yul, who always showed off her long straight hair, had tied it up today. As a result, her snow-white nape and slightly protruding collarbones were clearly visible.

The beads of sweat forming on her skin were probably from running around the field just before.

The panting breaths escaping her upturned lips were likely for the same reason.

Since it was a side of her I didn’t usually see, it looked somewhat alluring. It was even a bit enchanting.

It was inevitable that my gaze would be drawn to her.

…But knowing such a response would only backfire, I held it in and said:

“So what? I can look at her for a moment.”

“Because you’re her boyfriend?”

“Hey, I told you not to say things like that…”

As I confronted him with raised eyebrows, Juho burst into laughter as if he found it all amusing.

He really had a nasty personality.

But Juho’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

Because I was her boyfriend… it was true that I kept looking at So-yul.

Since the birthday party last weekend, So-yul had acted just the same as always.

Even when I asked if her mother had said anything to her, she would just smile bravely and say, “Yes. I’m fine.”

I couldn’t tell whether she didn’t want me to worry or if she was truly okay.

But at the very least, I knew she was hiding a private pain inside.

She wanted to love normally, like other people. She wanted to spend happy time together, just the two of us, free from the constraints of her mother and the school.

The truth she had shared while shedding tears wasn’t much different from my own wishes.

Because I wanted to make that happen for her, I had been investigating her biological father.

Since So-yul’s dream of being recognized by her mother was the root of everything, I believed that once that dream was achieved, everything would be resolved.

But according to the conclusion I had reached then.

For So-yul to gain her mother’s recognition…

“Hey, Park Juho.”

My lips moved unconsciously, calling Juho’s name.

Juho, who had been laughing heartily, glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.

“What?”

“No, um, just…”

“Just what?”

When I tried to brush it off, Juho didn’t let up and pressed for the rest of my statement.

Why had I called out to Juho? He might have noticed our relationship, but he wouldn’t know about So-yul’s family situation. Had I wanted to ask for his advice because I couldn’t find answers in this overwhelming situation?

…Well, I supposed it would be fine to get his opinion with a simple analogy.

“I just wanted to ask you one thing.”

Having made up my mind, I broached the subject, and Juho turned his head to stare at me. His expression showed he didn’t have the slightest idea what I was about to say.

Awkwardly avoiding his eyes, I began:

“This is just a hypothetical… Let’s say you had a child and got divorced, and later that kid grew up and wanted the same job as your ex-wife. What would you do?”

“What kind of bizarre question is that…?”

Juho snickered at my question as if it were absurd. For a moment, he seemed to think I was joking.

But I was completely serious. I didn’t smile at all and simply waited for his answer.

Finally, Juho snorted and said:

“Well, I don’t think I’d care much.”

“Yeah, that would be normal. But what if, hypothetically, you were so annoyed that you felt you had to stop them?”

“If I had to stop them?”

After hearing my follow-up question, Juho crossed his arms and pondered:

“Wouldn’t I just prevent them from getting interested in that field in the first place? Like, if my ex-wife was a poet, I’d get rid of all the poetry books, something like that?”

“…Yeah. That makes sense.”

As I nodded slightly in agreement, Juho shrugged his shoulders.

It was a gesture suggesting he had no idea what prompted such a question.

◎

Eventually, lunchtime arrived.

The lunch break on sports festival day was longer than usual. Since the sports festival continued until late afternoon, the school was showing its “meaningful consideration” by giving us time to digest.

An event that gave the sports students a chance to be the stars. It was only natural that it included events rarely seen in ordinary sports festivals. I was just grateful it would end before dinner time.

During such free time, people would usually study or take a nap, but…

Today, feeling somewhat troubled, I found myself walking around the field for a change.

Step by step. I moved at a leisurely pace across the sandy field where the wind was blowing.

Most people were probably still having lunch, as there weren’t many shadows of people to be seen.

It was an excellent environment for deep contemplation.

In this state, I recalled Juho’s answer from earlier.

‘Wouldn’t I just prevent them from getting interested in that field in the first place? Like, if my ex-wife was a poet, I’d get rid of all the poetry books, something like that?’

It was certainly correct.

Making So-yul give up the piano. Until now, I had been certain this was So-yul’s mother’s goal.

I thought this was why she demanded rigorous practice every day and showed such a harsh attitude toward her daughter.

But if that were the goal… wouldn’t it have been better not to teach So-yul piano in the first place?

There was no need to push until she broke on her own. If the piano had been removed from the house and she hadn’t been allowed to take lessons, So-yul would have had no choice but to give up.

So-yul had been separated from her biological father at such an early age that her memories of him were faint. There would have been more than enough opportunities to make So-yul abandon the piano.

But So-yul’s mother hadn’t done that. Not only that, but even now she still accompanied So-yul to her piano lessons. This meant she accepted So-yul playing the piano to some extent.

Then perhaps So-yul’s mother…

Didn’t want So-yul to quit playing piano.

But wanted to stop So-yul from resembling her ex-husband.

This meant…

If So-yul gave up just one thing…

“Boyfriend.”

A familiar voice suddenly reached my ears, making me flinch.

A beautiful high-pitched voice that tickled my ears like a feather. A tone tinged with mischief. Plus that unique way of addressing me that no one else would use.

I immediately had a feeling about who it was.

I turned my head toward the direction of the voice.

Below the assembly platform was a storage shed for various sports equipment.

Inside it, peeking her head through the gap in the door and beckoning to me, was a girl.

“…It’s a chance to spend time alone with your pretty girlfriend, boyfriend.”

So-yul was giggling with a playful smile in her eyes.