"Are you giving me an answer now?" ― I thought about it a lot.
I do not wish to step into the light, Young Master. It was not the answer I expected.
"Then can I interpret this to mean you will hold my maternal uncle's hand?" ― That is not it.
"Then what?" ― I will stay still.
When Young Master steps into the light, I will remain in the shadows. If you would only allow that...... I sighed quietly so No Ik-seon could not hear.
"I understand. I know what you mean, so keep doing what you were doing." ― Thank you, Young Master.
I stared at the disconnected phone and fell into thought. 'Even if I leave him alone, he is someone who will naturally fall behind later on...... Should I step in and deal with him as an example?
Not with Grandfather's power, but with my own power......' It was when I was pondering alone.
"What are you doing? The guys are waiting."
Myeong-soo, who had come out because I was not going inside, spoke to me.
"Ah, sorry. I just hung up. Let's go in."
When we went inside, all the food we ordered was already out. I smiled as I sat down.
"Sorry. I took too long, right?"
Whether it was because of my smile or my apology, everyone started eating without saying much.
"So except for Min-gyeong, everyone here is taking the bar exam together, right? Don't tell me there's going to be some heartless bastard who passes on the first try?"
Myeong-soo glanced at me as he said that. Since I never missed the top rank even with my busy schedule, I was called a monster among the kids.
"Probably? I do not know about Mu-hyeok. I really want to open that bastard's head and dissect it. Right, Jae-ha?"
As Oh Hyeon-woo joked around, Yoon Jae-ha chuckled and played along.
"He is the most fascinating guy at Korea University, indeed."
Everyone nodded as if agreeing.
"But Myeong-soo. Was Mu-hyeok originally good at studying? After seeing that interview, I wanted to hit him when we met. Does it make sense? I took every tutoring class possible since I was young and barely got into Korea University."
"Ah, that. Right. Thinking about it makes me mad again. When I think of how much I suffered at home because of his interview! Ugh! It was a moment where my sweat and tears were denied all at once."
Oh Hyeon-woo and Yoon Jae-ha poured out their resentment in the middle of eating.
"I just thought so when I heard Mu-hyeok. I have never been to tutoring or academies either."
Everyone lost their words at Han Min-gyeong's casual remark as she put meat into her mouth. As if to refresh the mood, Myeong-soo blurted out.
"Mu-hyeok here used to be a famous troublemaker in Busan. There was a time when this bastard was called the Mad Dog of Busan. Ah! I miss it."
"Shut up."
When I glared at him, Myeong-soo pouted his lips. The kids who did not know my past had surprised faces.
"Well, it is a story from my immature days. Speaking of which, since it came to mind, let's form a gathering just among us. What do you say?"
"A gathering?"
I naturally changed the topic. Everyone showed interest in my words.
"Yeah, it would be nice if we could all gather, eat like this, talk, and help each other even after we grow up, right? I do not know what positions we will be in, but wouldn't now be the perfect time to make a gathering? Later when we graduate and everyone goes out into society...... it will probably be a bit difficult."
Oh Hyeon-woo and Yoon Jae-ha, who immediately understood what I meant, stayed still as if deep in thought. On the other hand, Han Min-gyeong and Myeong-soo looked at me with eyes asking for more explanation. I explained to them once more.
"In a few years, someone might be a prosecutor, someone might be a judge, and someone might have become a politician. Or maybe not in the legal field, but running a business or employed somewhere. Then wouldn't it be hard to gather again at that time? I am saying we should make a proper gathering from now on and meet up like this sometimes."
After a moment. Oh Hyeon-woo, who had been thinking with his arms crossed, was the first to show his approval.
"I agree. If we make a gathering like this, it will be very helpful to each other later."
Yoon Jae-ha agreed following him.
"I agree too. If I pass the bar exam, I will probably join my father's law firm. It is good to help each other out if there is anything we can do."
As for Myeong-soo...... he was not the type to oppose my words. Han Min-gyeong thought for a long while before opening her mouth.
"Um...... would I fit into that gathering?"
Saying that, she carefully gauged everyone's reactions. It seemed Han Min-gyeong still lacked confidence at this time.
"What does it matter? Aren't you our classmate from the class of '93? Why would you think that."
Everyone smiled at Han Min-gyeong as if agreeing with my words. At that, Han Min-gyeong also nodded with a slightly flushed face.
"Then I am fine with it too. It is good for friends to gather often."
Oh Hyeon-woo, who had been agreeing with her, suddenly asked.
"Then we are doing this? But who will be the president? Mu-hyeok, you are going to do it, right?"
Everyone's eyes turned toward me. I shook my head and looked at Oh Hyeon-woo.
"No, I think it would be best if you became the president, Hyeon-woo. You are active, and I have a lot of other things going on so I cannot focus on it."
Everyone had a puzzled expression, but I added as if it was nothing.
"Oh, and since we started this just among us, it is fine to accept new members, but let's only accept them when everyone agrees. We can just keep going with these five, or if anyone wants to bring someone in, they can recommend them and we will vote on it. How about it?"
I appropriately guided everyone's opinions.
"Then Hyeon-woo, let us know things like when we should meet every month. Even when we get older, no matter who succeeds and who fails, our gathering continues, right?"
Everyone nodded.
"That is obvious, but what about the name of the gathering? What should we call it? Anyone have any good ideas?"
Myeong-soo asked me. A name for the gathering......
"I would prefer it if we did not give the gathering a name?"
"Huh? Why?"
"If we attach a name to it, it will feel too much like a private organization, and if rumors spread, our names might unnecessarily be talked about everywhere."
"Hmm......"
Everyone seemed to fall into thought at my words.
"It is just meant for us to meet often so we don't grow apart even when we grow up, pulling and pushing each other forward. Let's not dwell on a name for the gathering."
"I also think Mu-hyeok is right."
We moved to a nearby coffee shop and had a more detailed discussion until it became evening.
"I will get going now. I have to go tutor."
Han Min-gyeong grabbed her bag and stood up first.
"Where is it?"
"Pyeongchang District."
At those words, Myeong-soo looked at me and hinted.
"Hey, you should drop her off."
"Yeah, let's go out together. Let's all gather and talk again next time. I will be going too."
"Oh! Thank you~" As we stood up together, a bright smile spread across Han Min-gyeong's face.
When we came out of the coffee shop and I opened the passenger door for her in the parking lot, she lightly smacked my forearm before getting in the car.
"Oh~ Kim Mu-hyeok~ You've got sense?"
At that, I chuckled and got into the driver's seat.
"Put on your seatbelt."
"Yeah."
I spoke to her as we headed to Pyeongchang District.
"How many tutoring jobs do you do?"
"Me? Four...... ah, I added one more this time so it is five."
"Do you have time to study?"
"I just need to invest about two hours in the evening...... but it is still tough."
I observed her expression out of the corner of my eye while driving. Her face was smiling, but it must be very hard. She had worked hard to get into Korea University, but while her peers were preparing for the bar exam, she had to run around doing multiple tutoring jobs......
"What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?"
"I just think it's really amazing."
"What is amazing?"
"Just...... you're doing tutoring part-time jobs without missing classes, and doing a bit of bar exam prep too."
"Tch~ That's no big deal. I have studied like that since middle school. Still, I never missed being first in the school. I am pretty smart, you know."
It was quite cute how she spoke with her lips pouted like a coy girl.
"But I am the top student?"
"Wow, Kim Mu-hyeok is seriously...... so annoying."
"Hahaha."
After moving along while talking, we arrived in Pyeongchang District before we knew it.
"Where is it?"
"Oh! Just a little further that way."
Turning down an alley once, a mansion with a blue gate came into view.
"Here! Thank you! Thanks to you, I got here comfortably. If I took the subway, it would have taken a long time."
I brought up a topic to Han Min-gyeong as she unfastened her seatbelt.
"Can we talk for a moment?"
"Hmm, thanks to you I arrived early so I have about 20 minutes. Why? Do you have something to say? Don't tell me...... a confession?"
When I sent her an absurd look, Han Min-gyeong laughed heartily.
"No, I hope you don't take this the wrong way......"
"What? What is it that you are setting such a serious mood for? Tell me."
When I hesitated to speak, Han Min-gyeong tilted her head with a puzzled face.
"Don't you have any thoughts of quitting tutoring and just studying?"
"Hey, I told you I can't do that! Who wouldn't want to do that? My dad left the house, my mom is sick, and my younger siblings are only looking at me. I have to earn money."
"What if I help you?"
At those words, her smiling face stiffened. It was a stiff face of Han Min-gyeong that I had never seen once while attending school until now.
"What?"
Han Min-gyeong's voice rose.
"Hey, do you pity me? Is that why?"
"Why would you say it like that. I have never thought that even once. Do not misunderstand."
"Then why are you talking about helping me? No matter how poor I am, I am not a beggar, okay? I can earn enough with my own strength to make a living."
I nodded. Right......
I know better than anyone that you will succeed.
"I know. It is not out of pity, and it is not because I have too much money either. I just want all of us friends to prepare for the bar exam together. There is no other intention. You can just think of it as a loan, right? With no interest. You can pay me back later."
At that, Han Min-gyeong could not hold back her anger in the end and showed slight tears.
"Hey, Kim Mu-hyeok. Do not look down on me. I can do it alone. Because I have grown up like that. Just because you have some money does not mean you can do that to me."
"Min-gyeong......"
I told Min-gyeong a little bit of the story of how I had lived. The days I wandered after my parents passed away, living alone with my grandmother. That I was luckily attending school comfortably after meeting my maternal grandfather, but if it weren't for that, I would not have been able to do it like her.
Han Min-gyeong's expression changed minute by minute as she listened to my words.
"I do not want anything from you. Like I said earlier, I just want you to study with us and take the exam together. You make the decision. I will not force you."
"......I will think about it. Still, thank you."
Soon, as if her excitement had died down, the tears vanished from her tearful eyes. I chuckled and handed her a tissue.
"Hahaha. Still, this is my first time seeing you cry. You were always smiling. So Han Min-gyeong cries too?"
"Do you want to joke around at a time like this?"
Han Min-gyeong glared at me sharply.
"Go on. Think about it carefully after tutoring. There's not a single bad intention."
Han Min-gyeong did not answer in the end, and opened the car door and got out.
"See you at school tomorrow."
After confirming that Han Min-gyeong entered the house with the blue gate, I drove home. 'I wonder how it will turn out. I do not know if it worked.'
I said it with the intention of giving her a debt of the heart rather than a financial debt, but I could not tell what choice she would make. When I went inside the house, Grandfather was waiting for me. Manager Ha was not seen.
"You are late."
"I came after eating and talking with my friends for a bit."
Nodding, Grandfather gestured toward the sofa.
"Sit."
As I sat opposite him, Grandfather cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Is school life going well?"
"Yes, it is fun. I made a lot of friends too."
"Good. Even if you are helping me, make sure you also do the things you can do at your age and have fun."
While we were talking for a while, Manager Ha came in bringing a man with him. A solid body and face. Unlike Manager Ha, he did not wear glasses and his hair was shorter, but his emotionless expression was exactly the same.
Grandfather looked at Manager Ha and the man, then smiled and said.
"Mu-hyeok, I heard you asked Manager Ha to introduce someone you can use as your right-hand man?"
"Yes. Is it that person?"
I turned my gaze from examining the man to look at Grandfather's face.
"Making that man your person is your ability. I can introduce him to you, but I cannot help you win his heart."
"Yes, I know."
I turned my gaze back and stared at the man. He met my eyes without avoiding them with a solid gaze.
"Hello, I am Ma Seok-dae."
A deep low-pitched voice flowed out from between his tightly closed lips.
< Let's make a gathering. [End of free serialization] > The End