UBC Ch38

The man’s attitude took on a very unique pattern from that day forward. It was after the September mock exam when everyone had a somewhat predictable idea of which university they would be attending. As one of the top students, I was the center of the school’s expectations, but the texts that came several times a day became more precious to me.

[Kang Nan-cho: Can you talk on the phone?
Okay!]

A few days ago, we told each other all our secrets without hiding anything. I unloaded the stories of Aunt and Mom and my feelings about them to the man as if I were emptying a bundle. Some relationships, like family, cannot be chosen and must be accepted as fate. I said that Mom and Aunt sometimes felt like a burden, sometimes like a debt, but I could never change or abandon them. What impact did that confession, which I made one night after studying, have on the man? His chilling reply still remains in my memory.

“Then I’m someone you chose.”

“Huh?”

“I’m someone you chose, unlike your aunt and mom.”

“…Well, yes. All relationships except family are ones I choose.”

Perhaps realizing some emotion from that statement, the man contacts me all the time. The period when I ignored him because it was annoying had long passed, and after sending a reply that I was available to talk, I sat on the bus stop bench, waiting for his call. Everything was going smoothly for me these days, and I took out my school uniform cardigan and hummed.

“What’s got you so happy?”

“You startled me.”

Seon Gi-cheol, who I hadn’t seen for a few days, suddenly appeared and was looking at me with a sullen expression. I was dumbfounded and stared at him when the phone rang. For some reason, I felt shy and awkward about answering the phone in front of him. I turned my head, as if accepting alcohol from an adult, and pressed the receive button.

— Did you get on?

“No. But it looks like it’s coming soon.”

— What did you have for dinner?

“Shepherd’s purse miso soup. What about Eui-joo?”

— I haven’t eaten yet. Not yet. I was going to have a sandwich when you came.

“I told you not to skip meals. I told you to eat even if you’re busy.”

— So I stole a few peanuts.

“Hearing it like that, you sound a bit like a pigeon.”

I was exchanging silly jokes and blowing away today’s stress when it happened. Whether he found the pigeon comment funny or not, he was letting out a chuckle that tickled my lower stomach when Seon Gi-cheol’s shout cut in.

“The bus is here!”

Seon Gi-cheol said it as if he wanted me to hear it, so I momentarily put down my phone. When our eyes met, he brazenly shrugged and got on the bus that had just arrived. I decided that I should take care of Seon Gi-cheol, who had been openly showing his displeasure with the man since last time.

I hurriedly followed him onto the bus. The call that hadn’t been disconnected would have heard all the sounds of my movement. I showed my fist to Seon Gi-cheol, who was sitting in a two-seater seat as if telling me to come here.

Since I was going to have a conversation with him anyway, I sat next to him and put the phone back to my ear. Only quiet breathing could be heard. I cleared my throat to indicate that I had answered the phone, but the man spoke first.

— That male student?

“Ah, yes. He, uh, said the bus came.”

— Is he next to you?

“Um, uh, no?”

The man’s voice sounded too cold for some reason, so I ended up lying. I thought I would have to stand by the time I got off, so I turned my bag to the front. I glanced at the seat next to me and saw Seon Gi-cheol with his face pressed against the window. Seeing him with a sulky expression, I was also getting annoyed. So what if he was an elementary school classmate. What did such a past relationship matter? I didn’t like his attempts to squeeze into my side when he wasn’t even close to Eui-joo.

“I just got on, so wait a little longer…”

— Don’t hang up.

“Uh, why?”

— Just say anything. Don’t hang up.

As if he knew Seon Gi-cheol was sitting next to me, he persistently demanded that the call continue. Seon Gi-cheol, as if overhearing the conversation, also looked at me. In that awkward moment, Seon Gi-cheol tapped me on the shoulder. When I asked him with my lips, ‘What’s wrong?’, Seon Gi-cheol gestured for me to hang up the phone.

“There are too many people here. I’ll be there soon.”

— Don’t hang up.

“Why.”

— He’s next to you, isn’t he.

“I told you no.”

— Then there’s no reason to hang up. Isn’t that right?

The man, who had always followed my words unconditionally, started to act like a stubborn child and be sarcastic. Seon Gi-cheol snorted as if adding commentary, probably hearing the conversation. With pressure coming from both sides, I decided to end the call.

“I’m really sorry. But it’s too noisy, and I have nothing to say. I’ll be there soon.”

I trailed off and ended the man’s call. And as if waiting for the moment, Seon Gi-cheol spoke to me.

“Yang Ji-eon.”

“It’s because of you.”

“Don’t date that hyung.”

“What’s it to you….”

It was a perfect day. Before I could rejoice in the warm support of my friends, the praise and recognition of my teachers, and my report card marked with a grade 1, an extraordinary incident unfolded. The phone vibration, ringing despite my refusal, grated on my nerves. As soon as I refused once more and even texted ‘I don’t want to call,’ the phone rang again.

Hang up, vibrate start. Hang up, vibrate start. With the repeating pattern, my vision gradually darkened. The sound of the stop request bell felt like pressure to answer the phone quickly. The man, who was calling like crazy, not giving in to my refusal, must have misunderstood something.

“See? There’s something strange about that hyung.”

“What do you know?”

“Do your parents know? That you’re dating that hyung.”

I was already dying from the struggle of dealing with one man obsessed with the phone, but Seon Gi-cheol, sitting right next to me and muttering with a sulky expression, was completely the worst.

“I guess they don’t know.”

“Why are you suddenly so interested in me?”

“I wouldn’t have been interested if you weren’t dating that hyung. And I often ran into you at our bus stop? I took the same bus as you a few times too. I was wondering if I should talk to you after graduation….”

Seon Gi-cheol bit his lip as if the last words were a mistake and slammed his head against the window. Judging by the thud, it must have hurt a lot, but Seon Gi-cheol only sighed.

“Being deceived by a thug. Being good at studying is useless.”

“He’s not a thug.”

“Yes, he is. I heard something.”

Hearing those words, my heart sank. Does the man have a dark background that I don’t know about? Or is this also a bullying method in the Chowa-ri neighborhood? He lives in Maewa-ri, so did he just listen to the adults and blend in? Did the Chowa-ri adults already spread rumors about the man to other neighborhoods? Yes, that’s it.

I sighed at the thought that prejudice had spread even to young students like Seon Gi-cheol. Seon Gi-cheol sneered as if he knew what I was thinking.

“If you really don’t know, ask that man about your village chief.”

“The village chief?”

I was dismissing Seon Gi-cheol’s words as nothing, but then he pointed out one specific person. I had been too busy lately, and there had been too many incidents, so I had forgotten, but when I thought about it, I had seen the man and the village chief together a couple of times and thought I would ask about it someday.

What’s wrong with someone living in Chowa-ri having a meal with the Chowa-ri village chief? I immediately suppressed the stinging suspicion in my heart. Seon Gi-cheol looked me in the eye for a long time, then reached out and pressed the stop request bell. It was a stop much earlier than where I usually got off, closer to downtown.

“He’s still calling you right now. That’s not normal.”

I hated him so much. All suspicion and betrayal start from one question. From a very trivial and very ordinary question. After pressing the stop request bell, swiping his card, and making eye contact with me until the end, Seon Gi-cheol disappeared, and only then did I let out a long sigh.

The phone that had been ringing until then was still not tired. I stared blankly at the phone and pressed the call button. I held it to my ear, and only the man’s breathing could be heard.

— Where are you?

I was afraid to check how many missed calls there were. I answered with a slightly gloomy voice, full of thoughts.

“I’m getting off at the next stop.”

And I hung up the man’s phone, who had gone silent. I slowly got up, pressed the stop request bell, and swiped my card. I was exhausted in just a few minutes and stood holding the safety bar, sighing. I had been excited about making delicious sandwiches with the man.

Seon Gi-cheol, missed calls, the village chief, various words mixed together and messed up my head. My heart was beating, but I didn’t know why.

“Ugh, I’m dizzy.”

At that moment, a strong smell of alcohol wafted from nearby. A red-faced man was having trouble swiping his card properly. Just as I was about to reach out to help, a beep sounded. The man, who was tearing at his tie as if he was tearing it apart, stretched out his foot as soon as the bus door opened.

“Ah!”

And as he staggered and danced on the stairs, the man’s elbow hit my stomach from behind. I grabbed my stomach with a stinging pain and got off the bus. The drunk man went his own way without a word of apology. And in front of me, clutching my stomach, was the man, staring intently at that man.

I had a bad feeling.