Chapter 194.1: Things Never Go As Planned (1)
Kang Chan walked past the schoolyard and school gates to get to the top of the stands. The students kicking around a ball sneaked glances at him, but it didn’t bother him all that much.
“Do you want to just stay in the athletics club room?” Seok Kang-Ho asked in a whisper as he scanned their surroundings.
“Yeah,” Kang Chan briefly replied. “Don’t forget to let me know how long it’s going to take once you’re there.”
“Will do.”
Seok Kang-Ho headed to the teacher’s lounge as Kang Chan turned to the athletics club room.
Click. Clunk.
Why haven’t these kids oiled the door hinges yet?
The club room was completely empty aside from the files on the desk that Kang Chan hadn’t seen before and the workout clothes, towels, bags, and more hanging on the wall hooks. However, it was at least quite clean.
Kang Chan had gone absent more days than he actually attended school, yet the athletics club room made him feel strangely nostalgic.
Ha. Damn it, all the school memories I have revolve around fighting and beating kids up.
Suddenly getting the urge to drink some instant coffee, Kang Chan checked the hot water dispenser. When he did, he found himself grinning. Much to his dismay, the students seemed to have overlooked replenishing the coffee supply. Perhaps it was because he and Seok Kang-Ho no longer visited as much.
The lack of coffee wasn’t the issue, though. Pairing exercise with a healthy diet was essential, so Kang Chan couldn’t help but wonder if the students were eating enough. If they couldn’t eat meat at least once a day, he hoped that they could at least fill their stomachs. After all, proper nutrition intake was even more important to them now that they were at the age to have growth spurts.
Kang Chan sat down and absentmindedly looked at the mirror. He was wearing a neat formal shirt and pants. He didn’t know when it started, but he was acting the same way he did in his past life. In reality, however, he was still a student who hadn’t graduated high school yet.
It doesn’t really matter anymore, though. I can finally say goobbye to this school for good after I leave the country on Monday.
Clunk.
After some time, the door opened, and Seok Kang-Ho entered, carrying paper cups in his hand and in between his lips.
“You’re already done with your work?” Kang Chan greeted.
“No, far from it. I just came here because I thought you might be bored. Anyway, this one’s for you—woah, the kids are really taking care of this place,” Seok Kang-Ho exclaimed.
“They certainly are. By the way, if you think you’ll need a while, I can just spend some time here and see myself off. Just call me when you’re done.”
“We’ll see. What are you going to do about lunch?” Seok Kang-Ho asked. He then took a sip of his coffee.
The question made Kang Chan look around the room.
“I’m thinking of asking Mi-Young to lunch.”
“Ah, good idea! I’m sure she would love to eat lunch with you, especially since you’re dressed so nicely. Anyway, go spend some time with the kids. The other teachers are making a fuss asking to have lunch with me. It has been a while since I last visited this place, after all,” Seok Kang-Ho said.
As the two chatted, the bell rang, indicating the end of the class. Not long after, they heard noises of students bustling around outside.
“Class is over, huh? I have to go back now,” Seok Kang-Ho said.
“Got it,” Kang Chan replied.
After Seok Kang-Ho left, Kang Chan checked the time. There was about an hour left before lunch.
As he waited for time to pass, Kang Chan thought that this could be one of those moments that seemed exciting but would turn out to be quite dull when put into action. As he let out a small sigh, the door opened with a thud, and Moon Ki-Jin walked in.
“Huh? Oh, hi!” Moon Ki-Jin quickly bowed in greeting, taken aback by Kang Chan’s presence.
Did I scare him that much? Kids really do grow up so damn fast, though.
“Have you been well?” Kang Chan asked.
“Yup! What brings you here?” Moon Ki-Jin asked out of curiosity.
“I stopped by with… Mr. Seok Kang-Ho. What about you?” Kang Chan asked.
“I have PE right now, so I decided to swing by on the way to the yard,” Moon Ki-Jin replied.
Moon Ki-Jin had changed quite a bit since Kang Chan last saw him. His body had become sturdier and his face and eyes now brimmed with confidence.
Kang Chan smiled, and Moon Ki-Jin grinned back sheepishly and looked down at the ground.
“You’re not leaving for class?” Kang Chan asked.
“I’ll go when the bell rings,” Moon Ki-Jin responded.
Does he want to be with me but is too shy to express it?
“Um, sunbae-nim,” Moon Ki-Jin hesitantly began.
“Yes?” Kang Chan replied.
“Thank you.”
What kind of out-of-the-blue statement is that?
“You know… coming to school is so much more fun now. So-Yeon noona says she feels the same way. We talk about you a lot, and we’ve been meaning to express our gratitude to you when we get a chance to meet you again.”
Moon Ki-Jin’s face turned beet red, probably embarrassed and shy about what he just said.
Kang Chan didn’t know how to reply to that. To be honest, it wasn’t as if he started fighting for these children in the first place. Nevertheless, while a part of him did feel a bit embarrassed, he also felt proud at the same time.
The bell signaling the start of class soon rang.
“I’ll be going now. Will you be staying here?” Moon Ki-Jin asked.
“Yup,” Kang Chan grinned.
Moon Ki-Jin was about to head to the door but quickly turned around and bowed in farewell, seemingly remembering to at the very last moment.
Kang Chan was in higher spirits now.
Now I’m curious about how they’re doing.
Kang Chan went to the window and looked down at the yard, finding the students in the middle of their warm-up exercises. He chuckled out loud when he saw Moon Ki-Jin. The kid had some moves.
Moon Ki-Jin was athletic and had a good heart. Unfortunately, some damn bastards bullied him into becoming a fool.
When they were done with warm-ups, they began splitting into teams.
Clunk!
A few minutes after, the door opened again.
“Huh?”
The person’s reaction was no different from Moon Ki-Jin’s. When Kang Chan turned around to look, he was greeted by Heo Eun-Sil standing crookedly in front of the door.
“When did you get here?” Heo Eun-Sil asked.
“Just a little while ago. Are you skipping class?” Kang Chan jokingly asked.
“I got permission,” Heo Eun-Sil replied.
Heo Eun-Sil, who wasn’t wearing any makeup, came to Kang Chan’s side and briefly glanced out of the window.
Something seems different. Or maybe not, I can’t tell.
“I quit smoking,” Heo Eun-Sil said, breaking the silence.
Did anyone ask?
“I’m going to sign up for the military. I’ve received counseling for my career, which is how I got permission to work out during class. My mom is really happy about it too,” Heo Eun-Sil continued.
Whoever has to train you is going to have one hell of a time.
“I’m going to join the special forces.”
Kang Chan chuckled.
He bet three pork cutlets that this girl would stand as crookedly as she was now even after she reached her goal of becoming a soldier.
“I couldn’t apologize to everyone, but whenever I meet someone I bullied, whoever it is, I always do my best to apologize,” Heo Eun-Sil said with determination.
“Why are you telling me this?” Kang Chan asked.
“Because you were the only one to talk to me about that stuff.”
This girl really wore him out. Hence, Kang Chan turned his gaze toward Moon Ki-Jin instead, who was jumping around in the yard. She seemed quite flexible.
“Su-Jin forgave me,” Heo Eun-Sil said.
What the hell is she doing? Why does she keep on babbling on about things that I’m not even curious about?
When Kang Chan looked back at her, Heo Eun-Sil didn’t avoid his gaze.
This girl should’ve been born as a man.
Otherwise, he would have beaten her up so she couldn’t give him this kind of look ever again.
Thinking such a wish was futile, Kang Chan just chuckled.
I guess I can’t curse her for doing her best to live life.
Kang Chan turned his attention back to the yard, and Heo Eun-Sil went to a desk, pulled out some files, and began to read them.
He felt exhausted just staying with her in the same room.
Clunk!
Kang Chan left the athletics club room and went to the stand to watch the first years playing soccer.
What am I even doing here? Am I really waiting through this just to eat lunch with Kim Mi-Young? Will she even be happy to see me?
That girl was still in the middle of her puberty. Perhaps she was gradually sorting out her feelings to distance herself from him. If so, then he could leave for France with more peace of mind.
Kang Chan just kept watching the students play soccer.
Buzz, buzz, buzz. Buzz, buzz, buzz. Buzz, buzz, buzz.
After a few minutes, his phone suddenly rang.
“Mr. Ambassador. Kang Chan speaking.”
- Mr. Kang Chan. Do you have time today?
The way Lanok spoke made Kang Chan think he was definitely calling to discuss something about the subterranean shock device.
Kang Chan glanced at the school building as he began to speak.
“I have a lunch appointment, but I’m free for the rest of the day. Where do you need me?” Kang Chan asked.
- We can meet at the embassy.
“Got it,” Kang Chan replied.
As Kang Chan hung up, he began to wonder what Lanok was going to say. Ethan said the situation right now was dangerous for France as well, so he hoped Lanok had come up with a good idea.
Ding dong.
The bell that signaled the end of classes was always music to anyone’s ears.
The students on the schoolyard began to rush to the classroom. Naturally, Moon Ki-Jin came to a stop in front of Kang Chan.
“Do you want to eat lunch together?” Kang Chan asked.
“Is that really alright with you?” Moon Ki-Jin asked in surprise.
“Of course. We ate lunch together last time too,” Kang Chan replied.
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