Eighteen’s Bed Novel Completed - Chapter 29 A Time for Redefinition

I arrived home, put down my bag, and waited for my tutor, who would arrive soon. I studied alone for the remaining time. However, these days, I had been having conversations with my parents, which was unusual.

My father and mother, who were in the trading business, usually left home for about 300 days a year, but they had been staying home continuously since returning a few days after Han Junwoo was hospitalized. And when they saw me return home, this was the sudden question my parents asked:

“Son, we heard there was a violence incident in your class. Are you okay?”

My parents, despite going to work every day, somehow picked up information so quickly and were quite knowledgeable about what was happening around me. Perhaps the parents were in contact with each other. First, I changed into my indoor slippers at the entrance. My mother followed closely beside me as I walked down the hallway to the living room.

“Me? Yes. Nothing happened to me.”

“No, that’s not what Mom means, he’s your friend, isn’t he?”

“Ah. Junwoo…”

“Junwoo?”

I heard the TV. It was my father. My father was hard of hearing and tended to turn up the volume of all electronic devices louder than others. Perhaps he heard my mother and my conversation, as he lowered the TV volume.

“Who’s Junwoo?”

“You know, that kid Jun was close with for a while. The dark-skinned one. Tall.”

“Have I ever seen such a kid?”

“You know, ‘that company’s’ son.”

“Ah.”

My father’s expression turned sour.

“Right, I’ve seen him, but I don’t remember well.”

“He does have a somewhat dark complexion. And he’s tall.”

“Then that’s him. That’s right.”

“They say he was badly hurt?”

“A little… I visited him in the hospital recently…”

“Oh. Good job.”

Was it really a good job? Contrary to her words, her face had an uncomfortable expression.

“Are you still hanging out with ‘him’ often?”

‘Him’? It felt like the level of address was getting lower and lower.

“Just… well…”

“Well, it’s good to be close with all your classmates… Oh, wait. Son. Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Not really. Why? Is something wrong?”

“It’s not that. Mom trusts our son implicitly. I do trust you.”

“No, you have to be clear about this. Son, don’t stick around that friend too much. Dad’s worried.”

The TV volume was now turned down to the lowest, only faint whispers could be heard. My father now turned his body completely to face me and spoke.

“Is he going to study abroad? Or is he preparing for the SAT?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t say anything like that.”

“Then what on earth is he going to do? Han CEO’s son, I remember hearing he was terrible at studying. He just goes around getting into fights. Right. That kid. I never liked him from way back. What are you lacking, Jun, that you have to hang around with him? I don’t want to see you being swayed by the things that my friend does.”

“That’s right. Yes. Dad’s right about that. Before, he used to call you out several times even in the early morning… I heard it all from my auntie. Mom trusted Jun and stayed quiet, but honestly, Mom thinks he wouldn’t do that unless he was looking down on you.”

Could I believe this? The strength drained from my shoulders. My backpack strap slipped to one side in the wind. This astonishing change caught me off guard. Being caught going out in the early morning was one thing, but this level of anger towards Han Junwoo was unexpected.

In fact, my parents didn’t particularly like or dislike Han Junwoo. That was largely due to Han Junwoo’s background. But could they suddenly change like this?

“Why are you suddenly like this? Did something happen?”

My mother clenched both fists and shouted,

“Because I’m upset and angry! I’m afraid our son will be looked down on by other kids if he hangs out with someone like that!”

My father cleared his throat and subtly gave me a look.

“Listen to Mom. There’s no harm in listening to Mom.”

Why did this sudden thing happen? What did they hear about the incident that day, and what else did they hear that made them both so furious? Anyway, it was neither good nor bad for me.

I pulled up the dangling backpack strap on my arm. And then I licked my lips once with my tongue.

“It’s okay. We’re not very close these days.”

Fortunately, my answer was correct. A look of relief spread across their faces.

“Really? Is that so? Why suddenly? You used to be so close.”

“It just… happened.”

Before my mother could ask more, I quickly turned towards the stairs.

“Then I’ll go put my bag down.”

And I subtly freed my arm that had been gently held. As I climbed the stairs to my room, I pondered what Go Yohan had told me before I entered the house.

‘Han Junwoo’s family went bankrupt. Completely.’

…Is that true?

What I was also curious about was why my parents were taking this attitude towards me. Leaving aside the talk about Han Junwoo, what did they mean by me being looked down on? Did my parents usually think that way about my relationship with Han Junwoo? Or did someone who told my parents the story see it that way?

“Damn it…”

As thoughts incessantly surged, I suddenly felt a surge of anger and hit the wall hard with my fist. The wall absorbed the loud sound, making a dull thud. My chest felt even more stifled. A sharp pain shot up my arm from the side of my hand that hit the wall. I took my hand off the wall, gripped my aching hand with the other, and collapsed onto the bed.

“So embarrassing. Fucking hell. Fuck!”

I spewed out curses that felt awkward because I didn’t use them often. I felt like I had to shout like this to relieve my frustration. Lying face down on the bed, I repeatedly hit the bed hard with my fist. Dust rose with the sound of springs compressing. I sat up and grabbed the cushion at the end of the bed. When I threw the cushion, it hit the armrest of the sofa and bounced far away. I grimaced and clutched my hair.

Fuck.

In the end, I could only stop thrashing after hitting the back of my head against the headboard. I took a deep breath. Then I tried to breathe evenly to calm my ragged breathing. And then I remembered when Han Junwoo and Go Yohan had fought in a messy tangle.

When Go Yohan threw the chair, Han Junwoo barely dodged the chair that was coming down towards his face. But Go Yohan didn’t stop there. He grabbed a desk that had lost its pair and this time threw it at Han Junwoo. The flying desk hit his back as he was trying to get up. Han Junwoo fell over with the desk, and Go Yohan immediately sat on top of the fallen Han Junwoo and lightly brought his fist to his cheek.

‘One, two.’

And with a sound made by pressing his tongue to the roof of his mouth, he swung his fist like a carpenter. Thwack, a sharp fist hit his right cheek hard. His actions were full of violence, but outwardly they were very regular and neat. Moreover, Go Yohan made a bizarre expression, one that was hard to tell if he was grimacing in pain or laughing for some other reason. But to me, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

And I saw it. Go Yohan picked up Han Junwoo’s lighter, which was rolling on the floor, before hitting Han Junwoo. That lighter was still in Go Yohan’s large hand even as Han Junwoo was being beaten. That’s probably why Han Junwoo lost two teeth.

‘This rag-like bastard has no respect for his elders, does he?’

This rag-like bastard…

Go Yohan’s voice echoed in my head.

Suddenly, I quietly looked at my right palm. Then I lightly clenched it.

I love myself too much. That’s why even though I loved Han Junwoo, I didn’t confess. I chose my own well-being over winning Han Junwoo’s heart. The original source of my wish that my feelings would disappear like sand scattered by the wind once I graduated high school stems from my concern for myself.

I loved myself more, so I turned away from Han Junwoo. I cannot tolerate myself not being loved by everyone. In the tug-of-war of my emotions, Han Junwoo lost to me.

I slammed my head back into the bed and let out a silent scream. After that, I pretended nothing happened, went back downstairs, and had dinner with my family with a smiling face.

“Eat a lot, son.”

“Yes.”

The scream from the second floor was nowhere to be found, only the calmness of having dinner with my affectionate family remained.

Although my parents were often not home, I received more love than other ordinary children. Even if it was overprotection, I had no complaints about their way of loving. Everything they gave me was abundant. Perhaps feeling sorry for their son who was left alone at home, they tried to give me everything they could.

My parents’ blind love might have been passed down to me. I realized that fact because of Han Junwoo. When I fall in love, I become a blind person. However, if I coldly consider my personality, I have a nature that turns away mercilessly from those who torment me. Conversely, I wonder if my parents are the same.

Therefore, I could never be cold to my parents, and I didn’t want to do anything that would make them hate me.

I still diligently attended school, winter was coming, and Han Taesan’s face gradually became as clear as winter snow. However, there was no joy at all on his face where the traces of wounds were fading.

Han Taesan still stole glances at me, and I still pretended not to notice. Han Junwoo still hadn’t returned. The homeroom teacher I met in the faculty office told me about Han Junwoo’s attendance days.

“I heard he’s fully recovered, but it seems difficult for him to come due to family matters.”

I thought to myself, what does that have to do with me?

“That’s a big problem.”

“There are also circumstances with Junwoo’s family…”

Looking at the worried homeroom teacher, I remembered what Go Yohan had said. It was truly a fact. Before winter came, Han Junwoo’s father was arrested. It was exactly as Go Yohan had said. My father, watching the news, muttered to himself that he finally got what he deserved. It seemed there were circumstances only adults knew about.

A subtle ripple had stirred in the classroom and had not settled down since. That ripple had intensified after Han Taesan’s appearance. After Han Junwoo’s downfall, the pyramid was shaking. The most noticeable change was that Go Yohan and his friends’ voices had grown louder. Just like now.

“Do you know the three most important things for a man?”

Kim Minho folded his fingers.

“Power. Money. And swagger.”

“You only have power, you pig bastard.”

Kim Seokmin playfully rebuked Kim Minho very loudly.

“Do you want to get beaten like a dog on a hot summer day? Oh, you do, don’t you?”

Since Han Junwoo was branded with the humiliating label of ‘gay,’ Go Yohan’s group had often made loud noises, but they hadn’t been able to openly gather at the back of the classroom by the lockers and chatter so loudly as to disturb self-study. This situation was clearly after ‘Go Yohan’s victory.’

“Alright, self-study time isn’t over yet. Be quiet!”

Yoonri shouted, banging the desk with chalk, but Go Yohan’s group ignored her.

It was just like a dog peeing in its territory. Dirty and childish. But it was an equally effective method. After all, Kim Minho and Kim Seokmin had more triumphant expressions than usual. The main character of the incident, Go Yohan, was quiet, though.

To be honest, Go Yohan wasn’t as good a top dog as Han Junwoo. As someone sitting at the highest position, he should have had some arrogance, but Go Yohan neglected the square cage he had. For that reason, this pyramid was stirring with checks and balances.

“Don’t disturb the kids studying!”

“Yes, sorry.”

“Look at this bastard’s insincere apology.”

“Ah, shit. Was I caught?”

“Quiet, be quiet!”

“Yeesh.”

“Crazy, idiot. He chickened out.”

Kim Minho poked Kim Seokmin, who was sitting next to him, and chuckled. Without even glancing at Yoonri.

“Hey, do you wanna die?”

In the end, Yoonri, overwhelmed by the noisy bluster of Kim Minho and Kim Seokmin, sighed and clutched her head.

“Jun, I’m going out for a bit, so can you take my textbook to the faculty office?”

Why me again?