Chapter 362: Democratic Party of the 101 (1) |
“Ah, hello! I’m Min Juri. Nice to meet you...”
As I spoke while looking in the mirror, anxiety overwhelmed me.
I clearly looked uncomfortable.
“What the heck am I doing?”
Even though the year is almost over, I still haven’t spoken to Ryu Min, who’s in the same class as me.
“We’re supposed to be in the same class. Talking should come naturally, right?”
But that would’ve been more appropriate at the beginning of the semester, wouldn’t it? Now?
“It’s almost winter break and graduation, and I still haven’t said a single word...”
How long will I continue living this bullied life?
“It’s okay. Take courage, Min Juri. Let’s go, let’s go!”
I clenched my fist and spoke toward the mirror.
“What courage are you even talking about?”
“Haha!”
Suddenly, someone came out of the bathroom.
It’s a classmate.
“Min Juri, what did you just say?”
“Oh, nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“Do you think I can just let that slide? Take courage, Min Juri. Let’s go, let’s go!”
Even repeating those previous lines made me feel awkward—I couldn’t raise my head.
“Can you just ignore it?”
“How could I? I already heard it. Who is it? Who on earth?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Who do you like?”
Even though I don’t remember mentioning anyone.
Apparently, the class leader is quick to catch on to these things.
Though I had no intention of telling.
“No, it’s not what you think. There’s no one I like.”
“That’s not true. There has to be someone. Hmm? Just tell me. I won’t say anything, okay?”
“I can’t tell you.”
Firmly refusing, the class leader didn’t push further.
It didn’t mean they gave up.
“Hmm, really? I think I know who it is.”
“What?”
“If you have a crush, it’s probably someone in our class. Could it be Hyun Bin?”
“What are you talking about? There’s no such thing.”
“Seems like it’s not Hyun Bin. How about Song Min-hyuk, the handsome one?”
“It’s not like that!”
“You’ll end up spilling the truth eventually. So, is it Ryu Min?”
“......”
An embarrassed Min Juri remained silent.
“Ryu Min? If it’s him, that’s a huge letdown...”
“What are you saying? Why?”
In an instant, Min Juri’s expression hardened.
Unconsciously.
“No, Ryu Min, he’s so quiet. He doesn’t talk all day and always looks sad...”
Is this prejudice?
Judging someone as if you know everything about them without having exchanged a single word?
Maybe I’m the same.
“But Ryu Min isn’t like that. Even if he seems different, he’s living so diligently.”
“Really? Anyway... I’ll support you. Even though I feel it’s a pity. Not just a little, but a lot. Haha.”
Laughing confidently, the class leader walked away, leaving me with an unpleasant feeling.
How arrogant am I to look down on others?
How could I know how much Ryu Min is suffering from being bullied by thugs while still working hard at a restaurant job?
“I don’t fully get it.”
Mumbling to herself, Min Juri let out a sigh of relief.
“I was almost caught.”
Luckily, it seems the crisis has passed.
But what exactly was she supporting?
—————–
Weekend after school.
As usual, Min Juri worked at the convenience store.
————
Beep
“That’ll be 3,800 won.”
It wasn’t hard since it was something I’ve always done.
Also studying.
And living alone with Dad.
‘Mom...’
Suddenly, I thought of Mom, who got divorced.
The divorce was due to Dad’s business failure.
It was a common story, but for them, it was like a bolt from the blue.
‘What would it have been like if the business had succeeded?’
Then... Mom and Dad wouldn’t have divorced, and he wouldn’t have opened this convenience store by going into debt.
“Can you please give me a bag?”
“Huh? Oh, here you go. I’m sorry.”
For a moment, I got distracted and forgot to give the customer a bag.
I need to focus, but I saw the book I left by the register.
‘Oh right. Was I studying?’
Whenever I had time, I’d study with problems in mind.
Even on weekends, I couldn’t avoid studying.
Because it’s all to get closer to my goal of becoming a doctor.
The reason Min Juri chose to be a doctor as her future aspiration was quite simple.
“I need to get into medical school so Dad can live well. Definitely.”
I wanted to help Dad, who’s working so hard to raise his kids.
That’s why I strongly opposed Dad working on weekends and took over instead.
I felt bad seeing Dad work all week.
Ding-dong-
“Welcome... Dad!”
Dad came in without warning.
“Get ready to leave, Min Juri.”
“What are you talking about? There’s still a long way to go until the shift change.”
“I told the employee to leave early, I’ll pay them extra.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
Min Do-hoon, my father, seemed hesitant before speaking.
“Your mom has something to tell you.”
“Huh?”
“You too, and I as well. Let’s go together.”
At that moment, a bad feeling flashed through Min Juri’s mind.
———-
Unlike Dad, Mom didn’t have a warm personality.
She was cold and ruthless.
When the business failed, she filed for divorce and left without looking back.
And that’s clear even from what she’s telling us now.
“I’m getting remarried this month. He’s a wealthy and good man.”
“What?”
Min Do-hoon looked at his ex-wife with bewildered eyes.
“Did you call me here just to say that?”
“I thought we should at least try again.”
“What makes you think I can do that? What nonsense are you talking about?”
“You’re ruthless. How could you say that in front of your daughter...?”
“I have a daughter too. Even though she’s my stepdaughter from his previous marriage, I try to think of her as my real daughter.”
“Has it only been a few months since your divorce, and you’re already forming a family?”
“Once you’re divorced, it’s over. Is there some grace period?”
Mom, speaking coldly, looked at Min Juri.
Min Juri couldn’t help but avoid eye contact.
“Are you studying well?”
“......”
“Yes. You can resent me for leaving you. But think rationally. How would the three of us live on your father’s salary? How would I feel being the wife of a man who ruined all the money we’d saved?”
“You! You should keep quiet...!”
“You should be quiet yourself. I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?”
“Why are you doing this? We’re done, so why are you coming back and talking about remarriage?”
“I just want to clarify our relationship. You still have feelings for me, don’t you? Even if we’re separated, we need to be certain about it.”
“Does that make you feel better? Hmm?”
“Don’t take it the wrong way. I can’t leave without saying something when I’m getting remarried, can I? I figured we should at least meet face-to-face and talk. I don’t have any other intentions. I only called you here to say this.”
After saying her piece, Mom stood up.
“I’m leaving before things get any worse between us. Let’s live our own lives now. I’ll pay for the food, so take your time eating. Live well. Both of you.”
Leaving behind dry remarks and without a change in her expression, Mom left like that.
The scent of grilled meat still lingered in the air above the table.
—————-
That day, Dad drank until he couldn’t anymore.
“Stop drinking, Dad!”
“Oh, don’t stop me. I want to get drunk on a day like this!”
“You’re already drunk!”
It was such a huge humiliation that he couldn’t bear it sober.
As a man, as a father, as an ex-husband, it was the day all his pride crumbled.
How could he not drink on a day like this?
I understood.
But from the moment they divorced, from the moment he was left alone with his daughter at home, Dad had promised to stop drinking.
“I’m not going to drink anymore! I told you I didn’t want to see you drink in front of me. I told you we were going to survive somehow. I promised you that! Didn’t I?”
“...huhuh...”
He seemed to remember his promise, stopping his reach for the liquor bottle and sobbing.
For a long time.
—————
From that day on, Dad never drank in front of his daughter again.
Instead, he made another promise.
“Min Juri, Dad won’t show you his pitiful side. I’ll never cry in front of you again.”
“Is that a promise? You better not break it like yesterday.”
“Of course! Of course. Now, that woman won’t cross my mind. Thanks to her, I’ve let go of any lingering regrets. Actually, there was a bit of regret.”
It was a one-sided divorce, so there was no way not to feel regret.
“Was it the best thing that could’ve happened?”
Min Juri thought that Mom coming back made Dad stronger.
A blessing in disguise.
“What a relief, Dad! Now you’re okay!”
“What? Are you treating me like a child?”
“Hahaha!”
A daughter running away while her father strikes a playful pose.
It was a scene of a happy family anyone could see.
“Never cry again, Dad!”
“Oh, yes. I can’t afford to cry in front of my daughter.”
The tears from that day were the last tears Juri saw in her father.
Or so she thought.
Until January 1st.
——————-
December 31st, 11:45 p.m.
A cold winter night.
“Hoo, hoo.”
Min Juri rubbed her hands together and stepped out wearing her coat.
The reason she went out late at night was none other than this.
It was to meet her father, who was still working late.
Ding-dong-
“Dad.”
“Huh? Why did you come? I told you to stay home because it’s cold.”
“Hehe, how can you say that? You’re working alone like this.”
“Oh, you too...”
Originally, she had a night part-time job, but Dad said he’d handle it and told her not to work today.
“You’ll get paid for your work.”
Min Juri wasn’t pleased with that.
“Dad, don’t push yourself so hard working. It’s better to call someone else for today’s shift at the store.”
“Oh, it’s the end of the year, you know? The kid should also spend time with family and enjoy the year-end events.”
Seeing her father caring for the employees like they were regular staff, she felt a bit apologetic.
She knew well that they were struggling with debts, which made it even more painful.
“I don’t want to see Dad working so hard. I need to succeed as soon as possible.”
Although she had taken the university entrance exam, her grades were a bit low compared to the standard.
She was at an uncertain level for getting into medical school.
That’s why she was considering retaking the exam.
“I haven’t told Dad yet.”
As the clock marked the start of the new year, she made her most important wish.
She hoped this year’s exam would go really well.
And that she could get into medical school, succeed, and make a lot of money.
Then her father, having a daughter who’s a doctor, could stand tall with pride.
He could even boast to his friends that his daughter became a doctor.
“I’ll really make Mom regret it. She’ll regret choosing another family over ours.”
While reflecting privately, she noticed the TV in the convenience store.
The year-end event was in full swing.
“When will you go, Min Juri? It’s cold, come in quickly.”
“Oh, wait a little longer. But Dad, did you make a New Year’s wish yet?”
“Hmm? A wish?”
“Yeah, in a minute it’ll be the new year. You should make a wish.”
“Hmm, a wish, huh?”
After thinking for a while, Min Dohoon smiled.
“My wish is already granted. It’s to live happily with my daughter.”
“Happy? But aren’t you struggling so much?”
“Happiness doesn’t disappear just because you’re struggling. What is happiness? It’s spending time with my beloved daughter and making good memories together. That’s happiness and memories.”
“You’re more sentimental than I thought. Are you an F type, Dad?”
“F? What’s that?”
“Oh, you know, MBTI...”
It was then.
Ding! Ding!
The sound of the year-end bells echoed from the TV screen.
Finally, the new year had begun.
“Min Juri, I wish you a happy new ye—”
Suddenly, Min Juri collapsed on the ground.
Min Do-hoon’s eyes widened in shock.
“Min Juri!”