Chapter 227 (1/2)

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I heard Eun Jiho’s mother and Mr. Eun Han Soo were of the same age; however, she still emitted that lovely little girl ambiance. The lady, who had beautifully curved arch-like eyebrows, twinkling eyes, and a fairy-like smile, was wearing a gold dress embroidered with intricate brocade, which gave me the impression of a fairy in the forest despite its very colorful and fancy design.

It was my first time to see her after Eun Jiho’s birthday during middle school, but she seemed very kind and pleasant to meet me again. Leaning herself toward me, she whispered as if telling me a secret.

“Donnie, aren’t you already feeling exhausted? You would’ve not been able to sleep in the front row listening to my husband’s speech.”

“Oh, no!”

Shaking my head sideways vigorously, I held my hands together and spoke to her.

“It was so amazing although there was some difficult part to understand…”

With a swiveling smile, she adjusted my hair, showing care and compassion. Mr. Eun Han Soo, who finished his conversation with Eun Jiho before I knew, came closer to her back. She then stretched out her hand to embrace her husband affectionately.

“Honey, Donnie must have loved your speech. You can be proud of yourself as it’s said from a sensitive seventeen-year-old girl.”

“Really? I’m glad to hear that.”

I was surprised that Mr. Eun Han Soo’s voice sounded as sweet as a spring day.

‘Is the man in front of me the same person who has been strict to his son, Eun Jiho?’

After a moment of hesitation, I was astonished by the voice coming from the front.

“But honey, you should lower the difficulty of the speech. Some parts have been hard to follow.”

“I see. Would you kindly tell me which parts they were?”

Instead of scolding me how dumb I was, Mr. Eun Han Soo asked me in a friendly tone like a tutor. My face was on fire.

Gosh, why did I say that there had been some parts hard to understand…

Rolling my eyes, I thought for a while, but the chairman looked as if he was waiting for my response. So was Eun Jiho who came back to us, throwing a glance at me. Adjusting my voice, I, at last, slowly opened my mouth.

“Um… the part about those that are invisible or do not last in form.”

“Oh, I see, yes, that part.”

“I was wondering what those would be.”

Blinking his eyes for a few times, Mr. Eun Han Soo then, unexpectedly, showed me a warm smile.

“Most simply, they’re around us,” he replied.

“Excuse me?”

“For instance, right now, this time.”

“Oh.”

I nodded my head. He continued with a grin.

“And the thing that only you and Jiho have.”

“Huh?”

“Youth.”

I flickered my eyes and slowly nodded.

What he said was true. Both youth and time are invisible and do not last in any physical form. Once we come to our senses, we find out that they are gone.

That was when I tried to say, “Thank you,” with a blush, feeling a little ashamed of not having thought of such obvious things.

“Take care of those that disappear quickly.”

“Pardon?”

Mr. Eun Han Soo continued with a soft smile.

“I also didn’t realize that when I was young, but what really matters is not whether it remains or not. There’s no reason to be sad in advance about the flowers fading after the full bloom. Be in the moment. The most important time is now.”

“Oh.”

“Sometimes we live by that very moment as hope for tomorrow.”

His remark pierced sharply into my heart even amid the noisy banquet hall. Before I got to understand it with my head, something seemed to resonate around my chest loudly.

We live by that very moment as hope for tomorrow.

I repeated those words inside my mouth. It felt like I was consoled out of the blue in an unexpected place. Being hesitant for a second, I soon exchanged a smile with the chairman then fell into thought. ‘At some point, I’ve been living my life, seizing things that will soon disappear or vanish away someday. These include grades, friendship, and things about Ban Yeo Ryung and Eun Jiho too.’ Having those thoughts in mind, I glanced at Eun Jiho, approaching me past Mr. Eun Han Soo.