Chapter 557 (1/2)

.

While Eun Jiho kept whining, I briefly explained how Ban Yeo Ryung and I got into a fight three years ago alongside the long history of conflicts with my parents hidden behind the story.

The kids began to look serious during my explanation. Even Eun Jiho stopped complaining and listened to my story.

At the end of my confession, we were all surrounded by heavy silence. A few neighbors walking in and out of the apartment complex where we were standing glanced at us doubtfully and stealthily took a detour.

Heaving a deep sigh, I added, “What do you think I should do?”

“In my case, I would just endure the situation and move on until the same thing happens…” said Eun Jiho.

I stared at him in surprise. Eun Jiho suffering something patiently––it was hardly imaginable, but to think of it, he once told me that his life was a history of tolerance itself.

‘When it comes to his parents, even the peerless Eun Jiho has no choice but to follow their rules,’ I thought, then turned my head. This time, it was surprisingly Eun Hyung who voiced out a different opinion.

Like a news anchor, Eun Hyung opened his mouth and spoke in his usual calm and clear tone.

“I think it’s better to talk about it now.”

“Why?” asked Yeo Ryung. Even she looked quite astonished.

Before responding to us, Eun Hyung hesitated for a moment, looking at me. He uttered, “Because if the same thing happens next time, that will be definitely after the exam.”

That was when I realized the reason why he paused before making a response. His remark was assuming that I would screw up the test as terribly as the results would be comparable to those of Yeo Ryung.

However, to be honest, I always got lower marks than Yeo Ryung. When the closest comparison became someone who was the nationwide Number one in test scores, it felt just absurd, instead of feeling miserable.

As long as my parents stopped arguing that I couldn’t do better than her due to my ‘laziness,’ things were all fine.

While I just nodded silently, Eun Hyung dropped the rest of his words.

“Donnie, you’re studying hard before the test, so if you mess up the exam despite your efforts, you’ll feel very upset and even not well since you lack sleep. If you quarrel with your parents in that situation… things will likely turn out worse.”

“Oh, that’s correct,” I immediately agreed. To begin with, the reason why my parents and I struck retorts to each other was because of my bad health condition and frustration from feeling betrayed by my thoughts of ‘I’ll do great this time.’

My mom and I weren’t those sensitive characters in the first place, so even if we out tongues slipped, we just pointed things out half-jokingly and moved on. The small quarrel seldom erupted into a mighty battle.

––The Republic of Korea, are you listening? Exams are this much harmful!

Well then, as Eun Hyung said, would it be indeed better for me to vent my years of complaints this time when nothing actually happened yet?

“You got my vote too,” Yoo Chun Young also agreed.

“Why do you…?”

“How can you tolerate it further?”

Everyone nodded their head yes as if they all had the same thoughts.

Amid the somewhat serious vibe, I tried hard to suppress the corner of my lips going upward to hint a smile. Yoo Chun Young’s short remark seemed to embody his kindness, saying, ‘I know how painful and heartbroken you have been, enduring the challenging times.’

Shortly after, I took the elevator with them and went upstairs to my house. It took a lot of time not to make noisy footsteps while walking carefully in a group of many people.

When I arrived right in front of my house, I took a deep breath.

“I’m going inside,” I uttered determinedly.

Yeo Ryung cheered me up, “Good luck, Donnie. Go for it.” It sounded as nervous as my voice was.

I added, showing a small grin, “Whether I come out crying or smiling, make sure you pat me on the back.”