In high school, he’d ridden his motorcycle. Although it was a dangerous ride with a high
chance of an accident, his bodyguards and an escort of police cars were behind him.
The most frugal means of transportation he’d used was a taxi.
His imported cars at home were taking a long break in the garage.
Somehow, he’d become the inheriting son of a business franchise CEO. He couldn’t tell her
the truth because he was afraid that she might become prejudiced or hostile towards him.
Although he didn’t dislike the time he spent comfortably on these modest dates, he’d never
felt a painful regret like this before.
“I’m going first. Go home safely.”
“H-Hye Yeon.”
Just when Choi Ji Hoon stood awkwardly to take her home anyways, he saw Jung Il Hoon
wagging his finger and stopped.
He was even saying something. The blatant words his lips conveyed were clear.
‘If you run, you’ll die.’
* * *
After he’d seen Lee Hye Yeon off, Choi Ji Hoon approached Jung Il Hoon, his shoulders
cringing and his eyes trembling. Without a doubt, he was the picture of a prisoner.
“It’s hot. Let’s walk a little.”
“Yes, hyung.”
They headed towards a nearby park.
For Choi Ji Hoon, it was an incredible relief that they didn’t ascend into the back mountains.
‘At the very least, it’s better that I was caught by Jung Il Hoon and not someone else.’
He was the first instructor and had a strong sense of responsibility. Since he himself was
courting someone, he was unusually considerate.
Fish were swimming peacefully in the clear, park lake.
‘I’m jealous of you guys.’
At this moment, even Choi Ji Hoon was jealous of the fish.
Jung Il Hoon moaned loudly with a drawn face, “Do you... like Hye Yeon?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Choi Ji Hoon didn’t make any excuses.
They might not be in a dating relationship, but he was certain that the feeling of love had
blossomed in his heart.
“So that’s how it is.”
Jang Il Hoon didn’t speak for a long time.
Choi Ji Hoon’s body, which had been trembling like a leaf, gradually relaxed.
‘I survived.’
He hadn’t been thoughtlessly beaten. So with the optimistic hope that he would make it to
the other side safely, he tried carefully moving forward.
After a moment of silence, Choi Ji Hoon gallantly straightened his chest.
“As long as Hye Yeon likes me, I want to try being in a honest, serious relationship with her.”
“In the end, you...”
“I’m sorry. Hyung-nim.”
“It’s fine. What reason is there to be sorry to me. Love is a matter for those involved. And if it
doesn’t come to dating?”
“I’m in love with her.”
Choi Ji Hoon explained how some expressions of Lee Hye Yeon were so beautiful to him.
It was an explanation that spanned a long 10 minutes. He even spoke honestly of the empty
feelings he’d felt while meeting other girls.
“I’m still young, but I think she’s a girl who’d be hard to find again in my whole life. More
than anything... Even now, it’s like I can still hear her voice. I think of her when I sleep, too.”
Choi Ji Hoon realized something as he spoke.
Lee Hye Yeon was different from other girls. He realized that if he lost her, she was a
precious person he would never be able to meet again, and also just how enthralled he was
with her.
Jung Il Hoon clapped his shoulder with a thickset hand.
“Alright. It’s fine if you’re that determined. A man doesn’t have to talk pathetically about this
and that.”
“Are you giving me your permission?”
“What do you mean, permission. I told you that love is fine if those involved like each other.”
“Thank you very much. Hyung-nim!”
“Ah, but you know...”
Jung Il Hoon spoke genially, “Come to the dojo starting from tomorrow.”
“What?”
“If you’re a man, you should pay a little attention to your muscle fitness too. Do you think a
flaccid body will do.”
“It’s not flaccid...”
It was a body trained with basketball, soccer, swimming and all sorts of sports.
Jung Il Hoon shouted sharply, “It’s weak! With that level of fitness, could you win against
about 3,000 thugs if they lunged at you while in the middle of a date?”
“3... 3,000 of them?”
“No matter the situation, you have to be able to protect your girlfriend. Even if a war broke
out, a drought struck, a flood happened, earthquake, even if a tsunami were to rise, you have
to save your girlfriend. Are you prepared for that much?”
“N-not yet.”