Sinpo High School

With Ah-ra's endless chatter as the background noise, Ji-ho calmly enjoyed his breakfast. Sim Young-sook paused her dishwashing for a moment, quickly packing lunchboxes into the bags of her two sons. Ji-ho always carried two lunchboxes because he had to attend evening self-study sessions. After she was done, Ryu Ah-ra slung her school bag over her shoulder, ready to leave.

"I want to go to school with my brothers too!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.

"What time do you think it is? Is an elementary school kid going to school this early? Get back to your room!" her mother snapped.

Ryu Ah-ra received a few light smacks on her bottom from her mother and hurried back to her bedroom, her cries ringing out plaintively for a few moments.

"Honestly, I'm not sure if she's really my child. Her brothers were always so calm. Tsk, tsk," muttered Sim Young-sook, as she saw her two sons off to the front door. With the dress code at their school now relaxed, the two brothers left home wearing casual clothes.

"What a shame, I really wanted to try wearing a school uniform," thought Ryu Ji-ho, a little disgruntled.

By the time school uniforms were reintroduced, Ryu Ji-ho had already graduated from high school. There would never be a chance for him to wear a school uniform.

The brothers left the alley in front of their house and made their way toward the hill road. The roofs and exteriors of the houses in the neighborhood were uniform, appearing much the same as one another.

Five years ago, this neighborhood had been full of unauthorized shanty houses. With the approach of the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympics, a slum renewal project had been carried out, transforming the area into the clean and orderly neighborhood it was now.

The original residents, who had once lived in the shacks and struggled in poverty, were either forced or chose to leave. The current residents were those who could afford to pay for housing credit. In the case of Ryu Minsang, even though he was a factory worker, his stable job allowed him to afford a house in this newly developed area.

Ryu Ji-Ho had tried to talk to his younger brother several times. However, it was never an easy task.

As someone who had once been involved in the world of filmmaking, Ryu Ji-Ho had experienced some difficult times, especially when it came to financial struggles. Eventually, he handed over the responsibility of taking care of their widowed mother to his younger brother. It was as if, in the midst of chasing his dreams and taking care of himself, he had forgotten about his family. This created a distance between him and his brother, Ryu Sunho, who had begun to see him as a stranger.

Perhaps because of these bitter memories, Ryu Ji-Ho found it difficult to open his mouth and express his feelings.

"I'm sorry, A-ra," he whispered to himself, the words echoing only in the silence of his own mind.

Unlike Ryu A-ra, who quickly became comfortable around him, Ryu Sun-ho took much longer to feel at ease in his brother's presence.

"Study hard. I'll see you at home later tonight," Ryu Ji-Ho said, trying to sound casual despite the doubt clouding his heart.

"Okay," Ryu Sun-ho replied curtly, not bothering to turn around again. He then walked away towards his school, which was close enough to home that he preferred to walk.

Watching his brother's back as he walked away, Ryu Ji-Ho pondered, "Does this mean I have to start all over again, like a high school student?"

At first, he thought this would feel ordinary, but there was an odd sense of excitement stirring in his heart. At that time, the bus fare for adults was 120 won, while students paid only 90 won. Ryu Ji-Ho boarded the bus and quickly pulled out his bus pass from his jacket pocket, inserting it into the fare box in front.

Back when he was in middle school, Ryu Ji-Ho remembered there being conductors on every bus he took. However, since he started high school, that sight had vanished. For the record, in 1990, all regions in Korea decided to abolish the bus conductor system.

The city bus he was on quickly filled up after just a few stops. Like sprouts in a cramped container, the passengers jostled, and the bus slowly made its way toward the city center.

Looking out the window, Ryu Ji-Ho felt as though he was passing through a small town in the countryside. There were no skyscrapers to be seen.

"Has Incheon become a metropolitan city now?" he muttered softly, as if speaking to himself.

Incheon was promoted to a city directly under the central government in 1981, and in 1987, after merging several areas like Ganghwa-gun, Ongjin-gun, and Geomdan-myeon from Gimpo-gun, the city was renamed Incheon Metropolitan City.

Actually, he didn't have much time to think about such things. As the bus drew closer to Dongincheon, Ryu Ji-Ho began to feel anxious.

"In my first year of high school, which class am I in?" he thought nervously.

Memories of everyday, simple events might be the reason why Ryu Ji-Ho's recollections felt so hazy. They swirled in his mind like blurred fragments of images, leaving behind faint traces that were hard to forget.

Finally, the long-awaited bus arrived at Dongincheon Station, the busiest hub in Incheon. The high school Ryu Ji-Ho was headed to was not far from here, nestled around the peak of Eungbong Mountain. The atmosphere there was always bustling and lively, like a heart beating in anticipation of something new.

"It feels like walking on the set of a historical drama. No, more like stepping into a film...?" he thought. The streets were filled with laughter, lively chatter, and the endless rush of footsteps.

After a few minutes of walking, Ryu Ji-Ho found himself facing a long, wide road that sloped upward toward the mountain's peak. The path was steep, but it offered a beautiful view that was hard to forget.

Suddenly, Ryu Ji-Ho stopped. His eyes were fixed on the end of the road, which seemed far ahead, and his heart began to race. There was something there, something that was drawing him in. Perhaps a memory, maybe a hope, or just a strange feeling that made him pause.

"Why am I so nervous?" he whispered softly. His mind drifted back to the past, to the moments with his friends from the broadcasting club, and his high school gang who were always by his side. They had come to the funeral, sharing the grief, and those memories flooded his heart with mixed emotions. His heart pounded at the thought of possibly seeing them again.

"Ahhh!" Ryu Ji-Ho took a deep breath, trying to calm his anxious heart.

"What are you doing?" A familiar voice broke through his thoughts.

"Whoa!" Ryu Ji-Ho exclaimed, turning around in surprise. Standing there was Hwang Jae-Jeong, with his characteristic deadpan expression and his thick-rimmed glasses that he always wore. Hwang Jae-Jeong was one of the four friends who had been with Ryu Ji-Ho throughout their three years of high school. Although he seemed like a serious and diligent student, Jae-Jeong was a bit of a rogue—often drunk and a heavy smoker. Yet, their friendship remained strong even after graduation.

"What were you daydreaming about?" Jae-Jeong asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just felt strange, that's all," Ryu Ji-Ho replied, trying to hide his unease.

"Strange? Why?"

"Everything just feels odd."

"You're the odd one," said Hwang Jae-Jeong, frowning.

"Jae-Jeong, it's so great to see you, buddy!" Ryu Ji-Ho, filled with overflowing joy, immediately hugged Hwang Jae-Jeong tightly. But a startled Jae-Jeong pushed him away.

"Why are you acting so weird this morning? Did you eat something spoiled or what?"

"It's just that I'm happy to see you! Come here!" Ryu Ji-Ho said, pulling Jae-Jeong back in.

"Get off me, you idiot!" Jae-Jeong replied though a small smile crept up at the corner of his lips.

Seeing the unshakeable smile on Ryu Ji-Ho's face, Hwang Jae-Jeong frowned even deeper. "Is there some good news at home?"

"Nothing like that," Ryu Ji-Ho said, shaking his head.

"Then why have you been grinning like that all morning?"

"It's just... I'm happy to see you... and I'm glad to be starting another morning like this."

"You're crazy!" Hwang Jae-Jeong playfully smacked Ryu Ji-Ho on the head, making them both laugh.

"Hahaha," their laughter rang out cheerfully, filling the cold morning air with the warmth of friendship.

Ryu Ji-Ho felt grateful. He had been given the chance to repay the kindness of his family and friends. Today marked the beginning of a new and better life. How could he not feel excited and happy? With a light heart, Ryu Ji-Ho walked up the slope alongside Hwang Jae-Jeong, heading toward their school.

At the school gate, the headteacher was standing there with wide eyes, closely watching the students. Beside him, several members of the student discipline team stood tall, ready to enforce the rules.

"Cut your hair, or I'll shave it all off!" the headteacher shouted, holding a punishment stick and a pair of scissors in his hands. Back then, a military-style buzz cut was mandatory even though the school was not a military institution.

Ryu Ji-Ho watched the students carefully walking through the school gate. The newly renovated school building stood clearly before him, bringing back old, blurry memories.

"Ah~" Ryu Ji-Ho sighed in admiration. Sinpo High School is a well-known all-boys public high school in the Incheon area. Even though the entrance exam system had been abolished and random selection was applied, this school remained one of the best in the region.

"When I got accepted, my parents must have been so proud and talked about it to all the neighbors," he thought, a faint smile on his face. Those memories flowed swiftly, making him feel stronger and ready to face the new day with renewed enthusiasm.