Chapter 10: Friend
Chapter Theme: Friend - BTOB

Han Seungwoo

I was disappointed. I almost had her in my taxi when a car took over my place. This is hard because she kept on popping into my mind. How could she unintentionally do it?

Driving my way back home is not good. My father will be suspicious and I never had this kind of feeling before. I'm jealous even though we're not a couple and we barely knew each other. We're not even friends. I sighed in defeat.

Don't invest a feeling for her. Forget her as early as now. You are not enough for her. You only work as a taxi driver and you have a father and a son to feed. She will never like you!

A man waved his hand to hail my taxi. I did not bother to look at him when he sit in the backseat. This is not typically me.

"Where are you headed, sir?" I asked with a tired tone. Fix yourself Han Seungwoo. You need to work for your father and son!

"Yah Han Seungwoo! I'm hurt!" Before I could start the engine, I looked in the front mirror and was in shock when I saw the person in the backseat.

"Lee Jinhyuk? Oraenmanida!" I greeted him, still surprised. How could he just pop up out of nowhere?

Lee Jinhyuk and I were classmates and best buddies in high school. We separated ways in college because he went to Korea University and I went to Yonsei University. After we graduated, we never contacted each other.

"Yeah, it's been a long time! We need to catch up!" He said. I said yes to his invitation right away. I don't have the energy to work and I need to rejuvenate.

I brought him to the barbecue house where we used to hang out every time the examinations ended. This was our comfort place when we were drained after exams. Those good times when we were still young and all we think was only how to pass the exams.

"This will be my treat Seungwoo. You used to treat me back in the good old days."

He ordered barbecues, fried chicken, and 4 cups of beer. This is gluttony!

Jinhyuk is still thin and maintained his body figure well. His metabolism is too fast, I think.

"How's your life Jinhyuk? Are you married?"

He smiled and he chewed his food first before answering. "We were not yet married but we already have a child." He said proudly.

The look on his face screams contentment. I guess he's really in love and happy with his family.

"I met her when I was in college. When we graduated, I impregnated her so she will be forever mine. I have a five-year-old son, his name is Lee Jinwoo."

I was amazed by his story. How could he handle that situation?

"Woah.. how did you do that?" I asked with my mouth agape.

"How did we make Jinwoo?" I laughed at his nasty joke. Same old Jinhyuk, still good at making nasty jokes.

"No.. what I mean is how did you plan that well? Why are you so sure that she will be yours forever and how did you let her agree?"

He clasped his hands making me so eager to hear his story. Jinhyuk was a serious boy back in high school. I thought he will be only serious in his studies. I didn't know he will be serious in love. Many girls liked him before but he never laid his eyes on anyone. I suspected that he was gay and he might be crushing on me but he's just so serious about his studies.

"When you fell in love.. it will really hit you hard. If your love is genuine and strong to that certain person, I tell you that you will be drowned." He sounded so expert in love.

Love can change a person. Just like how I changed my perceptions in life to raise Dongpyo. Letting go of my career path was one of them but I didn't end up regretting it.

I'm lucky that I haven't fallen in love yet. How could I possibly save myself from the drown?

Yoon Harin flashed into my mind. What if I'll fall for her? Can I stand up from my fall? What if it will be only one-sided? That will be too painful for me to handle. I should stop myself from thinking about her. This will only lead to chaos.

"Good for you, Jinhyuk-ssi. I wish you all the best in the world!"

"How about you Seungwoo? Are you still with her?"

"We're over. You know that!" We laughed in the chorus just like before. He was referring to my girlfriend way back in senior high school. She was very pretty but I only like her. I never loved her. I did not even kiss her. I only experienced holding her hands. After that, I never engaged myself with girls.

"I'm just kidding. What about now Seungwoo-ssi? Don't tell me you're still picky like before. You always have a lot of love letters in your locker than mine. You were the most popular in our school!" I suddenly became nervous. Should I tell him about Yoon Harin? But I'm still not sure about my feelings and I don't want to acknowledge them.

"I think I like someone.." oh yeah.

"Yah! You're already 26 and you still think that you like someone? What have you done to your life Seungwoo? You will grow old alone! At that age, you are supposed to have a girlfriend that will soon become your wife. You're moving like a turtle!" He groaned in frustration.

"I'm not alone Jinhyuk. I have a son and we're living with my father so technically, I'm not alone."

He fell silent upon hearing my answer and looked at me with amusement. "I thought you were a turtle!" He laughed. I knew what he meant. Asshole.

"How old is he?"

"He's six years old." I proudly said.

Jinhyuk's face was so amused. He can't believe that my son is one year older than his son.

"Now.. how did you do that Han Seungwoo? Having a son and you're still liking someone... don't tell me you were not cautious and just impregnated some random girl?" He eyed me suspiciously.

I shrugged it off and change the topic. This is not the time to talk about it yet.

"What's your work?" I sipped from my beer.

From what he's wearing, I can tell that he's doing good in life. Jinhyuk as a student was hardworking and he has a sense of leadership. Every time we had our class groupings, he was always chosen as the leader. There was a moment when his groupmates were not confident to perform with their performance in P.E because the choreography was so hard. He was very determined to help his groupmates so he always told them to believe in themselves and they had him. After that, they became so eager to practice and got the highest grade. Everyone admired and praised him for being a positive and a fighter. No wonder he will succeed in life because he's helpful and the kind of person who never quits.

"I have established a business on Jeju Island for three years. We're doing good there with my family but I wanted to stay in Seoul."

I suddenly felt little about myself. Yes, I finished a bachelor's degree but I became a taxi driver. I was supposed to be a mechanical engineer but something happened in the past that made me not pursue my career. Fate was not on my side even before.

"Why not stay in Seoul? You should expand your business and put up a branch there." I suggested.

"I badly wanted to stay in Seoul but Jinwoo is still young. I want him to grow up in a quiet and calm place. Free from bad influence."

His fatherly side came out naturally. I'm wondering if I'm like that too. I think I need some tips from him even if his son is younger than Dongpyo.

We bade our goodbye after we finished the food. Jinhyuk asked for my number and address so we can keep in touch with each other. He asked me a favor if I could drop him at the airport and I did not hesitate. It felt so good to be with someone who you used to be with. We had fun talking with each other while reminiscing our old high school memories.

I asked for some tips from Jinhyuk on how he raised his child but he only gave me a few because his wife took care of their son. He's just like me.

Honestly, my father takes care of Dongpyo more. I'm the one who does the living that's why I can't spend too much time together with my son.

"Appa!" Dongpyo hugged me and we did a nose kiss. "Your nose is pointed and mine is not. How did it happen?"

"You have a lot in mind, don't you? It's because you're still a baby!"

I am avoiding this kind of question somehow. Where did he inherit his physical features because surely, I can't utter a serious answer?

"Hmm.. it smells chicken! Harabeoji, appa bought a chicken for me!" Dongpyo then snatched the box that I was holding and sniffed it happily.

We enjoyed our dinner and I washed the dishes.

"Hey, Pyopyo~ brush your teeth," I told him when he hugged my thigh.

"Appa.. andwaeyo! I already brushed my teeth after I ate lunch." He complained.

"Then you won't eat lunch tomorrow because you're done eating it today?" His face reddened. How cute!

"But I don't want to brush my teeth.." his eyes started to water.

"Okay. Fine!"

"Jinjja? Yey!" He wiped his tears away. And was jumping with joy.

"No jellies for tomorrow Pyopyo. But if you brush your teeth you will have jellies and ice cream."

Dongpyo went to the bathroom right away to brush his teeth. I need to do some tricks for him to follow me. Being a father is not easy.

***

"Seungwoo.." my father called me as he opened the door to my room. I yawned and rubbed my eyes before I faced him.

Abbeoji is a morning person. He gets up very early, usually at 5 am. And when we wake up, the food will be always ready on the dining table.

"What are you doing? Get up now!"

How ironic. I'm now a father but my father still scolds me. I think being a child will never get away from you if your mother and father are still alive. Being stubborn is a natural habit.

"I'll get up later. I wanted to sleep more because I'm planning to work late tonight." I closed my eyes again expecting that my father will walk away.

"Dongpyo has no class for today. There will be a PTA meeting at his school and you will be attending."

"Appa! You should go. How about my work?" I yelled. I won't go to that PTA meeting. "You attended all his PTA meetings, why not today?"

"Hey, kid you need to learn! You should learn how to socialize with other parents too! I've done it before with you so you should do it with your son. It's your son, not mine!"

Parents gathering scares me. I've heard that there are parents that are hard to please. Parents tried hard to please those rich parents and I don't know the reason. Is it really necessary?

"Abbeoji you scared me!"

I am currently looking at myself in the mirror checking out if my outfit looks good for a parent when abbeoji came inside my room. Thinking about what to wear was tiring. I searched on the internet and I read that I should give a strong impression to the other parents. I guess it's really necessary.

"Yeah, you really look good. I'm happy that you inherited my looks!" My father said while scanning my outfit.

Abbeoji is ridiculous at times. I should thank him for the good looks that I inherit from him. His DNA is awesome!

"Appa gomawo," I thanked him while fixing my hair. My hair is already long but people say they look good on me so I did not cut it.

"Impress them, well son. Mothers will surely dominate the meeting so be good and make them like you. You will never know... there might be a solo parent like you." He teased me. I know what he's thinking.

"I'm not going on a blind date. I'm attending a meeting. Stop talking nonsense, appa. Dongpyo might hear you!"

He sighed and looked at me with pity. "If only that woman didn't leave like a ghost, you could be living happily today."

I held his shoulder telling him that I'm good with my life today. "Appa, don't worry. I'm living a happy life with you and Dongpyo. If she was here, your worry will triple."

"I only wish for Dongpyo to grow up as good as you. Please take care of him so he will grow up as a good man. You have a lot of potentials but you are stuck as a taxi driver. Mianhae, adeul."