Chapter 288: In Conflict (3)

“Oh, hey? Am I finally getting a ride in Jin-Ho's car? Feels like it's been ages.” Park Yu-Min looked pumped up as he clenched his fists.

Ju Yeong-Gi shot him a fierce glare. “Hey, Park Yu-Min! Why is your reaction so different when I'm giving you a ride home?”

“That's because my bottom hurts like hell when riding in your car, Yeong-Gi.”

“Say what now, you bastard?! You dare badmouth my whip?!”

“No. I know your so-called 'whip' is nice and all, but the problem is with you. You can't drive to save your life, Yeong-Gi.”

“

...Hah,

this brat! Let's see if I'll ever give you a ride anywhere! Anyway, I'm leaving first!” Ju Yeong-Gi pouted and left in a huff.

Kang Jin-Ho guffawed at this sight. “Come on, Yu-Min. He might really get angry at this rate.”

“

Nah,

it's fine. Yeong-Gi is a lot more generous than he looks, you know.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded at that. Ju Yeong-Gi had gone through quite a rough experience in the army, which gave him plenty of empathy despite how he talked.

'And he has surprisingly good chemistry with Yu-Min, too.'

Kang Jin-Ho needed a fair bit of time to become friends with Ju Yeong-Gi, but Park Yu-Min mysteriously didn't need that much time to do so. Considering how badly Park Yu-Min lacked social skills in the past, the fact that he became friends with Ju Yeong-Gi so quickly was quite strange, to say the least.

“Anyway, let's get going, too,” said Park Yu-Min.

"Right. Let's go." Kang Jin-Ho nodded, then turned the pizzeria's lights off before exiting the store. He led Park Yu-Min to the underground parking lot nearby where his car was parked, then opened its door.

“Hey, Jin-Ho... This is a brand-new car, right?” Park Yu-Min cautiously asked.

“

Mm.

”

“Then... does that mean your old car is a total write-off now?”

“Yeah.”

Park Yu-Min shook his head as if he was fed up about something. “Parking a new car in a place like this...? Aren't you worried?”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “Worried? Why?”

“

...Nah,

it's nothing.”

Park Yu-Min was freshly reminded that Kang Jin-Ho belonged to a different race from him. An otherworldly race at that! If Park Yu-Min were to get a brand-spanking-new car like this Lamborghini, he would have broken out in buckets of nervous sweat as soon as the car was no longer within his eyesight!

Just a small nick would make him wail and lament as if the world was about to end, so Park Yu-Min couldn't figure out the size of Kang Jin-Ho's balls for him to park a car this expensive in a shady place such as this parking lot.

'Nope, I shouldn't even try to understand Jin-Ho.'

Didn't various experiences teach Park Yu-Min that trying to understand Kang Jin-Ho would only lead to a bout of migraine instead?

“Aren't you getting in?” Kang Jin-Ho asked from inside the car.

“

Uh... Oh!

Hold on!” Park Yu-Min sobered up and quickly climbed into the passenger seat. But then, when his back felt the tight bucket seat hugging him, his entire body started to shudder nonstop.

'Oh, no! I forgot!'

Park Yu-Min finally remembered what it meant to get a ride in Kang Jin-Ho's car. His complexion instantly went pale as he urgently looked at Kang Jin-Ho. “J-Jin-Ho? You must be tired, too, so... How about I just catch a taxi?”

“You're already in the car, so what taxi are you talking about, Yu-Min? Let's just get out of here.”

“N-no, hang on. The more I think about it, the sooner you gotta go home and get some rest, Jin-Ho! And me catching a taxi is a better idea, I think!”

“It's fine. I'll quickly drive you home.”

‘No, it's not fine! It's definitely not fine for me, you fool!’

Park Yu-Min cried out in despair in his head, but how unfortunate it was for him. It seemed Kang Jin-Ho still hadn't mastered the art of reading people's minds yet!

“Put on your seatbelt, Yu-Min.”

"S-sure..." Park Yu-Min put on his belt while inwardly praying,

'Dear Father in Heaven...!'

Of course, he knew that Kang Jin-Ho had never caused any accidents before. Never mind an accident, Kang Jin-Ho didn't even cause a single injury or scratch when driving. In that sense, the interior of Kang Jin-Ho's car could very well be the safest place on Earth.

However, at this very moment at least, Park Yu-Min was like a person with acrophobia who couldn't dare look below the cliff despite the double—no, triple layers of safety nets. Despite knowing full well that he wouldn’t get into a car accident, he just couldn't bear to look outside the windshield.

The only sign of resistance he could offer right now was to keep his head down and stare at his knees.

“Okay, we're setting off,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

Vroooooom!

The massive engine roared into life, and the red supercar shot forward like a bullet.

'Yup, I must've lost my mind!'

Park Yu-Min shuddered at the familiar sensation of rapid acceleration.

***

Park Yu-Min bent over while covering his mouth. “

Bleeergh...

”

Kang Jin-Ho worriedly walked over to his friend. “Are you okay?”

“...Yeah, more or less.”

“Looks like your motion sickness has gotten worse?”

“...Probably?” While making a despondent face, Park Yu-Min turned his head and stared at Kang Jin-Ho patting him on the back.

'Did you just say motion sickness?'

Technically speaking, that wasn't wrong, though! Even M. Schumacher would have gotten sick while riding in the passenger seat of Kang Jin-Ho's car, after all!

Anyone with a sane mind wouldn’t be able to keep their composure. Who could endure a situation where one's life flashed before their eyes dozens of times in a few minutes?!

'Stop staring at people while making such a normal-looking face!'

Park Yu-Min couldn't help but get the feeling that he was raising a fuss for no good reason when he saw Kang Jin-Ho looking at him with a worried expression. Park Yu-Min groaned helplessly, then barely managed to stand up straight. “

Aigoo...

I think I'm gonna die soon...!”

“Want some water?”

“

Mm?

Can I?”

Kang Jin-Ho didn't say anything else while taking out a bottle of water from inside the car. He lightly tossed it to Park Yu-Min.

After taking large gulps of water, Park Yu-Min lowered the bottle and wiped the corners of his mouth. “

Whew.

That's so much better.”

Kang Jin-Ho pointed to the orphanage's entrance. “Aren't you heading in?”

“In a bit, after I wake up a bit more. If I go inside now... I probably won’t be able to even wash up properly in this state.”

Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly nodded. Park Yu-Min shuffled over to a bench located in the orphanage's front yard and plopped down. Kang Jin-Ho followed suit and sat on the other side of the same bench.

“By the way, Jin-Ho?”

“

Mm?

”

“Why did you decline the role in the TV show?”

Kang Jin-Ho hesitated with his answer. He had already given his initial answer to this question. Even so, Park Yu-Min asked again, implying that he wanted to hear a different answer this time. Not a dismissive answer without much thought behind it, but one that came from Kang Jin-Ho's heart.

Then again, Park Yu-Min was only one of a few who could demand truths from Kang Jin-Ho anyway.

Kang Jin-Ho mulled his answer before nodding slightly. “Because it'd be a waste.”

“A waste? How so?”

"

Mm,

well..." Kang Jin-Ho had to agonize a bit more about what he should say. Park Yu-Min might be his friend, but the lives they had lived so far were just too different. To adequately explain his thought process to a friend who often came across as young and immature, Kang Jin-Ho's life story was simply too complicated and lengthy to do so.

"

...Mm.

Do you still remember what high school was like?"

Park Yu-Min nodded. “Of course, I do remember. That was the most important time in my life, after all.”

“Back then, we experienced various things, but now that we're here, we can't remember much other than those important moments. Right?”

“...Well, yeah, that's true.” Park Yu-Min leaned back against the bench and started reminiscing his high school days.

Before becoming friends with Kang Jin-Ho, Park Yu-Min's school life was no different from the pitch-black abyss. He found it hard to make friends due to his congenital disability, and it even made him a target of bullying, too.

'I don't really remember anything much, actually.'

Most of what Park Yu-Min could remember were sad memories anyway. As for the nicer memories, those came only after he became Kang Jin-Ho's friend.

Kang Jin-Ho continued to explain, "All those memories... They become insignificant with time. To put it in another way, the past seemed to have passed you by so quickly when you look back on them. Whether that past involved school or serving in the army."

“

...Ng,

I think I get what you're saying.”

“I'm sure life is like that, too.”

“

...Eh?

”

"During your final moments, would you really feel fulfilled and gratified by the life you've lived? Shouldn’t you normally feel a little bit of regret? As in... even though you seemingly had enough time, you didn't get to spend it wisely or in a more fulfilling way. Life tends to flash past you quicker than you think, so why couldn't you spend it doing things you treasure and love? I'm talking about those kinds of regrets."

“

Mm,

that sounds plausible.”

Kang Jin-Ho intently stared at Park Yu-Min. "And I didn't want to think that way during my final moments. Which means I didn't want to waste the time I have right now."

Park Yu-Min rubbed his chin. He looked as if he was on the cusp of understanding it as he glanced at Kang Jin-Ho.

'I'm sure it's still too hard for him to understand it...'

Kang Jin-Ho mused inwardly. Such a thought process would be nigh-on impossible for the twenty-something Park Yu-Min to understand.

Kang Jin-Ho had already gone through two lifetimes. The first one ended while he was still relatively young, while the other one, he got to live an unexpectedly long life. Whether both of his lives had been long or short, though, what Kang Jin-Ho felt during those final moments were similar: remorse and regret.

The comfortable death without any regret, as seen in movies or novels, was like an illusion—a fantasy to Kang Jin-Ho. For him, death had always been full of regret and hopelessness. As such, he... He had to treasure his current life. Even more so than usual.

Which meant he didn't have the time to waste on filming TV shows or whatever. At least to this Kang Jin-Ho, such a thing was meaningless nonsense. His honest opinion on this matter? He just wanted to remain true to his current life.

Park Yu-Min stopped rubbing his chin. "...I think I roughly get what you're saying, Jin-Ho. But,

uh,?

isn't that weirder when you think about it?"

“What do you mean?” Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow.

“Isn't the idea of shooting a movie or TV show and becoming a famous actor more important than, say, running a small pizzeria with a group of friends like you're playing house or something?”

“

Hmm.

I wonder...” Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders. “...No, I disagree with that. At least, to me, running a pizzeria is more important.”

“You... You know how weird you are, right?”

“...Am I? Really?”

Park Yu-Min powerfully nodded. “Yes, definitely weird! Most people would think that shooting a movie with a top actress in the country is much more important than three stinky men butting heads and agonizing over pizzas, you know! But you believe it's the other way around, and that's why you're weird. No question about it.”

“Is that how it is?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head.

Park Yu-Min could only chuckle at how nonchalant Kang Jin-Ho was responding.

?'Well, I shouldn't be surprised here...'

This was what Kang Jin-Ho was like, after all!

"What's the point of me saying this, though?" Park Yu-Min helplessly shook his head. No matter what he said, Kang Jin-Ho wouldn't change his mind anyway. Besides, when he thought about it some more, Park Yu-Min found the idea of Kang Jin-Ho suddenly shooting movies and TV shows in a bid to become the next big celebrity even crazier to behold!

The 'Kang Jin-Ho' Park Yu-Min knew wasn’t that type of a person, after all!

“Anyway... So, you're really dead-set on never acting in front of a camera?”

“

Mm?

Who knows? I might change my mind one day. At least, that's not today, that's for sure.” Kang Jin-Ho coolly shrugged his shoulders.

“That's kinda fickle, isn't it?”

“Maybe…”

The two of them glanced at each other and chuckled away.

Park Yu-Min shook his head while chuckling. “It's getting late, though. Hurry and go home now. I'm gonna turn in for the night.”

Kang Jin-Ho got up from the bench. “

Hmm,

should I pop inside and say hello before going home?”

"No way. The kids should be fast asleep by now. And the employees looking after them need their sleep, too. Don't you dare wake them up and just go home, Jin-Ho."

“But it's been a while since I last came here. Going home just like this is a bit... You know?”

"Speaking of which... The kids wanted to see you, too. I'm not talking about the high school-age kids since they take turns working part-time at the pizzeria, but the little ones. They’re whining all the time about wanting to see you, Jin-Ho.”

Kang Jin-Ho grimly nodded. “...Sounds like I better find time in my schedule soon.”

Park Yu-Min leered at him. "If you bring as many presents as the last time, I'm gonna lock the doors and won't let you inside."

"

Mm?

I can just break the door down, though? Then, I can just buy a new one afterward."

Park Yu-Min spat out a lengthy groan at that. He just recalled that Kang Jin-Ho was fully capable of doing exactly that. “Okay. Good night.”

“

Mm.

” Kang Jin-Ho watched his friend wave at him before entering the orphanage building, then slowly turned around toward his car.

'Because it's important, is it...?'

While chatting with Park Yu-Min, Kang Jin-Ho got to organize his thoughts. From that, he realized he didn't have a particular reason for refusing to reappear in the TV show... Although he did see a far higher worth in hanging out with Park Yu-Min and Ju Yeong-Gi than being surrounded by strangers while shooting some random TV show.

'And what's truly important isn't how other people perceive that…'

What Kang Jin-Ho considered important was how much satisfaction and fulfillment he felt from his current life. And now, he thought he had finally found a solid direction for him to focus on.

To achieve his goal, though, there were some things he had to sort out first. Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly climbed back inside the Lamborghini, then lit up a cigarette.

It had been two days. The time limit he had granted to Lee Jung-Geol was over. However, neither Lee Hyeon-Ju nor Lee Jung-Geol had contacted him even now, and it meant only one thing.

Kang Jin-Ho smiled faintly. He could be craving this. Deep inside his heart, perhaps he wanted to keep watching the scene of his scared opponents giving up on everything they had and retreating to survive. Perhaps he had never wished for such a scene to end!

'Looks like I'll have to stop by at home first.'

It was time to bring out the duo he had kept 'hidden' under his bed. Everything should be over before sunrise tomorrow morning.

Kang Jin-Ho slowly closed his eyes. His goals had been set, so he needed to be true to them now throughout the rest of this life. After all, he didn't want to be filled with regrets once this life came to an end.

That was why...!

He had to eliminate any and all hindrances daring to interfere and complicate his life. Tonight would mark his first step toward this goal.

Vrrrrr...

Kang Jin-Ho scanned his vibrating phone, then answered the call as his expression became cold and withdrawn. “Preparations on your side?”

- It's complete. We're waiting for your arrival, Mister Kang.

“I see. I'm on my way.” Kang Jin-Ho ended the call right there as if he didn't have to listen any longer. After turning on the ignition, he stomped on the accelerator.

As the rumble of the engines intensified, the cold and dangerous gleam from Kang Jin-Ho’s eyes reflected the cold moonlight.