The Road to Glory Chapter 199 - [Side Story] Chapter 1. Graduation Ceremony

May this world that I love be a warm world for you.

Music resonates throughout the world.

From the TV playing in the living room to the radio sounds coming from passing taxis.

Every store on the street has music playing.

While February in South Korea is filled with a chill that could freeze even runny noses, the footsteps walking through the music are quite cheerful.

Given what day it is.

Walking through the leisurely streets later than usual, he soon arrived at the familiar main gate.

Today, many cars were parked in front of the gate. And adults who were obviously the owners of those cars were lingering around.

Street vendors selling flower bouquets and groups gathered inside the gate, chattering away. Their flushed cheeks suggested they didn’t feel the cold at all.

“Congratulations, seniors!”

“You’ll visit often, right?”

“The ceremony starts at 11.”

“Then it’ll end before lunch.”

“Hope it ends quickly.”

Jang Jinsoo lifted his head at the main gate.

[2034 Nth Graduation Ceremony of Sunyeon High School]

February 10, 2034. After the eventful year of 2033 as a test-taker, graduation day had arrived.

It would be a lie to say there wasn’t a special feeling.

After all, 2033 was quite a special year for him, just as it was for others.

The relief that it was really over and a strange regret. Joy at finally becoming an adult and anxiety about the future coexisted.

Jang Jinsoo took a deep breath and walked through the main gate.

At that moment,

“Son!”

At a woman’s voice, Jang Jinsoo instinctively turned his head. A middle-aged woman was gesturing at him.

“Yes, mom. What is it?”

And a student passed by Jang Jinsoo’s side.

“Have fun with your friends. Buy something delicious too.”

The student naturally accepted the credit card and flower bouquet the woman handed over. Then came the hug.

“Congratulations on graduating, son. You’ve worked hard all this time.”

The student looked a bit annoyed but didn’t reject the hug.

Jang Jinsoo watched them for a moment before continuing on his way.

Unlike other kids, his parents wouldn’t come to the graduation ceremony.

The person sleeping at home probably didn’t even know how old he was.

Of course, there were no juniors to congratulate him either. It would be quite a quiet graduation.

But he wasn’t that disappointed because-.

Jang Jinsoo recalled his smartphone’s wallpaper.

—

Congratulations, Jang Jinsoo-nim of the Department of Applied Music.

You have been accepted.

*Notice of Acceptance

You have been accepted to the October admission of Korea National University of Arts for the 2034 academic year.

Please check the acceptance notice posted separately on the admissions office website and make sure to register within the new student registration period.

—

He thought this was enough.

Cheered up again, Jang Jinsoo walked into the auditorium with light steps.

#

“Wow, really.”

As soon as Jang Jinsoo entered the auditorium, he couldn’t help but marvel at the gentle background music flowing through.

Even though their country is Roh Haeil’s… no, the Halo Republic. Even though Roh Haeil became the first Korean singer to win a Grammy Award just a few days ago.

Still, he didn’t expect to hear his song even at graduation. Not that it didn’t fit, just.

It felt somewhat novel.

Or maybe the influence of a close friend made him feel strange.

Seeing everyone listening to Halo’s song at graduation as if it were natural, he saw it again.

Jang Jinsoo naturally thought about what his friend might be doing.

He would obviously be abroad.

Probably living with music as always. He might have run away saying he needed stimulation.

Roh Haeil became strange at some point.

At some point, he started seeking things out on his own, saying he wanted to do new things, interesting things.

Meeting with broadcasters, mingling with various people.

While he was always a free spirit, it wasn’t just being free, how should he put it.

Desperate?

A free spirit living life earnestly?

It’s a strange expression, but that’s really how it was.

Well, maybe it’s because he became an adult.

Anyway, Roh Haeil would be making music with people on some beach in LA right now.

Clap clap clap.

Jang Jinsoo returned to reality with the sound of applause.

What was happening was that they were giving awards to academic achievers, that is, students accepted to Korea University and medical school. Teachers and parents applauded from the back of the auditorium, while students joked, ‘ㅇㅇ is handsome!’ ‘At least you’re good at studying!’

If Roh Haeil lived in that fantasy, Jang Jinsoo lived in this reality. Unlike his friend, he was just ordinary.

That’s when it happened.

“Aren’t you going up?”

Someone sat in the empty seat next to him. The distinctive clanking sound of the metal chair was heard.

For a moment he thought the voice was familiar, but Jang Jinsoo responded indifferently without looking to the side.

“Where?”

“There.”

“Why would I go there.”

Who is this bastard to talk to me.

Jang Jinsoo was just annoyed.

“It’s not like I’m receiving an award.”

“You don’t need to receive an award to go up.”

“Then why go up?”

“Well-“

Jang Jinsoo was about to ask back but slowly tilted his head.

Somehow the voice was strangely familiar.

Moreover, not many people could say such nonsensical things so naturally.

No way.

That couldn’t be.

That guy should be in LA right now.

He just received a Grammy the other day.

“To sing?”

Jang Jinsoo whipped his head around.

“!”

Grinning.

Eyes filled with laughter met his.

The one wearing a graduation gown and cap pretending to be a graduate was none other than Roh Haeil.

Though he was wearing a mask, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize him.

No, why is this bastard who should be abroad here?

“No-Noha- ahem!”

About to shout, Jang Jinsoo barely managed to close his mouth. Fortunately, his voice was drowned out by the principal’s congratulatory speech. Looking around like a meerkat, Jang Jinsoo lowered his head and whispered.

“You, you, you! Weren’t you supposed to be abroad? When did you come back?”

“The other day.”

“Ah, the other day. Did you come after receiving the award? No, this isn’t it, is it okay to come out like this? With so many people here?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well…”

When the person in question asked so nonchalantly, he was at a loss for words.

Jang Jinsoo opened and closed his mouth.

Shit, isn’t this not okay?

This bastard just received a Grammy the other day.

There must be more than a few reporters looking for him.

And…

While internally objecting, Jang Jinsoo suddenly discovered something even stranger.

“No, more than that, how did you get into the graduation ceremony? And why are you wearing that?”

“Someone said if you’re late, just quietly put it on and go in.”

So he was saying he was mistaken for a student.

The misunderstanding aside, he probably just did it because it seemed fun. If not, he wasn’t the type to listen to others so well.

Even now, wasn’t he fiddling with the graduation gown as if fascinated?

Though he wondered if this was okay, Jang Jinsoo soon gave up. The principal’s congratulatory speech was coming to an end. It was too late to leave, and,

“…I don’t know either.”

If they stayed quiet and left together later, no one would know he had come.

The problem started from here.

“Now, we’ll take a group photo. Please gather by class.”

“Stay quiet. Quick, put on your sunglasses too.”

Yielding to Jang Jinsoo’s urging, Halo fumbled to put on his sunglasses.

While the mask and sunglasses weren’t appropriate fashion for a graduate, they could understand if he said it was a cold, and that he had LASIK or something.

And at a time when teachers were having trouble managing their own class students, they could quietly stand up as Jang Jinsoo wanted.

Jang Jinsoo tapped his foot watching Halo’s leisurely attitude.

“Class 3-3. Please standby in advance.”

“Form three rows of ten people each. Shorter students in front.”

“Let’s hurry up.”

“Wait here. Please.”

Halo shrugged his shoulders.

Though extremely unreliable, Jang Jinsoo joined the Class 3 line right next to him.

The homeroom teacher wasn’t visible, but the group photo was proceeding well.

“Jang Jinsoo.”

That’s when it happened.

Looking to the side, Park Chansoo was standing there with flower bouquets and awards in his arms. It was strange for someone who barely called his name all year to call him now.

“Hey, how was your break?”

“Well, it was okay.”

Why is this bastard talking to me?

It didn’t seem like good intentions.

Especially Park Chansoo, who got into Korea University, was standing with his shoulders squared proudly.

“Did you get into a good university?”

“Well, yeah. I did.”

“Where?”

“…K-ARTS.”

Park Chansoo’s eyes went wide.

He thought he didn’t know, but he was surprised for a different reason.

“Isn’t that where only celebrities go? How did you get in? You don’t even have celebrity friends to help you anymore.”

“What?”

“Are you still in touch with Roh Haeil?”

Surprisingly, there was no malice.

It was so absurd that he wasn’t even angry.

He was only worried if Roh Haeil had heard.

“No way, right? He cut off contact as soon as he got a bit popular. Must be worse now that he won a Grammy. Anyway, congratulations? I guess you did have some talent.”

“Hey.”

This made him feel bad.

Just as Jang Jinsoo was about to tell him to stop, someone suddenly stepped between them.

“Ah, now I remember.”

“Huh, huh?”

“You were in one of these classes, a, b, or c? Nice to meet you.”

Park Chansoo’s pupils shook at the voice that contained only genuine friendliness. With sunglasses and a mask, he couldn’t tell who it was.

“W-who are you?”

“Don’t you know me?”

How would he know with the face covered?

But before Park Chansoo could object, the photographer shouted, “Starting the photo shoot!”

“W-who are you?”

“This is a bit disappointing.”

Park Chansoo was thrown off by someone suddenly acting familiar.

“Ten people in the first row, ten in the second row. This class has lined up well. But those in the back, aren’t you going to line up properly?”

“What are you doing. They said look forward.”

“Uh, yeah.”

Park Chansoo turned to face forward for now.

He heard the person next to him slowly taking off his sunglasses.

He tried to look back, but the photographer eerily shouted to look forward properly.

“One, two, three, kimchi.”

Click.

Park Chansoo thought he must have been photographed with a stupid expression. However, when he turned to check the side,

He met eyes curved like crescents.

They were quite familiar eyes. The ones he always saw on TV.

“Hi.”

“!”

“Taking one more photo. Everyone, grab your caps, and throw them on the count of three. One, two-“

“Halo?!”

“Three!”

Park Chansoo’s voice was drowned out by cheers, and as the caps were thrown into the air, click, the photo was taken.

“Alright, good work everyone.”

With the photographer’s words, Jang Jinsoo hurriedly pushed Halo.

“Hey hey, let’s go quickly. Where’s your mother?”

“She said she was parking and coming.”

“Let’s get out first. Put that on quickly.”

“Ha-Ha-Haeil-“

Park Chansoo called out to him with a stupid expression.

But by then, they had already disappeared into the crowd.

#

Meanwhile, Park Seungah, who luckily found an empty parking spot, was entering Sunyeon High School’s main gate with a flower bouquet.

She was too late looking for a parking spot.

The graduation ceremony must be over by now.

Park Seungah hurried her steps.

“Oh my.”

Then she noticed someone and slowed down.

“Chansoo’s mother?”

“Who-. Oh my goodness. Haeil’s… mother?”

The other person’s eyes also grew wider.

“It’s been a while, Chansoo’s mother.”

“Yes. Really.”

Unlike Park Seungah who simply expressed joy at seeing someone after a long time, Chansoo’s mother was surprised, then slowly became awkward.

She didn’t expect to see Haeil’s mother in a place like this.

Actually, when she heard they moved, she thought they’d never meet again. Maybe she hoped so.

Because she had said too many things when she didn’t know better.

“What brings Haeil’s mother here?”

“Ah, I came to pick him up for a meal together. To celebrate his graduation too.”

“I… see.”

-At least I won’t let him get carried away!

-Carried away?

-Well, just because he got into Watermelon doesn’t mean he’ll succeed. Do you know how many singers get buried after just one hit song?

While other things were forgotten like dementia, only her wrongdoings remained vivid like yesterday’s events.

‘If I had known Haeil was Halo, I wouldn’t have said those things.’

While Haeil’s mother seemed not to remember that time, smiling brightly, Chansoo’s mother wanted to leave quickly.

However, there was one tactless person beside her.

“Honey, who is this?”

The old man who had been scratching his belly at home asked in a pretentious tone. He always used this greasy voice when seeing pretty women. Thankfully, Chansoo didn’t take after his father.

“Hello, you must be Chansoo’s father? I’m Haeil’s mom.”

“Ah, yes, hello.”

Not knowing that Haeil was that Roh Haeil, Chansoo’s father just assumed he was Chansoo’s friend.

In Chansoo’s mother’s view, that man didn’t care about the name of Chansoo’s friend.

“Did Chansoo get into university well?”

“Ah, yes. He got into Korea University.”

“Oh my, that’s wonderful. He always wanted to go there, and he finally made it. He must have studied really hard.”

“Well, he got lucky. The kid takes after me, being quite smart.”

What do you mean takes after you.

Chansoo’s mother pounded her chest watching her husband laugh hahaha. It was frustrating, was there no way to shut that man’s mouth?

“So, did Haeil get in somewhere good too?”

Chansoo’s mother was startled by that question.

But Haeil’s mother answered nonchalantly.

“No. Haeil said he’s taking a different path.”

“Oh my goodness. You must be having a hard time.”

“What hardship would I have? I do worry he might overwork himself, but seeing him enjoying it makes me happy.”

“Well, it’s not a world where you absolutely have to go to university anymore. Haeil will do well, ma’am.”

What do you mean will do well.

He’s already doing well.

He doesn’t need to do any better.

“Yes, I believe so too.”

Park Seungah smiled gently.

Chansoo’s father smiled along.

The only one uncomfortable here was Chansoo’s mother.

As soon as they reached the auditorium entrance, Chansoo’s mother said,

“It was nice meeting you, Haeil’s mother. We’ll be going now.”

“Leaving already? Why don’t we have a meal togeth-“

“What meal? Let’s go quickly.”

Chansoo’s mother wanted to kick her husband’s behind but held back.

“Yes, see you next time then.”

Park Seungah nodded with an unreadable expression.

Behind her, Chansoo’s mother hurriedly passed by like a criminal.

It’s not that she had forgotten about exchanging those few words with Chansoo’s mother in the past. She just didn’t bring it up because it really wasn’t a big deal.

What’s important was,

“Son! Jinsoo!”

The children who would be waiting for her now.

“Auntie is late, right? Even though I said I’d hurry. And congratulations on graduating. Congratulations on your award too, son.”

Park Seungah handed over a rose bouquet with a flourish.

Jang Jinsoo accepted the unexpectedly large bouquet shyly.

“Thank you. I didn’t know you’d come.”

“Of course I had to come to Jinsoo’s graduation. Don’t you need to say more goodbyes to your friends?”

“No, I’m done with that.”

“Alright then, let’s go get something delicious to eat.”

From behind, someone shouted – Hey! calling out a name.

But Jang Jinsoo didn’t hear it, leaving through the main gate with Park Seungah and Halo.

“You didn’t come just to congratulate me on graduating. Why did you come so early? Are you going to consult on a movie, is there something new you’re doing in Korea?”

“Well, maybe.”

“So you do have something to do.”

Too busy chattering with Roh Haeil, there was no reason to look back anymore.

Jang Jinsoo walked forward with his shoulders now held high.

Tick tock.

The clock mounted on the school’s main building struck 12.

It was time to start the day.