My Japanese Childhood Friend Is Too Flirty

17. The Story Just Before Turning Seventeen and Becoming a High Schooler (1)

It was late February.

The day was just three days before our high school entrance ceremony.

It was Sunday morning, a time that would normally be leisurely, but my entire family, including myself, was bustling about.

The reason is simple.

The parents’ appointment to the U.S. Embassy, which was scheduled for March, has been moved up much earlier, and they have to leave on a flight two hours from now.

“Honey, did you forget anything? Did you pack everything like your passport and ID?”

“I packed everything. Eun-hye, did you? Check if you missed anything.”

“Passport, ID, wallet, phone… Oh, where’s my phone?”

“Here it is, Mom. You left it on the living room sofa.”

“Oh, thank you~ There’s no one like our Woo-joo~”

Mom, who said “thank you” in English instead of Korean, as if she was already practicing for America, took the phone.

Mom put the phone in the pouch she wore around her chest and gently pulled the strap, saying to me,

“But Woo-joo, are you really okay? Do you want to come to America with Mom and Dad even now?”

“Eun-hye, that again? We already finished that conversation.”

Dad cut in, saving me from the difficult question.

Mom pouted her lips.

“Even if it’s finished, can’t I ask? And who knows, maybe Woo-joo changed his mind and wants to come with us. Right, Woo-joo?”

“Son, please understand. Your mom can be quite persistent. She doesn’t listen well and only says what she wants, and she’s very nosy… Ah, ah!”

“…Are you going to keep saying weird things in front of our Woo-joo?”

“Ah, ah…! I surrender, I surrender! Eun-hye, if you pull there, my skin will stretch…!”

Even though they’re getting older, they’re still the same.

I felt a bit childish thinking about the couple’s quarrel, just before they turn forty.

Thinking that I won’t see this scene for at least a year after Mom and Dad leave for America makes my heart flutter for no reason.

I am getting older, and choosing to stay in Korea was my own decision, so it’s not that I’m sad or unhappy about living apart from Mom and Dad. How should I put it? Hmm, I guess I feel a bit… regretful?

Well, it would be stranger if I didn’t feel regretful. We’re not a distant family, and we were so close that we made sure to spend time together as a family at least once a month.

‘…That will be over for a while too.’

“Uju, come here.”

Just as I was lost in these newfound sentiments, I heard Mom’s voice calling me.

Mom, who had let go of Dad’s collar, was now standing with her arms lightly outstretched towards me.

“…Why?”

“Why? Because I want to give my Uju a hug.”

Mom wiggled her fingers, signaling me to come and hug her.

Since I became a middle schooler, I hadn’t had any direct physical contact with my parents, so I hesitated a bit, unable to approach quickly.

Seeing this, Dad, who was standing next to her, chuckled.

“Uju, Mom says she wants to hug her son. Go give her a big hug.”

“Uh, um…”

“What, you don’t want to? Are you embarrassed to hug now that you’re older?”

“No, it’s not that I’m embarrassed…”

It’s just that it’s so sudden, something I haven’t done in a while.

“If you’re not embarrassed, then give her a hug. Who knows? This might be the last hug between Mom and son.”

“Wait, why would it be the last hug?”

“Because you never know what might happen? You could get hijacked on the plane, or there could be a terrorist attack when you arrive at the U.S. embassy. Or you could get into a car accident on the way… Ouch!”

“Hey, Joo Siwon! Your mouth, your mouth! Seriously, how many times have I told you to watch your mouth?!”

“…….”

If nothing else, I know this one thing. The fact that I sometimes say the wrong thing is 100% because of my dad.

“You say the most outrageous things in front of your own son! Joo Siwon, today I really…!”

“Mom.”

Before they could start arguing again, I took a step closer and gently hugged my mom.

“Always take care of yourself, and if anything happens, contact me right away. I’ll come over there.”

“……What can a seventeen-year-old kid do, coming all the way to America?”

Though her words were slightly curt, her mood seemed to soften as she gently hugged me back.

We held each other for about five seconds before slowly letting go.

“Still, thank you for saying that. Our Woojoo, you’ve really grown up now, haven’t you?”

“It’s all thanks to you and dad raising me well.”

“……Oh my, how can our Woojoo speak so beautifully? It’s amazing how different you are from your dad.”

Mom looked up at me with a gaze that seemed to say, ‘I did a good job raising my son, didn’t I?’

Though it was a compliment, I didn’t know how to respond, so I just smiled back at her. Then, my dad, who had been quietly standing by, cleared his throat and approached.

“Son, let me give you a hug too.”

“Ah, sure.”

I was enveloped in the arms of my dad, who was almost 190 cm tall, about half a head taller than me.

Unlike my mom’s soft embrace, my dad’s entire body was hard with muscles, making it a bit uncomfortable to hug him, but I stayed still without showing it.

“Son, can you manage well without mom and dad?”

“Yes, don’t worry. I’ll live regularly even without you two around.”

“Alright, Dad will trust you and go.”

As my dad hugged me, it was about time for them to start heading out.

To catch the flight, they had to go through quite a complicated process at the airport, and since unexpected things could happen, it was better to arrive early.

“Shall I take you to the airport?”

“Oh, would you? Woojoo, shall we go to the airport with Mom and Dad?”

“No, just stay home. Even if you take a taxi to go, the problem is coming back. If you get it wrong there, you might have to sit and wait for the bus for over an hour.”

“Why take the bus? Just send them by taxi.”

“Do you know how far it is to take a taxi? It costs twenty thousand won one way, with that money Woojoo could buy himself some chicken. Stop saying unnecessary things and just go.”

“Ah, Joo Siwon, you’re really annoying… Woojoo, Mom is leaving. Stay healthy and I’ll call you once a week, so make sure to answer, okay?”

“Um, yes…”

Mom, who had cutely complained to Dad, opened the front door and went out first.

Standing a little distance away, I quietly watched her back.

“…Son?”

Dad, cautiously watching Mom leave, quickly approached me.

“Here, take this.”

“Huh, what’s this?”

“Dad’s credit card.”

“Credit card…?”

Why is he giving this to me?

Asking only with my eyes, Dad winked at me.

“Mom will deposit the living expenses every month, but the food expenses alone will cost quite a bit, right? There won’t be much left, and now that you’re a high school student, you’ll have a lot of places to spend money.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“So, if you need to buy something, use Dad’s card. If you need pocket money, just tell me. I’ll send it to you secretly from Mom.”

“…!”

Ah, so that’s what this card meant…!

Realizing Dad’s intention, I accepted the card with slightly trembling hands.

“Thank you, Dad. No, Father…!”

──Honey, what are you doing there without coming out?

“Your mom is calling. I’ll be going now, don’t tell Mom that I gave you the card. Got it?”

“Yes, I won’t tell her!”

“Alright, study hard. Even without Mom and Dad…”

──Joo Siwon, what are you doing without coming out~?!

“Ah, okay. I’m coming, go!”

With long strides, Dad, who handed me the card, opened the front door and went outside.

Then, beep-beep-. Thud.

The front door that was open closed.

“…”

I lowered my gaze.

In my hand was a card.

A blunt card with a black surface and gold embroidery that Dad secretly handed to me from Mom.

‘Is this the one I’ve only heard about…?’

Mom’s card, or is it Dad’s card?

My mom has never been generous with money, so I’ve only ever received allowance, never a card. Now that I have it in my hand, I feel not just secure but almost wealthy.

So this is why kids always talk about their parents’ cards.

I went straight up to the second floor, put Dad’s card in my wallet, and placed it on my desk like a sacred object.

As I was pondering what to do with this card, a thought suddenly struck me.

‘I shouldn’t spend it too recklessly, right…?’

Dad gave me this card because he trusts me.

“……”

Thinking about it again, that was definitely the case.

Dad wouldn’t have given me the card to use as I please. He must have given it to me to cover living expenses as much as possible and only use the card when absolutely necessary. He handed it to me as a last resort.

So, to not disappoint Dad who trusts me, I should be frugal.

‘…Yeah, that’s right.’

Let’s not waste money frivolously.

Having reached that conclusion, I plopped down on the chair in front of my desk.

Just a moment ago, the whole house was bustling with the sound of Mom and Dad’s voices reaching up to the second floor, but now that they’ve left, the house is as quiet as a mouse.

“Hmm…”

What should I do now?

I finished the homework Ms. Kim Yuna gave me yesterday, and of course, there’s no school homework. It’s that floating period right before starting high school.

“Should I play a game…”

Such thoughts briefly crossed my mind, but soon I felt, “What game? There’s no game.” To be honest, games these days aren’t that fun. I’d rather go out and chat with friends.

Or maybe just hang out with Aki.

‘…Should I call her since I thought of her?’

Even though she sleeps a lot, she should be waking up around now.

Just as I thought that.

──Ring, ring, ring!

The phone next to my wallet started ringing.

For a moment, I thought, “Speak of the devil, could it be Aki calling?” and quickly checked.

[Caller – Nam Jaehyun]

“…Ah.”

It wasn’t Aki, it was Jaehyun.

Unconsciously, I pouted my lips and answered the call.

“Hello.”

[Ju Wooju, what are you doing?]

“Just at home, why?”

[Really? Then let’s go to the karaoke, come out]

“Ah, karaoke at this hour…”

Just as I was about to respond with something like “Are you serious?”, Jaehyun’s next words came through.

[The first-year second class kids are gathering at the karaoke, and some girls are coming too. So just come out]

“…How many are coming?”

[Including me, it’s seven. Including you, it’s eight.]

What? That’s more than I thought.

No, wait, there are about 20 people in the class, so if less than half showed up, isn’t that actually a small number?

Anyway, I glanced at the time and answered.

“Is the meeting time set?”

[11:30. Are you coming?]

I looked at the clock and saw that it was 11:00.

I didn’t know where the place was, but if I decided to go, I would have to start getting ready right away to barely make it on time.

“What? There’s only 30 minutes left.”

[It’s near your house anyway, so it won’t even take 10 minutes to get there. You’re coming, right?]

“Wait, let me think about it first…”

[What are you thinking about? Just from the fact that you were at home, it seems like you don’t have any other plans.]

“Why wouldn’t I have plans? Plans can suddenly come up out of nowhere.”

[Whatever, just come out. I’ll tell the others you’re coming. Hanging up now.]

“No, I haven’t said I’m going yet…”

Beep-.

The call ended.

I stared at the screen in disbelief at Jaehyun’s one-sided notification, and at that moment, a message arrived with the top bar flashing.

Wondering what it was, I checked and saw it was a message from Jaehyun. It simply said [Here’s the location], and it included a map showing the meeting place for the prospective 1st-year class 2.

‘This guy can be so pushy sometimes…’

I never said I was going, so why did they send me the map as if they were waiting for me?

I felt a rebellious streak kicking in, and I almost sent a message saying, [No, I’m not going. You guys have fun without me.]

But then I remembered Jaehyun’s words, ‘The kids who will be in Class 2 of the first year are gathering at the karaoke, and some girls are coming too.’ So I hesitated.

“……”

Well, I mean.

Thinking about it again, it seemed a bit off to skip the gathering of the future Class 2 of the first year.

It’s not like I necessarily want to see what kind of girls are coming to the karaoke.

Just.

Aren’t you curious?

What kind of friends will be in Class 2 of the first year with me?

“……Where is this place?”

I stood up from my seat.