Pig Government Official

-53-

To accommodate Jeonggwan’s firm opinion that they must ride a tram or double-decker bus on their last day in Hong Kong, the two decided to take a tourist double-decker big bus on the night route. Of course, this decision came with various complaints and harassment from Jihoon, but Jeonggwan ignored it all with the mindset of “I am a wall.”

While Korea was between late autumn and early winter with very chilly weather, Hong Kong was just cool and pleasant even when riding on the upper deck of a bus wearing only a thin long-sleeved shirt. The bus cruising through Hong Kong’s downtown was very romantic, and Jeonggwan, wearing a strawberry milk-colored shirt, was fully immersed in the atmosphere, even raising his arms in excitement. Jihoon initially looked at Jeonggwan with an expression that said, “You’re showing off,” but later he got even more excited, shouting “Woohoo!” After all, friends will be friends.

After getting off the bus, the two enjoyed Hong Kong like typical 20-something friends on a trip, eating dim sum and drinking famous original mango juice. Although Jihoon’s purpose was work, seeing Jeonggwan so happy made him feel even more content. Of course, he got annoyed at times, but he accepted that as part of the charm of traveling with friends.

The fountain spraying water was lit with orange lights, making it shine golden. The two sat on a bench in front of it, admiring it for a long time, when Jeonggwan suddenly turned to Jihoon and spoke indifferently.

“Hey. I’m grateful that you’re my friend.”

“Huh? Just now? After bringing me all the way to Hong Kong?”

Jihoon let out a laugh of disbelief at Jeonggwan’s gratitude, considering all he had done for him, but Jeonggwan replied in quite a serious tone.

“Do you know how tiring it is to be friends with you? I think this level of friendship expense is appropriate.”

“Hey! Do you think being friends with you is easy?” Jihoon immediately retorted in an exasperated tone. However, Jeonggwan seemed unaffected, maintaining a very calm expression.

“Pay this friendship cost once in a while. Take me out like this.”

“Then you should pay too…!”

“Then I’ll be your friend for life. I’ll be on your side for life.”

Jihoon, who was about to enter combat mode thinking Jeonggwan would pick a bigger fight with that calm face, paused for a moment at Jeonggwan’s unexpected words.

“If you and Won Junjae fall into water, I’ll save you first.”

“…”

“Even if Won Junjae’s grandfather comes, I’ll take your side.”

“…That grandfather is our maternal grandfather.”

“Ah… Right.”

“…Are you stupid?”

Jeonggwan scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. Jihoon mocked and teased Jeonggwan, but somehow he felt a tingling sensation at the back of his neck. Jeonggwan had always been indifferent even when Jihoon called him his best friend, so he didn’t know he could be moved like this. Jihoon sniffled and pouted his lips.

“Hey, forget it. Then what if Won Junjae takes you out like this all the time? Wouldn’t you take his side then?”

Jihoon probed Jeonggwan, knowing full well that this materialistic Kim Jeonggwan was more than capable of doing so. However, Jeonggwan once again moved Jihoon.

“Won Junjae, no, if a lover has a lot of money, of course they would do that. Because they’re in love. But a friend isn’t like that. A friend does that because they genuinely enjoy spending time with me and I’m precious in their life.”

Jihoon gazed down at Jeonggwan. This pig always moved him when he least expected it. Jihoon had always made friends with people of the same class – those who were not lacking financially. It stemmed from a kind of inferiority complex. When he became friends with ordinary people, they treated him like a sensitive wallet, trying to extract money from him with disgusting flattery while making fun of him behind his back. But Kim Jeonggwan was different from the start.

‘That bastard Park Jihoon said why should he buy it for me?’

‘Wow. Even though he has so much money… He won’t even buy a hamburger?’

‘Is that bastard maybe selling his body somewhere to make money?’

It was when he was about to enter the locker room, hearing the same old tiresome gossip from his classmates.

‘Senior, did you ask to go eat hamburgers when you don’t even have money to buy one yourself?’

‘W-What? Where did you come from?’

‘Why should he buy it for you?’

‘…Well, it’s natural to buy at least a hamburger…!’

‘What’s natural about it? Then is it natural for me to buy you a hamburger because you’re my senior?’

The fair and chubby Kim Jeonggwan, not afraid of seniors three years his senior, had boldly spoken up from somewhere.

‘Hey. Hamburger? It’s nothing, I’ll buy it for you. Let’s go!’

‘Then I’ll have a Quattro cheese burger with three extra cheese slices, double extra onions, triple extra bacon, extra mayonnaise, and double extra bulgogi sauce. Two of those burgers. Oh, and of course you know the sides are separate, right? Coleslaw, two cheese sticks, squid rings, and coconut shrimp rings. Oh, and of course, zero cola for conscience’s sake. But large size. You got it, right?’

‘You… Can you even eat all that…?’

Jeonggwan, who smiled brightly as if to say “Look at my weight class,” was really cool. Despite being the chubby type that Jihoon disliked the most,

‘Hey, he’s doing that because he has money!’

‘Senior, you probably have more money than me. I know you got paid for your internship yesterday.’

‘Hey… That, that is…’

‘Don’t ask for things you can’t afford to buy for others.’

Jeonggwan was cooler than any other person Jihoon had ever seen. That’s why he clung to Jeonggwan first, asking to be friends. Even though Jeonggwan was three years younger than him, at that time, he wondered if this was what it would feel like to have an older brother, and clung to him despite Jeonggwan’s rejections. He thought it would be nice to have such a cool person in his life.

“Then, if I go bankrupt in the future, become a beggar, and cry asking you to take me to Hong Kong, will you do it?”

And Kim Jeonggwan was still the same.

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“…Hey.”

“But they say even if a rich person goes bankrupt, they can live for three generations.”

“…This bastard always has to put out the fire!”

He’s still cool.

* * *

After another night of heavy drinking with Jihoon, Jeonggwan frantically packed his bags as soon as he woke up and got into the car heading to the airport. Because Jihoon said he couldn’t drive due to his hangover and called for a driver, they were further delayed. They could have just taken a taxi, but Jihoon flatly refused, saying his back hurt. Jeonggwan was anxious about possibly missing the flight, but Jihoon, unconcerned about money, was calm. Saying things like, “What’s wrong with staying one more day?” made Jeonggwan want to hit him on the head. He had promised to meet Won Junjae today!

“Love will wait…”

“I’m calling now. I’ll tell him I can’t come today because of Park Jihoon.”

“…Driver, please go faster.”

Just you wait if we miss this flight. It’s all your fault. Jeonggwan crossed his arms and looked out the window at the receding Hong Kong city buildings, huffing. Jihoon, sensing Jeonggwan’s mood, started shaking his legs nervously. As someone experienced in taking many flights and missing quite a few, he knew this was definitely going to be a missed flight. He had expected Jeonggwan to be happy about staying one more day, so he was a bit taken aback by his anger. What happened to all that talk about friendship yesterday…? Had it all disappeared?

“I knew this would happen! I said we should just take a taxi!”

It had all disappeared. Jeonggwan was so angry that he hit Jihoon’s back, channeling a mother beating her son who broke a precious dish. They arrived at the airport 20 minutes before the flight, but check-in had already closed. Even though Jeonggwan begged the airline staff to make an exception, they said it was impossible to check in within 20 minutes due to the high season and large number of passengers. Moreover, the next flights were fully booked, as was the following day. The earliest available flight was two days later, on Monday afternoon at 2 PM. The airline suggested either waiting for that flight or staying at the airport until the next flight at 6 PM, hoping for cancellations or no-shows. Of course, they couldn’t guarantee any seats would become available.

“Let’s just take the Monday flight and be at ease.”

However, Jihoon wasn’t the type to wait at the airport for no-shows or cancellations. At his suggestion to give up cleanly and go back to Hong Kong city, Jeonggwan sighed heavily and sprawled out on an airport chair. He had told his family he was coming today… He had asked to meet Won Junjae… No flights available today, none tomorrow, and now a Monday flight… Jeonggwan was very upset. When he had playfully sent a message to Junjae yesterday suggesting they have a meal on the weekend, Jeonggwan had expected just a simple “Okay” in response. But for some reason, Junjae had gathered great courage to reply.

[Let’s go eat French cuisine.]

He remembered the French food I said I wanted to eat and brought it up…! The thought of not being able to keep this promise made him deeply disappointed in himself. Jeonggwan held his head. One might say they could have dinner anytime, but it was about timing. Once things go off track, they tend to keep going off track… Hah. Jeonggwan let out a deep sigh.

Still, he needed to contact his family and Won Junjae to let them know he couldn’t make it today, so Jeonggwan listlessly took out his phone. He should have informed his family first, but somehow his fingers were already opening the chat with Won Junjae.

[I missed my flight so I’ll be taking the Monday 4 PM flight… ㅜㅜ]

After leaving a short message for Junjae, Jeonggwan made a voice call to inform his family who would be waiting. His mother laughed heartily, saying this too was part of the true taste of travel, while his second older brother went off on a crime thriller tangent, asking if Jihoon was up to something and if Jeonggwan was really getting his organs harvested. Only his father seriously worried about Jeonggwan.

[What should we do, my son? Are you okay? Isn’t it cold there?]

“Dad, I told you it’s a summer country here. It’s not cold.”

Do you have a place to stay? Have you eaten? Do you have enough money? His father seemed especially worried now that Jeonggwan, the youngest, had gone abroad. Even though Jeonghyun, the eldest, frequently went abroad as a national youth team coach without even calling, this is where Jeonggwan’s status as the youngest showed. Jeonggwan smiled and comforted his father to reassure him, and finally the call ended with his mother telling them to hang up so the baby could eat.

Realizing it might be futile to wait vaguely for cancellations or no-shows that might not happen today, Jeonggwan resigned himself to taking the Monday flight. As Jihoon suggested, they were about to head back into the city, gathering their belongings, when—

Zing-.

[Won Junjae: Go to the counter now and get a ticket for the next flight.]

A message came from Junjae.