part 21

In the end, we played golf without Seung-rok. 

It was my first time seeing Eui-jin Lee, the composer, in person. 

He was really handsome. 

Eui-jin was as tall as Seung-rok, but while Seung-rok had a slender, model-like body and a unique fashion sense that made him look trendy, Eui-jin was more muscular and solid, like a martial artist. 

He wore a navy suit with a tie, vest, and even a handkerchief.

It gave off a noble vibe. 

He spoke beautifully, unlike Seung-rok, who always blurted out his thoughts raw. 

He had a talent at making people uncomfortable.

As soon as he met Sunbae Jisun, he made eye contact and said, "I was a fan of yours, Jisun. Well, back then, the whole nation was."

Even Mina, who was listening, blushed at his straightforwardness. 

But Sunbae Jisun responded just as directly, "I always listened to the songs you wrote! They play on the radio all the time. I'm a fan. Hoho."

What was this? 

Mina looked at them with a meaningful expression, sensing the unusual tension between them.

"Eui-jin, your voice sounds similar to when you sing."

"Have you heard me sing? I hardly ever sing."

"You do the chorus for your songs sometimes, right?"

Eui-jin Lee, looking embarrassed, touched his hair. 

Maybe because he was so good-looking, even his embarrassed look was charming.

"That's right. Hardly any fans know I do the chorus."

"Oh my, I'm a real fan. Hoho."

Sunbae Jisun seemed more interested in Eui-jin Lee than I had thought.

"I also watched you dance on TV, Jisun. On 'Dancing with the Celebrities.'"

"You've seen that, huh? What else do you know about me?"

I was shocked to hear her.

What's up with the sound?

Was Sunbae using a seductive nasal tone?

Watching Sunbae's unfamiliar behavior, I couldn't help but chuckle. 

I tried my best to hold back my laughter and started walking a bit behind them, giving them space to chat comfortably.

Jisun Sunbae was usually strict about not playing golf with people who weren't good.

But today, she was very relaxed. 

No matter how many silly mistakes Eui-jin Lee made, she was forgiving.

"Oh no! Another OB. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You're an amateur! We'll take it easy. Hoho."

She was right. 

Sunbae Jisun was a world-class golfer, and I had been a pro until recently. 

Compared to us, Eui-jin was a complete beginner. 

The skill gap was so vast that it was almost impossible to have a fair game. 

Normally, Jisun Sunbae wouldn't even consider playing with someone of such a different skill level. 

But today, she was incredibly kind.

"Swinging like that will hurt your back. Hold on. Pull your elbow back here. Your back should be…"

She even corrected his swing form with natural touching. 

Sunbae Jisun was usually very independent. 

She didn't like it when I, her coach, touched her.

Correcting someone else's swing was something she would never dream of doing. 

Yet here she was, holding a stranger's arm and teaching him how to swing. 

It was baffling.

Normally, she would insist on silence when others were swinging. 

But now, she didn't care if I was swinging or not, laughing loudly. 

On any other day, I might have said something.

But today, I didn't feel bad at all.

After the round of golf was over,

"You really are a legend. I can't compete with you."

"Oh, come on. I've been doing this all my life. You did well, Eui-jin."

I watched from a distance as the two of them walked ahead, taking turns leading. 

Once we settled in the clubhouse, I waited for the right moment when Eui-jin Lee stepped out.

Then I whispered to Sunbae.

"Sunbae, I have to go teach now."

"Already?"

"It's still a weekday. I have to keep up with my afternoon lessons."

"That's tough. Playing in the morning and then teaching again? Why don't you just stay and relax a bit before lesson?"

I couldn't help but laugh at Sunbae's feigned reluctance, even though she seemed pleased.

"Don't worry about me. You two take your time and enjoy your meal."

"Really?"

"Have some drinks too. I'll drive you home later."

"Oh!"

She waved her hand dismissively, but her eyes were smiling. 

This was the perfect timing since Eui-jin Lee was out of sight. 

I quickly made my way outside.

I thought about the two of them.

They seemed to suit each other well. 

I felt a small sense of anticipation, wondering if this might be the beginning of Sunbae Jisun's springtime.

***

I wanted to push Sunbae Jisun and Eui-jin Lee together, but that wasn't the only reason. 

I really had to teach the kids. 

I had been worried about how the professional-level lessons that started last week would go. 

I had given lessons before, but they hadn't been very helpful for my current situation. 

The only lessons I had given were to Jisun Sunbae, who I already knew well. 

And Sunbae was a pro among pros. 

She had already conquered the world before I started coaching her. 

There was no need to teach her professional discipline.

In contrast, I was worried about what to do if an immature child threw a tantrum and cried. 

But fortunately, that wasn't a problem. 

The child often cried and fussed in front of Seung-rok, but for some reason, she quietly followed my instructions and just played golf in front of me. 

It was a bit uncomfortable that she took so many photos before playing golf, but once the lesson started, it couldn't have been more comfortable. 

It was so easy that I felt guilty about taking money for it.

Even Hayeon's golf skills were average among kids who are trying to be a golder, so there was hardly anything to correct. 

If she was good, I would have had to prepare more difficult lessons. 

If she couldn't keep up, I would have had to change the curriculum to improve her skills. 

But Hayeon had just the right level of skill. 

She was so easy to teach that I wondered if it should be this easy.

Instead, I was worried about her future. 

There are many types of golf pros, but they have one thing in common. 

The best players are obsessed with golf. 

Like Jisun, who loved golf so much from a young age that she thought about it all day. 

Or those who were so competitive that they played golf until their bodies broke to win. 

Or even like me, who played golf like crazy to get my parent's praise. 

The reasons varied, but the level of effort was similar. 

That was the characteristic of aspiring pros.

But Hayeon showed no signs of that. 

She just played golf enough to avoid problems. 

With this level of effort, she could never do well as a professional. 

It was a world where you had to be obsessed to achieve something. 

When I asked her grandfather or Seung-rok what she did in her free time, they always answered, "I don't know."

I had no choice but to stay home over the weekend and secretly observe Hayeon. 

There was no doubt she was a unique child. 

She had an insatiable love for movies and theater.

She constantly begged her grandfather to watch videos whenever she had the chance. 

Instead of playing with friends, she spent most of her time holed up in the library. 

I couldn't tell what books she was reading, but it seemed like she would pick up anything. 

She had a particular obsession with Shakespeare. 

It wasn't just a casual interest.

I was a fervent passion. 

She watched plays whenever she could and even dressed in flowing, medieval-style clothes on a daily basis. 

I had never seen a child like her before.

When I mentioned to Seung-rok that Hayeon seemed a bit unusual, his response was indifferent. 

"Well, yes. She's very good at golf also. She got many talents. Very neat." 

It wasn't wrong, but it felt off. 

It was as if he had no interest in the truly important aspects of the child. 

I got the sense that Seung-rok didn't want to hear more about her, so I decided to drop the subject.

Besides, I had my own exhausting task ahead of me—settling my debts.

***

Thanks to Seung-rok lending me the money, I was able to pay off all my debts. 

Honestly, I wanted to just send the money and be done with it, but my stepmother insisted on meeting in Seoul to finalize everything in person. 

When I refused, saying I didn't want to see her, she threatened to go to the hospital where my mother was staying. 

I had no choice. 

Besides, I thought it might be a good opportunity to sever ties with the past once and for all.

"Sent it," I said as soon as we met at the bank. 

I handed over the money and the proof of payment to my stepmother. 

It was an enormous sum, even more overwhelming when seen again. 

I never imagined my mother had accumulated so much debt. 

I had always found it odd. 

How could a single mother afford to send her child to a private English-speaking kindergarten and an international school? 

How did she have a driver of her own and mine? 

How could she afford daily golf lessons for me? 

She even bought me an apartment in my name. 

It turned out all of it was built on debt.

My stepmother, Gwi-sook, glanced at the proof of payment and then looked at me with disdain. 

"It's over."

"Yes. I'll be going now."

"Wait a minute," Gwi-sook grabbed my arm. 

"No matter how poorly you were raised, how can you just send the money and think it's all over? Kids these days are scary. Even if you grew up without a father."

She glared at me with contempt. 

I bit my lip gently.

Honestly, I couldn't entirely blame her. 

I looked so much like my mother. 

My stepmother, Gwi-sook, was the daughter of a prosecutor. 

She was smart, too, having graduated from Seoul National University. 

She married into a successful business family with ease. 

But soon after, Gwi-sook's father got caught up in political turmoil and was forced to resign. 

After that, my father began to thoroughly disregard his wife. 

He openly dated younger women, flaunting them. 

One of them was a foolish female golfer he met during a business golf outing, who even bore him a child. 

That woman was my mother. 

He even secretly sent child support behind his wife's back.

Seeing my mother's face in mine, how could Gwi-sook possibly look at me with anything but disdain? 

My father died in disgrace, still making a fool of himself until the end. 

After learning that my father was a fairly well-known businessman, I googled his name out of curiosity. 

I soon regretted it. 

According to the last news article before his death, my father had been arrested for sexually assaulting a caddie while playing golf. 

He died of a heart attack before the investigation concluded, but it was clear he was a despicable human being. 

Thinking that such a man was my father made my blood boil.

"…I don't care if I don't have a father like that," I blurted out without thinking.

"What, what did you say?" 

Gwi-sook was taken aback for the first time in front of me.

"Why do you care so much about such a person? Did you love him?" I asked.

"Don't be ridiculous," she said through gritted teeth. 

"Love? Are you joking in front of an adult? There's a limit to how rude you can be. Anyway…"

Just then, my phone rang. 

I turned my back on Gwi-sook and looked at the screen. 

It was Seung-rok. 

He often annoyed me with his calls, but today, his call felt like a blessing from a god.

"Sorry, I have a call. I'll be going now. It's all over, so don't contact me again," 

I said, walking out the door before Gwi-sook could say another word. 

The warm spring breeze greeted me. 

Smiling, I answered Seung-rok's call.