Chapter 6


    The porch of Kim Insoos house was was slightlyrger than Suhyuks room. No, it looked even bigger, more than twice its size. This was only the beginning. The huge ss windows upying one wall in the spacious living room disyed a cool scenery off the outside. While Suhyuk was looking around with a strange gaze, Kim Insoos mother came over with a smile. Jewels and essories shaking around her body unusually.


    Its been a long time since Ist saw you. Are you ok now? she asked.


    Even she knows me? he thought to himself. Suhyuk showed a smile just like hers.


    Yes, thank you for your concern.


    Yes, I was so worried about you. Im so d youre okay.


    Were going to study now, Insoo said.


    However, she added onest word, Suhyuk, do me a favor once again. Please teach Insoo well.


    At a nce, Insoo was from a rich family. Then, why is he trying to learn from me instead of going to a private academy or getting a private tutor?


    Lets go to the room, said Insoo.


    Among many rooms in his house, he pulled out the door knocker of the room located at the far end.


    When the door was opened, there was a room that could rightly be called as a study. The bookshelf, filled with the books, was tall enough to reach the ceiling. And there was a luxurious table in the middle.


    Come on in!


    You came to the right ce, said his friends.


    Choi Inbae touching his horn-rimmed sses, and Kim Donghyuk making a strange smile were standing there. They weed Suhyuk.


    Your seat is over there, said Insoo.


    Suhyuk went to take his seat by a square rectangr table. Inbae and Donghyuk sat on both sides of the table while Suhyuk sat on their opposite. Obviously Suhyuk was given an upper seat.


    When Suhyuk felt ufortable at the seat cement, they just giggled.


    It was your seat, and it was also your favorite seat.


    Suhyuk, nodding slowly, took out the books from his bag and put them on the table.


    Now, show me the surprise you guys have prepared for me. Things will be different from the past.


    Suhyuk, if you do not know anything, ask us. You might not recall much of what you learned as you lost memory.


    Thank you.


    Youre wee. Our grades went up a lot thanks to your help. Insoo came out at the top in the entire school.


    Originally, it was Suhyuk who came at the top in his school. For some reason, when Suhyuk became a junior, Insoo came out at the top, while Donghyuk and Inbase came in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Besides, Suhyuks grade fell down like a steep downhill. He was ced 4th in his ss, and 20th in his school. The current Suhyuk could not know that.


    Well, as all the members are here, lets get down to work!


    As soon as Donghyeok said that, their study began. The surroundings were very quiet, except when they turned over books and moved their sharp pencils. That was the only sound. These guys are really serious about studying? Suhyuk thought to himself.


    They were concentrating, with their eyes fixed on their books.


    Suhyuk felt stuffy. He could feel their studying atmosphere, but their real motivation was invisible as if it were obscured by ck fog.


    After watching them silently, Suhyuk finally opened his mouth,


    Im sorry to interrupt you guys as youre fully focused, but can I ask you a few questions?


    Their eyes were fixed on Suhyuk.


    Did you notice a problem you do not understand?


    Please ask any questions.


    Thank you. Dont get me wrong about what I have to say from now on.


    Suhyuk, who caught his breath tightly, spoke again.


    Have you ever harassed me?


    At that moment, their faces suddenly stiffened, with a deeply distrustful look. But their hostile looksted a very short time, so Suhyuk did not notice it.


    What is it? Dont talk rot!


    Did you have a dream? How could we do that to you?


    Were they intent to do their mischief to me to the end, not caring at all what they had done to me in the past? His diary was full of curses he hurled about them. Did he do it even when he was not harassed by them? He could not understand.


    I just want to know for sure what our rtionship was like, Suhyuk said.


    Inbae, touching his sses, said, I think you seem to be confused, but thats understandable as you had amnesia. Weve been friends since were freshmen in the same middle school. And this meeting came about thanks to your idea. As the top student in the whole school, you taught us how to study. Private academy tutoring? Actually, you taught us better than they did, and your teaching method was much more interesting too. Did we feel like that because were the same age? Anyway, thanks to your help, our grades went up, and we are very much grateful to you.


    They all nodded, seeing eye to eye to Inbaes remarks. Anyhow, it was true that they appreciated his help because their grades went up.


    Now, how could we harass you? Thats nonsense!


    He could read some sort of sincerity on their facial expressions.


    Should he believe all their words?


    Im sorry, but I cannot believe you, to be honest.


    Were they hurt by Suhyuks response? Or did they give up being patient with him any longer? Insoo stood up from his seat. He looked at Suhyuk coldly. In a hostile mood as if he wanted to throw a punch at him, he slowly turned around the table to approach Suhyuk.


    Surrounded by books, the study had an eerie atmosphere where a man could be killed without uttering even one word.


    Suhyuk, with eyes fixed firmly on Insoos face, was putting his head to work to prepare for any contingent situation. This is how long it takes for visual information to be delivered to the brain: first through the cornea, then the lens, vitreous body, retina, and finally through the visual nerve will the visual information be transmitted to the brain.


    To make a judgement adding all this up together, it takes only about 0.2 second for the body to react immediately. Can Suhyuk escape his fist? It does not matter if he cannot.


    Suhyuk grabbed his chair firmly by turning his hand backward while sitting. Bold enough. He was intent to use the chair as a blunt weapon just in case. Let me pay back the pain twice as much as a silly Suhyuk of the past suffered from you.


    What makes you get stiff like that?


    Wearing a rxed look, Insoo approached Suhyuk instantly and patted him on the shoulder. Then he picked one of several cups next to him and poured tea from a tumbler. Steam began to roll up from the tea cup, and its delicate fragrance smelled superb.


    I hope that your memory wille back quickly, so that your misunderstanding can clear up, he said. Insoo gave tea to Suhyuk.


    Well, drink it, and youll feel better. You used to like it.


    Thanks, Suhyuk said, taking his cup to his lips.


    Did he really misunderstand? Should he give up his existing perceptions about them and take a different approach? When Suhyuk took a sip of tea and put down the cup, Insoo opened his mouth,


    Suhyuk, what does retributive justice mean? Suddenly I cant understand what it means. Kim Insoo showed a eerie smile.


    ................


    After returning home from studying, Suhyuky in bed. He felt dizzy andnguid, in body and soul. If he closed his eyes, he felt like he would just fall asleep instantly. Looking at the fluorescentmp, his eyes slowly closed.


    What the hell.


    He could not find any malice from the study group members. Not only from them, but also from his other ssmates. It seemed as if his thoughts were in a muddle and sucked into a ck hole. Suhyuk fell into sleep.


    ................


    At that very moment he woke up from his bed. He opened the desk drawer and took out the diary. He was determined to peruse it again. At that moment, something shiny in the disturbed drawer caught Suhyuks eye. It was a paper-bundle of medicine. What is this? It was something he had not found before. Suhyuk brought his hand to the medicine.


    At that very moment, his head throbbed painfully, conjuring up a certain scene from the past: He smashed pills into powder, and poured it into a tumbler with a smile. How dare you bastards beat me in grades? You bastards never returning my favor! The first ce in the ss is mine!


    Remnants of memories kept passing through Suhyuks head. He waspleting the pieces of the puzzle little by little: As I teach you like this, you have got to return my favor with this kind of gift at the least. An image appears of him slipping an earring into his pocket at Insoos house. Why! Why does my grade keep going down? Why! Why! I really did work very hard! But why am Igging behind those stupid little guys? Yes, taking sses at a private academy is not enough. I have to get a private tutor like them. If I get an expensive tutor, my grades will rise quickly. Mom sighs deeply


    Suhyuks expressions stiffened after recalling the memories that passed like a light.


    Oh my god, I must have been a crazy little b*tch back then