Time Mansour - Chapter 120



Only Noblemtl

Episode 120: Doing Nothing

Sokcho’s 5-day market.

It was a place where a charity performance was held.

I parked my car in the public parking lot and walked into the market.

At the entrance to the market, the sight of old people selling wild vegetables caught my eye.

I carefully passed through them with my instrument on my back.

The inside was crowded with people who came to see the market.

It felt that way even more because the road was narrow, but there were still more people than we expected.

We grew up on the outskirts of Seoul. It was a pretty remote place for Seoul, but we were born as Seoul country bumpkins.

“I thought there wouldn’t be many people because it’s Gangwon-do, but there are surprisingly many. This is a five-day market.”

It was my first time seeing a 5-day market and it was so exciting.

He keeps tilting his head.

It was quite fun to watch.

Fruits, herbs, fish, vegetables, and various other foods.

It’s not that big, but it has everything you need.

I walked forward, looking down at the table with my eyes.

like that.

As I continued to go inside along the narrow path.

“It’s here.”

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the concert venue.

Central Square.

“It’s spacious? And the stage is big too?”

The space was wider than I thought. I looked around in admiration.

Across from the stage, there were chairs spread out in a row.

There haven’t been any audience members yet.

So instead of the audience, other performers were sitting and resting on the folding chairs.

Samulnori band, saxophone, magician, trot singer, etc.

A lot of performers came.

“I guess there isn’t a separate waiting room here.”

As he said that, he unpacked his luggage.

I put the keyboard down on the folding chair first and then sat down next to him.

How many chairs are there? It would be really fun to perform if they were all full.

There are a lot of people at the market, so the seats will fill up quickly.

I leaned back against the back of my chair, my expectations full.

I’ve been waiting for this long to perform on a big stage.

Obviously.

That’s what it was.

**

It’s not a metaphor, the show literally ended in an instant.

He played just one song and then came down from the stage.

Even though it was my first time performing.

When we performed, there were hardly any audience members.

What is this?

The situation was created where they left almost as soon as they arrived.

“It’s nice not having to wait, but it feels kind of empty.”

“That’s why. I came all the way here.”

It’s not like there aren’t any cases like this where a performance ends quickly.

“It’s not even near Seoul, we came all the way to Gangwon-do. It’s only 5 minutes.”

It was a little sad to come this far and leave so soon.

I felt a little lingering for no reason, so I watched some more of the other performers’ performances.

We performed to empty chairs, but the next teams perform facing the audience.

The audience was gradually filling up. The stage atmosphere was much better than when we went up.

The seats were full, and to make matters worse, there were even elderly people standing at the back watching.

I think it’s time for me to step aside now.

“Okay. Let’s go eat.”

I got up first, making an excuse about eating.

As soon as we left our seats, the elderly people next to us came and sat down on the chairs.

“But what do you eat? Is it somewhere you can find?”

“That’s right. Isn’t Hamheung Naengmyeon famous here?”

There was as much food as there were people at the market.

so.

“You’re lining up for cold noodles? Is this an amusement park?”

The lines at famous houses were also long.

There were long lines everywhere that Seongtae was said to be famous.

Since I have nothing to do right now anyway, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to wait.

“We have a lot of time, should we just wait?”

I asked the kids without thinking much about it.

“Are you crazy?”

“It’s not about standing in line to eat.”

“Yeah. I lost my appetite just waiting.”

Public opinion was not very good.

After running into opposition, we found another restaurant.

The place that was said to be delicious was full of people.

For places like that, I wasn’t sure because there were few reviews.

I guess I’ll just have to eat somewhere. Thinking that, I looked for a restaurant with few people.

suddenly.

“Hey, let’s go there. I tried it and it was delicious.”

Myunggyu pointed somewhere with his finger.

Our gazes simultaneously turned to Myeong-gyu’s fingertips.

“···”

Fast food restaurant.

A sign for a famous fast food restaurant that any Korean would know caught my eye.

I’ve tried that too.

It tastes the same everywhere you go in the country.

‘You came all the way to Sokcho to eat a hamburger?’

I looked at Myeonggyu, tilting my head.

“Okay. Let’s go quickly.”

“That’s right. There aren’t many people.”

For some reason, public opinion was good.

Because everyone said they liked it.

I happened to be following the kids.

Before I knew it.

“Youngjun, what are you going to eat?”

I was standing in front of the kiosk and choosing a menu.

Well, if this is a memory, then it is a memory.

Thinking so positively.

“I’ll just eat what I always eat.”

I order what I always eat.

**

It’s still too early to go home.

After eating the hamburger, we turned the car around and headed to a nearby beach.

The waves crashed against the sandy beach, quickly turning into white foam and disappearing.

‘Good.’

We sat side by side and looked out over the horizon in silence.

Maybe it’s because I grew up in the mountains.

I liked the sea better than the mountains.

I like open spaces better than closed ones.

I stared blankly at the open landscape in all directions.

It felt like my heart, which had been so stuffy for so long, had been relieved a little.

I was soothing my mind by listening to the sound of the waves.

“So what do we do now?”

Myung-gyu asked, biting into a piece of candy in his mouth.

It looks like you’re bored just looking at the sea without doing anything.

Seongtae also got up, brushing the sand off his pants, as if his feet were itching.

“Should we go back soon?”

“already?”

“There’s nothing more to do.”

Because I feel like I’m going home now.

I also got up from my seat and shook off the sand.

suddenly.

“But it would be a shame if we continue like this. That’s why I’m saying this.”

Guk-young raised his fist and cheered.

He looks around at us with a bitter smile.

“How about going into the sea? Just one person.”

He lightly clenched his fist and shook it up and down.

The weather was a little warmer than before, but it wasn’t yet suitable for swimming.

It was a short trip of 2 days and 1 night. I didn’t bring extra clothes.

Well, that was the same for everyone else, not just me.

“Come at me.”

“If you do it late, you have to do it again.”

No one thought they would lose.

One fifth chance.

With a vague belief that it would never be me.

“Rock, paper, scissors.”

They all threw their fists at the same time.

and.

“okay!”

“yes!”

Soon, joy and sorrow were mixed.

“Ah!”

Guk-yeong sat down, clutching his head.

‘I got caught by a guy who insisted on doing something like this.’

Everyone’s eyes turned to Gukyoung. He smiled broadly and took a step forward.

Guk-yeong took a step back. His footsteps traced backwards across the sand.

“It’s no use running away. You know that.”

“Okay. Come quickly before I exert myself.”

“Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I don’t even have any clothes to change into.”

Then he told me to wait while stepping back.

“Hey, that thing is running away. Catch it!”

Guk-yeong turned his back and started to run away.

“Everyone surround them. Myung-gyu holds the back, and Young-jun blocks from the front.”

They moved in unison, gesturing with their hands and feet.

To take control of the state.

“Opposite side, push to the other side.”

He spread out his net.

The sandy beach is littered with footprints.

I jumped and kicked the floor with all my might.

With every step, sand scattered.

I couldn’t run away that far.

“Hey, let go. Okay, I understand. I’ll go in on my own. Just a sec.”

The state was captured.

Each person holds one limb on each side.

“One, two, three.”

Rocked back and forth.

The national flag sways in a semicircle in the air.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Guk-young, struggling while being caught.

I was going to ignore it and just throw it away.

“Okay, just take out the cigarettes and cell phone.”

Guk-yeong left his last will and testament.

I decided to listen to the will and shook my body to shake off the cigarettes and cell phone.

The objects from the pockets fall limply to the sandy floor.

And then again.

“One, two. Three.”

Boohoo.

I threw it with all my might towards the sea.

The national flag flew in a parabolic arc toward the horizon.

Without even reaching the sky.

with a plop.

It sank into the sea water.

After struggling in the water for a while like that.

He got up from his seat, looking soaking wet.

And then.

“Let’s play one more round. Just one more round!”

He walked towards us with a solemn expression.

He approached me with a frown and his fists clenched.

**

I heard snoring from the back seat.

I wonder who snores.

I looked in the rearview mirror.

“Everyone fainted.”

Without anyone knowing, everyone had their eyes closed.

Leaving the children sleeping soundly behind.

He turned his head and spoke to Seongtae.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“A little? Not so much that I can’t stand it.”

“If it’s really hard, just tell me. I’ll take your place.”

I said it as a favor, since I can’t drive anyway.

“What the hell. That guy doesn’t even have a license.”

“That’s because you don’t have a license. Look behind you. All the guys who can drive are closing their eyes.”

“You crazy bastard. Get your license now. You’re the only one around me who doesn’t have a license.”

“It’s annoying. After taking the written test, practicing at the academy, taking the practical test, and then driving on the road… Oh my. Just thinking about it is annoying.”

I returned to Seoul, listening to the usual nagging. The sun was already setting. The sun was shyly hiding itself behind the ridge, but the sunlight was so bright that everything that was hidden was visible.

Seongtae was driving while looking straight ahead.

“But wasn’t it fun?”

Suddenly, out of the blue, he asked a question.

When I came and asked what I did, I really didn’t do anything.

Kids are always like this when they meet.

Even though I didn’t do anything, time passed in the blink of an eye.

But.

“It was fun.”

I felt at ease when we were together.

When I make lame jokes, I often forget the worries I have inside.

The day gradually grew darker.

Before we knew it, the sunset had completely disappeared.

Instead of the shy sun beyond the window, streetlights illuminated the road.

**

The next day, Monday.

I had some business to attend to, so I went to a facility for the disabled.

“I heard you went to Sokcho and came back. Did you have fun?”

A social worker greets us with a smile.

“Yes. I had a good rest.”

“What did you do in Sokcho? Did you eat Hongge? Sokcho is famous for Hongge.”

I couldn’t answer and just smiled awkwardly.

I feel a bit awkward answering that I ate a hamburger.

“How’s the fortress? Is everything okay?”

I just changed the subject.

“We’re always the same.”

A smile appears on the face of the social worker who answers like that.

Even though it’s Monday, your expression is bright.

Overall, the atmosphere inside the facility seemed good.

Every time something like this happens, I think it was a good idea to send Mr. Jang away.

Although I still felt a little uneasy, I thought it was a good thing.

We were just standing there, having a quick conversation.

-Jiying.

The social worker’s pocket vibrated. He checked his phone, pressed the end call button, and put the phone back in his pocket.

“Can I not answer the phone?”

“Yes. What···”

The social worker trailed off.

At that moment.

There’s someone who suddenly comes to mind.

“Are you Mr. Jang by any chance?”

I asked with my eyes wide open.

“yes that’s right.”

The social worker nodded with a bitter expression.

“Do you get calls often?”

“Yes, that’s true… but it doesn’t only come to me.”

“Should I contact other employees too?”

“That’s right. We’ve all received calls from unknown numbers at least once.”

Because I filed a lawsuit.

Of course, I thought only I was the one getting the calls.

So I just ignored it.

It’s okay if I feel a little uncomfortable.

however.

‘You’re bothering other people too?’

I felt like I couldn’t leave it like this any longer.

– Mr. Jang, let’s meet up and talk.

I took out my phone and sent a message.