If you were to jump the fence on the west side of the No. 1 Elementary, walk through an alley and past the Women’s Alliance, you would find yourself at Jung-gu Road.
This road would be renovated to several times its current width twenty years down the road. The white poplars would be cut down, the greenery instead placed in a narrow strip down the centre. The Women’s Alliance would also be relocated and the building sold to the Japanese to build a department store. New, foreign brands filled the tall building – Prada, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs – of which Jimin wouldn’t even be able to afford one pant leg with his monthly paycheque as editor.
The Jung-gu Road in 1983, however, was just another street in the Daegu city where poplars stood tall against the clear, baby blue sky. Cars were rare while bicycles made up nearly all of the traffic, evident from the amount of tinkling bells. The street was lined with a few restaurants, state-run stores and many vendors and stands. You could find everything from popsicles and tea eggs to tailors sewing at a temporary folding table and a tent functioning as a bookstand selling comics.
The twelve-year old Jimin sprinted from home so fast that his red scarf flew over his shoulder. He pushed to the front of the crowd but before he could ask if Heroes of Joseon dynasty had arrived, he was stopped by a holler.
“Oi, what’s the big idea!”
He turned to find a tall boy beside him. It was none other than his classmate, Jungkook.
“Hey, Jungkook! You’re here too?”
“Jimin!”
The two gave up their spot in the front and backed away with Jungkook’s arm around the smaller boy’s neck.
“What you doin’ here today? You’re always running off right at the bell!”
“Don’t remind me! I’m not supposed to be here. I need to go back soon.”
Jungkook eyed him as he spoke.
Jimin didn’t notice and continued to ask, “Did the fifth book come out?”
The taller boy waved a book in the air. “I just got it.” Then he added, “The last one.”
“No way!” Jimin gasped. “You’re lying!” With that, he pushed back into the crowd and, seconds later, came back, shoulders drooping.
“All sold out.”
Jungkook chuckled. “All sold out.”
Jimin was furious. “You took my book, you bastard!”
Jungkook shrugged. “You’re the one who came too late.”
Jimin had steam coming out of his ears. “Me? If I didn’t have to–”
He stopped abruptly.
“Have to do what?”
“Nothing,” Jimin sighed. “Whatever. I have to go home and practise the haegŭm.”
Jungkook flashed a secretive smile. “C’mon, Jim. What’s the rush? Tell me, is playin’ with sand fun?”
It took Jimin a moment before jumping in rage. “How the fuck did you know?!”
He swore.
Jungkook was taken back as well. “Wait, so it’s true?” He scratched his head. “I didn’t take you to be….”
Jimin was seething with anger.
Someone else in his class had asked him before why he never did any activities after school. He had used “family matters” as an excuse for some time before lying about daily haegŭm lessons that his father had arranged for him. He was so embarrassed he was busted that he was angry. He seemed to have forgotten that Jungkook was a head taller than he was, and grabbed the boy’s collar. “Who told you! Was it that fucking Jaehyuk?! He’s gonna get a piece of me!”
