The Best of Tomorrow

Those guys were there at that time, so I hadn’t taken it back, or else my bag would be with me right now. It looked like they had left.

“… what?”

I rummaged around the pile of things lying on the ground.

A deflated soccer ball and some tools could be seen, but my bag… wasn’t there.

My floral zipper bag was hard to miss, so where did it go?

“Those guys… did they take it away?”

I scrunched up my face, hope leaving me.

I had only come to leave a note on Seon-jae’s desk, but now, I was stranded.

If I couldn’t find my bag today, I wouldn’t have my school uniform tomorrow.

That wasn’t the only issue.

There was no guarantee that I would be able to find the bag even if I came back here some other day.

All I had in my bag were a few notes, my wallet, and my school uniform. That’s when it struck me all of a sudden.

Damn, I can’t go home without my wallet.

My legs wobbled and I knelt down.

Raising my shaky hands to my face, I let out a tired groan.

Even though I ran away previously since I was scared of those delinquents, now, I had no choice but to go look for them.

I don’t even know what grade and class they are in.

“My bag…”

I ran around the empty space crying. I searched around foolishly, just in case I missed something.

I also lifted the milk canister and leaned down to look under the old car there. I gazed at the trees here and there, making sure that my bag hadn’t accidentally gotten buried in the ground.

Ding-dong.

The bell rang as lunch break ended. My tummy let out a noise in hunger.

5th period was about to start and I wasn’t a student at this school.

I had no class to attend.

I went out empty-handed.

Seeing that they came here to eat lunch and smoke, there was a high probability of them returning to this place during breaks, cleaning times, and dispersal.

I couldn’t go back until I got my bag, so I had to at least ease my hunger.

It wasn’t that hard of a job.

I went through the gates of Jagam High School.

I entered the snack bar I saw a few moments back, there weren’t any customers.

“Mister, one tteokbokki ramen and one tuna kimbap, please.”

(T/N: tteokbokki = rice cake, Korean dish. Kimbap is also a Korean dish.)

“Alright!”

There was a TV placed above the refrigerator.

The entertainment show I used to watch a long time back was being broadcasted. It was a reality show about the lives of trainees who were under an agency until their debut, it was refreshing to see them.

One of them went to eat grilled clams with an actor who won the Rookie of the Year award causing a scandal, while the other ordered Palbochae and Kkanpunggi at a Chinese restaurant saying that fried dumplings were not available, but a delivery man posted a message on the Internet saying they were lies, causing a stir.

(T/N: Palbochae and Kkanpunggi are seafood dishes.)

I was watching TV with my chin propped up on my palm, and Kimbap was served, followed by ramen.

The owner of the snack bar, who placed the bowl of steaming ramen on the table, raised an eyebrow at me.

“I heard the bell ring. Isn’t it class time?”

As I twirled the noodles with chopsticks, my mouth sucked it in. I neatly licked my lips and raised my eyes, focusing my gaze on the owner of the snack bar.

“Oh, I-I’m almost a graduate of that school. ”

“Graduate? ”

“Yes. These are like my daily wear. I’m repeating a year.”

“Oh, I see.”

The owner of the snack bar turned around with a sad face and brought a fish cake skewer along with a bowl full of broth. I looked at this with my eyes wide open.

The owner of the restaurant patted me on the shoulder and nodded.

“Fighting!”

“Yes? Oh, you didn’t have to… But, thank you. I’ll keep trying!”

I had to fight… find my bag and save Seon-jae.

I literally inhaled the ramen. As I was munching on the fish cakes given as a gift, with only a few kimbap left, I realised something.

I… I didn’t have my wallet, right?

I quietly placed down my chopsticks that had been moving towards another kimbap. A cold sweat broke out. What the hell was I thinking by coming in here? Am I a fool?

I can’t go home because I don’t have a wallet, but it’ll take time to find my bag, so the first thing I did was eat? I felt so damn stupid.

Foolish.

Idiot.

Stupid.

I only thought of these words.

I clenched my hands below the table and glanced at the owner of the snack bar. After a while, the owner put down his pen with a snap, and went out to put a piece of paper on the glass door. The paper was thin enough for me to see the writing from the back.

I made eye contact with the owner of the snack bar.

“Oh, the students here often say they’ll come back soon because they didn’t bring any money, but they never come back. It’s hilarious.”

“I see.”

I gulped down the cold water.

I’m thirsty.

I picked up a spoon and stirred the broth.

The words “No way,” appeared in the broth.

I stuck my hand in my pocket.

I pulled out whatever was inside just to check. My cell phone came out.

My face crumpled up, eyes tearing up.

I stopped eating the kimbap and checked my cell phone. There was no place to ask for help.

I put my elbows on the table and massaged my forehead with the tip of my fingers.

Can’t I go back to the time where I held my bangs between my fingers, having no worries?

I didn’t have any reason to stay in the past anymore.

I already gave a note to Seon-jae.

Please let me go back. Damn time travel!

“Hey, do you want more pickled radish?” asked the owner of the snack bar and I shook my head violently.

“No!”