Beside him, a girl with long, straight hair turned to look between Sang-Beom and me.
Since this guy was three years younger than Ho-Un, he should currently be in middle school.
Wow. Although I had felt the same thing every time I met one of the members of my old family, time really is a harsh mistress.
“Um….well…”
Sang-Beom’s eyes darted around as he felt both our gazes rest on him.
This brat. The Sang-Beom I knew could never have been the type to cheerfully volunteer at a place like this.
In fact, he leaned more towards disliking children. If that’s the case, his purpose here must be to…
“This brat, it looks like you’ve really forgotten. It’s me, Ji-Hun-hyung. Is the person beside you your girlfriend?”
At the word ‘girlfriend’, both of their faces flushed red.
How envious. They’re in the prime of their lives! Shit.
“I-I’m not his girlfriend.”
Although the girl tried hard to deny it, the atmosphere between them grew awkward.
The moment that Sang-Beom opened his mouth to say something, I quickly pulled out my wallet.
“If that’s the case, it seems that the two of you really are just friends. Haha. But it looks like this hyung needs to give him some pocket money, since it’s been so long since we last met.”
Sang-Beom’s hand latched into a fist around the 10,000 won note that I handed him.
At first, his mouth hung open wordlessly, but he soon slipped on his characteristic smile and started acting as if he was close to me.
“Ah-ahah. So it was Ji-Hun-hyung. Sorry, my mind just went blank, so I couldn’t recognize you.”
This punk. So he had the temperament for cheating others in him ever since he was young.
I tapped Sang-Beom on the shoulder, signalling him to follow me.
We headed over to a small bench by the basketball court.
Although he was trying hard not to show it, I could feel that he was wary of me. He’s still too young to fool me.
“But who are you, really?”
I wanted to pull out a cigarette, but with this place being what it was, it looks like I would just have to endure the urge.
Instead, I unwrapped a sweet and popped it in my mouth.
“Mhm. You probably don’t remember me. I’m Sang-Ho’s friend.”
At my words, his face stiffened.
Sang-Ho was Sang-Beom’s elder brother.
He was someone who had raised Sang-Beom in place of their irresponsible parents, but when he reached the minimum age for military conscription, Sang-Ho suddenly ran away from home.
“Y-you’re saying that you’re friends with my brother?”
His expression showed some doubt. Of course, it was a lie.
It felt a little strange to be scamming a future scammer.
Let’s see… at his current age he should be around the 3rd grade in middle school.