00010 Studying Abroad ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
The visa issuance for Minjun, which Suman had pushed through by overcoming countless hardships, was completed very successfully on July 13.
However, the regrettable part was that Suman had also prepared his wife Yeonhui's visa together with his, but Yeonhui's visa had not been successful.
He had already heard from his elders that it might not work out, but he had thought that applying for both might lead to rejection, so he had applied only for his wife—the woman—but when her visa was denied, his heartbreak was no small matter.
He had actually anticipated that the situation in Korea was deteriorating considerably and that things might turn out this way. He had asked his aunt Gyeongsuk to come to Korea and travel to Germany together with Minjun, and thankfully, she arrived in Korea four days before the visa was issued and stayed with them.
"Don't worry about Minjun. I'll take good care of him, but... Minjun is so friendly and outgoing that he'll make friends quickly. Since he knows a little English and German, it might be awkward, but communication will come soon enough."
"Thank you, Aunt."
"Thanks? It's only natural among family. By the way, Minjun's personality has changed a lot from before. He used to seem a bit introverted."
After staying with them for a few days, Gyeongsuk was surprised to see Minjun behaving so energetically, even mischievously.
Children always grow and change, but Minjun's personality was not something that would be easily fixed. That was because of the family environment.
"Haha, right? To the point where you'd feel that way, Aunt... Since coming here, he digs up all sorts of things in the mountains, and after school swims and plays with the kids at the beach in front of the house... he's completely changed."
"He looks much better. Since he says he'll exercise, that kind of personality is even better. Your uncle is very excited that Minjun is coming to Germany to become a soccer player."
"Uncle really likes soccer, right?"
"Hey, how many Germans don't like soccer? He's crazy about it. When we occasionally go on dates, it's always the soccer stadium. Sigh..."
At Gyeongsuk's words, Suman smiled pleasantly and was grateful that his aunt was truly making an effort to help him shake off his disappointment.
"Thank you for caring about me too..."
"Stop with those damned thank-yous. When you left the house, when you came to the airport, even after arriving—ugh. You're trying to make your aunt feel slighted."
"But what can I do when I'm grateful? Haha."
"Ugh, you're exactly like your late father in that regard. Tsk."
Recalling her older brother—Suman's father—who had always worn his gratitude toward family on his sleeve, Gyeongsuk clicked her tongue and shot him a slight glare as if to tell him to stop. Suman immediately snapped to attention and cautiously conveyed a request of sorts.
"But Aunt... would it be all right if we came to visit you occasionally during the holidays?"
"To Germany? Do you know how much plane tickets cost?"
"Even so. I think once or twice a year would be fine. Yeonhui... is a bit worried, that's why."
"I'd love it. I'd get to see my pretty nephew too. It'd be good for Minjun as well. And your uncle would be glad to have a drinking buddy."
Wanting to express his gratitude once again to Gyeongsuk, who had readily accepted, Suman tried to speak but firmly shut his mouth at the glare from his aunt's eyes.
"It's almost time for the flight. We need to head to the gate now."
"Ah! Yes. Honey!"
At Suman's call, Yeonhui—having largely composed herself—forced a smile and told Minjun not to get hurt and to take care of himself before sending him off to Gyeongsuk.
And Minjun tightly held Gyeongsuk's hand and bid farewell to Suman and Yeonhui. Thus, Minjun departed for Germany.
* * *
Inside the plane, Minjun looked at the clouds, exclaiming in wonder several times at first, before soon opening a book on soccer tactics and studying.
Gyeongsuk was extremely surprised by this side of Minjun. It wasn't simply that he was studying soccer—the related terminology was written in German.
She had heard that he was quite passionate about soccer, but she was truly amazed that an elementary school fifth grader could be so engrossed. To exaggerate, the outer edges of the book were swollen to twice their usual size from how much he had read it.
"Minjun, do you know all of this?"
"I don't know everything... I just know the important things. How to pass and what's good to do in crisis situations... I'm just memorizing it in writing. When I actually do it, it doesn't work well. Hehe. I'm still very lacking. That's why I have to work hard."
Seeing Minjun's eyes full of determination, Gyeongsuk found him admirable and felt proud.
She had simply assumed Suman was sending him to Germany because it was famous for soccer, but seeing that it wasn't the case and that he was striving with truly remarkable passion, she honestly realized she had been treating Minjun too much like a child.
"Our Minjun is a man. A man."
"Huh? I am a man, though?"
"Hehe, that's right. Our Minjun is a man, yes. So, this great-aunt will take good care of you in Germany so you can work hard at soccer, so keep working hard just as you are now. Okay?"
"Yes! Thank you."
When Minjun looked at her with trusting eyes, as if seeing a truly dependable presence, Gyeongsuk naturally smiled and felt full of vitality.
She thought that the house would brighten up as if it were newlywed days again.
And so time passed inside the plane...
The place where Minjun and Gyeongsuk arrived was Munich International Airport.
It was a considerable distance, about four hours from where Gyeongsuk lived, but Great-uncle Daniel had driven there in a car.
"Oh! So you're Minjun!"
"Hello, Great-uncle."
"Haha. Yes. I'm called Daniel. Wouldn't it be more comfortable to just call me Grandpa? There's no need to attach the 'aunt' part. By the way, I hear you're very interested in soccer?"
Minjun blinked his eyes at the sight of his great-uncle speaking fluent Korean, and Gyeongsuk looked at Minjun as if he were very cute and said:
"Surprised? I worked hard to learn Korean because I live with a Korean woman, you see."
"W-wow, that's amazing. Honestly, I... was nervous thinking I'd have to greet you in German, even if just briefly. Whew..."
Watching Minjun scratch his head and let out a breath of relief, Daniel smiled as if he found him very cute and said:
"Haha, no need to be nervous. I give a grand welcome to anyone who likes soccer. Moreover, if it's family aspiring to be a soccer player, I'm so overwhelmed with emotion that words fail me... To be honest, my wife doesn't have much interest in soccer, so I often feel like I'm talking to myself."
"Daniel~!"
Thinking he was saying too much to a child, Gyeongsuk shot him a glare and spoke up, and Daniel made an 'oops' expression before smiling awkwardly.
"Ahaha, r-right, let's get in the car first. It was a long flight so you must be tired. And your heart must be feeling a bit restless too. Ahem."
Watching Daniel quickly grab the luggage and disappear, Gyeongsuk let out a sigh and took Minjun—who was bewildered by the fluent Korean—to follow behind him.
As they followed Daniel, Minjun could see luggage being loaded into a large black van, and Gyeongsuk tilted her head and said:
"Oh? A van... did you rent it?"
"No. I borrowed it from the neighbor fellow Mario. I figured there'd be a lot of luggage. Pretty sensible, huh?"
"Goodness, Minjun is here. Minjun. As a great-uncle, shouldn't you act with a little more dignity? Daniel."
"Haha, what's the point of acting dignified with family?"
Gyeongsuk had felt a bit awkward about Daniel constantly showing Minjun the side of him she usually saw when they were alone. At his words, she couldn't say anything and let out a small sigh, yet she was very grateful.
A stranger—though her own flesh and blood—had entered their private space, yet Daniel immediately accepted and welcomed him as family.
"How could I ever win against you? Fine. Let's get going."
"Haha. Come, come, get in quickly. We're off."
After Daniel's words warmed everyone's hearts, the atmosphere inside the car continued very pleasantly until they arrived at their destination.
The place where Gyeongsuk and Daniel lived, and where Minjun would now live and learn soccer, was Frankfurt—the largest city in the German state of Hesse, the fifth-largest city in Germany, the economic capital of Germany, and the gateway to Germany. It was also the home of Eintracht Frankfurt, the team where player Cha Bum-kun had played.
---------------------------= Afterword ---------------------------=
ㅠㅠ;; Z-Zombie Land is ㅠㅠ;;;