I watch the scene unfolding before my eyes.
A street at night, Christmas carols ringing through the air.
Two men walk along in comfortable clothes.
‘I’ open my mouth and breathe out a cloud of white mist.
The person beside me, walking with his hands shoved into his pockets, speaks.
“Oh, they’re selling roasted chestnuts over there.”
Then he nudges ‘me’ with his elbow and asks,
“Hyung, want to buy some roasted chestnuts?”
“Aren’t you sick of them?”
Despite saying that, ‘I’ am already turning toward the roasted-chestnut truck.
“Hyung, isn’t practice brutal for you?”
“Not really. It’s just fun…. Is it hard for you?”
Haha—a refreshing laugh bursts out. He grins and answers with a question.
“When I’m playing with you, Hyung?”
He says there is no way it can be hard when we always win, and ‘I’ end up laughing along.
“Ah, I want to debut and compete already.”
“Me too. I want to play a match tomorrow.”
“That’s a bit much.”
The two of us stop in front of the roasted-chestnut truck while exchanging meaningless chatter.
I stare at the smiling ‘me.’
And keep staring.
Unable to look away.
“Mr. Gunbam.”
“……”
“Mr. Gunbam.”
“……”
“Mr. Gunbam.”
“…Yes.”
“When was this?”
“Before I debuted as a professional… back when I was practicing.”
“I…