Lately, It's Winter Season.
Chapter 2 - Handsome Face, Cruel Heart
"Cold"
“Damn it!”
“Huh, what?”
"The class is over," said Tul.
“Okay,” I stretched my arms lazily. I saw that the things on my desk had already been put away in my bag. “Why do I feel so sleepy in the morning?”
"Duen just plays games and doesn't sleep," said my twin brother Dan Nuea after putting away my things.
“Do you agree? I thought you were asleep.”
"Hmm, let's hurry up and go eat. Po has been complaining of hunger since the last period. I'll eat your head." He turned to look at Apo, standing in front of the door, holding his shoes and looking bored because we still didn't want to leave.
“Okay.” I nodded, quickly stood up, grabbed my shoes, and walked out of the building together.
"Oh, it's Cold."
"What?" I turned to look at Tul. There were four of us in my gang: me, Dan Nuea, Po, and Tul.
“I heard you got into trouble yesterday.”
“Yes,” Po replied instead. He was in the same football club as me, and he was there. “He played as captain.”
"Xia, this is serious business with my friend," Tul teased.
"How do you know?" I asked with a frown.
“They’re all rumours. My younger sibling, who’s in the third year of high school, knows about it.”
“That guy’s reputation is spreading again,” Po teased. “Yesterday, he was… It was so chaotic. Tiger was angry and wanted to rush at Nao with all his might. Three or four of them locked him down. It's a good thing the coach wasn't there."
"Then why did you punch him?" Tul asked.
"It made fun of my mother's name."
“Mother cat.”
"Yes"
“Oh, that's it.”
“That’s not it! That’s my mom!”
"cat"
"Raitik," I called back his mother's name.
"Hey, I called you, but you didn't get angry."
"You're close to me, right? Being close friends is fine, I'm used to it. But who are you? Where are you from? Why are you suddenly making fun of someone else's mother's name? Do you even know her? No, he just pretended to let go.
"Until I got too far, you even brought a cat treat to my mouth. What the hell! What kind of person do you have to be? Let me ask you first." I couldn't help but vent.
At first, I tried to be patient, seeing that we were on the same team. But yesterday, I couldn't bear it anymore. Even though I was upset, my two friends and brother secretly laughed.
"Dan, why are you laughing? He's making fun of my mother's name."
“You’re too hot-headed. Mom won’t mind.”
“Oh.”
“Because you’re so hot-headed, there’s news that you’re a gangster leader. You have taken out more than 10 kids from other schools since middle school. When I heard that, I was like, What kind of person is so brutal?”
“How did it go that far? I just fought one person who came to flirt with Dan.”
"Didn't they come in droves then?"
“My friends just came to watch. When he lost, they dragged me back. That’s all,” I explained. I sighed again. I don’t know how the fabricated rumours spread so far. It must be because rumours tend to spread quickly anyway. Plus, my friends helped stir them up. “Those Jab guys are assholes. They stirred me up ten to one, assholes. I don’t know what.”
"Big brother!" A familiar voice sounded from behind me. I was about to scoop up some rice to eat when I turned to look.
"It's so hard to die," I complained. Jab, my friend from junior high school, threw himself down and sat next to me.
“Big brother is so brutal. He punched Tiger, the best player in his generation, in the face. His face was so smashed that he went home crying. Who can beat my big brother?” I turned to look at it with a bored expression.
"Jab, stop it. What's with the wrinkled face? There's just blood dripping from the corner of your mouth. And crying is a bitch. He's going to shoot at me."
"Big brother, can you please not be humble? Or are you teaching me that the big shots should be humble? Damn, it's so sharp. I didn't make a mistake following you since middle school!" Jab clenched his fists and looked pleased. I couldn't help but slap him on the head. "Ouch! Big brother! Our gang is ruthless. Just talking so much makes me want to slap him on the head! If I make a mistake, do I have to cut off my pinky finger?!"
"Jab, you idiot, stop playing. I want to eat rice. Why don't you eat rice?"
“I’m done eating and about to go up to my room. I’ll see my boss first, so I must stop by and say hi.”
"Okay, go up and study, you idiot."
"Oh, Jab. Are you in the same room as the person that Nao punched?" Tul asked. Jab nodded.
"Yes, it's the idiot, the bad guy."
"You're in room 12?" Tul raised his eyebrows. Room 12 was a special math class, so they had to be good. As for us, we were in room 9, a regular science-math class. The special class was more challenging to get into, harder to study, and the tuition was a bit higher because there were extra classes.
“Just a fun test, but you passed. Didn’t you take the special class test, Big Brother Nuea?” Jab asked. “Big Brother, Nao, I understand you’re not very smart.”
"Oh, animal."
"I didn't take the test," Dan replied.
“What a pity. Then let’s go, big brother. Tul, Po, see you.”
"Okay, see you," Tul and Po said simultaneously, then Jab got up and left.
"Jab, stop telling me this story and exaggerating it," I said. At the end, Jab nodded as if he knew, but he didn't seem to trust me at all. I let out another breath.
He called me big brother because he once brought his dog to play, and the dog fell into the canal. The dog couldn't swim, and the owner couldn't swim either, but he tried to help the dog. In the end, we both drowned. I, who was nearby, heard someone shouting, so I quickly ran to the sound and went to help. I was able to save both the person and the dog. From then on, Jab has respected me as his big brother.
I recall an incident in junior high when I was picked on by a senior in high school. Then, Jab went all out and recruited all his friends. He made everyone call me "Big Brother". They even got involved. They went around threatening the seniors until they stopped coming. They got in trouble again.
I became the leader of a gangster gang because of this damn friend of mine. He announced my greatness to the world even though I just stood there and did nothing.
“Damn it,” I grumbled softly. “Someday I’ll probably get kicked because of that guy. He’s so annoying.”
“It could help you if something really happens,” Po tried to comfort him. “Let him take care of Tiger.”
“Wait,” Tul interrupted. “Why should we deal with him first? He’s our friend. He went and punched him. What did he do wrong? We have to deal with him.”
"Yeah, but it's a joke about my friend's mom's name."
“That’s the name of the cat that the whole class teased me about when I was in junior high school. We called her by her name instead. I don’t understand why I’m so upset.”
“Hey, I’ve become someone who can’t be understood,” I argued.
"Oh, that's right. What are you going to do about Tiger? He punched the team captain like that. Are you still shameless enough to go and play with him?" Po said.
"Okay, then I'll quit. You join the club alone."
“No way, I’m lonely.”
"I wonder if he'll forgive you if you apologise," Dan said. I turned to look at him. "I mean, explain nicely that you didn't mean it. Dan said Duen probably didn't know he was joking about his mother's name."
“It was definitely intentional. You can tell from his face,” I frowned.
“Know that?”
“Fuck face”
"Dan thinks he looks good."
“So what? You’re handsome, and you’re a dog. Do you think you’re cool carrying a black bag?”
“Isn’t the whole school black? The school bags.”
"Take it easy. We'll be able to play together for a long time. Let's make up. You have to learn to be patient," Dan tried to calm me down, as he often did, because I was pretty hot-tempered, the opposite of Dan, who was a very easygoing person.
"Listen to your brother," Po said. "Let's talk it out. I'll take you to talk this evening. If anything happens, I can stop it in time."
“Huh.”
"Month," Dan started to lower his voice a little. I let out a deep breath.
"Yes, let's talk."
"very good"
"Yes"
"Hey, dog," Tul teased me. I raised my middle finger at him.
"Fuck, if Dan doesn't force me to talk, I won't talk, you animal," I cursed.
I went while Po was changing clothes. In the evening after school, I had to join the club. Dan would return first because he had to help his mother at the restaurant. We both had to rush back to help his mother in the middle of the school year, so I couldn't join the football club. But when I got to high school, the restaurant business got better, so I could hire someone to help. So I had time to join the club.
“Hey, calm down, boy.”
“Everyone keeps telling me to calm down. Why?”
"You're so impatient. You can't even wait for the noodles to be soft."
"At that time, I was hungry!"
"But you can't just put hot water in it and eat it right away!"
"Oh! I know!" I shouted. After changing, I went out to warm up and wait for the coach on the sidelines. "When do I have to come in and talk?"
“Now is fine, or after practice.”
“And then it came?”
“I don’t see anything,” Po said after scanning the area. “I only see his friends.”
“Who?”
“Mickey,” Po replied. I didn’t look back. “He’s coming. Shit. He’s coming this way. He’s definitely coming for you. What should I do? Will he hit your back, or should I open it first?”
"Po, you're the calm one. Don't panic," I whispered. "I'm going to turn around now. Damn it. Don't stare at him too much."
"Okay, okay. I can bend down and tie my shoelaces."
"But your shoelace isn't undone." Then Po bent down to tie his shoelace, even though it wasn't undone. There was a slight tap on his shoulder. I imagined what would happen if I turned around; I would definitely get punched in the face. What should I do? Or should I… Open it first, as Po said.
“I’m Cold. I need to talk to you.”
“What?”
“Turn around, please.”
"Don't think I know."
“What?”
“Let's talk.”
"Even though you're facing away, do you want me to talk to the back of your head?"
"Yeah, I like it this way. If you get there, turn around."
“...What? Like, back to back? Like you’re trying to deliver drugs secretly?”
"Oh, if you don't turn around, we don't have to talk."
"Okay, okay." After a while, Mickey bumped his back against mine. "Cold."
“What?”
"I'm here to talk about that Tiger."
"Did he send you? What does he want? He said the deal. If the deal is unfair, then this negotiation will be cancelled. Ten more of my men will be here in ten minutes," I said thoughtfully, nudging Po, bending down to tie the rope with his foot.
"Prepare to call Jab immediately and tell him to come to the football field within ten minutes if anything happens," I whispered. Po frowned and nodded.
“What are you whispering about? Are you really the leader of a gangster gang? Shit… I said there must be some basis to the rumour. Where there is smoke, there must be fire.”
“Yes, I have twenty subordinates, spread out in every room. Don’t think you can escape my sight. You will be targeted and will have to stay in this school. It will be difficult for you.”
"Holy shit, what a scary animal... I shouldn't have negotiated with Ger. I should have sent him.
“Field,” Mickey said seriously. “It’s like you’ve been sent on a big, risky, life-threatening mission.”
“What do you have?”
“Let me confess first that... I told him to call him a cat.”
“Oh, this bastard.”
"I don't know. Jab told me."
"Say ?"
"If you want to be close to Duen Nao, call him by his nickname. Duen Nao likes it. Then we'll be close quickly."
"You son of a bitch, Jab's playing with me." I raised my hand and rubbed my face hard.
"That's right. The Tiger didn't mean it."
"So what? I already punched him."
"You go talk to him."
“Why does it have to be me? Why doesn’t he talk to me? He started it first. Seriously.”
"Field is negotiating with Tiger to calm down. I'm here to negotiate with you. We shouldn't let this go on. We're on the same football team. Tiger just wants to be close to his teammates."
"Oh, I understand."
“Take this.”
"What"
"Mother's name is Rose."
“Huh?”
"You just tease his mother's name back and let him punch you. It'll be over."
"That's shit. He didn't mean to make fun of my mother's name, but I made fun of his mother's name. Is it not possible?”
"Okay, so what should we do?"
“Sigh.” I took a small step forward and turned back to look at Mick, who was still standing with his back facing away. “Stop turning your back. Are you stupid enough to stand with your backs against each other on the sidelines of a football field?”
"Oh, so it was me who said that?" Mick turned to face me.
“Sigh, it can’t be helped. Let me, a calm and mature person who uses reason more than emotion, speak to him myself. Where is he?”
“The marble table over there,” Mickey pointed in another direction. “Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
"You," Po nudged, "do you need to call Jab?"
"Okay, call me and tell me I have something urgent to ask you to come, but come alone. The other side will be one-on-one," I replied before walking away with Mick.
"Tiger," Mick called. The seated man looked up. As soon as he saw me, his gaze changed slightly. "Nao has something to talk about."
Tiger stood up to his full height, quite a bit taller than me, making me look up. “What is it?”
"Why are you making fun of my mother's name?"
"I didn't mean it. Mick said it was your nickname," Tiger said, turning to Mick. Mick quickly made an excuse.
"Jab said!"
"Yeah, that's it. I didn't mean it."
“Okay, then I’m sorry for punching you yesterday. I got a little hot-headed. I’ll punch you back.”
"Can?"
"can"
I saw the other party clenched his fist and raised his arm. I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes, preparing myself. I thought a heavy punch would soon land on my face, but it was just a light tap. I opened my eyes and saw the other party smiling in secret.
“Just kidding. You don’t have to close your eyes like that.”
"Well, you seem to have a strong punch."
"Yeah, I won't hit you. I'm afraid you'll die." It would be too much of an insult.
“Never mind about yesterday. Your punch didn’t hurt that much. Also, I’m sorry for teasing you. I won’t call you that again. So what’s your name, Dan Nao?”
“The cold month, you can call me cold if it’s that hard to remember.”
“K”
"Okay, I'm going to continue warming up."
"Yes"
"Big brother!" Jab's voice resounded from afar. He ran towards me at full speed, his school uniform torn out of his pants. When he came into view, I gasped. "Who did this to you, big brother? I ran all the way from the arcade behind the school! Why are you meeting up alone next to the soccer field? Are you crazy with so many people?"
"you"
“Huh?”
"You're the one, you asshole!"
"Ouch!" Jab shouted after I kicked him once because he wasn't prepared.
Plus, I was tired and fell and hit the ground. Then I kicked him, not too hard, just enough to get revenge. "Ouch! Ouch! What's going on? Ouch! Let's talk first!" I stopped my feet and stood straight.
"You chose to tell Mick that my nickname is Cat."
"Oh~" Then Jab burst out laughing loudly. "Oh, damn it! I was just joking around. I didn't think you'd actually do it."
"You animal even laughed. Not only did I accidentally punch it, but I almost got punched by it too," I said. At the end of the sentence, I couldn't help but smile because I saw it laughing so hard it held its stomach. It could only put on a serious face for a moment.
"You son of a bitch!" Then I kicked him again for some satisfaction.
"Hey, I don't know if Big Brother would be so quick-tempered. Have you cleared this up yet? If not, let me clear it up for you."
"Don't bother me. You'll find a way to kick me again. Damn it."
“What are you saying?”
After talking to Jab for a while, the coach came. Jab said goodbye and went back to the game shop. When I found out about this, I wasn't furious. It was more like a joke. I'll find a way to prank him back. Tiger didn't get anything out of it either. Thinking about it, I laughed at myself for being so hot-headed.
After finishing practice, I went straight home. I saw Dan helping Mother clean up the shop, so I went to help him. We opened a restaurant in front of our house that serves made-to-order food. Since our house is near the school, many students come to eat in the morning and evening.
Because my mother cooked delicious food, we had a lot of customers. At first, it was tricky, but as I continued doing it, things gradually improved. I had savings, and my spending became more flexible.
The story started when I was in the second year of secondary school. About two years ago, my father, who was the breadwinner of the family, fell ill with cancer. Initially, our family was middle-class. Not rich but not poor either. My mother was a housewife who took care of various things in the house and took care of the two of us because my father was quite busy with work.
My father was an electrical engineer with a relatively high salary. He didn't want my mother to work; he wanted her to care for the house. When my father fell ill, we used all of our savings to treat him. When our savings ran out, we borrowed more money. But none of that could keep my father from living with us.
Maybe because we didn't think it through carefully at the time, we were afraid of losing our father. If we could turn back time, we should at least save money like our father told us to. He once told us that he wouldn't survive anyway, so it would be better to save money. He didn't want his wife and children to suffer. But we didn't listen.
In the end, we ended up with a massive debt. At the moment when we were sinking, a man who claimed to have loved my mother for a long time reached out to help us. He helped us arrange my father's funeral and helped us with the debt so that we still had a house to live in. At first, there was nothing much. I could tell that my mother was unhappy, but I could do nothing.
About a year later, that guy started changing. He started going out more often, cheating on my mom with another woman. Of course, my mom didn't care about him anymore. But when he found out that I didn't care about him, that I didn't love him, when he came back drunk, he started abusing my mom and us. We endured a very dire situation for about a month.
“Crazy. Just say it. It’s not that bad.” I waved my hand back and forth, pretending to be embarrassed. “Mom, the coach complimented me today.”
“Really? What did the coach say?”
"He said my form was perfect, but I need to practice more."
"Um, yeah. I stopped playing soccer for a long time. I only got to practice again during the school break, before I went to high school with Dan,"
"And Dan couldn't do anything except collect the ball."
"Dan is excellent. He's a very tough goalkeeper. So tough that you'd think he was a gecko."
"Uh, the moon kicks like a nudge. If anyone can't accept it, they're in trouble."
"If it's volleyball, you can invite Mom to play too. When I was still a student, Mom was good," Mom said.
"Mom, you know how much I'm hurt by volleyball," I pouted. Mom and Dan burst out laughing immediately.
“Mom almost didn’t get to see her grandchild.”
“My face turned green a whole month ago. I remember. I still take a picture of it.”
“Please delete it.” I made a bored face. I used to play volleyball for a while. My friends invited me because they were short of players. On the day of the match, I got a slap from the opposing team and hit my balls hard. It was so painful, I felt like I was going to die. It hurt so much that I lay on the court, clutching my balls and lying still. After that, I quit playing volleyball for the rest of my life. Even now, my friends, Dan, and my mother still tease me nonstop.
When we finished cleaning up the shop, we returned home, had dinner together, and went our separate ways. I slept in the same room as Dan and in the same bed. Dan did his homework and read books, while I played games. We had only one mobile phone and shared it. We saw each other. He said there was no need for two devices because Dan didn't play with them anyway. He used them to communicate, and we were almost always stuck together.
"Do you have homework today?"
"Math, the subject that Duen is sleeping in."
"Oh, let me copy that."
"I'll do it right away."
“No way. The letters are not the same.”
"Um, okay."
At 10 p.m., Dan went to bed while I got under the covers to play games. If I didn't get under the covers, the light from the screen would shine outside, and Dan's eyes would hurt.
At around midnight, I heard some noise outside. I guessed it was a gang of young bikers as usual, but today it seemed louder than normal, and there were no cars. I slowly opened the curtains a little and peeked in.
Fight each other? Are the two gangs fighting? No, one gang and... one person. I squinted to see who it was before widening my eyes in shock when I saw that person's face.
Tiger?
...Why did you come and fight with the biker kids near my house at midnight?