Chapter 100
"Today, Soo-hyun, we are going to learn about the emotion called happiness."
As Professor Kim Eun-joo announced, the class on joy and happiness would now move on to a class on happiness. Two people sat facing each other in the consultation room as usual. The teacher spoke to Soo-hyun, who opened his notebook and was ready to listen.
"Some say that animals, unlike humans, do not have the concept of happiness. They do not understand happiness. Of course, animals also experience pleasure and satisfaction, but they do not evaluate their lives as positive when they suffer. This is because they lack the ability to think logically, systematically, and comprehensively. Of course, I think differently. I am an animal lover. I am saying this as a researcher, not my personal opinion. Anyway, if you look up the meaning of happiness in the dictionary, it is simply defined as a feeling or state of satisfaction with life, joy, and satisfaction."
'What is happiness? It's easy to say, but if you ask, "What is happiness?", I can't really think of anything to say. Am I happy? I live with my older sister, Ji-ye, I have friends, and I can go to see my uncles whenever I want. It's a life without complaints. I feel sadness for my parents, but I knew that when I was born. We all carry a sadness in our hearts. But the people of Baeksa village, my friends at school, and Mr. Schubert as well. Despite this, there are happy people.'
Teacher Kim Eun-joo smiled as she looked at Soo-hyun, who was lost in thought.
'A child who is always absorbed in his thoughts. Soo-hyun is completely different from other children his age, who just want to finish the counseling session quickly and play instead of concentrating.'
"The concept of happiness involves much more than just feeling it. It's hard to define in a single word, but its characteristics can be described."
Eun-joo Kim stood up and wrote on the whiteboard.
"First, the satisfaction of evaluating one's own life. Isn't that a bit ambiguous? Evaluation requires a point of comparison. Human life is not absolute. It is relative. However, make no mistake. You need to look within yourself, your inner state, not the external appearance of others, such as money or fame, to make an accurate evaluation."
'The more I listen to the explanation, the more I understand.'
"How can I be satisfied with my life, sir?"
Kim Eun-joo said, tapping the pen on the palm of her hand.
"Some say this: a comfortable family, loved ones, a pleasant living environment, trust, a low-stress job. But that's not true. It's a very one-dimensional thought. When you affirm life without ignoring the small pleasures, the happiness of the heart is quietly revealed."
'The small pleasures of life. When I get home, my older sister Ji-ye is waiting for me with dinner ready. The smell of the food being prepared is so delicious that you can guess what the day's menu is just by entering the first floor. Sometimes, when I was hungry, I would swallow my saliva as I climbed the stairs. Even when I heard Jaehee practicing her violin downstairs, when we sometimes swung together on the swings in the park, and when the supermarket lady told Jaehee she was pretty. If you think about it, they were small things, but it was all enjoyable. Even if he speaks gruffly, Junwoo's presence, who is always worried about her, is a great comfort to Soo-hyun.''Isn't that a small happiness?'
Kim Eun-joo said as she wrote again.
"Second, happiness has a characteristic that does not have a clear definition that can be applied to everyone. Happiness is only felt through individual experience. What is felt with the heart is true. My happiness may be perceived as unhappiness by others. Therefore, I should not judge the happiness or unhappiness of others by my own criteria."
Soo-hyun's head bowed after hearing Kim Eun-joo's second words. This was a self-reflection on the compassion he felt for Professor Schubert.
'Maybe for the teacher, death was a journey to true happiness. I feel like my compassion for the poor was excessive.'
After Professor Kim Eun-ju drew a circle connecting the two characteristics, she said,
"That's why this class is about joy and happiness. The first stage of feeling happiness. They say that when they feel joy, they feel happy. The second stage is when you weren't happy at the time, but after a while and living a little longer, you feel, 'Oh, how happy I was then. I was really happy then.' It's more a feeling of satisfaction or contentment than joy. However, the third stage is not an emotional state."
'Not an emotional state? If happiness itself is an emotion, what does it mean that the final stage is not an emotional state, sir?'
Kim Eun-joo said, seeing that Soo-hyun's expression had become suspicious.
"Everything we desire, whether material or social, is a means to achieve happiness. In other words, the desire to achieve it is life itself. Therefore, the ultimate happiness is a life in which you develop your full potential. In other words, a life in which you make the most of your abilities and leave something behind. It doesn't matter how it reaches the public. In Soo-hyun's words, it's when you give an unforgettable performance with a great interpretation or leave a good song behind. Whether it's popular or not, if you live a life in which you develop your potential, you will be able to experience the final stage of happiness."
Soo-hyun's eyes slowly closed.
'I only learned it in a class with Professor Kim Eun-ju. The reason why Professor Schubert left so many songs over the course of 31 years. The reason why he was able to write so many songs even in his last year of life. The master was running towards the final stage of happiness. That's why he can still be so happy.'
Teacher Eun-ju Kim examined Soo-hyun's expression closely.
'Who would say this boy is only fifteen? Even adults can frown or refute words that don't fit their philosophy of life, according to their own interpretation. But this boy is different. He has the innocence to accept everything as it is and the wisdom to apply it to his own situation. Who raised Soo-hyun?'
When Soo-hyun opened his eyes, which had been closed for a long time, the boy's eyes were brighter than ever. It was not the brightness that came from having a smile on his face, but rather the feeling of having opened his eyes to see the world with different eyes.
"Did you understand everything in class today?"
Soo-hyun saw teacher Kim Eun-ju. Soo-hyun, who had been watching her in silence, stood up from his seat and bowed.
"Thank you, professor."
"Huh?"
Kim Eun-joo, who was flustered by Soo-hyun's sudden greeting, also stood up. Soo-hyun said with a beautiful smile.
"I think I was lucky to meet you, professor. Now that I think about it, there are only good teachers around me. I think my happiness starts with good teachers."
Teacher Kim Eun-ju looked surprised for a moment and then laughed shyly.
"I appreciate you thinking that way."
Soo-hyun secretly hugged teacher Kim Eun-joo. Since Soo-hyun was taller than her, it was teacher Kim Eun-joo who was being hugged by him, not Soo-hyun. Kim Eun-joo was flustered. But it was not because she thought Soo-hyun was a man, but because Soo-hyun had never hugged her like that before.
"Thank you, professor."
A kind greeting. Teacher Kim Eun-ju, who was flustered, slowly began to lose her strength. Teacher Kim Eun-ju, smiling, hugged Soo-hyun tightly. She was filled with the satisfaction of a successful class and a warm comfort.
Jaehee always practiced at home before dinner because practicing after sunset would be a nuisance to the neighbors. Jaehee, who was practicing her violin for a while, saw her cell phone light up. Jaehee didn't usually look at her phone during practice time, but when she saw the sender of the text message that appeared on the screen, she quickly put down her bow and picked up her phone.
[Soo-hyun: What are you doing?]
'Hello, I'm Soo-hyun. It seems we finished early today.'
Soo-hyun, who had to take piano lessons late due to attending other classes, returned late at night.
[Jaehee: I was practicing. Are you home?] [Soo-hyun: Yes, are you going to eat?] [Jaehee: In a little while. Dad hasn't arrived yet.] [Soo-hyun: Where did he go, sir?] [Jaehee: Dad, you've been working hard lately. No matter what, you said you'd send me to study abroad. You don't have to.] [Soo-hyun: I see, so you want to go out?]
The simple words, "Do you want to go out?" made Jaehee's heart flutter.
[Jaehee: Yes, just 20 minutes.] [Soo-hyun: Haha, 20 more minutes? Okay. See you at the park.]
Jaehee kept looking at the time as she threw her phone down, washed her hair, and dried it with a hairdryer. Her mind was in a hurry, but her body was slow to do things. Jaehee, who had chosen a pretty outfit and had her hair neatly done and tied up, looked in the mirror to check for any strange features. Jaehee, who couldn't take her eyes off the mirror in front of the entrance even as she was putting on her shoes, ran out.
In the distance, Soo-hyun could be seen sitting on a swing in the playground with his hands in his sweater pockets.
'My hair is gradually turning silver. Should I dye it? It's not a color that makes me look like my grandfather, but the gray hair is very severe.'
Jaehee, who had been talking to himself, ran towards him with a disappointed expression. As he got closer, he saw Junwoo sitting on the slide.
'What, you weren't the only one who called me?'
Junwoo, who recognized her first, slid down the slide and waved his hand.
"Jaehee, hello?"
'Chi, I don't want to hear your greeting first.'
Soo-hyun noticed Jaehee's appearance at Junwoo's greeting and got up from the swing, smiled, and raised his hand.
'But your face looks a little strange. Something seems to have changed. What is it?'
"Jaehee is here?"
Nod, nod.
'Looking at the time, I'm a little late. Normally, he would have asked why. It's strange. Come to think of it, his expression seems very gentle. Is something good going on?'
Soo-hyun walked ahead with his hands in his sweater pockets.
"Let's go."
Junwoo followed him and asked.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll buy you some candy."
'What? Is that why you called me? I'm freezing to death.'
"Haha, that's nice. We're having dinner with friends." "Hey, mom made curry for the first time in a while, so you want me to leave that and eat a snack?" "I'll buy you something delicious, okay?" "Even so, it's still three thousand won." "Haha, that's true." "Tch, ah, what should I eat to make them say I ate something tastier than curry? Jaehee! Let's go quickly!"
Junwoo urged Jaehee, who was observing Soo-hyun's changes, to follow his example. Jaehee followed her, watching her and asking in a low voice.
"What's going on?"
'I'm feeling uneasy. Surely he's not leaving? That's why I'm being so nice to him.'
Soo-hyun smiled broadly as he looked at Jaehee that way.
"No, I'm just grateful for the small joys I have. Ah, I did you a favor today. How about four thousand won?"
Junwoo clenched his fist with just one thousand won.
"Oh! Great! I have more choices!"
"Haha…"
A quiet evening. A warm laugh spread through the neighborhood as three friends gathered to go out.
- - - - -
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