30
1.
The skinny bod stood still, his fists clenched tight. His arms and legs were much longer than his short, stocky body, a bit like Joe's from the cartoon Tomorrow's Joe. But the boy's body wasn't the kind toned from frequent exercise. It was more like the body of third-world children I'd seen in a documentary. The kind trained for survival, rummaging in trash bins and begging tourists for a dollar. His dark skin had no luster. Below his eyebrows, as dark as shadows, his eyes glinted like black pebbles, glaring at everyone. It was his eyes that silenced the room. He was like a wild beast killing his own cub first and baring his teeth at people who had no intention to harm.
2.
He folded his arms and leaned on one foot, a sign that showed he wasn't intimidated at all in front of complete strangers.
The teacher staggered and babbled rather, as if she were the transfer student, then asked Gon to introduce himself.
3.
Kids started tracking down Gon’s background, and in a mere thirty minutes, the whole class knew what kind of life Gon
had been through.
4.
One kid told us what he had heard from his cousin. Gon had attended the cousin’s school right before ours, after he’d
served a term at a juvenile detention center. The kid made a call to his cousin. At everyone’s request, the call was put on speakerphone. Kids surrounded him with a sense of solidarity that hadn’t been seen in months. Some stood on the desk to hear better. I was sitting far away, but I heard this much clearly:
5.
Kids either avoided his eyes or buried their heads in their textbooks. Gon broke the silence, flinging down his backpack.
“Who was it?” It seemed he somehow became aware of the gossip from yesterday. “Who the fuck ratted me out? Speak up before it’s too late.”
The very air quivered. Our primary source stood up, trembling.
“I, I just . . . m-my cousin said he knew you . . .” His voice dissolved.
Gon pushed out his cheek with his tongue as if it’s a habit of his.
“Thanks. Now I don’t need to introduce myself. That’s who I am.” Gon
plopped down in his chair.
1.
The skinny bod stood still, his fists clenched tight. His arms and legs were much longer than his short, stocky body, a bit like Joe's from the cartoon Tomorrow's Joe. But the boy's body wasn't the kind toned from frequent exercise. It was more like the body of third-world children I'd seen in a documentary. The kind trained for survival, rummaging in trash bins and begging tourists for a dollar. His dark skin had no luster. Below his eyebrows, as dark as shadows, his eyes glinted like black pebbles, glaring at everyone. It was his eyes that silenced the room. He was like a wild beast killing his own cub first and baring his teeth at people who had no intention to harm.
키가 작고 깡마른 아이가 두 주먹을 불끈 쥔 채 서 있다. 팔과 다리는 작은 몸집에 비해 무척 길었다. 단단한 몸이다. 만화 내일의 조에 나오는 조와 흡사한 체격이다. 하지만 부지런히 운동을 해서 만들어진 몸과는 달랐다. 다큐멘터리에서 본 제 3세계 아이들의 몸 같았다. ... 까무잡잡한 피부에는 윤기가 흐르지 않았다. 그림자처럼 짙은 눈썹 아래로 바둑알처럼 새까맣게 반질거리는 눈동자가 모두를 쏘아보고 있었다. ... 해칠 생각이 없는 사람 앞에서 먼저 이를 드러내고 제 새끼를 죽여 버리는 맹수 같았다.
stocky: (of a person) short, with a strong, solid body
luster: the shining quality of a surface
2.
He folded his arms and leaned on one foot, a sign that showed he wasn't intimidated at all in front of complete strangers.
The teacher staggered and babbled rather, as if she were the transfer student, then asked Gon to introduce himself.
담임은 자기가 전학 온 양 쭈뼛거리더니 곤이더러 자기 소개를 하라고 했다.
babble: [intransitive, transitive] babble (away/on) (something) to talk quickly in a way that is difficult to understand
The teachers flapped her hands at her flushed face
"This is Yun Leesu. Now. why don't you say hi to your classmates."
"Well..." Gon cracked his neck and pushed his tongue into one cheek, then the other. He smirked, turned his head sideways, and spat.
담임은 붉어진 얼굴에 손바람을 일으켰다.
flap: [intransitive, transitive] to move or to make something move up and down or from side to side, often making a noise
crack:
3.
Kids started tracking down Gon’s background, and in a mere thirty minutes, the whole class knew what kind of life Gon
had been through.
vs.
Kids started tracking down Gon’s background, and in a thirty minutes, the whole class knew what kind of life Gon
had been through.
곧 신상 털기가 시작됐다. 30분도 안 돼서 곤이가 어디서 뭘 하다 온 앤지 반 전체가 알게 됐다. 한 아이가 사촌에게 들은 정보를 몇 가지 흘렸다.
4.
One kid told us what he had heard from his cousin. Gon had attended the cousin’s school right before ours, after he’d
served a term at a juvenile detention center. The kid made a call to his cousin. At everyone’s request, the call was put on speakerphone. Kids surrounded him with a sense of solidarity that hadn’t been seen in months. Some stood on the desk to hear better. I was sitting far away, but I heard this much clearly:
통화는 아이들의 요구에 따라 스피커폰으로 생중계됐다. 아이들의 요구에 따라 스피커폰으로 생중계됐다. 아이들은 오랜만에 단합하여 동그랗게 둘러앉았다. 잘 들으려고 책상 위로 올라간 아이도 있었다. 나는 멀리 있었지만 이 말만큼은 또렷이 들어왔다.
*made a call to vs called to
*On/For/With everyone's request,
The phrase "At everyone’s request" in the sentence "At everyone’s request, the call was put on speakerphone" indicates that the call being put on speakerphone was done in response to or in accordance with the requests made by everyone present. It suggests that multiple individuals requested for the call to be put on speakerphone, and as a result of their collective requests, the action was taken. This usage of "at" implies that the action (putting the call on speakerphone) occurred in response to the requests, possibly as a direct result of those requests.
*solidarity: support by one person or group of people for another because they share feelings, opinions, aims, etc.
5.
Kids either avoided his eyes or buried their heads in their textbooks. Gon broke the silence, flinging down his backpack.
“Who was it?” It seemed he somehow became aware of the gossip from yesterday. “Who the fuck ratted me out? Speak up before it’s too late.”
The very air quivered. Our primary source stood up, trembling.
“I, I just . . . m-my cousin said he knew you . . .” His voice dissolved.
Gon pushed out his cheek with his tongue as if it’s a habit of his.
“Thanks. Now I don’t need to introduce myself. That’s who I am.” Gon
plopped down in his chair.
곤이가 냅다 책가방을 던졌다.
공기가 조용히 진동했다.
아이의 목소리가 점점 작아졌다.
곤이가 자리에 풀썩 앉았다.
fling: to throw or push somebody/something with force, especially because you are angry, or in a careless way