Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 211

211

“Here’s your pork cutlet.”

As the server disappeared after placing the pork cutlet down, Seo Inhye looked at Hyunseong.

“Oppa, is this what they call pork cutlet?”

“I’ve only seen it on TV. This is my first time seeing it in person.”

Having made a slip of the tongue a little while ago, he was especially careful with his words this time.

“But how do you eat this?”

“Should I cut it for you, Oppa?”

“That’s right. I saw on TV that guys cut it for girls. Will you cut it for me, Oppa?”

“Alright. Wait a minute.”

Hyunseong started cutting the pork cutlet in front of him.

A moment later.

Hyunseong handed Seo Inhye the plate of cut pork cutlet.

“Here, now eat.”

“Wow! Oppa, you cut it so perfectly, like a picture.”

“Try it and see how it tastes.”

“Okay, thank you, Oppa. Seeing this, you seem so sweet.”

Hyunseong chuckled.

At times like this, his wife Yoon Jisu came to mind.

Yoon Jisu had a particular fondness for pork cutlet. So, on a rare day off, there was a cafe she always visited. It was a small cafe called ‘Into the Forest’ in Manigol near Incheon Grand Park.

The first time they found this cafe was on a rainy summer day.

Both of them enjoyed driving on rainy days.

That day was no different. While driving, they happened to spot the sign.

At first, they went in to have coffee, but when they went inside, they found that they also sold food.

It was early for lunch, but Yoon Jisu, who especially loved pork cutlet, naturally ordered it.

But what was surprising was the taste.

It was more delicious than any pork cutlet she had ever eaten. After that, they would always go to that cafe for lunch on their days off.

At those times, Hyunseong would always cut Yoon Jisu’s pork cutlet for her.

Seo Inhye asked.

“Oppa, what are you thinking so hard about?”

“Huh? Oh, no, just… How’s the pork cutlet taste?”

“Amazing.”

“Is it that good?”

“Yeah, I love this savory and crispy texture so much.”

“I’m glad. I’ll order you more if you’re not full, so eat a lot.”

Seo Inhye nodded with a smile.

Some time later.

“Are you done eating?”

“Yeah, I didn’t leave a single bite. Actually, I didn’t have much of an appetite this morning, so I barely ate breakfast. Maybe that’s why it tasted even better.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. What would you like for dessert?”

“I think coffee would be good since I ate meat.”

Hyunseong called the server and ordered coffee.

Soon after, the coffee arrived, and the two began to drink.

Hyunseong said.

“Hmm, the coffee is good too.”

“I know, the coffee really cuts through the greasiness from the meat, making my mouth feel refreshed. Thanks to you, Oppa, I got to come to a place like this and eat pork cutlet for the first time in my life. I’m so happy.”

“Do you feel better now?”

“Yeah, Oppa. I feel much better than before.”

“That’s good.”

Hyunseong said it as if it were nothing.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t curious, but he couldn’t ask, knowing that it would make her uncomfortable because of his curiosity.

Then Seo Inhye said.

“Oppa, aren’t you curious?”

“About what?”

“Why I’m having such a hard time.”

“Of course, I’m curious.”

Hyunseong said honestly. He couldn’t hide that feeling.

Then Seo Inhye asked again.

“But why don’t you ask?”

“Because you’re having a hard time.”

“You’re not asking because you think I’ll have a hard time?”

“I can’t make the other person suffer just to satisfy my curiosity. Right?”

Seo Inhye was silent for a moment, as if she was thinking about something.

After a moment.

Seo Inhye spoke again.

“So, what you’re saying is that you’re holding back even though you’re curious because you think I’m having a hard time right now?”

“Because I think that’s the right thing to do.”

“Most people aren’t like that. If they’re curious, they don’t care how the other person feels and just ask right away.”

“That’s their standard, and I can’t do that. I don’t want to touch a painful wound just to satisfy my curiosity when the other person doesn’t bring it up first.”

Seo Inhye looked at Hyunseong.

*This is rare.* Most people prioritize satisfying their own desires first. Curiosity is the same. If I’m curious, asking is the priority. Even if the other person gets hurt in the process, that’s secondary. Satisfying my curiosity is the priority.

But this Oppa is the opposite. He’s considering the other person’s feelings before satisfying his own curiosity.

A smile spread across Seo Inhye’s face.

“Kim Hyunseong!”

“What? Why are you suddenly like this?”

“You’re a better person than I thought!”

“Huh, what is this…”

Hyunseong was just dumbfounded.

Then Seo Inhye said again.

“Oppa, thank you. I really picked the right person.”

“Inhye, why are you suddenly like this?”

“I’m thankful for that heart. That heart that considers the other person’s feelings before my own curiosity. You might not think it’s a big deal, but I don’t think just anyone can have that kind of heart. To be honest, it’s not easy for me to do that either.”

“I thought it was something else…”

Hyunseong chuckled.

Then Seo Inhye spoke again.

“It’s because of my mom.”

“Mom? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“My problem. It’s because of my mom. You’re curious but you’re thinking of me and not asking first, so I’m telling you first. I feel like I have to tell you, even if I don’t tell anyone else.”

“…”

Hyunseong was speechless for a moment.

Of course, he knew she had a problem, but he never expected it to be because of her mom, of all people.

Hyunseong asked cautiously.

“What do you mean?”

“My mom, well…”

Seo Inhye couldn’t finish her sentence.

Hyunseong looked at Seo Inhye and said.

“Inhye, don’t feel like you have to tell me if it’s hard. You can tell me slowly later when you feel…”

Before Hyunseong could finish, Seo Inhye spoke first.

“No, no matter how much I think about it, it’s a problem I can’t solve on my own. I’ve been worrying about it for days, but I can’t find an answer.”

“…”

“My mom, well… she’s saying she wants to meet a man.”

“A man?”

“Yeah, it was a few days ago. She suddenly called me saying she had something to tell me and started talking about a man.”

“…”

It was such a sudden story that Hyunseong was speechless.

When Hyunseong didn’t say anything, Seo Inhye asked again.

“You’re taken aback too, right, Oppa?”

“Well, I don’t know the situation, so it’s hard to say anything…”

“She asked me, there’s a man she’s been meeting these days, and she asked if it’s okay to date him seriously?”

“So, what did you say?”

“I said no, no matter what. But then I thought about it, and I wondered if I did the right thing, and honestly, I don’t know. So, I haven’t been myself these days.”

Seo Inhye is now 16 years old.

In some ways, you could say she’s young, but on the other hand, you might not. That’s why she’s feeling conflicted all alone right now.

If she were just young, she wouldn’t have any worries. She could just oppose it like she said at first. But 16 years old is definitely not a small age to do that.

Hyunseong looked at Seo Inhye and asked.

“Do you know what kind of person he is?”

“No, I don’t know. I just said I didn’t like it no matter what.”

“What does your mother say?”

“She said she understood, and she wouldn’t meet him if I didn’t want her to. So, my heart is wavering even more. I’d feel better if she just met him as she pleased, no matter what I said, but since she’s not, I can’t help but have a headache.”

It was a part that was easy enough to understand.

Hyunseong said.

“Perhaps, when did your father…”

“He passed away in a car accident when I was six years old. Honestly, I was too young, so I don’t remember him well. But I still don’t like the idea of my mom leaving my dad and meeting someone else.”

“Hmm…”

“Am I being too selfish? What would you do if you were me, Oppa?”

“Well… I’m not in Inhye’s position, so it’s not easy to answer, but I think it would be good to think about it from your mother’s perspective at least once.”

Seo Inhye tilted her head.

“Mom’s perspective?”

“Yeah, either way, I think the person who’s having the hardest time right now is your mother. Of course, Inhye is having a hard time too, but I think your mother must have had a lot of worries as well.”

“Hmm…”

Seo Inhye was silent for a moment, as if she was thinking about something.

After a short time.

Seo Inhye opened her mouth again.

“Honestly, I didn’t think about that. I just thought about how hard it was for me.”

“And one more thing, how long do you think you’ll be with your mom in the future?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll be a high school student next year. That’s three years from now. In three years, you’ll have to leave your mom’s side anyway, whether you like it or not, because of college.”

“That’s true, but…”

Seo Inhye stopped talking.

She hadn’t thought about that. Now that she thinks about it, she’ll have to leave this place in three years. Whether she goes to college or gets a job, she can’t stay here any longer.

And the problem is after that. There’s no time to return to her mom’s side.

That means her mom will have to live alone for the rest of her life.

Then Hyunseong asked.

“How old did you say your mother is?”

“Thirty-seven this year.”

“Thirty-seven?”

Hyunseong was surprised. Of course, she looked young, but he didn’t think she was under forty. That means she’ll have to live alone for at least 30 or 40 years.

Hyunseong looked at Seo Inhye and said.

“Inhye, don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about your mother, but if you leave in the future, she’ll have to live alone for at least 30 years. What do you think?”

“I was just thinking about that a little while ago.”

Seo Inhye’s face turned dark.

Seeing that, Hyunseong quietly said again.

“Don’t you think it’ll be very hard for her?”

“I didn’t even think about that, but now that I think about it, it’s too harsh. It’s not just 10 or 20 years, it’s at least 30 years. And when I have a family, I won’t be able to visit her often.”

“So…”

“Oppa, I think I was only thinking about myself. My mom definitely has her own life too.”

“So, what I’m saying is, I don’t think you should just oppose it unconditionally. If you understand your mother’s position now, it might not be a bad idea to meet the person your mother is meeting and decide what kind of person he is…”

As soon as Hyunseong finished speaking, Seo Inhye slowly nodded.

Then she was silent for a moment, as if she was thinking about something.

After a moment.

Seo Inhye called Hyunseong.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah, tell me.”

“Let’s go home.”

“What?”

“I want to see my mom.”

“Have you decided?”

“Yeah, I’ll do as you said, Oppa. I’m going to meet that man today. First, I have to meet him and see what kind of person he is with my own eyes.”

Seo Inhye jumped up from her seat.

Then Hyunseong smiled and said.

“Okay, let’s go.”

The two left the Western-style restaurant and headed back to the terminal.

***

At that time.

Two men and women were walking along Gyeongpo Beach.

Park Heecheol called Shin Myeongsoon.

“Ms. Myeongsoon!”

“Oh my? Why are you suddenly calling me by my name…”

“I’m going to call you by your name from now on. So, Myeongsoon, don’t call me Chairman from now on.”

“Yes? Then what should I call you…”

Park Heecheol smiled and continued.

“Why, you know? Something that starts with ‘O’.”

“How can I…”

“Don’t do that, please call me coolly like that wave.”

Shin Myeongsoon hesitated for a moment and opened her mouth.

“O…”