Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 337

337

The day before summer vacation.

Kim Il-soo, Lee Soo-hyuk, Lee Jung-woo, and Hyun-sung gathered at Hyun-sung’s ramen shop.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo and asked first, “How are your mother and father doing these days?”

“Don’t even ask.”

“Huh? Why? What’s wrong?”

“I was surprised too. My mom, well… never mind. I can’t bring myself to say it.”

Lee Jung-woo shook his head, seemingly struggling to articulate something.

Then, Lee Soo-hyuk, who was next to him, leaned in with curiosity and asked, “Hey, what’s going on? Is it something like… you know… at night?”

“Doing it? What’s that?”

“You know, that thing. What adults do when they turn off the lights at night.”

Thwack.

Lee Jung-woo’s fist suddenly struck Lee Soo-hyuk’s shoulder.

“What nonsense are you spouting now? What kind of look are you giving my mom to say something like that?”

“Hey, what’s wrong with that? They’re adults and newlyweds anyway. It’s only been two months.”

“Even if they’re newlyweds, would my mom really do that? And with me around, without any discretion… no, never mind. I don’t think I can talk about it myself. I was talking about how weird it is to hear her call my stepfather ‘oppa’ [a Korean term used by a younger woman to address an older brother or close male friend], but you’re making up strange things!”

Lee Jung-woo raised his voice, seemingly displeased.

Then, Kim Il-soo, who was sitting in front, smiled and asked, “What does your mother call your stepfather?”

“That’s… ‘oppa’.”

“Oppa?”

“Yeah, I find it so weird that my mom calls my stepfather ‘oppa.’ It feels so cheesy and I can’t get used to it.”

“Isn’t it normal to call each other ‘dear’ or ‘honey’ after getting married?”

“That’s what I’m saying. That’s why I quietly asked my mom if she could not call him ‘oppa’.”

“And then?”

Gulp.

At Kim Il-soo’s question, Lee Soo-hyuk next to him even swallowed hard as he looked at Lee Jung-woo.

Hyun-sung was also curious.

What would Lee Jung-woo say?

Then, Lee Jung-woo opened his mouth.

“But she said she couldn’t.”

“She couldn’t? Why? What’s the reason?”

“My stepfather…”

“Stepfather? Ah! Your stepfather, why?”

“He likes being called ‘oppa’.”

“Haha, hahaha…”

Hyun-sung burst out laughing without realizing it.

Then, Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Il-soo next to him also started laughing.

However, only one person, Lee Jung-woo, had a distorted expression.

“Hey, aren’t you guys being too much? I’m serious, what’s so funny that you’re laughing like that?”

“Hey, Lee Jung-woo. That’s not right.”

Kim Il-soo said, waving his hand.

Then, Lee Jung-woo immediately asked, “What’s not right?”

“Didn’t you learn about ‘a wife must follow her husband’ in Chinese class?”

“What? A wife must follow her husband?”

“Yeah, a wife must always follow her husband’s wishes. So, it’s natural for your mother to call your stepfather ‘oppa’ if he likes it, right?”

“Crazy bastard!”

“What?”

“Hey, what is this, the Joseon era [Korean dynastic kingdom that lasted for approximately five centuries]? A wife must follow her husband, my ass…”

Lee Jung-woo was still frowning, unable to accept it.

Then, Hyun-sung stepped in.

“Lee Jung-woo, have you already forgotten?”

“Forgotten what?”

“What you said about thinking from your mother’s perspective and understanding her. You clearly said it yourself. Don’t you remember?”

“Oh? Ah, that…”

Lee Jung-woo scratched the back of his head for a moment, mumbling.

Then, Hyun-sung smiled and continued, “Can’t you just understand a little? Your stepfather and mother both like it, so just compromise a little. It’s enough if they’re happy. You want that too, right? What did you say on their wedding day? You said you sincerely wanted them to be happy. So…”

Hyun-sung stopped talking in the middle of his sentence. He thought it was best to do everything in moderation.

Then, Lee Jung-woo chuckled.

“So, I’m the only fool here?”

“The way I see it, you’re not a fool, but you were just a little jealous. You were just being spiteful because they were too happy.”

“Spiteful?”

“Yeah, so don’t act like a child from now on. And you know how much your stepfather cares about you, so you shouldn’t be spiteful. Oh! By the way, when are you going to the hospital?”

“The day after vacation starts.”

“The day after? That soon?”

“Yeah, my stepfather made the reservation that way in advance. He wants to know the results as soon as possible.”

At that moment, Kim Il-soo and Lee Soo-hyuk, who were listening to their conversation, had a glint in their eyes.

Kim Il-soo spoke quickly.

“Hey, what are you talking about? Why the hospital all of a sudden? Are you sick somewhere?”

“What’s going on?”

Lee Soo-hyuk also asked immediately, looking surprised.

Then, Hyun-sung stepped in and started explaining why Lee Jung-woo was going to the hospital. As Hyun-sung’s explanation continued, Kim Il-soo and Lee Soo-hyuk’s expressions widened with surprise. And finally, when Hyun-sung’s explanation ended, the two looked at Lee Jung-woo and asked at the same time.

“Is that true?”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’m going to get tested first, and then I’m planning to have surgery during winter vacation.”

Lee Jung-woo said, nodding his head.

Then, Kim Il-soo asked again, “If you really have surgery, you’ll be able to walk properly?”

“At least.”

“At least?”

“Yeah, at least that’s what the doctor said. Of course, I won’t know for sure until I have the surgery, but I’m so happy that there’s hope right now.”

“…”

Kim Il-soo rubbed his eyes with his palm instead of speaking.

It was too sudden of an action.

Then, Lee Soo-hyuk next to him immediately asked, “What’s wrong? Are you crying right now?”

“Huh? Oh, no. Just…”

Kim Il-soo’s eyes were already red.

Then, Lee Jung-woo nudged his shoulder.

“What’s wrong? What’s with you all of a sudden?”

“I’m sorry…”

“What for?”

“I feel so sorry when I think about how I used to bully you without thinking. I don’t know why I did that back then. I didn’t even know you were hurting like this.”

“Jeez, so suddenly… it’s okay. I’ve already forgotten everything. Tears don’t suit your build…”

“I was sorry. I really didn’t think back then. I’ll definitely pay for that sin as I live my life.”

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Il-soo.

In his past life, Kim Il-soo had bullied Lee Jung-woo until he graduated from high school. Seeing him now, repenting directly in front of Lee Jung-woo with tears, gave him a strange feeling.

It was a completely different 모습 [Korean word for “appearance” or “figure”] compared to his past life.

Then, Lee Jung-woo called out to Kim Il-soo in a loud voice, as if he had made up his mind.

“Hey, Kim Il-soo!”

“Huh? Yeah. Tell me.”

“You said you’d pay for your sins, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll definitely pay for that sin in some way as I live my life. Otherwise, I don’t think I can forgive myself.”

“Good, then I’ll give you that chance.”

“Chance?”

Kim Il-soo looked at Lee Jung-woo directly.

Then, Lee Jung-woo nodded and continued, “Yeah, come visit me at Korea University Hospital when I have surgery during winter vacation.”

“Visit?”

“Yeah, let’s just call it even with that. I can’t keep being tormented by that forever. We only have one more semester left until we graduate high school. Let’s just cleanly 털고 [Korean idiom meaning to shake off or get rid of] all the past and make a fresh start. What do you think?”

“I’m grateful, but wouldn’t you be a little 억울 [Korean word for feeling unfairly treated or wronged]?”

“What’s there to be 억울 about? What’s important is now anyway. We’ve become such close friends now, right?”

“That’s true, but still…”

As Kim Il-soo still couldn’t let go of his lingering feelings, Lee Jung-woo glanced at Hyun-sung and continued, “Hyun-sung told me one day. He said that no one who clings to the past ever succeeds. What does that mean?”

“That’s because the future is important.”

“Exactly. So, don’t worry about that anymore. You already admitted your mistake last year and even apologized to me. That’s enough, right? What more do you need?”

Lee Jung-woo looked at Kim Il-soo, spreading his arms.

Then, Kim Il-soo smiled and continued, “Lee Jung-woo, haven’t you changed too much?”

“Does it seem like that?”

“Yeah, when I see you these days, it’s like you’ve suddenly become an adult. The way you talk has changed a lot too.”

“It’s all thanks to the old man here.”

Lee Jung-woo smiled at Hyun-sung.

Then, Kim Il-soo asked again, “Why Hyun-sung?”

“As you know, my mom had her wedding two months ago, right?”

“Yeah, but what does that have to do with it?”

“Hey, you wouldn’t know unless you’ve experienced it, but it’s not easy to send your mom off to get married at this age. It was hard just to accept that, and also…”

Lee Jung-woo began to explain the 심적 갈등 [Korean term referring to inner conflict or emotional turmoil] he had experienced during Shin Myung-soon’s wedding process. Lee Jung-woo’s explanation became longer than expected. That meant it was difficult for Lee Jung-woo in his own way. And finally, when Lee Jung-woo’s explanation ended, Kim Il-soo immediately asked, “And?”

“The reason I was able to get through that difficult time was thanks to Hyun-sung here. That’s why I’ve changed like this without realizing it.”

“So, you’re saying you’ve become an adult thanks to Hyun-sung?”

“If you had to find a reason… anyway, don’t worry about that issue anymore. I’ve already forgotten everything. And to wrap things up, come visit me. Actually, it’s not because of that, but honestly, it’s embarrassing if no one comes when I’m in the hospital, right?”

Pfft.

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but laugh.

It was true that Lee Jung-woo had changed, as Kim Il-soo said. Lee Jung-woo had a lot of 고민 [Korean word for worries or concerns] from the beginning when Shin Myung-soon officially started dating Park Hee-chul.

They had many conversations, and Lee Jung-woo’s understanding also broadened, and later he even sincerely congratulated his mother’s marriage. It wasn’t a short time.

The important thing was that Lee Jung-woo himself had grown in the process.

Then, Lee Soo-hyuk’s voice was heard.

“Jung-woo, I’m sorry too.”

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

Lee Jung-woo asked, looking at Lee Soo-hyuk.

Then, Lee Soo-hyuk continued, “I was a coward.”

“Coward? When? You?”

“Yeah, I knew when Il-soo was bullying you, but I pretended not to know. I thought it didn’t matter to me anyway. I just thought I should focus on my studies. But now I know how selfish and cowardly that was. I want to apologize now, even though it’s late.”

“What’s wrong with the atmosphere today? Il-soo and now you, Soo-hyuk.”

“No, actually, I’ve been thinking about it since we gathered together to study last year, but I didn’t have a chance to say it. But when I saw Il-soo apologizing a little while ago, I thought I shouldn’t put it off any longer.”

“I don’t think it’s something you have to apologize for this much…”

“No, no matter how I think about it, this isn’t right. Seeing a friend being bullied every day and pretending not to know was a really bad thing. So, even now…”

“Wait!”

Lee Jung-woo interrupted Lee Soo-hyuk.

Then, he immediately continued, “Okay, so you want to apologize too, right?”

“Yeah, I want to sincerely apologize, even though it’s late.”

“You come visit me too.”

“What?”

“Come visit me when I have surgery. Now, is that okay?”

“Huh? It’s going that way again?”

“Of course. Apologies should be done with actions. Just saying it isn’t an apology. Right? Hyun-sung!”

Lee Jung-woo suddenly turned his gaze to Hyun-sung.

Then, he immediately asked, “Don’t you have anything to apologize to me for?”