Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 380

380

In front of Kang Sang University’s main gate.

Vroom!

A chartered bus started its engine, seemingly ready to depart.

Looking at my watch, it was five minutes before 6 PM. In five minutes, the bus would be heading towards Gimpo Airport. Thus, Park Min-seok’s graduation trip was about to begin.

Hyeon-seong watched from a distance.

He waited until the very end, hoping against hope. However, Park Min-seok, who had boarded the bus, did not get off. In the end, Park Min-seok ignored the dream Hyeon-seong had mentioned and decided to go on the once-in-a-lifetime graduation trip.

Tsck.

It wasn’t entirely unexpected, but seeing him lie and leave like that left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Vroom, vroom!

The bus began to move slowly.

He wanted to get on the bus right now and drag Park Min-seok off, but he couldn’t. If Park Min-seok insisted on going even if he died here, there would be no way to stop him. If that happened, he wouldn’t be able to avoid the same result as in his previous life. Because he had to avoid that at all costs, Hyeon-seong was watching from a distance.

Vrrroooom!

As the bus departed from Kang Sang University’s main gate and turned towards Ojukheon [a famous historical site in Gangneung, South Korea], Hyeon-seong also started moving. The distance from the bus was 50m. Hyeon-seong began to follow the bus, maintaining a constant distance.

How much time had passed?

The bus carrying Park Min-seok was climbing the Daegwallyeong Pass [a major mountain pass in the Taebaek Mountains]. And right behind it, at a constant distance, was a truck.

It was when the bus was just reaching the top of Daegwallyeong.

Flash, flash.

Hyeon-seong turned on his high beams and narrowed the distance with the bus. After flashing his high beams a few times, the bus began to slow down.

Vroom!

At that moment, Hyeon-seong sped up and overtook the bus. Then, he cut right in front of the bus and slowed down.

Screech.

Lowering the driver’s side window, Hyeon-seong held out his left hand and signaled to pull over to the right. At first, the bus driver showed no reaction, but when Hyeon-seong continued to signal, he signaled back as if to say he understood.

Honk, honk.

Hyeon-seong immediately turned on his right turn signal and turned the steering wheel. Then, the bus following behind immediately followed Hyeon-seong.

Hyeon-seong headed to the Daegwallyeong rest area.

This was the place he had been thinking about since he left Kang Sang University. He was planning to somehow drag Park Min-seok out here and take him back home.

“Why are we here, sir?”

Lee Sang-woo, the class representative, asked the bus driver as the bus suddenly entered the rest area. It had only been about 30 minutes since they had left. But suddenly the bus went to the rest area, so he asked why.

Then the bus driver pointed to the front with his hand and said.

“It looks like that truck over there has something to do with this bus.”

“A truck?”

Lee Sang-woo looked at where the bus driver was pointing. There, as the bus driver said, was a truck parked with its hazard lights on. Then, the door opened and someone got out of the truck.

“Huh? Why is he here?”

The person who got out of the truck was someone he knew. It was Kim Hyeon-seong. He had deliberately gone to Park Min-seok’s house a week ago. The reason was to hear the dream story directly from Kim Hyeon-seong’s mouth.

After hearing the dream story directly from his mouth, he was honestly worried. But that didn’t mean he could give up his graduation trip because of that dream. That’s why he’s on the bus like this now.

Thump.

At that time, the front door of the bus opened and Hyeon-seong got on the bus.

“I’m sorry. Something urgent has come up, so I’ll be taking a moment.”

Hyeon-seong first asked for the bus driver’s understanding. There was an urgency in his voice.

Then he immediately called out to Park Min-seok in a loud voice.

“Min-seok hyung [older brother/male friend]!”

At that moment, Park Min-seok, who was sitting in the middle, was startled. Even though he had seen the front door of the bus open a little while ago and he came up, he thought he was seeing things. This was because under no circumstances should he be in this place.

Park Min-seok jumped up from his seat and said.

“Hey, why are you here now?”

“Hyung, something terrible has happened.”
“Terrible? What are you talking about?”

“Your mother has collapsed. Get off quickly. Quickly!”

This was the method Hyeon-seong came up with after much deliberation. He had to stop Park Min-seok’s graduation trip no matter what, but no matter how much he thought about it, there was no way. He wasn’t someone who would follow if he just dragged him out, so he had no choice but to come up with this method after much deliberation.

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s no time for this. Get off quickly. Hurry!”

With those words, Hyeon-seong grabbed Park Min-seok’s wrist. Then he started dragging him off the bus.

Park Min-seok was going crazy. It wasn’t just anyone, but his mother had collapsed. In that situation, he couldn’t resist. He had no choice but to follow Hyeon-seong.

Just before getting off the bus.

Hyeon-seong shouted at Lee Sang-woo, who was sitting right behind the bus driver.

“Hyung, listen to me carefully!”

“Huh? Uh.”

“From this moment on, always wear your seatbelt. Especially when you go to Jeju Island and travel by bus!”

“Huh? O-okay.”

Lee Sang-woo was so taken aback by the sudden situation that he was completely disoriented.

Then Hyeon-seong continued.

“Seatbelts are a must! Absolutely! Otherwise, you’ll all die!”

With those words, Hyeon-seong bowed to the bus driver and got off the bus. Even then, he didn’t let go of Park Min-seok’s hand.

It all happened in just a minute or two. There was no time to say anything.

But then a strange sound began to be heard.

Click, click…

The strange sound was the sound of seatbelts being fastened.

The two got off the bus.

Park Min-seok hurriedly asked first.

“Did Mom collapse?”

“Yes, so let’s go quickly.”

“When?”

“Right after seeing Hyung off.”

“Is that true?”

Instead of answering, Hyeon-seong moved his steps to where the truck was. Then Park Min-seok also looked at the bus once and immediately followed Hyeon-seong.

Vrrroooom!

At that time, the bus started again.

As the bus disappeared into the distance, a faint smile spread across Hyeon-seong’s lips. But Park Min-seok, who was following behind, couldn’t see that smile.

“Where is Mom now?”

As the truck started, Park Min-seok looked at Hyeon-seong with a worried expression and asked.

Then Hyeon-seong’s answer followed immediately.

“At home.”

“At home?”

Park Min-seok doubted his ears for a moment. He had clearly said that his mother had collapsed. If so, the word ‘hospital’ should have come out, not ‘home’. But Hyeon-seong was clearly saying ‘home’ now.

Park Min-seok tilted his head and asked again.

“What are you talking about? Not the hospital, but home?”

“Yes, my mother said she wouldn’t go to the hospital, so just at home…”

“She collapsed, right?”

“Yes.”

“But she spoke?”

Hyeon-seong realized his mistake for a moment. He hadn’t thought that far. But that didn’t mean he had nothing to say. All he had to do was stall for time until he got home.

Hyeon-seong said as if nothing was wrong.

“She woke up quickly.”

“She woke up?”

“Yes, but my mother was looking for Hyung. So I had no choice but to rush over. I probably got caught on a speed camera for speeding.”

Hyeon-seong even mentioned the speed camera on purpose, focusing on explaining that it was an urgent situation. He couldn’t let Park Min-seok think differently while going home. But that was only Hyeon-seong’s point of view, and Park Min-seok’s thoughts were different.

Of course, it was shocking that his mother had collapsed. But after hearing the story, it seemed that his mother had regained consciousness immediately. That was fine. But he couldn’t understand why his mother was looking for him at that moment.

Just an hour ago, his mother had seen him off at the front gate, telling him to have a good graduation trip. Was it possible that his mother, who had lost consciousness for a moment and then woke up, would look for him, who had already left far away?

Park Min-seok tilted his head and asked again.

“My mother was looking for me?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Park Min-seok asked similar questions several times as if he couldn’t believe it, but each time Hyeon-seong’s answer was the same.

Screech.

As soon as he parked the truck in the vacant lot in front of the house, Park Min-seok started running towards the house.

“Mom!”

As soon as Park Min-seok entered the house, he called out to Han Soo-jin in a loud voice. It was only for a moment, but his mother had lost consciousness anyway. There were some parts that he didn’t understand, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t worried about his mother. So it was natural that his voice calling out to his mother was full of strength.

‘What is that sound?’

Han Soo-jin, who was resting in the main room, doubted her ears. Her son should be on the bus heading to the airport right now. But when she heard her son’s voice, it was natural for her to doubt her ears.

Bang!

Worrying, she opened the door and came out to the living room.

“Mom!”

“…”

“Mom! Are you okay?”

“…”

Han Soo-jin couldn’t say anything. Park Min-seok had clearly left for his graduation trip an hour ago. But when he was in front of her now, she couldn’t say anything.

“Mom, are you okay?”

“Of course Mom is okay. But why are you here now? Didn’t you go on your graduation trip?”

“What are you talking about? You said you were looking for me?”

“Me?”

“Yes, after I left, Mom collapsed right away…”

Park Min-seok started telling Han Soo-jin exactly what he had heard from Hyeon-seong a little while ago. As Park Min-seok’s story continued, Han Soo-jin’s gaze turned to Hyeon-seong, who was standing behind Park Min-seok. And finally, when Park Min-seok’s words ended, she immediately asked.

“Hyeon-seong, is what Min-seok is saying true?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“…”

Han Soo-jin thought for a moment without saying anything, then looked at Hyeon-seong and said again.

“There must be a reason, right? You wouldn’t have done this without a reason. Let’s hear the reason.”

“Actually, I had a dream a while ago. But that’s…”

Hyeon-seong had no choice but to lie one more time. He wanted to say that it wasn’t a dream but something that would actually happen, but he couldn’t, so he sold the dream one more time.

“Hey! Kim Hyeon-seong!”

It was Park Min-seok who shouted before Hyeon-seong’s story was even finished.

“What are you doing, you bastard?”

“I couldn’t help it.”

“What? You couldn’t help it? Do you think that makes sense? No, how can you ruin a once-in-a-lifetime graduation trip with a dream like that? Huh? Does that make sense?”

“…”

Hyeon-seong closed his mouth instead. He knew too well that he wouldn’t be able to calm Park Min-seok’s anger no matter what he said in this situation.

What he needed now was time. He said that the accident happened on the first day of the graduation trip, so the news of the accident would be broadcast on TV tonight. Until then, he didn’t need any words, so Hyeon-seong closed his mouth instead.

But the problem was Park Min-seok.

Park Min-seok, who couldn’t control his anger, approached Hyeon-seong and raised his right hand. Then he swung it towards Hyeon-seong’s face.

Thwack!

Hyeon-seong reached out and grabbed Park Min-seok’s wrist.

Then Park Min-seok laughed in disbelief.

“Oh, look at this bastard. I’ve been watching you, and now you’re trying to get on top of me?”

“Hyung! This isn’t right!”

Hyeon-seong’s voice also grew louder. Of course, he knew Park Min-seok’s feelings, but he didn’t think this was right no matter what.

Park Min-seok’s words followed immediately.

“Not right? You bastard, are you going to hit this hyung too if you do well?”

“Don’t do this. If I had no choice, would I have done that? Who has nothing to do and chases after you to the top of Daegwallyeong at that time…”

“This bastard is still talking back to the end!”

Before Hyeon-seong’s words were finished, Park Min-seok’s left hand flew towards Hyeon-seong again.

That’s when it happened.

Slap!

Han Soo-jin’s hand slapped Park Min-seok’s cheek.

“Mom…?”

Park Min-seok looked at Han Soo-jin with a dumbfounded expression. Then Han Soo-jin turned away from Park Min-seok and looked at Hyeon-seong and asked.