Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 373

374. The Unveiled Truth

‘H-Hello.’

The child, with a shy demeanor and an unusually bashful expression, was Cha Tae-cheol, the eldest son of this family and the reason behind everything.

‘Tae-cheol, would you like some fruit too?’

Cha Tae-cheol shook his head, leaned against the sofa where his mother was sitting, and quietly watched his siblings.

‘The reason I invited you so suddenly is that I heard you’re a senior in high school this year.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘I heard you’re doing well in your studies and planning to apply to S University….’

‘It’s my target university, so I’m working hard to get in.’

‘Actually, I’m an alumnus of that university.’

‘Oh, really?’

‘So, I wanted to offer some small help; that’s why I invited you.’

The Madam said she would provide a top-notch tutor to help Yoo Hyuk-jin get into the university he wanted, offering assistance with his studies.

‘Oh my! Madam, what are you saying?’

‘I’m fine, too.’

Both the mother and Yoo Hyuk-jin were surprised by the unexpected favor.

‘A tutor? Just treating us to such a delicious meal is more than enough.’

‘I’ve heard from your aunt that Hyuk-jin is doing well in his studies. But if you’re applying to S University, it would be helpful to have someone knowledgeable by your side.’

It wasn’t wrong. Yoo Hyuk-jin, who was from the academic achievement test generation and not the college scholastic ability test generation, had to apply first and then take the exam. [The academic achievement test generation refers to a previous system of university admissions in Korea.]

So, he prepared a lot for the exam, and the interview was also quite important, so there were quite a few friends around him who were getting private tutoring. However, professional tutors were expensive.

Of course, his parents would support him if he asked, but Yoo Hyuk-jin didn’t want to spend that much money and was planning to prepare on his own.

‘I really appreciate the offer, but I’m fine.’

‘Yes, Madam, this is too much. You don’t have to do that.’

‘It seems my doing this has surprised our aunt a lot.’

The young Madam smiled as she watched Yoo Hyuk-jin’s mother waving her hands, then continued.

‘The reason I’m showing Hyuk-jin this favor is because this aunt here is my life’s savior.’

‘My mother?’

‘Oh my, Madam. Life’s savior is an overstatement. I’m no life’s savior. Don’t say such things.’

‘Aunt, you are my life’s savior. Hyuk-jin, do you see our son here?’

The Madam pointed to Cha Tae-cheol, who was still holding his mother’s hand with a shy face.

‘…Yes.’

‘I had some postpartum depression after giving birth to our first child. At that time, the aunt took care of me as if she were looking after her married younger sister, and thanks to her, I was able to recover well both physically and mentally. She took good care of our Tae-cheol when I was having a hard time, and I can’t thank her enough. When I heard that Hyuk-jin was a senior in high school this year, I wanted to offer some small help, so I invited you like this. So, please don’t refuse and accept my gratitude.’

He was bewildered by the great favor he was receiving for the first time in his life, but the Madam’s heart was sincere that day.

Yoo Hyuk-jin’s mother treated the Madam, who was younger than her, with sincerity and helped her a lot.

She helped with postpartum care, and when she was mentally and physically exhausted from postpartum depression, she stayed by her side like family, giving her strength and even taking care of the child.

The Madam, touched by the devoted care, said she was indebted and would help in any way she could for the rest of her life.

In the end, the mother and son accepted that grateful gesture, and Yoo Hyuk-jin was able to get into the university he wanted.

He was originally smart and good at studying, but thanks to the good tutor, he was able to get better scores on the exam and interview.

“At first, I couldn’t understand the Madam. My parents were just doing their best to work for a salary. I wondered if there was some other meaning. In my still young mind, I had all sorts of thoughts, wondering if they were trying to take advantage of my kind parents.”

“I would have felt the same way. It’s not easy to accept the favor of someone you don’t know without any suspicion.”

“That’s right. Just look at me now. The director said he would help me, but at first, I looked at him with prejudiced eyes and didn’t try to accept that help.”

“I think that’s perfectly understandable.”

“That Madam was a good person like the director. When I passed the university, when I graduated, she gave me good gifts and was happy as if it were her own business, and she really liked me and my sister.”

After graduating from university, Yoo Hyuk-jin passed a professional certification exam at a young age and got a job at a decent company. And after gaining some experience, he moved to another company a few years later.

He transferred to the chairman’s company where his parents were working.

The Madam recognized Yoo Hyuk-jin’s talent and recommended him to join her husband’s company.

At first, he hesitated because the fields were different. But he thought it was a good opportunity to learn about overseas work and the systems and work of a large company, so he applied and passed fairly.

Yoo Hyuk-jin quickly adapted to the work and stood out in the company. He gained recognition for his good ideas and achievements, caught the eye of the chairman, and was promoted quickly. He continued to rise, and time passed.

“Director, have you ever felt that way?”

“What feeling?”

“The feeling that the whole universe is turning towards me.”

“Well, I’ve never felt that way before, so I don’t know, but wouldn’t it be similar to feeling incredibly good and like you’re flying through the sky?”

“That’s right. Very accurate. That’s exactly how I felt. I went to a good university, passed the certification exam in one go, and then got into a good company and even got promoted, so I felt like I was flying every day.”

It was true.

Everything was good. He enjoyed his work, his family was healthy and harmonious, and he couldn’t ask for anything more.

Occasionally, the Madam and the chairman invited Yoo Hyuk-jin’s family to dinner, which naturally led to the children becoming close.

When the Madam’s eldest son, Cha Tae-cheol, was preparing for college, Yoo Hyuk-jin helped him, and when his younger sister was preparing for college again, the Madam helped her.

In particular, Cha Tae-cheol looked up to Yoo Hyuk-jin, who was like an uncle, well. Unlike his stern and scary father, Yoo Hyuk-jin was kind, humorous, and like a real brother.

Yoo Hyuk-jin also thought of Cha Tae-cheol, who was about the same age as his younger sister and looked up to him, as a younger brother.

At that time, he firmly believed that Cha Tae-cheol thought of him as a brother and respected him.

As time passed, Yoo Hyuk-jin went abroad. His parents were happy, but his younger sister, Hyun-jin, didn’t welcome her brother going abroad.

The siblings were more than a decade apart in age, but they had a good relationship.

In her older brother Yoo Hyuk-jin’s eyes, his younger sister was just pretty, and his younger sister thought her brother was cool and always proud.

‘Can’t you not go, Oppa? Don’t go.’ [Oppa is a Korean term used by younger women to address older brothers or close male friends.]

‘Should I? Should I not go?’

‘Yeah. Shouldn’t you tell Dad and Mom to go to the chairman and tell him not to let you go?’

‘How can Dad and Mom say anything about something the company has decided? And this is a good thing for Oppa. They only send people who are good at their jobs abroad.’

‘Ah! If Oppa goes abroad, who will I turn to when my allowance runs out, and who will pick me up from school when I’m up all night?’

The younger sister didn’t like the fact that her brother, who was always like a friend and a reliable support, was going far away overseas.

‘I won’t be gone long. Two years will pass quickly. And when Oppa is away, it would be nice if Hyun-jin, you came to America too.’

‘I’ll be entering graduate school soon, and I have so much to do that I don’t have time to go abroad comfortably. You know that, Oppa. Graduate students are slaves, slaves.’

‘I know. But you’ll do well. I’ll contact you often. And how about your father and mother quit their jobs this time?’

‘Quit? What are you talking about.’

Yoo Hyuk-jin, who had saved up some money, wanted his parents to quit their jobs and live comfortably, but his parents were against it.

They said that the work wasn’t too hard and that they had a lot of affection for the Madam and her family, so they would continue to work unless they were fired.

Yoo Hyuk-jin also knew that the Madam had a good personality and took good care of his parents, so he didn’t bring up the story about work anymore. After spending time with his family, he left for America.

Life in America was busier than in Korea. He focused on work during the day and on studying English at night.

There was no time to enjoy famous tourist attractions or leisurely weekends. But he wasn’t having a hard time because he often contacted his family and relieved his loneliness.

Time passed quickly, and two years passed, and Yoo Hyuk-jin returned home.

‘Son, you’ve worked hard.’

‘Now you have to meet a good woman and get married.’

‘Yes, Father. I will.’

Yoo Hyuk-jin, who had deliberately not met any women during that time, thought about marriage as his life became stable after returning home.

Now he wanted to meet a good person, build a wonderful family like his parents, and live happily.

‘But what about Hyun-jin?’

‘She seems to be busy with her thesis and paintings these days.’

‘She comes home late, stays in her room when she comes home, and has been getting more irritable because she’s tired.’

‘Is that so?’

After returning home, everything was the same, but one thing that had changed was his younger sister Hyun-jin’s change.

Even before returning home, she hadn’t been sending him phone calls or emails, and when he happened to talk to her, she would only repeat that she was tired.

‘Even when Dad and Mom ask her, she says it’s because of studying and doesn’t say anything else, but when you have time, Hyuk-jin, ask her.’

‘Yes. I’ll ask her. Don’t worry too much.’

His younger sister had always confided in him when she had problems since she was young. She sought advice from her brother on friend problems, academic problems, etc., and Yoo Hyuk-jin tried to solve the problems with her every time.

So, he thought it would be the same this time.

He thought it was just a difficult graduate school or a common and ordinary concern about friends, romantic partners, or employment that people worry about at that age.

A few days later, Yoo Hyuk-jin waited for his sister to come home and had a conversation.

‘Hyun-jin, would you like a beer?’

‘Sorry. I’m really busy these days… Let’s have a beer later, Oppa.’

‘Okay. Do you have any worries these days?’

‘No. I’m just a little tired because of studying.’

‘Do you need money? Should I give you some allowance?’

‘No. I have money too.’

‘Hyun-jin? Is there something wrong with you?’

‘What’s wrong? Nothing’s wrong.’

She was far from the image of his younger sister, who always had a bright smile and was like a vitamin in the house.

Her face was devoid of smiles, she looked tired for some reason, and she seemed to have lost some weight. He asked her several times with a worried heart, but she said she was fine.

She clearly said that nothing was wrong. She just said that graduate school was hard and that it was always like that.

He thought that nothing was really wrong with his sister’s emphasis and believed it.

And a few days later, his sister took her family to a neighborhood barbecue restaurant.

‘Today, I’m treating Dad, Mom, and Oppa to dinner, so eat a lot.’

‘Where do you have money? Oppa will treat you, so order whatever you want to eat.’

‘Why are you doing this! I saved some money while tutoring. I wanted to buy something delicious for my family at least once. So, I’m treating today!’

‘Dad and Mom are living in luxury because of our Hyun-jin.’

‘Then Oppa will order something expensive.’

‘Of course. Order only Korean beef.’

That day, they had a good time eating out with their family for the first time in a while, and the parents and Yoo Hyuk-jin, who had been worried, were relieved to see their sister return to normal.

And on the way home, his sister said to her family.

‘Dad, Mom, Oppa? I love our family so much. I hope our Dad and Mom don’t get sick and live happily for a long time, and I hope our Oppa meets a good woman and lives happily too.’

‘What is it? Yoo Hyun-jin, are you drunk from drinking cola? What are you talking about all of a sudden.’

‘I guess she’s drunk from drinking cola. Even if I’m born again, I’ll still be our Dad’s daughter, our Mom’s daughter, and our Oppa’s sister.’

‘Hey! This kid is really drunk?’

‘Anyway, Dad, Mom, and Oppa, be happy and healthy for a long time.’

‘Okay. Let’s not get sick, our daughter and son, and let’s be happy as a family like we are now.’

It was so happy to eat delicious food with her family and go home together.

She hoped that her family would be happy as they were now without anyone getting sick, as her sister said, and she thought that this happiness would last forever.

But unlike her wishes, that happiness was shattered a little later.

‘Did Father call?’

-Hyuk-jin! What should I do? What should I do…….

While he was working at the company as usual, he received a call from his father.

-Hyuk-jin, what should I do…….

His father couldn’t continue speaking with a trembling voice over the phone.

‘What’s wrong?’

Surprised, Yoo Hyuk-jin calmed his father and asked.

‘You can speak slowly. What’s wrong?’

-H-Hyun-jin is dead!