Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 426

427. Number 33

Lee Jun-yeok, his face a crumpled mess, called out his son’s name loudly.

“Lee Ji-sang!”

He raised his voice again and shouted, but only heard the noisy chatter of the crowd.

“Excuse me, has anyone seen a boy about this tall… wearing blue clothes, looking like an elementary school student? He was just next to me.”

“I didn’t see him.”

“I didn’t see him either.”

“Have you seen a boy who looks like that?”

“No, I haven’t.”

He asked several people around, but no one had seen his son, Ji-sang.

‘Honey, why were you in such a hurry to leave? And taking Ji-sang too.’

With a heart burning with anxiety, his wife’s words before leaving the house flashed through his mind.

‘There’s a reason. I’ll tell you later.’

‘I don’t know what you two are up to. Anyway, today is market day, and the festival is happening, so it’ll be packed. Take my phone.’

‘Why would I need your phone?’

‘Because it’s so crowded. If you lose Ji-sang, you can call.’

‘Why would I lose my son?’

‘Your son is so energetic. Just take it, just in case.’

‘You worry too much. Son, come here.’

‘Why?’

‘Ji-sang, when you go to the market with Dad, you won’t run off on your own, will you?’

‘No, I won’t. You have to hold an adult’s hand and stay close in crowded places.’

‘See? Our son is so smart.’

‘Still, take it. It’s going to be crazy busy today.’

‘It’s okay.’

Lee Jun-yeok, who had casually dismissed his wife’s suggestion to take the phone, felt utterly foolish.

“Ha!”

He put the box he was holding on the floor and climbed onto a higher platform to look around, but with so many people, there was no way he could spot his child.

After searching back and forth between the drone show and the toy stalls without finding his child, Lee Jun-yeok hurried toward the building with the shops.

“Ji-sang’s dad is here?”

The place Lee Jun-yeok rushed into was a familiar general store.

“Did you come to pick up the item you mentioned last time? I sent you a text saying it would take a little longer. But I don’t see Ji-sang today?”

“Mr. President [store owner], I’m sorry, but could you keep this for me for a moment?”

“Keeping things is no problem, but what’s wrong? Why do you look so pale?”

The owner of the general store asked, looking at Lee Jun-yeok, who looked distraught.

“I lost Ji-sang.”

“What!? You lost your child? How did that happen?”

“I was holding his clothes, and we went to see the drone show, but then Ji-sang was gone.”

“He must have been swept away in the crowd. Today is like a flea market. Did you contact the police station? Ah! They said they were going to provide support today… What should we do?”

“I’m going to try to contact them while looking for him.”

“Okay. Leave your things here, and I’ll come out and look for him with you. Honey? Wife? Young-ah!”

“You’re going to hyperventilate. What is it?”

“Come out here quickly.”

The owner of the general store called his wife, who was in the back room, to help find the child.

“Ji-sang’s dad is here.”

“I’ll go out, so you watch the store. Ji-sang is gone.”

“Oh dear! When?”

“It must be because there are so many people in the market. Anyway, you stay here.”

“Ji-sang’s dad, don’t worry too much. Ji-sang is smart. Our sons used to disappear whenever we went to the market when they were young, but we always found them. You’ll find him for sure.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Jun-yeok left the store with the owner and began to look for his son.

* * *

At that time, Tae-kyung, who had some time before the ferry, was looking around the traditional market and festival with his two friends.

“The beggar who came last year is back again, so everyone have fun! Okay! Here’s another song.”

“They’re doing a beggar performance; it really feels like a traditional market.”

“It’s surprisingly fun.”

“Strangely, I didn’t like things like this when I was young, but now I watch them with rapt attention.”

“That’s just proof that you’re getting old, hyung [older brother/friend].”

“Are you the only one getting old? You’re getting old too.”

“Still, Jae-hyun and I are two years younger than hyung.”

“What’s young about being in the same boat getting old together? Stop talking about age. Hey! Look over there.”

Park Jun-seok, who was watching the beggar performance, pointed to one side while nudging Tae-kyung and Lee Jae-hyun’s shoulders.

“It looks like a place to take pictures over there.”

Park Jun-seok’s finger pointed to a photo spot decorated with character dolls representing the local government and flowers.

“Guys, let’s go there and take a picture too.”

“Why are you taking pictures at our age?”

“Yeah. Hyung, just watch the beggar performance.”

“What does taking pictures have to do with age? And the beggar will be back next year, so you can stop watching him. It looks like we’ll have to stand in line to take pictures because there are so many people…”

“There are only two teams; what do you mean there are so many people? My younger brothers, in the end, all that’s left is pictures. Hey! Why did you come to play if you’re going to be like this? Shouldn’t you just stay at home and sleep? Tae-kyung, Jae-hyun?”

“Okay. Let’s take a picture. Jae-hyun, hyung wants to take a picture so badly; let’s go.”

“Yeah, it’s not a big deal; let’s take a picture.”

In the end, Tae-kyung and Lee Jae-hyun decided to take a picture because they couldn’t resist Park Jun-seok’s persistence.

“Hey, when you take a picture later, do this after me. Got it?”

“What is that?”

Tae-kyung asked, looking at Park Jun-seok, who had turned the V made with his fingers upside down.

“Tae-kyung, you don’t know this either? These days, young people turn the V upside down when they take pictures.”

“No, hyung is the oldest of the three of us, but how did you know that? Are you just stuck on the internet except for the time you see patients?”

“It’s not that; the youngest nurse who just joined told me. At first, I wondered what this was, but when I went home and asked my kids, they said they really take pictures like this. Doesn’t it feel like something?”

“It doesn’t feel like anything. Let’s just take pictures however we want.”

“Hyung, I don’t think I can do that. Let’s just take pictures comfortably.”

“We’re taking pictures. Look here. One, two, three!”

Click- Click- Click-

Tae-kyung and Lee Jae-hyun, who said they would never do it, matched the mood of the eldest brother by making upside-down Vs according to the voice of the person taking pictures in front.

The three people who enjoyed taking pictures then had a simple noodle meal at the market and walked around looking at the surrounding stalls to digest.

“But Jae-hyun, how did you know about Hee-rak Island and suggest we go?”

Tae-kyung was curious about the reason why he chose the island as the destination for this trip and actively recommended it.

“I found out about it because of a travel YouTube channel I enjoy watching. That person showed a video saying it was a hidden travel spot, and I thought it would be nice to go with the three of us, so I suggested it.”

“I looked it up earlier too, and they said it’s an island with good scenery and good for healing. Tae-kyung, you’ll like it too.”

“Healing is good. How much time is left before the ferry? Is there still time?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Then, shall we try that once?”

When he turned his gaze to where Tae-kyung was talking about, a 뽑기 (ppopgi) [sugar candy game] vending machine caught his eye.

“Wow! It’s been so long. I used to have it with a 방방 (bangbang, trampoline) [inflatable trampoline] next to my school when I was young; it brings back memories.”

“It’s just a lump of sugar, but I don’t know why it tasted so good when I was young.”

“Shall we each pick one for the first time in a while?”

“How about a 10,000 won bet for the person who picks the biggest one, rather than just doing it?”

“Sounds good? Let’s go.”

The three people, who had returned to their childhood with the 뽑기 (ppopgi), immediately walked to the vending machine.

“Welcome.”

When they headed to the vending machine, various types of large and small sugar candies were hanging, from small daggers to giant carp longer than an adult man’s arm.

“Mr. President, how do I do this?”

“It’s 3,000 won for one try, 5,000 won for three tries, and you simply pick from number 1 to number 100.”

“I’ll take the 5,000 won one.”

“Yes, it’s purely luck and 뽑기 (bokbulbok, random) [a game of chance], so feel free to pick one.”

“Shall we take turns picking one?”

“Okay.”

“I’ll start. Three…”

“I’ll take number 33.”

Just as Park Jae-hyun was about to carefully say a number first, he was cut off by a confident voice that popped out before him.

“Oh, my son said it first.”

“Son!?”

“Son!”

At the 뽑기 (ppopgi) owner’s words, the three people turned their heads at the same time with bewildered faces.

There was a child right behind the three of them.

“You!”

Tae-kyung recognized the child as soon as he saw him and reacted immediately.

It was the same boy who had picked up Lee Jae-hyun’s credit card at the terminal earlier.

“You’re the kid who picked up the card, right?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“But where’s your dad? You were with your dad earlier.”

Come to think of it, there was no guardian next to the child who was clearly holding his father’s hand.

“I lost my dad.”

“What!?”

“What are you talking about?”

The attention of the three people who were focused on the 뽑기 (ppopgi) immediately shifted to the child.

“How did that happen?”

“Wait a minute!”

Tae-kyung bent one knee to make eye contact with the child. And he sent a signal to the two people next to him so that the child would not be surprised, and asked calmly.

“What’s our friend’s name?”

“My name is Lee Ji-sang.”

“Ji-sang, do you remember where you lost your dad?”

“Yes, I went to see the drone show over there, and I was swept away by the people rushing in from behind.”

Unlike the three people who were flustered, Ji-sang calmly explained his situation without being surprised and began to say exactly what he wanted.

“I was pushed by people and went around the drone show, but I couldn’t see my dad. I think we missed each other because he was looking for me. So I thought this wouldn’t work, and then I saw you guys, so I chased after you. Originally, you shouldn’t chase after people you see for the first time, but I saw you guys at the bus stop earlier. So I chased after you to ask for help because you’re not strangers.”

The three people were momentarily amazed by the child’s articulate explanation.

“He’s a very smart kid.”

“Ji-sang, you said you had something to ask the uncles. I’ll listen. Tell me.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m going to call my dad, so could you lend me your phone just once?”

“Of course. Use mine. Here.”

Tae-kyung quickly took out his phone and handed it over.

“Call your dad quickly.”

“Thank you.”

The child, who bowed his head, made a call with the phone he received, but only a dial tone was heard, and it wasn’t connected.

“Oh, that’s weird.”

“Your dad isn’t answering?”

“No. He’s not answering.”