Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 25

Just then, my father looked at Park Hee-cheol and said,

“I’ve come to pay off the debt!”

“…Debt?”

There was a strength in my father’s voice that I wasn’t used to.

Park Hee-cheol, on the other hand, looked bewildered. He was already disoriented from what Hyun-sung had said earlier, and now my father was talking nonsense.

Park Hee-cheol asked again, as if to confirm he’d heard correctly.

“Did you just say you’re settling the debt? So, you’re saying you’ll pay it back? I didn’t mishear, did I?”

Then, my mother, sounding frustrated, chimed in, looking at Park Hee-cheol.

“Seriously, are you always this slow to understand?”

It was an unexpected jab.

“Gasp! Sister-in-law, what kind of…”

Park Hee-cheol stared blankly at my mother, dumbfounded by her sudden retort. He wasn’t the only one surprised.

Pfft.

Hyun-sung quickly covered his mouth with one hand.

But it wasn’t enough to stifle his laughter. He covered his mouth with both hands to contain it.

“Ahem…”

Park Hee-cheol knew that Hyun-sung was laughing at him. He covered his embarrassment with a dry cough.

Then my father stepped forward again.

“Hyung-nim [older brother/term of respect], let’s finish this quickly.”

“Huh? Oh, right. Just a moment… no, let’s not do this outside. Let’s go inside.”

My father looked at Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung shook his head. He didn’t want to be in the same room with someone he didn’t even want to talk to.

He admitted that he’d spent money out of frustration. But Park Hee-cheol’s malicious behavior while living in the same neighborhood was unacceptable.

There are things people just shouldn’t do.

Then my father said, as if understanding, “It doesn’t seem right for all these people to go in.”

“Alright.”

Park Hee-cheol answered and went inside.

Once inside, Park Hee-cheol narrowed his eyes, looking toward the door. Hyun-sung was one thing, but Hyun-sung’s mother’s actions were very irritating.

However, he couldn’t say anything. If he said even a word, he couldn’t handle what would come out of Hyun-sung’s mouth, who was keeping quiet.

Judging from his actions last time, it was better not to give him an excuse.

Park Hee-cheol grabbed the ledger and came out of the room.

After carefully checking the contents of the ledger, my father glanced at Hyun-sung.

He was signaling him to take a look. There might not be any mistakes, but he thought it was a sign of gratitude since he was settling the debt with Hyun-sung’s help.

When Hyun-sung looked at the ledger and nodded, my father handed the envelope to Park Hee-cheol.

“Hyung-nim, here you go.”

After checking the amount in the envelope, Park Hee-cheol stared intently at my father. His expression showed that the amount was incorrect.

Then Hyun-sung spoke up.

“Uncle, I calculated the interest appropriately and included it. If you don’t like it, you can take it to court.”

“What, the law?”

It was obvious provocation.

Park Hee-cheol glared at Hyun-sung, who didn’t avoid his gaze.

For a moment, sparks flew between the two.

Interest? It wasn’t about the amount being large or small.

He could pay it. But he didn’t want to give even a single won [Korean currency] more to this man.

He wanted to return the resentment that his father and mother had suffered, even in this small way. Although it wasn’t enough, he felt like he had to do it to feel satisfied.

Ggrrr!

Park Hee-cheol’s white eyebrows twitched.

‘What is this guy?’

He couldn’t figure him out at all.

One day, he suddenly appeared and made it impossible for him to move. The interest was the same. Of course, it was a mutually agreed upon content as seen in the ledger.

But he ignored it completely. Then he tells him to take it to court.

This guy knows exactly how the other person will react. In other words, he knows the other person’s weaknesses.

What on earth…

Then my father looked at Park Hee-cheol and said,

“Then we’ll be going.”

“Huh? Oh, alright.”

As my father was about to leave, my mother, who was next to him, looked at Park Hee-cheol and said,

“Give it to me.”

“Yes? Sister-in-law. What are you talking about?”

“The promissory note.”

“The promissory note? It says here that it’s been paid off, so there’s no need to take it with you…”

Park Hee-cheol was dumbfounded. No one had ever asked for a promissory note before. Occasionally, some people asked for a receipt, so he had written it for them.

He had always kept the promissory note. It was for reference when taking out a loan later.

In a hurry, Park Hee-cheol immediately continued,

“Can’t I just write you a receipt? I’m keeping this, so…”

“No, give it to me. I don’t want to leave any traces, so just give me the promissory note. Our Hyun-sung’s father suffered so much because of that… never mind, just give it to me quickly.”

“Ah, …yes.”

Park Hee-cheol had no choice but to take the promissory note out of the ledger and hand it to Hyun-sung’s mother.

Thump!

Then my mother snatched the promissory note and handed it directly to my father.

“You take it.”

“Okay, I won’t forget…”

“No, forget it. Let’s go home and burn it. Let’s go, honey.”

It was my mother showing how much she had suffered.

That one word, ‘forget it,’ would be even more painful for my father to hear, but as Hyun-sung, I couldn’t say anything in this situation.

Before turning around, Hyun-sung looked at Park Hee-cheol one more time.

Rummaging.

Park Hee-cheol, who was still fiddling with the envelope, caught his eye.

Today, he looked even more pitiful.

After all, he wouldn’t be able to use that money and would die.

Was that why?

“Tsk, tsk…”

Without realizing it, a clicking sound came out of Hyun-sung’s mouth as he looked at Park Hee-cheol.

Then Park Hee-cheol, who had been holding back until now, shouted at Hyun-sung.

“Where did you learn such manners?”

“I’m just feeling sorry for you.”

“Sorry? What? Tell me!”

“What’s the point of having so much money? You won’t even be able to use it…”

Hyun-sung shook his head from side to side as he said that. It was a sign of pity.

Park Hee-cheol was dumbfounded.

‘Won’t be able to use it?’

Isn’t he saying that he might die soon? What nonsense is he talking about…

Park Hee-cheol’s voice grew even louder this time.

“Hey! You crazy bastard. Why are you talking nonsense in the middle of the night?”

“Crazy bastard?”

“You’re telling a perfectly healthy person that they’re going to die, so are you in your right mind?”

It’s a natural reaction. If you tell ten out of ten people that they’re going to die soon, no one will stay still.

Then Hyun-sung continued.

“You’re going on a tour in a few days, right?”

To be exact, it’s the day after tomorrow, Sunday. It was the last day of summer vacation. No matter how much time has passed, that accident is still vivid in my memory.

“How do you know that…?”

No one knows that. It’s not a typical tour.

It was a special tour that only the well-to-do people in the county went on.

Cost?

Of course, there is none. Rather, it was a special case where they would receive an envelope after it was over. It’s the local district management of a member of Congress that they often talk about. That’s it.

That’s why they used to go quietly without anyone knowing.

But…

Park Hee-cheol stared intently at Hyun-sung.

Then Hyun-sung added one more word.

“Don’t go on the tour. If you want to live a little longer… it’s the first and last piece of advice.”

It was the last bit of conscience as a human being. No matter how much he hated him, he was still a living person.

Hyun-sung turned away.

After all, the choice is up to Park Hee-cheol.

“Father, Mother, let’s go. Let’s go eat.”

“O-okay.”

It was when Hyun-sung was about to leave the yard.

“Wait!”

Park Hee-cheol grabbed Hyun-sung. Then he asked.

“Can you take responsibility for that?”

“Responsibility?”

“Yes, if that’s nonsense, you have to take responsibility.”

“What are you going to do in the opposite case?”

Hyun-sung asked about the opposite case. In other words, he was asking what he would do if Park Hee-cheol died.

“The opposite?”

“Yes, I’m asking what if you’re no longer in this world.”

“That, that’s…”

Even Park Hee-cheol couldn’t think of anything to say. The dead have no words.

There’s no way that would happen, but if he were to die like Hyun-sung said, there’s nothing he could do.

When Park Hee-cheol couldn’t say anything more, Hyun-sung took his father and mother and left Park Hee-cheol’s house.

Bang!

As soon as Hyun-sung’s family left, Park Hee-cheol threw the ledger on the floor.

“This crazy bastard…”

What the hell, don’t go on the tour?

It’s an annual event. If he’s missing from here, Assemblyman Choi will definitely be upset. He can make excuses, but that won’t change the outcome much.

Next year, he will naturally be excluded from the list.

That’s the kind of person he is.

It’s not just a matter of tourism. It’s because of human relationships.

He has to go.

After all, it’s just a crazy guy talking. There’s no way he can see the future, this doesn’t make sense.

“Yeah! I’m going.”

Park Hee-cheol still just thought of Hyun-sung as a crazy person.

On the other hand, the three people are walking happily.

My father suddenly moved closer to Hyun-sung.

“What about me?”

“Yes?”

“When am I going to die?”

My father was taken aback by Hyun-sung’s actions towards Park Hee-cheol. How could he tell a perfectly healthy person that they were going to die unless he was really crazy?

Of course, he thought it was just something he said because he hated Park Hee-cheol.

But there was still something *jjipjjip* [찝찝 – a Korean word meaning uneasy or찝찝unsettled] about it that he couldn’t just dismiss.

That’s the tourism issue.

Everyone who knows knows that Park Hee-cheol goes on these tours. But no one knows the timing.

But looking at what he said a little while ago, Hyun-sung clearly knew.

From the wild ginseng to the way he speaks, and today’s Park Hee-cheol incident, it is clear that Hyun-sung is not the same as before.

So, he asked Hyun-sung about his death just in case.

However, it was not a question that he particularly wanted an answer to.

He just asked because he was so dumbfounded.

But Hyun-sung’s thoughts were different from his father’s. He was serious.

“Just a moment…”

Hyun-sung started counting on his fingers.

For a moment.

My father’s hand cut through the air as he watched the scene.

Whack!

“Hey!”

“Father!”

“Why, you rascal, are you going to hit your father now?”

“When did you ask? Ah, really…”

Hyun-sung felt wronged. He was just thinking about the answer because he asked.

Of course, I can’t say that there was no playfulness at all. But the pain in the back of my head was too great compared to the prank.

Hyun-sung rubbed the back of his head and looked at his father with resentful eyes.

It hurt, but age was of no use.

It was then.

Something slipped into Hyun-sung’s side.

A slender hand, the owner of that hand was none other than his mother.

His mother’s sparkling eyes, with her arms around Hyun-sung’s, were strongly desiring something. It was obvious what he wanted without saying it.

But Hyun-sung just pretended not to know and walked forward. Once with his father was enough. He didn’t want to get hit again.

Then my mother pulled Hyun-sung’s arm and urged him.

“Hurry…”

“What?”

“Are you really going to do this?”

“Don’t hit me. Unlike someone, cowardly…”

My mother glanced at my father and quickly nodded.

Then Hyun-sung started counting on his fingers like before.

“Let’s see…, our mother…”

Gulp!

My mother swallowed hard as she watched Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung, who had been calculating for a long time, looked at his mother and said.

“Wow! Our mother is going to be fine until 90.”

Hyun-sung increased the number by 7 years. In reality, she passed away at the age of 83.

Even at that time, there were only one or two people in the village who were over 80 years old.

Was that why?

My mother’s voice was very bright.

“Really?”

“Of course. I can’t lie.”

Then my mother stuck to my father’s side as if she had been waiting.

“Honey! I’m going to be fine until 90.”

My father, who saw the scene, looked at my mother and Hyun-sung alternately as if he was dumbfounded. Both the person who liked it when the child said that, and the guy who said that, seemed strange.

“Do you like it? Because you live a long time?”

“I like it. Then.”

“I’m glad. Live a long time…”

“But I don’t want to be alone. I have to live with you.”

My mother was happy, and my father became curious again.

‘What should I do?’

It’s a bit embarrassing to ask again. But the more I do, the more curious I get.

“Ahem.”

My father looked at Hyun-sung, clearing his throat for no reason. He’s telling me to look at him. But that’s just my father’s wish.

Whack!

Hyun-sung turned his head right away. Then he pretended not to know. The back of his head was still tingling, so he couldn’t just go over it so easily.

Then my father’s steps naturally headed towards Hyun-sung.

“Kim Hyun-sung, halt!”

“Ah! Why?”

“I’ll ask again. Me?”

“I won’t be fooled twice.”

He said that, but he couldn’t just stand it with his father’s serious expression.

In fact, there is nothing to worry about. After all, I’m not going to tell you the truth anyway.

My father left his family at the age of 64.

But Hyun-sung had no choice but to make a serious expression again. That’s how my father will believe it.

Hyun-sung’s fingers moved very busily to tell a good lie.

When Hyun-sung’s fingers stopped, my father’s eyes were already fixed on Hyun-sung’s mouth.

“Father is 100 years old. Congratulations.”

I made it up on the spot.

Clap clap clap.

Hyun-sung even clapped his hands at the end of the sentence and joked.

“What, I’m 100 years old?”

“Yes, you will be very healthy until you are 100 years old. For reference, I can’t lie.”

“Okay! 100 years old…”

My father, who heard Hyun-sung’s answer, ran to his mother with excitement.

“Did you hear? I’m 100 years old.”

“So?”

“What do you mean ‘so’? Because I’m 100 years old! A little while ago, you liked that you would live a long time after hearing Hyun-sung’s words, right?”

“Do you believe those words of Hyun-sung?”

My mother looked at my father as if he was pathetic.

It was absurd for my father. Clearly, a little while ago, he was happy that he would live to be 90 years old. But now he’s asking if he believes Hyun-sung’s words.

What kind of dance should I dance to?

My father looked at my mother and quietly asked again.

“No, you liked it a little while ago, right?”

“How naive.”

“…What?”

“That’s why men are…”

My mother put her arms around my father as if nothing had happened.

“Our innocent Mr., let’s go have dinner quickly.”

“What’s wrong?”

“How prickly?”

“Huh! Now even prickly? I really… Huh, haha…”

Hyun-sung doesn’t know what the two are talking about, but he liked the sight of them walking with their arms around each other.