Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 269

269

“I had a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Yeah, and he was my best friend. But he died in a car accident three years ago…”

“…”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say.

Kim Myung-shik was equally silent.

A moment of silence passed between them.

Kim Myung-shik was the first to speak.

“I haven’t been back to my hometown since then.”

“Was the accident near Seo-myeon, by any chance?”

“…Yeah.”

Kim Myung-shik nodded weakly.

Hyun-sung now understood why Kim Myung-shik had used the word ‘foreign land’ even while in Hongcheon.

Hyun-sung carefully opened his mouth.

“Is it because of your friend that you can’t go back to your hometown?”

“I just couldn’t bring myself to go to the area where he had the accident. No, not couldn’t, but I was scared.”

“Scared? What do you mean by that…”

“It feels like his accident was my fault.”

Hyun-sung couldn’t easily understand.

“What do you mean?”

“He was on his way back from seeing me.”

“Ah…”

Hyun-sung covered his head. He couldn’t say anything for a moment.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Myung-shik.

His eyes were already filled with a strange light.

Kim Myung-shik bit his lower lip slightly and continued.

“It started then.”

“That’s why you couldn’t go back to your hometown.”

“That’s right. Then, a few months ago, the scenery of my hometown appeared on TV. I thought I was dreaming that day.”

Hyun-sung could only nod.

Then Kim Myung-shik spoke again.

“That’s when I saw you on TV. So, of course, I couldn’t forget you. The same goes for your name.”

“Ah, yes…”

“But then you suddenly appeared earlier. So how happy do you think I was?”

“I didn’t know you had such a story. And I don’t know if it means anything for me to say this, but I want to say that your friend’s accident was just an accident. How could it be your fault, senior?”

It didn’t make sense. Of course, given the situation, it must be unbearable pain for Kim Myung-shik. But this didn’t make sense to anyone.

An accident was just that, an accident. It didn’t make sense to put the blame on anyone.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Myung-shik.

Then Kim Myung-shik nodded and said.

“I know, I know. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. I try not to think about it, but I keep thinking that if I hadn’t met him that day, it wouldn’t have happened.”

“…”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say.

It was then.

The food they had ordered came out.

Hyun-sung looked at the employee and said.

“Please bring us a bottle of Kaoliang liquor [a strong Chinese liquor].”

“Yes? Ah, yes…”

The employee glanced at Hyun-sung, wondering if he was a student, and nodded reluctantly. In this day and age, it would be an impossible situation, but back then, it was possible because people were lenient when it came to alcohol.

A moment later.

*Click.*

Hyun-sung twisted open the cap of the Kaoliang liquor, looked at Kim Myung-shik, and said.

“Senior, I don’t have much to say. I’ll just replace my words with this drink.”

Hyun-sung thought that a drink would be more comforting than a hundred words.

Perhaps his feelings were conveyed.

Kim Myung-shik smiled as he held out his glass.

“You’re quite something.”

“Sometimes this drink is better than any words.”

“You’re a high school student, right?”

“I probably am.”

Hyun-sung smiled and poured the liquor.

*Pouring sound.*

This time, Kim Myung-shik looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“You have a drink too.”

“Yes, I’m honored to be with you like this, senior.”

Hyun-sung spoke loudly on purpose. He hoped that this would change Kim Myung-shik’s mood even a little.

Then Kim Myung-shik looked at Hyun-sung and chuckled.

Then he immediately continued.

“Thank you. I couldn’t say this to anyone until now, but I’m glad I could.”

“I’m the one who’s grateful.”

“Shall we have a drink?”

With those words, Kim Myung-shik held out his glass.

Hyun-sung also raised his glass and clinked it against his.

*Clink.*

The two glasses made a cheerful sound in the middle.

About 20 minutes had passed since the two started eating.

Kim Myung-shik put down his glass and said.

“Now, tell me. Why did you come to see me?”

“Did you receive a call from the principal a few days ago?”

“Yeah, I was honestly a bit embarrassed then. It was sudden, and I had circumstances I couldn’t talk about, so I had no choice but to refuse under the pretext of being busy.”

“Circumstances? Is it because of that friend you mentioned earlier?”

Kim Myung-shik couldn’t answer immediately to Hyun-sung’s question.

The fact that he couldn’t answer right away meant that the reason wasn’t the whole story. Hyun-sung had no choice but to wait for Kim Myung-shik to open his mouth.

After a while, Kim Myung-shik slowly began to speak.

“That’s not all of it.”

“So there’s another reason?”

Kim Myung-shik nodded.

Then Hyun-sung said.

“You don’t have to tell me if it’s difficult. I don’t want you to have a hard time because of me. I’m just…”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to stop in the middle of his sentence. The reason was that Kim Myung-shik raised his hand and interrupted Hyun-sung’s words.

Hyun-sung had no choice but to stop talking and look at Kim Myung-shik.

Then Kim Myung-shik began to speak as if he had made up his mind.

“My mother is very sick.”

“Yes? Your mother?”

“Yeah, she had surgery last year. And she’s still undergoing treatment.”

“What do you mean…”

It was hard for Hyun-sung to understand. Usually, surgery is the last step in the treatment process.

Kim Myung-shik continued.

“It metastasized [spread to other parts of the body].”

“Metastasized? Does that mean…”

“Yeah, it’s stomach cancer. I thought it would be over after the surgery, but when I tried to have the surgery, it had metastasized to other places. So she’s still undergoing chemotherapy.”

*Sigh.*

Hyun-sung let out a short sigh.

Then, without realizing it, he picked up the glass in front of him and swallowed it in one gulp.

*Thud.*

Hyun-sung put down the glass and looked at Kim Myung-shik and asked.

“What does the hospital say?”

“They say to wait and see for now. But the problem is…”

“Is there another problem?”

“That’s…”

Kim Myung-shik couldn’t speak easily.

Then Hyun-sung picked up the liquor bottle and said.

“Would you like another drink?”

“No, I’d like to drink more if I could, but there’s still time left before closing, so I can’t. I have to stay focused.”

Desperation was felt in Kim Myung-shik’s eyes.

Hyun-sung put down the liquor bottle and asked carefully.

“Are you having a hard time?”

“I can endure everything else, but I can’t handle the interest.”

“Interest?”

Hyun-sung had an ominous thought for a moment. The fact that he couldn’t handle the interest meant that he had likely used private loans instead of general loans.

Hyun-sung asked immediately.

“Did you use private loans [loans with very high interest rates]?”

Kim Myung-shik nodded and continued.

“Yeah, I had no choice. Because of my mother’s surgery costs. I had to have surgery right away, but I didn’t have any money, so I had no choice but to…”

“So how much is the monthly interest now?”

“Two hundred thousand won [approximately $150 USD].”

Kim Myung-shik answered weakly.

Then Hyun-sung asked in surprise.

“Two hundred thousand won just for the interest, not the principal?”

“Yeah, I’m not even thinking about paying off the principal right now. And with my mother receiving radiation therapy, it’s too much for me to handle…”

“You have to pay rent too, right?”

“That’s right, that’s also two hundred thousand won.”

“Wow…”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say. Just the interest on the private loan and the rent alone amounted to four hundred thousand won. If you include the cost of his mother’s treatment and living expenses, you need at least seven or eight hundred thousand won. That’s the minimum calculation. It doesn’t include the employee’s salary. If you include that, you need at least one million won a month.

Hyun-sung asked.

“Is business doing well?”

“I’m barely holding on, but if I continue like this, the store is in too much danger. I didn’t know private loans were this scary. They calculate compound interest even if the interest is only a day late.”

“Did you use the store as collateral for the private loan?”

Kim Myung-shik nodded.

Then Hyun-sung asked immediately.

“How much is the principal?”

“Three million won [approximately $2,250 USD].”

“So the principal is three million won, and the monthly interest is two hundred thousand won?”

“I used it in a hurry at first, but I didn’t know it would trap me like this. They’re real thieves. Honestly, I’m scared and afraid right now.”

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Myung-shik.

Limit.

It refers to the range that strength, responsibility, or ability can reach. Kim Myung-shik’s current appearance was showing that he had reached that limit. If he goes just a little further from here, he will collapse at some point.

Hyun-sung quietly called out to Kim Myung-shik.

“Senior!”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Ah… sorry. I talked too much about myself, didn’t I?”

“Would three million be enough?”

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

Kim Myung-shik stared blankly at Hyun-sung as if he didn’t know what he was talking about.

Then Hyun-sung continued.

“If you had three million won, could you get out of the current crisis?”

“Of course. I can pay off the principal to those guys right now. If that happens, I can focus more on my mother’s treatment, but why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?”

“I’ll give you that amount.”

“What, what did you say?”

Kim Myung-shik looked at Hyun-sung, even stuttering.

Then Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“I’ll give you that money, so please get out of that swamp first.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am. But there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

Kim Myung-shik tilted his head. Honestly, he didn’t understand the situation itself. He was clearly a student. Does it make sense for him to give him three million? But now he’s asking for conditions. What does that mean…

Kim Myung-shik looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“Honestly, I don’t know what you’re talking about right now.”

“It’s exactly as I said. I’m saying that I’ll give you three million, senior. And my condition is simple.”

“…”

Kim Myung-shik was still speechless as if he didn’t understand.

Then Hyun-sung said immediately.

“My condition is no interest.”

“No interest?”

Kim Myung-shik couldn’t come to his senses.

What does this mean again?

According to Hyun-sung, he was saying that he would just lend him three million won without receiving any interest. Does that make sense?

Kim Myung-shik looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“What are you talking about right now?”

“It’s exactly as I said.”

“No, where does a student like you get three million won, and even if you do, does it make sense to lend it without interest?”

“It does. Do you think I’m joking in front of you, senior? And there’s no time, so let’s get up now.”

Hyun-sung took a posture as if he was about to get up right away.

Then Kim Myung-shik asked immediately.

“No, where are you going without finishing your words?”

“I think we should go to your house, senior.”

“To my house? Why there?”

“I think I should see your mother. I think I still have something to do.”

With those words, Hyun-sung got up from his seat.