Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 345

“Did you say Han Gwang-hyun?”

“Yes, Han Gwang-hyun. Do you happen to know him?”

“Of course, I know him. He’s like a brother to me at the company. But you look like a student, so how do you know my brother…?”

The taxi driver tilted his head and glanced at Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung smiled and immediately began to explain.

“Actually, about a year ago…”

Hyun-sung started to briefly explain what had happened a year ago to the taxi driver. As Hyun-sung continued his explanation, the taxi driver looked at Hyun-sung several times, even while driving, with a peculiar expression. And finally, when Hyun-sung finished his explanation, he suddenly started laughing.

“Haha, hahaha… So, what you’re saying is that you came to express your gratitude for something that happened a year ago?”

“Yes, I received too much help to just let it pass. My mother is safe thanks to him.”

“I’ve been doing this job for 15 years now, and this is the first time I’ve heard something like this. But one thing is clear, our Gwang-hyun hyung [older brother/friend] is definitely different from other people.”

“You mean it’s not the first time?”

“Is this the only thing? That hyung’s daily life is quite different. Anyway, if you want to meet him, you shouldn’t go to the company, but to the hospital.”

“Hospital?”

Hyun-sung’s voice naturally grew louder.

The taxi driver chuckled and immediately continued.

“Yes, a few days ago, he was carrying rice sacks up to the 5th floor and ended up…”

“Rice sacks?”

“Yes, some old woman got in the taxi with rice sacks, you know? But knowing that hyung’s personality, he wouldn’t just stand by. And it just happened to be on the 5th floor…”

The taxi driver’s explanation was long, but the conclusion was that he had injured his leg because of it. He lost his balance and fell down the stairs while trying to go up quickly, resulting in a leg fracture.

“Which hospital is it?”

“Just wait a moment. I’ll take you there myself.”

The taxi turned the steering wheel to the right at the Gyodong three-way intersection.

After driving for about 10 more minutes, the taxi arrived in front of Gangneung Medical Center.

“Room 502. And the taxi fare is on me, just get off. Anyway, I’m very grateful for your thoughtfulness. Then, have a good visit with Gwang-hyun hyung and go back.”

“But still, the taxi fare…”

“I’ve already received more than enough. Gwang-hyun hyung will be happy. Go on in.”

“Thank you, Driver Park Min-seok. Then…”

Hyun-sung replaced his words of gratitude by calling out his name.

Watching the taxi drive away, a smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

Arriving on the 5th floor, Hyun-sung headed straight for room 502, which Park Min-seok had told him about.

Step.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw a familiar face on the bed by the window.

Han Gwang-hyun, who recognized Hyun-sung’s face first, raised his hand and opened his mouth.

“Oh? You, you. By any chance…”

“Do you recognize me?”

“Of course. Aren’t you the friend who crossed Unduryeong from Gyeongpodae to Seomyeon in my car last summer?”

It was unexpected.

It was natural for Hyun-sung himself to remember since he had received help, but Han Gwang-hyun’s case was different. As a taxi driver, he would have dealt with countless customers. Yet, he recognized him right away, which was surprising, but also welcoming and grateful.

Naturally, Hyun-sung’s expression brightened even more.

“How could you recognize me immediately after dealing with so many people?”

“Because it was special.”

“Me?”

“Yes, that day, while crossing Unduryeong, the way you, a young man, worried about your mother was different from others… Ah, right! How is your mother doing? I remember clearly that your mother was in danger that day?”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be surprised once again. It was amazing how Han Gwang-hyun remembered everything so accurately.

“You have a very good memory.”

“It’s not the memory, it’s because of my mother.”

“Your mother?”

“Yes, actually, my mother passed away two years ago. So, my feelings when I looked at you that day were a bit special. That’s why it remained so special in my memory. Right! How is your mother?”

“Yes, she’s fine. Thanks to you, I was able to prevent the accident safely. If it hadn’t been for you that day, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.”

As Hyun-sung finished speaking, Han Gwang-hyun tilted his head and immediately asked.

“Actually, I was curious about this back then too, but how did you know your mother was in danger? No matter how I think about it, I can’t understand it.”

“Ah, that’s…”

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung had no choice but to lie again.

“I had a dream while taking a nap.”

“A dream?”

“Yes, in the dream, my mother had a traffic accident…”

“In the dream, your mother had a traffic accident?”

Han Gwang-hyun stared at Hyun-sung with an unbelievable expression.

How could he not? How could anyone believe and rush out just because they dreamed that their mother had a traffic accident?

But for Han Gwang-hyun, he couldn’t say anything else because it had actually happened.

“Huh, really…”

Han Gwang-hyun couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

At that moment, Hyun-sung put down the two boxes of soy milk he was holding and continued.

“I’ll leave these here for you to enjoy.”

“No, why did you buy something like this again? And two boxes at that. What money do you have as a student…?”

Hyun-sung smiled.

Han Gwang-hyun then spoke again.

“Anyway, how did you know I was here?”

“I was lucky enough to meet Driver Park Min-seok.”

“Ah, I see. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to find this place.”

“At first, I told him to go to the Myungshin office. Then that driver asked me why. So, when I said I was looking for you, he brought me here… But that driver didn’t even take the taxi fare.”

“Haha, Min-seok is definitely that kind of guy. Others choose taxi driving as their last job, but that friend is different from others. He has a strong sense of pride as a taxi driver and knows what loyalty is.”

Han Gwang-hyun’s face was full of smiles as he spoke. It was easy to guess the extent of their relationship.

You can know ten things from seeing one, the saying ‘birds of a feather flock together’ came to mind.

Swish.

Hyun-sung looked at the clock on the wall. It was just past 3 PM.

“Shall we get some fresh air outside for a bit?”

“Oh? Should we? But as you can see, my leg is like this, so I can’t go far…”

As Han Gwang-hyun was about to grab his crutches, Hyun-sung quickly went out into the hallway and brought in a wheelchair that was for public use.

“I’ll take care of you today.”

“Haha, when did you even see that wheelchair?”

“That much sense is basic for me.”

“Haha, this friend is quite interesting. I liked your impression from the first time I saw you, and to think that we would be connected like this. When you think about it, human connections are truly amazing.”

Han Gwang-hyun smiled kindly and looked at Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung’s face was also full of smiles. If he hadn’t met Han Gwang-hyun that day, he wouldn’t have been able to prevent his mother’s accident. If that had happened, his mother would have had to live her whole life with a limp, just like in his past life.

Whew!

A short sigh of relief escaped from Hyun-sung’s lips.

Thinking about it again, he felt that meeting Han Gwang-hyun that day was a connection given by heaven.

Hyun-sung, who had come outside, pushed the wheelchair towards the main gate and said.

“Are you hungry?”

“Oh? Just a little… I’ve been in the hospital for a few days, and I guess it’s become a habit, but my stomach feels empty just three hours after lunch, it’s really something. Yeah, what do you want to eat?”

“How about sundae soup [Korean sausage soup]?”

“Sundae soup?”

“Yes, I saw a sundae soup restaurant in front of the hospital when I came in earlier. Hospital food gets tiring after a few days, doesn’t it? Shall we go have some spicy sundae soup?”

At Hyun-sung’s words, Han Gwang-hyun turned his head and chuckled.

“Are you perhaps inside my stomach?”

“Haha, what do you mean?”

“I was honestly getting tired of hospital food after eating it for a few days. It’s just my leg that’s broken, my insides are perfectly fine. Actually, if Min-seok’s younger sibling comes tonight…”

Before Han Gwang-hyun could finish speaking, Hyun-sung pushed the wheelchair forcefully.

Shortly after.

The two arrived in front of the restaurant.

Han Gwang-hyun’s expression suddenly darkened. The reason was simple. There were three steps installed because the sidewalk and the restaurant were at different heights.

But that was only for a moment.

Han Gwang-hyun’s expression soon brightened.

“Should I give you a piggyback ride?”

“Oh? Would that be okay?”

“I’m quite strong. Even up to the 3rd floor is no problem, so don’t worry and hop on.”

“You’re really going all out today. Alright, I’ll enjoy a bit of luxury thanks to you today.”

Han Gwang-hyun smiled and got on Hyun-sung’s back.

“Welcome.”

As Hyun-sung entered the restaurant carrying Han Gwang-hyun, a man in his 50s who appeared to be the owner approached.

“I’m sorry about this. It must have been difficult to come in because of the stairs.”

Han Gwang-hyun sat down on a chair and spoke politely.

“I was able to come in because I have this young friend here, but it seems difficult for other patients. Can’t something be done?”

The restaurant owner bowed his head and immediately continued.

“We’ve been having a headache because of that problem. Since the distance between the sidewalk and the restaurant is short, there’s no other way than stairs. When we tried to make the slope gradual, the entrance had to go out to the sidewalk, and the city hall said that wasn’t allowed.”

The owner’s words became longer. After listening roughly, it was easy to understand the situation.

The problem was the distance between the sidewalk and the restaurant. Because the distance was short, there was no choice but to have the facilities encroach on the sidewalk in order to make the slope gradual, so there was no way.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know there were such circumstances…”

Han Gwang-hyun immediately apologized.

The restaurant owner waved his hand and immediately continued.

“No, we’re the ones who are sorry. We have to find a way somehow… Anyway, what would you like to order?”

“Two bowls of sundae soup, extra large, and do you happen to have extra pig stomach lining?”

As Hyun-sung asked, the restaurant owner smiled and continued.

“You look like a student, but you know the word pig stomach lining?”

“Ah, that. Haha…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but laugh.

Habits are indeed scary. In his past life, his favorite part when eating sundae soup was the pig stomach lining. Pig stomach lining refers to the stomach of a pig, and it has a savory taste when chewed, and he especially liked the chewy texture.

“My father taught me.”

“Ah, your father knows how to enjoy sundae soup. Yes, I understand. I’ll bring two bowls with plenty of pig stomach lining right away.”

As the owner disappeared into the kitchen, Han Gwang-hyun looked at Hyun-sung and chuckled.

“You’re quite the liar, aren’t you?”

“Huh? A lie? When did I?”

“The words you said a little while ago, that your father taught you, that’s a lie, isn’t it?”

“Can you tell? Haha…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but laugh. Of course, Han Gwang-hyun’s words were true. In fact, he had never eaten sundae soup with his father in his past life. Since it was a rural area, there weren’t any restaurants like that in the first place. It was only later, after he grew older and started eating sundae soup, that he learned about it.

But there was no way he could explain all of that in this situation.

“Just a moment.”

Hyun-sung excused himself to Han Gwang-hyun and got up from his seat and went outside the store.

‘Hmm…’

After hesitating for a moment in front of the stairs, a smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

At that moment, the restaurant owner approached and said.

“The sundae soup is ready. Come quickly before it gets cold…”

“Just a moment.”

Before the owner could finish speaking, Hyun-sung raised his hand to interrupt and then immediately said.

“If you make a slope sideways like this, instead of vertically, a wheelchair could pass through easily. If you do that, there’s naturally no need for the facilities to come out onto the sidewalk.”

“Oh? Now that I think about it…”

The restaurant owner measured the space with both arms and then continued.

“No, why haven’t I thought of that until now? It’s a perfectly possible method if we install it horizontally instead of vertically, just like you said. Haha, really…”

“Instead, the construction cost will be several times higher. You’ll also have to install railings.”

“It’s okay. I’m willing to bear that much. I always felt sorry for those who came in wheelchairs in front of the hospital, but it feels like I’ve had a tooth pulled out today thanks to you. I’ll get an estimate right away today.”

The restaurant owner’s face was full of smiles, as if he was in a good mood.

As Hyun-sung sat down, Han Gwang-hyun smiled and raised his thumb, opening his mouth.

“Thank you!”

“You’re welcome, please enjoy your meal.”

“From now on, even people with disabilities will be able to come in and eat sundae soup comfortably thanks to you. Isn’t this the taste of living in the world? Let’s eat quickly.”

It was then.

The restaurant owner came with something on a plate.

The plate contained several items such as pig stomach lining, ears, and heart. They were all internal organs with a consistently good texture.

“Your son is truly wonderful. Thanks to him, my worries have been resolved. I don’t have anything to give you, so I brought something with a good texture. Enjoy your meal.”

“Yes? Ah, that’s… Haha, yes, thank you.”

Han Gwang-hyun tried to say something but ended up laughing loudly.

At that moment, Hyun-sung called the owner right away.

“Boss!”

“Yes? What’s wrong…?”

“Do you do take-out for suyuk (boiled pork slices)?”

“Take-out? Of course, we do.”

“Please pack one extra large. Not now, but warmly when we leave.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll definitely pack it with extra pig stomach lining and things with a good texture.”

As the owner stepped back, Han Gwang-hyun looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Why the take-out?”

“To share with the people in the hospital room.”