Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 557

559

Several days later.

It was when Hyun-sung had finished his morning exercise and had just finished showering.

*Beep beep.*

The doorbell rang. Hyun-sung’s gaze immediately went to the clock on the wall. It had just passed 6:30 AM.

‘Who could it be?’

Hyun-sung tilted his head, wondering who would be visiting at such an early hour, and opened the front door.

“Oh? Father, what brings you all the way here?”

Standing in front of the door was Yoo Sang-hyuk, the father of Yoo Young-seok, the youngest member of the team.

Hyun-sung had first met him on May 9th. On Parents’ Day, while Yoo Sang-hyuk was coming up from the countryside to Incheon, Hyun-sung had spoken with Yoo Young-seok and advised him to take his father to the hospital the very next day. He had even used the word ‘order’ to persuade the hesitant Young-seok.

The next day, Yoo Young-seok had contacted him, saying that his father needed to be hospitalized immediately.

His liver condition was severe due to prolonged alcohol consumption and was progressing towards cirrhosis [scarring of the liver].

So, Hyun-sung had rushed to the hospital that day and helped with the admission procedures and all the necessary tests.

And just yesterday, he had heard from Yoo Young-seok that his father had fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

And now, he was visiting early this morning.

“If someone receives that much help, it’s only right to visit and express gratitude. Thank you so much, President!”

Yoo Sang-hyuk bowed deeply to Hyun-sung. Then, he immediately continued.

“Thanks to you, President, I am alive. I don’t know how to repay this kindness…”

“Father, why are you doing this? Please, come inside first.”

After coming inside, Yoo Sang-hyuk continued to express similar sentiments. Hyun-sung could tell that his words were not just empty gestures but genuine expressions from his heart.

After his words continued for a while, Hyun-sung finally spoke.

“Anyway, I’m really glad you’ve fully recovered, Father.”

“It’s all thanks to you, President.”

“I didn’t do anything…”

“Actually… I had given up.”

Yoo Sang-hyuk spoke before Hyun-sung could even finish his sentence. His expression was different from when he had been speaking earlier.

It was as if he was making a difficult confession.

But Hyun-sung couldn’t understand what he was talking about.

“Yes? Given up? What do you mean?”

“When I was taken to the hospital by 119 [Korean emergency services number] three months ago, I had already expected the worst. So, I gave up on my own.”

“No, why?”

“It wasn’t just about the money, but I thought I was paying for my sins. I had lived a very bad life. Actually…”

Yoo Sang-hyuk continued to explain how he had lived his life. Hyun-sung had already heard some of it from Yoo Young-seok before, but there were also things he was hearing for the first time.

Among them, what stood out was that Yoo Sang-hyuk had also suffered domestic violence from his father before.

It was a common manifestation of the cycle of domestic violence.

In the end, Yoo Sang-hyuk had inflicted the violence he had suffered as a child on his son, Yoo Young-seok, and his wife.

Yoo Sang-hyuk continued.

“It was only after divorcing my wife and Young-seok and his mother leaving the house that I realized what I had done.”

“…”

“So, I couldn’t bear it. Myself, that is. The fact that I had committed the same violence that I had suffered from my father as a child. So, I drank more, and eventually, I was taken away by 119…”

Yoo Sang-hyuk paused and lowered his head for a moment.

After a while, he opened his mouth again.

“But Young-seok came to see me on Parents’ Day. It was like a dream. But I only found out later that you had practically ordered him to do so, President.”

“Still, it was Young-seok who made the final decision.”

“Whatever the reason, the important thing is that Young-seok came back to me. I thought I had no regrets even if I died. But people are fickle, and when you came after me and went through the admission procedures and tests, I started to change my mind again.”

Yoo Sang-hyuk paused and continued.

“At first, I thought I was just paying for the sins of my past and that I could just die, but when I started getting treatment, I became greedy to live.”

“It’s not greed; you should definitely live. Even for Young-seok’s sake. Young-seok is only twenty years old.”

“That’s right. I must have been out of my mind for a moment. But you woke me up, President.”

“That’s not true. I just…”

“President!”

Yoo Sang-hyuk suddenly grabbed Hyun-sung’s hand. Then, he immediately continued.

“Don’t say that. You brought me and Young-seok back together. Not only that…”

Yoo Sang-hyuk’s words became more elaborate again, indicating he had much more to express from his perspective.

After a while, Yoo Sang-hyuk finished speaking and handed Hyun-sung an envelope.

“President, please accept this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s my resolution.”

“Resolution?”

At the word ‘resolution,’ Hyun-sung took the envelope and checked its contents. Inside was a 1 million won check [approximately $750 USD] and a promissory note. The promissory note stated the hospital expenses incurred over a little over two months.

Yoo Sang-hyuk had written a promissory note for the total amount of hospital expenses that Hyun-sung had paid on his behalf, signifying his intention to repay them eventually.

After checking the contents, Hyun-sung looked at Yoo Sang-hyuk and asked.

“What is this money, and what is this promissory note for?”

“The money is all I have right now. And the promissory note is for the hospital expenses that you paid for me, as you can see.”

“So, why are you giving this to me…”

“The money is an expression of my gratitude, and the promissory note means that I will definitely work and repay it in the future.”

“…”

Hyun-sung was silent, as if he was thinking about something.

After a moment, Hyun-sung, having sorted out his thoughts, handed the envelope back to Yoo Sang-hyuk and said.

“I can’t accept this. So, please put it back.”

“No, you must accept it. If I don’t do at least this, I can’t face Young-seok.”

“Why Young-seok? Did Young-seok tell you to do this?”

“That’s not it, but if I don’t do at least this, I can’t save face as a father in front of Young-seok.”

At the word ‘face,’ Hyun-sung glanced at Yoo Sang-hyuk. Then, he immediately continued.

“Is face that important?”

“Because it’s in front of my child.”

“Does Young-seok really think so?”

“That’s…”

Yoo Sang-hyuk couldn’t continue. Then, Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Why can’t you speak?”

“It’s because I don’t know what Young-seok thinks.”

“So, in the end, it’s just your own thought, Father?”

“That’s true, but I think Young-seok might think the same way as me.”

“No, the Young-seok I know wouldn’t be like that. Do you know how much Young-seok cried that day?”

“That day?”

Yoo Sang-hyuk stared at Hyun-sung as if he was curious. Then, Hyun-sung immediately opened his mouth.

“The day we got the test results. He cried a lot on the phone later.”

“Perhaps the reason was…”

“He thought it was cancer. And he said that all the resentments he had towards his father had disappeared. He was just grateful that you were alive. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

“…”

“Showing this kind of appearance to Young-seok just to save face doesn’t seem right. And that face is ultimately for your own sake, Father, not Young-seok’s.”

“…”

Yoo Sang-hyuk had nothing to say.

In fact, saving face is more about maintaining one’s own respectable image than genuinely caring for the other person.

Then, Hyun-sung’s words continued again.

“Can I ask you a favor?”

“Yes, of course…”

“Take care of your body first with that money. You can’t do anything in your current condition. Then, do what Young-seok wants most.”

“What Young-seok wants most?”

Yoo Sang-hyuk tilted his head and looked at Hyun-sung, curious about what it could be.

Hyun-sung’s words immediately followed.

“What do you think Young-seok wants most right now?”

“Well, that’s…”

“I think it’s his mother.”

“Ah… yes.”

Yoo Sang-hyuk immediately nodded. Seeing this, Hyun-sung spoke again.

“Go find Young-seok’s mother before it’s too late. And show her your changed self.”

“Even if I do, will her turned heart…”

“You have to try until that heart turns back. If it doesn’t work once, do it twice, no, even a hundred or a thousand times until her heart softens. I think that’s the first thing you need to do.”

“You’re saying to remarry?”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s not what I want, but it’s what Young-seok wants most right now. And that’s enough for me too.”

“…”

Yoo Sang-hyuk was silent, as if he was deep in thought.

After a while, Yoo Sang-hyuk lowered his head and spoke.

“I’m ashamed.”

“No, everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is to acknowledge those mistakes and not repeat them. I think that’s more important.”

“Yes, I understand. I will live with a renewed mindset from now on. Young-seok was right.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Young-seok said that even though you’re not that old, President, you feel like a father to him. Now I know why he said that.”

“…”

Hyun-sung had nothing special to say.

Then, Yoo Sang-hyuk handed the envelope again and said.

“Please accept this promissory note. I will definitely repay this money.”

“Do you really want to do that?”

“It was about saving face earlier, but now it’s not just about face, but also because I want to make a promise to myself.”

“A promise?”

“Yes, I think I will live more diligently if I do that.”

“Hmm…”

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung nodded and took the envelope Yoo Sang-hyuk handed him, saying.

“Yes, okay. I’ll accept it since you said so, Father. But there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

“Yes, on the condition that you reunite the family within three months. Of course, your mother’s heart has to move on its own. To do that, you’ll need a lot of effort, Father.”

“Um… I understand. But is there a reason why you set the three-month mark?”

“Young-seok.”

“Why Young-seok?”

Yoo Sang-hyuk stared at Hyun-sung as if he didn’t understand. Then, Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“I want him to have at least one meal made by his mother before he goes to the army.”

“…”

Yoo Sang-hyuk had nothing more to say. As a father, hearing about his son’s military service from someone else made him feel so unqualified that his face was burning.

But what could he do?

This was his reality until now.

After thinking for a moment, Yoo Sang-hyuk looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“Can I borrow your phone for a moment…”

“Ah, yes.”

Hyun-sung immediately handed his phone to Yoo Sang-hyuk. But Yoo Sang-hyuk, after receiving the phone, was about to make a call but handed the phone back to Hyun-sung and said.

“Come to think of it, I don’t even know my son’s phone number. That’s the kind of father I am. I’m sorry, but could you please call our son for me?”

Hyun-sung immediately took the phone and dialed Yoo Young-seok’s number. Then, he handed the phone to Yoo Sang-hyuk and headed to the kitchen.

Yoo Sang-hyuk picked up the phone.

After the signal rang twice, the other person answered the phone.

-Hello.

“It’s Dad.”

-Dad? Where are you now?

“I’m at President’s house.”

-Yes? Why are you there at this hour?

“I came to say hello. Anyway, is there anything you want to eat?”

-Yes? Suddenly?

“Yeah, I’m about to leave from here, but I don’t know what our son likes, so I called.”

Yoo Sang-hyuk felt pathetic the moment he heard from Hyun-sung that his son was going to the army in three months. As a father, how could he not feel that way when he heard about his son’s military service from someone else?

But at that moment, another thought flashed through his mind: to start from now on. Although he hadn’t been acting like a human being until now, he could make an effort from now on.

Then, food suddenly came to his mind, so he called right away.

-Tteokbokki [Korean rice cakes], not spicy.

“Okay, I got it. I’ll buy tteokbokki that’s not spicy and come over. And…”

Yoo Sang-hyuk was about to say something but stopped. Then, Yoo Young-seok immediately asked.

-Dad, and what?

“Um… that I’m sorry.”

-Don’t say that. I like it now. Dad, come quickly.

“Okay, and one more thing.”

-Yes? What else is there?

“I’m going to visit your mom today, even if it’s just for today. I’m going to go and ask for forgiveness ten or a hundred times. I want our family back together no matter what in three months…”

That’s when it happened.

*Sniffle.*

A sniffling sound was heard from beyond the phone. Then, Yoo Sang-hyuk couldn’t continue speaking and started wiping his eyes with his hand.

A faint smile began to spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he watched the scene from the kitchen.