Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 590

“It’s just a habit of relying on you, Hyungnim [older brother or close male friend].”

“On me?”

“Yes, if I keep getting your help every time I face difficulties like this, I’m afraid I might unconsciously become too dependent on you.”

It was a bit unexpected.

It had only been a little over a month since Yoo Young-seok’s accident. And it wasn’t a minor accident; it was an accident that resulted in the amputation of his leg.

The shock must have been hard to accept.

Moreover, he was only twenty years old. Accepting a disability at that age must have been incredibly difficult.

Yet, he was worried about relying on Hyun-sung.

Of course, eventually, he needs to overcome it on his own.

But the problem is the timing. The timing feels too soon.

It was hard for Hyun-sung to understand, so he asked directly.

“Did something happen?”

“Nothing really… I watched TV last night.”

“TV?”

“Yes, there was a young man on there…”

Yoo Young-seok continued to explain.

He watched TV last night and saw a young man living with a disability. Coincidentally, the young man was the same age as Yoo Young-seok. That young man had also lost a leg, just like Yoo Young-seok.

But that young man was overcoming his disability and learning a trade at a car repair shop. Seeing that, he compared himself and decided to prepare to stand on his own from now on.

When Yoo Young-seok finished explaining, Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Where does that friend work?”

“Bupyeong-dong.”

“Bupyeong-dong? That’s in Incheon, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. So, I was thinking of visiting him sometime if I have the time.”

“Hmm…”

Hyun-sung was silent for a moment, as if deep in thought.

After a while.

Hyun-sung spoke again.

“Should I go meet that friend today?”

“Yes? You, Hyungnim?”

“Yeah, it’s not far, and it’s easy to find since it’s in Bupyeong-dong. If I have the time, I can ask him to come see you.”

“Still, that’s a bit…”

Yoo Young-seok shook his head slightly. He seemed to feel burdened by the idea.

“Why? Does it feel like a burden?”

“It’s not really my style to just meet anyone, and besides, I’m not exactly in the best shape right now…”

“What’s wrong with your shape?”

“Aren’t you bothered at all, Hyungnim? As you can see, I’m missing a leg…”

“That’s just an accident. Of course, it’s unfortunate. But do you know what?”

“What is it?”

Yoo Young-seok turned his head and stared at Hyun-sung, as if curious about what he was going to say. Then Hyun-sung immediately opened his mouth.

“Other people aren’t really that interested in your leg.”

“Other people?”

“Yeah, in my case, you’re special, so I’m concerned about how you’re doing, but other people aren’t like that at all.”

“What do you mean…?”

“There’s no need to be so self-conscious. People aren’t as focused on your leg as you think.”

That’s what Hyun-sung wanted to say.

The fact that people aren’t that interested in other people’s disabilities.

But right now, Yoo Young-seok might be mistaken. He might think that everyone is staring at his leg.

Hyun-sung wanted to let him know that.

Did it have an effect?

Yoo Young-seok’s eyes sparkled for a moment.

“Really?”

“Yeah, other people are too busy trying to make a living to pay much attention to other people’s disabilities.”

“So, you’re saying that I’m the only one who’s self-conscious?”

“That’s what I think.”

“Hmm…”

Yoo Young-seok was silent, as if deep in thought.

After a while.

Yoo Young-seok nodded and spoke again.

“So, it’s all just my misunderstanding?”

“You could see it that way. So, the important thing is that you don’t need to worry too much about what others think in the future. Just do what you want to do.”

“I understand what you mean. Come to think of it, even before the accident, I wasn’t very interested in friends with disabilities. I just met them and thought, ‘Oh, okay.’”

“That’s how it is.”

Hyun-sung was similar. It was only because his friend Lee Jung-woo had polio since childhood that his perspective on friends with disabilities was a little different. If that hadn’t been the case, Hyun-sung would have lived his life almost completely unaware, like other people.

Maybe that’s natural. It’s not a flaw.

“Maybe it’s better to act like you don’t notice someone’s disability?”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because unnecessary pity or attention would be uncomfortable for them.”

“In the end, what’s important is sincerity.”

“Sincerity?”

“Yeah, like you said, unnecessary pity or attention would be uncomfortable, but people who approach with sincerity will be different. Social awareness is also necessary, in fact…”

“Hmm…”

Yoo Young-seok was silent again for a moment, as if deep in thought. But this time, his silence lasted longer than before.

After a while.

Yoo Young-seok slowly called out to Hyun-sung.

“Hyungnim!”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“If, later on, after I leave this hospital, is there anything I can do for people with disabilities like me?”

“That depends on what you want to do.”

“Um… I want to do something.”

From Yoo Young-seok’s expression, Hyun-sung could tell that it wasn’t just something he was saying, but something that came from the heart.

Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“What do you want to do?”

“Honestly, I don’t know yet. But I want to do something for people with disabilities like me, whatever it is.”

“Hyung [I] is all for it, and if our Young-seok does it, this hyung will help.”

“Do you really mean that?”

“Of course. Have I ever said anything I didn’t mean to you?”

“Of course not. And the reason I’m even thinking about this is because you’re here, Hyungnim. If you weren’t by my side, I wouldn’t even be able to think about it.”

Hyun-sung smiled slightly instead of answering. Then Yoo Young-seok immediately continued.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, what is it?”

“What do you think is most needed for people with disabilities?”

“Hmm… I guess it’s the issue of employment?”

“Employment?”

Yoo Young-seok tilted his head and looked at Hyun-sung. Then Hyun-sung’s answer immediately followed.

“I think employment is the biggest problem, what do you think?”

“Come to think of it, I think so too. Then the answer is clear.”

“Answer?”

“Yes, what I’m going to do in the future. I’m going to build a factory.”

“Factory?”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but tilt his head at the word ‘factory.’ The reason was that he couldn’t immediately understand what kind of factory he was talking about.

“A side dish factory.”

“A side dish factory?”

“Yes, of course, I won’t be able to start big from the beginning. I’ll start small at first, but I’ll gradually grow it over time.”

Hyun-sung immediately nodded. A side dish factory would be possible. Since Yoo Young-seok was going to open a side dish store after being discharged from the military anyway, it would just be a matter of the timing being moved up.

“You were going to open a side dish store after being discharged from the military anyway, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m going to start with a side dish store and gradually expand it. Then, later on, there will be many employees working there, and I can hire people with disabilities as those employees.”

“Maybe it’s the perfect thing for you. It’s a job and it helps people with disabilities.”

“I guess so.”

Yoo Young-seok’s expression brightened. Looking at Yoo Young-seok, Hyun-sung continued.

“There’s a condition for that.”

“Condition?”

“Yeah, you have to overcome your disability first. You may not feel it right now, but there will be many difficulties when you go out into society.”

“Actually, that’s what I’m most afraid of. That’s why I’m trying to get out of this private room. Being in this private room makes me feel like I’m avoiding people.”

He hadn’t thought that far. He had deliberately booked a private room for his treatment, but he hadn’t thought that it would be harmful to him in the end.

Yoo Young-seok continued.

“I’m not blaming you at all, Hyungnim. Actually, I liked the private room at first. I didn’t stand out to people. But as time passed, I just thought that I should go out in front of people. So, just in case…”

“Okay, I won’t feel bad about that, so don’t worry. And I’m grateful that you thought that way.”

One of the things he was worried about was Yoo Young-seok adapting to society later on.

If he stayed in the private room for too long, it would be that much harder for him to reintegrate into society later on.

But fortunately, he himself said that he would leave the private room, so Hyun-sung thought that there was nothing more fortunate than that.

If he had continued to stay in the private room, it would have been a difficult situation for both Yoo Young-seok and Hyun-sung.

Tap tap.

Hyun-sung lightly tapped Yoo Young-seok’s shoulder. It was Hyun-sung’s praise for his wise choice.

“You were worried a lot, Hyungnim?”

“Honestly, I was a little worried. It would be a problem if you kept staying in the private room. You have to leave the private room to go out into society anyway.”

“I did well, right?”

“Yeah, you did well. That’s why I’m grateful.”

Tap tap.

Hyun-sung lightly tapped Yoo Young-seok’s shoulder once more. Then Yoo Young-seok called out to Hyun-sung again in a low voice.

“Hyungnim!”

“Yeah, what is it? Tell me.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re saying all sorts of things.”

“No, if you weren’t here, I might have thought about suicide.”

“You little rascal!”

Hyun-sung frowned without realizing it. Then he immediately continued.

“Why would you think that, you idiot?”

“Because I was so scared. But when I saw you coming to see me every day without fail, I realized how foolish I was.”

“Never again…”

“Yes, that will never happen again. From now on, I’m just going to focus on rehabilitation.”

“You should.”

Hyun-sung nodded as if it were natural. Then he immediately asked again.

“When can you start wearing a prosthetic leg?”

“It will take about another month. I can only wear a prosthetic leg after the surgery marks have completely healed.”

“It’s taking longer than I thought.”

“But fortunately, once I start wearing a prosthetic leg, there’s nothing more to treat.”

“What about rehabilitation?”

“I just need to work hard on my own even after I’m discharged.”

“Really? Then that means you can be discharged in January next year?”

“Yes, I think so. So, about that…”

Yoo Young-seok paused for a moment before continuing.

“Could you find a store for me?”

“A store?”

“Yes, a side dish store. I’ll get a prosthetic leg next month, and after about a month of rehabilitation, I think I can be discharged at the end of January.”

“You’re saying you’re going to open a side dish store right after you’re discharged?”

“Yes, that’s right. I can’t go to the military anymore anyway, so I’m going to start a side dish store as soon as possible.”

“Um…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t answer right away. The reason was that he felt that Yoo Young-seok was rushing too much.

But he couldn’t say no either.

Then Yoo Young-seok spoke first.

“Why? Are you worried about me?”

“Honestly, a little. I think you should get at least three months of rehabilitation.”

“No, I want to start as soon as possible anyway.”

“Is there a reason why you’re trying to start so quickly?”

“That’s…”

Yoo Young-seok couldn’t continue his words for some reason. Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Is it hard to say?”

“That’s not it. It’s because of my mom.”

“Your mother? Why your mother?”

“She still cries every day when she comes to the hospital. I guess she’s worried about me. So, these days, I only tell her to come about twice a week.”

“……”

It was Hyun-sung who had a hard time speaking. It’s not that he didn’t know Yoo Young-seok’s position, and it’s not that he didn’t know his mother’s position either.

“So, I think I need to get settled as soon as possible. Will you help me?”

“Um…”

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung nodded and continued.

“Okay, I understand. But what about the location?”

“I think Bupyeong, where you are, would be good? Am I bothering you too much? Hehe…”

Yoo Young-seok smiled and looked at Hyun-sung. Then Hyun-sung smiled and immediately continued.

“I decided to be your hyung anyway, right? I have to put up with that much. I’ll find a place for you, so don’t worry.”

“Hyungnim, thank you. I think I met a good hyung. Hehe…”

Yoo Young-seok smiled as he looked at Hyun-sung. Looking at Yoo Young-seok, Hyun-sung also smiled. It was a relationship that didn’t exist in his previous life.

Whatever the reason, it was a relationship where they decided to be brothers. He didn’t know what would happen to him in the future, but since he decided to be his hyung, he was going to help him properly.