Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 78

It felt unbelievable to trust, yet he had just confirmed it with his own eyes, making disbelief seem absurd.

A moment later, Hyun-sung continued.

“I ended up becoming a penny-pincher, but honestly, I was a bit upset back then. I usually don’t notice things like that, but when I was sick, I felt that way.”

Hyun-sung confessed his honest feelings.

Since things had turned out this way, he felt he had to resolve the misunderstanding somehow.

Shin Min-ho’s expression seemed contemplative.

Shortly after, he spoke.

“I didn’t want to say anything, but since you’re misunderstanding so much, I should tell you now.”

“Did you just say misunderstanding?”

Misunderstanding meant that Hyun-sung himself was thinking something wrong.

What could he be misunderstanding?

It wasn’t just a day or two, but a week since he had come to school, and Shin Min-ho hadn’t said a word until then.

So, what was he misunderstanding?

Tsk.

Then, Shin Min-ho opened his mouth as if he couldn’t help it.

“Back then, actually…….”

Shin Min-ho explained that he hadn’t been at school at the time. He had received a call that his mother had suddenly collapsed, so he took a taxi to Seoul on Saturday night.

His mother regained consciousness after three days, and he had no choice but to take care of her, so a week had passed.

And it was only when he came to school on Monday after a week that he heard about Hyun-sung from the student affairs teacher.

He meant to call and ask, but he postponed it because he was worried about his mother, and time just passed.

“…….”

Hyun-sung couldn’t say anything after hearing Shin Min-ho’s explanation.

He had been upset simply because there wasn’t a single phone call.

After knowing all the facts, he felt that he was too selfish.

‘Wait a minute!’

One person came to Hyun-sung’s mind.

It was none other than Choi Mi-yeon, the math teacher.

‘Could she have known?’

If Shin Min-ho was telling the truth, Choi Mi-yeon knew about the situation when Hyun-sung was talking on the bus heading from Wonju to Seomyeong.

Come to think of it, Choi Mi-yeon, the math teacher, had said:

“Your homeroom teacher must have his own story, right?”

‘Was that what she meant?’

Hyun-sung looked at Shin Min-ho and asked.

“By any chance, does the math teacher know all about this situation?”

“Why are you asking that?”

“I’m going to clear everything up this time since it turned out this way.”

“What’s so serious? It’s not a big deal. We can just clear up the misunderstanding like this, right?”

That was only Shin Min-ho’s point of view.

It wasn’t the case for Hyun-sung. He needed to confirm one more thing to complete all the pieces of the puzzle.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“By any chance, did the math teacher say anything while talking about me?”

“You’re so sensitive…, she told me to clear up the misunderstanding as soon as possible. She said you were very upset.”

Ha!

A sigh escaped from Hyun-sung’s mouth.

That was it.

Choi Mi-yeon knew everything.

From the moment Hyun-sung confided on the bus. That’s why she said that. She wanted the parties involved to resolve the misunderstanding rather than saying it herself.

As expected! It’s Choi Mi-yeon.

Huh!

He felt pathetic thinking that he was acting alone, thinking, ‘Birds of a feather flock together,’ without knowing that.

Why can’t he make a cool-headed judgment about things related to himself, whether he gets older or not…….

“Shouldn’t there be a reason for that at least once?”

Why couldn’t he think of that?

He could say it was because he was young in the past, but not now.

Come to think of it, that *hyung* [older brother or male friend] used to say that all the time.

A long time ago, when he was running a video store.

He was introduced to someone through a sales representative. The reason was simple: it was because the two seemed to get along well.

He was quite a big shot in the same industry.

He was a *hyung* who ran a video store in front of Bucheon Station. He was 10 years older.

Kang Min-gyu.

That’s the *hyung’s* name.

He was a *hyung* who helped him a lot mentally and materially while he was doing video sales.

Perhaps the biggest contribution to Hyun-sung being able to last until the end in the industry, who knew nothing, was that *hyung’s*.

That *hyung* always said:

“Don’t prejudge.”

It meant not to judge in advance without properly understanding something. He said that hasty prejudice can lead to big mistakes or unhappiness.

Hyun-sung was exactly like that.

Hyun-sung looked at Shin Min-ho and said.

“I’m sorry. I was short-sighted.”

When apologizing, there should be no unnecessary additions. If there is a belief he has gained while living, it is that belief.

When Hyun-sung apologized, Shin Min-ho smiled and said.

“No, I’m sorry too. It’s true that I couldn’t pay attention to you because I was using my mother as an excuse, even though I knew you were upset.”

“Excuse? Don’t say that…….”

It was then.

A memory popped into Hyun-sung’s head.

‘Oh no…….’

So, it was two weeks after Chuseok [Korean harvest festival].

Shin Min-ho’s mother passed away ten days after surgery in the hospital. He didn’t know the details of what kind of surgery it was; he just heard that he had suffered the loss of his mother.

Hyun-sung looked at Shin Min-ho and asked cautiously.

“By the way, how is your mother doing these days?”

First, he needed to confirm the extent of it.

Then, Shin Min-ho asked back, slightly surprised.

“Huh? Mother? Did I tell you?”

“When I went to the faculty room last time, I heard the teacher talking on the phone. I heard it was a bit serious back then.”

“Ah, that time…….”

Shin Min-ho’s expression suddenly darkened when he heard about his mother.

Hyun-sung asked again cautiously.

“Her condition is not good.”

“Yeah…….”

Shin Min-ho nodded.

“Does she have to have surgery?”

“They said to start with radiation therapy and then have surgery if she gets better. If she has surgery, it will probably be right after Chuseok.”

As expected, his memory was correct.

Then, there are only about 3 weeks left.

Is there no way to do anything about this?

Radiation therapy means it’s cancer after all. Moreover, the fact that they are starting with radiation therapy means that they will reduce the size of the tumor before surgery…….

It’s more serious than he thought.

Well, in 3 weeks…….

‘What should I do?’

He clearly knows death. But the problem is that there is no way to avoid it. The Grim Reaper is already waiting in front of him.

In the case of Park Hee-cheol, he could avoid death by preventing him from going on a tour, but in this case, it doesn’t work.

Should he just pretend he doesn’t know and move on…….

Then, Shin Min-ho continued.

“But my mother keeps saying strange things these days.”

“Yes? Your mother?”

“She keeps saying she wants to visit her father before Chuseok.”

“Your father? Where is your father?”

“He passed away 3 years ago.”

Hyun-sung tilted his head.

‘What is it?’

Does she already know instinctively……? Sometimes, people know their death in advance when they reach the end, he heard.

Really……?

No, that’s not important now. Maybe that will be her last wish.

Last wish.

It’s natural that Shin Min-ho wouldn’t know that.

Tsk.

Hyun-sung stroked his chin once.

‘What to do?’

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung looked at Shin Min-ho.

“Teacher!”

“Yeah?”

“I think it would be better to do whatever your mother wants.”

“Would that be better? I’m worried that it might get worse if we do that.”

Of course.

If she’s even receiving radiation therapy, she must be physically exhausted now. Moreover, the oxygen is somewhere, but it won’t be an easy decision.

If it’s a short distance, it’s okay, but if it’s far, it won’t be easy.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“By any chance, where is your father’s grave…….”

“It’s in Namyangju, so it’s not that far, but you’ll still have to set aside 3-4 hours round trip.”

Hyun-sung nodded slightly.

“That’s a relief. Then, it’s best to consult with the doctor and make a decision.”

Hyun-sung judged that the doctor would know to some extent.

He can’t say it directly, so he has no choice but to do it this way.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“By the way, you two must have had a good relationship.”

Pfft.

Shin Min-ho suddenly laughed.

“My mother and father?”

“Isn’t that why she wants to see him even though she’s so sick?”

“It’s the opposite. They fought all their lives. They fought so hard that I was sick of it.”

“Huh! This is a twist. Then we should let them meet even more. I guess they’re trying to reconcile now.”

“That’s what I’m saying. So, to be honest, I’m already preparing myself. That’s why I can’t refuse my mother’s request this time.”

Hyun-sung nodded.

That’s right.

It means that Shin Min-ho is already guessing to some extent.

Then, Shin Min-ho looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“By the way, what’s that story you told me at first?”

“The story I told you at first?”

“Why did you ask me what I was going to do?”

“Ah, that?”

It wasn’t easy to talk about Lee Soo-hyuk while knowing how Shin Min-ho was feeling now.

But he couldn’t take back what he said.

Hyun-sung had no choice but to open his mouth.

“Soo-hyuk.”

“Soo-hyuk? Why Soo-hyuk? He said he’s being discharged within this week?”

Hyun-sung looked at Shin Min-ho.

He couldn’t help but wonder again if it was right to continue talking in this situation.

That’s why they say words once spoken are scary.

Hyun-sang opened his mouth again.

“Aren’t you going to visit him?”

“Ah, I have to go. How much nagging will I have to listen to if I don’t go?”

Psh.

Hyun-sung laughed.

“Let’s go together after class tomorrow.”

“You’re going too?”

“I don’t want to be nagged either.”

“You…….”

Shin Min-ho smiled at Hyun-sung and continued.

“Still, I feel a little more comfortable these days because you’re here. To be honest, all my attention is on my mother, so I’m neglecting the class.”

“Now that Il-soo is coming to school, there won’t be any problems for the time being. First, grant your mother’s wish.”

“Okay, thank you. By the way, what were you doing in front of someone else’s empty store?”

Shin Min-ho pointed to the store with his chin.

Then Hyun-sung smiled and said.

“Someone said they’re opening a spicy ramen restaurant here, so I came to take a look.”

“Here?”

“Yes.”

“What crazy bastard would open a ramen restaurant here?”

Hyun-sung suddenly became a crazy bastard.

Shin Min-ho asked again when Hyun-sung’s expression turned strange.

“Why do you look like that? By any chance, do you know the person who’s opening here?”

“No.”