Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 8

Hyun-sung had learned to appreciate traditional liquor early on, thanks to his father. It probably started when he entered high school.

Participating in ancestral rites and holiday ceremonies with a drink offering was a given since he was young. Once Hyun-sung entered high school, whenever there was drinking at home, he was always offered a glass or two.

He had forgotten.

All this time…

So that’s how it was!

He now realized it was his father’s way of showing affection.

Was that why?

He never developed a distaste for alcohol or had any bad memories associated with it. Naturally, he never turned into a ‘dog’ when drunk [a Korean expression for someone who becomes unruly or embarrassing when intoxicated].

As everyone’s glass was filled, his father extended his glass forward.

He was proposing a toast.

At that moment, Hyun-sung remembered the last thing his father always said when pouring him a drink.

Hyun-sung held out his glass and said,

“People should drink alcohol, not let alcohol drink them.”

“Ha! You’re saying what I was about to say.”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve never become a ‘dog’ in my life, Father!”

“…….”

No one responded to Hyun-sung’s words.

The atmosphere?

Of course, an awkward atmosphere was inevitable.

But Hyun-sung wasn’t one to dwell on such things.

At least he wanted to enjoy today. These were the parents he had always dreamed of. And now he was sharing a drink with them at the same table.

How could he not be happy?

Hyun-sung emptied his glass.

“Ah!”

The taste of the Kaoliang liquor [a strong distilled spirit, also known as sorghum wine] going down his throat was amazing.

Soon, his mother joined in.

“Good!”

His mother’s voice was bright after taking a sip of the liquor. Come to think of it, his mother was quite the drinker too.

“Oh! The La Jo Gi [a spicy stir-fried chicken dish] is delicious…”

Only then did his father take a piece of La Jo Gi and put it in his mouth.

Chew, chew.

“Indeed, the taste is quite good.”

“Haha, dear, eat a lot.”

“Yes, you eat a lot too.”

As expected, his father and mother’s tastes were consistent, whether it was ten years in the future or the past.

Looking at his father and mother enjoying the food, a bright smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

Some time later.

Hyun-sung looked at Hong and asked,

“How much is it?”

“Let’s see, including three bottles of Kaoliang liquor…, it’s 6,300 won in total.”

Hyun-sung came out before his father and finished the calculation.

The reason was simple.

Even though he had mentioned it beforehand, he didn’t want his father to feel even slightly uncomfortable about such things.

It was already dark when they came outside.

Tap.

Hyun-sung lightly tapped Lee Jung-woo’s shoulder and asked,

“Are you okay?”

“Why are you asking something so obvious now…”

Lee Jung-woo, whose face was flushed, said he was okay and slightly raised his shoulder. But he swayed slightly whenever he spoke.

Hyun-sung smiled slightly at Lee Jung-woo and continued,

“Thank you for today, and let’s live wonderfully in the future.”

“Dude, are you drunk?”

“Man, I’m not kidding, that’s how we’re going to live.”

“Oh, you must have swallowed seawater properly.”

Due to his physical discomfort, his school life wasn’t very smooth. In his past life, he couldn’t protect Lee Jung-woo.

He had to pretend not to see and just move on. It wasn’t easy for Hyun-sung himself to protect himself.

But he found out later. How cowardly that was.

That’s not what friends should do. Even if his head was going to explode, he should have stood up together.

Even if he didn’t have the strength, he should have done it with sheer willpower.

“Jung-woo, I was really sorry back then. I was too cowardly.”

“Is this guy really drunk? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“There’s that. But there will never be such a thing again. Even if my body breaks, this Kim Hyun-sung will unconditionally protect my friend Lee Jung-woo.”

Thump, thump!

Hyun-sung pounded his chest.

It was an apology to his friend, and a promise and commitment to himself that he would definitely do so in the future.

After sending Lee Jung-woo off, Hyun-sung stood between his father and mother.

Grab, grab.

Hyun-sung took his father and mother’s hands in his hands from the middle. Then, his father and mother looked at Hyun-sung at the same time.

Of course, their eyes weren’t exactly affectionate. It’s natural for the person next to you to feel awkward and uncomfortable when someone changes from their usual self.

But strange words came out of his mother’s mouth.

“One more drink?”

“Call!” [a Korean expression of agreement or enthusiasm, similar to “Let’s do it!”]

Hyun-sung shouted ‘Call!’ without realizing it. Then, his father’s stern voice was heard immediately.

“If you eat more, you’ll both become dogs.”

Hyun-sung and his mother looked at each other and chuckled, then nodded. Fortunately, the two were able to go home on two feet, not four.

***

“Are you okay?”

When they returned home, his father asked, examining Hyun-sung’s shoulder.

To be honest, it would be a lie to say it didn’t hurt. He didn’t really know at the time of the accident because he was nervous. But as time passed, the pain gradually became noticeable.

“I’m okay. This much is nothing.”

The words ‘I’m okay’ came out of Hyun-sung’s mouth.

It wasn’t a lie, it was the truth. Of course, it hurt, but the feeling of happiness that he had prevented the accident was even greater. Looking at his unharmed father and mother in front of him, he could really forget that much pain as if it were a lie.

But one person was missing.

She should have run out and greeted them, but she wasn’t even visible.

Hyun-sung, who was looking around, looked at his mother and asked immediately.

“But where did Ji-yeon go?”

Kim Ji-yeon.

The youngest.

She was two years younger than Hyun-sung, so she was currently in the third grade of middle school. He became very fond of his blood relatives later in life, but until then, there were many days when they bickered over trivial things.

His mother told him where his sister had gone.

“Your brother said he was going to Gangneung [a coastal city in South Korea], and she said she was going to her friend’s house.”

“When is she coming back?”

He wanted to see her soon. He had something to say…

But she said she would be back in two days. When Hyun-sung made a disappointed expression, his mother asked as if it was unexpected.

“When did you guys start fighting?”

“That’s the old days…”

Hyun-sung cut off his words in the middle. Maybe it’s because he’s still not used to it, but he keeps slipping up. But the words had already come out, and it was water under the bridge.

“…….”

His mother stared at Hyun-sung speechlessly, as if she was dumbfounded.

‘That’s right!’

Contrary to his mother’s dumbfounded expression, a strange thought suddenly came to Hyun-sung’s mind. That’s why he couldn’t help but smile.

The reason was simple. It was because of his mother’s habit of speaking that would follow right after.

To think that he would think of that at this moment…

Even he thought it was absurd.

But what was it, he was waiting for it again.

‘Huh?’

But his mother didn’t say anything. This isn’t it…

It’s really hard for people to fix their speech habits. It was a word that always followed when his mother was dumbfounded. He clearly remembered that she had habitually said it until she passed away.

Hyun-sung looked at his mother’s mouth.

‘Why isn’t it coming out?’

The pre-life and post-life keep getting out of sync like this…. It’s already unsettling that the accident changed from his mother to his father, but it keeps…

That’s when it happened.

“I have two nostrils, so I breathe.”

Ah! It came out.

Thank goodness. He almost screamed. To think that he would be so happy to hear those words.

It’s a small daily life that he never felt before.

His mother stared intently at Hyun-sung’s face at his delight. He felt somehow unfamiliar with his appearance, which was so different from usual.

The guy who went to Gangneung in the morning came back and prevented the accident. He babbled that he had seen it in advance when he fell into the sea, but anyway, his husband was safe thanks to him.

Then he ordered a strange dish at the Chinese restaurant…

Slurp.

It was a taste he had never tasted before. But strangely, the taste stuck to his mouth.

But what was strange was Hyun-sung’s behavior. It was as if he was sure in advance that the taste would suit his taste.

Preventing the accident, the chicken dish called La Jo Gi, taking care of his younger sister, anyway, it was definitely an unfamiliar sight.

Hyun-sung kept smiling even though he was sitting still.

He couldn’t control the smile that came out without him knowing. There was no special reason, he just liked the fact that he was with his father and mother.

At that time, there was a hawk’s eye watching that scene.

His mother’s eyes began to shine more and more.

Hyun-sung didn’t miss that moment. It’s best to disappear from sight quickly in this case. The more he stays, the more his mother’s curiosity will increase.

Hyun-sung quickly changed the subject.

“Mother, are you all sober now?”

“When, what did I eat?”

That’s right. His mother was still the strongest drinker.

“Haha, anyway, our mother is still the same.”

“You’re saying strange things again. You today…”

“I’m still not sober, so I’ll be going now…, good night.”

It didn’t seem like good words would come out even if he stayed longer, so Hyun-sung quickly said goodbye and left the main room.

Hyun-sung, who came out of the main room and stood in front of his room.

“To be back in this room again!”

It’s still awkward, but the important thing is that he’s definitely standing in this place.

Hoo!

Hyun-sung took a short breath and gently pushed the door to the side.

The friction sound of the sliding door was very pleasant to hear. When he opened the door, the air in the room brushed against Hyun-sung’s nose.

Huh-eup!

Hyun-sung closed his eyes slightly and took a deep breath. Even though he had returned after a long time, it didn’t feel unfamiliar at all, perhaps because it was his own scent.

Click.

First, he pressed the electric switch on the right side of the door.

Moving with his body, not his head, naturally led to action without having to search his memory.

When he turned on the switch, the incandescent light came on.

Then the room was brightly visible at a glance.

“Ah! I’m really back!”

It was the same as before.

A room of about 3 pyeong [approximately 100 square feet].

First of all, the desk placed by the window caught his eye first. Still, he worked quite hard at this desk.

There were some results.

Although it was a local university, he went to a national university.

Including Hyun-sung, there were 5 people who went to university that year. When he got into university, the school even created an unexpected effort award.

That’s how rural it was.

Swish.

When he turned his head to the side, he saw a military uniform hanging on the wall.

It was one of the subjects Hyun-sung hated. Of course, later, due to the trend of the times, military training was abolished.

Besides that, there was a radio and various other small things filling the room.

‘Yes! That’s how it was.’

It was like taking out an old album and reminiscing about memories by turning each page.

At that time, Hyun-sung’s gaze stopped at one place.

There was a bed placed there. But it wasn’t a common bed that you could see everywhere. At first glance, it looked crude, not a ready-made product, but something someone made clumsily themselves.

A smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he looked at the bed.