Free Web NovelGraduation means Chinese food.
We arrived at a Chinese restaurant in Nampo-dong.
“You all worked hard. Now that all three of you are going up to Seoul, things’ll feel pretty empty around here. Don’t get into trouble once you’re there. I can’t cover for you up there. Got it, all three of you?”
It was Park Hyunseong’s father, Captain Park, who started speaking, and then Myungsoo’s father followed up.
“It’s a relief you boys came to your senses. Who would’ve thought you’d get into Korea University? And Hyunseong, getting back into athletics and making it into Korea National Sport University. I’m sure you’ll handle things fine on your own, but remember, you’re adults now. From here on out, it’s no longer your parents’ responsibility. You’ve got to take care of yourselves.”
“Yes, sir.”
The dishes we ordered were served. An uninvited guest, Park Dongsu, spoke up loudly.
“Today’s on me. Eat up, everyone.”
“······.”
Everyone looked at him in silence.
“Hahaha. No need to look at me like that. Captain Park, Mr. Lee, you both know me, don’t you? I owe that kid Muhyuk some things, too, so I came to celebrate. Don’t give me that look. Even if I’m just some gangster punk, I try not to cause trouble for regular folks. Isn’t that right, Captain Park? Am I wrong?”
At that, Hyunseong’s father let out a deep sigh.
“Fine. Since you’re already here, we’ll eat. I don’t know what happened between you and Muhyuk, but you two live very different lives. Got that?”
“Aigo! Of course, Captain. Don’t worry. I just see him like a little brother.”
“Mr. Park, I’ll pay.”
“Oh come on, Mr. Lee. I’m paying today.”
While the adults bickered about who would pay, Myungsoo, Hyunseong, and I silently ate our meals.
Before long, swept up by the graduation atmosphere, the adults started reminiscing about their childhoods.
Once the mood had warmed, Park Dongsu sidled up beside me and spoke quietly.
“Damn, I didn’t know Captain Park was here. Shit, that guy’s a reaper for gangsters.”
“Hahaha. Are you seriously scared, mister? That’s disappointing.”
“Hey, hey! To guys like us, cops are the Grim Reaper, and prosecutors are God. Don’t you know that?”
He was whining like a kid.
Amid the fairly cheerful atmosphere, the meal ended, and we said our goodbyes.
Park Dongsu followed me and Grandma home.
Once we arrived, I sent Grandma into the house first and stayed behind with him at the playground in front of our home.
“So why’d you really show up at the graduation?”
“Come on, it was your big day. Of course I had to come. I’ve got something to talk about too.”
“What is it?”
He let out a deep sigh.
“Trying to start a company and get something going... damn, it’s all so complicated. I’ve got no smart people around me, so nothing’s moving forward. Don’t know any sharp guy I can trust?”
“Haven’t you looked for a lawyer?”
“Psh, shit. Those bastards who were all over me for criminal cases now act like I’ve got the plague. Makes me want to beat the hell out of them. You know how it is—when you’re always operating in that gray area between legal and illegal, you need someone you can trust with your life.”
Fair. Who’d want to work as a lawyer cleaning up after gangsters if it’s not for a big firm?
Then someone came to mind.
“Try looking up someone named Lee Sanggeun near Busan Station. He’s a lawyer. If you pay him enough, he’ll do anything.” freewebnσvel.cѳm
“Lee Sanggeun?”
“Yeah. Bit of a strange guy, but he’s trustworthy. Can probably fight better than most gangsters too. He’s not that famous yet, but he will be later. So get him now while he’s cheap. He’ll be a huge help down the line.”
“Yeah?”
Seeing that he seemed genuinely intrigued, I gave a small nod.
“He’s got a pretty unusual background. I think he used to be a cop before passing the bar. Anyway, go check him out.”
“Damn, see? Ask the kid and you get a damn answer right away. That’s why I can’t help coming back to you. Right?”
Park Dongsu grinned.
“Whew... Mister, once I move to Seoul, don’t come visiting like this anymore. Got it?”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it. Lee Sanggeun, huh...”
He repeated the name a few times under his breath.
I stood up, ready to end the conversation.
“What, leaving already?”
“We’re done talking, aren’t we?”
“Damn, you cold bastard. Got no feelings, huh.”
“I’ll leave my number when I get to Seoul. Contact me there. But seriously—only if you absolutely can’t handle something on your own. Don’t call just to say hi.”
“Really? I can’t even just call?”
“······Are we dating or something?”
He better not be thinking that.
No way, right?
Seeing my face, Park Dongsu burst out laughing.
“Bwahahaha! Funny bastard. Got it. Take care in Seoul. Once I take over Busan, I’ll give you a ring. Oh—and seriously, no drugs, okay?”
“Yeah, don’t touch drugs. If you ignore what I’m saying and get into drug dealing or smuggling... that’s the end of us.”
“Oof~ You’re scarier than me, and I’m the gangster. Don’t worry. But I’m not sure my guys below will listen.”
“That’s your problem. Anyway, I’m going in. Grandma’s waiting.”
I turned my back without waiting for a response.
Behind me, he said,
“Cold-hearted little bastard, but dotes on his grandma like nothing else. Go on in. Once you’re in Seoul, I’ll make sure nobody weird gets near her.”
Before I stepped through the front door, I waved back toward him.
The day before I left for Seoul.
Grandma and I sat face to face in the living room.
“Grandma, I’ll visit often. Every break, every weekend I can, I’ll come down.”
“It’s okay. You don’t need to wear yourself out coming back all the time. Just come for the holidays and breaks.”
“But I want to see you.”
“My baby. You’ve grown up so well. When did that little boy get so big?”
A childhood memory surfaced.
My first memory was...
“Grandma, I miss Mom and Dad! Why don’t I have a mom and dad?”
“······They’re just busy, baby. Want something to eat?”
“Waaaah! Mom! Dad!”
Grandma, wiping her own tears as she tried to soothe my crying.
Then another.
“Grandma, all the other kids come to school holding hands with their mom and dad. Why don’t I have anyone?”
“······You have Grandma.”
“But still. I miss them.”
And another.
“Muhyuk! My baby Muhyuk!”
“Hey, Grandma, look at my son’s face! What the hell did you let happen? What’re you going to do about this?!”
“I’m so sorry. I’m really sorry.”
“What, is this because he grew up without parents? Teach your grandson some proper manners, will you?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.” fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
No one ever listened to my side.
The teachers always scolded me and Grandma.
I didn’t understand, as a kid.
On the way home.
“Grandma, did I do something wrong?”
“No, baby. You didn’t do anything wrong. But no matter how much you hate someone, you can’t hit them, okay?”
“But he teased me first! Said I didn’t have a mom and dad!”
“······I’m sorry, Muhyuk.”
That’s when it all started. When I began going off the rails.
“Muhyuk, Muhyuk, don’t do this. What happened to my sweet boy...”
“You think I wanted to end up ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) like this? Why are you always the one apologizing to others? Just because I don’t have parents? I beat those brats because they called me a bastard and a beggar! And those damn teachers always bringing up the parent association fees in front of the whole class. I was just trying to survive.”
“Muhyuk... I’m sorry.”
“Enough! Stop saying you’re sorry!”
That was the first time I ran away from home.
It was only for three days, but until I came back, Grandma searched the neighborhood like a madwoman.
By then, no one at school dared mess with me anymore.
No one called me an orphan. No one called me a beggar.
If I didn’t like someone, I fought them. And fought again.
They started calling me a mad dog.
Even in middle school, no one talked to me—except a few at first.
Some tried to pick fights to see who the toughest kid was, but after a few brutal beatdowns, no one came near me again.
That’s when I met Myungsoo.
A tiny kid, always ranked first or second shortest in class. But from the way he dressed and the money he carried, he was clearly from a wealthy family.
“You’re Muhyuk, right? I’m Myungsoo. Let’s be friends.”
I thought he was nuts and ignored him.
Maybe he thought he could use me to make school life easier. When I ignored him, he became the new target for the bullies.
They took his money, beat him up often.
One day, while I had my head down on the desk, I was woken by a commotion.
“Hey, shrimp. Is this all you’ve got?”
“Uh? S-sorry. I can’t get more... just this once, please...”
“Look at this punk. Not scared of us, huh?”
“······.”
“If you don’t pay, I feel like hitting you. Isn’t that right?”
“······I’ll bring more tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow’s tomorrow. Today is today.”
His sobbing plea to stop... overlapped with my younger self, begging bullies to stop calling me an orphan.
“Cut it out. You’re loud.”
The bullies in the back turned to me.
“What did you say?”
“Are your ears clogged? I said cut it out. It’s loud. This ain’t even your classroom, so why the hell are you always in here starting shit? I’m trying to sleep. Get lost.”
“Are you nuts? You wanna die?”
“Hey, leave him. He’s the crazy dog. What do you gain from messing with him? Let’s just go. He said he’d bring the money tomorrow.”
There’s always that one punk who doesn’t know when to quit.
“Let go! Bastard’s asking for it. Hey! Kim Muhyuk. You think we leave you alone because we’re scared? We let you be because you’re quiet. And now you tell us to get lost? You wanna die, huh?”
“Don’t care what you think of me. Go play gangster in your own classroom. Didn’t I tell you to get the hell out?”
That day, I fought the top dog of the school. Got beat bad and went down.
But the next day, and the day after that, I kept going after them like a mad dog.
One by one. Sometimes two at a time. Even ten.
Sometimes I won. Sometimes I lost.
Eventually, even the bullies gave up.
“Man, let’s just stop. We were wrong.”
“Don’t touch anyone in my class. Got it? And dammit, you punks never fight one-on-one. Always ganging up. That’s why you’re nothing but thugs.”
Every time I came home covered in bruises, Grandma cried.
I hated seeing that more than anything.
After that, it was always the three of us—Me, Myungsoo, and Hyunseong, who transferred in later. We caused trouble together. Fought kids who picked fights. Got hauled into the police station a few times.
And then... because of me always running wild, Grandma ended up dying suddenly, without warning.
I couldn’t do anything. And I lost the only family I had left.
At some point, my vision blurred. I blinked.
I saw Grandma’s face, holding my hand tightly.
Grandma is alive.
My Grandma who only ever thought of me.
Who hurt more than I did when her son died.
Who had no time to grieve, because I was still there.
“I love you, Grandma.”
That night, I fell asleep in her arms.
For the first time in a long time, I slept soundly, without a single worry.
The next morning.
When I woke up, Grandma had cooked so much food the table was overflowing.
“Why’d you make so much?”
“My baby’s going to Seoul now. I won’t be able to cook for you anymore. I made all your favorites. Eat a lot.”
“Okay.”
Before long, a car from Pyeongchang-dong arrived outside the house.
With the engine running, I hugged Grandma.
“I’ll come visit a lot.”
“Go on now.”
“I’ll call often.”
“Okay, okay.”
Grandma stroked my back.
“Grandma, eat well, okay?”
“Okay. You eat well too.”
“Yeah.”
Myungsoo and Hyunseong arrived, ready to go to Seoul with me.
“Grandma! I’ll come with Muhyuk next time. Stay healthy!”
“Grandma, take care of yourself.”
As we got in and the car slowly pulled away,
Grandma stood in the doorway, watching us for a long, long time.
< I Love You, Grandma. > The End.
