episode_0006

As my mother’s pregnancy passed the 9th month, her belly became so swollen that I was worried it would burst.

If you put two basketballs in your stomach, wouldn’t it look like that?

Currently, South Korea is in an uproar as large and small businesses alike are going bankrupt.

In just two months, we will be asking the IMF for an emergency loan.

Unlike noisy countries, my house is peaceful and peaceful with just my mom, aunt, and me.

My father was busy and couldn’t come home often, so my mother was worried about me and the young child, so she said, “Next week.”

I heard she decided to be admitted a week earlier than her due date.

“If Jaehoon goes to his grandmother’s house next week, will he be able to spend time with her?”

“Yeah. It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

“You shouldn’t cry when you miss your mom?”

“I’m fine. Have a nice baby.”

“Oh my. Why is my son so awesome~?”

“The little master is well-mannered, so there is no need to worry about the second child.”

“Of course. Our Jaehoon is so polite~”

“In my family, when we had a second child, the first child got jealous, and when we had a third child, the second child got jealous. Oh my, we had such a hard time.”

“Oh, really?”

“Oh, of course. I’m really speechless. But I’ve never seen a kid as mature as the little lord, so I don’t have to worry. ”

“It would be nice and comfortable if the second one was smart and well-behaved like Jaehoon. Right?”

“I’ve been to a lot of houses for work, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone like Little Master. Sometimes when I see him, I really think he’s an adult.”

-Cool

“Is Jaehoon that well-behaved?”

“Of course. That’s right. If the second child behaves like our kids this time, it’ll be really hard this time, right?”

“Jaehoon! If Mom is having a hard time, Jaehoon will help you, right?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Because Jaehoon is my younger brother. I have to take good care of Jaehoon too?”

“Okay. I’ll think about it.”

“Should I help you instead of just thinking about it?”

“You don’t know how to take care of yourself?”

“Mom will tell you!”

“Okay.”

I’ve seen a lot of orphanage siblings, but since he’s my real sibling…

It’s a bit vague, so it doesn’t really hit me, but seeing the slightly reminiscent emotions, I guess I’m also looking forward to it a little.

But if possible, I would rather have a younger sister than a younger brother.

***

Each peaceful day passed by, and my aunt, who had been working at home, said her final goodbyes as she left work.

Although we only met for about 3 months, it’s a shame that we can’t see each other anymore because we were together for such a long time.

He said he would see her again when he had a third child, but as far as I know, the second child was the last, so I don’t think that will happen.

And now, tomorrow morning, I will be separated from my mother, who I have been with for the past three years.

I’m sure I won’t cry because I miss you, but I will miss you. Well, we’ll find out tomorrow.

I finished getting ready and went to sleep with my mom who came into the room.

“Son!! Get up and go to grandma’s house.”

“Huh?”

When I opened my eyes, my dad was standing in front of me, the first time I saw him in a few days.

“Didn’t you miss Dad?”

“Yeah, it was okay. I just wanted to be with mom.”

Seeing my father’s regretful face makes my morning start refreshing.

Still, I’ve forgotten the grudge from my past life and I’ve grown attached to him, so he’s like a father to me.

Now I should forget about the chairman from my previous life and just see him as my father.

“Dad missed Jaehoon so much that he finished his business trip early and came running!”

“I came to take Mom to the hospital.”

“Ahem.”

The chairman who used to show off his mature charm, will really come to visit in the future, but my father only shows a completely different side.

But sometimes when I watch the news and see that the company is growing well, I can definitely see that my grandfather and father are truly capable.

After we all finished eating and got ready to go out.

I headed out with my dad, who had his hands full of luggage, and my mom, who was walking while supporting her belly that was on the verge of bursting.

A two-story detached house located in Yongsan-gu.

A large garden surrounded by high walls and trees all around the perimeter.

It always amazes me how it is possible to look at a house made of orange bricks and feel a sense of grandeur.

Living in a reasonably spacious apartment, I sometimes forget that I am the third generation of a conglomerate, but when I see a house like this, I can tell that a conglomerate is definitely a conglomerate.

“Is our grandchild here?”

“Hello.”

“Oh my, you’ve grown so much.”

My grandmother, who loves me generously even today.

“Mom. I will take good care of Jaehoon.”

“Jaehoon, don’t worry, always take care of yourself and come back safely, okay?”

“Yes, mother. I will come and visit you with my second child.”

“Jaehoon. Mom, are you going?”

“Okay, have a nice trip. I’ll be waiting quietly”

“I shouldn’t throw a tantrum saying I miss my mom?”

“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”

“I’ll be back.”

My mom waved and headed to the car. Before getting in, she turned around again and waved at me.

My heart aches when I see my mother like this.

Is this what family is like?

As someone who spent 29 years as an orphan in my previous life, I was confused by the emotions I felt now.

My mother looks at me with worried eyes as if she doesn’t want to leave me behind even as she goes to give birth.

I know for sure that I will give birth to him and come pick him up, but I feel a heavy feeling in my chest. I don’t know if it’s anxiety or worry or what.

“Grandson? Do you miss Mom already? It’s cold outside, I should go inside.”

“Yes, Grandma, come in.”

When I came home, my grandmother had gone to organize my clothes, and I was left alone in the living room, which was incomparably larger than the apartment I used to live in, so it was incredibly lonely.

How can this be happening already, only a few minutes after I separated from my mother?

I thought I was doing well on my own for three years, but looking back, I realized that I had unknowingly come to trust and rely on my mom while spending those three years with her.

***

I had lunch with my grandmother, went for a walk, and even took a nap.

When I wake up and see the sunset, I guess it’s time for dinner.

When I went out to the living room, I saw my grandmother watching TV.

“Grandson, are you awake? Are you hungry? Want to eat?”

“Let’s eat together when Grandpa comes later. Didn’t Grandma sleep?”

“Grandma is still young. But is the grandson mature enough to speak politely and act like an adult? I don’t think the kids were like that at that age. Isn’t he three years old?”

“…Now that I’m four and have a younger sibling, I need to be a role model.”

“Taesan ran around without any trouble even after his younger siblings were born. It’s great.”

When I was with my mother, I was habitually careful, but when she was gone, my past life’s behavior came out of my appearance as an ordinary child.

“Are you watching TV?”

“Hey, should I play something else? Is there something you want to see?”

“No. Just watch it like your grandmother does.”

While I was killing time watching dramas with my grandmother, my grandfather came.

“Grandson~ Grandpa is here. Hahahaha.”

“Are you here?”

“Huh? Why are you already using formal language? You didn’t do that last time.”

“I’m four years old now and my little brother is born, so I want to be a role model.”

”Hey. Maybe it’s because I take good care of my daughter-in-law, but she’s different from our kids~”

Seeing that my grandfather and grandmother were saying the same thing, I guess it must have been a little different from his usual behavior because his mother wasn’t around.

“Then you’re saying that I came in wrong and that’s why our kids are like that?”

“No, no, that’s not it. Jaehoon was just trying to compliment me.”

The grandfather, who was taken in by the grandmother who had been dissed by chance, came out about ten minutes later, having changed his clothes and with a pale face.

Certainly, the hierarchy in society and the hierarchy within the family are different.

***

It’s been two weeks since I came to my grandmother’s house and my mother went into the hospital.

“Mom. How can you call me twice a day?”

“Huh? Jaehoon, you don’t want to talk to your mom on the phone?”

“No. I’m afraid it’ll be hard to go back and forth to call my mom. Okay. ”

“Right? Mom likes talking to Jaehoon the most.”

“Yeah. Me too. But when are you discharged?”

“I was going to tell you that anyway. Mom, I’m going to pick up Jaehoon with Ye-eun tomorrow, so are you waiting well?”

“Okay, I got it.”

“Jaehoon, see you tomorrow. Do you love me?”

“Okay, see you tomorrow.”

My mother was admitted to the hospital and from the next day onwards, I got phone calls every morning and evening.

When I asked how he made a phone call at a time when personal cell phones were not yet commercialized, he said he went to the nurse’s office where the phone was installed and made the call. This shows how much he loved his son.

A week ago, I received a call that my younger sister, Ye-eun, was born healthy. I was so happy to hear that she was my younger sister.

I think I should just wait quietly since he’s coming tomorrow.

The morning came after falling asleep like that.

“Jaehoon~ Mom is here~”

A mother approaches carrying a baby in a sling, with the father next to her.

When I saw my mother for the first time in a long time, her face was a little swollen, as if she had been working hard, and her stomach, which looked like it would burst, had completely disappeared.

“As expected, Jaehoon. You missed your mom a lot, didn’t you?”

I don’t even know what expression I’m making right now.

It could be a sense of relief, a sense of relief, a sense of joy, or perhaps all three.

The mother, who was looking at me, opened the swaddling blanket and placed the baby she was holding in her arms in front of me.

“Jaehoon’s younger sister, Ye-eun. Should I introduce her?”

“Yeah.”

Ye-eun stares at me blankly, wringing her hands.

At that time, you definitely wouldn’t be able to see ahead.

I thought she wanted to grab something while wriggling her hand, so I held out my hand to her, and she tightly squeezed my finger.

Warmth felt through the fingers in small hands.

As I looked back at Ye-eun and saw her parents quietly smiling and watching their son and daughter meet for the first time, I think I now know what family feels like.

This second life began to feel a little more precious.

But still, this is what it is and I have to do what I have to do.

I whispered into my brother’s ear as he lay on the blanket.

“If you’ve regressed or been reincarnated, cry.”

“…..”

Hmm… I guess not.