episode_0035

“Oh my, this is so delicious, I can eat it up quickly.”

It was the voice of the old man Gong on the left of Shihyeok. He tore open one side of a duck leg with his bare hands, cleaned the bones, and picked up some vegetables to eat them with gusto.

The original fresh-faced appearance was gone, and it seemed like I was seeing a handsome old man from the neighborhood.

“It’s delicious!”

This time, it was Eunha’s voice on Shihyuk’s right. Holding a spoon in one hand and chopsticks in the other, she filled both cheeks with meat and rice and chewed them thoroughly.

Although he was not careful, he enjoyed the delicious food happily like a child, and he was cute and adorable like a small animal rather than being greedy.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Sihyuk also ate a spoonful of rice with vegetables. Even though he only chewed it twice, the strong scent of spring vegetables penetrated the roof of his mouth and lingered in his nose.

It had been a long time since he had eaten a meal with so many people.

In the center of the table, they served grilled meat, and each person brought out a duck in a cold noodle bowl.

Shihyuk thought it was very touching to see them having a cozy meal with the front door wide open and the sound of pouring rain as background music.

“There’s a lot, so eat a lot.”

“Hehe, I’m eating well! And Grandpa Gong, after you finish this, let’s play again! I’m going to win this time!”

“Inseok, you can’t talk about games at the dinner table. It would be a shame to Sihyuk, who prepared such a nice dinner.”

The old man Gong lightly patted the galaxy that was burning with enthusiasm.

But that was just words, and the old man’s gaze towards the girl and his action of putting a piece of meat on her rice bowl were filled with utmost kindness.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Sihyuk!”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad that you two have become close.”

As the old man said, games seem to have the power to bring people closer together. Although, it seems to have brought the gap between the old man and the girl closer, rather than between the man and the man.

Galaxy liked this moment.

Shi-hyeok was good, but the old man was also good. Although he often teased the girl, the old man treated Eun-ha without any hesitation, like a real grandfather. That unconcerned attitude might have been repulsive to other women of her age, but it felt especially warm to a girl who had no relatives except for one older sister.

It was the same for Old Man Gong.

I came to see Shihyuk, but unexpectedly I had a truly joyful meeting. Seeing the girl who was burning with enthusiasm, it really felt like I had a new granddaughter. She was smart and clever, and her appearance reminded me of a puppy, but even when the old man was being mean, she didn’t treat him coldly, and was friendly and lively.

Shihyuk watched the two of them and sometimes thought that this wasn’t such a bad thing.

Even though he didn’t like noise, the house he lived in alone with his angular personality was too quiet. But now, the suffocating space that was hard like dried seaweed and seemed like it would break with the slightest force was filled with a soft and faint human scent.

Although each of their ideas took slightly different forms, they were all having a happy and peaceful time.

Wouldn’t that be enough?

It was near sunset when Eunha struck the old man (in a game).

The sun was bending down, the rain had stopped, the clouds had cleared, and the sky was turning red. It was now time to go back.

The girl spread her arms and waved them around towards the old man and Si-hyuk who had come to see her off.

“Well, see you next time! You too, Grandpa!”

“Take a look.”

“The sun will set soon, so don’t look away and go in safely. Yonsuk-ah! Look ahead and walk, or you’ll fall! Oh, don’t run! ”

Hehehe! Behind Eunha who was running around, the end of the girl’s raincoat was wagging like a puppy’s tail.

Even the old man who had been pretending to be quiet burst into laughter at the sight.

“What a bright and kind kid. Isn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“I thought he’d hit me with this. Rather than the indifference of time, I’m looking forward to that child’s future.”

Shihyuk nodded.

The old man, who had a keener eye than him, could not have failed to notice the talent of Eunha that he had discovered. That must be the reason why the old man had helped Eunha grow through the game.

“I feel good having a granddaughter at this age. My granddaughter is like her father, not so sly and straightforward, but thorough in everything she does. She’s so tough that if you chew on her, your teeth will fall out.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right. Anyway, since the kid is gone, it’s just the men left now.”

How about a drink? The old man asked, pretending to tilt his glass playfully at Sihyuk.

He didn’t really enjoy drinking, but he didn’t think there was any reason to leave. Shihyuk didn’t refuse.

“I will boil the soup again to make a drinking snack.”

-.-.-

What the old man Gong brought was not something of a century-old luxury, but a few bottles of common soju.

This level of charm was just what suited their emotions.

Shihyuk was the first to politely fill the old man’s glass.

The old man who received the glass then filled Sihyuk’s empty glass. When receiving, he used both hands, when the glasses clinked, he made sure that the glass was lower than the old man’s glass, and when drinking, he turned his head.

Old Man Gong chuckled as he watched him knowing the basics of working with older people.

“I guess someone taught you how to lead. You know things that people these days don’t.”

“I used to serve an elder who was about the same age as you. It seems like the manners I learned back then have become second nature.”

“I see.”

The old man emptied his glass and took a sip of the soup that Shihyuk had made. It was good when he first tried it, but now that the soup had thickened and the flavor had become stronger, it was a perfect snack to go with alcohol.

“Then I guess the person who sees me through that smile is that adult.”

Shihyuk’s mouth was shut tightly. At first glance, he seemed mischievous and lighthearted, but the old man was thoroughly investigating him.

The old man filled my empty glass and cooed at him, who was frozen stiff.

“What, I also have eyes to see. When you look at me, sometimes your eyes get hazy as if you’re thinking of something.”

“Sorry-”

“There’s no need to apologize. We’re both equal.”

The old man refilled his empty glass.

“Just like you, I keep seeing other people when I look at you, so if you feel sorry, then I should feel sorry too.”

The old man smiled and lifted his glass, even filling Sihyuk’s glass.

“Then, let’s have a drink each as punishment.”

It is the privilege of youth to be tolerated by their elders.

Sihyuk smiled bitterly without thinking and matched his glass to the glass held out by the old man.

The alcohol went down my throat with a clear, crisp sound. The bitter taste of alcohol mixed with the sweet aroma that tickled my nose.

“I, looking at Sihyuk, was thinking of my son when I was young. Well, before the Great Crack, I was just an ordinary farmer who had a family and dug potatoes in the countryside.”

“He resembles his mother more than me. He is like you, not very talkative and has a dark complexion. However, he does his best in everything and has a straightforward and honest personality. He lost his mother at a young age, so he has been hurt a lot since he was young. When I first saw Shihyuk, I couldn’t just pass him by because I thought he looked like him.”

“… … .”

“Even though he lost his mother, he wanted to grow up properly and be a good example to his son, so he always lived honestly and righteously to others. But what would he have been like as a father?”

Old Man Gong’s gaze turned to the living room.

To be exact, towards the TV in the middle of the living room where he and Eunha used to stay and play games together.

The game console was turned off, but the TV still had the ‘No Signal’ bar on, and it looked a bit lonely.

“It must have been unexpected for an old man to suddenly bring a game console. Actually, it’s not mine. It’s my son’s. To be exact, it’s something I bought for my son.”

“It was hard to look after a lethargic boy, so I wanted to be with him as a father even though I couldn’t be a mother, so I often stayed with him. Even though my son became independent, I couldn’t abandon him for some reason. What is it?”

The old man then sighed.

Memories of his father must have been warm and unforgettable memories for the son, but it was the same for the father who was with his son.

Old Man Gong’s eyes sank low as he looked at the game console illuminated by the TV light.

“Did the effort pay off? My son grew up well without much trouble. He went to a decent university, joined the fire department, and became a paramedic. There was a rumor in the countryside that the rich and poor were righteous. My son was a source of pride to me.”

“… … .”

“Then my son said, “You were my guide. I am the pride of myself. I grew up seeing a hero who did not tolerate injustice, helped his neighbors, and even looked after his own son. He said he dreamed of becoming a paramedic like you.”

“… What did I say? He was my son, but he was such an upright man. If it weren’t for the Great Rift, or if my son had become an Awakened instead of me, he would have become a great person who can’t even be compared to me. ”

For the old man who was about to make a drink, Sihyuk silently poured him a drink.

“After my son died… . I suddenly remembered it and turned it on, but it wouldn’t turn on. It must have been broken because it was stored in storage. I had to replace the inside with a new one, but I begged them to pay me my own money and leave the outside as it was. It took a long time, but I succeeded and turned it on.”

There used to be no one to do it with.

Could it be that the reason why Gong Elder saw Sihyuk as his own son when he was young and brought a game console when he came to see him?

The old man headed to the living room, turned off the screen, and stroked the game console that still had a worn-out look even after removing rust and polishing it to a shine. Then he put the game console back into the paper box after disconnecting the connected wires and controller, and handed it to Si-hyuk.

“It may not be polite to give away your used items, but it is a thank you for inviting me. I think what you have, young as I am, will be much better for this guy. Even if it is not to your taste, please accept it.”

Sihyuk stared blankly at the paper bag in front of him.

“Ms. Galaxy too.”

“… ?”

“Eunha-ssi and her older sister, Woojoo-ssi, also come to visit sometimes. Since my house is empty, if my sisters come to the mountains like this, they will be bored and have nothing to do, so if you give me some, I will use it with gratitude.”

“Huh, thank you.”

It is the privilege of adults to be taken care of by the young.

The old man, who was happy with his answer, offered him a glass with a much more relaxed face. The glasses clinked again and the atmosphere came to life.

“And, please come visit us often, Mr. Gong. I thought it was nice to see him having fun with Eunha. If Eunha comes, it would be better if you were to play against her, rather than me, who is not good at games.”

“Then it’s good for me. Next time, instead of just blocking or letting it pass, I’ll try using a counterattack. I can already see that kid’s face getting all upset and crying.”

“… Take it easy. And, sometimes.”

“?”

“I’ll try my best, even if it’s just a little bit, so please try to do the same for me sometimes.”

“Haha! I’ll take it easy on you!”

The glasses were empty. They tilted their bottles again to fill each other’s glasses. Clink. The glasses clinked.

Although the game console was a bit too much, alcohol and honest conversation seemed to have made the relationship between the old man and the young man a little stronger.