episode_0030

As I returned from putting the dishes in the sink, the chairman, who was sitting on the sofa, immediately began to speak.

“Then let me get straight to the point. Is it because of the money? You said you would return the money you spent. Of course, including the time and emotional aspects. If you were just one person, you would never lack anything in your entire life.”

My face contorted as I sat down on the sofa. I was finally able to be friendly with him, but my heart was dropping with every word I said. After all, the chairman probably had no intention of maintaining a good relationship with me.

“Do I look like I’m doing this for money?”

“… Wasn’t it?”

The chairman tilted his head. It seemed like he really thought it was because of the money. It was frustrating because he didn’t seem to understand the value of the future and the days he had built up.

“I would like to hear your opinion for the future. If… the chairman permits.”

But since I was not completely unaware of the past, I could not possibly push forward with a hard-line stance.

The chairman must have thought that the future was dead. Moreover, he was aware of the loneliness of being left alone, so he felt that way even more.

“Have you ever thought about which one is better for the future sheep?”

The chairman looked at Mirae on the other side. Mirae hugged my arm and hid behind me, and the chairman continued speaking with a bitter expression on his face.

“With me, you can live without lacking anything. Also, the Iseol group will be inherited by the future sheep, so it would be better to do so for the sake of the future.”

It felt like I was talking to a wall. Our goals were so different, but the Chairman and I were never going to get along.

“So, you should first ask Mirae if she wants to take over the company. What she wants to be when she grows up, what she wants to do, who her ideal type is, what her hobbies are. The chairman is ignoring all of that. Are you saying that this is for Mirae?”

I was so frustrated that I started talking faster and faster. Of course, the chairman must be feeling the same way as I am. I was really amazed at how he could keep his composure.

“Ideals and reality are different. If you only cling to your ideals and struggle, the value of reality will fade. You will gradually be eliminated from reality without even realizing it.”

A small sigh escaped the chairman’s mouth.

“I have seen many such human figures so far. If you really think about the future sheep, please step back before your shallow thoughts catch up with you.”

If it were my past life, I might have thought that way. In reality, my life was one where I was satisfied with the monthly salary I received, somehow got through the long days, and repeated the same routine the next day.

That’s why I know. How joyful it is to look forward to tomorrow. How rich is a life with a goal. How happy is each day that we strive to reach the day we dream of.

Having lived two lives, I can see it clearly.

“I saw it too. People who are worn out by reality and wander around like zombies. You want to make the future one of those people… .”

“It’s not too late to pursue your dreams after you’ve succeeded. There’s no need to go back when there’s an easy way.”

We need to have a rational conversation for the sake of the future. If we get emotional here, the situation will only get worse.

“The future is only seven years old. It’s the age when she dreams big. To take away her dreams from such a child… Isn’t that too cruel?”

But things didn’t go as planned. The voice that came out of my lips was shaking so uncomfortably.

“As you said, Mirae Yang is still young. But why do you think Mirae Yang will be able to decide what she wants to do in the future?”

I know that too. Leaving all the decisions up to the future is not something an adult should do.

I know it clearly, I understand it in my head, but I can’t think of any other way.

So, I had no choice but to keep repeating the same thing over and over again, like a tornado.

So, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated as it appealed to my emotions.

The only thing I’m better at than the Chairman is my relationship with the future. If I didn’t rely on the future, I couldn’t do anything.

“… You can do it!”

As I was biting my lip without being able to refute, Mirae suddenly shouted.

“Decision… I can do it… . Future dream… I thought a lot with my mom… .”

Mirae held back her tears and hugged my waist. Her small hands held me up so I wouldn’t collapse. Her gaze, which had been avoiding me until now, was now turned towards the chairman.

“Even when I was sleeping…even when I was taking a bath…even when I was watching ChuChu…! I kept thinking about it!”

The future even went so far as to glare at the chairman.

When on earth did she grow up so much? Mirae, whom I thought was just a child, is clearly conveying her opinions. I smiled bitterly at the thought that she was better than me.

I always get help… .

“The future… … .”

“Ah, can you hear me?”

It was then that a man’s voice rang out from the clothes. Moreover, it sounded familiar, as if I had heard it relatively recently.

“Who, who…?”

“Oh, sorry to interrupt your serious conversation. It’s urgent.”

Hwang-geup searched the area where the sound had come from and found a foreign object the size of a ladybug near the nape of his neck.

It was attached to the lining of the cardigan and was the same black color, so it wasn’t easy to find.

“Oh, it’s expensive, so don’t break it.”

As the speaker-shaped object was removed, the man’s previously relaxed voice became somewhat louder.

Who did this to me? My head feels hazy, like it’s covered in fog. The only people who came into direct contact with me today were Hanna Yeon and Mirae… .

No. There was one more person. Especially if the other person was a man.

The man I bumped into in the building lobby. He was a very large, kind-looking man.

“I guess you still don’t quite understand the situation. Okay, can you take a look at the baby’s head?”

I turned my head as the man said. If it’s a baby, then there’s only the future. It felt like time was passing slowly. My head was already assuming the worst case scenario, so I didn’t have the courage to check.

And again, when I saw the head of the future, I froze in place.

A red dot engraved on the crown. It was a familiar mark of a laser point. However, if it was a laser, a continuous beam of light should be visible, but instead, there was only a dot, as if it were a marking.

“Oh, Mom… .”

Mirae, who met my eyes, started to cry. Mirae couldn’t see the point on her head. She must have been scared when she saw my expression.

“Future, just stay still. Don’t move for now… .”

I told Mirae that, but my heart was beating so fast that I couldn’t calm down. Still, I tried my best to catch my breath and covered the area around my temple where the point was engraved with my palm.

“I won’t talk much because we don’t have time. Let’s just ask for 50 billion, exactly the amount that Mr. Haneul’s brother-in-law received.”

“Shadow… .”

The man continued talking without paying any attention, and the chairman muttered as if he had realized his identity.

shadow.

I can’t forget it. Wasn’t it mentioned in the article I saw just a little while ago? The criminal organization that the chairman brought in foreign heroes to wipe out. They were vicious criminals that the Korean guild heroes alone couldn’t deal with.

Besides, if he’s my brother-in-law, he’s my future father. I was dizzy because so many things were happening at once.

“Well, thanks to someone, I lost my place to go. Let’s think of it as a severance pay and show some kindness.”

The chairman, who had been pointed out as the man’s target, frowned and looked out the glass window.

“I doubt you have any intention of negotiating. Why should I have to clean up after that guy?”

“… Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”

The man clicked his tongue in disbelief. The atmosphere was completely different from before.

“I thought he was going to marry a woman he was going to kill, but then he betrayed her for some reason, and now he’s hated by his own family. Well, he wasn’t destined to be loved.”

The man was talking as if he was letting off some steam, and the chairman looked around and muttered quietly.

“1 billion. That’s the amount I can give you. If you want more, then you have to have reasonable conditions… … .”

“This baby’s life was cheaper than I thought. I wasted my time.”

The chairman’s voice, which was full of impatience, stopped, and the situation began to take on an urgent tone.

“Oh, I was thinking of saving up some extra money.”

And somehow the ominous feeling didn’t go away.

“The future!”

I jumped up, turned my back to the window, and embraced the future.

Taang─!

“Ugh… .”

At the same time, a loud gunshot rang out. Silence naturally descended as if nothing had happened. My vision slowly slumped and my mind was sinking into a sloppy swamp.

Am I… going to die here…?

* * *

“Ugh… .”

“Sorry I’m late! Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes, it’s okay. Please take care of it.”

“Okay, I understand. You piece of trash, I’ll kill you a hundred times!”

The bodyguard shouted from beyond the speaker. Lee Ha-neul, who had been startled by the gunshot and had stood up, only then did he slump to the floor, gasping for breath.

I never thought he would shoot without even thinking. It was a clear failure to stall for time. What if there had been no bulletproof glass and bodyguards… It was terrifying to even imagine.

“Mom, Mom! Come on, Mom, what should I do? Mom!!”

Mirae woke up her mother, who had suddenly collapsed, by shaking her. Behind her, she could see a slightly cracked window. That was the only wound left after the gunshot. Other than that, everything else was fine.

Except for one day when I fainted from the start of a gunshot that rang out from the speakers.

“It’ll be okay. I’m just a little surprised… .”

Lee Ha-neul stood up, squatting down next to Haru. The pulse that could be felt from the nape of his neck to his fingers was perfectly normal. Thin breaths kept leaking out from between his lips.

I just fell asleep. But my worries about the future wouldn’t go away easily.

“Mom, Mom! Wake up, wake up! Ugh… Mom, are you really okay?”

Mirae fidgeted, sometimes putting her ear to Haru’s chest, sometimes patting his cheek with her cute hand. Furthermore, she even asked Lee Ha-neul a direct question for the first time.

“Phew… .”

Lee Ha-neul couldn’t help but burst into laughter at that earnest look.

“Ah, excuse me… . Heh… Heh heh… .”

How could I laugh in front of my child who was so worried? Even though I knew it wasn’t right, once I started laughing I couldn’t stop. Even if I covered my mouth or pinched my arm, the sound would eventually come out.

“Uuuuu… .”

The future’s cheeks were puffed out. However, thanks to Lee Ha-neul’s laughter, the dark clouds that had been covering his face had run away.

“I hate you, Aunt! Mom collapsed, but Aunt just laughed…!”

The corners of the future’s mouth were also quirked as she spoke. Her eyes were glaring, but her mouth was having a hard time holding back a smile.

It was unbelievable that a fully grown adult fainted just from the sound of a gunshot, but Mirae was also unfazed except for a slight flinch.

“Isn’t that future sheep laughing too?”

“Ugh… Ah, I didn’t laugh!”

Mirae covered her mouth with both hands. However, her trembling shoulders clearly revealed the state of her hands. Mirae eventually thought there was no other way and collapsed on Haru’s stomach.

“Don’t worry too much. You’ll wake up soon.”

Lee Ha-neul reassured Mirae once again. Mirae also slowly raised her head at the sound of her aunt’s voice, which had changed significantly.

Two people who seem similar, yet are not. Having lived such different lives, they finally meet each other’s eyes.

There was no bad woman who brought scary men to harass her mother, no stubborn child who refused to eat any fancy food and just lay in bed as if dead.

The distance between the two people, which had been so far apart, began to slowly decrease with small smiles.

“In the meantime… Shall I make you a snack?”

But Lee Ha-neul’s one word froze the warm air.

“Oh, no… I want to stay by Mom’s side… .”

Mirae thought to herself, holding her mother’s hand tightly. Rather than eating the snacks her aunt made, she would rather starve.