Chapter 359. What It Means to Change (1) (1/2)

The door of the master bedroom didn’t open for a while.

The people who were anxiously waiting outside, wondering about the conversation taking place inside, left the living room one by one.

The mother went to the kitchen saying she needed a glass of water to calm down, and Yoo Seonhwa walked up the stairs saying she would go talk to Seol Jinhee. Yoo Seunghae also followed her sister upstairs.

Left alone, Seol Wooseok nervously stared at the bedroom door.

No news was sometimes good news, but it was too quiet.

He was expecting things to get quite rowdy inside and was prepared to run inside to stop his father, so he couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.

Looking outside, he noticed that the sky had turned dark. The streetlamps were illuminating the dark roads.

It was currently 9:47 p.m.

Dinner ended around 7:30, and Seol Jihu entered the bedroom around 8, so almost two hours had passed since then.

‘Should I go smoke?’

Seol Wooseok, who got tired of waiting, opened the veranda door. It was then.

Click.

The sound he had been waiting for was finally heard.

Seol Wooseok turned around like a bolt of lightning.

Seol Jihu was walking out of the master bedroom, slowly closing the door behind him.

His eyes were blank like he was lost in a daydream.

Seol Wooseok asked right away.

“So?”

Seol Jihu shook his head.

“What happened?”

When Seol Wooseok asked a second time, Seol Jihu shook his head again. Rather than saying it didn’t work out, he seemed to mean he didn’t know.

“He didn’t say anything.”

“Did you give him an explanation?”

“I was going to… but I thought I should apologize first.”

“Right. That’s good.”

“I think I was kneeling for an hour or two… then he said he got it and told me to leave, so…”

Seol Jihu scratched his head.

‘Hmm.’ Seol Wooseok crossed his arms.

After glancing at the bedroom door…

“Well, come on.”

He gestured to the veranda and shook the pack of cigarettes in his hand.

Seol Jihu didn’t refuse.

Shortly afterward, the two brothers stood side by side and smoked cigarettes.

“Don’t be so down.”

Seol Wooseok spoke.

“You know Father’s fiery personality, right?”

“Of course.”

“The fact that he hasn’t said anything for two hours probably means he has a lot on his mind. This isn’t something that can be resolved right away anyway.”

Seol Jihu nodded without replying.

“You have to mend the relationship one step at a time. Last time he told you to take the money and screw off. This time he just told you to leave, right?”

Seol Jihu smiled bitterly.

He would have to wait to see whether Seol Wooseok was right or whether his father decided to erase him from his life.

That said, he was fine with either result.

No, it wasn’t that he was fine, but that he had already steeled his mind.

“Even if I’m never forgiven…”

Seol Jihu murmured quietly.

“I’m going to continue begging for forgiveness for the rest of my life.”

Seol Wooseok glanced at Seol Jihu with widened eyes.

Then, he grinned.

“I’m proud of you… but doing it for the rest of your life is too much.”

“….”

“No matter what you did in the past, you’re still Father’s son. I doubt he’d treat you like a criminal forever when you’re sincerely apologizing and begging for forgiveness.”

Seol Jihu didn’t say anything.

It would be great if it was like his older brother said, but he didn’t want to forget the vow he made today.

“Thanks. For believing in me.”

Still, Seol Jihu didn’t forget to thank him.

“It was all thanks to you, Hyung, that I was able to come this far.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Seol Wooseok replied nonchalantly, then asked in a casual way.

“You remember what I said at the cafe last time, right? That if you betray us again… everyone in the family won’t be able to handle it again.”

“Yeah, I remember it.”

“…Okay, it’s fine as long as you remember it.”

Seol Wooseok rubbed the cigarette on the ashtray and then patted Seol Jihu’s shoulder.

“Well… if you’re that grateful, make me some ramen.”

“Ramen?”

Seol Jihu turned to the side, taken aback by Seol Wooseok’s sudden request.

Seol Wooseok licked his lips and rubbed his stomach.

“I’m feeling a bit stuffy because I was nervous when I was eating before… I think I’ll feel better if I eat your ramen.”

“Sure… that’s pretty easy.”

“Yeah? Then make me two.”

Seol Wooseok said in delight.

It was then.

Bzzz! Seol Jihu’s pocket vibrated.

He took out his phone in a hurry and saw Kim Hannah’s name on the screen.

“Let me take care of this first.”

Seol Jihu picked up the phone.

Seol Wooseok left, saying he would take out the ramen packs.

“Hello?”

—Mm, Employee Seol Jihu. Are you doing well?

A familiar voice rang out through the phone.

Seol Jihu grinned.

“Yes. How about you, Manager Kim?”

—I’m doing fine too.

“I’m glad to hear that… but what’s up? For you to be calling at this hour…”

—Oh? You’ve gotten bold, huh. Is it because you moved to a different team?

“Eii, don’t be so uptight.”

—How can I not? Jinah is dying to see her daddy.

Seol Jihu blinked.

—It would be lovely to go on a family trip, but Jinah’s Dad won’t even come back home. He’s too busy, working.

“Ah, yeah…”

Seol Jihu was taken aback. He didn’t expect to eat a counter.

—Are you home?

“Yes.”

—You met your parents?

“Yes, I did.”

—There’s no hesitation in your voice. Well done. Working is important, but you shouldn’t forget to spend some time with your family. Do you have any idea how worried our executive advisor was for you?

“Yes, yes.”

—Alright, I’ll see you soon.

Tk. The call hung up.

Seol Jihu stared at his phone indifferently before turning around.

He saw a random ear.

Seol Wooseok, who he thought had left, was peeking his ear out on the veranda.

“…Hyung?”

The ear went back inside.

“What are you doing?”

“Eavesdropping.”

“Eavesdropping?”

“I’m a curious guy. Anyway, this Jinah’s Dad isn’t such a good father, huh. He doesn’t seem to be thinking about his wife and kid…”

Seol Wooseok walked off while murmuring.

Seol Jihu stood dazedly before plopping down on a chair in the veranda.

He thought Kim Hannah was just joking with him, but it turned out she was being considerate of where he was.

‘That was close…’

All Earthlings had a duty to create and maintain a safe environment for entering Paradise.

Seol Jihu only now learned that this wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

“Jeez.”

Seol Jihu smiled blandly before placing his phone down on the table near him and finishing his cigarette.

A cool breeze blew past him.

It wasn’t bad.

Enjoying the cool night wind on Earth, at home, wasn’t bad at all.

*

Though it was late, Seol Jihu decided to go back to his apartment room.

His mother tried to make him stay the night, but he didn’t feel like it was appropriate yet.

After consoling his crying mother, saying he would contact her more often, he kowtowed once and then left the house. Yoo Seonhwa said she would see him off and left with him.

Of course, he didn’t forget to make ramen for his older brother before he left.

The master bedroom TV, which was playing a movie for several hours, was turned off.

The father was no longer lying on the bed.

He was standing at the window, looking down at the front yard through a small gap between the curtains.

His eyes were fixed on Seol Jihu’s back as he opened the door and left with Yoo Seonhwa.

His gaze lasted all the way until he disappeared past the alleyway illuminated by streetlamps.

He let loose a deep sigh and turned back.

He gazed at the spot where Seol Jihu was kowtowing.

[To tell you the truth, I got scolded. I even got beat up.]

[He said I shouldn’t be making the decision so shamelessly when I almost ruined other people’s lives…]

[Strangely enough, he said the same thing you did. That I shouldn’t think this matter is done and over with just because I returned the money I owed.]

[That I should put myself in your shoes…]

A bland chuckle escaped his mouth.

An old grandpa at his workplace, was it? He sure seemed to know some things, perhaps due to his age.

However, what lingered on the father’s mind the most was something else.

[So I’m finally ready.]

[In front of my family… I’m ready to live as a criminal for the rest of my life.]

The way Seol Jihu begged for forgiveness usually followed a set pattern.

He would say that it was for real this time, that he should trust him just one more time.

He was always full of excuses.

But he wasn’t like that this time.

He didn’t demand his forgiveness.

[I’m sorry.]

His sincerity could be felt from just those two words.

More so than any other time.

‘Live as a criminal for the rest of his life…’

The father helplessly gazed at the spot where his second son had knelt before finally opening the bedroom door.

When he went to the kitchen, he saw his older son savoring every bite of ramen.

“You’re finally out?”

Seol Wooseok pretended to notice him.

“You must be hungry. I wonder if there’s any food left at all… Mother packed everything for Jihu.”

“Really….”

“Do you want some ramen?”

His father heaved a cough and sat down.

Seol Wooseok pushed his bowl toward him.

“Here. I’ll go rummage through the fridge. If there’s nothing, I’ll bring a new bowl and a pair of chopsticks.”

He got up as if he was being extremely generous.

However, this was a critical mistake.

When he came back with a few packed leftovers, a new bowl, and a pair of chopsticks, he froze stiff.

It hadn’t even been a few minutes since he left, but the noodles had disappeared completely.

“It’s like they say, hunger is the best sauce. It was good.”

The father put down the chopsticks in satisfaction.

He then saw Seol Wooseok dazedly staring at him and furrowed his brows.

“What’s wrong?”

“…How can you eat it all?”

“It’s just a bowl of ramen… You already had dinner, didn’t you? Why, you want me to make you another one?”

“That… Jihu made it for me.”

Seol Wooseok muttered like his world had come crumbling down.

His father flinched.

“I thought you made it.”

“It’s been years since I’ve had it…”

“I was wondering why it was so good.”

“I even coaxed him into making two portions… I was eating sparingly too…”

“…I left the soup behind.”

“So you at least have some conscience left in you.”

Seol Wooseok said in a rare, critical tone.

“It’s gonna be a hit if he ever opens a ramen shop.”

His father said with a dry cough and then got up.

“Oh yeah.”

He stopped before opening the bedroom door.

“You said you have them?”

“Have what?”

“His bank statements and salary breakdown.”

Seol Wooseok, who was putting rice into the ramen bowl with a glum expression, turned his head.

“Father?”

“Bring them to me. Or you can just leave them on the table tomorrow morning.”

Tang. The door shut close.

Seol Wooseok stared at the bedroom door for a long time.

He then stared at the ramen bowl and fell into thought.

Perhaps he was reading too much into it, but he wasn’t sure whether his father’s change in attitude was due to Seol Jihu’s sincerity or this absurdly delicious ramen.

*

Same time.

Kim Hannah was holding onto her phone.

“It looks like he really went. It’s easy to tell when he’s lying. His voice was good.”

—I was worried, so I’m glad to hear that.

An aged voice flowed out from the other side of the phone.

—Perfect. Let’s not delay any longer and proceed right away.

“Uh… will it be okay?”

—Probably not.

Jang Maldong said clearly once Kim Hannah showed hesitation.

—Jihu has replaced his gambling addiction with that place. The pleasure that comes from gambling is similar to that of drugs. The fact that he quit without any withdrawal symptoms means Jihu is feeling more pleasure from that side. There’s no way it will be okay.

“Then we’ll need to be fully prepared.”

—The saving grace is that Jihu took the right first step. But there’s still a long way to go. Even quitting smoking is notoriously difficult. Escaping the pleasure of gambling is going to be even harder.

“Jihu did have a severe case of addiction…”

Kim Hannah sighed.

“I understand. Then I will see you at the airport.”

—Don’t forget. Jihu is only now at the starting line. This is where it all begins.

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

—And don’t forget what I told you back then.

“Of course not.”

—Great. I’ll see you at the airport.

The call ended.

*

Seol Jihu walked for a long time after parting with Yoo Seonhwa.

For some reason, he felt relieved of all his worries.

His feet grew hot after walking for dozens of minutes, so he immediately grabbed a taxi.

“Thank you.”

After getting off and entering his apartment room, Seol Jihu collapsed on his bed.

In the past, he would come back home with a sour face every time he went to see his family. But now, he was free and unencumbered as he stared up at the ceiling.

However, he scowled in the next moment as he put his hand into his pocket.

“Ah, shit.”

He couldn’t grab his phone.

He didn’t leave it in the taxi.

Thinking about it carefully, he seemed to have left it on the veranda table.

“What a clutz!”

He ridiculed himself and rolled around in the bed.

His eyes twinkled as a small piece of paper slipped out.

Though he didn’t mean to, he didn’t have any way of contacting people at the moment.

There was a chance that someone from Area 1 was there.

Since he went to see his family, wouldn’t it be okay if he went back real quick?

‘Or maybe I should wait until tomorrow…’

Seol Jihu smacked his lips as he suddenly thought about his mother.

It was already deep into the night.

Wouldn’t the right thing be to wait until tomorrow and give his mother a call before going back?

Ding-dong!

The bell suddenly rang while Seol Jihu was deeply hesitating.

But who could it be this late at night?

“Who is it?”

—It’s me.

“Who’s me?”

—500 won if you’re curious.

‘…What crazy person is this?’

Seol Jihu took out a 500 won coin and opened the door with a confused face.

“Who…”

He was stopped short as a group pushed their way in as soon as he opened the door.

“Wow, it’s clean.”