Alleyway, Semi-Basement
Following the funeral rites, we made our way to the gravesite, but I still couldn't wrap my head around it.
Is this a dream?
I yearned for it to be real—the warmth of Mother's embrace as I sobbed, her heartbeat against me, her hot tears on my skin.
The gravesite lay nestled in a dense, sprawling forest. Mother explained that Father had bought it with his retirement savings back in his youth, hoping all the family from up north would come south one day to be buried together on this mountain—our family plot.
We haven't sold it yet?
Life had ground us down so relentlessly that at some point, the plot slipped into someone else's hands. Bitter memories flooded back of failing to even properly honor Father's grave on foreign soil...
I forced myself to walk slowly but with as much dignity as I could muster, etching the hazy yet familiar landscape into my eyes.
When we arrived, shock hit me like a thunderbolt. My body froze, not a finger twitching.
Th-that... old man?
In a daze blurring dream and reality, there he stood at our first meeting spot: a hunched elder with long white beard and red skin.
The workers tidying the gravesite, the crystal-clear stream where an immortal sage might frolic, the picture-perfect cabin—and the old man before it—all overlapped impossibly in the same space, without interfering.
How can they exist together like that, without affecting each other?
As if reading my mind, the hunched figure shuffled forward without moving, raising his hand like he would strike me at our first encounter. I wanted to block it, recalling the past pain, but my body wouldn't obey.
His lips moved, but no sound reached me. Last time, I'd caught only "Dae-baek-gong" from close up by reading his lips. Now, nothing made sense.
Father's casket sealing and the grave's completion overlapped with the old man, fading into afterimages that only heightened my urgency.
So frustrating...
"I'm frustrated too... young friend."
"Huh?"
"Heh heh, looks like the connection's finally holding."
"What do you mean?"
"Earth energy's too weak here for deep talk. I set a spell so you'd sense any evil-hearted soul standing on your land like this—makes it easier now. Live well without regrets, young friend."
"Elder... Elder!!"
I stood dazed beside Mother, who endlessly stroked Father's tombstone at the finished grave. The workers glanced at us, then quietly descended the mountain to give us space.
The scene felt like watching a play from afar, utterly unreal.
So does that mean this situation I'm in right now... isn't a dream?
Mother, unswallowed by grief, rose steadily, took my small hand gently, and began descending the mountain slowly. No words passed, but I now knew what even young me hadn't: my little hand gave her strength.
Mother. You never once cried.
Was she screaming inside all along? Relief washed over me that I now had the chance to stand by her side and protect each other—but a long sigh escaped for failing to regress before Father's death.
The old alleyway we walked with Mother was lined with walls propping each other up, each flaunting its quirky personality.
At its end stood the old house, unchanged. Backed by the dark alley, dimly lit by a faint streetlamp's glow through the murk, hung the damp air thick with that unique alley scent—the semi-basement rental.
I'd grown up there as a kid, and though my lungs suffered from the mold, Father smoked recklessly anyway, leaving me hacking constantly.
In memory, that dank space embodied bitter defeat—a hated nest I loathed.
But at some point, that tiny room with Mother filled with steaming kimchi jjigae aroma and little brother's sleepy grumbles, warmed by something tender flowing through me. I missed it fiercely.
Home.
The old bitterness toward the semi-basement single room vanished, replaced by warm memories with Mother that quietly soothed me.
"You must've been shocked today. You did well. As the eldest, you listened to Mom and stayed strong by my side—thank you."
Her words heated my eyes again, but I swallowed hard, forcing calm.
"I'm thankful Mom's by my side too."
"Joo-in today, more than ever..."
Mother hugged me tight, voice catching. Hiding her face over my shoulder, probably?
Why hadn't I noticed her vulnerability before?
Did I not know...? No, I didn't want to know, pretending otherwise.
Bang bang bang!!
What the—?
Cold, sharp outside air invaded our modest warm home, souring the mood. Suited men guarded the door.
"We need a settlement by today."
Mother, still soft-hearted from her yielding past, wavered as they pressed twice.
Not on my watch.
"Uncles, today's the burial—don't you think you're going too far? No matter how important the settlement, barging from funeral home to home like this?"
The suits blinked at my firm tone, then ignored the kid-me, pushing papers at Mother as if pre-discussed.
Treating me like I'm not here?
I yelled louder, then threw a full tantrum, wailing dramatically.
They dismissed me at first, but as I ramped up, Mother hugged me tight, fighting back tears.
If you're gonna treat me like a kid, I'll use it.
My sobs woke Joo-shin, who joined in; the semi-basement echoed, rousing the neighborhood.
Jong-hyuk's mother from upstairs rushed down first.
"Oh my, what's wrong? Joo-in's mom?"
"Sorry. The kids got scared by strangers."
"Who are these people...?"
As commotion grew, one suit pulled a card, introducing himself.
"I'm Song Yun-gil, office manager at Park Uk's law firm."
"A lawyer in this neighborhood?"
Doors creaked open along the alley, neighbors peeking curiously. The suits, who'd fled attention at the funeral hall, stayed—must've needed the settlement today.
"No need for this fuss. Do you really want more for your husband's life?"
They hurled baseless insults at Mother. Instinct overrode reason; I dashed forward, bellowing.
"Who asked for 'life money' from your filthy mouth? Barged into the funeral covered in dirt just to lowball us?!"
Shocked, Mother pulled me back, scolding.
"Don't talk to adults like that."
Tears welled from my frustration; she hugged tighter.
"Being rude back won't solve anything."
Your words work on people. Those bastards won't listen anyway.
I vowed inwardly to heed her with people—real people.
"And you said office manager? Never explained to me, yet insulting like that? Not right."
"What? How can people be so heartless? You caused that scene at the funeral?"
"Yeah, I saw it daytime. I'd have called cops."
"Call now?"
"Will they come this late?"
"The new patrol officer's diligent—reports get a response anytime."
"Then call."
Sensing things slipping, the manager switched to honeyed tones.
"Maybe I overstepped. So, you'll settle now?"
Startled by my outburst, Jong-hyuk's mother jumped in.
"Joo-in's mom, don't sign easy. Wait for my husband."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Who are you to butt in?"
A heavy-set suit behind the manager blocked her at his nod, looming threateningly. She stepped back, shadow stretching long.
"What's all this racket?"
"Oh, Jong-hyuk's dad?"
Suits eyed the newcomer.
"You stirring trouble again?"
"Nonsense. These folks keep pressuring Joo-in's mom to sign. I said wait for you. You warned me not to sign lightly."
"That's 'cause you push insurance nonstop. Hm. Heard about Joo-in's family crisis. I sent our neighborhood rep since I was busy."
"Thank you. We just moved, too flustered to notice."
"Makes sense. Unsettled like this, strangers nagging must scare you. Neighbors help neighbors. Where's the document?"
"Haven't gotten it yet. Just 'sign' pressure. Kept delaying amid funeral prep."
"In this mess, if it's so urgent without courtesy, mind if I see?"
"Ahem, can't show non-parties. And what's your relation to meddle?"
As the manager spoke, dizziness hit; his words flashed like photos.
Absurd—seeing and hearing as images—but vividly: his voice, Mother's fluster, Jong-hyuk's dad's retreat, my despair. Dialogue blurred past in panic.
Manager still talking meant little time passed.
I couldn't ignore the anomaly—echoed the red-skinned elder's words pre-descent. If regressed, his spell explained this impossible sync. No reason not to believe.
Fuming at the manager's leering scan of Mother, I broke free, yelling at peeking Jong-hyuk amid the noise.
"Jong-hyuk and I'm friends! His dad's helping..."
"Joo-in?"
Ignoring Mother's surprise, I pressed on. Jong-hyuk looked shocked at my sudden chumminess—we'd barely nodded before.
"Like Mom said, aiming for same liberal arts high as Jong-hyuk."
After move-in rice cakes, mothers suggested we bond via same school, same age. But inferiority kept me away; I spitefully chose vocational, stabbing Mother's heart.
No more of that sad face.
Declaring friendship boldly, Jong-hyuk's dad smirked faintly, then demanded docs from the manager professionally.
"Joo-in's mom is the party—show her. She'll pass to me anyway; why resist?"
Encirled by neighbors, their earlier bravado gone, suits hesitated, then pulled thick papers.
Mother, frowning in dismay, handed them to Jong-hyuk's dad.
"Not short—needs time to review. Excuse us."
"Who are you to demand time?"
He casually proffered a card; manager scowled but pocketed it.
"Didn't expect to meet Professor here."
"Nor a lawyer's manager squabbling."
"If not for legal knowledge..."
"Lucky—friend's a lawyer."
The lead suit clenched then offered handshake.
"Expect good news soon."
"Not sure it'll be good, but I'll try."