Legacy
As the procession of the body began in the funeral hall set up in the hospital basement, Mother collapsed as if fainting. Fortunately, she was now sleeping after receiving an IV on the cot prepared by the hospital. I looked down at her.
Dr-r-rk. My youngest uncle entered the hospital room where Mother lay. The room that had held Grandfather was a private one, with a cot set up as a resting space for family. Watching him check on Mother's condition, I asked,
"Is Mother okay?"
"She probably stayed up all night nursing Great-Uncle and finally crashed. She was tense too, not knowing when he'd pass... And at the end there..."
"That last part..."
"Hallucinations right before death, most likely. Or maybe he thought you looked just like your father."
"Me...?"
"Genes don't just vanish."
"..."
The silence grew heavy, and Uncle spoke up.
"And I'm telling you this instead of Yeon-mi because she'd push back. Accept the inheritance."
"Pardon?"
"I was shocked when Great-Uncle renounced his share at Grandpa's passing. But I figured Yeon-mi might do the same, so out of caution, I'm telling you."
"What... do you...?"
"He'd heard from relatives that he only stepped up for the family business out of greed. So as soon as Grandpa died and inheritance talks started, he renounced immediately. That's why I think his self-made fortune should go to Yeon-mi. It's legally hers anyway."
"...!"
"I was worried your aunt was coveting it, but thank goodness Yeon-mi showed up in time. Great-Uncle wouldn't let go of the land, no matter what. Said there was a story behind it. I don't know the details, but it must be big. He'd buy your aunt whatever she wanted, but he roared at her not to touch the land."
"The land?"
"This very plot where Dun-bang Se-woon University Hospital stands is just a fraction of it. Mostly worthless forest, fields, paddies—but when the new city development hit Dun-bang, he got hefty compensation. Government requisitioned it; otherwise, no chance he'd hand it over. That's when I realized his attachment to it."
"I had no idea."
"Wouldn't be normal if you did. You were basically cut off."
"If we hadn't found Grandfather..."
"Then no one in the family—who all owe him—would've dared claim it; they'd have deposited it formally. But your aunt... she'd have gone for it."
"That aunt..."
"Anyway, badmouthing family elders behind their backs isn't right. Judge for yourself when she shows up at the funeral. That'd be best."
Leaving me hanging like this and telling me to see for myself?} Resentment bubbled up, but I also admired how he avoided prejudicing a kid who wasn't even in high school yet. There was something to learn from him.
The funeral hall had been grandly prepared without Mother or me even realizing. When I turned in surprise, Uncle stood behind me, shrugging once.
Had an adult ever had my back like this?} It was a situation I hadn't experienced even before regressing.
People who knew Grandfather—whom I'd never met—poured in endlessly. Each said the same things:
"Found your daughter? Thank goodness."
"He spent his life regretting that one day. Glad the misunderstanding's cleared."
"A man who did so much good—Heaven watched over him till the end."
After the weathered elders passed—bearing traces of hardship—came a swarm in suits.
"Sad to hear respected Cheon-o-noe President has passed, but fortunate his fine grandson was by his side. Here's my card."
I carefully collected the business cards from the suits, not discarding any. The guestbook filled by morning, requiring a new one.
No wonder there were so many guestbooks.
Uncle approached and whispered,
"The older folks with dialects were Great-Uncle's colleagues from his overseas struggles. The suits just now? People he sponsored."
"Sponsored?"
"Times were tough back then, even if they're comfortable now. He spotted promising students and helped... and later..."
"Later?"
"Ahem..."
"What is it, Uncle?"
He beamed like it was the first time I'd called him that, barely suppressing a grin ear-to-ear, then whispered again.
"He was looking for a good match for Yeon-mi as her spouse..."
"Pardon?"
I whipped around in shock; he patted my back to calm me, urging me to face forward. Realizing I'd been too rowdy as chief mourner, I waved it off and focused.
"Wealthy folks didn't appeal, and he wouldn't marry her off to paupers. So he sponsored decent, upstanding types."
"So...?"
"Think your aunt's husband measured up in Great-Uncle's eyes? She wedged in there. The guy she fancied even got sponsorship..."
"Pardon?"
"She's the youngest aunt, not that old. Here she comes."
Mindful of the funeral, her outfit was black—but an updo glittered with a jeweled pin under the lights. A thick fur coat draped precariously over her black dress shoulders, drawing eyes. Reveling in the attention, she flaunted rings on plump fingers while signing the guestbook. Then she turned to me casually.
"You Yeon-mi's son? Don't look a bit like Great-Uncle. Not some outsider, are you?"
"Aunt, what...?"
"Just saying what I see—why so touchy? Got something to hide? Searched so hard for Yeon-mi, but did you just fabricate her?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Hmph. Whined how hard it was to find her, then drag in some imposter—how do we know it's really Yeon-mi?"
"Aunt, enough."
Mother— in mourning garb, hair neatly tied—spoke from behind. Caught off-guard, the woman's face shifted; she smiled warmly.
"Oh, Yeon-mi! Long time."
"Not so long I'd forget your face, Aunt. Thanks to you, my little brother and I recognized each other right away."
"Really? What, show up brazenly now that Great-Uncle's dying? Greedy for the inheritance?"
"What?"
"If not, why let other relatives nurse him through his illness and only appear now?"
Now I understood why Uncle said to judge for myself. Hard to badmouth such a ×× to a nephew.
"I found her, Aunt Grandma."
I emphasized "Grandma." She glared, offended—but as her grandnephew, calling her that was fine. As she drew breath to snap sharply,
I cut in before she could dismiss me as a kid.
"After Father died, we held the funeral without a single relative. At the hall, I heard Mother had family here—prominent locals. So I searched. Thought it'd be good for her, struggling alone, to have an elder."
My words rippled through.
"No sign of the son-in-law... don't tell me..."
Uncle had assumed Father chose not to come. But once the truth erupted, talk turned to how excessive Aunt Grandma's greed accusation was. Sure, some gossips echoed "inheritance greed," but they were minority.
Better to take every cent than let that woman have a penny, even if called greedy. Firmly resolved inwardly, I watched Uncle escort Mother to rest away from her, then asked if I could step away briefly and headed to her.
"I don't know Mother's thoughts, but I think we should accept the inheritance."
"What?"
"Better to take the hit for greed than let that woman get a dime."
"Joo-in..."
"Why? Can't do it?"
"I don't know what you think of me, but I'll take Father's inheritance. Never planned to renounce."
"Pardon?"
Seeing my shock, Mother smiled faintly—but it hurt to see.
"With you and Joo-shin here, how could I give up what's meant for you boys?"
"Ah..."
If Father lived and we thrived as a family, would she have accepted? I gripped her hand tight.
"Mom, did you see Grandfather's hands?"
"Yeah... I didn't know the joints were bent from hardship. He only shared good news with me. But every guest's story..."
"Grandfather endured for Mother's sake—hoping you'd live easier than him. Good for me and Joo-shin too, but think of it as compensation for lost time, not just money."
She lifted my hand to stroke my cheek.
"Thank you for being by my side, Joo-in..."
Thank you for being by mine, Mom. Instead of words, I hugged her tight, then returned to my post in the inner room.
The vast hall had seemed empty at first, but now it was packed—no empty seats, even people just signing and leaving. As chief mourner, I couldn't slip away amid the murmurs. I thought, amid the buzz,
I still hadn't claimed all of Grandfather's legacy...