Chapter 55: Chuseok Holiday (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 55: Chuseok Holiday (2)
My family home.
Actually, answering isn't that difficult.
I could just say, "Things just worked out so that I ended up getting kicked out."
But remembering the look on Park Ju-woo’s face when he misunderstood and thought I couldn't go to college because I was broke, I felt hesitant to say that.
There’s nothing like a change of subject to gloss things over.
I cut a meat and vegetable patty in half, placed it on Ju-woo’s plate, and asked, "What about you?"
"Pardon?"
"I’m asking why you didn't go home."
If it were Lee Cheong-hyeon, he would have nitpicked, saying, "I asked you first!" but Ju-woo wasn't the type.
Sure enough, Ju-woo repeatedly picked up and set down the halved patty with his chopsticks before finally speaking.
"……I don't know, I guess I just feel like holidays are days you should spend with family."
It was a contradictory statement, considering he was the one who had stayed behind at the dorm instead of going home.
As if sensing my confusion, Ju-woo continued.
"I, uh, lived at my aunt's place. For about ten years now……."
This was the first I’d heard of it.
Thinking back, it seemed like Park Ju-woo’s family history was the one thing missing from Spark’s TMI trivia.
There was probably a reason he didn't mention his parents. So, I didn't press him on that part.
Instead, I asked about trivial things, acting as if it were no big deal.
"How many people are in your aunt’s family?"
"Four. My aunt and uncle, and an older cousin brother and sister……."
"You must have been the youngest in that house. It must be exhausting having to look after two younger ones here."
"No, it’s not. I like it because it’s lively."
A smile played on Ju-woo’s lips as he spoke. It seemed his life at his aunt’s house hadn't been bad.
‘If he’s not avoiding them because he’s uncomfortable, is it more like he’s staying away out of consideration for them?’
Just as that thought crossed my mind, Ju-woo spoke.
"Since I lived there as a dependent for so long, I just feel like…… I should step aside on days like this."
"……I suppose that makes sense."
The sound of frying pancakes filled the quiet kitchen like background music.
This was awkward. I hadn't expected such a heavy topic to come up so suddenly.
I knew the feeling of being a dependent all too well.
After all, I was living in a room paid for with money borrowed from my older sister.
But it was a bit sad to have no one to see even on a holiday. At least I would meet my sister whenever I didn't have overtime work.
I sighed inwardly.
After a moment's hesitation, I flipped a skewered pancake and said, "I don't go because I'm not on great terms with my family."
Damn, he made it so I couldn't just listen to his reason and dodge the question myself.
"It’s not like we’re enemies or anything, we’re just…… distant. That’s why I didn't go."
Ju-woo, who was lining a plate with fresh paper towels, looked at me with wide eyes.
I had phrased it vaguely to prevent him from making another grand misunderstanding, but he still seemed quite shocked.
"……Did you have a fight?"
"It wasn't quite that. I just moved out once I became an adult."
As the saying goes, even if your mouth is crooked, you should speak straight—I didn't fight with my family; I was unilaterally beaten. It was 100% their fault, is what I’m saying.
"Is that why you never called them even once……?"
"How did you know?"
"When we all get our phones back for a bit…… you’re the only one who never calls anyone, Hyung."
Once a month, UA would return their personal phones for about thirty minutes so they could call their families.
During that time, the kids would contact their parents.
Someone like Jeong Seong-bin, who had a lot of friends, had to use every second of those thirty minutes.
As for what I did during that time……
‘What else? I just spaced out.’
I could get my phone from the manager whenever I really needed it, and since I had no one to call anyway, I naturally had nothing to do.
My stocks were buried somewhere near the Earth's core, too. There was really no reason to check my phone.
"I didn't realize you were watching."
"I just happened to see. ……I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable."
"No. I’m just a little surprised."
Actually, I was very surprised.
I thought everyone would be so dazzled by the fruits of civilization after thirty days that they wouldn't give a damn about someone like me.
I was too careless. I don't want to stand out for no reason, so next time I should at least pretend to answer a telemarketer's call.
"Who do you usually call?"
"My aunt. Or…… my cousin brother or sister?"
"What? Why are you leaving your uncle out?"
Ju-woo chuckled at my remark. It seemed he really did have a good relationship with his aunt’s family.
"I’ll call my uncle next time."
"Right. Make sure to tell him you ate tofu meat patties."
With that warm conversation, our pancake-making came to an end.
In the kitchen where we’d ground away our afternoon, there was a basket full of savory pancakes, three LocknLock containers filled with neat side dishes, and…….
"Ju-woo."
"……Yes."
"The dishes…… we can finish them before the day is over, right?"
……A mountain of dishes remained.
Looking at the frying pan soaked in oil, I pulled out a paper towel with grim determination.
"Haa……."
After a grueling two-hour dishwashing marathon, Ju-woo and I were finally liberated from the cleanup.
As soon as we finished, we closed all the windows we’d opened for ventilation and escaped to a cafe near the dorm.
I thought few places would be open because of the holiday, but that wasn't the case. I hadn't known because I usually just rested at home after the ancestral rites.
Ju-woo and I each ordered a yogurt smoothie and sat on the terrace.
As I gulped down the smoothie to extinguish the thirst brought on by hours of culinary labor, Ju-woo asked me a question.
"Is that…… also a menu choice to prevent tooth discoloration?"
"Yeah."
"Wow……."
Ju-woo let out an exclamation of an indiscernible nature.
I wondered if he was being sarcastic, but his expression seemed to say, ‘I am genuinely impressed.’ Kid, I’ll let it slide this time.
"Good job today. Preparing a ritual table is no joke, seriously."
"No, it’s fine. But it must be hard on you, Hyung…… so for the next Lunar New Year, let’s just buy the food."
"My head wants to do that, but my heart won't let me."
If it were someone else, I would have said, ‘Why go through all that trouble? Just buy it.’
But it’s different when it’s your own business.
"Well, I might end up not being able to do it regardless of my will."
"Why……?"
"Because prices have gone up so much……."
I was genuinely shocked when I went to buy green onions earlier.
The price was lower than it would be nine years in the future, but still, that much for a single bundle?
I realized once again that memories tend to become beautified over time.
The fleeting thought I’d had about buying some meat while grocery shopping vanished like dust in that moment.
"It’s a relief we only bought apples and pears. If we’d bought chestnuts and persimmons too, we might not have been able to afford these yogurt smoothies today."
"……Is it because of the holiday?"
"Mostly. But prices don't exactly go down just because the holiday ends."
"My aunt always said the exact same thing."
Ju-woo laughed softly. He seemed to be picturing a scene from a past holiday.
Despite his cautiousness, it seemed the atmosphere at his aunt’s house was harmonious, just as I’d suspected.
Reaching this conclusion, I felt a bit sorry for Ju-woo, who hadn't even gotten to eat much holiday food.
"Maybe I should have made some japchae too."
My lingering regret slipped out as idle talk. Ju-woo, who managed to catch it, asked, "Do you know how to make japchae too, Hyung?"
"I know how. I can't guarantee it’ll be delicious, though. I skipped it this time because they say it’s high in calories, but……."
"Ah……."
I started to think I should have made at least a little bit for these kids to eat.
As we were talking about how much the radishes cost and how the pancakes were a bit bland because I didn't season them enough, I suddenly felt a stinging sensation on the side of my face.
When I turned my head, the ladies at the next table were staring at us.
I hurriedly averted my eyes, lowered my upper body, and whispered to Ju-woo.
"……Was I being too loud?"
Even if there weren't many people, talking loudly in a shared space was incredibly rude.
Fortunately, Ju-woo shook his head.
If that kid, who prefers quiet, said no, it meant I wasn't being a nuisance.
Sensing my wariness, the ladies soon looked away.
Instead, I could hear their conversation, which had briefly paused.
"Unnie, where did you buy the songpyeon this year?"
"You know that rice cake shop under the apartment complex? There."
"You buy it there every year, don't you?"
Aha.
They must have overheard two boys sitting there like wilted spinach, discussing the exact same topics as them.
If I saw two elementary school kids sitting at the next table drinking grain lattes and saying……
‘Do you think recruitment for new students will go well this year?’
‘I don't know. Not sure if we can fill the quota.’
……I would have stared, too.
"……Should we go buy some songpyeon too?"
"I’d like that."
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I cleared our table with Ju-woo and crept out of the cafe.
Since the early birds had already finished their shopping, there wasn't much songpyeon left, but Ju-woo and I managed to secure some.
After enjoying the pancakes and rice cakes, we headed to the Han River at 10 PM to atone for the sin of eating songpyeon—where just five pieces equal the calories of a bowl of rice.
If you eat, you have to run.
Since the gym was closed for the holidays, running at the Han River was our only option.
As I was warming up, prepared to run for about two hours, a phone rang. Ju-woo pulled his personal phone, which he’d received for the holiday, out of his pocket.
"Oh……."
Ju-woo froze after checking the screen.
"What is it? A telemarketer?"
"No. It’s a call from my aunt……. Hyung, do you mind if I take this……?"
"Why are you asking for my permission? Just take it!"
Making an elder wait on the phone. If it had been Department Head Nam, he would have rained down fire and brimstone the moment I picked up.
‘Assistant Manager Kim! Are you planning to boil that phone for soup?! Why didn't you pick up immediately?!’
‘What were you doing instead of answering, Assistant Manager Kim? What if I was calling about something incredibly important?!’
……I’d heard those words more than once or twice.
And the thing was, none of those calls were even for work. The reasons varied, but I didn't even want to recall them.
I nagged Ju-woo, asking what he was doing not answering the phone already.
Unable to resist my prodding, Ju-woo answered the call with a hesitant expression.