Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Wandering by Candlelight
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It felt like groping my way through the darkness, relying on a single candle flame.
From a very young age.
My first memory began with my mother's tear-streaked face. Gently opening my eyes to the taps on my cheek from teardrops, I saw her face right there, eyes brimming with tears, stifling her sobs.
I was young, but I could tell right away that my mother was sad.
"Mom... are you crying?"
"No. I'm not crying."
A lie.
But I instinctively knew not to call her out on it, seeing her sniffle and barely hold back her tears.
All I could do was reach out and pat her cheek to comfort her.
"Did Dad come by?"
"Huh? Why do you think that?"
"You always cry when Dad visits. You've done it every time."
"......"
Something in my words silenced her. As a child, I had no idea what it was, but now I think I understand.
Stroking my hair gently, she said,
"Your dad is just too busy to come often. But he loves you so much, Ye-won. That's all you need to know, okay?"
"Yeah."
"Don't worry about a thing. Mom will handle everything. Our little Ye-won has nothing to fret over... Your dad... he's just swamped with work. That's why. Making money isn't easy..."
Her words trailed off into murmurs meant for no one in particular as she drifted off to sleep.
My early childhood was filled with that faint chill and an uncomfortable air.
Once I was old enough to understand a bit more, I started to grasp how things worked at home.
"It's the kid's birthday today!"
I held my breath, watching my mother's back as she yelled into the phone.
"How could you do this?! Have I ever complained about any other day? But it's the kid's birthday—you have to be here for that! You are her father!"
"......"
"Who doesn't know you're busy? What am I supposed to do? I already told her you'd come! ...Ha! So that's how it's gonna be. Fine. Go live it up with that woman!"
Bang!
I heard my mother kick the door in frustration.
"Oh my god, ma'am!"
Our housekeeper rushed from the kitchen amid the commotion to support her.
The whole scene felt like something straight out of a TV drama.
'Dad must think his anniversary with that woman is more important than my birthday.'
That was how I began to piece together the priorities, one by one. Was I sad? Eh, not really.
I'd never had much expectation from my father anyway. He sometimes spent my birthday with me and always brought gifts when he came.
But that was it.
'Even if he doesn't show up, he'll just send a gift.'
A massive gift package next to the cake caught my eye.
'Probably a toy from some popular kids' cartoon these days.'
What can I say? It was the kind of gift that showed no thought for the recipient's feelings or tastes. Just something ordered with instructions like, "Pick out a present a kid that age would like," and someone else bought it.
His affection was as shallow as a stream, the bottom completely visible.
So it wasn't something I desperately craved. What good would it do to throw a tantrum at the water's edge, barely wetting my ankles?
Impossible things were impossible from the start.
'I wish Mom would just accept that fact sooner.'
I plucked the strawberry from the center of the cake and popped it into my mouth.
'She's such an idiot.'
The massive Hyunmu painting hanging in the middle of the living room seemed to mock me. Feeling irritated for no reason, I hurled the cake at it.
Splat!
Only then did I feel a bit better.
The situation deteriorated smoothly.
'That woman's' son had barged right into our master bedroom.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
My mother clutched the back of her neck and collapsed, but my father was unyielding.
"What am I supposed to do? The kid's mom died. You want me to abandon him alone? Are you telling me to sever natural ties?"
"For whatever reason, I can't do it! I refuse to raise that brat like my own—no way in hell!"
"I'm not asking you to raise him, so relax. I'll hire a separate sitter to look after him. Just pretend you don't see him."
While their argument dragged on, I quietly met eyes with the boy.
"......"
"......"
He looked terrified. From what I heard, his situation was pretty pitiful too.
Though not as much as our mother, who was currently losing her mind.
"Ye-won."
"Yes."
I used formal speech with my father. Our relationship was light-years from warm and fuzzy.
"This boy will be your brother from now on."
He's older than me, too.
That's what I remember thinking. Did he meet that woman first, then marry Mom? Or did he marry Mom because she couldn't have kids?
Either way, it felt like I'd become the lead in some third-rate morning drama—not exactly pleasant.
"Our Ye-won, why the sour face?"
"Not feeling great."
"Why not?"
The reason was obvious: Mom would throw a fit from now on, ruining the house atmosphere. But I couldn't say that outright.
"......"
"Ye-won. You're upset because you feel like you're losing something."
"Yeah?"
"So answer me honestly when I ask. If you just sit there when you're at a loss, you'll only end up the fool."
"......"
It did make sense when he put it that way.
"Alright, let me ask again. Why are you upset?"
"......I just don't like having to share what I have from now on."
It felt like an invasion of my space. My father nodded, as if that was understandable.
"Then here's the deal. I'll increase your allowance to make up for your loss. You'll get more pocket money, and your brother gets a place to live. Win-win, right?"
"......"
Was it? I tilted my head. But before I could voice my doubt, he continued.
"But remember this: Normally, this doesn't happen. I compensated you this time, but when someone gains, someone else loses."
I see. I listened closely.
"To avoid losing out, you always have to keep your eyes wide open."
"Yes. I will."
As I nodded, my father instantly dropped his kindly smile and turned to Mom with a harsh tone.
"Ye-won says it's fine, so quit complaining."
"......"
I suddenly felt like a criminal, staring down at my fidgeting toes.
Something felt wrong.
But I couldn't pinpoint exactly what.
The family atmosphere had already shifted, as if Father's word made it decided: we'd accept this 'brother.'
It grated like chewing sand, bitter in my mouth. Yet everyone acted like it was nothing.
Even Mom sighed with a resigned expression. She could've demanded a divorce, but she never once did.
Come to think of it, it had always been like this.
Was it Father's fault? Sure, but wasn't it grounds for divorce? To me, it seemed terribly wrong.
'...Am I the weird one?'
That frustration began to sprout in my heart.
Gains and losses.
I came to believe the world consisted solely of those two. Hyunmu's teachings shaped me that way.
That's when I first saw him.
Just your average merchant running multiple franchise brands—or so he introduced himself. He reminded me of my father, and I was about to change the channel.
His beaming smile as he showcased a new recipe was so pure.
The warmth in his eyes watching the guest savor it made me gasp inwardly without realizing.
'Ah, so there are merchants with faces like that.'
It seemed utterly genuine—like he couldn't contain his love for the food.
I got drawn in before I knew it.
'I'm curious about this guy.'
It didn't take long to binge every TV show he'd been on.
'Amazing passion. He shares recipes without hesitation. Must be the result of his research—doesn't it hurt to give away?'
Even as I thought that, a smile crept onto my lips.
Lying back on my bed, I smiled faintly to myself.
'I want to be like him.'
It felt like stumbling through the dark by dim candlelight, only to meet the bright sun.
'Not like Dad. Even selling food, I can do it like this. Without hurting others, without trampling them down.'
For the first time,
I found the path forward.
And then, when he caught my despairing self once more and said,
"I'll make you that way."
His confident tone made me want to lean on those words.
"I'll help you."
Because it was you saying it, I felt I could trust it.
"Waaah!"
Tears gushed out, and I buried my face in his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.
***
Sniffle, sniffle.
She wiped her runny nose, so I handed her a tissue. Hyun Ye-won blinked her puffy eyes open narrowly, then quietly took it.
"Feeling better now?"
"Yeah."
Good.
My shoulder was soaked through—if she'd cried any more, I'd have needed a change of clothes.
"Alright, that's enough tears. You've got work tomorrow. Your eyes will be all swollen."
It might already be too late.
"Owner... I'll follow you forever..."
"Haha."
Even so, snatching away Hyunmu's granddaughter outright? Chairman Hyun Jeong-hoo wouldn't let that slide.
Well, she hadn't outright declared it, so I just patted her shoulder to soothe her.
I wondered if I'd have to offer my shoulder again when—
"...Hmph."
Huh?
Baek Jae-ha was tugging at the hem of my clothes. Was I imagining it? No, when I turned, she was gripping it without letting go.
I couldn't lean forward, stuck in an awkward half-bent pose, and Hyun Ye-won, who had been nestling in, opened her eyes curiously at the sudden absence of warmth.
"Jae-ha?"
Calling her name in confusion, she flinched, then glared sharply at Hyun Ye-won.
What the heck? What's with you?
"...No. Just... didn't want to tire you out, sis. She's heavy."
Huh?
At that, Hyun Ye-won narrowed her eyes too. The innocent doe eyes from moments ago vanished, replaced by sharp cat-like ones.
Zzzzt!
Their gazes clashed, and I swear I heard sparks fly.