Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Bomi's Tears
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Sunday morning.
Lee Jun had been dragged out of bed early by Kwak Su-ho, who showed up unannounced at his house, and now found himself at the Hwangsung Intercity Bus Terminal against his will.
“Do we really have to come all the way out here for Hanwoo beef?”
“Hey now, what kind of talk is that? It’s been years since I last had it, so of course we have to eat it here in Hwangsung.”
“Then you could’ve come by yourself. Why drag me out here from the crack of dawn?”
“That’s because you’ve got no interests outside of treating patients. People need to take a break sometimes. You’ll burn out if you just work nonstop like this.”
“Well...”
Lee Jun fell silent at Kwak Su-ho’s words.
It was true that he’d been worn out lately from preparing to open his clinic and then jumping straight into back-to-back treatments.
He hadn’t wanted to come, but now that he was breathing the fresh air, he felt a bit more energized.
“Alright, let’s grab a bowl of gukbap nearby first, then head to the lakeside path. They say the scenery’s amazing.”
Lee Jun shook his head with a wry smile as he followed Kwak Su-ho, who was leading the way.
After polishing off their bowls of gukbap, they began a leisurely stroll along the lake path.
“Who’d have thought I’d end up in a place like this with a guy like you.”
“Pot calling the kettle black.”
The two walked a short distance apart on purpose.
“This is nice. It’s like stepping into a landscape painting.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Thanks.”
The fresh air had been refreshing enough earlier, but now, with the vast lake and lush green trees stretching out before them, he felt truly unburdened.
But that didn’t last.
After walking for over an hour, his legs started to ache.
A little while later, as if on cue, they both veered toward a nearby café.
They arrived at a spot-on outdoor café, its vibe perfectly matching the open-air setting, and took seats at an outdoor table.
“Didn’t even know a place like this existed.”
“That’s what I keep telling you—our country’s full of great spots.”
As the two sat sipping cool drinks and resting, an elderly couple entered the café’s garden area.
“Phew, let’s rest here a bit before we go on.”
“You okay, dear? Not too tired?”
“Heh heh, with my fair lady and precious princess here for this rare outing, I’m overflowing with energy.”
“Me too. It’s wonderful. Isn’t it, Spring?”
Lee Jun smiled lightly at the affectionate elderly couple.
Then came a cute voice, like glass marbles rolling across the floor.
[I love it too, Grandpa! So much!]
The voice brimmed with pure delight.
‘A dog?’
Lee Jun, who’d been admiring the view, turned his gaze.
A Somi-candy-white Bichon Frise was rubbing its head against the grandfather’s leg.
“Cute.”
Lee Jun smiled warmly again at the lively Bichon, but his eyes drifted to the elderly couple.
The grandmother was supporting the grandfather as they walked slowly.
The grandfather looked strained, furrowing his brow with every step.
What stood out even more was the Bichon’s behavior.
It stuck tight to the grandfather’s leg, as if it couldn’t bear to be even a step away.
‘He might step on the dog at this rate.’
Worrying without acting wasn’t Lee Jun’s style.
He stood from his seat and approached the couple.
“Excuse me, sir. Let me help you.”
“Heh heh, that’s alright.”
“It’s just a short way over there. Besides, my own grandmother had leg issues, so I used to carry her a lot. Don’t worry—just lean on me.”
“In that case, thank you.”
“Sure thing. By the way, your dog’s adorable. What’s its name?”
“Spring. It’s my treasure.”
The grandfather answered Lee Jun’s question with a happy smile.
“Is our table okay?”
“Heh heh, thank you. Thanks to these fine young gentlemen, I can walk comfortably.”
“No trouble at all.”
After seating the grandfather, Lee Jun and Kwak Su-ho returned to their own table.
But Lee Jun’s gaze lingered on the elderly couple and Spring.
‘Even if it loves its owner, that’s a bit much.’
A normal dog would be sniffing around or marking territory by now.
Yet Spring hadn’t left the grandfather’s side once—not since they entered the café, and not even now that he was seated.
‘Is something wrong?’
Even on this rare day off in Hwangsung, Lee Jun couldn’t help slipping into vet mode to observe Spring.
That’s when it happened.
“Cough.”
The grandfather started coughing, as if something ailed him.
And in sync with his coughs, Spring began to whimper.
[Grandpa!]
[No! You can’t go!]
[Don’t leave me behind!]
[Grandpa...!]
The coughs weren’t even that severe, but Spring’s reaction was overly intense.
Watching this, Lee Jun formed a hypothesis.
‘Separation anxiety?’
The way it clung to the grandfather without parting.
The extreme response to even a small cough.
It matched the symptoms of separation anxiety.
‘What to do...’
Tentatively diagnosing separation anxiety, Lee Jun pondered.
It was a psychological issue that required some training.
But it was hard to recommend treatment right away to strangers he’d just met.
Especially seeing the grandfather gaze at the tightly attached Spring with loving eyes—did it even need fixing?
‘Still, I should say something.’
Spotting the grandmother step away to order coffee, Lee Jun approached the grandfather.
“Grandpa, you okay? You were coughing earlier.”
“Oh, it’s the young men who helped before. I’m fine. It happens often, but it’s not serious.”
“It happens a lot?”
“Just a minor ailment. When you get old, something’s always breaking down, right?”
It didn’t sound minor at all, but the grandfather smiled casually as if it were nothing.
“I see...”
Unsure how to respond, Lee Jun trailed off before carefully broaching the main topic.
“By the way, Grandpa.”
“Yes?”
“Spring really loves you, huh.”
“Heh heh. That obvious?”
“Yeah. It hasn’t left your side for a second.”
“Heh heh...”
“So, I’m not certain, but... I’m worried Spring might have separation anxiety.”
The grandfather’s eyes widened at Lee Jun’s cautious words.
“Separation... what? Is our Spring sick?”
“Not sick exactly... Think of it as being extra sensitive to loneliness. That’s why it gets scared when separated from people. It’s not a real illness, so no need to worry.”
“Not sick? That’s a relief. Heh heh. And our Spring doesn’t have that separation thing.”
“Huh?”
“You think that because it won’t leave my side, right?”
“Yes. Spring’s behavior is way different from a normal dog’s.”
“Spring hasn’t always been like this.”
The grandfather looked at Lee Jun with a somewhat weary smile.
Then, stroking Spring tenderly, he continued.
“I have cancer. Stage 4 pancreatic.”
“...Pardon?”
He’d sensed it was serious, but not this bad.
Lee Jun felt unnecessarily apologetic.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything...”
“Heh heh, sorry for what? I’m the one who brought it up.”
The grandfather spoke slowly.
“Found out not long ago. I’d been feeling unusually tired and achy every day, so I went to the hospital. They diagnosed cancer.”
“That... must’ve been tough.”
“It’s fine. Everyone dies eventually. Don’t make that face.”
The grandfather paused from petting Spring to pat Lee Jun’s shoulder.
“You know what they say? Animals sense things people can’t. Seems Spring does too.”
“...”
“It knows I’m going soon, I guess. Right after I got back from the hospital, it started sticking to me like glue. Like it wants to spend every last moment together...”
“...I see.”
“Anyway, thanks for worrying. Vet doctor.”
“How did you know I’m a vet...?”
“Heh heh. I may be old, but I’m not senile. Anyone who looks at Spring with such loving concern has to be a vet.”
“...”
While Lee Jun and the grandfather talked, the grandmother was returning with warm tea.
“I’ve taken up too much of your time. I’ll head back now. Take care... of your health.”
“Thank you. Vet doctor.”
The grandfather saw Lee Jun off with that same warm smile to the end.
But to Lee Jun, that smile felt unbearably heavy.
As Lee Jun trudged dejectedly back to his seat,
The grandmother approached and asked the grandfather,
“What’d you talk about with that young man?”
“He said we look happy thanks to Spring. So I told him Spring’s our treasure.”
“That’s right. Spring is our treasure.”
The grandfather and grandmother smiled at each other, then looked at Spring with equal affection.
Spring wagged its tail at their gazes.
But somehow, a hint of sadness tinged that wag.
‘Can’t just leave it like this.’
Lee Jun called out to Kwak Su-ho, who was blankly sipping his coffee.
“Hey, Su-ho. You got your camera, right?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“One favor.”
***
A week after Lee Jun’s trip to Hwangsung.
He received word from the grandmother that the grandfather had passed away two days prior.
That very evening, he headed straight to Hwangsung.
“Thank you so much for coming all this way, when you only met us that once.”
“No, please. Was Grandpa... at peace?”
“He left smiling, with Spring by his side.”
“That’s... good.”
Lee Jun gave a bittersweet smile and pulled a small box from his pocket.
“What’s this...?”
“Remember when we met in Hwangsung? My friend took some video of you two and Spring.”
“Yes.”
“It’s that video.”
“Oh my...”
“I don’t know if it’ll comfort you, but... watch it sometime when you miss him. Grandpa’s smiling so happily in it.”
“Thank you... truly, thank you...”
Tears flowed anew from the grandmother’s eyes, which Lee Jun had thought were already cried dry.
He held her gently until she calmed, then continued.
“And when you watch it, show Spring too.”
“I will.”
“Thank you.”
Lee Jun gave the grandfather’s portrait photo one last look before slowly standing.
***
People cry when they’re sad.
But do dogs? Lee Jun was often asked.
Each time, he’d answered:
“Of course.”
Some didn’t believe him.
They’d never seen a dog cry from sadness.
But if they witnessed this scene, they might never say that again.
Awoo!
In a home in Hwangsung.
A Bichon watched joyful memories from the TV, tears streaming down its face.