The Mansion
Hyeondo's house was a mansion.
The walls were so close to a castle you could feel it just looking at them.
"My dad was really obsessed with this place. Before he became a hunter, he had a terrible time getting a house of our own."
Choi Hyeondo's mother spoke with quiet pride.
“That must have been hard.”
Kim Taesu looked away, suddenly uncomfortable.
But the moment we stepped inside, the overgrown bushes, the neglected pond and swimming pool, the eerie, wind-bent trees...
“Wow, right? The land is ten thousand pyeong. Five soccer fields. After Dad passed away, there was almost no income, so the place was never properly cared for. Just to keep this running, you'd need several thousand in wages every month.”
Choi Hyeondo's mother smiled softly.
“It was a huge property, but it turned into a maintenance nightmare after he was gone.”
We walked through the gates and stopped in front of the enormous house.
Ite ivy had swallowed half the walls, and the windows were almost completely hidden.
“This is the place that once had everything?” I asked, my voice quiet.
“It looks more like an abandoned museum.” Taesu-hyung muttered.
We both stood there staring, completely at a loss for words.
“This is the last memory I have of visiting a friend's family home.” I thought, the words floating through my mind.
It had been years since high school. The feeling hit me all over again.
At the entrance, a fountain statue was completely covered in bright green moss.
It gave me the creeps, but I didn't want to say anything.
Just then the front door opened and Choi Hyeondo's mother stepped out.
“Mom!”
Hyeondo jumped out of the car and ran over, then turned to us with a bright smile.
“Hello! Mom, this is my friend Lee Doosik and his friend Kim Taesu. They’re hunters too.”
“It's so nice to meet you! I've heard so much about you from Hyeondo. He said you were coming from far away, so you must be exhausted. Please come inside and eat something.”
She welcomed us with a warm, genuine smile.
Hyeondo pushed us along. “Hurry up, oppa! Mom's been waiting!”
We stepped into the mansion and the warmth inside hit us.
‘It's been so long since I visited a friend's family home...’ I thought again.
Ten years had passed, yet the feeling was brand new.
“I'm Kim Taesu.”
“Mom, I'm Lee Doosik.”
“Thank you for coming all this way. It must have been tiring.”
Unlike the wild garden outside, the house was surprisingly clean.
Right then, the rich scent of soybean stew drifted past my nose.
My stomach growled loudly.
“I prepared dinner. You don't have to take your shoes off. There's a lot of dust in the house.”
“Ah, but—”
“It's fine, really. Just treat it like your own house.”
“The shoe rack is huge. All the old shoes I used to wear are still here. Here, put these slippers on. They should fit.”
“Thanks.”
The awkward silence felt strange, but Hyeondo kept trying to fill it.
“It fits perfectly.”
“Come on, guys, hurry up. I'm starving.”
We followed Hyeondo into the dining room.
“Wow...”
“I haven't had guests in ages, so I didn't make much... but—”
“Not much? Mom, you'll faint!”
We sat at the table piled high with dishes.
Soybean stew, grilled mackerel, LA ribs, japchae, egg rolls, kimchi, radish kimchi, seaweed stem, fresh sea lettuce, potatoes, lotus root, doenjang, spinach, fern, bean sprouts, and soybeans...
White rice steamed with fragrant steam rose from the center.
“Did Mom make all of this?” I asked in amazement.
“I do the housework, but the house is so big... it's a lot.”
“Thank you so much. I haven't eaten in days.”
“Please, eat up. There's nothing fancy, but—”
“Hyeondo, I’ll feed you your favorite.” I teased, poking his side.
“Mom, thank you. How have you been?”
“I'm fine. How's my son? Any injuries?”
She gently patted Hyeondo's head, checking every inch of him.
“Look, there's a wound here. Why did you get hurt?”
“That was just from catching a leech. It's nothing.”
“I see... well, still, be careful. And eat properly.”
I felt my eyes sting as I watched them.
“Mom...”
I scooped up a huge bite of rice and put it in my mouth.
The soybean stew smelled amazing.
The table was full of food.
“This soy sauce crab is incredible!” I laughed.
“Haha, even the police would be jealous.” Taesu-hyung joked.
‘Doosik, if Mom's not here, you have to eat well. If there's nothing, order something. Okay?’
“The egg rolls are delicious too.” I said with my mouth full.
“Hey, Doosik-ah, happy birthday!” Taesu-hyung suddenly cheered.
Tears suddenly welled up.
‘Happy birthday, my dear Mom! Happy birthday!’
‘Doosik...’
‘Mom, time to blow out the candles.’
‘Thank you, my son.’
Suddenly, the memory of her birthday came rushing back.
I had clumsily made egg rolls, wrapped gimbap, baked the store-bought ribs, and even boiled seaweed soup.
That was the night I prepared her birthday dinner.
“The taste of the ribs is exactly the same...”
I sniffed hard.
“It’s so good, Mom. Wow, there’s so much food...” I laughed through the tears.
“Hyung, are you okay?” Taesu-hyung asked.
“No, it’s just really hot. Haha, I’m fine.”
My mother had cried when she saw the birthday meal I prepared that day.
She was so happy...
“I should make her a birthday dinner more often.” I regretted it now.
“Why am I crying like this?”
Tears kept falling no matter how hard I tried.
“I’m so embarrassed... I’m so embarrassed.”
“Doosik, eat more slowly. Why are you crying? I’m about to cry too.”
“I’m really sorry, Mom. Seeing you like this made me think of her all of a sudden... I ruined the mood.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay.”
Hyeondo’s mother even patted my head gently.
After taking a sip of water, I felt a little calmer.
The tears stopped, but my nose kept running.
I had no idea why my emotions were exploding so suddenly.
“I’m so embarrassed... I’m so embarrassed.”
After two bowls, the meal continued.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from the second-floor stairs.
“Oppa? You’re here already? Hello.”
“Whoa, Hyeondo has a sister?” Taesu-hyung asked.
“Yes. This is my sister Choi Hyeona. She’s studying at Seoul National University. This is Kim Taesu, and this is Lee Doosik-oppa.”
A girl in a pink pajama outfit appeared.
“Nice to meet you.” Taesu-hyung greeted her while eating.
“Hello. Nice to meet you.” I bowed politely.
“Hello? Puhu, that’s funny. Mom, eat too.”
She sat right next to me.
“She’s eating? She’s going to get fat if she keeps this up!” Taesu-hyung teased.
“Why are you leaving the food out like that?” I protested.
“You ate a lot earlier! She’s just being extra because she had three bowls already.”
“Mom, why did you say that all of a sudden? It’s embarrassing!” Hyeondo protested.
She really was adorable.
“But, mister, why were you crying?” she asked innocently.
“Me? I wasn’t crying. My eyes just hurt from the smoke.”
“Hyeona, eat your rice and stop teasing the oppa.” Hyeondo stepped in.
Just then, the auntie chimed in. “I’m sorry, she’s a bit headstrong.”
“It’s fine, really.” I waved it off.
“Let me guess. Is he an E-rank? No, C-rank? B?” Hyeona kept guessing.
“Hyeona, stop it. Sorry, my sister is a little... special. Our house is a total mess...”
“But I’m E-minus rank.” I answered calmly.
“Whoa, so you know how to catch E-minus code too?” she asked excitedly.
“E-mina~ ♬” she sang.
“Haha, you’re too funny. You really do look like a puppy.”
I laughed through my tears.
“After eating my fill, the food was still delicious.”
Chirrr~ Chirrr~ Chirrr~
On the second-floor terrace of Hyeondo’s house, Taesu-hyung and I leaned against the peeling railing.
“Luckier than I thought.” Taesu-hyung said.
“Yeah, it’s nice here.” I agreed.
The lights of Seoul glittered far in the distance.
Car lights streaked across the quiet road.
A cool breeze blew.
The mountains around the sea were beautiful too.
The terrace door opened and Hyeondo appeared carrying a pack of Korean beer cans.
“One drink?” he offered.
“Sure.” We clinked cans.
“Ah, this is good. Even if you’re a fugitive, it feels right.” Taesu-hyung smiled.
I smiled too.
“Why are you crying? It’s fine to cry sometimes.” I said quietly.
“You’re a crybaby.” He chuckled.
“Do you like Hyeondo’s sister?” he asked.
“I just met her today!” I protested.
“I saw her earlier. She was all pouty and sassy. Hyeondo, watch out. Your sister is eyeing that guy.” Taesu-hyung teased.
“Stop it!” I laughed.
“Hyeona likes you too, Doosik-oppa.” Hyeondo suddenly said.
“Really?” I asked, surprised.
“Look at his face. He’s blushing!” Taesu-hyung pointed.
“Haha, you’re terrible, Taesu-hyung!” I groaned.
“Hyeona has only been happy since she met you. Her dad was so smitten with his daughter. He loved her to death. I was always jealous of how pretty she was.” Hyeondo took another swig of beer.
“But after Dad passed, she took it hard. She stopped going to university. Now she’s even thinking of dropping out.”
“That’s rough...” I said.
“Dad was a really good man. Honest, kind to his family.” Hyeondo looked at the night sky.
“What was his name again?” Taesu-hyung suddenly asked.
“Choi Yeonja, Yeonja. Sounds familiar?” he asked.
Taesu-hyung took a long drink.
“...Choi Yeonja?” he repeated slowly.
“You know him?” Hyeondo’s eyes widened.
“Yeah...” Taesu-hyung muttered, then downed the rest of his beer.
“Haha, small world. Fate.” He laughed.
“You know Dad?” Hyeondo asked, surprised.
“I...” Taesu-hyung’s voice was soft.
The night air felt heavy.
“Let’s drink more,” I suggested, clinking our cans again.