Ryu's House # 3
Ryu's House # 3
ㅡchatter chatter.
The whole walk over, Ryu was mercilessly harassed by his older sister and younger sister, an endless barrage of nagging.
They went on about how he brought a friend home and still shouted so loudly, wasn't he too violent, he already got a disciplinary punishment, why hasn't he fixed his personality. Watching it from the sidelines, I was just enjoying myself.
Honestly, maybe his personality got a little warped because of the family atmosphere. Maybe that incident when we first met—him kicking me—was just an outburst of all that rage.
"Actually, that disciplinary punishment was because of something that happened with me."
I told that story while we walked.
"Oh my, really?"
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Tch...!"
At my words, Ryu turned his head aside. I mean, it wasn't that big a deal. It was just a minor dispute.
I briefly explained we had a fight, then tacked on that we ended up friends.
"I mean, hey, that was the chance that led to us becoming friends. Kids fight and become friends, right? Heh heh heh."
"He has a point. Look, Cheon-hwi. Geun-cheol said it like that. Can't you say something similar, Cheon-hwi?"
"There is no reason to copy others!"
"Between friends, copying is fine."
Ryu was still bristling like a hedgehog.
"Still, I'm relieved. I'm glad you made up and became friends."
"Yeah. Kids fight and become friends all the time. Right, Cheon-hwi?"
"Heh heh heh, that's right. A-yeong gets it."
She's a sociable kid.
"Oh, and when Ryu gave me meal tickets to make up, that's when I knew. Ryu is actually a sweet guy."
"Hoo hoo hoo, he does have a soft side. Hey, Cheon-hwi. If you did something like that, you should've told me first. Why did you hide it?"
"Please be quiet...!"
ㅡshiver shiver.
I could hear Ryu trembling from over here.
Anyway.
Walking on, we arrived at the guest room. They said I'd be joining them for the meal, but preparations weren't quite done yet, so they told us to wait here.
So Ryu's sisters left to take care of other things, and I was left alone with Ryu in the guest room.
ㅡthud.
The moment the door closed.
"You bastard! Don't say it like you're enjoying it!"
Ryu glared at me and barked. Now that we were alone, he was making a fuss with his face all red.
"I mean, I actually am enjoying it? What can I do?"
But I'm enjoying it right now.
No, seriously, I'm enjoying it.
"What?"
"I'm enjoying getting to hang out at a friend's house."
"Who's your friend! Stop spouting nonsense! Me, friends with the likes of you...! This is the worst kind of disgrace!"
"What's a student talking about disgrace for? Just accept it, man. You and I are friends who can't shake each other off even if we tried."
"Guaaaaahhh!"
ㅡgrip!
Ryu grabbed his head and screamed.
"How did I end up with a bloody Taliban type like you...!"
"Think about the bond of the meal tickets and the cola."
"You're the only one who'd call that sort of thing a bond! Huff!"
Opening the fridge, Ryu chugged some cold water and then flopped onto the sofa.
"From now on, don't talk to me."
"Whoa. Man, I'm jealous of you, Ryu."
"Jealous of what...! No! Did you not hear me say don't talk to me!"
Ignoring Ryu's tantrum, I said my piece.
"You've got a pretty older sister like that, huh? And a cute younger sister. I'm so jealous, for real."
I'll admit it's a bit hard to say, but Ryu is decently good-looking, and genetics don't lie—his older sister was pretty good-looking too. I'd say her light blue hair suited her well.
Plus, his younger sister was super cute. Watching her grill Ryu in polite speech with that cute face was a sight to behold.
"Who's pretty! Fitting for a Taliban, your eyes must be crooked!"
"Crooked, my ass, man. She actually is pretty. Huh? So yeah, I'm really jealous. A pretty older sister and younger sister."
I'm jealous, seriously.
The moment I said that.
"I don't need them! You can take them if you want!"
"Heok!"
What the hell!
"What kind of insane nonsense are you spouting!"
Ryu, what bullshit!
"They're not pretty, they're a nuisance, and they're nothing but annoying. If I could give them away, I'd hand them to anyone!"
Ryu declared solemnly, arms crossed. No, this guy really, genuinely hates his older sister and younger sister. Is that for real? I'm an only child so I don't really know. I always thought having an older or younger sister would be nice.
"I thought you were close?"
"Does that look close! As I thought, you don't understand the definition of a friend!"
"No, but everyone seemed really warm toward each other."
"Unbelievable...!"
Ryu sighed in sheer disbelief.
"No, but looking at your older sister and younger sister, it clicks. Everyone's that warm, right?"
"What exactly are you trying to say? Are you planning to say I don't resemble them?"
"Nope. You're frigging nice as hell too."
"Th-that's—!"
At the word "nice," the guy was visibly flustered.
"The meal tickets and cola. You've still got them stored at home, right? So there was a reason the kid was warm. You do resemble them. You really do."
"Tch...!"
Truth is, I'd been thinking this since back then: this bastard talks violently but his inner self isn't twisted. He gave me meal tickets and bought me drinks. There's no way a guy like that is a bad person.
And he's not really saying anything even though I'm treating him like this. We're already in a state of being friends.
Well, while we were waiting like that.
ㅡcreak.
Someone came and announced.
"Young master. The meal preparations are complete."
"Alright."
Right away, I followed Ryu out.
"Father and Mother?"
"They are waiting."
Wait.
But am I seriously eating with Ryu's whole family? I mean, it was fun and all, but the thought of the parents too makes my back prickle with heat and I feel a little uncomfortable.
After all, I do have a history of cussing out Ryu's dad.
* * *
The dining room was exactly as grand as they say. There was a massive table, and at the far end sat Ryu's parents.
The person on the left was none other than Chairman Ryu Seong. Ryu's father and one of the top five Awakened in the Republic of Korea—literally an incredible superhuman. And the person next to him was Ryu's mother. Apparently she's a fairly strong Awakened herself.
"..."
And there I was, opposite them. Worse, I was seated right next to Ryu, enduring their gazes... No, please. Why is this so hard?
Now I understood how Ryu felt earlier. Eating with a friend's parents. Could there be a more awkward situation in the world?
"So our Cheon-hwi made a friend."
Chairman Ryu Seong spoke, his voice weighty.
"I can hardly believe it."
Ryu's mother chimed in.
ㅡ...
And then their gazes pinned me again. Ms. Ryu A-ra and Ryu A-yeong were just quietly eating at the sides of the table.
"What's this friend's name?"
His voice was heavy...
"Ah, yes. My name is Kim Geun-cheol."
"Kim Geun-cheol."
"Yes."
Is this guy going to call me Kim Geun-cheol too?
"You said you're our Cheon-hwi's friend."
"Yes. That's right."
No.
This isn't a joke at all, honestly. This Ryu Seong is a superhuman powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with the Chairwoman. He has that kind of spirit and presence. It's overwhelming, I'll say.
And not only is he powerful, he is also the chairman of a major corporation. This man is truly the ultimate form, you could say.
"Just how did you two become friends? I'm a bit curious. It's a little funny to say this in front of my son, but our Cheon-hwi has a bit of an odd side to him."
"Father...! An odd side!"
"See."
He is odd.
ㅡslyly.
Around that point, Ryu's mother shot Chairman Ryu Seong a look.
"Ah, let's eat first. Our friend Kim Geun-cheol? Eat plenty."
"Oh my, thank you. I'll eat well, then."
Well, they said eat, so I should eat.
I watched the adults pick up their spoons, then I picked up my chopsticks. The entire menu was Korean-style. You know, the kind of stuff you eat when you visit for ancestral rites.
Beef slices, grilled croaker, kimchi, ginseng chicken soup... there was even fruit set out—absolutely everything.
I tried the beef slices first.
"Hup...!"
Was this food always this good?! It jolted my senses! I immediately flaked the croaker and ate it, then practically inhaled the pan-fried pollack into my mouth.
"Chew slowly, slowly...!"
"No! Hey! Ryu! Why is your house's food so delicious! I never knew Korean food could be this good...!"
"Calm down! You starving beast!"
What am I supposed to do, it's delicious!
"Whoa. I'm normally a Western/Japanese/Chinese food kind of guy, but this is seriously too good. How is it this delicious?"
"Please. Can't you at least shut that mouth of yours while we eat?"
"Fine, fine. I'll eat quietly."
I used a few exclamation marks, but honestly I said it quietly.
Anyway, it was a little awkward, but once the food hit my mouth my mind started to settle. Yeah. This is exactly the warmth that flows between people.
Koreans have a sticky jeong, that bond that strengthens friendship when they serve you food like this. You can call it a truly beautiful culture. Even if people become superhumans, it doesn't change. Serving food to a guest is a culture that's common all over the global village.
"You eat well."
Chairman Ryu Seong said.
"Ah, yes. The food is really delicious."
I put down my spoon and chopsticks and answered.
"You know the academy cafeteria? I used to think that food was the most delicious in the world, but no. What I ate today is the best. Yes."
When I said that.
"Ho ho ho, is that so?"
Ryu's mother laughed.
Ah.
Could it be that Ryu's mother made this?
"Yes, it's too delicious. This, the croaker and the beef slices are the most delicious."
"Eat lots. Our Cheon-hwi brought home a friend with a good appetite. We'd been worried since he had no friends, so it's such a surprise. Don't you agree?"
"It sure is."
But watching him eat like this, Chairman Ryu Seong seemed surprisingly ordinary. He's a superhuman ranked among the top five in the Republic of Korea, and he's a major corporation chairman, but in the home, he's just a dad.
That's kind of novel.
Even now.
ㅡwhoooosh.
Mana was gusting around him. That's how immense and intense his mana is. He's a man who has smashed countless insanely strong monsters, so of course he's strong.
"Anyway, Cheon-hwi. I, your mother—"
"Please, stop talking about that sort of thing in front of my friend!"
Friend acknowledged.
"Hey. Ryu. You don't have to do that just because I'm here. I'm fine with it."
"I'm the one who's not fine!"
"I'm fine, so it's settled."
"You goddamn bastard!"
At that.
"Cheon-hwi! Who told you to swear at a friend!"
Cheon-hwi's mother got angry.
"No, that was—! It was just something I said...!"
"Apologize right now!"
"Kgh...!"
Is he really going to apologize?
"S-sorry...!"
But he doesn't look like someone who's apologizing.
"Oh my. It's fine, man. Why would I care about something like that."
Anyway, I picked up my spoon again.
"That aside. Our friend Kim Geun-cheol?"
"Ah, yes."
Ryu's father called me.
"Geun-cheol is also a cadet learning at the academy. Compared to our Cheon-hwi, what's your skill level?"
"Ah, I'm not that strong. I'm solidly mid-rank in the class."
Ryu is an insurmountable wall.
When I answered that, Chairman Ryu Seong tilted his head.
"Hmm."
Why?
"That Cheon-hwi, who refuses to acknowledge anyone but the strong, has a mid-ranked friend?"
Exactly.
