The Mercedes-Benz Promise
Park Taemin pulled out of the mart in his car and headed home. His family's place was an old public apartment they'd rented ages ago. He parked in the lot and called his sister.
"Hey, it's your bro. You home? We're short-handed, so come down for a sec?"
A moment later, his younger sister, Park So-eun, came down.
"Oppa."
"Yeah, long time no see. Let's grab this stuff first."
"Heh, what's all this? And what's with this car?"
"I'll tell you later. Let's head up for now."
Taemin and So-eun hauled the groceries up to the apartment. As he opened the front door, the familiar scent of home welcomed him back.
"Baek Eun-sook, your son's home!"
He joked as he stepped inside, and Baek Eun-sook, midway through cooking, rushed out in a flash.
"Oh my, my boy. How many years has it been? Look how skinny you've gotten. Your face is all worn out... Wait, what's all this?"
She trailed off, her eyes landing on the boxes and bags Taemin was carrying.
"Couldn't come empty-handed after so long... haha."
Taemin laughed sheepishly, but she looked at him with worried eyes.
"Where'd you get the money for all this fancy stuff? We're doing just fine. Save that cash for yourself. You've gotta get married someday."
Sensing the start of her classic mom nagging, Taemin quickly changed the subject.
"Eh, I could afford it. I'm making good money, seriously. No lie. Anyway... where's Dad?"
"Your father's still at work. You eaten? Want me to fix something?"
"Nah, I ate at the rest stop. Where should I put this? Gotta make another trip down."
Taemin set down the box of premium Hanwoo beef and headed back downstairs with So-eun. After fetching the highlight items like the dried yellow croaker set and liquor, he slipped into his old room to dodge more nagging.
He always felt it on visits, but not a speck of dust anywhere. Desk, bed, even the books on the shelf—all exactly as he'd left them.
"This room hasn't changed a bit."
Lying back on the bed, a cozy warmth brought back floods of old memories. Lulled by that long-missed comfort, Taemin drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
He woke from a short nap to evening light.
"Dad's home, Taemin."
The family gathered around the table for the first time in ages. Just sharing a meal, yet it filled him with an inexplicable warmth—the kind he hadn't noticed before.
After dinner, they sat in the living room, chatting and laughing about everything they'd missed.
The hot topic was Taemin's job.
"You became a hunter?"
"Yeah. No more money worries for you guys. I'll cover So-eun's tuition and living expenses, all of it."
His family was skeptical at first about him being a hunter. But when he vanished and reappeared right in front of them, they had no choice but to believe.
While So-eun watched with wide-eyed wonder at the supernatural display, his parents' faces were etched with concern.
"Isn't it dangerous? I heard lots of people die..."
"Nah, not that risky. Y'know, some hunters do the dangerous stuff, but others like me just handle safe jobs. I'm basically on-site investigator—no real danger."
Not wanting to worry them, Taemin brushed it off vaguely, reassuring the family.
The conversation stretched late into the night.
Taemin fell asleep past midnight and rose early the next morning for the ancestral rites. After a breakfast of ritual food, he headed to Grandma's with the family.
After exchanging greetings with relatives, he slipped out that evening to meet friends downtown.
Back in the day, he'd have stayed home quietly, avoiding comparisons, and just gone back up. But as a hunter now, he had the material and mental leeway—no need to dodge.
Entering the pub where they'd planned to meet, his old best buddy Jun-seok greeted him warmly.
"Come on in! Yo, Taemin's here!"
He hadn't shown up to these gatherings in years, so his friends were surprised but welcomed him enthusiastically.
"Damn, Park Taemin. What've you been up to?"
"Let's keep in touch more, man."
"Hey, it's been forever—let's go till we drop tonight."
At the table with old friends, regret washed over Taemin: Why didn't we hang out like this sooner? No awkwardness at all; it was just like the old days, goofing off without a care.
They bar-hopped through round three, and Taemin finally made it home past dawn.
On the last day of Chuseok break, pondering how to make it meaningful, Taemin spotted his mom's handbag by chance.
It was frayed everywhere—clearly beat-up.
Seeing it tugged at his heart. Resolving something, he headed to So-eun's room.
"So-eun-ah."
"Yeah?"
"Got nothing to do? Wanna hit the department store with oppa?"
"Why the department store?"
"Just wanna get gifts for Mom and Dad, and something for you too."
"For real? You'll buy me something? What?"
"Name it. I'll get you anything."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Get ready and meet me at the car."
Taemin picked up So-eun and drove to the city's top department store.
On the way:
"Oppa, this car's expensive, right?"
"What, you young kids don't know cars? This one's cheap. Gotta get a better one later."
"Oppa, I still can't believe you're a hunter."
"Me neither, sometimes."
At the department store, Taemin and So-eun beelined for the luxury section.
Riding the escalator, they chatted animatedly about gifts.
"You know Mom's style, right? I suck at women's bags. That Chanel or Hermès stuff? Something fancy enough to make people jealous at weddings or parties."
"Expensive doesn't always mean better. It has to suit her."
"True. Let's check 'em all out then."
Following So-eun's lead, Taemin browsed around. They ended up at the Burberry store—his mom Baek Eun-sook's favorite brand from her youth.
After scrutinizing options, So-eun held up a stylish check-pattern shoulder bag and a sleek toad bag.
"Oppa, which one's better for Mom?"
"Hm. Both look good? I don't know bags."
"Tough call. They both suit her so well..."
"Then get both."
"The price, though..."
"How much?"
"Six hundred thirty for both."
"Buy 'em. It's fine."
"For real? Both?"
"Compared to all she's been through, six hundred thirty's nothing. Just the rent I've eaten up over the years..."
And so Taemin and So-eun walked out with two bags.
While at it, he grabbed shoes for Dad too. On the way down, he noticed So-eun eyeing the Gucci store.
"So-eun, want a bag too?"
"Huh?"
"Pick anything you've always wanted. Late enrollment gift."
"Oppa, aren't you spending too much?"
"Couldn't when I had none. Gotta splurge now. And it earns back anyway—no big deal for me. Forget price; get what you really want."
"Really? You're buying? For real?"
"Yeah, go for it."
After getting his sister a bag too, Taemin left the store.
"Mom might flip if she finds out. When I head back to Seoul, hold onto it and give it to her later. She was gonna return the gift sets—make sure she doesn't with these."
"Got it."
On the drive home:
Hm. The shoes feel kinda lacking on their own...
Taemin second-guessed just getting Dad one pair of shoes.
Should've gotten a watch too.
The next day, geared up to return to Seoul, Taemin said goodbyes.
"Mom, I'm off. I'll send living expenses and stuff monthly—live easy now. So-eun, listen to Mom and study hard."
"Don't worry. I'll study hard and repay you guys."
"Good. And..."
He paused, looking at his dad.
"Dad, quick stop on the way—come with."
Taemin led his father out of the apartment.
"Where we headed?"
Park Cheol-min couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"I gave you guys so much grief as a kid, never properly filial. Remember what I said before leaving home?"
"Before you left? Hmm."
"If I made it big, I'd buy you a car. A nice one. Keeping that promise—off to check some out."
"A car? No need. Mine's fine."
"C'mon, that's ancient. At least twenty years old... Just take it this time. Your son's loaded."
At Taemin's words, Cheol-min looked apologetic.
"Save that for your wedding. We couldn't help you. I'll just take your heart."
"Dad... A car gift leaves plenty left. Don't worry."
Cheol-min stubbornly tried to bail, but Taemin's persistence dragged him to the dealership.
The Mercedes-Benz sign and towering three-pointed star emblem made Cheol-min gawk at his son.
"Taemin, you're not seriously going in here, right?"
"Why not? You've always said Benz is the best—that star."
"Sure, back in my day, only chairmen drove 'em."
"Still love Benz?"
"Well, yeah... But on my budget, an import?"
"C'mon, let's go in."
"This is..."
Pulled inside by Taemin, Cheol-min inspected the cars closely under the staff's guidance.
Intimidating spot, but sitting in, gripping the wheel—his heart raced.
"Dad, which one's your style? Don't think price."
"Dunno... They all look great."
"Hm. For Benz, gotta be S-Class, right?"
Taemin picked the priciest; Cheol-min waved it off.
"No, too big—uncomfortable. Something smaller..."
"Then E-Class. Others seem too sporty for your age. Perfect for family rides."
"Looks good, but can I really accept this?"
"Totally fine. Son buying dad a car—big deal? This one. Yeah? Gotta head out now."
With Dad hesitating, Taemin went ahead with the dealer.
"E300."
"Gas or diesel?"
"Gasoline. Diesel's noisy."
"Modern sedans aren't that bad, sir."
"Still, gasoline."
The deal wrapped smoothly—cash full payment, minimal paperwork.
"Ready in two weeks."
"Thanks. See it through."
Outside, Taemin turned to Cheol-min.
"No pressure—it's done. Gotta drive it now. Payment's final..."
"Whew. What luck. I'll treasure it. But kinda worried—your mom's gonna freak."
Even as he spoke, Cheol-min's face beamed.
How could he not be thrilled? A car he'd maybe never ride in, gifted by his son.
Taemin dropped Dad off and headed to his Seoul place.
On the way up, pride swelled—he could barely contain himself.
Imagining his parents envied, respected—it filled his chest.
Next up: a house. Earn big, get 'em a mansion. Nothing to envy anywhere.