Returning Home

Even though time had passed, the express bus terminal—the lifeblood of the people—was still bustling. It was crowded with people everywhere, each waiting to buy tickets or standing by for their own reasons. Unlike the peaceful scenery, I stood in front of a kiosk on one side, operating it with a look of utmost seriousness. "This... is this, and this is, hmm." I scanned the QR code for the ticket I’d reserved on my phone. Only when the ticket finally printed did I swallow a sigh of relief. As I turned around, I locked eyes with a disgruntled gaze that had been fixed on the back of my head the entire time I was using the kiosk. Perhaps it was because I was slightly annoyed by the irritation and hostility radiating toward me, but when the opponent flinched and lowered their eyes at the faint aura I’d let slip into my gaze, I swallowed a bitter feeling and stepped aside.

I thought I was fast, though... I realized why older people developed kiosk-phobia and ordering-anxiety. I still had a long way to go. Continuing my self-reflection, I checked my ticket. "15:20. Seat 15. Hmm, 15 minutes left." After tucking the ticket into my wallet, I looked around for a moment. It was an awkward time to eat anything, so I’d just buy a drink and some essentials at a convenience store. Oh, right. "Motion sickness medicine. I should go buy some, just in case." Remembering how I’d wished for some back there, I headed to the pharmacy. It was quite crowded.

"Please give me some digestive medicine here."

"My stomach has been feeling so stuffy lately..."

"Some Cheongsimhwan (vitality pill)..."

Why were there so many people at a pharmacy? I watched with curiosity, but since the other side, away from the one pharmacist, was empty, I stood there. The pharmacist responded with an annoyed face. "Ah, please line up over there for digestive medicine or Cheongsimhwan."

"No, that's fine. Just give me motion sickness medicine."

"Ah, yes. Just a moment."

When I asked the exhausted-looking pharmacist a few questions after they brought the medicine, they opened their mouth with a heavy sigh, as if they’d been waiting for someone to ask. "It’s already chaotic lately, just chaotic. Since the Aurora Shock, there are so many people with upset stomachs or anxiety. Ah, that’ll be 3,000 won."

"Yes, thank you for your hard work."

As I finished paying and walked out, I saw the crowd that made me doubt if this was a pharmacy or a marketplace. Aurora Shock. The moment I tucked the word into my memory, I tilted my head at a sense of déjà vu. Where have I heard that before? I pondered the information that felt familiar in my head, then shook it off, spent some time at the platform, boarded the bus that arrived, and took my seat. First, I took the recommended dose of motion sickness medicine and looked up that term on my phone. Various information and YouTube videos popped up. While searching, my eyes narrowed at a piece of information: Aurora in the night sky two weeks ago. Two weeks ago, of all times. As I confirmed my thoughts, I frowned at the memory of what happened that night. But it wasn't night when I arrived? As I agonized over it, a sense of discomfort rose up. It was like the annoyance of checking for toilet paper after doing your business, only to find it wasn't there.

It’s related to the Returnees, but it’s not because of the Returnees. Something... there’s definitely something there.

My intuition, rather than an analytical result, shouted that this was the answer. I thought about the information in reverse order. But no matter how much I worried, I couldn't find the answer. Since there was no proper information, I shook my head to clear the thoughts that were just making my head noisy, put my phone in my bag, and looked out the bus window. After waiting a few minutes, the bus departed. Not long after, I blinked at the sound of the radio, my eyes repeatedly closing and opening until they finally shut completely. This damn motion sickness doesn't even go away with medicine. I tried to hold onto my fading consciousness, but deciding there was no reason to hold on, I let it go and sank into sleep.

The clear pronunciation flowed into my ears, drifted out, and sounded like a lullaby, lulling me to sleep.

I woke up to the bus driver's announcement that we had arrived. I packed my bag, stumbled off the bus, and stretched as I walked toward the terminal entrance. "Ah-da-da-da," I let out an old man's exclamation and looked around. I gazed at the cozy scenery, a different atmosphere from the dense city of Seoul. I stood for a moment, watching the landscape I had only sketched in my head, filled with longing, now vividly unfolding before my eyes, before heading to the taxi stand.

"Yes, where shall I take you?"

"Ah, do you know the OO Raw Fish Restaurant near the small bridge in Jumunjin?"

"Ah~ yes, yes, haha. Did you come home for a visit?"

"Yes, I'm just stopping by home."

"OO Raw Fish Restaurant is famous, isn't it? The lady's cooking is skillful."

"Hahaha."

I gave a bashful laugh at the praise for my family. At the same time, the taxi started. Usually, I tended to go quietly in taxis, but perhaps because it was a hometown taxi? As I spent time chatting with the driver, I watched the scenery become more secluded than where the buildings were visible. Passing Ojukheon, Sacheon, and Yeongok on the way into Jumunjin, I muttered without realizing it.

"This neighborhood hasn't changed a bit."

"Hahaha! That's how the countryside is, right? Still, it's changed a lot compared to before, hasn't it?"

"I suppose so."

After paying and getting out of the car, I stopped for a moment to look at the parade of buses lined up at the dried fish shops, as expected of a tourist area. I chuckled at the intensity of the people grabbing passersby to sell even one more item, and the faces of the lively, curious tourists. In a spot without people, I took a Hanwoo beef set out of my inventory, held it heavy in both hands, and headed to the raw fish restaurant.

I stopped and looked at the familiar faces of the bustling restaurant visible from the entrance. I etched into my eyes the fierce battle of my older sisters, moving busily, answering, and shouting orders to customers who were clamoring for food and alcohol. Why did I turn away and feel ashamed of this before? I was watching my family navigate the battlefield when one of my sisters, who had a moment of respite, caught her breath and drank some water. Our eyes met.

Her eyes widened, she gulped down the water, and she approached me with a smile plastered on her face. "Mak-dung (youngest)!"

My eldest sister ran over, her tired face blooming with a bright smile. I quickly put down the gifts in both hands and hugged her as she threw herself at me.

"Long time no see, eldest sister."

"Wow, our youngest. Huh? What is this? Did you work out? Look at that body~"

"Ugh, what are you doing? Why are you poking and prodding?"

My eldest sister, who chuckled as if my bashfulness was cute, shouted inside. "Come in! Mom! The youngest is here!"

"Who? Shin-i? Son~!"

At my sister's shout, my mother appeared from behind the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She rushed over, massaged my arms, and brought her hands to my face. I bowed my head to make it easier for her, and as I felt that warmth touching my face, I bit my lip hard to swallow the emotions welling up and smiled.

"Anyone would think this was a reunion of separated families."

I grumbled out of embarrassment, but at my mother's narrowing gaze, I immediately lowered my tail, turned my eyes slightly, and lifted the meat I had placed on the floor.

"Forget that. Here. I bought some meat."

"Oh my, what is this? Hanwoo? Our son has grown up so much~? But why did you buy so much~? Huh?"

The latter part was filled with worry, but I smiled because I could feel my mother's genuine pleasure, filled with pride and joy.

"Sister, what are you doing! Is the sashimi for Room 4 going out? Did the youngest come? Huh? Why did you buy so much~? It must be heavy?"

Like mother, like daughter. I laughed out loud at my second sister's similar behavior, went inside, put the meat in the refrigerator, changed my clothes, and started helping.

"Oh my, son. You came to rest, why are you working? Go home and rest."

"It's fine. I'll help before I go."

"Will you?"

At my refusal to be refused, my mother's lips twitched with pleasure. Seeing her face brighten, eyes sparkling, I put on an apron and started helping at the restaurant. Carrying heavy things or raw fish inside, and helping with orders, I deeply felt why the number one job mercenaries choose after retirement is running a boarding house. The battle-like restaurant work continued until 10 PM. After the ingredients were all sold out and we closed for the day, I arrived at my hometown house. Before I could even reach out to open the gate, my father came out.

"You're here."

My father, with his indifferent face and tone—I hadn't known or seen it before, but I read the welcome hidden in that indifference. As I approached and hugged him,

"Why is this guy doing something he doesn't usually do? Huh? It's creepy."

He spoke bluntly, but he didn't push me away; instead, he patted my back with his rough hand. I stepped back, smiled, and said, "I'm home."

"Oh yeah. Right. I heard from your sisters and mom. You bought meat?"

"Yes. Let's go to the backyard and eat."

"Haha, all sorts of things happen. Let's go. Yeah."

When we went to the backyard, I smiled to see my brothers-in-law had already finished setting up the grill on the wooden deck and were waiting.

"Uncle~!"

"Uncl-ee!"

"Su-hyun! Tae-hyun!"

At the cuteness of the little ones who now reached my waist running over, I sat down and opened my arms, and they tucked right into them.

"Have you been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠well?"

"Yes! Su-hyun has~"

"Yeah! Tae-hyun has~"

As if they had a mountain of things to say after a few months, they were like baby birds, chattering incessantly in their lisping voices. When I lifted them both up, they giggled! and loved it. My eldest brother-in-law, who had approached at some point, said bluntly,

"You're here? Why was there no news?"

"Ah, I was busy."

My eldest brother-in-law, who nodded at that, took the meat my eldest sister was holding and brought ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it to the grill. "Wow~ who is this? Isn't it Kim Seong-shin, who didn't even have any contact?"

"Hahaha."

My second brother-in-law approached and patted my shoulder as if to rebuke me slightly. I laughed, but as I looked down at the feeling of someone pulling at my chest, I smiled at the cuteness hidden in the pouting faces of my nieces and nephews. Bustling. The sound of laughter filled with joy. In that comfort, where the last piece of the puzzle, different from the comforts of the modern world, clicked into place, I finally felt the roots that had been floating in the air settle into the ground. As I was lost in such sentiments and listening to the chattering of my nieces and nephews, a loud, exaggerated voice was directed at me.

"Wow~ Two-plus (grade)? Didn't you pull out the pillars (go broke) buying this, Seong-shin?"

"Ayy. What kind of pillars are we talking about for just some beef?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Hahaha, wow~ our brother-in-law is doing well? Huh? So, what did you do for 3 months?"

At the words that came out like a snake crossing a wall while praising me, I laughed loudly at the consideration of my family, who were pretending not to but were tilting their ears toward me, excluding the nieces and nephews, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and I spat out the excuse I had thought about for two weeks. You know I bought a house in Seoul, right? Looking at that, there was a legal issue— Hearing about the legal issue with the house I bought for the first time, my family frowned, and they were relieved at the conclusion that I had resolved it. My eldest brother-in-law showed heavy disappointment at my words. "If something like that happened, you should have told your brothers-in-law."

"Ayy. Forget it. I'm not a child, I should try doing things like this myself."

My eldest brother-in-law, who chuckled at my words, patted my shoulder and went back to the grill. I was about to get up after seeing that,

"Su-shin. Hurry up and come sit down. Your brother bought meat."

"...Yes."

As I turned my head, our youngest came out. With hunched shoulders and behavior of not making eye contact, he was the timid kid I saw when he had a hard time at school in the past. Only then did the memories come back vividly, and I approached him in one breath and put him in a headlock.

"Ah! It hurts!"

"You brat, you haven't seen your brother in a long time and you don't even say hello?"

"Ayy... it's only been 3 months."

I smiled at the grumbling kid and headed to my seat. Seeing my family showing some relief, I narrowed my eyes inwardly and pushed it to later, then sat him down and went to my eldest brother-in-law.

"Huh? Why. Do you need something?"

"No. I'll grill the meat, so you brothers-in-law sit down and eat."

"...."

My eldest brother-in-law, who opened his eyes wide at my words, stared at me blankly. I grinned at the surprise and the soon-to-be-admiring look in his eyes, snatched the tongs, and pushed him away. I grilled the meat, and a small but precious time followed where my family blossomed with happy laughter. It's two-plus, or maybe because I bought it, the meat melts in my mouth. My second brother-in-law joked. My father and mother wrapped ssam (wraps) for each other. My sisters took care of and fed the nieces and nephews, and the brothers-in-law took care of those sisters. I etched into my eyes the scene filled with harmony. I smiled deeply at the satisfaction that filled me as small things gathered one by one, and I grilled the meat. I glanced away and looked for a moment at the youngest, who was smiling faintly, but I turned my head, briefly frowned out of sight of my family, then relaxed and spent the time.