We arrived at a Chinese cuisine specialty restaurant in Nam-dong.
"Everyone has worked hard. Now that all three of you are going to Seoul, it will be very quiet for us. Don't get into trouble in Seoul. I can't bail you out there. Got it, all three of you?"
Starting with Mr. Park, the father of Hyun-seong, Mr. Myeong-su's father continued.
"It's fortunate that you've pulled yourselves together. Who would have thought you'd get into Hanguk University? Hyun-seong even started sports again and got accepted into Hanguk Sports University. I believe you'll do well on your own, but now you're adults. From now on, you must take responsibility for yourselves, not your parents. Remember that."
"Yes, Father."
The food we ordered came out. An uninvited guest, Dong-soo, spoke loudly.
"I'll treat today. Go ahead and eat."
"......"
Everyone looked at him without answering.
"Hahaha, there's no need to look at me like that. Mr. Park and Mr. Lee, you know me, right? I came to congratulate them because I owe something to Mu-hyuk. Don't give me that look. I try not to harm ordinary people, even if I'm a gangster, Mr. Park knows that best, right? Isn't that so?"
Then Hyun-seong's father sighed deeply.
"Right, since it's come to this, I'll let it go. I don't know what happened with Mu-hyuk, but you're a different kind of kid. Understand?"
"Ah! Mr. Park, I understand. Don't worry. He's like a little brother to me."
"Mr. Park, I'll treat."
"Ah, Mr. Lee, I'll treat."
Amid the bickering adults, Myeong-su, Hyun-seong, and I ate silently.
Before long, the adults, swept up in the graduation atmosphere, began to share stories from their childhood, lost in nostalgia.
When the mood was just right, Dong-soo approached me and whispered.
"Hmm, I didn't know Mr. Park would be here. Damn, that guy is the Grim Reaper for gangsters."
"Hahaha, are you scared, Uncle? I'm disappointed."
"Hey, hey! To guys like us, the police are the Grim Reaper, and the prosecutor is God. Don't you know that?"
Dong-soo was putting on a show.
The meal ended in a warm atmosphere, and we parted ways, promising to meet again.
Dong-soo followed me and Grandma.
After bringing Grandma inside, we talked at the playground in front of the house.
"Really, why did you come to the graduation ceremony?"
"I had to come to the graduation ceremony. Yeah, that's it. I have something to say too."
"What is it?"
Dong-soo sighed deeply.
"Why is it so complicated when you try to start a company? There are no educated people around, so nothing progresses. Is there anyone with a good head who can be trusted?"
"Have you considered a lawyer?"
"Ha, damn. The guys who used to call me quickly when I had criminal cases all waved me off when I suggested working together. They're all scared. And it's obvious that I have to walk the line between legality and illegality. I need someone I can trust."
Well, I have to handle dirty work too. How many lawyers would want to clean up after gangsters, not to mention a large corporation?
At that moment, someone came to mind.
"That... Look for a guy named Sang-geun near Busan Station. He's a lawyer, and if you pay him enough, he'll do anything."
"Sang-geun?"
"Yes. He's a unique person, but he can be trusted. He's a good fighter, better than most gangsters. He's not famous yet, but he'll be expensive later. Make him your guy now while he's cheap. He'll be a big help later."
"Really?"
I nodded at Dong-soo, who seemed quite interested.
"He's a lawyer with a unique background. He used to be a police officer and then passed the bar exam. Anyway, go see him."
"Ha, look at this. I asked Dong-sang, and he gave me a perfect answer. How could I not come? Isn't that right?"
Dong-soo chuckled.
"...... Uncle, you really shouldn't come looking for me like this after I go to Seoul. Understand?"
"Ah, you brat! I understand. Sang-geun... Sang-geun..."
Dong-soo repeated Sang-geun's name a few times.
I got up, thinking the conversation was over.
"Hey? Already leaving?"
"There's nothing else to talk about."
"Hey, damn brat. You have no feelings."
"Next time I come to Seoul, I'll leave my contact information. Call me there. If you really can't solve it with your own abilities, then come find me. But don't call just to check in."
"Really? Can't I just call?"
"...... What are we, friends?"
Surely not, right?
It can't be.
Dong-soo laughed, seeing my expression.
"Hahaha! You're a funny kid. I understand. Do well in Seoul, and when you take over Busan, give me a call. Ah! Don't do drugs, really."
"Yes, don't do drugs. If you ignore my advice and get involved in drug sales or smuggling... then our connection ends there."
"Ouch! You're a scary kid. More scary than I am. Don't worry. But I don't know if my son will listen."
"Handle it yourself. I'm leaving now. Grandma must be waiting."
I turned without waiting for an answer.
Dong-soo spoke from behind me.
"You have no feelings, but you take good care of your grandma. Go in. When you're in Seoul, I'll take care of her. I'll make sure no weirdos bother her."
Before entering the front door, I waved at Dong-soo.
The day before I was to move to Seoul.
I sat in the living room with Grandma.
"Grandma, I'll come often. Whenever I have time, during holidays and weekends, I'll come back."
"Don't worry. You don't have to come often. It's a waste of time to come back just to do something. Come during holidays and vacations."
"I want to see you, Grandma."
"My child, you've really grown up. When did you become so big?"
Suddenly, I remembered my childhood.
The beginning of my childhood memories was...
"Grandma, I miss Mom and Dad! Why don't I have a mom and dad?"
"...... They're busy. Is there anything you want to eat?"
"AAAAH! Mom! Dad!"
Grandma, who was trying to comfort me as I cried and threw a tantrum, was also in tears.
The next memory.
"Grandma, all the kids come to school holding their parents' hands. Why don't our parents come?"
"...... I'm here for you."
"But still, I miss Mom and Dad."
The next one.
"Mu-hyuk! My child, Mu-hyuk!"
"Hey, Grandma. Let us see our son's face. How could you let him get into this state? What are you going to do about it?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"No, it's sad that he shows signs of not having parents. Educate him properly, okay?"
"Yes, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
No one listened to me.
The teacher only scolded Grandma and me.
I couldn't understand at such a young age.
On the way home.
"Grandma, did I do something wrong?"
"No, my Mu-hyuk didn't do anything wrong. But no matter how much you hate someone, you shouldn't hit them. Understand?"
"Why! He called me an orphan first!"
"...... I'm sorry, Mu-hyuk."
"Ah, it's fine! Don't say sorry."
That day, I ran away from home for the first time.
Although it was only three days, Grandma said she searched for me frantically around the neighborhood until I came back.
By then, no one at school dared to mess with me.
No one called me an orphan or a beggar's kid.
No one.
If I didn't like something, I fought. And I fought again.
From then on, I was called a mad dog.
After entering middle school, except for the first few, no one talked to me.
They tried to pick fights, but after a few dogfights with the troublemakers, no one approached me anymore.
That's when I met Myeong-su.
A small kid, probably one of the smallest in the class, but from his clothes and the money he carried, he came from a wealthy family.
"Are you Mu-hyuk? I'm Myeong-su. Let's be friends."
I thought he was crazy and ignored him.
From then on, Myeong-su, who became a target for the school bullies, was often beaten and had his money stolen.
He probably wanted to use me to make his school life easier. When I ignored him, he became a target.
One day, while I was sleeping with my head on the desk, I woke up to a loud noise.
"Hey, dwarf. Is this all you have?"
"Uh, sorry. It's hard to bring more. Just this time."
"Look at this kid. Are his parents scary, but we're not?"
"......"
"Isn't it true that you want to hit him if he doesn't give you money?"
"...... I'll bring more tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is tomorrow, and today is today."
Myeong-su's cries to stop, while crying...
Overlapped with my own young self, shouting at the kids who teased me for not having parents.
"Thank you. It's noisy."
The bullies who were beating Myeong-su turned to look at me.
"What did you say?"
"Are your ears blocked? Say thank you. It's noisy. Why do you keep coming to our class and causing trouble? Go away."
"Is this kid crazy? Hey, do you want to die?"
"Hey, stop. What's the point of dealing with a mad dog? Let's just go. He said he'll bring money tomorrow."
While others tried to calm them down, there's always one guy who won't back down.
"Let go! I'll beat the hell out of you. Hey, Kim Mu-hyuk. Do you know why we leave you alone? We leave you alone because you're quiet. But what? You want us to leave? Do you really want to die?"
"What you think of me doesn't matter. Go play your gangster games in your own class and leave, damn it!"
That day, I fought with the school bully. During the fight, I was beaten and eventually fell.
But the next day, and the day after that. I kept sticking to them like a mad dog.
One by one, sometimes two at a time, sometimes ten. I won some fights and lost others.
In the end, the bullies gave up.
"Hey, let's stop. We were wrong."
"Don't touch the kids in my class. Got it? And damn, do you always gang up on people instead of fighting one-on-one? That's why you're bullies."
Grandma cried every day when I came home injured from fights.
I hated seeing her cry.
After that, Myeong-su and Hyun-seong, who transferred later, always stuck together, causing trouble. We fought with kids who picked fights and ended up at the police station a few times.
And... because of my constant troublemaking, Grandma, who was already suffering, died suddenly and pointlessly.
I lost my last remaining family member without doing anything.
My vision blurred. I blinked a few times.
I saw Grandma's face, holding my hand tightly.
Grandma is alive.
Our Grandma, who only knew me.
Our Grandma, who was more hurt than me when her son died.
Our Grandma, who didn't have time to be hurt for me being alone.
"I love you, Grandma."
That day, I fell asleep in Grandma's arms.
I slept soundly without any thoughts for the first time in a long while.
The next day.
When I woke up, Grandma had prepared a lot of food.
"Why did you make so much?"
"My child, once you're in Seoul, I won't be able to cook for you. I made all your favorites. Eat up."
"Okay."
Soon, the car sent from Pyeongchang-dong arrived in front of the house.
With the car engine running, I hugged Grandma.
"Grandma, I'll come often."
"Go on."
"I'll call often."
"Okay, okay."
Grandma patted my back.
"Take care of yourself and eat well. Got it?"
"Okay, you eat well too."
"Okay."
Myeong-su and Hyun-seong, who had agreed to move to Seoul with me, arrived.
"Grandma! I'll come back with Mu-hyuk next time. Stay healthy."
"Grandma, stay healthy."
As we got in the car, it slowly started moving.
Grandma stood at the front door, watching the car we were in for a long time.