The Genius Grandson of the Loan Shark King - Chapter 16 (16/840)
< I love you, Grandma. >
#16
I love you, Grandma.
At the graduation ceremony, we'll go to a Chinese restaurant.
We arrived at a Chinese cuisine specialist in Nam-dong.
"You all have 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 cover for you there. Got it, all three of you?"
Starting with Mr. Park, the father of Hyun-seong, the father of Myeong-su continued.
"It's a relief that you've all pulled yourselves together. Who would have thought you'd get into Korea University? Hyun-seong even started sports again and got into Korea National Sport University. I trust you'll do well, but now you're adults. From now on, it's your responsibility, not your parents'. Don't forget that."
"Yes, Father."
The food we ordered came out. Park Dong-soo, who wasn't invited, spoke loudly.
"I'm treating everyone today. Go ahead and eat."
"......"
Everyone looked at him without answering.
"Hahaha. There's no need to look at me like that. Mr. Park, Mr. Lee, and I, you know, right? I came to congratulate because I owe something to Mu-hyuk. Don't give me that look. I, a gangster, try not to harm ordinary people, and Mr. Park knows that best, right? Isn't that so?"
Then Hyun-seong's father sighed deeply.
"Alright, since it's come to this, I'll let it go. I don't know what happened with Mu-hyuk, but you and he are different. Got it?"
"Ah! Sir, I know. Don't worry. He's like a little brother to me."
"Mr. Park, I can 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 ceremony atmosphere, began to share stories from their childhood, lost in nostalgia.
When the mood was just right, Park Dong-soo came over and whispered to me.
"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 us, the police are the Grim Reaper, and the prosecutor is God. Don't you know that?"
Park Dong-soo was putting on a show.
The meal ended in a warm atmosphere, and we parted ways, promising to meet again.
Park Dong-soo followed me and Grandma.
After bringing Grandma into the house, we talked at the playground in front of the house.
"Really, why did you come to the graduation ceremony?"
"You have to go to the graduation ceremony. Yeah, and I have something to say."
"What is it?"
Park Dong-soo sighed deeply.
"Why is it so complicated when you try to start a company? There are no smart 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 were eager to take criminal cases now all wave me off when I suggest working together. They're all scared. And it's obvious that I have to walk the line between illegal and legal, so I need someone I can trust."
Well, I have to handle dirty work too, and there aren't many lawyers willing to clean up after gangsters, not to mention it's not a big corporation.
Then, someone came to mind.
"That... Look for a guy named Lee Sang-geun near Busan Station. He's a lawyer who will do anything for enough money."
"Lee Sang-geun?"
"Yes. He's a unique person, but he can be trusted. He's a better fighter than most gangsters. He's not very famous now, but he'll be expensive later, so get him on your side now. He'll be a big help later."
"Really?"
I nodded at Park Dong-soo, who seemed quite interested.
"He's a lawyer with a unique background. He was a police officer and then passed the bar exam. Anyway, go see him."
"Ha, look at that. I asked Dong-sang, and I got a direct answer. How could I not come? Isn't that right?"
Park Dong-soo chuckled.
"...... Uncle, you really shouldn't come looking for me in Seoul. Understand?"
"Ah, you brat! Got it. Lee Sang-geun... "
Park Dong-soo repeated Lee Sang-geun's name a few times.
I got up, ready to end the conversation.
"Already leaving?"
"There's nothing else to talk about, is there?"
"Damn brat. You have no feelings."
"Next time I'm in Seoul, I'll leave my contact information. Call me there. If you really can't solve it with your abilities, then come find me. No casual calls, though."
"Really? Can't I just call?"
"...... What are we, friends?"
Surely not, right?
It can't be.
Park Dong-soo laughed loudly at my expression.
"Ha-ha-ha! You're a funny kid. Got it. Go well to 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 me and get involved in drug sales or smuggling... our connection ends there."
"Wow, you're scary. More scary than me, a gangster. Don't worry. But I don't know if my son will listen."
"Handle that yourself. I'm leaving now. Grandma is probably waiting."
I turned without waiting for a response.
Park Dong-soo said from behind.
"You, who have no feelings, take such good care of your grandma. Go in. When you're in Seoul, I'll take care of Grandma. I'll make sure no weirdos stick to her."
Before entering the house, I waved at Park Dong-soo.
The day before leaving for Seoul.
Grandma and I sat in the living room.
"Grandma, I'll come often. Whenever I have time, I'll come down."
"Don't worry. You don't have to come often. It's a waste of time to come down 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 get so big?"
Suddenly, I remembered my childhood.
The beginning of my childhood memories...
"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?"
"Ah! Mom! Dad!"
Grandma, who was comforting me for wanting to see my parents, was crying.
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 I miss Mom and Dad."
The next one.
"Mu-hyuk! My child, Mu-hyuk!"
"Hey, Grandma. Let me see our son's face. What did you do to his face? What are you going to do about it?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"No, it's not good to show that he's parentless. Teach him properly, okay?"
"Yes, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
No one listened to me.
The teacher only scolded me and Grandma.
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. Got it?"
"Why! He called me an orphan first!"
"...... I'm sorry, Mu-hyuk."
That's when it started. That's when I started to go astray.
"Mu-hyuk, Mu-hyuk. How did you end up like this?"
"Do you think I wanted to be like this? Why are you apologizing to others? Is it my fault for hitting the kids who called me an orphan and a beggar? And the teachers who always talk about fundraising in front of the kids and mention my name. I did it to survive."
"Mu-hyuk, Mu-hyuk. I'm sorry."
"Ah, stop it! Don't say sorry."
That day, I ran away from home for the first time.
It was only three days, but 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.
No one.
If I didn't like something, I fought. And I fought again.
That's when they started calling me a mad dog.
In middle school, except for the first few, no one talked to me.
They tried to pick fights, but after a few group fights, no one approached me.
That's when I met Myeong-su.
A small kid, probably one of the smallest in the class, but from a wealthy family based on his clothes and the money he carried.
"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 became a target for the school bullies, getting his money stolen and beaten up regularly.
He probably wanted to use me to make his school life easier. When I ignored him, he became a target.
One day, I woke up to a loud noise while sleeping with my head on the desk.
"Hey, midget. Is this all you have?"
"Uh, sorry. I can't bring more. Just this time."
"Look at this. You're scared of your parents, but not of us?"
"......"
"Isn't it true that you want to hit me if I don't give you money?"
"...... I'll bring more tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is tomorrow, and today is today."
Myeong-su's cries to stop, crying...
They overlapped with my young self, shouting at the kids who teased me for not having parents.
"Thank you. It's noisy."
The bullies who were hitting Myeong-su in the back of the classroom 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 a class that's not yours? Go away."
"Is this kid crazy? Hey, do you want to die?"
"Hey, stop. What's the point of dealing with a mad dog? Just go. He said he'll bring money tomorrow."
Others tried to stop the guy, but there's always one who acts up.
"Let go! Damn, I'll beat you. Hey, Kim Mu-hyuk. Do you know why we leave you alone? We leave you alone because you're quiet. But what? Go away? Do you really want to die?"
"Whatever you think of me, it doesn't matter. Go play your gangster games in your own class and go away!"
That day, I fought with the school bully. I got beaten and fell.
But the next day, and the day after, I kept sticking to them like a mad dog.
One by one, sometimes two at a time, sometimes ten. I won some and lost some.
Eventually, 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 think you're gangsters if you only fight in groups? That's why you're bullies."
Every time I came home beaten up from fights, Grandma cried.
I hated seeing her cry.
After that, Myeong-su and Hyun-seong, who transferred later, and I always hung out together, causing trouble. We fought with kids who picked fights and ended up at the police station a few times.
And then... Grandma, who was worried sick about me running around, 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, 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 deeply without any worries for the first time in a long time.
The next day.
When I woke up, Grandma had prepared a lot of food.
"Why did you make so much?"
"My child, I can't cook for you in Seoul. I made all your favorites. Eat up."
"Okay."
Soon, the car from Pyeongchang-dong arrived in front of the house.
I hugged Grandma, with the car waiting with the engine on.
"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 with Mu-hyuk next time. Stay healthy."
"Grandma, stay healthy."
As we got in the car, it slowly started moving.
Grandma stood at the entrance, watching the car we were in for a long time.