#46

The child’s gaze was still fixed on the TV. Just as he was about to ask, “What?” he belatedly understood the meaning. He knew better than anyone the child’s feelings of looking straight ahead, fearing that a disappointing answer might come back from Tae-heun, and that he might not be able to hide his expression. Tae-heun had often felt the same way.

“Okay. Let’s do it together.”

Tae-heun replied firmly.

The child’s eyes sparkled as he turned to Tae-heun. His small body suddenly hugged Tae-heun tightly, and perhaps feeling shy, he dashed out of the room. Then he returned and shouted softly.

“Promise!”

It was a sound so small that the man couldn’t hear it, but it resonated deeply.

Tae-heun quickly stiffened his face, which had been smiling at the child. He regretted it immediately. He blamed himself for instilling hope in the child without any plan.

The man, oblivious to everything, had already taken out the iron and was sitting in the living room. He placed two shirts and the child’s uniform neatly on the living room floor. Even though the child’s favorite daily drama was in full swing, he went to the floor and sat next to the man.

“Did you finish your homework?”

The man asked.

“Of course.”

“The iron is hot, so sit a little farther away.”

“Yes.”

The child scooted his bottom back, creating a gap of about a hand’s width between him and the man.

“Father.”

“Yes?”

“Can we play jacks after you’re done ironing?”

“Sure.”

The man answered positively to whatever the child requested. After working all day, taking care of the child’s meals, cleaning, and doing laundry, he never once showed any sign of annoyance.

“Uncle! Can we play jacks together?”

The child shouted loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear.

“I don’t know how to play that.”

Tae-heun shouted back in response.

“Come on, you can learn. It’s easy.”

“Don’t bother the uncle. He must be tired.”

The man’s quiet voice could be heard trying to dissuade the child.

It wouldn’t be that farming was not tiring. The man, who must have been more exhausted than anyone, refusing to play jacks just because he didn’t know how felt somewhat lazy. Tae-heun suddenly stood up and went to the living room. The child waved his hands, letting out a silent scream. He was overjoyed. Tae-heun felt his mood lift as well.

Tae-heun settled down next to the man who was ironing. The man placed a shirt on the ironing board and skillfully pressed it. Every time the hot iron passed by, the sound of sizzling and the fabric smoothing out could be heard.

The child brought colorful jacks and placed them in front of Tae-heun.

“Watch me closely.”

Then he demonstrated. His small hands skillfully played with the jacks.

“Okay. Give it a try.”

The child passed the jacks to Tae-heun.

The jacks were very small. To exaggerate a little, they were the size of a bean. It was an absolutely advantageous game for the child. Picking up the tiny jacks with his large hands was no easy task. Every time Tae-heun dropped a jack, the child burst into laughter. The man, who was ironing, glanced over with a smile.

“Honestly, these jacks are too small. Isn’t this unfair to me?”

Tae-heun complained.

“Unfair? My dad is really good at it. Right, Dad?”

“Ki-beom is good at this? I can’t believe it.”

“Dad, hurry up and finish ironing so we can play together.”

The child urged.

“Ki-beom, let’s do that later and play together now.”

Tae-heun echoed the child’s words, urging the man.

The man just said he understood but didn’t stop his hands. While the man was ironing, Tae-heun made a bet with the child. The loser would get a flick on the forehead as a penalty.

“If you get flicked by the uncle, you’ll cry, right?”

“Say that after you win.”

The child was full of confidence.

The child won all six games. Each time he lost, Tae-heun would stick out his forehead, and the child would flick it without hesitation. For a little kid, his flicks were strong, but honestly, it was ticklish. Holding back laughter, Tae-heun pretended to be in pain, rolling on the floor in what could be called a Hollywood action scene.

“Are you crying, uncle?”

“I’m not crying.”

When he received the last flick, he pretended to sniffle and rubbed his forehead with his palm.

“Ji-hye, you have to be gentle.”

The man interjected with concern.

“Are you okay?”

He asked, putting down the iron and coming closer to Tae-heun.

He got close enough for their breaths to mingle. The man gently brushed aside the hair covering Tae-heun’s forehead with his large hand and examined the spot he had been flicked. He cautiously rubbed it with his thumb. It felt nice, as if he were being petted.

“Dad. Hurry up. Let’s go.”

The child urged them to play together.

Only after the man finished ironing and hung up the clothes did they finally play together.

The three of them sat in a circle around the jacks. They decided the order by playing rock-paper-scissors. The man was surprisingly good, just as the child had said. With his large hands, he skillfully picked up the tiny jacks and bent them with ease.

“Ki-beom is the best!”

Tae-heun clapped excitedly, while the child crossed his arms and wore a serious expression.

However, the man could not win against the child. Without any sense of trying to lose on purpose, he naturally knew how to let the child win. Both Tae-heun and the man received flicks from the child. Flick. With a crisp sound, the man exclaimed “Ouch!” The child laughed out loud.

“Are you okay?”

Tae-heun rubbed the man’s forehead with his thumb, just like the man had done earlier.

It was Tae-heun’s turn, and the child flicked his finger mercilessly. It barely missed and made no sound, but Tae-heun pretended to be in pain loudly. Then he leaned his forehead toward the man.

“What kind of kid has such a strong flick?”

The man naturally rubbed Tae-heun’s forehead. They smiled at each other.

A little later than usual, around 9:15, the child went to bed. The man checked on the child’s sleeping arrangements and then went into the bedroom to prepare for bed himself. Tae-heun followed.

“I’m going to watch the news. Is that okay?”

“Yes. Should I lay out the bedding for you?”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just going to watch the news.”

Without showing any signs of discomfort, the man took off his shirt, laid out the bedding, and lay down. Even with the fluorescent light on, he didn’t seem to mind. He was quite an easygoing person.

Tae-heun turned off the fluorescent light and lowered the TV volume for the man. It was less than five minutes before the man fell asleep. Between the loud whirring of the fan, the man’s steady breathing could be heard. Tae-heun quietly looked down at the man. The man, who had not shown any signs of fatigue, fell asleep with a weary face. His sleeping habits were calm, but occasionally he would groan and toss around.

Tae-heun lay down next to the man while absentmindedly watching the news. With two large men lying in the narrow room, it felt cramped. The breeze coming through the window cooled the heat radiating from the two of them.

He turned his head toward the man.

“Ki-beom, the kimchi stew was delicious. Really.”

He whispered softly.

“Where did you learn to iron so well? You’re a pro at jacks too. Ki-beom, you’re a jack of all trades.”

He chattered on.

“I lied to Ji-hye. I told her I would help with the kimjang this year. I really want to help, but I don’t think I can. I’m sorry. Please tell Ji-hye well. Kids have good memories, so they never forget.”

He confessed his guilt and apologized.

After lying down for a little longer, he left the bedroom. Standing in the living room, he looked out into the pitch-black darkness beyond the screen door. He felt a sense of relief.

The words he had said about rural life being boring, that the scenery of fields and rice paddies was tiresome, were canceled. Even if he was pulled out, he didn’t want to go back to the city. Living like a family with a kind and reliable father and a lively, cheerful child, and being able to face death felt like a blessing.

Tae-heun willingly reached out toward the invisible rope.

*

The weather forecast was spot on. It started pouring rain from Thursday.

When Tae-heun returned after two days in Seoul for errands, the first thing he did was look for the man. He stood on the ridge of the rice field, rubbing the mud off his Italian leather shoes against the grass, wondering if he should have worn rubber boots.

The man was working in Kwon Yong-jun’s rice field, getting soaked in the rain. From the way he was inspecting the furrows, it seemed he was checking the water channels or something. He was wearing a yellow raincoat, but it was clear he was drenched. His faded red rubber boots looked more vibrant as they soaked up the water.

He put a cigarette in his mouth. After lighting it, he took a deep drag, making his cheeks hollow. He frowned at the dizzying sensation. As he exhaled, the white smoke mingled with the rain.

Tae-heun watched the man for nearly 20 minutes, holding a large black umbrella with the name of a golf course printed on it. Although the raincoat seemed cumbersome, the man’s movements were efficient. Even without anyone watching, he didn’t cut corners. It was impressive. Watching the picturesque man and the scenery brought peace to his heart. Even the sound of the rain hitting the umbrella was pleasant.

After about 30 minutes, the man seemed to notice Tae-heun’s presence and stopped what he was doing. Tae-heun raised the umbrella above his head to show his face. The rain poured down, but he didn’t mind. He waved his hand.

“Ki-beom! I’m back!”

The heavy air soaked with rain swallowed Tae-heun’s voice.

The man waved his hand awkwardly. He didn’t approach or pretend to come closer. The man returned to his work, and Tae-heun continued to watch.

After about another hour, it seemed the man realized that Tae-heun was still standing in the same spot. The man, who looked like a dot, stood still. He seemed to be gazing this way, lost in thought. It was too far away to tell if he was truly lost in thought or just looking this way. It was just a feeling. Tae-heun exhaled a long puff of smoke.

The man began to approach. A sly smile crept onto his face. He scratched his eyebrow with the hand holding the cigarette, then snapped his fingers to flick the ember away. He tossed the half-smoked cigarette pack into the car. He picked up all the butts he had thrown on the rice field and moved them to the car’s ashtray.