#06

Once his heart had settled somewhat, he stood up.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As he left Jeong Dabang, Seon-jae said.

“Sure. Go in and rest. You did well.”

Madam Jeong gently patted Seon-jae’s back.

He stepped out of Jeong Dabang and wandered around the market. Only after confirming that he wasn’t being followed did he catch a taxi. Unable to feel completely at ease, he switched between the subway and bus several times before heading to his destination.

The place Seon-jae was heading to was one of several hideouts. Located in a hillside village, this area was sparsely populated, on the brink of redevelopment. Traces of the past remained everywhere, where residents had opposed redevelopment and gangsters and public authorities had violently clashed to suppress them. Ilgwang Financial was the first to participate in the demolition work in this neighborhood, leaving a deep impression on Seon-jae.

On the streets littered with remnants of glue and butane that had likely been used by runaway youths, elderly people who had nowhere to go sat like nobles, fanning themselves. Eyes followed Seon-jae as he moved, but they didn’t linger for long.

“It’s been a while.”

The old woman who had provided the hideout greeted Seon-jae warmly.

“No, why are you out here again? It’s dangerous.”

Seon-jae took the old woman’s hand and greeted her affectionately.

Even after the demolition was decided, Seon-jae had continued to pay the old woman rent for the hideout, and she seemed grateful, waiting from morning until dusk on a blue plastic chair to guard the house, even though he rarely visited.

“Dangerous? I’ve lived here my whole life.”

“What good is living here for a lifetime? There isn’t even a rat on the street. And these days, there are crazy kids everywhere. Taking care of an old lady is no big deal.”

“Your worries are quite unnecessary.”

The old woman rolled her eyes.

“Ah, what I mean is, please be careful.”

Seon-jae smiled broadly and patted the old woman.

“Here, this.”

As he handed her a black plastic bag, the old woman grabbed it without hesitation and peered inside.

“I put in some red ginseng drinks and a little pocket money. Don’t give it to your kids; spend it on yourself.”

A smile spread across the old woman’s wrinkled face.

“Were there any suspicious characters?”

The old woman shook her head vigorously.

“Just like you said, there isn’t a single rat. I don’t even see the kids who used to hang around anymore.”

“Really? The workers aren’t coming at all?”

“They used to drop by occasionally until last month, but now they don’t come at all. Well, if no one has signed the contract, why would they come here?”

The old woman was one of the first to sign the redevelopment contract. Along with the supporters, she had watched the fights between residents opposing redevelopment and the demolition gangsters like a spectator. Seon-jae vividly remembered the old woman, who had scorned her neighbors as “foolish people” while accompanying Uncle under the pretense of observing.

“When is the demolition supposed to start?”

“They keep saying next month, next month. By the way, when are you going to move your stuff out? I’m really worried about what will happen when the new demolition starts without you.”

“I actually came to move it today.”

“Already?”

When she asked when he would move his stuff, the old woman’s face clearly showed her disappointment. It must be hard for her to think about the money stopping.

Without responding, Seon-jae stepped inside the gate. The three-and-a-half-story multi-family house, including the semi-basement, stood there, revealing the passage of time in a rather unsightly manner. It was a building that seemed poorly constructed, to the point that it was surprising it hadn’t collapsed.

The old woman had raised four children in this house and sent them off. She had treated Seon-jae kindly but had lived off the backs of tenants her entire life. Even after pocketing a hefty sum from the redevelopment compensation, Seon-jae couldn’t understand why she still lingered here. Or perhaps he did understand her feelings well. The old woman, who had bought an apartment by the Han River but still lived in her old house, was likely of a similar mindset to his own.

The hideout was located in the semi-basement, right against the wall. It was a place where not even sunlight or wind could enter, and as soon as he stepped inside, the smell of mold hit him. The only thing done before he moved in was a single wallpapering, and Seon-jae had left it in a state of neglect, so the condition of the house was terrible.

He took out a handkerchief and covered his mouth and nose. Passing through the palm-sized kitchen and living room, he headed to the only room. Every time he moved, cockroaches scurried quickly into the corners, and one unfortunate bug was crushed under his shoe. Seon-jae wiped the bug remains off his shoe onto the floor and squatted in front of the TV.

When he opened the drawer, a specially made safe appeared, fitting perfectly inside. It was an old-fashioned safe that required a dial to open. After turning it five times, alternating directions, he heard a click, and the safe door opened. Inside the safe were rolled-up yellow envelopes the size of banknotes, a car key, and a mobile phone of the same type he was currently using.

Seon-jae unfolded the envelope. He confirmed five bundles of one hundred thousand won bills made of new currency and rolled it back up before standing up. He hadn’t slept or eaten here, so he felt no regret. He could only shake his head at the old woman who had rented out such a dump.

After seeing Seon-jae off, the old woman sat back down on the plastic chair, guarding the house. Fearing that he might end up like her, Seon-jae never looked back.

After visiting two more hideouts and gathering all the necessary items, he finally moved to the supermarket where his mother worked. His mother, who had been living off Uncle’s allowance after sending Seon-jae away for adoption, had voluntarily taken a job, wanting to contribute even a little to her unremarkable eldest son. That was already three years ago.

The rain began to fall steadily. The supermarket on a Friday afternoon was quite busy, but it seemed there was still room to breathe. Since he was there, he bought two packs of six beers and some snacks. Seon-jae carried the shopping basket and walked toward his mother.

Even from a distance, his mother was tall enough to be easily recognizable. She had been a volleyball player until high school, but she said her skills were far from good enough to become a national representative. Fortunately, with the help of a coach, she got a job at an insurance company after graduating high school, where she met his father, who worked as an office employee.

His mother fell in love with his father at first sight. Having had a complex about her height and appearance, she was very fond of his father, who was tall and handsome. Unlike other male employees who spoke carelessly, his father was gentle and cultured. She had spent a wealthy childhood under kind parents.

His mother, who had been poor her whole life, was tough and strong-willed, and his father was drawn to her strong character. If their home hadn’t gone bankrupt, he would never have even glanced at a woman like her, yet he sometimes claimed that she was his fated partner. In reality, he openly despised her, yet still had sex with her, and when she unexpectedly became pregnant with Seon-jae during their third encounter before breaking up, he married her out of a sense of obligation. After that, he lived off her skirts for the rest of his life.

As a child, Seon-jae felt very sorry for his mother, who only seemed to suffer. So even when she favored his brother, he never complained, and he tried to understand why she had sent him away for adoption to Uncle. It was only when he grew older that he realized his mother was not a pitiful person at all, but rather a selfish individual who was indifferent to him, just like his father. It went without saying that she was a shameless person who profited from selling her child.

Seon-jae deliberately stood in front of the checkout counter where his mother worked.

His mother’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What are you doing here?”

Forcing herself to sound happy, her voice was choked.

“I have some things to buy, and I remembered I hadn’t been home last time.”

“Oh… was that so? I’ve been forgetting things lately.”

His mother mumbled as she scanned the barcode.

“If you’re coming, come in the evening.”

“Next time. Do you have a moment? I haven’t eaten lunch yet.”

“What time is it that you still haven’t eaten? Make sure to eat well. By the way, you seem to have lost some weight.”

She spoke without even looking at his face.

“It’ll only take a moment. Come to the food court.”

Seon-jae slipped the bag of items onto his wrist and divided the beer packs between his hands.

The food court was quiet after meal hours. He had no intention of eating. The smell of food was nauseating, so he bought an Americano to settle his stomach and sat down.

About ten minutes later, his mother, now out of her supermarket vest, appeared.

“What about lunch?”

“Looking around, nothing really appeals to me.”

“Right? This place is like that.”

His mother complained, casting a disgusted glance around the food court.

“You have no idea how terrible this neighborhood is, do you? And the people? It’s utterly vulgar. You should move out as soon as possible; I can’t stand it anymore. By next year, Seojin will be going to kindergarten; do you think she can get a proper education in a place like this?”

“Sit down. Don’t stand there making people uneasy.”

At Seon-jae’s words, his mother half-heartedly plopped down onto a chair.

“Has Uncle said anything else? It’s been over a year since I mentioned the apartment, and he hasn’t said a word. Can you ask him?”

He regretted coming for no reason. He had only intended to see her face one last time, but all she talked about was that apartment. It felt as if Seon-jae’s wounds were invisible to her. It was nothing new, but it still hurt. I’m your son too, he silently shouted in his mind.

Though he had been adopted by Uncle and changed his name, he had lived with his family until he became an adult. His mother, who had been managing the household instead of his incapable father, had been able to avoid working early on thanks to Seon-jae, and they had moved from a one-room to an apartment. Naturally, she should have favored Seon-jae more than her eldest son. It would have been understandable for her to dote on Seon-jae, who was beautiful and resembled his father, whom she had fallen in love with at first sight.