#166

Park Mal-ja couldn’t sleep at all after that man, Kim Tae-heun, had visited. Even though her body was exhausted, she woke up at dawn.

‘Grandma! Please, save me!’

In her dream, fifteen-year-old Ki-beom pleaded.

‘Grandma, I won’t cause trouble and I’ll earn money. So please, don’t send me to the orphanage.’

He cried desperately.

Then, Ki-beom, a fully grown nineteen-year-old young man, appeared limping.

‘Grandma, I’ll make sure you live in luxury. Just trust me.’

He smiled brightly with his handsome face.

Guilt choked her. She couldn’t swallow her food properly, so she ate rice soaked in barley tea. She had to shove something down her throat to go to work.

She said she would ask her children, but she wasn’t eager to do so. They were all busy making a living and didn’t like their mother, Park Mal-ja, calling. Because she always asked for favors whenever she called, they sometimes didn’t even answer.

Whenever she heard her children’s irritated voices, she felt deeply hurt. How I raised you all. The words rose to her throat. She used to say it all the time until five years ago, but after sending her Husband to the nursing home, she only thought it to herself. She knew how hard the the child had worked to pay for the nursing home fees.

After agonizing for two whole days, Park Mal-ja finally called her Eldest daughter, who had been close to Ki-beom, first.

As expected, the reaction was cold.

Her Eldest daughter’s first words were, “What is it?” Her mother hadn’t called in a long time, but there was no “How are you?” or “Are you healthy?”

Aigo, what a fate. A woman without Husband luck also has no the child luck.

Park Mal-ja sighed inwardly and deliberately brightened her voice.

“My daughter, how are you? Are Lee Husband and the kids healthy?”

Why are you suddenly asking after me? Just tell me what you need.

She was extremely cold.

Her Eldest daughter, who worked at a restaurant like herself, usually didn’t return home until midnight. But every Sunday, her quitting time was a few hours earlier, so she had deliberately called at that time.

Of course, from her daughter’s perspective, she had come home early after a long time, finished the housework, had dinner, and was just about to rest when her mother called, so she probably wasn’t very happy. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand, but Park Mal-ja was most hurt by her Eldest daughter.

She, as a mother, felt sorry that her Eldest daughter had only sacrificed herself after graduating from middle school because of her Eldest son and younger siblings before getting married. Still, why is my first daughter so heartless to me? Park Mal-ja thought it was because the the child resembled her Father.

“Okay. Sorry. Mom was a little clueless, wasn’t I?”

Mom?

Her daughter called Park Mal-ja irritably. It was a sound urging her to quickly say what she needed.

“Alright. I was just about to tell you what I needed. By the way, do you remember Ki-beom?”

Who?

“Ki-beom. Yoon Ki-beom.”

Why? Is he dead?

The only thing she could say was, “Is he dead?” Even though she was her daughter, she was disgusted. She had no manners at all.

“You really. Why would you say something like that?”

You suddenly call and ask, so that’s why. Why Ki-beom?

“Well, someone came looking for him because of the orphanage.”

Orphanage? … Ah … Why from the orphanage? How long ago was that?

“Well, it seems our Ki-beom was a victim of abuse. They beat the the child at the orphanage. They’re investigating it now.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

That healthy and affectionate the child was a victim of abuse, it broke her heart.

She thought her daughter would say something of sympathy or comfort, but the line was silent. Just as she was about to say something, she asked, as if surprised.

A victim of abuse? Yoon Ki-beom, that the child?

“Yeah. He was beaten a lot, it seems.”

Who? Ki-beom was beaten? Mom, what are you even saying?

Her Eldest daughter burst out laughing.

Yeah, you wouldn’t believe it either, would you.

“And that the child’s leg too.”

Ah … That? I thought what.

Her daughter chuckled again. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe it, but she seemed to be gloating.

“Are you laughing right now?”

Park Mal-ja couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted. She thought it was too much. I didn’t raise her like that, how did the the child become such a heartless person? She felt suffocated.

Aish, why are you yelling? It’s because Mom is saying nonsense.

“What did I say? You’re the one laughing when the the child was beaten?”

Aigoo, really. I can’t say anything to Mom. It’s all a misunderstanding!

“A misunderstanding?”

Why would Yoon Ki-beom get beaten? He’s the one who would beat others. And that leg of his, it didn’t happen at the orphanage. Find out what really happened before you talk.

Her daughter snapped.

“It didn’t happen at the orphanage?”

Park Mal-ja raised her eyebrows at the unexpected words.

Yeah! Did Ki-beom say that? That he got hurt there?

“No, he didn’t exactly say that, but….”

Park Mal-ja was confused.

See? Anyway, that the child still has his old habits.

“Old habits?”

When Park Mal-ja asked repeatedly, her Eldest daughter sighed deeply.

Mom. Ki-beom, that the child, isn’t as kind as you think.

She sounded like she was looking down on her. She didn’t want to hear it. Honestly, she wanted to say that he was much kinder than you the child that I gave birth to.

“Do you always have to talk like that?”

What’s wrong with it? It’s the truth, isn’t it? He might be different now, but he wasn’t like that back then. Find out what really happened before you talk.

Her Eldest daughter grumbled.

He’s a born liar, she added.

Even though she was her daughter, Park Mal-ja wasn’t naive enough to believe everything that came out of the the child’s mouth. Her daughter was the best at lying. She thought there must be a misunderstanding between the two, definitely. Back then, maybe because they were the same age, her Eldest son, Eldest daughter, and Ki-beom were always bickering.

But, is that why you called?

“That too…. By the way, do you remember Rocky? You know, the the child Ki-beom used to talk to a lot after he came home with a hurt leg.”

Rocky? Why him again?

“I’m just curious. What he’s doing now.”

Aigoo. You’re so nosy.

Her daughter was disgusted. She looked like she was about to hang up, so Park Mal-ja quickly agreed. She tried to please her daughter.

“I know, I’m nosy. Please understand. So, do you remember?”

Of course I remember. But my Eldest son knows better than I do. The three of them used to hang out a lot.

Park Mal-ja was surprised by the unexpected words.

“The three of them? Who with who?”

Who else? My Eldest son, Rocky, and Ki-beom.

That couldn’t be. Rocky lived in another area, so how could he hang out with our son?

“What are you talking about? Did Rocky ever come to Daejeon?”

Yeah, he must have come to Daejeon to visit and met them once or twice.

He didn’t just come, he lived here.

“Lived here?”

Park Mal-ja’s voice grew louder.

Yeah. He rented a room near our house and lived there.

Her daughter answered as if shouting.

“Is that true?”

Of course it’s true. The three of them met every day. I even joined them a few times. If you don’t believe me, ask my Eldest son.

Her Eldest daughter said confidently.

Park Mal-ja was shocked. After Ki-beom returned, her son and Ki-beom acted awkwardly towards each other. Even when they ate together, they didn’t exchange a single word. They treated each other like invisible people. But they hung out together every day.

Then were those actions all lies? Why?

“Really? I see. The three of you hung out together.”

Her heart was pounding. Her hands holding the receiver were sweaty.

But why are you asking about that? What did the investigator say?

“No, it’s not that, I was just wondering if he was in the same orphanage as Ki-beom, so he might have experienced similar things….”

Park Mal-ja mumbled vaguely.

Mom! Is there compensation coming out? Is that why you called? Right? Right?

Her daughter’s voice, which had been indifferent, suddenly brightened. Anyway, she was crazy about money. Park Mal-ja clicked her tongue inwardly and said, “No, it’s not that.”

Really not?

“I told you it’s not.”

Aish, what a bummer. I was so happy for nothing.

Her voice was full of disappointment.

“You. Even if compensation comes out, Ki-beom will receive it, why are you so happy?”

Mom, really. We raised Ki-beom. If he gets a lot of compensation, it would be nice if he could repay us for raising him, right?

“Look at the way you talk. Tsk tsk. Why are you so mean?”

I’m like this because I resemble Father. Happy?

Her daughter’s voice became cold again.

“Anything else you remember?”

No. Ask my Eldest son, why do you keep asking me? Bye!

The call ended just like that.

Park Mal-ja sat blankly with the receiver in her hand before finally regaining her senses.

Her head was a mess. Ki-beom didn’t hurt his leg at the orphanage. She clearly heard him and Rocky talking about something similar. Moreover, her daughter’s words that her Eldest son hung out with not only Ki-beom but also Rocky bothered her.

After Ki-beom disappeared, her Eldest son did wander outside. Park Mal-ja thought her son was doing that because he was dating. Her son gave off that kind of vibe, and he had even bought something that looked like a gift. He sometimes stayed out overnight, which he didn’t usually do, and came back injured, which made Park Mal-ja’s heart ache, but she dismissed it as him being at his prime. But that wasn’t it.

The moment she heard from her Eldest daughter that her Eldest son had been hanging out with Ki-beom and Rocky, that day suddenly came to mind.

That strange and uncomfortable night.

‘Grandma, I’ll make sure you live in luxury.’

A few months after Ki-beom confidently said that and left, probably not long after a the child who seemed to be Ki-beom’s girlfriend had visited. Her Eldest son said he was going to meet someone. Right here in Pyeongtaek.

That day, her son stayed out overnight. Usually, her son would definitely return home the next morning or afternoon, but that day he didn’t return until late at night. Just as she was worrying if he was going to stay out for two consecutive nights, her son returned home late, close to midnight. Her son didn’t turn on the lights and stood blankly in the dark.

‘You. You should have at least called to say you’d be late. Don’t you think about the people who are worried at home? Aish, how can Ki-beom and you make people worry so much? I can’t live. Really. Oh! Did you go to work? You didn’t call in sick, did you? If you call in sick this time.’

Park Mal-ja, who was scolding him, was startled.

Her son was completely out of it. She couldn’t see well because it was dark, but her son also smelled strange. It smelled like blood, but that couldn’t be, so she thought he must have been covered in sewage somewhere. She was about to turn on the lights to check, but her son screamed like a madman.

‘Don’t turn on the lights!’

He resisted with all his might. He kept looking back at the entrance, trembling like someone being chased.

‘Why? What’s wrong? Did you fight with someone?’

Her son didn’t say anything. Then, he suddenly took off all his clothes in front of his mother. He shuddered as if he had maggots on him, took off all his underwear, and covered himself with a blanket. No matter how much she asked what was wrong, he didn’t answer.

‘Okay, rest. Let’s talk tomorrow.’

Park Mal-ja gathered her son’s clothes and left the room. The fabric was stiff. Moreover, it was all stained with black marks.

‘It’s new clothes, what should I do? Aish, I can’t live.’

Park Mal-ja was exhausted, but she was worried that the clothes would be ruined, so she hurried to do the laundry. She wondered what was on them that smelled so strange, so Park Mal-ja turned on the lights and was horrified. She threw the clothes away without realizing it.

Her son’s shirt, pants, and even his underwear were covered in blood. Her heart sank. Her hands and feet trembled. Her son was involved in something very serious. It might even be murder.

But she was too afraid to ask anything. She just hurried to heat the water and boiled the clothes in the hot water. The aluminum pot filled with bright red blood, and the stench of blood permeated the air. Park Mal-ja vomited up all the food she had eaten for dinner.

After that day, for nearly a month, the Eldest son secluded himself in his room, trembling, almost refusing to eat or drink. Naturally, he was fired from his job, needless to say. Her Husband would come home drunk every day and hurl abuse at his son.

Even in her distraught state, Park Mal-ja forced herself to go to work. She cried a lot too. It was a nightmarish time. Park Mal-ja was afraid she would lose her Eldest son. She offered dawn prayers every day. Please save my son. Please return my son to me.

Perhaps her fervent prayers were answered.

Her son suddenly became normal again. He got up as if nothing had happened. It was right after he received a phone call. She didn’t know who the call was from. Frankly, she didn’t even care. Park Mal-ja was so happy that her son had returned to his old self that she buried everything in her heart.

However, three years later, when Ki-beom reappeared in Daejeon with a child, the Eldest son had a fit. Park Mal-ja was terrified that the nightmare would be repeated, so she was driven to the brink of madness. That’s why she coldly kicked Ki-beom out. It wasn’t because Ki-beom had changed.

Honestly, Ki-beom was the same. She couldn’t feel any difference except that he was calmer and more mature. The affectionate side of him from his childhood was nowhere to be found, but she thought it was natural since he had become a father. Of course, the Eldest son called Ki-beom a ghost or a Grim Reaper and said ridiculous things, but then again, it was her son who had first said those words. After her Husband developed alcoholic dementia, he often repeated the words of his son or Park Mal-ja as if they were his own thoughts.

The reason she lied to Kim Tae-heun was all to protect her Eldest son. She was still ashamed of kicking out that young father and daughter because of her son, but of course, her own child was more important than her nephew. Any mother would have done the same as her, Park Mal-ja rationalized to herself.

‘My brother will know better than me. The three of you hung out together often.’

Her Eldest daughter’s voice lingered in her ears. But Park Mal-ja couldn’t bring herself to call her Eldest son. She didn’t. It was all in the past anyway. Ki-beom was doing well, wasn’t he? There was no need to stir up trouble.

Park Mal-ja tore up the business card of the person from the human rights group or whatever it was.

She would never see that person again.

167 – Chapter Title Without Number