Chapter 43 – Episode 43

It feels like someone is pulling my hair out while I was in a sweet fantasy for a moment.

Should I say that a person who was trying to somehow get his mind together with a positive mind suddenly had to face reality?

Even the slightest excitement turned cold.

Not only did I stop, I almost fell as I reflexively tried to take a step back.

“…”

Even as I was dying alone, the story continued.

“That’s right, Hyunwoo’s father. It’s a recession these days, even though the average employment age is over 30. Actually, everyone around me did it. So what are you going to do if you never get a job?”

Grandmother’s voice.

The voice I heard earlier was probably my eldest father. Now that I think about it, I heard that my cousin Kim Hyun-min proudly joined a large company last year. I remember him because he was a brother I respected and liked.

“Honestly, I’m not worried about Hyuna and Hyunmin when I see them. Hyunwoo is a little worried. Aren’t your eyes too high? Or you don’t make an effort.”

“… You’ll figure it out. Older brother. “Once Hyunwoo comes, I’ll say something, so don’t worry too much.”

Although my father may seem a bit overbearing or stubborn as the head of the family at home. Still, when going to one’s parents’ or mother’s family, one was treated politely.

I also learned a bit from watching that.

“Yes, a father should know how to say unpleasant things to his son. “If you only say nice things, the child becomes weak.”

Wow.

They say that oral medicine is good for illness, but honestly, the superficial worries I heard from my parents’ family were just bad for me. A pointless meddling bordering on self-satisfaction.

“I know. Since Hyeon-woo is not a good person to study, I told him to send him to the business world from the beginning when he was sent to high school, but he sent him to Seoul to university…”

「Again!」

At this rate, it seems like high school and college stories will all pop up. I felt embarrassed and kept hiding on the stairs, so I made loud footsteps on purpose.

Then the continuing story suddenly stops.

Poker face, poker face.

I thought to myself over and over again and went up the stairs to face his family.

“Oh my! “We’re from Seoul!”

“Our grandchild, come on, come on. “How desperately this old lady waited.”

“Oppa, hi.”

“Hyeonwoo, it’s been a while.”

“Son, are you here? Great job. It’s cold, come in quickly.”

The people who had been chatting about my job behind my back just a moment ago greeted me with a smile without any hesitation.

At that moment, the barely made poker face mask almost cracked. The corners of his mouth that were forced up trembled. It seemed like if I let my guard down even a little, a gloomy expression would appear right away.

“Oh my, my grandchild. Let’s hug each other for a moment. Why are you so skinny? “Are you eating well?”

“Yes, grandma. “I eat well.”

What. The ship itself was not starving. The problem is that the pattern of ramen and fried rice and ramen and fried rice is repeated every day. However, it was not guaranteed to make enough money to spend extravagantly on delivery food or eating out every time.

Quests appear as they please.

Big dad, big mom, grandmother, grandfather, younger sister, cousin, mom and dad… There are a few more besides.

Living room? Maru?

Anyway, I feel exhausted just by saying hello to the people sitting around in the center. As if everyone was a parrot when they saw me, all the adults started by asking how I was doing, and the same answer was now being repeated from my mouth like an automatic reflex AI.

“I’m doing great. Eat well.”

Okay. At least, not only do I get to live under the same roof with two extremely beautiful women like Han Ae-bom and Oh Hana, I even have sex with them.

How can I live better than this? If you’re curious about how I live well, come see for yourself.

Or at least give him pocket money. Why on earth should I suffer mental stress for free?

What. It doesn’t seem like I’m the only one who gets it though.

“Is Hyuna doing well at work?”

“Ah yes. “She’s just moving around moderately.”

My younger sister, Kim Hyun-ah, actually didn’t like this situation very much either. In fact, she hates it more than me. That’s why she visits with the same frequency as me, who lives in Seoul. I think he lied and got away with it once or twice.

Adults, can’t you see his expression?

A face that says ‘Ha, I’m tired, so I’ll rummage.’

The person who is perfect to adults is probably my cousin Kim Hyun-min, who has even worked for a large company. He was also an older brother whom I greatly respected and followed since I was young.

“How is Hyunmin doing?”

“Oh, it goes without saying that I am. How are you. Shouldn’t I make a lot of money and send my grandparents on a cruise?”

Haha!”

He was the type of person who always had a smile on his face without a single expression of displeasure and said whatever he wanted to say, even to adults.

And yet, how well does Neokseureo tremble? Should I say that he is an older brother that I cannot help but respect?

As I heard on the stairs, that person was one of the people who wouldn’t worry if the Earth was destroyed.

“Oh my! “My son Raemi, he earns a lot of money and doesn’t give his dad a single penny of pocket money.”

“If I give my dad money again, I’m just going to blow it. “Why am I giving it to you?”

“No, even though he received over 10 million won in performance bonus.”

“Oh really! I told you not to talk like that. Those are all labor costs, and there is nothing free in this world. “I pamper you and give you enough to eat.”

And if you are close to Kim Hyun-min, you know because we are very close. My brother just doesn’t show it, but he’s actually exhausted.

It was then.

“Since the kids are all here, let’s at least prepare the ancestral rite table in advance. “Mom.”

His third uncle, that is, his youngest uncle, who had been quietly pretending to be dead in his room, crawled out and said those words.
He was also a person who worked near Seoul, just like me.

“Hey, Hyeonjong. “If you live in Seoul with Hyunwoo, what are you doing if you give him a job?”

“No, they say I have some kind of power. “I’m too busy making a living.”

What can I say?

It may be because my youngest uncle lives in Seoul and is the only single son among the sons in this family. I was able to communicate better with people my age than I thought. More than you think.

Moreover, when I come down to my parents’ house, I feel a bit of pity when I see them constantly hearing stories about marriage and love until their ears are full of scabs.

“Oh my, when is our Hyeonjong going to get married? “I’ll have to bring a good sexy girl.”

“Oh, Mom. I said I won’t do it. “How old am I now, what kind of marriage is this?”

“Why don’t you do it!”

Always the same repertoire.
How angry her grandmother gets when her youngest uncle tells her not to do something.
As I was looking at it, I thought to myself, “Now is the time,” So I carefully took out the envelope from my pocket. Since my family is a family with strong etiquette, such as respect for elders and elders, I naturally approached my grandfather and grandmother first.

“Oh, I guess our Hyunwoo wants to give me pocket money.”

“Come, brother. “Isn’t it great?”

My cousin and younger sister greet me warmly from behind. I’m just thankful. The youngest uncle was also subtly lightening the mood by saying, ‘If you’re going to give it to mom, give it to me.’

I was also a little excited. I’m 29 years old and haven’t found a job yet… In a way, it’s the first time I’m giving pocket money to my grandparents with the money I earn.

I thought I might say it with a little pride. I had some expectations like that.

“Oh my! What is this? I don’t receive it. “I won’t accept it!”

She jumped up and stubbornly refused the envelope I handed her, to the point where I felt embarrassed that her grandmother was the real giver. The grandfather who was smoking a cigarette next to him also nodded.

“Okay. You can give it to me later when you get a job. The kid is already trying to give us pocket money. You don’t have to give it.”

“Well, it’s not much money. Just a formality…”

That’s because my younger sister, who is three years younger than me and has been working in companies and other part-time jobs before she was 20, often gave it to me.

There is no need to say that he is my cousin.

He was a bit of a problem child, and even though he hadn’t been seen at home for a few years because he was studying abroad, he occasionally came to visit and was seen giving envelopes to his grandparents as pocket money, as he worked part-time while studying abroad.

In a way, I was just following them.

To look a little like a proper human being.

“Ah, that’s it! Really. You don’t have to give it to me. With that, just buy yourself something delicious. “How much money can someone who doesn’t even have a job have?”

The youngest uncle, who was worse off, helped out.

“Oh, Mom. Hyunwoo says he will give it to you, so just take it. Huh? “I feel sorry for you.”

“Oh my! I said I wouldn’t accept it. If you really want to give your grandmother pocket money, get a job and come give it to me. Even if I die, I won’t receive it.”

“Wow, look at this lady’s stubbornness. Hyunwoo, your mom won’t accept it, so give it to me.”

“Yekki! “I’m not saying that even as a joke.”

Just for a moment.

I felt dizzy and dizzy. Know. I wouldn’t know unless I were a fool. Because her grandmother truly cared for me, she didn’t want to take money from her grandchild, who might have a hard time.
Nevertheless, that consideration and kindness came back as a dagger to me.

“… Because I prepared things for Mom and Dad. Please accept the two of you.”

“Okay, thank you. My son Ah, mom, I can buy the clothes I wanted with this.”

“Dad, I think I’ll buy you a drink with my friends, too. “He boasted that it was money his son gave him.”

At least my dad and mom welcomed me. Maybe it’s because the first button was sewn incorrectly, but my eyelids feel even heavier than before.

I’m exhausted.

There’s still a long time left until 11 o’clock when the damn memorial service starts.

“Mom, let’s hold the memorial service early. What happens at 11 o’clock in 2025?”

“Yekki! After Grandpa and Grandma die, you can do whatever you want. Now, even 11 o’clock is served early.”

That’s right. When I was 7 years old, everyone waited until 12 o’clock to hold ancestral rites. If 11 o’clock has become a lot of trouble, it is a law of trouble.

The moment when you feel out of breath and want to smoke a cigarette. Hyeonmin stood up and said.

“Oh, what? There is no Jeongjong.”

“Oh my gosh, look at my mind. “I forgot about Jeongjong.”

Let her grandmother applaud.
Hyeonmin smiled and said while gesturing to me and Hyuna.

“I’m going to get it with my kids. Is there anything you need?”

“Doesn’t exist. Just buy something small, Jeongjong.”

“Okay.”

Hyeonmin playfully drew a circle with his thumb and index finger to her grandmother and smiled at us as well.

“Okay, let’s go. “Little brothers.”

“Wait a minute, let me get dressed.”

“Okay.”

He was an older brother that I couldn’t hate. Study well and exercise well. My friends are only good people. I think I’m a bit of a libertine since I’ve already had 7 girlfriends.

Still, 6 of the 7 women confessed to my cousin first, and even after my older brother dumped me, there were more than one or two women who came all the way from Seoul to Busan because they wanted a one-night stand.

He is truly a good human being.

Even now, I naturally took it out at a time when I felt like I was suffocating.

Me too. I wanted to become that kind of adult.

“Oppa, I want to wear those slippers.”

“Yes.”

Hyeonmin handed over the slippers he was wearing despite Hyuna’s childishness and put on her grandfather’s slippers.

And as she walked past the supermarket right next to her grandfather’s house, she said,

“Let’s have a smoke over there, take a walk, and then go in slowly. “If I go in now anyway, I’m just too tired with nothing to do.”

“Call.”

Hyuna and I answered side by side, and Hyunmin followed behind his brother. Finding a suitable place to smoke, the three of them sat side by side with a cigarette in their mouths.

“Hyeonwoo.”

“Uh.”

“Is it hard? It’s been a while since I came down, so I must be tired.”

Hyeonmin almost cried at his brother’s consolation.