Waiting for the elephant train at Seoul Grand Park, Yeoul jumped up and down in place. Jeongeun asked:

“Are you that happy?”

“Yes! I’m so, so happy to come with Mom and Grandma!”

Soyu, wearing sunglasses, a T-shirt, and jeans, smiled contentedly. Coming at opening time was good because there were fewer people. Today was a weekend, so if they had come a little later, it would have been difficult to even get on the train. The weather was nice. It was moderately warm with a pleasant breeze, and the sky was blue. Above all, it had been a very long time since the whole family had gone out together, which made it even better. Her bag contained store-bought kimbap, drinks, and various other items.

“The train is here!”

When the doors opened and they boarded, Yeoul went to the very end and leaned his body outward.

“That’s dangerous.”

Though he responded “Okay” to his mother’s warning, the child’s body remained leaning out. Soyu said to her mother:

“Mom. Tell me right away if your knee hurts.”

“I’m fine. It doesn’t really hurt that much. It’s nice to come out after so long.”

Soyu smiled faintly. Her mother looked like a young girl, all excited. It had been a long time since they had come out so carefree. Until now, she had always had to work even on weekends, but now she had employees and some breathing room. As the train started moving, Yeoul pointed to something.

“Oh? Bicycles!”

When she leaned out to see where her son was pointing, she saw three bicycles going up.

“Mom! I want to ride a bicycle too!”

Her son still didn’t have a bicycle. Although he always said he wanted one, for some reason she hadn’t bought him one.

“You want to ride a bicycle?”

“Yes!”

“Okay. Should we go look at bicycles tomorrow?”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Yeoul hugged his mother tightly and exclaimed:

“Mother! Thank you!”

Soyu and Jeongeun laughed. Yeoul only called her “Mother” when he achieved his goal. That occasional “Mother” was incredibly sweet. Soyu hugged Yeoul from behind and leaned her face and arms out of the train, smiling brightly.

As the elephant train went up the side, Taeseop, who was riding at the front, suddenly stopped. Jinwook and Hyunwook, who stopped behind him, asked:

“Why?”

“Why did you stop? Are you tired?”

Taeseop tilted his head and said:

“No. It’s nothing.”

Taeseop’s gaze lingered on the passing train. Strange. He thought he saw Soyu. Or did he?

“Song Taeseop must be tired too. Let’s take a break.”

At Jinwook’s words, Hyunwook replied:

“We’ve barely started and you want to rest?”

“Hey. It’s quite a distance from home to here.”

“Are you tired? Kim Jinwook is getting old too.”

Jinwook flared up.

“I’m thinking of you guys! Want to see? The power of my thighs?”

As Jinwook pedaled up the hill, Hyunwook giggled. Taeseop looked at Hyunwook reproachfully.

“Don’t tease him so much.”

“Isn’t it cute when he gets upset? Kim Jinwook definitely has impact. He’s fun to tease.”

“We usually walk up this part too.”

“Leave him be. Let his thighs burst, burst.”

The two pulled their bicycles up while Jinwook, struggling alone up the slope, looked back panting and suddenly shouted:

“Hey! You disloyal bastards!”

Taeseop burst out laughing, and Hyunwook held his stomach in laughter. The two friends slowly pulled their bicycles up the hill toward Jinwook, who was flailing his arms and legs in frustration.

The zoo was peaceful with few people around. Both Yeoul and Jeongeun enjoyed this. Jeongeun pointed to a stream near the entrance and said:

“We could spread a mat there.”

It looked nice with the stream and shade.

“It will be hot during the day, so that spot seems good.”

“Mom, will you be able to walk around?”

“You keep treating me like an invalid. Your mom is really fine.”

But Soyu looked at her mother with concern. She had heard her mother groaning in pain when going to the bathroom at night.

“Mom. Please go to the hospital on Monday. Or let’s go together.”

“How can a working person say they’ll go together with me? I’ll go alone. I really will this time.”

“You must go.”

Mothers don’t like to tell their children when they’re in pain, fearing they’ll become a burden. While Soyu understood this feeling, she hated the thought of her only remaining parent being sick. The three slowly walked up the path. Seoul Grand Park in May was refreshing with its lush greenery. When birds chirped, Yeoul nearly fell while walking and looking up at the trees. Jeongeun extended her hand.

Mothers rarely mention when they’re ill because they don’t want to burden their children. While I understand this sentiment, I truly hate it when my only remaining parent gets sick. The three family members slowly walked up the path. Seoul Grand Park was refreshingly lush with greenery in May. When birds started chirping, Yeoul nearly fell while walking and looking at the trees. Jeongeun extended her hand.

“Yeoul. Let’s hold Grandma’s hand while walking.”

“I’m fine. I’ll walk without looking at the trees.”

“You’re going to fall, I’m telling you.”

“I’m fine.”

Then he ran ahead excitedly on his own. From behind, Jeongeun called out anxiously.

“You’ll fall! Don’t run!”

Soyu laughed. Her mother had been the same when she was young. She wouldn’t let her run because she might get hurt, and wouldn’t let her ride a bicycle for the same reason. That’s why she still can’t ride a bicycle. She hadn’t understood why her mother had restricted her so much, but after having and raising a child herself, she now understands. Is this why they say you become an adult after having a child? After giving birth to Yeoul, she became much closer to her mother. That’s fortunate.

Three men climbed up the mountain. Bright smiles spread across the faces of the three riding bicycles along the low ridge. Jinwook in particular shouted with joy.

“Ahaha. This is totally fun!”

He laughed like a child whenever the bicycle bumped. Hyunwook, who had stopped to take a brief rest, asked.

“You’re really excited, huh?”

“It’s fun. I should have come back sooner.”

“Wasn’t it fun over there?”

“What fun? I just worked all the time. Home country is truly the best.”

Taeseop said, 

“Good that you came back. You’re going to settle down here now, right?”

“Yeah. But about my house… it’s a bit strange.”

“What is?”

“I wonder if there’s a ghost. Every time I sleep there, I get sleep paralysis.”

“You? The guy who falls asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow?”

“Exactly. I wonder if the location is bad… like the water veins? Something strange is flowing there, I’m telling you.”

“Does it keep happening?”

“Yeah. As soon as I enter the house, I feel really bad. It’s creepy.”

“Then shouldn’t you move out?”

At Taeseop’s words, Jinwook made a very pitiful expression.

“Where should I sleep now? I’m tired of hotels.”

“Then at our house…!”

“No way!”

Hyunwook shouted before Taeseop could finish. Taeseop looked at Hyunwook curiously and asked.

“What’s not possible?”

“You were going to tell Jinwook to stay at our house, right?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“I said no. No. Absolutely not.”

Jinwook twisted his lips and made a spiteful expression.

“Am I a virus carrier? Why not?”

“You think I don’t know you? Even when I chanted at you to wash up, you wouldn’t even wash your hair. And don’t you remember turning our house into a garbage dump when you came over?”

Jinwook let out a hollow laugh, seemingly dumbfounded.

“Hey. What time are you talking about? I’m not like that anymore. I’m so neat now. And is there anything more important than your friend not being able to sleep because of sleep paralysis?”

“It’s important to me. No.”

Jinwook clenched his molars and glared at Hyunwook.

“It’s not even your house.”

“I told you. I have a share in that house too. You can’t just come in for free. Just go to your family home!”

“Hey! Are you crazy? Go to my family home?”

“Since you’ve come back, wouldn’t it be nice to eat your mother’s food?”

“No way. Family home is absolutely out. Are you crazy? My father and I fight whenever we see each other.”

“Anyway, our house is not an option.”

As Hyunwook rode his bicycle up, Jinwook grumbled.

“Wow. This guy has become even more stubborn while I was gone.”

Taeseop said with a smile, 

“You know he’s just saying that, right? Let’s try to persuade him.”

“You’re in favor?”

“You said you feel creepy as soon as you enter the house. Stay until you find a new place.”

“As expected, our Seop is the best. Seop, should we live together forever?”

Taeseop, who flinched for a moment, frowned.

“Do you want to die?”

When Taeseop made a sour face, Jinwook stepped back with an awkward smile.

“Just kidding, kidding. That’s just my way of saying how much I like you.”

“Even as a joke, for our friendship, it’s better not to say such things. Let’s go.”

As Taeseop went up, Jinwook let out a sigh of relief. Wow, Song Taeseop is scary when angry. I should behave. Still, how fortunate that he can stay at their house. Jinwook shouted as he pedaled.

“I’m coming! Brother!”

His expression was bright as he rode his bicycle uphill.

After finishing the mountain cycling, Taeseop stood in front of the zoo. Hyunwook asked.

“Why?”

“Should we go into the zoo after all this time?”

“Here?”

“Yeah. We haven’t been here since we were kids, right?”

“Hey. We’re not kids anymore. Why go in there?”

“Just because. It’s good for reminiscing too. Remember? We came here when we were young. Let’s take a trip down memory lane.”

Taeseop persuaded his reluctant friends. The person he saw earlier really looked like Soyu. She was holding a child, so it had to be either the amusement park or this place, and the zoo seemed more likely. Hyunwook said.

“Do you really want to go that badly?”

“Yeah.”

“Is it your wish?”

“It’s my wish.”

“Then let’s go in. Jinwook, let’s go.”

“Hey. No matter what, does it make sense for three men to go there?”

“What’s wrong with that? It’s Taeseop’s wish. Let’s go.”

As Hyunwook and Taeseop bought tickets and entered the zoo, Jinwook grumbled.

“If you want to see animals, let’s go see pandas instead! Not here!”

But Jinwook’s opinion didn’t matter. Once inside, Taeseop busily searched for someone. His heart was pounding. Could it really be Soyu? If it was, who was that child? Did she have a niece or nephew? Or was it her own child? If it was Soyu, what should he say? That’s when it happened. Taeseop, who had been looking around while pulling his bicycle, suddenly froze.