Chapter 4 – Heejeongwon (Part 4)

She woke up to the sound of the TV. In front of her was a small metal table set with food, and the 7 o’clock news was on TV. Her grandmother’s voice overlapped with the reporter’s.

“Sunja’s here, so what? She’s not a child of five or six. If I make side dishes and leave, she eats well on her own. The first group reservation, staying for ten days, how can I cancel that?”

Her grandmother spoke quietly, holding her phone and hugging one knee.

“You know, business isn’t good all year round. The only peak seasons are spring and fall. The guests are coming tomorrow, how can I cancel today? Junhee won’t stay here long.”

“…….”

“Of course. She has to meet that guy. She’s starting work next month, how can she meet him if she stays in Nonsan? Oh, where? Taesan Motors. Of course. Those kinds of people start with a good position right away. They’re not like ordinary folks.”

“…….”

“Of course. Passing the bar exam is nothing. If Junhee sets her mind to it, she’ll pass easily. She’s just been unwell lately and stumbled a bit. I’m not worried about my granddaughter. Some mean-spirited people are mocking her now, but they’ll be envious when she becomes a judge or prosecutor. Junhee has someone backing her.”

Her grandmother straightened her neck and raised her voice. The person on the other end seemed excited too, saying, ‘Who dares mock Junhee? She’s such a good and upright girl.’

Her grandmother boasted about Junhee. It was a familiar scene and words from childhood, but now there were added explanations.

The youngest son of the Taesan family who cherishes Junhee. Our reliable backer. They’ll always protect Junhee and me, her grandmother. Even without a father, Junhee will always be okay because of them.

Her grandmother elaborated on how great Taesan Group was, even though the other person surely knew. She lamented about how hard it was to match their level, subtly boasting about earning money to keep up with them.

When did grandmother start talking like this? 

It’s been so long that Junhee couldn’t remember.

“Of course, of course. How much money do you think we’ll make in those ten days?”

Her grandmother’s eyes sparkled, and she smiled.

“Money is the best. After losing my husband early and my son and daughter-in-law, I realized that. Money is the best thing in the world. Isn’t it? Besides earning money, my only job left is to marry Junhee into that family. Then my duty as a grandmother is done.”

She laughed heartily, possibly exchanging jokes with the person on the other end. Junhee looked up at her strangely, then pulled the blanket over her head and covered her ears.

***

Her dad died.

It’s been a year and six months now.

That day, her dad climbed a ladder to replace the old slate roof and slipped and fell. Even then, he got up and laughed, saying he was fine. But since he hit his head, he went to the big hospital in the city in his van.

The hospital took an X-ray but found nothing wrong and sent him home. When Junhee called after hearing the news, her dad laughed, saying it was nothing, and apologized for worrying his busy princess.

He said he was driving back home with a clear head after the check-up. Not to worry at all.

— Look forward to it, my princess. When you come home, the roof will be all shiny and new. I hope you don’t mistake the house and go to the neighbor’s. I should call Bae Sung-man in advance to guide you if you get lost. Maybe even put up a sign saying it’s Junhee’s house.

Junhee’s house was a small one-story Western-style house, while Mr. Bae’s house was a new two-story house over 60 pyeong. Changing the roof wouldn’t confuse the houses, but as always, Junhee played along with her dad’s exaggerated jokes.

‘If I get lost, it’s your responsibility to find me.’

— Of course. I’ll come to get my princess. I’ll carry you on my back.

And yet.

After saying that.

Her dad collapsed that night and never woke up. They said it was a brain hemorrhage. Like something out of a drama, they said he became a vegetable. It sounded strange to Junhee. Her dad just looked like he was sleeping. He looked peaceful. His body was intact and warm.

So Junhee couldn’t let him go. 

There might be a miracle. 

She clung to her phone, reading about such cases. Even when her grandmother said to let him go, Junhee vehemently opposed.

But eventually, she accepted the hopelessness and removed her dad’s life support. She regretted it immediately. She wanted to reconnect it, but her grandmother stopped her. Even without the life support, her dad’s face was peaceful, and his body was warm. Junhee hugged his peaceful body and cried for a long time. Soon after, the doctor pronounced him dead.

Death was so futile.

At the funeral, someone said. 

‘Unlucky Mr. Woo died an unlucky death. It was pitiful.’

‘As a child, he lost a parent early, became disabled in a factory accident, and now died such an unlucky death.’

‘Why didn’t he go to a big hospital right away? Why did he climb that roof with his bad leg?’

‘He sent his only daughter to the best university and that hard-to-get-into law school. She was about to become a judge or prosecutor and make him proud, but Mr. Woo’s unlucky death made his daughter unlucky too. They were lives cursed with bad luck.’

They rambled drunkenly.

Then someone else said.

‘But they got a lot of money from the hospital. They settled with the hospital that misdiagnosed him. Junhee’s grandmother is incredible. She was always tough. I wouldn’t settle. If the doctor had diagnosed correctly, Junhee’s dad could have lived.’

‘Living people are important. He’s dead, what can you do? Her grandmother did the smart thing. Would fighting the hospital bring him back? Would they win the lawsuit? Lawsuits are money pits. Junhee hasn’t even finished law school. She’ll need money for her wedding. It was smart to get a lot of money.’

‘But isn’t she studying law? Why couldn’t she handle the lawsuit? What’s the point of sending her to Seoul if she can’t fight for her dad?’

‘She’s still young. She hasn’t even gotten her license. Her grandmother settled before she knew.’

‘Her boyfriend is some company heir, and her grandmother bragged a lot. Was that a lie?’

‘Maybe it was too awkward to ask for help. Or they’re not that close.’

‘Her grandmother handled it alone to avoid bothering them.’

‘It’s not easy to serve a wealthy in-law. How can you live comfortably, always watching your back?’

‘Stop it. The dead are pitiful. Mr. Woo, who suffered all his life, is pitiful….’

She had heard it all before, and though she was angry at people for gossiping about her situation, Junhee didn’t have the energy to get mad and just listened.

But the phrase “a life cursed with bad luck” strangely lingered in her mind for a long time.

The time that followed just flowed by.

Sometimes it felt like so much time had passed since her dad died, and other times it felt like it had only been a short while. 

In the flow of daily life, Junhee laughed, chatted, and played again, but then suddenly cried.

It felt strange that her dad was gone. It seemed like it was time for him to call. Just a month ago, during the last vacation, she had joked and played with him.

Even though her dad had died a long time ago, it felt like he had suddenly disappeared into the ground. Whenever the presence of his absence hit her, it felt like he had just died yesterday, leaving her feeling desolate.

Death was terrifying, and she missed her dad painfully. After her dad died, her grandmother did anything that made money. It seemed like she didn’t have time to miss him.

Even her body, which had always been strong from growing up in the countryside, started to show signs of strain. Her head suddenly felt heavy. She would feel a sudden surge of inexplicable injustice. She couldn’t read books or write anything with a pencil. She couldn’t handle the misfortunes that kept pouring in.

At that time, Junhee chose to run away. Naturally, she ran into Dowook’s arms. She sought comfort in his embrace and forgot about reality.

“Keep resting like this.”

Dowook whispered sweetly.

“Why struggle? I’m here. I’ll take care of everything, so you just stay as you are.”

She wanted to settle into that forever. She thought, ‘I have Dowook, so why did I struggle so much?’