Chapter 9

# 9 < Three Lives (8) >

***

On the night of December 24th, white snow poured down heavily.

Jin Hyuk sat on the floor with his mother, wrapped in a thick blanket.

Behind them, a fir tree planted in a jar was adorned with colorful lights. Since there was no pot, it was planted in a jar, but Jin Hyuk ignored the Christmas tree because the sight of the jar alone ignited his competitive spirit. Inner peace is more precious than fleeting pleasures.

The world before his eyes was dark and cloudy, yet the entire world felt white and warm.

“When will Dad come home?”

He pressed the blue button on the digital clock, illuminating the clock face and its body.

*Click-.*

「09:21:05」

It was a neighborhood without a single streetlight.

Dad wasn’t usually out this late, but he had gone to the newly opened neighborhood store for a year-end gathering. All the adults in the village had gathered there. In households with only one child, parents either went together or, like Jin Hyuk’s mom, stayed behind to take care of the child.

While all parents love their children, this couple was particularly special. The mom stayed behind to look after Jin Hyuk. To think that they had to mature early and live through such times after losing their parents. Even without the cold winter air, Jin Hyuk’s nose tingled. No matter how hard he tried not to think about it, the thoughts kept coming.

It was like a scar etched into his heart, something that would follow him as long as he lived and breathed.

“Jin Hyuk, you must be sleepy. Should you go to bed first?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“They’re showing cartoons. Don’t you want to watch?”

It must be because it’s Christmas Eve.

Even though it was late at night, a Disney cartoon called *A Christmas Carol*, featuring the miserly Scrooge, was on. But isn’t that something kids watch? Jin Hyuk had grown up too fast to enjoy Donald Duck.

Though the black-and-white TV was fascinating to see after so long, cartoons weren’t really his taste. When would *Larva*, which he had enjoyed since his 30s, come on? Poor Yellow. Good kids always get the short end of the stick.

“I’ll go to bed when Dad comes home.”

“Hmm-, this is a problem…”

It really was a problem.

He was worried, just like Dad when he went out to the riverbank.

This must be why loved ones live together.

Because they worry.

[Hey, you little blue rascals!]

It seemed that after *A Christmas Carol*, *The Smurfs* was on. Gargamel’s voice could be heard from the living room. Even without an expensive turkey dinner or piles of gift boxes, Christmas was special. Being with Mom made it even more special. It would be even better if Dad were here too.

He rested his head on Mom’s lap. Her gentle hand stroked his arm. He must have closed his eyes for a moment.

“Jin Hyuk.”

“Hmm?”

“If you’re sleepy, go inside and sleep, baby.”

“I’m not sleepy.”

How long is she going to call me a baby?

It feels nice, but it’s a bit embarrassing. What would Mom think if she knew there was a man in his forties inside?

With all this snow falling, he felt uneasy that Dad hadn’t come home. In his past life, he had fallen asleep at home, unable to do anything about the cold snow, and the nightmares had started the next day.

“Jin Hyuk, why does Gargamel call the Smurfs ‘little blue rascals’?”

Isn’t that the kind of question kids usually ask their parents? Mom really has a girlish side to her. Her spirit is so pure, you could say.

But since Mom asked, he had to answer.

“I don’t know. They’re gray on TV.”

“Right, right?”

Repeating herself like that, she seemed so childlike.

“But the drawing paper at the stationery store has them colored blue. Maybe they look gray because the TV is black and white.”

“Ah, I see. Should we ask Dad to buy us a color TV? So our Jin Hyuk can see the blue Smurfs?”

“……”

I don’t even watch cartoons.

I’m already embarrassed carrying this Mechander V bag around.

But isn’t Mom cold? Why is she staying outside?

Her tender voice felt like a dream. The snow fell so heavily that the snowflakes made a soft rustling sound. A drowsiness he couldn’t resist crept over him, and his eyes slowly closed.

“Jin Hyuk, you should go inside and sleep.”

No, but why does Mom keep trying to send me inside? The snow was pouring down, but he wasn’t cold. Being with Mom made it feel warm instead.

In his half-asleep state, memories of the past floated up like a dream.

‘What did I do on Christmas back in the day?’

Home alone, *Love Actually*, *Die Hard*…

I even blocked the number of that not-so-close junior, Lee Yoon-sung, who bragged about his girlfriend dressing up as a sexy Santa. Why did he trust me, of all people, to keep quiet? The guy who kept hush-hush about buying a Mercedes was so excited he couldn’t help but brag. Was her name Ji-hyun? Hormonal slaves, the lot of them.

Still, as a true gentleman, Jin Hyuk gave a generous wedding gift at Yoon-sung’s wedding.

He cautiously cursed them.

‘Go ahead and get married again.’

I’ll live with my mom.

Grrr, woof-.

A low growling sound was heard.

It was Jang Gun-i.

Jin Hyuk’s eyes snapped open.

‘Did I hear wrong?’

His momentarily clear mind grew hazy again.

He lay down, resting his head on Mom’s lap.

‘I should stay awake until Dad comes home…’

A scene, whether dream or reality, seeped through his half-closed eyelids.

A dark silhouette swayed beyond the gate, and whispers tickled his ears.

‘Sleep?’

‘Sleep.’

Mom’s body seemed to sway slightly.

*Crunch.*

Someone made a footstep sound.

*Crunch-crunch-crunch.*

Ah, but it’s still audible.

Soon, rustling sounds followed.

“Ah-, our son. He must have fallen asleep waiting for Dad.”

Dad’s voice was heard, but Jin Hyuk’s eyes wouldn’t open.

Still, he felt relieved that Dad was home.

Dad carried Jin Hyuk to the bedroom.

Since it had snowed heavily and it was Christmas, the family decided to sleep together warmly.

“Oh my, that guy. Playing Santa is tough. Haha.”

“Shh-. He might hear.”

What’s he saying?

I saw him coming in wrapped in newspaper.

All the kids in the neighborhood would receive Christmas gifts wrapped in newspaper.

Probably candies from the store.

His mind was awake, but his body wouldn’t listen. They say the mind controls the body? Nothing controls a child’s body more strongly than sleepiness.

Jin Hyuk lay between Mom and Dad, enjoying a warm Christmas.

Mom’s hand soothing his buttocks, Dad’s hand stroking his head—how could they feel so warm?

‘I’m happy.’

He truly felt like a child again.

In his sleep, he tightly held Mom’s hand and pulled it close.

***

Jin Hyuk was very short as a child.

It might have been because he didn’t eat well, but he also thought it was because he lived hunched over.

*Huff-puff-.*

“Hey, Jang Gun-i! If you exercise hard, you’ll grow tall too.”

*Hehehe-.*

Jang Gun-i seemed to agree.

Even when it was cold and the roads were icy, he ran around with Jang Gun-i every day.

He never skipped stretching or massages.

Thanks to that.

By the time school started, none of his clothes fit.

He grew so fast that during the vacation, Mom had to add fabric and alter his clothes to make them longer. Despite her efforts, even Mom’s excellent skills couldn’t stretch the clothes any further.

Dad, happy that his child had grown so much, took the bus to the town to buy clothes. They had an ’88 motorcycle, but Mom stopped him, saying the icy roads and cold wind were too dangerous. Jin Hyuk also urged him not to go.

Waiting for Dad, who would take the bus twice a day, Jin Hyuk played with Jang Gun-i at the bus stop in front of Mi-kyung’s house.

“Jin Hyuk, it’s cold. Come inside.”

It’s fine, you.

That Choi Mi-kyung kid, she’s definitely trying to get me to help with her vacation homework.

She’s writing a made-up story with her left hand because of a diary ghostwriting promise. That alone was enough to make Jin Hyuk suffer. Even as he stomped his cold feet, Jin Hyuk didn’t even glance at Choi Mi-kyung.

“Your feet must be freezing.”

No, this is exercise.

Why am I speaking in dialect?

Is it complete local adaptation?

Choi Mi-kyung, without a word, pouted her lips and went inside, leaving Jin Hyuk stomping his feet.

Finally, the afternoon bus arrived.

“Jin Hyuk, Dad’s here.”

Whenever Dad went to town in winter, he brought tangerines, hotteok, and chrysanthemum bread.

They were Mom and Jin Hyuk’s favorite winter snacks.

Of course, Jang Gun-i liked them too. Since he didn’t eat the tangerine peels, Jang Gun-i was clearly a smart dog.

Mom dried the tangerine peels on the warm stove and made tea with them.

She added sugar to make it sweet, and thanks to drinking a cup every day, Jin Hyuk never caught a cold.

***

It was a day of heavy snow and biting wind.

“Honey! Honey!”

It was rare for Dad to call Mom so desperately and repeatedly.

So, it was predictable. He must have seen something creepy or scary.

Finding a snake was a typical example. In such cases, Mom would fend off the snake with a shovel or a stick, while Dad hid behind her and pointed fiercely at the snake.

They were a couple that made you suspect mutual TS.

‘Hehe, cute folks.’

But in the middle of winter, with the world covered in white, there was no way a snake would appear.

Mom, who seemed to have a slight fever, peeked out slightly through the window. Jin Hyuk asked instead.

“Dad, what’s wrong?”

“Jin Hyuk, over there in the vinyl house-!”

Dad pointed towards the persimmon tree.

In the vinyl house?

“I was trying to pull out some green onions-.”

And?

“The door, the door must have been open-.”

The door was open?

“- they went in!”

Usually, Dad spoke in a calm, low voice, flowing like water. But at times like this, communicating with him was harder than with Jang Gun-i. Not that he could tell Dad he was worse than a dog.

Jin Hyuk, who had been silently listening, couldn’t stand the frustration and asked.

“What is it?”

“Sparrows! There are five of them!”

Dad spread his hands wide like a child showing off the size of his palm.

Five whole sparrows.

Jin Hyuk, who had come down from the porch and was putting on his sneakers, almost lost his balance.

What to do with this Dad, who’s more excited than the sparrows.

“From what I can see, it’s cold and windy, so they must have gone in through the open gap.”

Ah, Mr. Hand. Now’s not the time for analysis.

There must be a reason he called “Honey” twice.

“The sparrows must have gone in looking for warmth. But why? Did they make a hole in the vinyl?”

If they vandalized the greenhouse, they deserved a righteous beating with a broom.

At Jin Hyuk’s remark, Dad’s expression turned into that of a kind fool for the first time in a while.

But it was short-lived.

Jin Hyuk saw a clear determination in Dad’s eyes.

The fiery look in Dad’s eyes was no different from that of a warrior facing the demon king who had killed his comrades.

“I want to eat them.”

“……”

A sigh as light as a feather escaped.

Jin Hyuk stylishly grabbed the broom leaning against the yard and headed to the vinyl house.

He imagined himself as Aragorn charging into Mordor for the final battle. But who knows Aragorn? Then let’s say Zhao Zilong from Changban Slope.

‘Poor things.’

But if Dad wants to eat them, I should at least try.

Dad followed Jin Hyuk, carrying a shovel.

“If you’re not careful, you might tear the vinyl. Just bring a basket.”

“Huh? Oh, should I?”

Jin Hyuk’s blank eyes followed Dad, who hurried back to the house. How this clueless young man became a wealthy farmer is truly a mystery.

*Whoosh-!*

“Poor-ugh!”

*Swish-!*

“Sorry-ugh!”

Though he had learned kendo, he had never used it in real combat.

With each swing of the broom, a sparrow fell to the ground.

Despite being small and quick, Jin Hyuk managed to hit the sparrows flying around the spacious area accurately.

“Wow, our son.”

There’s nothing he can’t do.

Son Kwang-yeon clapped his hands like a seal.

Though he had killed many fish, birds felt more like higher beings. The guilt was greater. Jin Hyuk didn’t feel great, but if Dad wanted to eat them, what could he do? He justified his killing.

They needed to be prepared. Mom wasn’t feeling well, and Dad would faint at the sight of blood.

‘I’ll do it myself.’

Jin Hyuk burned the sparrow feathers in the charcoal left in the stove. He cleaned the insides thoroughly and washed them with water. Now, he placed them on the grill over the charcoal fire. He also grilled the innards. He’d give them to Jang Gun-i.

“Jin Hyuk, can we eat now? It looks like it’s burning.”

Dad, who had been following Jin Hyuk around, crouched by the stove and asked.

He was drooling, craving the high-protein meal. Despite having more than enough to eat compared to other households, why was he like this? He had heard from friends raising kids that children with hand, foot, and mouth disease drool. Could Dad have caught it too?

“It needs to be cooked through. So the outside might burn a bit.”

Dad’s eyes shone with envy as he looked at his son.

This inappropriate look had been there since the flounder fishing days. Maybe it’s because Jin Hyuk’s soul age is superior.

*Tap-tap-.*

Sprinkling a pinch of salt, the salt met the charcoal fire with a cheerful sound.

His hand holding the grill was hot, so he switched hands a few times, then lightly twisted the wings.

They broke crisply, not like cookies, but just right.

“It’s ready to eat.”

He scraped off the burnt parts with a knife and cut off the heads.

He could have removed the heads while preparing, but he grilled them to give to Jang Gun-i.

Jang Gun-i, a smart dog who knew not to enter the kitchen, wagged his tail at the kitchen entrance. Jin Hyuk threw the sparrow heads and innards to him.

Dad, holding Mom’s hand like a bride entering, carefully stepped over the kitchen threshold.

The area with the stove was lower, and the area with the gas stove was higher, creating a step. The two adults sat on the step, picking at the grilled sparrows.

*Crunch-munch-* Watching his parents enjoy the meal, Jin Hyuk felt the reward of his killing. This is why people hunt. Maybe I’ll try catching a chicken this summer.

“Thanks to Jin Hyuk, we’re having sparrow skewers after so long. Jin Hyuk, have some too.”

Mom handed him a sparrow leg with a decent amount of meat.

Sparrows actually have very little meat.

Why do we eat these small, pitiful things? *Crunch-.*

‘Oh, it’s delicious!’

The salt wasn’t overdone; it was savory, crispy, and chewy.

After the sparrow skewer feast.

Jin Hyuk, having finished cleaning the kitchen, left the vinyl house door slightly open. Even the smallest gap is enough for wild animals to sneak in.

In the evening, Dad, still shocked by the delicious sparrow skewers, opened it a bit more.

Apart from the shock of realizing that the sparrow skewers he had as a drinking snack in college weren’t actually sparrows, the sparrow skewers were just too delicious.

The next day, the sparrows were gone, and all the green onions had frozen to death.