Chapter 10

The race with Jang Gun-i continued.

The course was changed too. The distance increased, and the slopes became more varied.

We reached the frozen reservoir beyond the back mountain and caught our breath.

Beyond the reservoir, the tallest mountain in the area came into view. With nine peaks, it was called Gubongsan, and it stood at a whopping 360 meters above sea level. In regions with famous mountains and ranges, it might be scoffed at, but this was the west coast, where most mountains were modest.

‘It’s pretty tall.’

It looked like a smaller version of Gwanaksan, which Jin Hyuk often visited, and with all the rocks, it looked even more similar.

Forty or fifty years ago, tigers and wolves lived here, and until ten years ago, foxes howled every evening. It was still a sacred place where rare plants and wild ginseng were found. It was also known as a famous mountain filled with legends of ghosts and goblins.

Looking at Gubongsan, Jin Hyuk nodded as if making a vow.

‘Someday, I’ll climb that mountain every day.’

But for now, with his short legs, it was too much.

Kkiiing-.

Jang Gun-i’s bark sounded pitiful, as if he felt an inexplicable chill.

Jin Hyuk, who had been two knuckles shorter than the other kids, had become the tallest in his class after winter break. He was two knuckles taller than the second-tallest girl, Park Jeong-im. Still, he was just a ten-year-old kid, but it was remarkable growth. There were even older kids in higher grades who were shorter than Jin Hyuk, now in third grade.

***

Three lives.

Someone had told Jin Hyuk that beyond the dark curtain. That he could save three lives. Two of them were his parents.

“Jin Hyuk, you’ll have a little sibling soon.”

Embarrassed yet happy, Mom smiled like the morning sun.

Thump, thump-.

A sibling!

‘So the third one was a sibling!’

No wonder Mom had been feeling nauseous during winter break. I thought she wasn’t feeling well since she rarely went outside and walked carefully. Remembering how she held Dad’s hand like a bride, Dad must have known.

‘There’s no dad in this world you can trust!’

And everyone’s a wolf except me. Jin Hyuk muttered while rubbing Jang Gun-i’s belly as the dog lay on its back. This dog has too many fleas. No wonder his neck’s been itchy lately.

By the end of spring break, Mom’s belly started to bulge. Thanks to Dad, Mom wasn’t overexerting herself, but Jin Hyuk rushed home even faster, worried she might push herself.

Racing Jang Gun-i from the stream to the house was also an important part of his daily routine.

‘Jang Gun-i is really fast!’

It seemed like no one could beat Jang Gun-i.

No matter how hard he tried, gritting his teeth, flexing his muscles, or swinging his arms wildly, Jang Gun-i only got further away. Truly, Jang Gun-i was the undisputed sprint champion of Dunaeri. It was no surprise, given how he ran with Jin Hyuk every day.

“Huff-, huff! Jang Gun-i, let’s change your name to ‘Dog Lewis.’”

Hehehek-?

Jang Gun-i stuck out his tongue and tilted his head.

You’ll find out soon, Jang Gun-i.

In two months, at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, a sprinter with that name will appear.

He wanted to borrow a female sprinter’s name, but nothing came to mind. Greenpeace? What was it? It lingered on the tip of his tongue but vanished.

‘Dog Johnson’ might work, but it didn’t sound right.

Not just the sound, but it felt like putting medicine in dog food.

Finally, the time came as summer break approached.

Feeling uneasy, Han Yu-young urgently called her husband, who had been staying home, waiting.

“Oppa! I think the baby’s coming!”

“Jin Hyuk! Hold Mom’s hand tight!”

Dad went across the field to fetch Grandma Mikyung.

Dad wanted to go to the hospital, but as country folks weren’t used to giving birth in hospitals, he couldn’t break Han Yu-young’s insistence on having the baby at home.

Seoul and the countryside. The clash of two cultures often happened in unexpected places. Fortunately, they respected each other’s boundaries and opinions, so there was no conflict.

‘We need to light a fire.’

Jin Hyuk racked his brain for wrinkled knowledge. Even on hot days, a mother’s body could feel cold, and to prevent postpartum pain and gynecological issues, the room needed to be kept warm.

“Mom, I’ll go light the fire.”

He stroked his young mother’s forehead and headed to the kitchen. He put pine branches and twigs into the stove and skillfully lit the fire. It wasn’t hard since he often helped Mom prepare dinner after his afternoon workouts. His parents were always amazed at how quickly the fire roared to life whenever Jin Hyuk lit it.

‘Is Mom twenty-nine? Or thirty?’

A kid having a kid.

Jin Hyuk didn’t even think about how Mom had him at twenty. He chuckled but felt his heart race with excitement for the upcoming sibling. At the same time, he prayed for Mom’s safe delivery.

‘Please, please.’

Knowing a lot about the world wasn’t always good. The more you knew, the more you worried. How many mothers had complications giving birth at home? He’d even heard it happened in hospitals. Still, Jin Hyuk believed that knowing was power, not that ignorance was bliss.

He added thick logs to the well-lit stove. Pine branches and twigs burned well but quickly died out, so logs were needed to maintain the heat.

Steam rose from the pot, and the water heated up. He brought a washbasin to the room where Mom was lying and carried water from the cauldron with a ladle, making several trips.

‘If I spill it all at once, it could be dangerous.’

The truth that the more urgent the situation, the calmer you need to be was something he’d learned in a past life.

After carrying enough water, Jin Hyuk soaked a towel in warm water and wiped Mom’s hands, feet, and face.

“Mom, are you okay?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, my son. Mom’s strong.”

Strong, huh. She didn’t have much meat on her bones, but her bravado was no joke. Still, her expression wasn’t bad, and her complexion looked fine, so Jin Hyuk felt reassured.

“I’ll be right back.”

He soaked seaweed in water at the sink. He’d thought it was useless knowledge he’d never use, living alone past forty, but now it came in handy. Even in his nervousness, he found it fascinating. It seemed there was no such thing as completely useless knowledge.

Haa, haa-.

The color drained from Mom’s face. Her breathing was weak, and her eyes were half-closed like she was exhausted. Dad and Grandma Mikyung still hadn’t arrived. Should he call 119 now? How long would it take for them to get here?

“Ugh-.”

A faint breath and a weak pulse. Mom’s eyes lost focus, and her eyelids slowly closed. Something was going wrong.

This is the Mom I got back!

He screamed inside, holding Mom’s hand and placing his hand on her forehead.

“Mom, don’t lose consciousness. Don’t fall asleep.”

He prayed with all his heart.

That was all he could do.

***

It was cold and dark. A chilly wind blew from somewhere. There was no light, yet his vision was clear. A starless black sky, and before him, a river with dark waves.

He stroked the bulging belly that only protruded forward.

From behind, it looked like a young woman’s figure.

‘It must be a girl.’

Looking at the belly that didn’t spread sideways, he thought so.

Old folks used to bet on whether a pregnant woman was carrying a boy or a girl by looking at her back. If the waist looked slim from behind, they called it a ‘girl’s belly.’

It was strange to remember such things when he didn’t know where he was or who he was. Han Yu-young just thought it was how things were.

The baby’s vigorous movements slowed.

Though she’d suddenly found herself in a strange place, she walked as if she’d arrived where she was supposed to be. Who she was didn’t matter, and she had no curiosity about the baby in her womb.

The force that drives human life. The curiosity that makes life enjoyable and enriches the soul had evaporated, so she was no longer a person.

Was it regret? With every step, tears flowed without reason.

She realized the sorrowful waves before her were filled with the tears of the dead.

As she stepped toward the riverbank, a white arched bridge appeared.

Just as she was about to step onto the softly glowing bridge.

【Mom, don’t lose consciousness. Don’t fall asleep.】

A voice filled the dark sky with solemnity. It carried a grandeur that dared not be defied.

Han Yu-young withdrew her foot.

Mom? Is that for me?

Consciousness? I’m awake.

That voice, where have I heard it before?

She turned her head toward the voice.

As if to prevent her from opening her eyes, a strong wind blew. The black river raised waves as big as houses, threatening to swallow her whole. She felt she had to see something. A gut feeling that she’d regret it if she didn’t. Curiosity sprouted again, and human emotions stirred.

Is that a star?

A lone star shone in the black sky.

That star called her Mom.

She knew. It was a star shining just for her.

The faint starlight, weaker than a firefly, grew brighter and swelled.

Finally, a blinding light exploded, covering the whole world.

And then.

‘Ouch-.’

The baby in her womb kicked vigorously.

***

Mom opened her eyes.

Her complexion improved, and her blurry eyes cleared.

“I must’ve dozed off for a bit. You’re not supposed to fall asleep while giving birth. Jin Hyuk, stay by my side until Dad gets back.”

Han Yu-young was anxious.

Afraid she might fall asleep before her husband and the midwife arrived. And that she might not wake up.

The scene that had passed like a dream was burned away by the intense light, leaving no memory.

“Yes. I’ll stay by your side.”

Jin Hyuk was also anxious, so he held Mom’s hand tightly. Like cheering for a struggling sibling, he placed his hand on Mom’s belly and gently rubbed it. Through his palm, he felt the baby’s strong vitality.

*

“Waaaaah-!”

Finally, the baby’s first cry.

The two men waiting anxiously in the yard rushed into the room. Mom had given birth to Jin Hyuk’s sibling without major complications, and both mother and baby looked healthy.

Oh my!

‘Wow, so pretty.’

He didn’t know babies could be this pretty.

In his past life, he’d never been close to a baby, never held one, and hadn’t even married. Even as a newborn, his sibling’s features were distinct, and Jin Hyuk teared up as if it were his own child.

“Your family is truly blessed. The boy’s so capable, I’ve got nothing to do.”

Grandma Mikyung praised Jin Hyuk in her crisp voice.

From lighting the fire to warm water and towels, and keeping the mother clean. She said he was better than any midwife or doctor, praising him in front of his parents.

“Thank you, ma’am. You’ve worked hard.”

As Grandma Mikyung stepped out into the yard, Son Kwang-yeon followed. He respectfully handed her a yellow envelope with cash inside.

“Oh my! Don’t do unnecessary things! I’ll just go make seaweed soup and take care of the baby. Oh my, our Jin Hyuk is so smart. He even soaked the seaweed. What a kid…”

Oh, she wasn’t leaving.

Son Kwang-yeon scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

*

“Dad, what’s the baby’s name?”

Coo, coo-.

Jin Hyuk asked as he watched his sibling suckle at Mom’s breast.

“Yoo Jin. Son Yoo Jin.”

He must have taken one character from his wife’s and son’s names.

Jin Hyuk muttered his sibling’s name.

“Yoo Jin.”

It’s Jin Hyuk’s younger sister’s name.

Watching the newborn wriggle and suckle, Jin Hyuk thought.

‘I need to make money.’

His goal had been to live happily with his parents in the countryside. Dad was already wealthy, and he had no interest in wealth. But human dreams aren’t eternal. Still, Jin Hyuk had held onto the consistent goal of becoming a farmer for nearly ten months, so his resolve was quite firm.

Anyway, seeing his sibling, nine years younger, he vowed to be a good older brother. He wanted to be a towering tree, providing shade and blocking the wind.

‘Hah-, even when I’m twenty, Yoo Jin will still be in elementary school.’

Whatever.

Jin Hyuk felt like he could fly.

‘I have a younger sister!’

Thud, thud-.

He ran out into the yard.

He spread his arms wide toward the sky and spread his legs.

Then, standing on tiptoe like stretching, he shouted.

“Hooray-! Hooray-! Hooray-!”

He saved all three.

Even the sibling he didn’t have in his past life. It was an indescribable thrill. Even shouting hooray until his chest burst, the excitement didn’t subside. Tears threatened to pour out like a volcanic eruption. Like a stream swollen with monsoon rain, tears welled up, making his eyes burn.

Dad Son Kwang-yeon also came out into the yard and followed Jin Hyuk.

“Hooray-.”

“Waaaaah-!”

Han Yu-young, soothing the crying baby, shot a glance at her husband Son Kwang-yeon.

Seeing Dad’s pitiful expression, Jin Hyuk finally shed tears.

‘Ugh. It feels like she’s crying because of Jin Hyuk…’

But it’s okay.

Son Kwang-yeon smiled like a kind fool.

“Hehehehe-.”

“Ehehehe-.”

The two men kept laughing like idiots in the yard.

Though their laughter was different, they were thinking the same thing.

‘Dad will take care of everything.’

‘Big brother will take care of everything.’

Outside the gate, Jang Gun-i wagged his tail with a triumphant expression.

He’s got a new underling.