Chapter 185

<The Coward (2)>

*

Son Kwang-yeon’s expression was bright.

Son Kwang-yeon was a man who didn’t fear ghosts or the like because he was bold. However, his wife, being old-fashioned, was reluctant to take the children to a funeral home, worried it might have a bad influence on them.

Yet, she was also concerned, “What if no one shows up and it feels empty? What if loan sharks come looking for us?” Feeling sorry for her, Son Kwang-yeon thought it was a good thing when his eldest son volunteered to go along.

‘That’s my son. He understands and comforts his mother.’

That’s why they say, “That’s what an eldest son is for,” Son Kwang-yeon thought.

“Since we’re going anyway, anyone who wants to get some fresh air, let’s go together. I’ll handle the envelope.”

Regardless of the formalities, the meaning of a funeral is to comfort the bereaved, not the deceased.

Even though they weren’t blood-related, comforting the sister who had watched over his wife’s growth and left an indelible mark on her heart was as good as it gets. It was a decision and suggestion made for his wife.

Following Yang Gang-wook, Moon Seok-il, who understood Son Kwang-yeon’s intentions well, stepped forward.

“Everyone’s going. I’ll give you 10 minutes to change. Since Team Leader Yang isn’t here, Myeong Hyun-woo will take command.”

His charismatic demeanor was a far cry from the image of a man squatting and brushing dog fur while wearing sunglasses. The authority of the training camp commander was palpable.

It didn’t take long for the SSS to regroup in black suits without a word. Moon Seok-il, noticing Jang Jin-nam emerging with his bulging muscles hidden under a black suit, gave him a puzzled look through his sunglasses.

“Senior Jang, are you going too?”

“I owe Madam a debt of gratitude. I was hoping to join.”

It had been a long time since the entire SSS family went out together.

Excluding the agents on leave and those on duty, eight SSS members followed along.

Though he was the temporary commander, Myeong Hyun-woo had little to do at the small city funeral home.

“Senior Jang, don’t eat too much. You ate a whole cow yesterday, didn’t you?”

“Don’t fuss over what I eat. They say eating a lot at a funeral helps the deceased move on to a better place.”

“I’m just worried you might get indigestion, and Dr. Joo would be upset.”

It was early summer, and Jang Jin-nam had gotten a stomachache after eating grilled clams. His large frame required three times the usual IV fluids, making Dr. Joo Shin-young sigh.

“Shin-young always hated me. I was her senior, you know? I never bullied her, but she grits her teeth whenever she sees me.”

The seasoned soup was just right, and Jang Jin-nam focused on devouring it, ignoring Myeong Hyun-woo’s nagging. His large frame, with his mouth stained red, was quite a sight.

Myeong Hyun-woo sighed silently and scanned the room.

No suspicious individuals seemed threatening.

In fact, it was too quiet, with too few people.

‘It’s Sunday, the second day when it should be the busiest, but it’s too empty.’

Apart from Son Kwang-yeon’s family and the SSS, only a few middle-aged men were sitting around, sipping alcohol.

Seeing the faintly brightened faces of the bereaved after Son Kwang-yeon’s arrival, Myeong Hyun-woo understood Moon Seok-il’s intention in having all SSS agents attend.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

Myeong Hyun-woo’s thick neck twisted as he spotted Jin-hyuk.

Jin-hyuk, usually half-asleep and nicknamed “Sleepy” among the agents, was now wide-eyed, slowly rolling his pupils.

His tense expression, with his chin pulled in and neck hunched, made him look like a frightened puppy.

***

Though he had stepped into the funeral home, Jin-hyuk hesitated to move forward. He lingered at the back of the condolence line, holding Jeong Won-i, who was happily patting his brother’s face.

“Ung-ah, ung-ah. Mommy’s busy~”

Jeong Won-i, tired of squishing his brother’s face, whined to go to his mom. Jin-hyuk just watched, soothing him.

The sight of his father and the SSS agents in black business suits standing solemnly, and Kim In-rang greeting Jin-hyuk’s family and colleagues as the host.

“Thank you for coming.”

“In-rang, you’ve been through a lot.”

Children have the power to brighten any atmosphere just by being present. Kim In-rang, with his disheveled face from staying up all night, smiled brightly like a child.

“Ako~, our pretty Yoo Jin is here too?”

“Uncle, is the meat here tasty~?”

Yoo Jin also bowed her head in front of the portrait, following her dad and uncles.

Hello~. Seeing Yoo Jin greet the portrait softly, Hwang Ga-yun and Hwang Ga-young pressed their lips together, trying not to laugh at the unexpected cuteness. Their eyes sparkled as they watched Yoo Jin, their faces slightly swollen, probably from crying during the funeral.

They say even the most disliked people are forgiven in that moment. Unspoken words, unvoiced grievances, and deep resentments pour out as tears.

Crying and laughing. It’s a sight that seems ordinary to anyone.

That’s what being human is. Jin-hyuk, watching from afar, nodded inwardly.

“Why did you come~? Bringing the kids and all…”

“I came because I missed my sister.”

Mom, hugging and comforting Kim Eung-nyeo, Hwang Ga-yun, and Hwang Ga-young in turn, showed no shadow of sorrow. Smiling as she chatted with Kim Eung-nyeo, she looked like a warm sister.

Observing Kim Eung-nyeo and her daughters, Jin-hyuk unconsciously clenched his fists.

‘Their expressions… are so different.’

He had seen Hwang Ga-young from afar before, but this was his first time seeing the rest of the family.

Though their faces were familiar, their eyes and expressions were different from what Jin-hyuk remembered.

They looked like ordinary neighbors, with only a hint of fatigue.

No, they even seemed kind.

‘A whole new world.’

The theme song from a Disney movie that came out two years ago popped into his head.

What else could describe this? Even if the sentiment wasn’t what the creators intended.

Along with returning to the past, this felt like witnessing a wondrous magic.

“Thank you so much for coming… Please, have a meal first.”

Guided by Kim Eung-nyeo, the SSS agents took their seats at the low tables.

Their upright posture, still resembling active soldiers, added solemnity to the funeral home.

The weight they carried, something a criminal couldn’t mimic, made the men who had been drinking soju earlier roll their eyes. They shut their mouths tightly, as if they hadn’t been swearing just moments ago.

Observing the room, Jin-hyuk’s eyes wandered to the hallway, pretending to be distracted. He couldn’t bring himself to move, lingering awkwardly.

Even when Myeong Hyun-woo gave him a curious look, Jin-hyuk didn’t care. Calming Jeong Won-i and watching over Kim Eung-nyeo and her daughters were more important.

With so many people arriving at once, one less person wouldn’t be noticed…

“This is our eldest son~. Huh? Jin-hyuk, what are you doing over there?”

Ah, I’ve been spotted.

“Come here and greet her. This is the aunt Mom told you about.”

He couldn’t ignore his mom’s shining eyes.

The curious and kind gazes of Kim Eung-nyeo and her daughters gave Jin-hyuk courage.

How ironic.

Finding courage from the people he once feared.

A reunion after so long.

For Jin-hyuk, it was a significant moment.

No matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t find traces of the past resentment he once held. It felt like he had been possessed by the spirit of a strange world.

Holding Jeong Won-i, he cautiously approached.

Unlike Yoo Jin, a simple bow felt more appropriate here. Jin-hyuk lowered his head in respect.

“My, you’ve grown so tall. Thank you for coming.”

Though she spoke sparingly due to the mourning period, Kim Eung-nyeo’s eyes were filled with affection as she took Jin-hyuk’s hand and stroked it.

‘Ah…’

A memory he hadn’t recalled before came to life like magic.

During his first year of college, the last time Kim Eung-nyeo visited campus.

She had held his hand and stroked his cheek.

She had said something, but strangely, the words were lost.

Even though it was something he had experienced firsthand.

– “■■ ■■■■ ■■■. ■■ ■■■■ ■■■.”

Only the feeling of that day brushed his cheek like the wind.

Relief, sorrow, regret, pity, and avoidance.

Jin-hyuk had just stood there, expressionless and blunt, avoiding Kim Eung-nyeo’s gaze.

No matter how much he dug through his memories like an old photo album, there were no fragments of hatred or resentment toward Kim Eung-nyeo. Either time had eroded them, or they never existed.

‘I’m sorry.’

Jin-hyuk gently stroked Kim Eung-nyeo’s hand, sending an inexplicable apology.

He glanced at Hwang Ga-yun standing next to Kim In-rang.

When their eyes met, Hwang Ga-yun bowed her head.

“Thank you.”

It was hard to believe this was the same delinquent troublemaker.

Her round, smiling eyes seemed to say, “I’m a good person.”

Finally, he exchanged glances with Hwang Ga-young.

The nineteen-year-old high school girl with short hair pointed at Jin-hyuk with her index finger, her lips curling awkwardly.

“I know you.”

The student who ran around the schoolyard every morning, kicking up dust. Having coexisted in the same school but different buildings for three years, it would be strange if Jin-hyuk didn’t know her. Anyone who didn’t know Son Jin-hyuk would be accused of being a spy.

Summoning his courage, Jin-hyuk looked at Hwang Yeong-mo’s portrait.

Though it was just a photo, Hwang Yeong-mo was the only person who matched Jin-hyuk’s memories.

‘He looks a bit different.’

In the portrait, Hwang Yeong-mo’s eyes were looking in different directions.

In the past, even during their last meeting, his eyes had been fine. But in this life, it seemed he had developed a squint. There was no point in being curious or regretful now. He just assumed there had been some accident.

Jin-hyuk handed Jeong Won-i, who was clinging to him, to his mom.

“Ung-ah, ung-ah!”

“I haven’t greeted him yet.”

But since it’s in front of the deceased, I should show some respect.

The funeral rites are for the bereaved, not the deceased. Bowing to someone already dead isn’t a big deal. After much deliberation, the coward Son Jin-hyuk, who had come to the funeral home to avoid reporters, rationalized his silent tribute to an old enemy.

「Please offer flowers and a moment of silence for the deceased.」

It’s a relief I don’t feel like bowing.

He closed his eyes and bowed slightly in front of the portrait.

‘If you’re reborn, live a good life.’

Let’s consider our bad blood settled.

If you come back as a ghost and try to torment my mom, know that you’ll die twice.

He left a warning for Hwang Yeong-mo and a prayer to some higher power.

***

Son Jin-hyuk had always been plagued by emptiness.

He ate a lot, drank a lot.

Perhaps he was trying to fill the void in his chest with the habit of overeating.

Even after returning, it was no different.

“You must be hungry. Let’s eat.”

“Yes…”

But for some reason, he didn’t feel like eating now, even when Hwang Ga-yun offered him food. It wasn’t that the food was bad.

‘I’m not hungry. No, I’m hungry, but I don’t want to eat? Or am I full without eating?’

What is this…

It was as strange as the day he had run to school without stopping after returning to the past.

Everyone who knew Jin-hyuk looked at him in wonder, but the usually voracious Son Jin-hyuk only picked up his chopsticks to feed Yoo Jin some beef. He still held Jeong Won-i with one arm.

Hwang Ga-young, who had approached, watched Jin-hyuk’s expression.

When their eyes met, she hunched her neck like a scared child.

“Can… can I hold the baby?”

The natural behavior of a girl her age was new to Jin-hyuk.

Wondering how Jeong Won-i would react, Jin-hyuk turned so the baby could see Hwang Ga-young’s face.

“Oboo~”

Jeong Won-i reached out toward Hwang Ga-young.

Though he had grown quite a bit, Jeong Won-i was still a baby who babbled, having just passed his first birthday. Usually shy around strangers, he smiled brightly at Hwang Ga-young, as if acknowledging her as a good person. This eased his cowardly brother’s worries. Jin-hyuk handed the baby over without further hesitation.

“He’s so cute…”

Seeing Hwang Ga-young’s eyes light up as she held Jeong Won-i, Jin-hyuk found courage.

“Jeong Won-ah, say ‘nuna’~”

“Ung-ung~”

At home, Jeong Won-i would pout his lips and widen his eyes when he saw Yoo Jin. He seemed to like his new nuna.

“Oh my~? Nuna? Nuna?”

Hwang Ga-young looked as touched as a new mom hearing her baby call her “mom.”

Watching this tender scene, Hwang Ga-yun knelt beside them, joining the nuna ranks.

“Baby, I’m nuna too~”

“Aeboo~”

Slap-slap~

“Ow-ow~”

But Hwang Ga-yun wasn’t recognized as nuna.

Jeong Won-i’s firm hand struck her mouth, unforgiving of her nonsense.

“She’s not nuna~”

“Really? That’s weird. Baby, there’s only a three-year difference between us. I’m nuna too~”

“Aebboo~”

Slap-slap~!

“Ow-ow-ow~”

“She’s too old to be nuna~. Ahaha!”

Though the laughter was out of place for mourners, no one scolded them, and no one found it strange.

In any normal, ordinary human world, wherever there’s a baby, laughter blooms, and winds of reconciliation blow. Whether it’s a battlefield or a funeral home.

‘I’m glad I brought them.’

Jin-hyuk, watching the two sisters laugh brightly, didn’t even realize he was smiling contentedly himself.