Chapter 62

#62 <Happy Mission>

“Gyunwoo and Jiknyeo went ‘tiril tilseok- aww-. Tiiril- til-. Ah, dinda.'”

Chomp chomp-.

Hong Soo-jung, who had been reading a book to Yoo-jin, ran her tongue over her gums.

Hong Soo-jung threw a handful of teeth she had saved onto the dirt roof of the house as soon as she came down to the countryside. Her grandfather had told her that new teeth would grow quickly if she did that. But the swallows still hadn’t brought her new teeth. The swallows were busy feeding their second brood of chicks. Mom and Dad were busy every day too, and they fed Soo-jung something every day. Am I a swallow chick? If I’m a swallow chick, then Mom and Dad are swallows too, and Dad, being a Gangnam swallow, must have lured Mom. But swallows have chicks twice a year, so why did Mom and Dad only have me once?

Like her mother, the little Seoul kid was also sinking into a deep stream of consciousness.

With a dazed look, Hong Soo-jung floundered in the swamp of consciousness, and Yoo-jin pulled her out.

“Ehe-. Did we do Chilwolchilseok here?”

“Ah, madda-.”

Hong Soo-jung searched with her eyes where Yoo-jin had pointed.

It was a part that was hard to pronounce with her current tooth arrangement.

Hong Soo-jung understood why the dads held their stomachs and laughed until they cried whenever she said something. Even she found her own pronunciation funny. But it was still annoying to see this clueless Son Yoo-jin smirking and laughing. When a second-grade unnie reads a book to you, you should say thank you, not act so rude.

Then, a savior appeared in Hong Soo-jung’s eyes.

A giant was leaning against the sunset with a thoughtful look.

‘Hee-.’

A reliable spot, as Dad had instructed, with saliva applied early.

The giant was someone who would readily agree to any request without hesitation or refusal. Cousin oppas and unnies found Hong Soo-jung annoying, but Son Jin-hyeok protected her like a bodyguard, afraid she might fall. He was taller than Dad and more handsome than her uncle.

‘Now all he needs is to get famous and make a lot of money.’

Listening to Mom and Han Yu-young ajumma, it seemed like you needed at least 50 million won to live in this neighborhood. They said it was a lot of money that kids couldn’t earn. Hong Soo-jung didn’t even have 500 won. You might wonder why the daughter of a rich family had no money, but Hong Soo-jung was unapologetic. The reason she had no money was that even though she got a lot of pocket money from various places, she hadn’t seen any of it since Mom took it. Yoo Se-ra’s mom said she should learn to spend wisely and never gave Hong Soo-jung more than 1,000 won. Other friends had 10,000-won bills in their wallets. Whenever she asked for more, this mom would use tricky words like “economic sense” and “account management” to drain Hong Soo-jung’s soul.

She was lost in thought again.

Hong Soo-jung shook her head vigorously to snap out of it and called the giant.

“Oppa-.”

Jin-hyeok, who had been staring at the doghouse, turned at Hong Soo-jung’s call.

The little Seoul kid with missing teeth shoved a book into Jin-hyeok’s chest.

It was a request to read the book.

The giant, reddened by the sunset, smiled. It was as gentle as a breeze.

“Alright.”

As he sat on the sofa and opened the book, the two kids clung to him.

Reading the book, Jin-hyeok managed to calm his troubled mind, at least for a while, despite Jang Gun-i.

“…And so, the magpies built the bridge. Thanks to the magpies, Gyunwoo and Jiknyeo could meet on the bridge and share their love.”

“Oppa, oppa. Did Gyunwoo and Jiknyeo feel sad?”

“Gyunwoo and Jiknyeo were sad, right?”

How should I know…?

He wanted to say that, but Jin-hyeok tried to be kind to the kids. Adults with adults, kids with kids, dogs with dogs. Everyone had their own groups, but Jin-hyeok felt like an outsider. He was fine being alone, but a sense of belonging was a different matter.

“They must have been sad and missed each other, but since they could meet again, they probably endured it maturely, right?”

“Hmm-.”

“Hmm-.”

It must have been difficult.

Both Hong Soo-jung and Yoo-jin scratched their heads for no reason.

“They say if you endure and overcome the pain, you grow as much as it hurts. So, Gyunwoo and Jiknyeo probably became more mature over time and weren’t as sad.”

“Growing pains?”

“Growing pains, right?”

Kids have good memories. They must have heard Yoo Se-ra say that and used it right away. But it felt like they were just throwing words around. Could that phrase really fit here? Jin-hyeok was puzzled but nodded anyway. It was up to interpretation.

“That could be it.”

Jin-hyeok maintained a smile, hoping that was the last question.

But Yoo-jin still seemed to have doubts.

“Bridge? What’s a bridge?”

Yoo-jin tilted her big, dark eyes.

Jin-hyeok pondered how to answer. What would be the best response for Yoo-jin’s level?

Hmm, he had already read that the magpies built the bridge, so was she asking about its purpose, its architectural style, or its design? Maybe she was asking about the metaphorical meaning. Yoo-jin was no ordinary kid, so it might be a question about constellations. In that case, explaining it as a galactic bridge connecting Gyunwoo and Jiknyeo’s stars might be appropriate.

Son Yoo-jin let out a light sigh.

The Seoul unnie and oppa are the same. They think for a long time when I ask something. Dad tells me right away.

Son Yoo-jin turned her head to look for her dad, who was in the middle of a big game. She ran straight to her dad, who was munching on grapes.

“Dad, what’s a bridge?”

Thoo thoo thoo-. Her dad spat out grape seeds and opened his mouth while keeping his eyes on the Go board. True to his elite status, surpassing human intelligence, he gave a quick answer.

“A motel. There’s a bridge motel on the way to Beomsan City via the town.”

Dad hadn’t been there, but he heard the facilities were nice. They even had an elevator. Son Kwang-yeon mumbled while picking grape seeds out of his mouth.

‘That dad is really…’

*

Jin-hyeok felt dizzy from his dad’s strange words.

Fulfilling his duty as the protective oppa, he took Yoo-jin and Hong Soo-jung to the yard for safety.

“Like this?”

“Yeah. Like that.”

Hong Soo-jung took out a black rubber band from her bag to play jump rope. She must have brought it from Seoul. She tied one end to the porch and had Jin-hyeok hold the other end while squatting.

‘She said she’s never done this before.’

After a drink, Director Hong Soo-jung would lament about her lack of childhood memories, saying she had no time to make friends because of all the academies and private lessons. She was sad about not having playful memories.

“One day in a remote countryside- when I woke up-.”

But now she plays clapping games with Yoo-jin and her mom and even jump rope. She sings happily without anyone joining in, jumping lightly.

‘It’s strange to realize how much the world has changed.’

They’ve slid on ice, ridden sleds, played in the water in summer, and gone on forest adventures. Thinking about it, Jin-hyeok had already created many memories in Hong Soo-jung’s life.

A sense of responsibility and fresh thoughts entered his mind.

Since they were already living in a different world, maybe there was no need to worry about being ordinary or history.

He used to worry and ponder. He was afraid the world might twist because of him. It wasn’t because he was a coward.

Jin-hyeok feared that some divine punishment might harm his family. It was a human concern of a trivial life, but he didn’t want his family to get hurt because of him.

‘If I were alone, I would’ve done all sorts of things.’

Not knowing the meaning of happiness, he might have planned and executed schemes to ruin the world. But now, he couldn’t live selfishly alone.

The happiness of family came with the heavy shackles of responsibility.

Even if it was some divine punishment, it was a welcome fate.

Jin-hyeok’s thoughts couldn’t continue.

Grrr-! Woof!

Grrr-! Yelp!

Perhaps curious about the jump rope game they didn’t usually see at home, Jang Gun-i came out and bit the yellow dog’s neck. The yellow dog had been waiting for it, but Jang Gun-i, the famous dog, wasn’t careless.

‘Jang Gun-i, you’re something else.’

Jin-hyeok turned his gaze to Hong Soo-jung, who was jumping over the rubber band. Let the dogs handle their own business.

“Oddeun-, Oddeun- what country is it-. Is it the white snow country-. Huff huff-.”

Seeing her panting, the little one probably needed a break.

It would be best to take the yellow dog to Choi Mi-kyung’s house before it died.

“Through the dangerous adventure road-. Huff huff.”

I want to see the puppy, but Jang Gun-i doesn’t seem interested. It feels like it’s already over. The yellow dog might be better off as a food delivery dog.

‘As they say, heroes have their matches.’

They say you have to be brave. Like Hong Soo-jung. Thinking it was a plausible saying, Jin-hyeok felt ridiculous and shrugged.

Sigh-.

Anyway, he sighed for Jang Gun-i.

‘Goodness. Who would’ve thought we’d have a guy who doesn’t even date in our house.’

What a loser.

Jin-hyeok shook his head.

For some reason, the head-shaking lasted a long time, and his expression was unbearably sad.

***

After safely delivering the yellow dog, they spent a peaceful night.

But Jin-hyeok’s peace didn’t last long.

“Oppa, let’s go to the reservoir-.”

“Go to the reservoir?”

“Yeah!”

Hong Soo-jung saved her words because she hated the dads who laughed every time she opened her mouth. She shoved a book in Jin-hyeok’s face. It was an exploration assignment, and the task was to collect reeds and submit them.

Wow, vacation homework has all sorts of things.

Jin-hyeok had also collected winter buds from four types of trees during the last winter vacation.

“Alright.”

“Hee-.”

Oppa is the best.

Hong Soo-jung, with all her front teeth missing, grinned.

Jin-hyeok held back his laughter until his face turned red.

‘So cute.’

Other friends would be going to arcades or playing basketball in the scorching sun. Jin-hyeok walked through the forest and rice fields toward the reservoir with two kids and a dog.

“Me, me-.”

Hong Soo-jung stomped her feet, insisting on cutting the reeds herself. Holding a small pair of scissors, she fussed while Jin-hyeok held her waist from behind to support her. It wasn’t the Titanic, but what was this…?

While doing so, he turned to look for Yoo-jin. Jang Gun-i was nearby, so he felt safe, but there were many snakes near the reservoir and rice fields.

‘There’s too much grass.’

Some snakes, called flower snakes, were misunderstood as non-venomous due to their pretty nickname, but Jin-hyeok was most wary of them. They hid in the grass along the rice fields and were active during the day, so they were often seen.

‘I have to take responsibility for the kids’ safety.’

The red-necked keelback. Its body is mostly mottled green with orange-red near the neck and scattered across the body. Unlike other venomous snakes, its fangs aren’t at the front. It secretes venom from the back of its mouth that causes internal bleeding and shock. Some say it’s more dangerous than the most venomous snake in Korea, the mamushi.

‘Was it a Japanese middle schooler or elementary schooler?’

Jin-hyeok remembered a case where a red-necked keelback had caused a person’s death.

The red-necked keelback is a venomous snake, and if a child were bitten on the gums, they could die in a short time.

But not many people in the countryside knew that. Jin-hyeok only learned about it during his military service.

“Oppa, I can’t reach.”

Jin-hyeok had no choice but to let go of Hong Soo-jung’s waist and grab her pants. Unintentionally, he also grabbed her underwear, revealing a mole. But neither Jin-hyeok nor Hong Soo-jung cared. Jin-hyeok focused on holding her, and Hong Soo-jung focused on cutting the reeds. They were professionals concentrating on their tasks.

Grrr-.

Maybe it was because he had been thinking about snakes.

Hearing Jang Gun-i’s warning bark, Jin-hyeok’s heart raced.

Just then, a snipping sound and the sound of cutting reeds came from the front.

“Kyaaaa-.”

From behind, Yoo-jin let out a piercing scream.

Jin-hyeok quickly turned and saw Yoo-jin collapsed on the ground.

Yoo-jin had been picking flowers on the rice field ridge, but something had happened.

A moment later, Jin-hyeok’s heart raced even more.

Grrrr-.

A short distance away, Jang Gun-i was shaking a snake over a meter long by its tail.

It was a red-necked keelback.