Chapter 252 – Meeting (1)
“A date?”
The scenery of the postpartum care center was as bustling as many housewives gathered. Every time she turned her head, there were overflows of people who came to give her cubby about the new Hunter housewife, and others who covered her mouth, praising her beautiful white hair.
Seong Ha-yeon was blushing in the midst of the barrage of compliments from her housewives, and she was wearing a light outfit, brushing her hair for no reason as she tucked her front end together. I was on the phone with Ichie, avoiding the tyrannical hands that either asked me questions or patted my pectoral muscles.
It was said that it would be a spectacle like this when a hunter-born mother, especially since it is not common for both husband and wife to be hunters, but since it was the first day, it seemed that they were especially curious. I said as I carefully pushed away the housewives’ hands and went out onto the stairs outside the postpartum care center.
“It makes sense. Please say again. What should I do?”
“It’s an honor to meet you. Water phenomenon. With my dad and mom We need to have a meeting.”
I tied the disheveled coat again and closed the emergency exit door. I looked at the cityscape, thinking that it was fortunate that the aunties hadn’t followed me this far. Today, Ichie was on duty at the guild. I leaned against the stair railing and asked.
“It’s such a sudden meeting. So, are your parents coming from Japan?”
“No. We have to go.”
“We? Ah…”
I nodded as I searched for Yoo-jeong’s car in the parking lot under the stairs. Ichie’s father was a famous yakuza. Rather than having him come to Korea to meet me, I felt like it would draw less attention if I went and met secretly.
“Father. He said he wouldn’t be able to come to the wedding, so he really wants to meet me.”
Ichie’s words made me worry. It was because Sung Ha-yeon was sitting on the bed in the postpartum care center and breastfeeding her child. She left her behind and went to her Japan, so her heart was not at ease. I said.
“Still, Ha-yeon is still at the postpartum care center, and it’s just the two of us going, a bit…”
“Supremacy. My father. It’s Yakuza. You never know when you’ll be in jail. And since it’s a meeting, bring your parents too.”
“…Yes.”
Having said that, I had nothing to say. I thought I should have a conversation with Seong Ha-yeon about this.
****
“Why? Well, it doesn’t matter just go You want me to never see your parents’ faces until I’m grown up?”
With the hem of her dress pulled down to below her shoulder, Seong Ha-yeon was breastfeeding her. She gulped her breast milk, her voluptuous breasts held tight with her fingers, my child spread out like her starfish. Seong Ha-yeon carefully supported her child’s head and looked at the woman next to her. The nurse at the postpartum care center looked at her posture and said:
“Yes. She’s in that position, she’s most comfortable with the child. Yes.”
Seong Ha-yeon then smiled and said.
“Yes. Thank you.”
I put her conversation between her and her nurse.
“But, since I’m still at the postpartum care center…”
“I have to go. Later, when you raise your baby at home, you wouldn’t even dream of going to Japan. So when are you going? Wait until the baby is five years old?”
What she said was right. The nurse listened closely to our conversation and asked Seong Ha-yeon.
“Oh that… Are you Japanese?”
“Yes?”
“No, I heard that you are going to Japan for a meeting… You speak Korean very well.”
Seong Ha-yeon widened her eyes at her nurse’s question, and she chuckled and tapped me on the shoulder. In a matter of seconds, she had mastered her baby-holding position, and naturally held her child with one hand. And she said, grabbing her by my collar and pulling me to the side of her bed.
“Ah, I am Korean. My husband’s lover is Japanese.”
“…Ah.”
The nurse looked at me briefly with contempt, then shook her head and left. I said, straightening the collar she held on to.
“No, Mr. Hayeon. If you say that, you misunderstand.”
“What is there to misunderstand? It’s true.”
“…I see.”
Looking back, there was nothing wrong with that. Because it was right on a scale from one to ten. After the postpartum care center is over, I’m not going to see her again anyway, so I decided to just assume that. She patted me on the back and said.
“Go. Go and say hello to my share.”
“Yes. All right.”
*****
“So, did you decide to go to Japan?”
“Yes.”
In Senior Yoo-jeong’s car, I nodded. Her question was full of laughter. It seemed that she, too, was very happy with the fact that I was going to the meeting. She said.
“It will be fun. Buy me a present too. I wanted to have it. There are cartoon character dolls that are popular on the Internet these days. That otter-looking kid.”
“Ah, is that it?”
A character with a blue body and an otter-like face has been popular in Korea these days. When she thinks of Japan, only that image seems to come to mind. I asked her once again.
“Really, is it okay if I go?”
“I heard that Ha-yeon said it was okay too? If not now, I don’t think there will be time for a meeting, but I think it’s better to go now.”
“Is that right?”
She gave me a nod and then gave me a slap on the back. And she said:
“By the way, my dad wants to have a drink with Suhyeon next time. How about it? He said he wanted to talk honestly with men.”
“That is kind of scary. Can I not go?”
Senior Yoo-jeong laughed at her words, which were half serious and half-joking, and shook her head. I trembled with fear as I thought of what the thief who took my three daughters would look like at the upcoming meeting.
*****
“So, should I go to Japan?”
“Yes. Father.”
It seemed like he was talking to his father after a long time. When was the last time you talked to your father? I guess I hadn’t had a proper conversation since I was caught shaking in my room. Both my father and I were doing our best to forget what had happened at that time, but I couldn’t help but hear hallucinations in my head every time our eyes met.
[Uuuuu!]
Did my father hear the hallucinations at the same timing as me? He blinked his eyes, shook his head and said:
“To say Japan, you are such a great guy. Dating three girls? Is that one from another country?”
I couldn’t think of anything to refute at the tone that sounded like I was full of energy. With a wry smile on my face, I had to apologize deeply for a crime I didn’t even know existed.
“Sorry.”
“Yes, so what kind of family is that Ichigaya Ichie girl’s family? Uh?”
Father and mother had never been formally introduced to Ichie. I rolled my eyes at how I should explain Ichie’s family to my father, and then I remembered a story Ichie had used to describe his family.
“I heard that you are running a construction company?”
“Construction company? Isn’t that what pure lambs do? Uh? In my time, those thugs just set up a service.”
“Oops, no. It’s a clean company. A clean company.”
Lying to my father stung my heart, but I decided to deny it anyway. Because of my father’s personality, it was clear that if I ever met a yakuza daughter, he would absolutely oppose it. You looked at me with a disapproving face when I said no, but you nodded your head and said, as if you couldn’t ask further questions here.
“Okay, let’s go and see each other. But, why didn’t you bring that child, Ichie, today?”
“Ichie is on duty at the guild today.”
“Being on watch? Is there a duty in the guild?”
“Yes. Each guild has a duty on duty to prepare for gates that open during special times at night, and Ichie is on duty today.”
“You must have some skills as a hunter. Back in the day, hunters were not considered hunters unless they were C-class or higher.”
“Dad, that was all a long time ago. Regardless of rank, Hunters are always struggling.”
“Okay? Oh, the world has gotten better.”
My father was always like this. He always acted like an expert even in a field he didn’t know, and he was a person who couldn’t control your subjectivity. I was worried that such a father would have an accident at the meeting.
After the story, my mother held my hand as we were about to leave.
“Soohyun. Eat and go.”
Hearing that, I wanted to eat home-cooked food for the first time in a long time. The dishes made by senior Yoojeong and the dishes Ichie practiced were all delicious, but sometimes I wanted to eat my mother’s home-cooked meals. I haven’t seen her mother in my arms in a long time.
“Oi, what’s wrong, you bastard. Uh?”
“Oh, Mom. What is your meal today?”
“I made kimchi stew.”
“Ah, kimchi stew is good. I’ve eaten here and there, but my mom’s kimchi stew is the best.”
“Yes?”
The pot boils on the bubbling gas stove.
*****
“Uncle. Soo Hyun Sang. We decided to go to Japan together. Airline tickets. I’ll make a reservation for that date.”
“…Uh, that’s…”
While Ichie was making the phone call in a bright voice, he felt that Noboru’s voice was somehow dark and raised his eyebrows.
“Uncle. What, is there a problem?”
“Uh, that…”
Noboru was watching TV.
[Ichigaya Yamataro, Emergency Arrest]
“Uh… !”
A storm passed through Noboru’s chest.
