This took a while. I’m going to work on manga translations for now, so expect part 4 to come out… eventually
“Just you go.”
What kind of dad can say that like he’s talking about chores.
Ah, before that I should simply explain our household situation for you to fully understand how I feel.
Right after Dad graduated high school, he cut off all his ties with his family and ran off to Seoul. Because of him, I’ve never seen any of my family on my dad's side. And to me, telling me to go by myself to give my condolences is what you're telling me to do, Dad. After you said that, did you expect me to say "yes, I understand?"
"And what about Dad?"
"I'm not going to go."
"Even at fifty years old you're stubborn like a child."
Even at fifty years old his fists only sting.
"I can't just go back after running away. But you go. Since you're my eldest son."
"You've got to be joking, Dad."
Wrinkles formed around his eyes as he spoke.
"Since when did you start constantly talking back to me?"
"You didn't know? I just started today, Dad."
It seems like adults often don't acknowledge that they've raised their own child. Rather than try and persuade me,
"If you don't want to go then get out of the house."
"Who does that?"
"I do."
He likes to threaten others.
Thinking about it, I should've left the house right then. I should've also thought about why Dad ran away from home to go to Seoul. But without even a thought, I lost to Dad's threat and could only think about leaving Seoul as I got on the bus line headed for the countryside.
After riding the bus for 4 hours and getting off, that's this world….. no I mean, that's Jirisan (TN: one of the most important mountains in all of Korea). Maybe it's because of Jirisan, but even the air itself is different.
…..that's right. It's hot. It's really hot. Seriously, it's so hot I might go crazy. Just the temperature itself isn't a joke. It's not that it's really humid, but even under shade it's hot. Even the breeze is hot. I didn't know that was because of the bus's air conditioner, but what in the world. Aren't mountains supposed to be nice and cool? It may have been because of the crazy weather, but the terminal was completely empty. But, of all places, there was a beautiful woman there.
Looking to be about my age, she gave off a cold appearance and was a pretty girl about my age group. But it was her attire, and the place she was wearing it, that immediately caught my eye.
She was wearing a modernized hanbok (TN: traditional Korean garment that is freaking hot in the summer). The hanbok was uniquely beautiful, but while it was designed to allow the wearer to move freely and comfortably, that's right. It's good up to here. Be it wearing a modernized hanbok, a suit, a kimono, a China dress, or a traditional African outfit, that's all a part of her liberties. But it's a different story when the hanbok is completely black.
That's right. Black. Like a night with no moon or stars shining, the kind of black you see if you enter an empty room and close the door. No wait, looking in-detail I can see a norigae (TN: a traditional ornament on hanboks that look like tassels) on her waist and there's a pattern on the skirt, but this doesn't change the fact that the woman standing in front of me is wearing a pitch-black hanbok on this hot day, with an expressionless face, standing in the sun, and without a single drop of sweat showing.
At a glance, she gives the impression that she wants to become a mannequin. She doesn't give off the sense that she's a living human. Definitely a feeling that she's a corpse that was connected to an invisible string and set there. But I could see her chest moving slightly so it seems like she's breathing; it must have just been my imagination. That's right. Instead of thinking about that, I should find a bus going towards my dad's family. I looked at my surroundings as I thought where could it be.
Then our eyes met.
A fearful chill strong enough to make me forget the heat for a moment swept through my back. That was just one of her footsteps, and it only got worse as she stepped closer to me. More than anything, her gaze was directed at me.
Is there someone behind me? I turned around and saw a bus with no driver in it. Ah, does she want to get on the bus beforehand (not sure, sorry). I stealthily stepped away from the woman's path. Then she altered her course to head towards me. All while looking straight at me.
One sec. What is this. Is this strange woman interested in me? The one wearing a short sleeved t-shirt, long pants, and sneakers. The one carrying a backpack with several changes of clothes packed inside. Ah, is that it. Is it my face. Quite humbly, I have to say I am handsome. Although this is limited to my reflection in the bathroom mirror. And this isn't the bathroom.
At some point while I was thinking these dim-witted thoughts, she approached and faced me. Before I knew it? I hesitated, moved a foot back so I would be ready to run away if necessary, and spoke.
"Seeing that foolish face, I can see that you are the young master, Sunghoon."
I lost the initiative to those strange words.
"Um, who are you?"
Sudden calling me young master. What is she saying, this woman.
"I am Saehee, the one who had no choice but to come here from the main house to fetch the young master."
"If you're from the main house, then you're grandpa's granddaughter?"
Ara? Does this mean she's a part of my dad's side of the family?
"You've misheard what I just told you."
Just then, my phone suddenly rang.