Sunmyeong Halmeoni waved her hand, putting on a joking air.
“Aigoo, when you get to my age, everything hurts. There’s not a single part that doesn’t ache.”
That’s just how it is.
When you get older, chronic pain comes with the territory.
The kind of persistent pain that makes every joint throb, your bones ache—that kind of chronic pain.
But what Halmeoni is suffering from now is different.
“If that’s all it is, why did you go all the way to the Big Hospital?”
If it was just chronic pain, Halmeoni would have gone to the neighborhood clinic.
But today, nobody in the neighborhood saw Sunmyeong Halmeoni.
“Halmeoni.”
“You kids, honestly. It’s natural to hurt when you get old.”
Halmeoni just kept up the pretense, never denying it.
She simply smiled gently.
As I kept watching her, eventually Halmeoni opened her mouth to speak.
“You’re so stubborn, you know that?”
“Please, just tell me.”
“It’s nothing. I was just walking and tripped over a stone, and now my leg hurts, that’s all.”
“That… that didn’t happen today, did it?”
Thinking back after hearing her words, I realized that Sunmyeong Halmeoni’s gait had seemed a little awkward lately.
It was only now, because she tried so hard not to show it, that I’d finally noticed.
“It’s been a few days. I thought it’d be fine with some medicine, but they told me to go to the Big Hospital. So that’s where I went today.”
They told her to go to a bigger hospital.
Those words landed heavily in my chest.
It’s just my guess, but maybe there’s a bigger issue than her leg.
I steadied my tightening throat and tried to act natural.
“What did the hospital say?”
“They said it’s Cancer. Apparently, it’s quite advanced. They said I should be admitted, but I told them there’s no need for that.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Changseong-ah.”
Sunmyeong Halmeoni held my hand.
Her hand was soft, yet full of warm life.
As I felt that warmth, Halmeoni spoke kindly.
“This old woman is already seventy-six, you know. It’s a wonder I’ve come this far without ever being seriously ill.”
“Halmeoni.”
“No matter what others say, I have no desire to live a long time hooked up to an Oxygen Respirator, barely hanging onto life. I just want to live according to the Natural Order.”
“…Please don’t say things like that. You have to live a long, long time.”
“You’ll understand when you reach my age.”
Having lived nearly to sixty in my previous life, I can’t say I don’t understand Sunmyeong Halmeoni’s feelings.
I didn’t want to be a burden to my own children either.
That was part of why I worked so desperately.
“Still…”
Just as there are people Halmeoni worries about, there are people who worry about her.
It’s not just me—Hyeonseo, Hyeon-ung, and even Sanghyeon Ajussi all care for Halmeoni deeply.
So what should I do…
Halmeoni gently stroked my head and spoke.
“Thank you for worrying about me.”
“Halmeoni.”
“If you’re that worried about me, would you make me some delicious tea? These days, the only joy I have is drinking a cup of tea at the Yangjibareun Tea House.”
At her words, something clicked in my mind.
A few theories came to me, and I quickly cross-examined them.
It didn’t take long before I was convinced.
“Halmeoni, please wait just a moment.”
First, I called Hyeon-ung.
Fortunately, before the phone rang more than a few times, I heard his voice.
– Yeah, what’s up?
“You’re done with work, right?”
– Of course. I’m just resting now.
“Then bring Hyeonseo and come to Sunmyeong Halmeoni’s place.”
“Aigoo, what’s this about now, you rascal.”
Sunmyeong Halmeoni, who was listening beside me, tried to stop me.
She probably wanted to hide her pain thoroughly, but I couldn’t let that happen.
If Halmeoni stopped coming to the tea house every morning, I’d worry so much I wouldn’t even be able to sleep.
“Come as soon as you can.”
– Hyeonseo’s sleeping. But alright.
Without asking any more, Hyeon-ung hung up.
He may not be very perceptive, but he isn’t so dense as to miss the tone of my voice.
He must be tired from working all day, but today, he has to help a little more.
“If you wait just a bit, the kids will be here.”
“You, are you planning to tell the whole neighborhood you need to build my coffin?”
“Why would I build your coffin, Halmeoni?”
I’m doing this so that won’t happen, but if I said that, it would just make things more difficult.
***
After waiting a bit, I heard a car outside.
I didn’t even have to look to know who it was.
“Sunmyeong Halmeoni, we’re here. Changseong-ah, are you inside?”
“Oh, you came? Thanks for coming.”
“Geez, isn’t it a bit much to wake up a sleeping person just to bring them here?”
“It was worth it. Come in for now.”
“Hyeon-ung, Hyeonseo, is that you?”
Sunmyeong Halmeoni put on her shoes and came out to the yard to greet them.
She should just be resting, but I guess that’s not in her nature.
The Hyeon siblings quickly ran over to Halmeoni’s side.
“It’s been a while, Halmeoni.”
“Yes, it’s been two days, hasn’t it? Was it tough coming here? Did you have dinner?”
“We already ate dinner, so don’t worry about us.”
“But Halmeoni, are you… sick somewhere?”
Sharp-eyed Hyeonseo quickly noticed that Sunmyeong Halmeoni wasn’t feeling well.
If it had been Hyeonmungi, he probably wouldn’t have noticed, and I’d have spent ages explaining.
Waking Hyeonseo up to bring her was the right choice.
“She went to the Big Hospital today. Seems like she’s not doing so well.”
“Halmeoni! Seriously, you should have told us right away if something was wrong!”
“I’m not deaf yet, you know. You don’t have to shout. How could I tell you when you all worry so much?”
“How could we not worry? It hurts, you know!”
Hyeonseo clung to Sunmyeong Halmeoni as if she were her real grandmother, voicing her disappointment.
Sunmyeong Halmeoni smiled awkwardly at Hyeonseo and stroked her hair.
“Aigoo, such a pretty thing. You only say pretty things.”
“Then introduce me to your grandson, Halmeoni.”
“How could I introduce you when you’re so precious, Hyeonseo?”
“You just don’t want to, do you?”
This kid.
Hyeonseo stuck close to Halmeoni and chatted away like a friend.
Maybe because Halmeoni, who’d always been so lonely, now had someone to talk to, her face gradually softened with warmth and a smile.
As I watched that scene, Hyeonmungi came over.
“So that’s why you asked us to bring Hyeonseo, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why’d you call me too? You could’ve just brought her.”
Hyeonmungi can’t handle people as affectionately as Hyeonseo does.
He may seem indifferent, but there’s something I need him to do as well.
“When you come to the tea house in the morning, can you bring Sunmyeong Halmeoni along?”
“To the tea house?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Isn’t that too early?”
The time they leave for work is so early the sun hasn’t even risen.
Even considering that Sunmyeong Halmeoni is an early riser, it’s still quite early, so their suspicion was only natural.
There is a real reason, but I can’t say it, so I trotted out a prepared excuse.
“If Halmeoni doesn’t come to the tea house tomorrow, I won’t be able to stop worrying.”
“I’d feel the same.”
“So if it’s okay tonight, I’d like you to help. I have to check on No-Rani and Naru.”
“Alright, got it.”
“And don’t tell anyone else.”
“You don’t want them to worry, right?”
“That’s right.”
It’s better for just the Hyeon siblings to know than to have a crowd making a fuss.
“Once you bring her in the morning, I’ll take care of Halmeoni from there. Please help me out.”
“Got it. All we have to do is bring her to the tea house in the morning, right?”
“If there’s anything at home that needs doing, help out a bit too.”
“You don’t even have to say that.”
As if it were a given, Hyeonmungi patted my shoulder and then went to stand by Halmeoni.
With the siblings glued to her side like that, I felt a bit relieved.
Today, at least, I could leave without worry.
“Halmeoni, I’ll head out first.”
“It’s already dark—why not stay the night?”
“The kids are waiting for me. Instead, please come to our tea house early tomorrow morning. The kids will come pick you up.”
At my words, Halmeoni’s expression faltered for a moment.
But then she smiled softly and patted my shoulder a couple of times.
“Such a good and kind one. The kids must be waiting a long time for you. Hurry along now.”
“Yes, Halmeoni. Have a good night, and see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, yes. Rest well, dear.”
I waved to Halmeoni and headed for the Yangjibareun Tea House.
***
As soon as I stepped into the tea house, No-Rani ran up and clung to my leg.
“Ajusshi, where did you go!”
“Did you wait long? Sorry. I had somewhere urgent to be.”
“I thought you’d gone far away!”
No-Rani’s words made my heart sting with guilt.
I wondered if No-Rani had felt the same way the day after Grandpa left for his long journey.
As I patted No-Rani’s head, Naru came over and spoke softly.
“No-Rani was really worried. He was afraid you might not come back.”
Hearing this made me feel even more sorry.
I hugged No-Rani tighter.
“Don’t worry, No-Rani. I’d never leave you and go far away.”
“…Really?”
“Really.”
“That’s a promise.”
At my words, No-Rani nodded and buried his face in my shoulder.
Naru watched the scene a few steps away, a faint smile on her lips.
“Naru, were you worried too?”
“…I heard people are different from spirits. So fragile, and also…”
Naru swallowed her words.
Even so, I think I knew what she wanted to say.
“That people die easily, right?”
The image of Sunmyeong Halmeoni’s pained face flashed before my eyes.
If things went according to the Natural Order, the moment Halmeoni set out on her long journey might not be far off.
But I had no intention of just watching that happen.
“Kids, I’ll be going home a bit late today. Would you go ahead?”
“Why?”
“There’s something I want to try.”
Not just the tea leaves here, but the flowers and fruits too, are all special.
Ingredients not of this world.
Until now, I’d only used what I needed, as needed.
But from now on, it’s different.
I need to understand everything, realize it, and make use of it.
“It’ll take a while, so if you want to—”
“I want to stay with you!”
No-Rani raised his hand.
I could see in his eyes that he didn’t want to be apart from me at all.
Naru was the same.
“I want to stay with you too.”
“It’s going to be boring, though?”
“That’s alright. I just want to watch.”
Since I’d decided to respect the children’s wishes, I nodded.
Instead, I made one request.
“If you get tired, you have to go to sleep. I’ll get you a blanket and pillow.”
“Okay!”
“I won’t make you worry.”
“Good. If there’s anything you want to eat, just tell me. I’ll make anything you want.”
“Then tomato pasta!”
No-Rani bounced up and down, chanting for pasta.
Naru tried to calm No-Rani down, but she looked at me as if she wanted tomato pasta too.
Come to think of it, the kids hadn’t even had dinner yet.
Let’s start with dinner first.
Everything else comes after.
“I’ll make it right away. Just wait a bit.”
“Yay!”
***
It was still only 4:30, before sunrise.
A single ray of light crept in through the tea house window.
Only one car would be running at this hour.
“Halmeoni, be careful.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s there to thank me for?”
I could hear the voices of the Hyeon siblings and Sunmyeong Halmeoni one after another.
I opened the tea house door first, and Halmeoni greeted me with a gentle smile.
“You’ve already opened up the tea house? Is it because of me?”
“It’s because I have something to give Hyeon-ung and Hyeonseo. Don’t worry about it.”
“My, you say such pretty things.”
“Please, come in quickly.”
Worried she’d catch a cold in the early morning air, I hurriedly ushered Halmeoni inside.
After guiding her to her usual seat, I handed the siblings their tea.
“Here, today’s tea. I used some different first leaves and brewed it strong. It should help with your fatigue.”
“You could have just given us what you usually do.”
“Hyeonmungi, you can’t sleep well when your bed changes, right?”
“That was ages ago.”
“Do people change that easily? Just take it.”
“Thank you.”
As I handed the cup to Hyeon-ung, Hyeonseo asked,
“What about the kids?”
“They’re sleeping in the small room inside. I told them to sleep at home, but they insisted on staying here. They must be really tired.”
The two kids were fast asleep, hugging each other tightly.
It was nearly midnight before they went to bed, so it would be a long while before they woke up.
Hearing this, Hyeonseo whipped her head around and looked at me.
What’s with her now?
After peering into my eyes for a bit, Hyeonseo suddenly asked,
“Did you stay up all night?”
“…How did you know?”
“Woman’s intuition?”
A woman’s intuition is scary, as always.
There were plenty of times in my past life when her intuition sent chills down my spine.
Still, I didn’t look tired at all… How did she figure it out?
“Hm? Did you stay up organizing things?”
“It’s not that. There was just something I wanted to try.”
“Does it have to do with Sunmyeong Halmeoni?”
“In a way, yes. By the way, nothing happened during the night, right?”
Hyeonmungi glanced at Halmeoni to read her mood.
Halmeoni was quietly gazing at the far-off darkness.
Looking at her like that, Hyeon-ung spoke in a low voice.
“There was.”