Chapter 32: A Magical Moment

Why is it that just by standing there, my father looks so cool?

Seriously, no matter whose dad he is, he really is amazing.

He doesn’t even need a photo shoot.

I found myself staring at him in a daze.

"Hey, kiddo. Let’s open the presents togeth—mmph!"

The one who clamped his hand over Uncle Cheolgu’s mouth was the quick-witted bodyguard, self-proclaimed Number Two, Yu Jong-tae, the chief of my security team.

Yu Jong-tae signaled to the Taeseong Group bodyguards.

"Guys, get this clueless bear out of here."

"Yes, sir!"

"Mmmph! Mmmph!"

Even though seven Taeseong Group bodyguards rushed him, Uncle Cheolgu just stood his ground, muscles bulging.

As the bodyguards stared at him, eyes wide in disbelief, Yu Jong-tae shot him a glare.

"This is the first time the father and son have met today. Where do you think you’re butting in?"

"Mmmph? Mmmphmmm..."

Uncle Cheolgu calmed down in an instant.

And so, he was dragged out, feet scraping the floor.

I hurried over and stood next to my father.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I was just thinking, ‘You must be disappointed.’"

"...?"

My father fell silent mid-sentence and clamped his mouth shut.

Instead, he gently stroked my hair.

"Because I came empty-handed."

Empty-handed.

That phrase carried so much meaning.

I deliberately turned my head away, pretending not to notice.

Toward the flashy gift boxes my grandfather had brought.

The ones Chief Go had piled up like a mountain under the Christmas tree.

"It’s okay. I don’t need any of this. You’re my present, Dad."

I meant it.

My father smiled gently and rummaged through his bag.

"Then, at least let me give you this."

I was curious.

But before I could see, my father lifted me up and set me on his shoulders.

A piggyback ride.

"Wow!"

My whole perspective changed in an instant.

The brilliant crystal chandelier looked close enough to touch.

I couldn’t help but break into a wide grin, so excited.

Father stretched out his other arm.

Click!

Whirr.

It was an instant camera.

The kind most people call a Polaroid.

At this time, they probably hadn’t been officially imported to Korea yet.

"Wait a moment. Soon, something magical will happen."

My father fanned the Polaroid photo.

As the seconds passed, the faces slowly came into focus.

"Ahhh…!"

My father and I were smiling wide, the Christmas tree behind us.

Anyone would know at a glance we were father and son.

Our expressions matched perfectly.

"It really is like magic."

"Isn’t it?"

To take a photo together with my father like this.

To me, Dad, that’s nothing short of a miracle—a true magic.

Though you may never know.

---

Woo Gwang Construction, President’s Office.

The president of Woo Gwang Construction was beside himself with rage.

It was all because of the flood of complaint calls coming in as soon as he got to work.

"Assemblyman Kim, please calm down and explain slowly. I’ll confirm the facts first—Assemblyman Kim? Hello?"

The call had already been cut.

"How many calls is that now!"

Bang!

The president slammed the phone down so hard it nearly shattered.

"Why are those damn Assemblymen running their mouths about getting sick from taking bribes at the crack of dawn! Those cursed bastards!"

His insides boiled with fury.

"When I offered money, they rushed over, bowing and scraping, ready to give up their liver and gallbladder! But now, suddenly, they act like they’ve never seen me and turn on me? Ungrateful sons of—!"

Riiing. Riiing!

"Pull out those damned phone lines immediately!"

"Yes, sir."

Finally, the office was a little quieter.

But the president was already wound up tighter than a spring.

"Unless these bastards all went mad after eating rat poison at the same time, there’s no reason for them to all start this nonsense at once."

There’s an unspoken rule about bribes.

If you take the money, you shut up and do your part.

To go rabid and attack your benefactor before you even do your end is blatantly breaking the rules.

‘Politicians, every last one of them, are seasoned pros. They’re not ignorant of the rules, so they must be doing this for a reason.’

Knock, knock, knock. Bang!

"Sir! The Vice President is urgently requesting a phone connection! He says it’s an emergency!"

"What’s with everyone today? Even the Vice President’s panicking?"

"The Vice President is at the Taeseong Hotel, signing a technical agreement with Japanese officials. If he’s calling in such a hurry, then something must have—"

"Don’t tell me something went wrong during the technical agreement?"

The president’s face changed.

Taeseong was a different story.

Woo Gwang’s construction—especially civil engineering—was several steps behind Taeseong’s, or so the industry said.

That’s why he’d spent so much time and effort trying to bring in Japanese technology.

"If we can’t get the Japanese underground civil engineering methods, we won’t even be able to start construction on Subway Line 2! We’ll have to pull out!"

Where had it all gone wrong?

Negotiations with the Japanese side had been smooth.

They had smiled, promising a bright future together.

"Secretary Choi, plug in the phone line right now!"

"I just finished reconnecting it…!"

Riiing!

"Is that the Vice President?"

-President! It’s a disaster! Yoshimoto from the Japanese Ministry of Transport and the head of Japan’s Metropolitan Express Transit Authority—all of them say they’re returning to Japan!

"What?"

Just yesterday, everything had been going so well, everyone in high spirits.

-They’re scheduled to leave in three hours! Right now, there’s even a brawl trying to stop them from getting into taxis!

The president of Woo Gwang Construction leapt to his feet.

"Stop them! Don’t let them get to the airport! Tear up their plane tickets! Take their passports!"

It might be a huge diplomatic blunder, but now wasn’t the time to care.

Just grab them first and work things out later.

You could always smooth over rudeness with enough sincerity—and gifts.

"Do whatever it takes! Hold them off until I get there!"

He tossed the phone aside and dashed out.

Secretary Choi chased after him.

As soon as the president got in his car, he yelled,

"To Taeseong Hotel! Full speed! Step on it! Floor it!"

---

Father took out a small wooden clip, intending to hang the photo on the tree.

Right at my eye level, so I could see it well.

He knelt on one knee, searching for just the right spot, then suddenly chuckled.

"How odd. Why are all the gold ornaments clustered under the tree…?"

"Oh, that’s my taste."

I grinned.

"I like big chunks of gold."

"A truly innovative, artistic tree. Well done."

Father gently brushed my hair.

Now, our first father-son photo hung right at my eye level.

We looked so happy in the picture.

"Jeonghyuk, thank you for protecting your mother while I was away."

Father gave my shoulder a small pat.

"From now on, I’ll protect both you and your mother."

Just looking at him made me happy. Even closing my eyes felt wonderful.

Swoosh.

I gathered my courage and took my father’s hand.

"Thank you, Dad."

I gripped his hand tight.

"Thank you for choosing Mom and me."

Beyond my father’s shoulder, I could see the living room’s glass wall.

Big, fluffy snowflakes were still falling from the sky.

They must have settled on the snowman family outside like cotton candy.

"I’m really happy."

I could feel my father squeezing my hand, as if he was promising never to let go.

He held my hand tight.

"Sorry about before. Were you scared?"

"No."

I grinned.

"You were cool. Really!"

"You’re even cooler."

Father grinned back.

"The way you stood up to Grandpa so Mom wouldn’t cry—that was really brave. You must’ve been scared."

Why does my chest feel so ticklish?

"Now that I look at you, you’re better than I am. Thank you. For soothing Grandpa, too."

My ears suddenly felt hot, so I quickly looked away.

My eyes landed on the photo of Dad and me hanging from the Christmas tree.

Wait!

"Dad, just a second!"

I dashed away from him.

To fetch Mom.

Bang!

"Mom!"

"Yes?"

"Dad brought something amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it! Hurry!"

To me, who’d lived in the 21st century, it wasn’t that special, but for Mom, it must be different.

"What’s going on? Oh my!"

Click!

Whirr.

Dad had somehow followed me to the door and caught her by surprise.

Mom’s eyes went wide.

"What was that just now? A camera?"

"Something like that."

Once again, Dad fanned the Polaroid photo.

Gradually, her face appeared, surprised—yet as beautiful as an angel.

"Beautiful."

I agreed with Dad.

"So pretty!"

Mom’s face instantly flushed bright red.

She put her hands to her cheeks, shy.

But she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the Polaroid, fascinated.

"How can a photo come out instantly like this? Even at a studio, it takes a while to develop."

She beamed, eyes sparkling.

"It really is like magic."

"Right? Isn’t it amazing? Dad said he’s my present!"

I beamed, too.

Father’s expression softened.

"You even made sure to include Mom. Such a good kid."

Everything felt as sweet as cotton candy, as hazy as a dream.

This moment really was magical to me.

I wished—over and over in my heart—that it could last forever.

"Let’s take a family picture in front of the Christmas tree! We can hang it there for everyone to see!"

"Huh? Okay, Jeonghyuk. Just a second, slow down."

"Hurry! Come on!"

I grabbed Mom’s hand and led her down to the living room, standing before the tree.

Before I knew it, the sharp-witted bodyguard, self-proclaimed Number Two, Yu Jong-tae, raised his hand.

"I’ll be the photographer today!"

Father readily handed over the instant camera.

Yu Jong-tae, accepting it, immediately started directing us like a pro.

"Mother and Father, closer! Be affectionate! Put your hand on his shoulder! Ma’am, lean into him! So much you’re buried in his arms! Okay!"

See, that’s why he’s so sharp.

Click! Whirr.

"Sir, hold the young master tighter! Ma’am, snuggle up to him! Squeeze his waist like you’ll crush him! Okay!"

Click! Whirr.

The Christmas tree would soon be overflowing with our family’s laughter.

---

Chairman Cha’s car glided smoothly up to the Taeseong Hotel.

Chief Go, at the wheel, frowned.

"This is a strange fight."

In front of the hotel, a bunch of people were tangled together.

Angry Japanese men were shouting curses in Japanese, while men in suits clung to their pant legs, refusing to let go.

One guy was even sprawled out in an X across the road in front of a taxi.

"What is all this commotion?"

Chairman Cha rolled down his window.

"What are Taeseong Hotel’s security staff doing? There’s a huge ruckus out here at the main entrance, and they’re just standing by like nothing’s happening!"

"Chairman, you’re here!"

The Taeseong Hotel manager came running over, flustered.

His usually neat hair was a mess, and his normally crisp suit was rumpled and torn.

He must have had quite a struggle trying to break things up.

"Chief Go, handle this situation!"

"Yes, sir."

Chief Go got out of the car.

A two-meter-tall muscleman strode up and shouted loudly.

"Everyone, stop fighting and step back immediately!"

His tone was polite, but his actions were not.

He stood tall, wielding an iron pipe like a judge’s staff, exuding overwhelming presence.

"If you ignore my warning, I won’t be responsible for what happens!"