Chapter 5: Sincerity and Reward

I glanced at the clock hanging on the corridor wall.

It was now 2:40 a.m.

‘Would it be rude to call at this hour?’

There are no second chances when it comes to first impressions.

‘If the doctor had refused my mother’s hyperbaric oxygen treatment, that would be a different story. But it’s better to call later.’

Instead, I memorized the phone number.

Uncle Cheolgu stretched broadly.

“Hey, kid. If you’re sleepy, just go to bed.”

“I’m not sleepy.”

“You planning to call the cops if things get rough?”

“If necessary.”

Mid-yawn, Uncle Cheolgu spun around sharply.

“The doctor’s taking responsibility for her treatment. I’ll stay here and watch over things, so don’t even think about pulling any funny business. Now, kid, go to sleep.”

“That’s enough. I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes… ughyaaack!”

I got caught again!

Uncle Cheolgu pinched both my cheeks and made a clicking sound with his tongue.

“You little rascal. Not only bribery, but now threats and suspicion too, huh?”

“Gyaaahhh…!”

“Just trust me, will ya? Trust the doctor, trust your mother, and trust me! Is that so hard?”

“……”

I pressed my lips tightly shut.

My cheeks tingled, but unlike before, I stepped back and didn’t rub them.

Instead, I bowed politely.

“Why wouldn’t I trust you, uncle? I’m just late with my thanks. Thank you so much, uncle.”

I’m a man who always repays his debts.

My rule is to give back more than what I receive!

Uncle Cheolgu blinked his eyes again.

Whether he liked it or not.

“Thanks for your help today. If it weren’t for you, my mother might have died.”

It really was a close call.

The Grim Reaper had already given the death sentence.

I had helplessly lost my mother in the past, and that had remained a lifelong regret.

“It was an emergency, but you willingly took her to the hospital, and I’m truly grateful. With the curfew, there were no taxis, and borrowing a stranger’s truck in the middle of the night must’ve been tough.”

Thanks to Uncle Cheolgu flooring it, my mother got treatment before it was too late.

“I know words aren’t enough to express my gratitude. But this is all I can do right now. Thank you so much.”

“That’s enough. Don’t mention it.”

“Doesn’t my thank you sound too shabby? Should I send thank-you letters every day? Consider that my sincerity.”

“I said it’s really fine.”

I grinned.

“I’ll repay this kindness someday. That’s my vow.”

Uncle Cheolgu tousled my hair wildly.

“Kid, a man’s vow isn’t something you throw around lightly.”

“I’m not a man who breaks a vow he makes with his own mouth.”

I shoved the cigarette I had picked up earlier into his mouth, shutting down any objection.

Then I pulled a 500-won bill from my mother’s bag.

The one with the turtle ship on it.

“Consider this a humble but sincere repayment.”

“Repayment?”

“It’d be rude to thank you without some kind of return. You must be hungry, right? Feeling peckish? What better than a cup of coffee from the break room vending machine? Come on.”

I jumped off the hospital chair and grabbed Uncle Cheolgu’s sleeve.

“I’m getting mugwort tea. The change is your tip. A cup of coffee and a smoke, and that’s perfect, right?”

“…….”

“What’s wrong? Is my sincerity too modest?”

“No way.”

Uncle Cheolgu tousled my hair again.

“Ha, what’s with you, kid?”

He slipped his arm around my side and lifted me up.

“Gyaaack!”

No matter how much I struggled, I didn’t budge.

A seven-year-old’s body was too light.

Cheolgu casually shoved one hand in his pants pocket and strode ahead.

Every step made my body bob up and down.

“Put me down!”

“Where do you think you’re going barefoot? Stay still.”

He smirked.

“You said you trust me, right? Don’t tell me that was just empty words.”

“……”

Well then. A man’s pride is on the line.

I twisted my face in a pout and grumbled.

“I’m feeling queasy from the coal gas earlier. Handle me gently.”

“o…….”

Without hesitation, Uncle Cheolgu removed me from his side and gave me a piggyback ride.

I gripped his head tight to keep my balance.

I’d never ridden piggyback before, but it felt pretty good.

Not bad at all.

“Hehehe.”

It was such a childlike laugh that it was hard to believe it came from me.

The awkward thing was hearing it in my own ear.

I tried to keep my mouth closed to stop the laugh, but the corners of my lips refused to drop.

It was like a tickling sensation deep in my stomach.

“Hehehe.”

Ah, I failed miserably at holding back my laughter.

Damn, being a kid’s body.

Uncle Cheolgu walked briskly, and in no time, we arrived at the hospital break room located in the back garden.

“Wow.”

This was a vending machine from the ’70s!

Such machines were rare even in the 21st century.

Here, it was state-of-the-art imported technology!

In 1977, Roksan Industries had imported 400 finished coffee vending machines from Japanese Shampu.

Rumor had it they were only installed in top-tier restaurants, hotels, and places like Seoul Station.

‘But Taeseong Hospital had one?’

I’d heard Taeseong Group had pumped in massive investment to expand the hospital.

With its latest hyperbaric chamber facilities and now this coffee vending machine.

Seeing all this money going into the hospital really made me realize how prosperous it had become.

“Wow.”

Coffee cost a whopping 100 won!

A bowl of jjajangmyeon was 300 won, a haircut was 200 won, yet a cup of vending machine coffee was 100 won.

‘Still, when it comes to spending, you gotta spend.’

Uncle Cheolgu was about to turn the coin lever.

“Why does coffee from a vending machine cost 100 won? I’d rather drink coffee at a teahouse for this money.”

But I spread my palm wide to stop him.

“When a man repays a precious favor, he shouldn’t pinch pennies. I’ve decided to indulge today.”

“Are you sure you can spend your mom’s money like that?”

“My mother’s life is worth far more than a 500-won bill. Honestly, I’d gladly spend every last penny I have.”

I closed my eyes tight and pressed the mugwort tea button.

It was 50 won.

“Say it quick or you’ll get mugwort tea too. By the way, it’s pretty thick.”

“Coffee is best black.”

Click.

The aroma of black coffee was wonderful.

Back in the ’70s, they ground the beans fresh.

“Don’t be shy, have your smoke in the corner over there.”

Clatter.

Uncle Cheolgu tried turning the change lever.

“Why isn’t it coming out?”

Clatter clatter, thud.

He slammed his fist against the vending machine.

Suddenly.

The coffee machine started spitting out coins like crazy.

10 won, 50 won, 100 won coins scattered everywhere.

“……”

“……”

Uncle Cheolgu gave a bitter laugh as he saw the coins easily totaling at least 10,000 won.

“Did you say the change was supposed to be my tip?”

Was the heavens rewarding my humble sincerity?

‘Feels good.’

Warmth spread through me.

A fragrant, nostalgic scent.

Soft and tender touch.

The low laughter of a young woman tickled my ears.

Yes, my mother used to laugh just like that………

‘Huh?’

I snapped back to reality.

The last thing I remembered was nodding off beside my mother, who had been moved to the General Ward overnight.

She had held me close and rocked me to sleep, smiling brightly.

“My son, did you sleep well?”

“……!”

It had been 45 years.

***

After longing for her as if it were a curse, even to see her once more in a dream.

But I was dumbstruck and couldn’t say a word.

“Uh, uh…….”

Like a goldfish, I just kept opening and closing my mouth.

All I did was clench the sleeve of her clothes tightly.

My breath grew rapid, just like when I first breathed again.

The determination to scrutinize her face thoroughly before letting her go had vanished.

My vision clouded over.

“Mo, mother……………!”

Her skin was warm where we touched.

The pounding heartbeat echoed with overwhelming emotion.

My reflection appeared clearly in her bright eyes, and I choked up.

“Mo-o-om…………!”

I buried my head in her arms and sobbed.

She hugged me tightly, rubbing my cheek.

Stroking my hair and soothing my back.

With a soft voice laced with laughter, she said,

“Mom’s okay now. You were so scared yesterday, weren’t you?”

“…….”

I was terrified.

Terrified she’d die.

Terrified she wouldn’t open her eyes again.

“Sorry. I should’ve protected you, but I foolishly fell asleep.”

She extended her pinky finger.

“That will never happen again. Mom promises.”

I knew well that promises like that couldn’t stop death.

Still, I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand and hooked my pinky firmly.

“It’s a promise.”

“Seal it tight.”

Normally, promises aren’t sealed with words, and pinkies don’t make a vow complete—thumbprints do.

“Hehehe.”

I laughed like I’d won the whole world with just a pinky promise.

Ah, really, being a kid’s body.

My stomach grumbled.

“Hungry? Is there anything you want to eat?”

“…Anything.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“I like whatever mom makes.”

I never realized before.

I used to complain the food mom made wasn’t tasty.

But after losing her, I learned I wouldn’t have a chance to eat it again.

I hugged her tightly.

“I missed you.”

Mother, after 45 years.

“Mom, I love you.”

This was the first thing I wanted to say when we met again.

“Mom loves our Jeonghyeok too. The most in the world. Very, very much.”

She hugged me tightly and smiled brightly.

A dazzlingly beautiful smile.

“Huh?”

She suddenly noticed the jewel box bulging out on top of her bag and her expression stiffened.

That was something that should have stayed deep inside our home’s wardrobe.

“Jeonghyeok, you have this here…!”

“This?”

I pulled out the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony 1970 Special Edition from my pocket.

“This is Father’s watch, right?”

Mother opened her lips with a troubled expression.

Still, I waited patiently.

***

After a long hesitation, she sighed deeply and spoke.

“Yes.”

‘So that’s how it was?’

“Then where is Dad? Why doesn’t he come when you’re sick? Why doesn’t he come to see me?”

“Jeonghyeok, your father is….”

Screech.

At that moment, the hospital room door swung open, and the smell of cigarette smoke hit us first.

‘No way…!’

Had Father rushed here after hearing about Mother’s hospitalization?

My father’s family is Taeseong Group, and this is Taeseong Hospital.

So maybe………

I whipped around.

“It’s just uncle!”

The huge, bear-like figure froze as he stepped into the room.