Eighteen’s Bed Novel Completed - Chapter 104

“A son of someone like you, Madam, must be such a good child. And your second child is close with our Jun, and Jun always says so. That he’s smart, which is natural since he’s in the honors class. Isn’t that right, Jun?”

“Huh? Ah, ah… Yes. He, he studies well too.”

“He just barely made it, that’s all. But thank you for speaking so kindly. Thank you too, Jun.”

I couldn’t collect my thoughts amidst the torrent of feigned conversation. I couldn’t even tell if this was pretense or genuine praise. My mother, having recalled a compliment merely from the words ‘same class,’ showed truly remarkable quick wit. I had never once praised Go Yohan in front of my mother.

“Ah, and actually, as I mentioned yesterday… I also got this connection very fortunately when my eldest was preparing for college admissions. Since it’s someone who has a first-come, first-served basis and even a waiting list, suddenly asking for consulting feels like cutting in line, so I feel a bit awkward. You haven’t told other parents, have you?”

“Of course not. I kept my mouth shut. To be honest, I was secretly worried…”

“Worried about what? You were already preparing everything well. I just helped a little. Oh, don’t stand here, come in. I’ve prepared some good tea.”

“Thank you, then I’ll excuse myself.”

Long, slender fingers pointed to the familiar entrance. A gentle face smiled brightly. I suddenly felt as if the door to that entrance was the maw of hell with the face of heaven. As if entering might devour me, and I had poked a hornet’s nest I shouldn’t have. To loosen my stiff body, I subtly moved my clenched fists.

“Oh, before we go in, could you call an employee?”

“Yes?”

“I brought some thank-you gifts, but they might be a bit too heavy for my son to keep carrying.”

My only hope was my mother. My mother held her head high and smiled back. My sole hope was shining so brightly. Indeed, I thought it was good that I came with her.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry. Was it very heavy?”

“No, no. I’m fine.”

Even in this situation, I, who didn’t say ‘it wasn’t heavy,’ was indeed my mother’s son. I would be a proper adult next year, and I prided myself on being quite intelligent. However, as soon as I entered this living room, I became a blank idiot.

Coming with my mother was truly a wise choice. My mother and Go Yohan’s mother chatted so entertainingly that I couldn’t tell if they genuinely got along or were just pretending to. Stories about their sons’ school lives passed like stepping stones, and soon the conversation flowed to money-related topics, like where land prices were rising. I sat there stupidly, without a word.

Because I saw Go Yohan’s middle school graduation photo in the living room where I was invited.

“The Gup-seong area’s land prices are definitely soaring. After all, a KTX station will be built there.”

“Really? I heard there’s quite a bit of opposition from nearby rural areas.”

“No, it will be built right after this government ends, at least a few years from now. I’ll tell you the location, so it wouldn’t be bad to buy around that area.”

“Are you sure?”

Go Yohan’s mother’s eye-smile disappeared, and her gaze instantly deepened towards my mother. My mother took a sip of tea and calmly continued.

“Trust me. It’s a return favor. Shouldn’t I offer at least this much?”

“I haven’t done anything great enough to receive such information… You’re truly amazing. I’m not very educated, so I don’t know much about such things, and my children too, I should learn.”

“You’re already doing so well. Your eldest son is already going to a prestigious university abroad.”

“Oh my? You keep flattering me. But my children are still too difficult.”

“Three are definitely difficult, aren’t they?”

“They are difficult. They came from the same womb, but their personalities are so different.”

This was a conversation to be heard with one ear and let out the other. My gaze was still fixed on the glass display cabinet. Surely, surely there was nothing in that spot before. But now, a younger Go Yohan was smiling so brilliantly, embracing an overflowing bouquet of flowers.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs.

“…Go Yohan must have been a bit more peculiar, right?”

I asked, still gazing at the cabinet, as if possessed.

“He has such a unique personality, you know.”

“Do you feel that way?”

“Don’t you?”

Finally, my gaze fell from the cabinet. I unconsciously looked into Go Yohan’s mother’s eyes. It might have felt like an accusation, so I quickly averted my gaze. However, she said something a little incomprehensible.

“Well.”

That was all. I was flustered and lifted my head. That’s all? What does ‘well’ mean? Go Yohan’s mother, who had been saying incomprehensible things, was smiling with an equally incomprehensible expression.

“I actually find my youngest daughter difficult. Maybe because she’s my first daughter.”

“I don’t have a daughter, so I can’t give you any advice. I’m sorry.”

“It’s strange, isn’t it? We were both daughters once, but we find daughters difficult.”

A moment of quiet laughter passed. There was also the clinking sound of teacups. As everyone at the table chuckled softly and passed the time, my mother suddenly remembered something, put down her teacup, and continued.

“Now that I think about it, the second child in this house becomes more and more incomprehensible the more I hear about him. From what I hear, he seems like a rather unique friend. Perhaps he has some artistic talent…?”

“No, it’s not like that. All kids are just like that. Complicated. Isn’t Jun like that too?”

“Well, I suppose so.”

My mother gently brushed my hair with slow movements and said,

“Still, Jun was easy to raise. He did everything so well on his own.”

“I envy you. My child is the opposite.”

“He must have been a crybaby.”

“Yes. He’s very clingy.”

Go Yohan is just like all other kids? And a crybaby at that. It’s truly a sight to behold. I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even speak. To think that kind face was wearing such a thick mask. Go Yohan’s mother, sitting in front of me, acted like the most benevolent and genuinely loving parent.

Liar. She condoned her son being ostracized.

“Come to think of it, then Jun must have put up with a lot of Yohan’s clinginess. I’m sorry.”

And then she said this to me. The sudden apology felt awkward.

“Still, if Yohan makes mistakes in the future, could Jun take good care of him?”

“Ah…”

What could I say here? I just nodded weakly.

“Yes.”

“Yohan? Is his name Yohan?”

“Yes. We named him after his baptismal name. You know we’re a Catholic family, right?”

“Your spirituality is famous, you know.”

But my answer scattered into the air, and the mothers’ conversation continued uninterrupted. I scanned my surroundings with a somewhat uneasy expression.

So, did she put that photo in the display cabinet on purpose, knowing I was coming? My face burned. I didn’t know if it was from anger or shame from recalling that memory. The most definite emotion I felt was fear originating from shame. I was afraid my face would give me away. In the end, I decided to escape that place.

“I need to use the restroom.”

“Oh, yes. Do you know where it is?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Be careful.”

Her beautiful, elegant face smiled kindly. I instinctively turned my head.

Unfortunately, the only restroom I knew was the one on the second floor that Go Yohan had told me about. Since my purpose wasn’t to use the restroom but to spend some time alone, it didn’t matter much. After arriving at the restroom, I just washed my hands, staring at myself in the mirror I hadn’t seen in a while.

“…What should I do?”

The faucet was still running, and the sound of water made my head feel cold. Even though I had washed my hands thoroughly, I kept rinsing them meaninglessly in the water.

I was steeped in a terrible sense of defeat. I found myself ridiculously foolish for trying to figure out Go Yohan’s mother’s intentions for helping me. I was arrogant again, Kang Jun. No, I’m not strange. It’s natural to be curious. No matter how I think about it, I have no idea why she’s being so kind to me. I only found out one thing.

‘Oh, and as I mentioned a few days ago… I also got this connection very fortunately when my eldest was preparing for college admissions. Since it’s someone who has a first-come, first-served basis and even a waiting list, suddenly asking for consulting feels like cutting in line, so I feel a bit awkward. You haven’t told other parents, have you?’

From that, I knew that Go Yohan’s mother had suggested the consulting to my mother only recently. The day she helped me wasn’t that long ago. Among the logically possible suspicions, I chose the most rational one.

“Could it be that Go Yohan asked her?”

No, that would be strange. Go Yohan said he was being ostracized at home, didn’t he? Did he lie about that too? No. The atmosphere wasn’t like that. That evening was truly strange and chilling. The evening when only Go Yohan was absent.

I jumped into this family to understand Go Yohan’s suspicious world, but strangely, I feel like I’ve fallen into a trap. It’s like I’m trapped in a giant maze.

Damn it, this house must be crazy.

“Damn it, I got involved with the wrong people. Everything just went wrong.”

In frustration, I rubbed my bare face roughly with wet hands. I must have splashed water harder than I intended, as my bangs were soaked. I pushed my dripping bangs back with the back of my hand and turned off the faucet. I looked ahead with a damp face. In the clean mirror, I saw Kang Jun, with black eyes, just staring straight ahead.

“What will you do, you?”

The me in the mirror asks. I gaped, then straightened my back. What good would asking do? Damn it. What choice should I make to have a happy future?

I have no idea. My steps going outside felt heavy. I walked, staring at my feet, when I felt an unfamiliar presence approaching and quickly lifted my head.

“Ah.”

“Ah…”

It was Go Yohan’s younger sister. She had an unpleasant expression and was leaning back. I almost bumped into her as I suddenly emerged from the restroom. And as our young eyes met, I was instantly filled with despair. I didn’t want to. I thought I could be stronger with a young girl. But I couldn’t help but weaken in front of her, who had seen my weakness so clearly.

“S-Sorry.”

“What.”

One eyebrow twitched. Her long, narrow eyes scrutinized me up and down.

“Why are you here?”

Every word has an intonation. No matter how insensitive a person is, they cannot hide the emotions expressed through their words. Go Rosa, Go Yohan’s sister, was exactly like that. She was looking at me with contempt. Her gaze made me want to crawl into a mouse hole. But my pride always gave me the strength to be confident.

“Your mother helped me, so I thought it would be best to express my gratitude in person.”

“Ah, I see.”

Her pretty face pouted, and she nodded. Was that all she had to say? She was as blunt and cynical as ever. Just like her bloodline, I thought. Normally, I would have acted defiantly and kept my mouth shut, but I, being mindful of the situation, observed the atmosphere and casually uttered a greeting.

“Um… did school end early?”

“Don’t you know it’s vacation?”

“Ah, right.”

I secretly spread my hand wide in embarrassment. Then I added an excuse.

“Still, vacation times are different for each school.”

Go Rosa’s reply was again silent. And her expression said: So what? I put strength back into my fingertips and spread my palm. A big sigh was a bonus. My body was steeped in embarrassment.

Go Rosa, who had been scrutinizing me from head to toe, let out a light snort. Then she started to walk past me. Flustered, I quickly turned my body and blocked her path.

“Ah, what is it?”

“That, um…”

To be honest, I had never asked anyone for a favor in my life. I would rather solve things with money than beg others. It was because I had never been in such a thoroughly vulnerable position before. It was a different kind of defeat than being ostracized by others. The pressure of having to ask for an awkward favor. That pressure crushed me. And from a girl smaller than me, no less.

“You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”

My voice gradually lowered in volume, eventually becoming so faint that it couldn’t be heard even by someone standing next to me.

“That thing.”

“Ha, what was she going to say?”

“…You didn’t, right?”

Go Rosa let out a hollow laugh. And then she opened her mouth wide, glancing at the hallway and the empty room. After clearly confirming that no one was listening nearby, Go Rosa finally lowered her voice, just like me.

“Think a little. Do you think I’d be crazy enough to spread that? To make who happy? Me? Dad?”

“I thought you would. But…”

“But what?”

“You’re young.”

“I’m not young!”

Her voice suddenly rose sharply. She seemed quite angry. But raising her voice with a metallic tone instead of her normal voice was proof that her brain was working cleverly. Or that she controlled herself well. I secretly realized that this child also knew how to use her head quite well.

“You’re the one who’s young. If it were me, I would never come here. I thought you were crazy.”

“Why?”

“Why? Are you out of your mind?”

“It’s social etiquette, I couldn’t help it. She helped me. She even gave me college admissions information…”

“Why don’t you just ignore it and take the information?”

“…She seemed kind.”