“Aigo. You scoundrel! Mother worried about you so much!”

As Woojin’s back was thumped by his mother, he wondered whether he should just tell her the whole truth?

She continued, “Aii, you spent five years playing a game like an addict before you decided to return!?”

Uhhh, that’s the opposite of what happened.

“Still, I’m thankful you returned in good health.” She finished. 

Woojin thought about resolving her misunderstanding, but he decided to let it go. Who cared which story she believed? He was home, and his mother was ecstatic.

The tears that his mother was now shedding didn’t bear him any resentment. If anything, it was directed at whatever had separated them and created those five long, inhospitable years.

Slowly, the hand that was smacking his back started to lose its strength, while her tears fell faster. Woojin hugged his mother and cried with her.

His tears fell endlessly as he tried to shed the weight of his twenty years of suffering.

***

Sooah’s eyes widened when she saw her mother, “Huh? Why are mother’s eyes so red? Did you cry?”

Her mother smiled down at her, “No. Why would mother cry?”

But Sooah shook her head, “No. You did cry. I know why mother cried.”

Her mother’s smile stiffened, “Why?”

“You are happy since mother will also be able to eat beef. Isn’t that right?” Sooah happily finished. 

Her mother relaxed, “Huh? Ho ho. You little rascal. That’s right. I’m so happy that your brother bought us beef that tears came out.”

He could see his mother’s eyes shine bright with unshed tears. But they weren’t tears of sadness, but rather happiness. Woojin hid his grin as he basked in Sooah’s cheerful chatter.

After they left the park, Woojin had taken Sooah and his mother to a local grill. It was rumored to be the best in the neighborhood, and they had never been because it had always been too expensive.

Sssrk, hiss.

The beef sounded delicious as Woojin seared it, and he quickly cooked them so that he could place them on Sooah’s plate. As Sooah munched her way through, she carefully picked up a piece and placed it on her mother’s plate.

She prompted her mother, “Mom, eat this. It’s really delicious.”

Her mother picked it up, smiling, “Ok, ok. Since Sooah gave it to me, it is more delicious.”

Sooah’s smile was like the sun as she looked at Woojin, “I really like it since big brother came.”

Woojin’s heart melted, “Really? Do you like big brother since I bought you beef?”

Sooah nodded, “Yeah! I like it a lot. At school, Minsoo always makes fun of me. He says he always eats a lot of meat.”

Woojin glanced over, “Minsoo?”

Sooah’s tone turned petulant, “He is the richest in our class since his dad is a really rich Awakened. That’s why he brags about what he eats everyday when he comes to preschool. He also has a lot of toys.”

Woojin nodded, “Huh. Is that so? Don’t be jealous of that. If Sooah wants something, then just tell big brother. I’ll buy it for you. Big brother is also an Awakened.”

Sooah’s eyes grew wide, “Wow. Really? Big brother is the best. I like big brother.”

Sooah laughed happily, but his mother looked like she hadn’t let go of her worries, and said, “I’m still not sure you should do it.”

Woojin reassured her, “I’ll be alright, mom. I’m not that weak. Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything too dangerous either.”

Sooah grew alarmed, “Big brother is in danger?”

Woojin patted her on the head, “Nope. Big brother isn’t in any danger.”

As he started to place more pieces on the grill, Woojin opened a bottle of soju and poured a cup for his mother. She was still sensitive to having someone do such things for her again, so she started to tear up.

She barely held back tears as she sniffed, “My son came back to me as an adult. You can drink alcohol with your mother.”

Woojin grinned at his mother, “I guess so, but this is the first time I’m having soju.”

His mother looked at him in surprise, “Huh? This is the first time my son is drinking soju? You have to learn how to drink alcohol from an adult. Hurry up and take this glass.”

It was the first time he was drinking soju, but Woojin had drunk a lot of other kinds of alcohol. Woojin raised his cup with a nearly imperceptible tremble in his hand.

Ggol-gol.

His mother sniffled, “Your father would have been so proud to see you all grown up. A proper adult who can drink alcohol and buy us meat.”

Talking about his father put him in a melancholy mood, but his mother’s sadness ran far deeper. Woojin emptied his cup of soju. He liked the bitter aftertaste, but he was starting to feel the effect of the alcohol.

This is pretty good.

He didn’t know about other types of booze, but he preferred the taste of alcohol here to the ones he’d had on Alphen. Perhaps one day he’d be able to look back fondly at the time on Alphen. But he wasn’t ready yet.

He had escaped that hellhole and had found happiness upon his reunion with his family.

Woojin raised his glass, “Let us be happy, mother.”

His mother clinked her glass against his, “Yes, my son.”

“Me too, me too!” In her ignorance, Sooah pushed her cup forward, so he poured her some soda. They toasted to their happiness, present and future.

***

The alcohol seemed to have hit his mother hard since she couldn’t stop thanking him for coming back. He took a skipping Sooah and his mother back home before he headed out again.

He had withdrawn money from a nearby ATM as they’d walked home, and he left 1,000,000 won on the kitchen table. 

He wished he could leave her all the money he’d earned, but he needed it as seed money. He would use it as the entrance fee for higher ranked dungeons and quickly start making more money. Woojin wanted to move his family to a decent house as soon as possible.

He stretched, “Ha. This is great.”

It was only 7 p.m., since he had taken his family out to an early dinner. It was the first time he’d had soju, and he could still taste it. He wanted to drink more, but he didn’t want to get drunk by himself. 

After twenty years, his friends had faded into the river of time, so the first face that came to mind was Do Jaemin. 

He chuckled, “That guy. I still have to return his money.”

He owed Jaemin a lot. Woojin always settled his favors and grudges. He repaid good will with grace, and ill will with revenge.

Jaemin had been an essential compass to orient himself to the Seoul of five years later.

Woojin found a department store and wandered its aisles as he looked for gifts. His threadbare clothing and wafting scent of alcohol forced other customers and staff to avoid him, but a kind salesclerk took pity on him and helped him find something appropriate.

He was guided to the cosmetics department, and at the clerk’s recommendation, purchased something a high school boy could use.

He spent quite a bit of money, but he didn’t mind. He stopped by a fried chicken restaurant to buy a whole chicken and a convenience store for a bottle of soju before heading to Jaemin’s house.

No one responded when he rang the doorbell, so he flicked open the keypad.

Dee Dee Dee, Dee! Dee! Dee!

“That bastard… He already changed his passcode?”

Woojin would’ve immediately called him, but it was close to the time Jaemin usually came home from school. So, Woojin decided to wait.

Jaemin flinched in surprise when he saw Woojin standing in front of his front door.

Woojin grinned, “You are back?”

“Bi-big brother. You’re here?” Jaemin stammered. 

Woojin held up the bag of food, “That’s right. Let’s eat some chicken together.”

Jaemin stealthily glanced at Woojin before covering the keypad with his other hand. He typed in the code and opened the front door.

Dee-ro-ri!

Woojin made himself at home, grabbing plates and unboxing the chicken on top of the kitchen table.

Woojin absentmindedly said, “Bring some glasses.”

Jaemin unconsciously obeyed, “Ah, wait a moment.”

Jaemin took off his backpack and brought some cups. He wasn’t happy that Woojin seemed to be making a habit of coming to his place, but his mouth started watering when the scent of chicken started to fill the room.

He was still in high school and had an appetite to match. Jaemin grabbed some cola for his glass, but Woojin stopped him.

He held up the bottle of soju, “Hey, you should have a glass.”

Jaemin stared, “What? I’m only a high school student?”

Woojin grabbed his cup, “You can have whatever I give you.”

Jaemin eyed the cup warily, “Sh-should I?”

Since they didn’t have soju glasses, Woojin filled Jaemin’s and his cups to the brim. It only took two cups to empty the soju bottle.

Woojin raised his cup, “Ok, let’s drink.”

Jaemin hesitantly mimicked him, “Yes….”

Woojin drained his glass in one shot and reached out to grab a chicken leg. On the other hand, Jaemin turned his head to the side and took a careful sip. 

His face scrunched up, “Kkkkkk.”

Bitter. It was bitter. He wondered why anyone would enjoy drinking soju. Jaemin helped himself to a chicken wing to clear the taste out of his mouth.

Jaemin asked, “Was your visit to the dungeon successful?”

 “Of course.” Woojin replied, “Hey, I got you a present.”

Jaemin received the shopping bag with a look of confusion. When he looked inside, he found an expensive bottle of cologne.

Jaemin looked at him askance, “Bi-big brother?”

Woojin grinned at him, “Stop being surprised, you little rascal. Here’s the money I borrowed from you.”

Woojin took out 500,000 won from his wallet and set it down on the table. 

Jaemin’s eyes widened, “This is too much. You only have to give me what you borrowed. No. To tell you the truth, I don’t want it. You’ve already done too much for me.”

Jaemin’s attitude pleased Woojin. A person should indeed repay kindness.

Woojin nodded, satisfied, “So, is that why you changed the house’s passcode?”

Jaemin was lost for words, “T-that is….”

Woojin grinned when he saw the flustered Jaemin, “The rest is rent on top of the borrowed money.”

Uh? Does this mean he wants to continue to stay here?

Jaemin couldn’t believe his ears.