Chapter 17 (1/2)
The unknown man was named Park.
His laughter enveloped the room.
”I'll show you a draft at some point,” he said.
”Please draw one that President Roh will be satisfied with,” the grandfather said.
I'm not sure what he is up to.
”I'm afraid I'm too slow-witted to realize… Go head tell me,” said Park.
Aha! I knew my grandfather was smiling broadly, even though I couldn't see his face, only the back of his head.
”Workers are pouring out into the streets for demonstrations,” he continued,
”And our factory is closed down due to a general strike,”
Riding the waves of demonstrations, workers came out to the streets and fought for their rights.
What the grandfather was asking him was to stop them.
”Well, the problem is our top priority. No worries. That will be solved before the Olympic Games,” said Park.
”Please, just steer it in the right direction,” the grandfather said. Park nodded yes.
”Do you have another thing?” asked Park.
”Has the ANSP (agency for national security planning) been busy of late?”
Park raised his eyebrows, blinked twice.
”The labor union is causing trouble,” the grandfather added,
”I've received reports on that matter,”
”I heard Sunyang is as informative as the ANSP,” said Park.
”Very flattering,”
Why would he want to mobilize the ANSP? Only to grasp the trend of the union?
As a result of the money he contributed to the presidential campaign fund, he was able to benefit from national agencies.
”I'll line up a few of them to take care of the union,”
”Thank you, really appreciate it,” the grandfather said.
They exchanged a few more words and their goodbyes. I could hear the sound of the door opening, then footsteps fading away down the hall.
And.
I stood with my eyes fixed upon the grandfather as the sliding door opened.
”Do-jun, did you wait long? Did you eat anything?”
He pulled out his chair and sat down next to me.
Although It’s been just two months since I last saw him, he was nosy as if he had met me in a few years.
All I could say was ”I studied hard,”
While I was talking, he scanned the table.
”Do-jun?”
”Yes?”
”Tell me honestly, did you hear what I said in that room?”
Most of the food were barely touched, which made him suspect that I was eavesdropping.
The slightly opened door might have been intended; if I said I’d heard what he said, he would like it.
But eavesdropping is not a good thing. I shook my head as my eyes fell to the floor, as if I did something wrong.
Smiling, he gently stroke my hair. His hands were rough and cold.
”Did you understand what I said?” he asked, his eyes lighting up a little.