Chapter 54 (1/2)

Today was the first long weekend in a while. It was now winter. The weather was chilly and the fallen leaves were rolling. Kanghyun and my daughter-in-law had left for Jeju Island yesterday on a couple’s trip and said they would come back tomorrow. Thus, I decided to go hiking. Of course, it was with my grandchildren.

Tang tang tang! The sound of pans being knocked around rang through the room.

“Umm, noisy...”

Tang tang tang tang!

“Uh, Grandfather, it’s noisy!” Jeongdo lay down and covered his ears as he shouted. I lifted the blanket with a disapproving expression. Jeongdo was still lying down in a curled up position.

“Get up, my grandson! It is time to go for a walk!”

“No, what walk? I’m not going out to drink in the neighborhood...” Jeongdo’s mouth was open as he complained. However, I was cold toward my grandson.

“Shut up. This guy! Get up quickly and eat!”

“Shit. Why did I say I would go yesterday...”

I left the grumbling Jeongdo behind and headed to Mido’s room. I carefully knocked on the door.

Knock knock.

Asleep? Then I carefully opened the door. It was quiet and she was still sleeping. I walked quietly to not wake her and found the sleeping Mido. She was wearing pink cat pajamas today. The name... was it Citty? I didn’t remember well but it was something similar. I carefully touched Mido’s shoulder.

...She seemed very tired. Mido only responded after I poked her four times. She rolled around a few times before smiling when she saw my face. “Grandfather...? Hehe. Good morning.”

At the same time, Mido kissed my cheeks. My granddaughter’s kisses were like the sun and I seemed to melt. Kuoh, this was the taste of life. What did I have to live for if I didn’t have Mido? I smiled and said, “I made delicious kimchi stew. Come and eat. Kekekeke.”

After a while, we sat down at the table.

“Wow, this anchovy stir-fry was made by Grandfather? It’s really delicious.”

“Please eat more.”

“Grandfather’s cooking skills are the best!”

I looked at Mido’s raised thumb and was full of smiles. There weren’t many ingredients in the fridge so I made it in a hurry... my cooking had paid off.

Compared to her, that Jeongdo...

“Meat side dishes...”

This rotten guy. Make it yourself. I slapped his forehead with a spoon.

“Ack! Why did you hit me?”

“You’re ugly.”

* * *

After lunch, we headed for Bukhan Mountain National Park near our house. It was quite chilly so we wore warm hiking clothes. My daughter-in-law had bought it a few months ago but now I knew that Mido had chosen it. It was no wonder why it was pink...

“Noona, they might be hiking clothes but isn’t pink too much?”

“Why? It’s pretty. Isn’t it good? It is a couple’s look.”

“No, hah.” Jeongdo sighed. He seemed to have decided to give up on understanding. Well, Mido was obsessed with pink so he deserved it. Then the arrow came back to me.

“Grandfather, do you hate it?”

My heart sank as she looked up at me. Shit. In fact, I liked black...

“I'm good! Keke.” I made a disgusting laugh and could feel Jeongdo’s stinging gaze. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t answer my grandson’s expression asking if I was certain.

Jeongdo opened his mouth with a gloomy expression, “Che, you’re only on Noona’s side every day.”

Before I knew it, I reached the top. It was decided that the last person to arrive would buy drinks but I was the first to arrive. I sat on a rock and looked down the mountain. My pounding heart seemed like it was going to explode but I wasn’t lacking compared to these young people.

“Pant, shit, I’m second.” Harsh breathing was heard from behind. The one who arrived second was my grandson who used any means. The difference between us was only 10 minutes. The other day, the difference was more than 30 minutes. He had improved his physique a lot.

Jeongdo gasped as he asked, “Grandfather, what type of exercise have you been doing?”

“Well, I just go for a walk and go hiking.”

“Is that all? Really?”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t tell the truth. I couldn’t say that I practiced special martial arts as a hobby. It wasn’t just that. I knew all types of survival skills and dagger techniques. He would pass out if I told him to wear sandbags. In fact, I had been raised as a North Korean spy since I was five years old. As an orphan, I was raised by management since I was a child, receiving vicious training. Exercising had become a habit since that time. It was a time when I was whipped if I didn’t move.

Jeongdo muttered, “Phew, I never missed first place because I’ve been running for a long time at school. It’s amazing that I can’t beat you.”

Running for a long time… would he believe me if I said that I ran for 60 km with a sandbag and sand vest every night? He probably wouldn’t believe it. I pointed to the rock next to me. “Come and sit down.”

Jeongdo took slow breaths as he sat down. I asked him, “Is it hard?”

“Yes, very much so.” Jeongdo grabbed his head and m.o.a.ned.

I looked down the mountain and continued speaking, “I am a grandfather. The only thing I can pass onto you is how to be healthy.”

I could feel Jeongdo looking at me with serious eyes. He rubbed his head with one hand and suggested, “You’re good at cooking. Teach us how to cook.”

“Are you good at cooking?”

“...No, I am useless.”

I smiled at Jeongdo’s words. “Yes, if you were talented in it then I would’ve taught you everything. However, everyone has different innate talents.”

“Then what is my talent?”

“That is your homework. Get to know yourself. All I can do is ensure that you are healthy enough to accept whatever talent comes to you.”

“Healthy enough to accept whatever talent comes...” He seemed touched by my words and fell deep into thought.

I spoke to Jeongdo again, “One day, you will have to protect our family in my stead.”

“...I know. It is the promise I made with Grandmother.”

I was smiling at Jeongdo when I heard a voice from behind me. “Hey, I came up!”

Suddenly, Mido appeared. She stretched and shouted loudly. I saw this and smiled. “You came now? It wasn’t hard?”

“Yes, I’m fine! Very refreshing! Would you like to see it? Yaho~~!”

The clear voice echoed throughout the mountain. The echoes came back to my ears and my mood wasn’t bad. I shouted along with her, “Yaho~!”