Chapter 23
Slap.
I slapped my knee.
[If I were just a little older, I would have bought tons of defense stocks…]
I looked down at my chubby body, incapable of doing anything.
How could even my toes be so small and cute?
Wiggle, wiggle.
"Seong-guk, what's making you so sad?"
"Seong-gukie. Seong-gukie. Sad."
I managed to utter the few words I could.
"Seong-guk, is working hard? Should we stop working now?"
[Oops, that's not it, Mom. I love working. I was originally a huge workaholic.]
I quickly scanned my surroundings.
Finding a teddy bear with a slightly torn neck, I held it out to Mom.
"Bear. Owie. Owie. Kiss it better."
"So this is why our Seong-guk was sad. Mommy's sorry. I'll kiss the teddy bear better right away."
Mom quickly brought thread and a needle and stitched up the teddy bear's neck.
[Barely dodged that one, phew-.]
Stitch. Stitch. Stitch.
Just then, an ominous sound reached my ears.
My younger brother, Min-guk, was propelling himself across the floor towards me, using his whole body. His mouth was full of drool.
If that guy catches me, my whole body will become a drool pit.
I quickly started toddling away from Min-guk.
But this kid, Min-guk, was formidable too.
[He's got good reflexes.]
I ended up trapped against a wall.
Seeing me with nowhere to run, a smile mixed with drool spread across Min-guk's face.
[Please, go away. Go away, I said!]
"Hy-."
Unable to even properly say 'Hyung' (older brother), Min-guk tackled me.
Min-guk grabbed one of my feet and continuously smeared drool on it.
[Get away, while I'm asking nicely.]
Grin.
*[Hey, what's so funny? If you don't study well in the future and cause trouble for Mom and Dad, I won't let you off easy. I'll disown you from the family register. You still like me?] *
Grin.
*[This kid, does he even understand what I'm saying?] *
Min-guk's drool had now conquered up to my calf.
[Fine, conquer everything with drool, go ahead!]
Grin. Grin. Grin.
Clack.
The sound of the front door opening was heard.
It was the sound of the imonim (auntie/babysitter) who looked after Min-guk arriving.
"Min-guk, are you playing with your brother?"
Seeing the imonim, Min-guk grinned and turned his body.
Then he flashed the same bright smile he had shown me towards the imonim.
Grin. Grin.
Only Min-guk's drying drool remained on my leg.
[Min-guk, you disloyal brat. Why do I feel disappointed about this… Hmph.]
Samjeon Hotel Lobby.
I'd seen it when I came for jajangmyeon, but as expected, the 1990s interior design really didn't suit my taste.
My brow furrowed automatically.
"Seong-guk, have you been well?"
Secretary Yang saw me and approached with a welcoming smile.
[Secretary Yang, it's been a while.]
"Mother, you've been well too, right? Seong-guk has grown even more since I last saw him."
"He seems to be going through a growth spurt these days."
Just then, peeking out from behind Secretary Yang, I saw… Secretary Yang's son.
"Secretary Yang-nim, is this your son?"
"Cheol-su, introduce yourself."
"Hello. I'm Yang Cheol-su."
*[Long time no see, Secretary Yang (referring to the son internally).] *
I even waved my hand happily.
"Seong-guk seems to really like the older boy (hyung)."
I toddled over and firmly grasped young Secretary Yang's hand.
Young Secretary Yang looked up at his father, Secretary Yang, with eyes unsure of what to do.
"Dad, can I walk around the lobby with Seong-guk?"
"Don't go anywhere dangerous."
"Okay."
Young Secretary Yang held my hand tightly and carefully started walking.
As expected, young Secretary Yang was different even as a child.
Though younger than me (in this life), consideration for others was ingrained in his body since he was little.
"Seong-guk, Hyung will walk slowly. Let's walk together."
"Ong!"
I quickly answered cheerfully.
Young Secretary Yang expertly navigated around the adults, showing me the entire lobby.
"Seong-guk, this is a hotel run by the Samjeon Group. My father says the Vice Chairman personally bought all the paintings here in the lobby."
[As expected, Dad and I have different tastes.]
I finally understood why I disliked this lobby's interior. It was all according to Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyeong's taste.
"Well, it seems to be already priced into the stock market, but how long will the North Korean regime last?"
The voices of adults drifted from the side.
I perked up my ears.
Truthfully, even I was only in my early teens back then, so it wasn't a time when I deeply understood the political situation.
"Kim Jong-il will likely become the successor, but if a coup happens in North Korea, won't it become a chaotic mess?"
[Don't worry, uncles. After Kim Jong-il, his son continues the dynasty for generations.]
"It's beneficial for us to have North Korea around, isn't it? Same for the politicians."
"North Korea is truly a double-edged sword."
Nod, nod.
[Right, right. It's a double-edged sword. That guy, he'll keep firing missiles whenever he feels like it in the future too.]
"Hey! Secretary Yang!"
That annoying voice interrupting my profound eavesdropping.
How can I not forget it even after dying and being reborn?
"Secretary Yang. Is that kid Seong-guk?"
"Yes, Young Master (Doryeonnim). You said you wanted to see Seong-guk, didn't you?"
"It wasn't me who wanted to see him; my friends desperately wanted to, so I called him. Well, he looks better on screen."
[What did you say?]
"His eyes are big, but I don't really think he's pretty."
[Take a look at your own face before you talk, Jeon Tae-guk.]
Jeon Tae-guk was the spitting image of his mother, the Iron Queen, before her plastic surgery.
His nose was flat, his eyes were narrow slits, and his jaw was blunt.
"Wow! It's Seong-guk!"
Just then, a girl wearing a dress from a luxury brand's children's line approached from behind.
[It's Jeong-hui.]
Thump.
My heart sank momentarily.
Jeong-hui was my first love.
The girl who skipped cram school with me to go to the amusement park.
Jeon Tae-guk quickly hid his spiteful expression and looked at Jeong-hui, wearing the mask of a gentle lamb.
"Jeong-hui, you said you wanted to see Seong-guk, right? I told my father and prepared this."
[Prepared? Am I some kind of object, you ignorant fool?]
Jeong-hui soon replied coolly.
"Oh, thanks."
There was no way Jeong-hui would like the ugly and ill-tempered Jeon Tae-guk. Maybe if it were me.
I beamed and looked at Jeong-hui.
"Seong-guk, want to play with me?"
Young Secretary Yang blocked Jeong-hui.
"Miss (Agassi), Seong-guk's mother will worry."
"I didn't think of that. Cheol-su, where is Seong-guk's mother? Let's go get permission."
[As expected, Jeong-hui isn't just pretty, she also had impeccable manners.]
Jeong-hui took my hand.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
[Why is my heart acting like this?]
Jeong-hui smelled nice, just like she used to.
Abundant black hair, elegant eyebrows. A beauty like a graceful lily rather than a flashy rose was Jeong-hui's trademark.
[Why did I break up with Jeong-hui?]
I searched my past memories.
Jeong-hui was my first love and my first girlfriend.
Our relationship was well-known in chaebol circles up until college.
Suddenly, Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyeong came to mind.
Jeong-hui's family was also a famous chaebol family whose name alone was recognizable, but it fell far short of the Samjeon Group.
From my father's perspective, they were merely a family with some money.
Not that they were truly just some money.
They were a construction company based in Busan and owned significant real estate.
[Ah, right. The IMF.]
Jeong-hui's family went bankrupt during the IMF crisis.
Of course, like the saying goes, 'Even a fallen rich man lasts three generations,' so they had no problem making a living. But they were no longer a family of a caliber suitable for marriage with me.
Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyeong resolved one of Jeong-hui's family's problems on the condition that she break up with me.
It wasn't a big deal for us, but a huge problem for Jeong-hui's family.
He gave Jeong-hui's father, who had lost his business due to the IMF, a subcontracting project to get back on his feet.
Like all first loves, the breakup was heartbreaking, but after that, I never saw Jeong-hui again.
Jeong-hui came to my apartment in New York, where I was studying abroad, several times, but I refused to meet her.
At the time, the sense of betrayal was immense.
Ultimately, it just seemed like a ploy to use me to resurrect her family.
When you have a lot, it's inherently difficult to trust others.
Later, I only heard that she married some prosecutor, had children, and was living well.
I suddenly stopped and looked up at Jeong-hui.
"Seong-guk, what's wrong?"
"Mian." (Sorry)
"Sorry?"
"Ung!" (Yes!)
I nodded.
"Seong-guk, there's nothing to be sorry about."
[I was sorry about our last life. Still, thanks to dating me, you lived well, didn't you?]
I later heard that Jeong-hui attempted suicide after we broke up.
She was discovered early, so her life wasn't in danger, but I learned of her true feelings belatedly.
By then, I tried to contact her, but she didn't answer.
"Miss (Agassi), you're taking good care of Seong-guk."
Adult Secretary Yang approached.
It seemed the party was about to start.
"Mister, Seong-guk follows me so well. When can I see him again?"
"This is Seong-guk's mother. I think you'll need to get her permission, not mine."
Jeong-hui bowed her head deeply in greeting.
A stark contrast to someone standing behind her with their head held stiffly high.
"Mother, I want to take Seong-guk to the amusement park next time."
"Seong-guk is still too young to go to an amusement park."
"Then, when Seong-guk is a bit older, can I take him?"
"Of course."
Mom smiled brightly.
It seemed Mom liked Jeong-hui too.
In my previous life, Jeong-hui was four years younger than me, and two years younger than Tae-guk.
That meant in this life, she was four years older than me.
[An older woman isn't bad either. But first love is just first love.]
Still, caught up in old emotions, I held Jeong-hui's hand tightly.
"Secretary Yang mister, why isn't Dad here?"
Jeon Tae-guk whined from behind.
Always throwing a fit if he wasn't the center of attention. That personality hadn't changed.
"Something urgent came up today, sir. It seems we'll have to proceed with the birthday party amongst ourselves first."
It was obvious without seeing.
With North Korea's Chairman Kim Il-sung dead, there was no way Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyeong wouldn't be busy. It was clear he'd been summoned to the Blue House.
"Ah, I don't want to. What kind of birthday party is it without Dad! Cancel the party! Cancel it, I said!"
Jeon Tae-guk grumbled.
"Tae-guk oppa."
Jeong-hui called Tae-guk's name as if to gently scold him.
"Whaat?"
Jeon Tae-guk answered sullenly.
"Can't we just have a small party among ourselves?"
"What are you talking about? It's my birthday, it should be the biggest and most extravagant in South Korea."
"Your mother couldn't come today either because of something at her family home, right? Isn't it better if we just have fun among ourselves, without the adults?"
I knew very well why the Iron Queen wasn't visible.
The Iron Queen's father, and my former maternal grandfather, Prime Minister Choi Deuk-hyeon, was in poor health around this time.
As far as I remembered, after Kim Il-sung died, my former grandfather Choi Deuk-hyeon died exactly one month later.
[So that's why I remembered Kim Il-sung's death date accurately.]
I stroked my chin.
And stared blankly at the sulking Jeon Tae-guk.
Perhaps that kid felt like he had nothing, even though he possessed everything right now.
Food prepared by the best chefs in South Korea's top hotel lay before him, and he had invited all the celebrities he wanted.
Countless business and political figures, who needed to curry favor even with a ten-year-old, had visited, placing birthday gifts beyond imagination at his feet.
But at the same time, it was as if no one was there.
A birthday party without Mom and Dad…
I looked at Jeon Tae-guk with a bitter expression.
"I said no! I'm not having a birthday party!"
Jeon Tae-guk suddenly yelled and ran outside.
Consequently, Secretary Yang and the bodyguards followed him.
I shook my head slowly.
That habit of running away when things don't go his way hasn't changed at all.
I saw Jeong-hui standing there uncertainly.
I walked over and snatched her hand.
"Seong-guk, why?"
[Why else? In this life, I won't let go of this hand.]
"Seong-guk, what are you mumbling about?"
[Just, how about a guy like this?]
I lifted my chin defiantly.
"I don't know what it is, Seong-guk. But I think you're so cute."
Jeong-hui stroked my cheek.