Ranker’s Return

T, his body fat had reduced and his muscles had grown. As a result, Hyeonu possessed good-looking muscles.

He replied, “I think you’re the one with a woman, not me.
Haven’t you been spending less time in Arena? I heard you haven’t even been going home lately.”

Yeongchan frowned as Hyeonu approached. “It isn’t good for a man to come near me with his clothes off.
Wear something.”

Hyeonu didn’t look offended by Yeongchan’s words and just retorted slyly, “Yeongchan, are you flustered? You’re changing the subject.
Why? Do you have a lover? Is that so?”

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“No, dude.
I’m meeting the kids.” 

“Kids?” Hyeonu asked after hearing Yeongchan’s reply.

‘Kids…’

Yeongchan didn’t go to university. Since they had been friends from childhood, Yeongchan’s friends were Hyeonu’s friends.

“The kids from high school? Hasn’t it been a while since you’ve contacted them? They’re busy because they’re in school or the army.”

Yeongchan nodded.
“I got in touch with them.
Those in the army were discharged, and I guess the ones in school can take it easier now.”

“So what?”

“Do you want a reunion?”

“Reunion? How old are we to call it by such a grand name?”

“Yes, it is a class reunion.
Isn’t it just a survival report? It is looking at each other’s faces and eating and drinking.”

After listening to Yeongchan, Hyeonu thought it wouldn’t be too bad. In any case, he could afford to relax a bit now as all of his family’s debt had been paid off. He asked, “So who is coming?”

“The kids from the third grade of high school will come out.
It is because they are the ones I’ve been meeting.”

Hyeonu’s expression became strange upon hearing Yeongchan’s words. “Then Jung Hanbaek will come?”

“I guess…
so? He was in the same class as us in the third grade.
Then you won’t go?”

Hyeonu shook his head. “Why should I avoid him? I don’t care.
Tell me when you decide on the date. Ah! However, Monday and Friday aren’t allowed.
Understood?”

“Yes, dude.
I won’t interrupt your stream.” Yeongchan laughed in a dumbfounded manner.

Meanwhile, Hyeonu got ready and left the house. His destination was the hospital.

 

***

 

“Mother, is Father okay?”

Hyeonu’s father was currently in a vegetative state. The physical wounds had been healed with a variety of treatments, but the problem was his mental state. His mind was wounded and didn’t want to wake up.

“He is always the same.
He isn’t hurt but doesn’t wake up…
I hope you get up soon, dear.
You should see how reliable our Hyeonu has become…”

Despite Hyeonu having hired a caregiver, Hyeonu’s mother stayed at the hospital more than three days a week. How could she leave it to others when her husband was sick? On the one hand, Hyeonu admired the love between the two of them, but on the other hand, he was worried about his mother’s health.

“He will wake up soon.
Father is a strong man.”

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“How good would that be…”

Hyeonu told her, “Ah, right.
We’ll get our old house back in a few months.”

Hyeonu’s mother was surprised by his words. She was unaware of the amount of debt Hyeonu had paid back, but she knew how expensive their house was.

“Did you make that much? It hasn’t been long since you’ve paid back the debt…”

Love and concern for her son spilled from her eyes. Hyeonu held his mother’s hands tightly. “I am making a lot of money.
My parent’s son, Gang Hyeonu—I succeeded.
I will buy it right away when it goes on sale.
It is because that is our house.”

“When did you become so big? Our Hyeonu…” Hyeonu’s mother continued to stroke Hyeonu’s hand.

Hyeonu and his mother continued talking for a long time. They hadn’t met in a while, and the conversation between them wouldn’t end.

…At least, that was until Hyeonu saw his smartphone.

“It is already this time? I’ll come back next time.
I have somewhere to be.”

“Then go quickly.
I don’t want to keep you too long.”

“No, the place is close to here, so it’s fine.
I’ll come visit again soon.”

Hyeonu’s words weren’t wrong. He was just going to a different floor of the same building. After leaving the hospital room, Hyeonu walked up the stairs to another floor. Knock knock knock. He arrived in front of the hospital room and knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” A young girl’s distinctive high-tone voice was heard.

“It is the Oppa who came the other day.
Can I come in?”

“Yes, come in.”

Hyeonu carefully opened the door and entered. In the room, the only one present was Choi Jisu looking at her laptop.

“Did you come to see Father? He isn’t here.
He will probably be back in 10 minutes.
I told him not to come.
I told him to play Arena instead of having boring conversations here.
However, he always comes back at 4 o’clock.”

Choi Jisu’s words and actions were a mystery to Hyeonu. It was a mature mindset for someone of Choi Jisu’s age. Not only that, there was also Choi Jisu’s sincerity. It wasn’t a fake look she put on.
Choi Jisu genuinely thought this way.

“Won’t you be lonely or scared without your father? I usually wanted to be with my parents at your age…”

Choi Jisu shook her head at Hyeonu’s words and said it wasn’t the case at all. Yet in Hyeonu’s eyes, Choi Jisu was a fragile girl of a young age—a girl who loved being with her father.

“Have you talked to my father? He is so serious that I can’t say anything.
He is completely no fun.”

“Still, don’t you like being with your father? He is your family.”

Hyeonu’s sweet words brought tears to Choi Jisu’s eyes. Thanks to Hyeonu’s words, Choi Jisu finally revealed her true feelings.

“I would love that, but I can’t live on.
Meanwhile, my father will continue living.
How will my father live if he stays with me all the time?”

At this moment, the door of the hospital room opened and a man stepped in. The man was smiling brightly. “My daughter, your father has come!”

The tearful Choi Jisu greeted Choi Yoon, “Oh, you came again? I told you to stop coming.
Aren’t you tired?”