Chapter 936: Something Called Fate (3) |
[Everyday V13]
[Date: April 28, 2021]
[Fortune of the Day: The last chance to clear up long-standing misunderstandings. Miss this moment, and you'll regret it for the rest of your life.]
'A misunderstanding?'
Coach Han Dae-Man himself had admitted in the past that, during the national team selection trials, he took money from an opposing athlete's parents and got involved in match-fixing. So I couldn't understand what misunderstanding I was supposed to clear up.
Maybe that was why my first reaction was resistance even when it said something would happen that I would regret for the rest of my life.
After that match-fixing incident, I had drifted through life until I met President Kang Gam-Chan.
At that moment, Miso asked, "Uncle Yoon-Ho, are you sad?"
I lifted my gaze from my phone. Miso, sitting across from me at the table, was staring straight at my face.
Miso shook her head firmly, insisting that wasn't it. "That's not true. You look sad. Like you're about to cry. What's wrong? Is it because I didn't play with you?"
Then Yoo-Jin spoke up as well. "Oppa, your expression really doesn't look good right now. What's wrong? If something's bothering you, just say it. Everyone here is family."
At that moment, memories of Han Dae-Man passed through my mind without my consent. It was because of him that I was able to start boxing, and because of his strict training that I didn't fall down the wrong path.
He used to say athletes needed to eat meat and bought me pork belly once a week. He also bought me new shoes and clothes every season so I wouldn't lose confidence.
And I remembered Han Dae-Man's wife, Eun Ye-Jin. Eun Ye-Jin had also taken care of me like I was her youngest son, mending my worn boxing clothes and washing them in place of the busy orphanage caretaker. Because of that, I had trusted them like my parents.
However, because I trusted them that much, it was impossible to put into words the sense of betrayal I felt when I learned he had taken money and had been involved in match-fixing during the national team selection trials.
Then Lee Yeon-Sil spoke. "That's right, oppa. Yoo-Jin's right. We're family. Family talks about difficult things."
Everyone was looking at me with concern. At that moment, I finally made up my mind. Even if I didn't really want to, I decided to meet him. Everyday's warnings had never been wrong so far. And more than anything, I didn't want to make my family worry.
I let out a small sigh and spoke to them. "Um… I think I need to go to Gwangju for a bit."
Kang Eun-Gi tilted his head. "At this hour?"
"Yeah. I'm going to see Mr. Han Dae-Man."
Kang Eun-Gi's expression twisted sharply. "Yoon-Ho, what's the point of seeing that man?"
"I just can't shake this uneasy feeling. And Mr. Choi Woo-Sik told me I should meet him once."
"Then I'll go with you," Kang Eun-Gi said, his expression stiff
He had seen how devastated I had been back then.
I shook my head and said, "I'll handle this myself. Just take Yoo-Jin and Miso home."
Kang Eun-Gi stared at me. "Are you sure you'll be okay? It's been almost nine years since our senior year of high school, but I still remember it vividly. That was the first time I ever saw you cry like that."
I gave a faint smile. "I'm fine now."
'Eun-Gi. I'm actually 38 years old.'
To me, it wasn't something from nine years ago but it was something from nineteen years ago. The wound in my chest was still there, but it wasn't enough to make me completely collapse anymore.
After setting down my spoon, I spoke to Chairman Choi Eun-Tae, who was looking at me with concern. "Mr. Chairman, I'll be heading out first."
Choi Eun-Tae nodded. "Alright. If you need help, tell me anytime. I'll inform the security team managing Angel Orphanage in Gwangju, so if you contact them, they'll get there quickly."
Currently, there was a security team stationed near Angel Orphanage in Gwangju. They were sent personally by Choi Eun-Tae to protect the children at the orphanage and Sister Grace, who was like an older sister to them.
"Thank you for your consideration."
I gave a small bow and stood up from my seat.
The current time was 7:30 p.m. There were now only four and a half hours left until the day ended.
***
I knew that Han Dae-Man was still living in Gwangju, but I didn't know the details. So first, I headed to Angel Orphanage in Gwangju. I had asked Mom to look into it for me.
By the time I arrived, it was 9 p.m. Sister Mikaela, who had been notified in advance, was standing at the front gate and greeted me warmly. I turned off the engine, got out of the car, and greeted her with a hug.
Still holding me tightly, Sister Mikaela looked up at me with a dissatisfied expression. "My son, you haven't been calling much recently. You must have been busy."
"I'm sorry. I'll call more often. How have you been feeling?"
She spread her arms wide and spun around in place. "I'm perfectly fine."
"You look like it. Are the kids eating their late-night snacks well?"
Before coming here, I had ordered chicken and pizza from Angel Chicken & Pizza, the place Kang Eun-Gi had taken over.
"Yes. Grace is feeding them. They're eating really well."
"You should eat some too, Mom."
"I can eat later. Besides, I like seeing my son's face more."
Seeing the bright smile on her face calmed my complicated thoughts a little.
"Since you're here, do you want to see the kids before you go? They'd be happy to see you. You've been on TV a lot lately, so they've been going to school with more confidence."
I was glad the kids were happy, but unfortunately, I didn't have the time.
I shook my head and said, "I'm going to stop by Coach Han Dae-Man first today. I'll come back again soon."
Today's fortune was about today. And with less than three hours left before the day ended, I didn't have time to go inside the orphanage.
"Oh, right. I looked into what you asked. He's still living in that same house."
After that, mom shared some small updates. Han Dae-Man was no longer the high school boxing coach and instead was working at something like a gym.
"Other than that, did you hear anything else?"
"Nothing special. Just that his son Han Dong-Hae and his daughter Han Dong-Mi are working in Seoul. But… there's one strange thing."
"What is it?"
"Every year on November 14, your birthday, an anonymous donation of five million won comes in. I think it might be from his wife."
Han Dae-Man's wife, Eun Ye-Jin, used to come to our orphanage often to volunteer. She had once run a calligraphy academy, so she taught the kids how to write with a brush. But after my relationship with Han Dae-Man fell apart, she never visited the orphanage again.
"Really?"
"Yes. I didn't tell you before because I thought you might not like it, and I wasn't completely sure either. Oh, and look at this."
Mom pulled out a crumpled envelope from her pocket. On the wrinkled envelope, it read: [It's not much, but please use it for the children.]
"This is Mrs. Eun Ye-Jin's handwriting, right?"
At mom's words, I checked carefully. The rounded handwriting was one I could never forget.
"No, this is Mr. Han Dae-Man's handwriting…"
Mom's eyes widened. "Huh? It looks so round, like a woman's handwriting."
"He has two styles. When he writes with force, it's in a formal script. But when he writes casually, it comes out round like this. On the other hand, Mrs. Eun Ye-Jin did calligraphy, so her writing is very refined and proper."
I knew better than anyone, since I had taken calligraphy lessons from Eun Ye-Jin myself.
"Then why would he…?"
"I don't know either…"
I couldn't help but feel shocked. After I left, starting from my twentieth birthday until last year, he had sent five million won every year for eight years. That meant a total of forty million won. It was obvious how Han Dae-Man, who wasn't particularly well-off, had managed to gather that money. He must have tightened his belt and saved every bit of it.
Then Mom spoke again. "But, my son… another ten million won came in, written in the same handwriting…"
"Today too?"
"Yes. It's fifty million in total now. I was actually thinking of going to see Mrs. Eun Ye-Jin tomorrow to ask about it. I thought it was her handwriting, and since my sons are earning well now, I was going to tell her she doesn't need to send money anymore."
Of all days, another anonymous donation had come in today—written in Han Dae-Man's handwriting. And fifty million won was exactly the amount he had once said he received for match-fixing.
At that moment, my heart started pounding as if something was unfolding. Especially since Everyday had warned that if I let today pass, I would regret it.
Feeling a sudden urgency, I quickly got into the car and said to mom, "I'll go check it out myself."
"Should I come with you?"
"No. I think it's better if I go alone."
I didn't know what it was, but I needed to ask him in person why he had done it. Han Dae-Man was the very same man who told me that match-fixing could end a boxer's career. I just couldn't wrap my head around why he had done that to me.
'Why has he been sending money like this to the orphanage since that day?'
More than anything, I needed to find out what Everyday's fortune really meant.
Suppressing the turmoil in my chest, I got back into the car and quickly drove off, pressing down on the accelerator.
***
I arrived at a two-story detached house located about ten minutes away from Angel Orphanage. It was spacious, but old enough that even if it were sold, it wouldn't fetch much. This worn-down house belonged to Han Dae-Man and his wife.
After parking near the residential area, I stood in front of the house. Counting back to before my regression, it had been nearly eighteen years since I last came here, yet the house looked exactly the same as I remembered.
An old brick wall reaching up to my chest surrounded the house, and the black-painted iron gate had patches where the paint had peeled off. The wide yard had been turned into a small garden by Eun Ye-Jin, where lettuce and perilla leaves were now sprouting.
Back when I was young, whenever Han Dae-Man grilled pork belly, I used to pick fresh lettuce and perilla leaves from that garden to eat.
"It hasn't changed at all…"
For a brief moment, I was caught up in old memories. Then I shook my head, reminding myself why I had come.
The current time was 9:15 p.m. There wasn't much time left until midnight.
I reached out to press the faded gray doorbell. With my hand hovering over the black button, I took a deep breath and pressed it firmly.
-Brrrring… creak.
The bell let out a strange, worn-out sound. It was a sign of just how old it was.
'If he had money to send to the orphanage, he could've fixed something like this.'
Sending money to me wouldn't change anything, and for some reason, just thinking about how he must have saved to send such a large sum only irritated me.
Then I heard a voice.
-Who is it?
Since there was no lens to see outside, a voice called out asking who it was. And that voice belonged to Han Dae-Man's wife, Eun Ye-Jin.
"Um… Ma'am. It's Yoon-Ho. Jung Yoon-Ho. I used to learn boxing from Mr. Han…"
My voice trembled without me realizing it.
And then, I heard something drop instead of a reply.
-Clatter.
'What was that?'
"Ma'am?"
I called again, but there was no answer. Eun Ye-Jin was sixty this year. I wondered if she had been so startled that she might have collapsed. Just as I grabbed my phone, thinking I might need to call emergency services, the front door on the first floor opened with a loud noise.
Creak.
Then Eun Ye-Jin, dressed neatly in a one-piece dress and wearing slippers, rushed out with the same bright smile I remembered from over a decade ago.
"Yoon-Ho…"
Thump, thump.
For her, it had been nine years. For me, it had been nineteen. The moment I saw her—the woman who had cherished me like her youngest son through my middle and high school years—my heart began to pound uncontrollably.
"Ma'am."
My chest tightened as I called out to her. Eun Ye-Jin hurried over and opened the gate.
Creak, clunk.
As the heavy gate finally opened, Eun Ye-Jin stretched out both arms and embraced me. "My Yoon-Ho. How long has it been? You've grown into such a fine young man."
She patted my back, smiling with pure pride and happiness. Though her hair had turned white and wrinkles had formed over time, her gentle face was just the same.
At that moment, without realizing it, I hugged her tightly like I had when I was young. Back in middle school, she had been tall enough to hold me easily, but now she only reached just below my shoulder.
"Have you been well?" I asked.
Eun Ye-Jin pulled away from my arms and nodded. "I've been the same. How about you? I've seen you doing well on TV, but things in the world aren't always as they seem, are they? Oh! Have you eaten?"
She had been so happy to see me, yet the first thing she did was worry about me. For some reason, regret began to creep in. Even if things had ended the way they did with Han Dae-Man, Eun Ye-Jin had done nothing wrong. No matter how today turned out, I thought I should come see her from time to time.
Then I spoke of why I had come. "Is… Mr. Han inside?"
Everyday had warned that something would happen if today passed. So I wanted to meet Han Dae-Man in person and find out what was going on.
At that moment, Eun Ye-Jin seemed to come back to her senses and hesitated. She had realized the real reason I had come after staying away for so long.
"He… isn't home."
Knowing well what had happened between Han Dae-Man and me, Eun Ye-Jin lowered her gaze as if she were the one at fault.
"Then do you know where he went?"
"These days, he works part-time as a coach at a nearby place called Cheongryong Gym."
It was somewhere I had never heard of.
"If you tell me where it is, I'll go see him myself."
She grasped my hand tightly. "Don't do that. Come inside and wait. My husband should be home soon. And since you've come after so long, you should at least have a cup of tea before you go. Alright?"
Seeing Eun Ye-Jin speak almost pleadingly, I couldn't bring myself to refuse. I hesitated for a moment, but figured waiting here would be the fastest option.
I nodded and said, "Alright. I'll have a cup of your coffee for the first time in a while, ma'am."
Eun Ye-Jin smiled brightly. "Now that I think about it, you really loved my coffee."
The origin of my 'Jung Coffee' recipe practically started with Eun Ye-Jin. Maybe that was why I felt a small sense of anticipation at the thought of tasting her coffee again after so long.
"I still do."
"Alright then, come in."
Holding Eun Ye-Jin's hand, I stepped inside. Just like the first time I visited this house in middle school, I walked past the earthenware jar [1] and the garden, led by her hand, until we reached the front door on the first floor.
Creak.
The old door let out a loud, grating sound. A flicker of irritation rose again.
'If he had money to send to the orphanage, he could've fixed the house…'
However, the moment I took off my shoes and stepped into the living room, my steps halted on their own.
"Ma'am… why is that… there?"
On a small table to the left of the torn sofa in the center of the living room sat a framed photo. It was one of me standing with Han Dae-Man and Eun Ye-Jin after winning first place at a national middle school tournament. And on the display shelf to the right of the sofa were certificates and medals, polished until they gleamed. They were the very awards I had thrown away in front of his house when I quit boxing.
"Ah, that's…"
Eun Ye-Jin trailed off, unable to answer.
'Is it a lingering attachment? Why did they keep those?'
Since Eun Ye-Jin also avoided talking about her husband, I decided to ask directly. First, about the anonymous donations.
"Ma'am… it seems like Mr. Han has been donating to the orphanage every year on my birthday… that's right, isn't it?"
Like Han Dae-Man, Eun Ye-Jin was terrible at lying, and she began to fidget.
"And I heard he even sent ten million won today?"
She squeezed her eyes shut.
"Please tell me."
After hesitating, Eun Ye-Jin finally nodded. "That's right."
My chest tightened instantly. "Why? Was it because he felt guilty about taking money during the match-fixing incident?"
The pain buried deep in my chest slipped out, and my words came out harsher than I intended even though she had done nothing wrong. I knew I shouldn't be like this, but I felt like a child again, throwing a tantrum at her like I used to back then.
At that moment, Eun Ye-Jin took both my hands and gently patted them. "Yoon-Ho… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Tears streamed down Eun Ye-Jin's face, and it made my chest ache painfully.
Clenching my teeth, I forced my emotions down and spoke. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to blame you… I just… I just want to know the truth."
"No. It's not just my husband. I'm at fault too. I should've told you back then. I should've told you what was happening. If I had… the two of you… wouldn't have had to go through such painful years…"
'Wait. The two of us?'
"What do you mean by that?" I asked.
"My husband said he's a sinner and told me never to tell you, even if it meant taking it to the grave… but I can't do that anymore. Not for him, but for you, Yoon-Ho, I'll tell you what really happened that day. Come here."
Eun Ye-Jin led me by the hand to the sofa.
Thump.
As I sat on the torn sofa, it let out a deflated sound.
With tears still brimming in her eyes, Eun Ye-Jin spoke with a pained expression. "The day after your national team selection match… My husband told you he took money, right? Fifty million won."
"Yes…"
At that moment, Eun Ye-Jin tightened her grip on my hands and began to tell me the hidden truth behind the match-fixing incident.
"The truth is… my husband never took that money."
'He never took the money? What… What is she talking about?'
1. This is called jangdok and commonly holds fermented food like kimchi, soybean paste, and soy sauce.
