Chapter 189: I Love You, Grandfather

Even after running nonstop across the DMZ, it was already past midnight by the time I arrived at Korea University Hospital.

As soon as I got out of the car, I hurried inside the hospital.

I could see the staff’s surprise when they saw me get off the elevator, but I didn’t have time to explain.

“What about Chief Ha?”

With a pale face, Chief Ha opened the door from the family waiting room and jumped when he saw me.

“Boss, when did you…?”

“What happened?”

“Well….”

Chief Ha glanced around at the staff before pulling me into the waiting room.

He looked like he’d been through a lot; dark circles hung under his eyes.

“Please explain what happened. Is this even possible?”

“The hospital director said he’s never seen anything like this.”

“Is Grandfather sleeping right now?”

“Yes, he just fell asleep.”

Chief Ha spoke softly, but his face was grim.

“What did the director say, Chief Ha?”

“He said it would be… difficult to last the day.”

“….”

My heart sank as Chief Ha hesitated over his words.

I had sensed something was off during my call with Grandfather, so I rushed back, only to hear it would be hard for him to last a day.

As I stood there speechless, Chief Ha lowered his gaze in resignation and said,

“The director said it’s not surprising if his heart stops at any moment. It’s a miracle that he’s even able to speak now, given that most of his brain cells are already dead….”

A miracle… I didn’t really believe in such things, but at this moment, I desperately wished for one.

“I’ll go see Grandfather first. Please tell the other staff members to take a break for a bit. Manager Ma and Chief Ha, make sure nobody enters the ward.”

This might be my last meeting with Grandfather. I wanted to talk to him without interruptions.

Chief Ha and Manager Ma sent the staff away, insisting they take a break.

After confirming everyone had left, I opened the door and walked in.

“Grandfather….”

The grandfather I was told was sleeping had his eyes open.

He lay there, staring at the ceiling, seemingly too weak to turn his head.

Each time I visited, it felt like he was shrinking in front of me, and my heart ached.

“Have you come, Mu-hyeok?”

“Yes….”

I gripped Grandfather’s thin, cool hand tightly. It felt so cold.

“Why did you come? Didn’t you say you were in the North?”

“I came down to see you.”

“What?”

Hearing my cheerful tone, a faint smile appeared on Grandfather’s lips, even that looked weak.

“I explained the situation and came back quickly.”

“Is this place really where North and South can come and go freely?”

“The world has changed a lot. It used to be unimaginable for leaders from North and South to meet in one place.”

“Is that so…? Raise my bed a bit, Mu-hyeok.”

I raised the head of Grandfather’s bed at his request.

With his head propped up, he could see me better. I grabbed a small chair and placed it right in front of him.

“You’ve grown up. It feels like just yesterday when I first saw you.”

“It’s been ten years already, Grandfather.”

“…Didn’t you feel let down by me?”

After my return, I initially thought of using Grandfather merely as a stepping stone for revenge.

The Grandfather I knew back then was a cold, unfeeling man.

But as I lived this life, the Grandfather beside me was completely different.

“It would be a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed at all. But I don’t feel that way now.”

Before my return and now in this life, Grandfather had given me everything.

Now I could guess why he made such choices.

“Mi-sook’s face is really stong in you.”

“…Because I’m her son.”

“To me, she was a painful finger yet the most beloved one. Unlike my other sons, she knew how to take care of her inferiors.”

As Grandfather slowly closed his eyes, it was as if he was picturing a blurry image of my mother.

“I heard from Chief Ha and Manager Ma that you took good care of her when she was little.”

“I did. That child never saw her siblings as tools. She thought of them as friends, brothers, and sisters.”

This was the first time I spoke to him about my mother in depth.

There was a deep sorrow in Grandfather’s voice as he reminisced about my mother.

“That child had no greed… My own greed drove Mi-sook to her death. I’m srry, Mu-hyeok.”

“I know it isn’t your fault, Grandfather.”

“That marriage was what she wanted. If I had approved and embraced it, she wouldn’t have died.”

Grandfather’s face reflected deep regret over that moment, but his words weren’t the whole truth.

Cheon Su-man and the Cheongpung Group would’ve found a way to kill my mother regardless.

“Grandfather, I have something I want to ask.”

I had wanted to ask him for a long time. Gripping his trembling hand, I carefully inquired.

“Why didn’t you ever try to find my mother? You could have searched for her anytime if you had set your mind to it.”

“….”

Grandfather hesitated to respond to my question. I could see his eyelids trembling slightly.

But I didn’t rush him; I just waited.

“I was angry that you chose your father over me. It was a worthless stubbornness. I thought you would come to ask for forgiveness someday. But then….”

“You could have at least watched over her.”

Even if he couldn’t help her, he could have been aware of her. If he had…

Thinking about the possibilities made my heart ache.

“…Then my heart would have softened.”

“….”

“I’m so sorry, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I was just curious. I can see how much you loved my mother by how you treat me.”

When I met his gaze, I saw sorrow reflected in his eyes.

It felt like he was looking for my mother in me.

I smiled gently and said,

“I’m sure my mother was happy.”

“I’ll meet her soon… I’ll ask her then.”

With that heavy remark, a moment of silence passed in the ward. The first to break the silence was Grandfather.

“Thank you for keeping your promise to me.”

“I just didn’t want to cause you more pain. I haven’t forgiven that man. He’s still conniving with Chairman Seo to lay claim to your assets.”

“Right, I know everything through Myung-hoon.”

Grandfather’s voice trembled as he closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them again, they sparkled with the old glint of sharpness, not the dull demeanor of a sick person.

“When I die, do as you wish.”

“….”

“If you think of me as a burden while I give you time to settle your heart, then that would be someone’s intention.”

There was a resolve in Grandfather’s voice. Again, the word miracle floated through my mind.

Could it be that the one who sent me back gave Grandfather the time to resolve things?

“But please forgive Ji-soo, Ji-young, and Ji-soo.”

“Yes, I promise.”

“…That’s all I needed.”

I understood how much he had struggled to say this in just those few short words.

His request to forgive felt heavier than asking for forgiveness.

“I just want to rest now.”

“Grandfather….”

Life was fading from Grandfather’s eyes.

“I hope you don’t live in regret like I did. I want you to live as your heart desires.”

“Yes, I promise to do that.”

“…Just lower the bed for me.”

Grandfather’s voice cracked. I got up and lowered the bed.

I sat beside him, gripping his hand tighter. It felt even colder than before.

“If I had known you earlier, my life could have changed. It could have been so much more fun, Mu-hyeok….”

His weak voice burrowed into my ears. I could sense the end was nearing.

I sensed it was time to speak the words I would regret if I didn’t say them now.

“Grandfather, I… I’m living my second life. In my previous life, I despised you.”

“….”

“But now I respect and love you, Grandfather.”

As my words came to an end, Grandfather’s eyes slowly closed.

A faint smile graced his lips, and soon the faint sound of breathing ceased.

The monitor emitted a loud warning alarm, but my mind was blank.

I should have been in tears, but it felt like I was empty inside.

“Chairman!”

As soon as the alarm sounded, Chief Ha and Manager Ma rushed into the ward.

I stood up to let Chief Ha by.

Shouldn’t the one to see him off be Chief Ha, who had been more like his son than I ever was?

He collapsed into a chair, crying, tightly holding Grandfather’s cold hand and weeping uncontrollably.

“Are you okay?”

Manager Ma approached me with concern. Instead of answering, I nodded lightly.

“Please make arrangements for the funeral. Inform everyone when preparations are complete.”

“…Understood.”

As Chief Ha’s sobs and the monitor’s alarms echoed through the ward, doctors rushed in.

“Don’t perform CPR.”

“What?”

I murmured softly towards the surprised doctor.

“I don’t want him to suffer any injuries.”

There was no chance he would come back to life through CPR.

I didn’t want Grandfather to leave this world with any further harm after he had endured another day.

The doctor pronounced him dead and covered his face with a white cloth.

“Chief Ha.”

I patted the sobbing Chief Ha on the shoulder as he continued to hold Grandfather’s hand.

His face was streaked with tears, something I had never witnessed before.

Seeing Chief Ha cry like a child made my throat tighten.

“Boss….”

“He left smiling.”

“…Yes.”

“Once you’re calm, please contact everyone involved with Grandfather. Manager Ma and the other staff will take care of the funeral preparations.”

I silently watched as Grandfather’s body was moved, then left the ward.

Manager Ma followed me, but I stopped him with a wave of my hand and moved alone.

Opening the door to the rooftop garden, the cool dawn air snapped me back to reality.

‘Grandfather….’

Memories of Grandfather from the time I met him until now flashed through my mind.

A corner of my heart throbbed painfully.

I regretted not treating him as warmly as I had my grandmother.

There had been times I lashed out at Grandfather due to issues concerning my mother.

Yet, gradually, I found my heart opening up to him, who had always been my strong supporter.

The more I thought about it, the more it all turned into regret, tightening around my chest.

Tears started falling down my cheeks without me even realizing it.

‘…I hope you have fun with my mother in heaven.’

The death of someone close never becomes easier, no matter how many times you experience it.

I missed my grandmother. Although it was early morning, I took out my phone and dialed her number without thinking.

After a long delay of ringing, I finally heard the connection tone.

“Grandma….”

“— Is that Mu-hyeok? What’s going on? Why are you calling me at this hour? Didn’t you say you were going to the North?”

I couldn’t reply to the flood of questions without breathing. My eyes burned, and my throat tightened.

“…Grandma.”

“— Mu-hyeok, are you crying? What’s wrong?”

“Grandfather passed away.”

I heard Grandma take a sharp breath through the receiver.

“If you had followed the schedule, you wouldn’t have seen him die… He must have smiled while leaving, perhaps heaven helped in the end.”

“— Alright, you should get ready for the funeral. Let me know when you are done with preparations, okay?”

“Yes… is there anything wrong with you?”

“— Don’t worry about me. Just see to it that you send off your grandfather well. I’ll end the call now, so I can get ready to head up there.”

Hearing Grandma’s voice reassured me a little.

After ending the short call, I sat on a bench, staring blankly at the dark night sky, trying to gather my emotions.

How much time had passed? I heard footsteps behind me.

“Boss.”

It was Manager Ma.

“How did it go?”

I stood up. His voice carried a heavy tone, so I forced my own to sound bright.

“I’ve contacted all the family members.”

“Huh….”

I tried to maintain my composure, but a deep sigh escaped.

“I’ve also reached out to friends. They’re all on their way now.”

“What about Chief Ha?”

“…He went outside by himself. He’s probably sorting through his thoughts.”

Manager Ma bit his lip and lowered his head.

“Let him be for now. Myung-hoon sees him as a father.”

The image of Chief Ha crying emerged, and I nodded at Manager Ma’s suggestion.

“For now, we need to go. We can’t leave the empty place unattended.”

“Yes, understood.”

Together with Manager Ma, I entered the VIP-only funeral hall next to the hospital.

“Prepare for the guests. Quietly control the reporters and offer them money. If that doesn’t work, just make sure they leave.”

I wanted Grandfather’s farewell to be peaceful.

As I gave instructions, I sat cross-legged in front of Grandfather’s portrait.

“Grandfather, you said to do as I liked. I’ll decide today.”

I spoke to the solemnly-faced Grandfather in the portrait.

“Did you meet my mother?”

“Please don’t fight.” Do you understand?”

While waiting for a response that never came, Manager Ma returned with a black suit and mourning armband.

Once I changed into the suit and came back out, Ji-young hugged me tightly.

“Big Brother….”

She had surely cried a lot; her eyes were already puffy. I stroked her back as I said,

“You’re here? Let’s change your clothes and greet Grandfather first.”

“Yes….”

Manager Ma led Ji-young away while she was still sobbing. Soon afterward, Ji-young emerged in black mourning attire and bowed to Grandfather.

“Grandfather….”

After completing her bow, Ji-young collapsed onto the ground, starting to cry as she looked at Grandfather’s portrait.

Leaving Ji-young behind, I stepped outside and asked Manager Ma,

“When will Cheon Su-man arrive?”

“He should be arriving soon. He said he’d come after his preparations.”

I desperately wished… let Grandfather’s last moments be peaceful.

Then I would forgive him. Unknowingly, I bit my lip and closed my eyes.