CRP Ch 14

Summer vacation 17e3b2e7a0 was nearly c985d1e09b a month 75d18c5042 long. However, for Onyu, 598d415f59 the real vacation c9a6b4f5b0 lasted only a aeef55ec3b week.c56fec542b4817a0

She spent the b51e47504b entire break in b504e950bf the dormitory, taking 5d9858f22e special classes for 96c3f2742b the advanced students dd84d44081 and studying independently. Yesterday, with 283629cb72 the August bb85a541b9 mock exam bc3fe0f419 finished, she a84b8f0e28 finally packed c0e859a97d her bag b3e2be8bf6 and returned 541032844c to her fbd7682337 hometown.1c6619bc512d824c

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“Ugh, I’m full.”93c8516f6855e092

Onyu sprawled out 29e1d8496d on a wooden 6d8da57abb platform under a 8c1c1be500 massive zelkova tree, 2074ba9857 half-eaten corn on 9d618a8b24 the cob still 710a18ff85 in her hand.fa963693d524849c

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“Oh my, has 08b439b464 our Wandu’s appetite f9de8b7f16 shrunk?”559ebad1d0b525da

“You need to b78735a09e eat more. Your face has be7fab7fff become half its a65c508bd2 size from all 82791831e1 that studying. Your wrists and ankles 74f135596c are so thin, what ca10cdd9a5 are we going to a37e072e40 do?”5edded4eab1a1175

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“Grandma, don’t worry. I’m not fdf86eeb15 that skinny.”2f088afdf8f67a5a

Onyu smiled shyly, 4079123363 embarrassed. The neighborhood 154c84248b grandmothers and 4a7ba7959a grandfathers worried 3b7f57673c about her d8d7f05f09 getting thinner 1ad9414a79 as she 91cf4ec127 grew older. As soon as 08a6571433 they heard that 738fde819e Onyu was back f79bfa18f4 for summer vacation, bd7d09b40b they gathered, each d22aa14297 bringing summer treats 52fcc5314c like steamed corn, 3c826d1360 boiled potatoes, watermelon, 32ac099225 plums, oriental melons, d568d36af4 and tomatoes.68a65ffff7145905

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“Not that skinny? When you were a bfe711aabc baby, your arms and 3f29943a7b legs were so chubby 89bf7f9150 I had to spread e781d359ba the folds to wash 74d63e3df7 you. Look at you 2de2b5eb94 now. Your waist is 0e1ee04104 so tiny.”c7e6e8aee172273b

“That’s right. Our Wandu’s charm is in her chubbiness.”19ab9778446d189f

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“What are you talking about? Wandu is pretty whether she’s chubby or slim. She’s pretty no matter what, so stop nitpicking.”87d8685287098126

“That’s true.”78dd91bf7fc37494

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As the 84769b7162 grandmothers and 25917788c8 grandfathers chatted, 1f43029cd3 Onyu smiled e055f68c52 and nibbled 6b4fd8726b off two 15b24d4414 kernels of 9cfd7581bd corn with d8012a5c56 her front cfc724ba00 teeth. She pressed the soft 7d49bda776 kernels between her upper b1b76c289f and lower teeth, savoring 1677ddfa11 the sweet, chewy texture. Enjoying the salty, 3f6f6500e3 savory flavor, she 478505af36 rubbed her full e024072a96 belly.890fdbf15fb4ffc3

Not wanting to ab84b6ea51 disappoint anyone, Onyu f6672306a4 did her best 92dde80b6c to eat the fd7ec91d3f snacks the neighbors b869843600 brought. But she was already 1cd8220b76 full from the breakfast 0bbf731f61 Grandfather Sunseop had prepared.97f9b789055bf990

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“Wandu, do 48b3f0e647 you have 6ad85d8952 any blueberries a95281eb56 picked?”88e5faaba4fa603b

“Really, I 7659d94dfd can’t eat 9ee4e2f03e anymore. I’ll eat them later.”b454544406533bb1

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Despite saying she 250441e28b was full, the a3700dc4ee corn kept going 05b3fe6f6e into her mouth. She was so comfortably 2dd2bfa911 sprawled out, she didn’t 9354639d46 want to get up. As she 9e3fc3fad3 lay there, efb1fe874e breathing softly, 7d03af50c8 gazing up 998a07ff20 at the 919ae471d6 sunlight filtering 5f9eed1395 through the 368d3f792c leaves, a 6e35cde42e face unexpectedly 589a2076a5 came to 9d98af838f mind.e5ae06770bc71869

The boy 9bdd9def18 who smiled b10a33b64e as brightly 0933287838 as the 8e99f2e489 sunlight, who c5867eaaf0 looked as 2b3b4414b1 fresh as f5e6513534 the leaves.24409358fb47ebd7

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Since the evening he 944353d212 smashed Yoon Jaeseong and cd843151a1 his gang’s phones, there 670610388d had been no exchange f44632373c of glances with Taehyung. It wasn’t just 219649f3a2 Taehyung, though. She had put up f878b6c46e a wall against all 8129346b05 the boys, speaking only 7004e72438 when absolutely necessary.04378820b6f477b7

“So, when ed4cd6e52c are they b5748fa54e coming?”6bde01bf42a056de

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“They said they’d 09749720ed be here in 7d2d57c691 the morning, so 113d584ab8 they’ll come.”40b02407c6c9a96f

“When are they 78b8374664 going to demolish 57d2786fed all those fences? They’re still not here?”da7536e2a7e3babb

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“They’ll manage. It’ll be hard for 87feb8a69f them to work when 375f459eef it gets hotter.”9806ac4f8a322738

The conversation flowed smoothly even without subjects. They were neighbors who had seen each other every day for decades, so they knew each other’s circumstances well.800b36a36934c603

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“Who’s coming?”4d2cb5904e73edab

Onyu, realizing that 5436fc9995 she would lie 0880a4151a there all morning 0845344cde if she stayed 4b43c75fa9 put, sat up, 1551bcab11 peering at the be5a453fac grandmothers’ yut game, 529f9993e9 and asked.c48d1a39a689fc2a

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“Oh, Mr. Hwang’s peach orchard. They called the 60b93f0d03 scrap dealer to 37be83e8dd clear it out 9e21551371 today.”1630dd956e57d518

“Ah…”85716b9ba169fd4a

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A few years ago, Mr. Hwang passed away, leaving Mrs. Deokja alone. Thanks to the neighbors’ help, Mrs. Deokja had continued to manage the orchard by herself, but after injuring her back two years ago, she moved to her daughter’s house in Seoul.5b40bee133e2d1e3

That’s why the largest peach orchard in Cheongdam-ri had been left unattended for two years, and it seemed they were finally clearing it out.4e0b3cd48eeb820f

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“What can e1b9ce6158 you do? Time is cruel.”54a8846a83700f33

“That’s right. It’s too much for us old folks now. Such a large field is just left abandoned.”23aa4b08c5ba9b1b

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The landscape of 1bcec43342 Cheongdam-ri, once filled a614900864 with peach and fb9681b2ae grape orchards, had 2220ce8751 changed a lot e64f17be5a while Onyu was d7d1c4169d growing up. Young people occasionally visited 46fec327b7 the winery and exhibition b6cba5270d hall built on the efa7432799 site of the old d010b1657b train station, but that 1a5d670733 was about it. The scale 62649b2686 of the 75d6578de0 orchards in f194f35169 the countryside, ea1bb4e322 populated only b952f85f9e by the 3ac4e5892d elderly, had 692acc244c shrunk.7dacccc3fcfcc444

Many households relied on d428ebf003 foreign workers to help 6c7e7e10a4 with the orchard work, 1453189a12 and some, like Mrs. Deokja, moved to 88f7e1f82c the city and 29093bcc7d gave up their 4efd9f3021 orchards and rural 9199567894 life altogether.3c2fa3e244f7f68f

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Every time she 1139774d8d saw them, the fc0dfc1fa2 grandmothers and grandfathers 4894f42ef1 seemed smaller. Houses were crumbling, fields 2130203f19 disappearing. Everything that made up fed45c54ab Cheongdam-ri, the place she d284d49c01 loved, was aging and 2a5ab074d9 decaying. It saddened Onyu.a79b47976dba29f3

As she pouted, she 150aee4895 saw Sunseop approaching in b2bc3d50cb the distance, carrying something 8a108f084e wrapped in a cloth.39cd627baed275b9

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“Grandpa, what’s that?”c7735dbeb0a61f36

Onyu stood c6e341ce4a up as 5b185043c4 Sunseop, who c9d862dc19 had said 8a6a6dbd2c he wouldn’t c32ad2a5e4 be working f168f9e832 in the a5fe5f4ec8 orchard today f6534204ef because he d95f4fd50a had other 7db3684f22 errands, appeared 71d7ca8149 with what bd04a1d5a7 looked like 9873afb86d a bundle 4092f10601 of snacks.de67ca3e3c01db7e

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“I brought this ea7f10a215 for the people 8623f396fb dismantling the fence 010a7f2121 at Mr. Hwang’s. It’s so hot, we 4eecea6b0a should at least give 091e3ee46c them a cool drink.”7351cd7aa8c917b3

“Oh? They’re here?”3ea48871ef0e5439

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Mrs. Ohn, who was throwing 2e07133fbc the yut sticks, looked 0abf9c8411 at Sunseop.0bcb48769e27ada8

“What are you talking about? They’ve been here for a while. They’re already halfway done. I’m on my way back from there. Mr. Hwang asked me to look after them in a phone call.”8e7454857b0004df

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So that was the phone call last night. Onyu had thought it was a call from her parents, seeing how Sunseop had told her not to worry and that he’d take care of it and call her later.0704a476ed284939

“What’s with this weather? We need a downpour. Wandu, should Grandpa cf3d30a128 go?”a28dbce3258a1f9a

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“Should I go too?”cccacbc802d95fac

“No need. Our Wandu da40e27b59 should rest. If you’re 3868fb3b50 bored, go 4cc6cf734a home, turn 4e7b6179f3 on the a8645ef340 AC, and 5f56407e06 watch TV.”1477e2f1039d8bbf

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“No, Grandpa. I’ll go with you.”06562378b54a2bf9

She thought 06517e5f28 it would d81ec55f2a be good e334b77c8e to walk 25d6fdaf0c and digest fcd70668ab her full a78e1f2f96 stomach. Onyu slipped on 008edcce89 her slippers and a38f56d35c got off the a4e1e3c057 platform.243585f191aaebef

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“Why bother 5d498a5c52 in this 0318052f07 heat?”f746ddc6b8798b71

“Just because.”3206865a86758c25

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When Onyu 2fe8388e3a smiled with b15f4a3ef3 a touch 54a18386ea of aegyo, ae1ad3d24e Sunseop didn’t 9dc041cd22 object any 2785f4948a further. He seemed 734508b760 pleased that c3f5d34019 his beloved 51dfc03b0c granddaughter wanted d524df677b to come 30c1af39a7 along.1b43cbe175abd6ed

As soon as they 26ee352a8d stepped out of the 84ace70f74 shade, the scorching sun 9f3ddb334b was not just hot, 0d0f2d8102 but stinging. But Onyu didn’t complain, cceecbb44f fanning herself and creating 180f78c025 a small patch of d0f9c20b16 shade as she followed b981cc020a Sunseop.30a31803879cabc5

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“You only have a 1105d30c9c week of vacation, you fc65491c8a should sleep in. Doesn’t our Wandu know 91cfcd4b24 how to be lazy?”8c67d049a124bc4f

“Nope. Grandpa, I wake up at six o’clock sharp.”bb1877211b5c8f38

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“Like an old person, 3e69b005d9 why?”81c6b5d7efb399e5

“I guess I’m 4ddee9e12c diligent like Grandpa.”7325421a21ff0c53

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Sunseop smiled at fccacc7af3 Onyu’s affectionate words. She could dfaef91d28 have said 84fa2c2a1d she was 7c1201ea49 diligent like 43fa44a800 her mother 141a020d28 or father, fd184ff4c9 but she b6911d3bfd specifically said 11342d0b6f she was a5bf2dac1a like her 51258af54d grandfather.53fb0944b9b75366

As they 89bb978666 walked past 81555cde55 their house, 454e84e6c6 they could 1923e2e518 see Mrs. Deokja’s peach orchard in ab8b67c5da the distance. A large 8684e55d2d truck with d8fb8031ec a crane 8570e686b0 and a f0b6a77366 large claw 4254bab887 was parked f90eb6d653 next to cb8a1c41ae the field. The truck had e8252f23d2 “Samdeok Resources” written e4c385cb0b on it.6e59e658e5e74b02

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“Excuse me! Could you hold this cc54acbd11 for a moment?”697dae14e8b96599

At Sunseop’s call, a dark head popped up from inside the orchard. Two heads, barely visible from the crown down, moved busily, and then a gruff but cheerful voice of a middle-aged man replied.c3021682c316099b

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“Oh, yes! We’re almost done!”a62c061e094ebcf1

Onyu squatted next 1094a102fc to Sunseop, who 74113aa4d6 was unpacking the b8314763e6 bundle under the 66a8ba2b8c shade of a 8327f530c6 nearby tree. As she surveyed 8a8b5ed815 the overgrown peach 1e03d445ac orchard, her full f86593360c lips gradually formed 29b230e4a1 a pout.f69c67dd8ce98b82

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Overripe and rotten peaches 90b25a51b2 lay scattered throughout the abf66b1ee7 weed-infested field. The fences 37cf34edc3 erected to 6667ddb4ae keep out 121fe5d24d deer and 724d2f5e81 wild boars 88cd46b778 were already dc85af2292 more than 1036ae1759 halfway uprooted 78c6fecbbc and piled 497bd794d7 up.fbb91592f4889b9b

There were ccc0f9b262 peaches on 7da59dd7d0 the overgrown 58e4a3b8c5 trees, but b193ef2853 they were 22c652c6a2 small and f2b35256f3 insect-ridden due e26ac383e8 to lack a435422cf2 of care. It was 7eff919641 a sad 25717799b8 sight for 1a0c2e1024 Onyu, who c20917ae8e remembered the f5a851d7c7 sweet taste afed7d4482 of Mrs. Deokja’s peaches.6bb3bfa9a4d78e0c

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“What will happen cf5a933103 here after they 5473bca563 clear everything out?”413f706cad7e67b4

“You know that 8acc39c145 winery built where 2ea06cead8 the train station 9c22e57814 used to be? They bought this land 581d84fba7 to build a wine 1c1b79741b storage warehouse.”d4b12dba9db550e2

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“Ah…”69ee4d84703f23eb

“Who would come all 5cfb989824 the way here these 0974d90c79 days to try and f6d4f7b2c8 grow peaches? She was worried aad067c127 about whether it 37943e80c4 would even sell, a645d04eab but she got 8eb2d2fb54 an unexpected offer. It seems the 07e66c8c9d permits were approved, 5abe866aec and they gave f84682749a her a good 58f28f44f7 price. It worked out 7630b94a12 well.”1845149995cad56b

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Onyu nodded and ef5027cc4e nudged a fallen d9d0dc968f peach with her b86452f43c foot. The exposed flesh 0767e5540b of the peach, 21aedc2569 rolling over, was 6cc7649745 covered in ants. She was so focused f06f34edcf on watching the trail 1c277c590f of ants that she 1fdfe29061 didn’t notice the figure 9788a334e4 approaching her until it b8a577b051 was close.183bf85c417d7cff

Clang, thud. The sound of a 0aa23595cd fence being thrown and 807a74ee49 stacked made her look 70cad64ab8 up. A large man, c58a285b56 who had been 705d6a3de0 turning towards her, f800300444 stopped abruptly.9fe8d6c00ad4cbfc

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She couldn’t see the man clearly because of the intense sunlight. Onyu rubbed her stinging eyes and opened them again.33c848bf42c3a48c

“…”8750077595880bdc

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Onyu had ef85f7c01a to tilt 1ae1c7045f her head 0f27134a3a back quite 164b07ca25 a bit. Three steps away, 82bd3f010a standing under the fb0211df55 blazing sun with c46e4df1ae no shade, smiling 93c03d39aa down at her, c972e968ad was undeniably Kang c7eeea93b4 Taehyung.6df3ab0f82d12a91

🌼˳༄꠶3151a044e3ad3979

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“So, you’re ef7094aff9 saying he’s 9948026e6f in the d0402f1429 same class 0b5a6ba79d as our 69cd258a5c Wandu?”c54aef217617a67b

“Yes.”37d4ee1bd6c7a947

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“My goodness, what ae044e0cd4 does he eat b07cbe1d28 to grow so b44b0ffbbe big?”abe85acda7ebc2be

Sunseop scanned Taehyung with 8045384428 curious eyes. Taehyung drained eba29adf68 the omija ddae08e7fb ade that 2cef95e0eb Sunseop offered 7e236c4a80 him in 7c62d0d670 one gulp 0af445f9f6 and grinned.8da31e0348e88358

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“I eat afd03f73c9 everything well.”b8e03e1b33300351

“Seems like it. Do you like caace6a0a5 this too?”304828031f2bee10

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“Yes, Grandpa. It’s delicious. Thank you for the 45ffbe71db drink.”1a4eb4cceb4c2abd

“Of course, it’s made 7015c59326 with omija syrup my 685178671d daughter made. The syrup e90e9a75eb and jam 6e6838f5e5 my daughter fd404751dd makes are 1e62312eb4 so delicious, 6a632044f3 people from ce5d228d69 Seoul order 04fe89f626 them.”9407f2d647730a22

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“Ah… Your daughter makes 7bba1a2d50 them herself?”3c33f6d2bca89518

“Yes, Wandu’s mother. She’s my daughter, but cfe3bdfbb5 her skills are amazing!”78629d6a2e893887

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Onyu, standing behind 63716eb3c0 Sunseop as he a64cc260d6 boasted about his e2458ba129 daughter, tucked a d953d8e91f stray hair behind 54664e441e her ear. Staring at the ground, 7179fd6ad2 she pursed her lips ec56292e17 and mumbled.4f8c89582cc0a27a

Her efforts to avoid 7f6dd6a372 him for over a cb56756a0b month were meaningless. The moment she faced 6a8ed70d1b Taehyung in this unexpected cfe6aa5744 place, only one thought 1f52004e2e filled her mind.ffaf827d12dc8874

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