TYW Ch 2

Grandma and Rieul, whose lives were trampled by Mac, passed away at the end of summer. It happened when heavy rain poured down at the end of the summer season. As usual, Mac drank alcohol excessively and drove while intoxicated, then crashed into a truck coming from the opposite direction and died instantly at the scene.

Due to the incident, Rieul and her grandmother were called to the police station multiple times. They were intensely interrogated to ensure whether Mac had really committed suicide or if someone had pushed him to do it, or if there was a specific cause that triggered it.

This happened because Mac was a veteran who had served the American nation, while her grandmother was an Asian woman who seemed to have been ‘sold’ when she married him. Although her grandmother had lived in Seattle all her life, she was not fluent in English, so she was almost accused of causing Mac’s death.

America highly values the honor of soldiers who have sacrificed for their country. Therefore, the police could not simply consider Mac’s death as a regular suicide case and conducted a strict investigation. Grandma became an easy target to be made a scapegoat.

In fact, it was clear that Mac had crashed into the truck while heavily intoxicated and with limited visibility due to the heavy rain. However, the police still looked for faults.

Fortunately, the authorities stopped the excessive investigation, so Grandma could reunite with Rieul. When they finally met, they hugged tightly while sobbing, feeling as if they had lost each other.

As a veteran, Mac received a pension from the state, which he used to pay the house rent. Although they had a place to live that could protect them from rain, snow, heat, and cold, they could not avoid violence and abuse from Mac.

Throughout his life, Mac spent the remaining money after paying rent on gambling and buying alcohol. In fact, he also used drugs. When the money to buy liquor or drugs ran out, he would throw things around the house and hit Grandma and Rieul with his large body.

Grandma would hug Rieul tightly, bowing to protect her so that Rieul’s face would not be destroyed like hers. Every time this happened, tears would keep flowing.

Her grandmother once said she wanted to go back to Korea, but she couldn’t. That’s why, when she suffered from a spinal disc herniation, she couldn’t even undergo surgery.

***

Grandma was immediately transferred to a VIP room at Overlake, Bellevue, Seattle. Michael promised to help cure Grandma’s disc stenosis, but the doctors were worried because the condition had been going on for too long and Grandma’s age, which was over seventy, made her high risk for surgery. In the end, Grandma decided not to undergo surgery.

“Do you want to go back to Korea?”

“I told you I don’t want to. You should go inside quickly too.”

It was the day Grandma was discharged from Overlake Hospital in Bellevue. After fainting from being unable to withstand the heatwave, thanks to Michael, Grandma was able to rest comfortably for a full week and undergo a health checkup. Michael even forbade Rieul from returning to work, assuring that he would take responsibility for Grandma and Rieul’s lives in the future. His words made Rieul’s eyes red and her nose sting.

It was a time full of violence and torture. The dark and painful time due to violence was so heavy. After Mac died, life became even harder for Grandma and Rieul. Grandma was even almost accused of provoking Mac’s suicide and almost went to jail. After Mac’s death and the loss of pension money, Grandma and Rieul could only survive by living in a tent camp.

In America, which is fully rooted in capitalism, where workers like Grandma and Rieul who are uneducated and have no skills find it difficult to gather money to rent a decent room, it all felt like an impossible dream. There was no hope every day.

But one day, Michael appeared, bringing a glimmer of hope for Grandma and Rieul.

“Yebun, marry me. I will make you happy until I die.”

“Ah! You’re talking nonsense. How old are we! Besides…” Grandma stopped her sentence.

Grandma didn’t like men. She was afraid and horrified. But somehow, Michael stayed by her side. Michael was a very humorous and polite man. When Michael whispered that Grandma was his first love when they were still in their hometown in Korea, Rieul finally understood.

“Besides what? Ah, Yebun, to me you are still a beautiful girl even though you are old. You are still as beautiful as a young girl to me!”

“Ah, you! Don’t talk nonsense! Your deceased wife will be angry! Her eyes will bulge!” When Grandma grumbled, Michael immediately fell silent.

On the other hand, Rieul chuckled. All this time, she had never seen Grandma speak loudly to a man. At that moment, Rieul realized that Michael was the one who made her grandmother feel comfortable.

***

Michael provided comfortable housing for Grandma in a luxurious house on Mercer Island, Seattle.

“Duh, I told you I’m not dead, why are you so stubborn?” For the first time, Grandma expressed discomfort to a man by shaking her head.

“Yebun, I feel guilty for making you suffer all your life. I just want to make you happy.” Michael spoke sincerely, but still smiled gently. The loving look in his eyes when he looked at Grandma made Rieul feel happy too.

“Ah, at this old age, your first wife and children must be angry! Do you want to die alone as a lonely old man, huh?”

“Ah, I have a lot of money. My children only care about my wealth.” Michael laughed casually, his smile reminiscent of a mischievous boy.

Rieul didn’t mind seeing Grandma and Michael acting like this often. Although Grandma didn’t show it in front of Michael, she always told Rieul to appreciate Michael. According to her grandmother, nothing comes for free, and meeting a man like Michael was a stroke of luck in life. Her grandmother didn’t want to be a burden to Michael any longer, so every day she kept pushing Rieul to become independent quickly.

“Can sake factory workers really be as rich as Americans? They are very rich, you know!”

“Ah, Yebun, you don’t know. Bill Gates? I may not be as rich as him, but I’m a sake worker who became a millionaire, you know! In Korea, if you don’t know me, you could be considered a criminal, you know!”

“Duh, you, your nonsense hasn’t changed, has it.” Although Grandma snorted, Michael just laughed while sipping his coffee. The scene felt so warm, like a snippet of happiness in a television drama. Grandma, who was usually anxious and fearful, now looked so comfortable, free from fear of other people.

However, the happiness was only temporary.

***

A tall man with his back turned was ordering while looking at the showcase. He was a firm, straightforward, and clear man in everything, just like Michael. Rieul smiled faintly.

“Uh, Woogeon.” The man glanced at Rieul from over his shoulder.

“I can’t eat that much.”

“If there’s any left, we can pack it. Don’t you like macarons?”

Impossible. Is there any woman who doesn’t like luxurious desserts like that? Every time she passed a dessert cafe in Seattle, Rieul always wanted to try one, but one macaron was priced at $3.5. If converted to won, it’s about 4,600 won, equivalent to the price of a bottle of shampoo at a cheap supermarket in America. In Seattle, it didn’t make sense to exchange a bottle of shampoo for a macaron.

“I told you, I don’t like wasting food. It feels sinful.”

“Just choose what you really want to eat, then.”

“Really, it’s okay?” The man moved his body, revealing the showcase. Rieul, who was petite, leaned forward slightly. Under the yellow lighting, the colors of the packaged macarons looked so bright that they made her smile. Their names were also very beautiful: Moroccan Mint, Earl Grey Cream, Blueberry Banana, Pomegranate Salt—all had beautiful and soft colors.

“Give me everything, please.” While Rieul was still hesitant, the man said.

“Eh, no, really.”

“If you don’t finish it, just keep it and eat it again tomorrow. And brownies…”

“Just one brownie!” When Rieul hurriedly said that, the man frowned, as if it was his habit. Even when frowning, he still looked handsome.

“One brownie is enough to fill you up.”

“One brownie, then Ristretto, and what else? That drink that tastes like toothpaste.”

“Not toothpaste… you mean Mint Chocolate Latte.”

“Ah, Mint Chocolate Latte.” After the man ordered, the employee deftly wrote down the order and calculated. The man put his card wallet into his jacket, then pulled out a chair at one end of the long wooden table and looked at Rieul. Rieul looked at him as if asking what he meant. The man nodded.

“Sit down.” Then, he pulled out a chair next to him with a little distance and sat down. Rieul sat in the chair provided by the man. Outside the large window, a small valley resembling rock carvings could be seen.

After their desserts and drinks arrived, the man placed the macaron and brownie plates in front of Rieul. Rieul smiled faintly as she smelled the warm Mint Chocolate Latte aroma from her cup. The man crossed his legs, put his arm on another chair, and sipped his Ristretto.

It’s true that Western men tend to look attractive with sharp facial features, but Rieul had never seen a man as handsome as Woogeon, whose face was so clean and clear. He was an Asian man, but his charm was different from handsome Western men. His face had sharp lines, more dominant straight lines than curves. His eyes were long, with pupils that sometimes looked cold and intimidating. His nose was high and long, while his lips were full and long, but didn’t show warmth, only polite and a little stiff. His forehead was quite wide, indicating an open mind, with thick and full hair.

Plus, his body, wrapped in a light blue shirt, didn’t look too muscular, but wasn’t thin either. As he moved, the muscles in his arms and back seemed to tighten and relax with a balanced rhythm.

Rieul felt her ears warm. Feeling guilty for observing the man too clearly, she reached for her cup with both hands and sipped the Mint Chocolate Latte. The soft foam touched her lips, while the sweet taste of mint and chocolate spread in her mouth, making her feel happy.

Rieul glanced back at the man. The man was just staring at the small valley outside the window. However, when he felt Rieul’s gaze, he turned. Rieul was startled and hurriedly turned her face away.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh?” Rieul was about to answer but closed her mouth. She remembered how the man had once commented on her habit of only being able to answer, “Yes, yes? Yes, yes?”

“What could make me not okay?”

“I don’t know the situation, Yeon Rieul. Are you really sure you want to get married?” The man asked seriously for the first time. Rieul didn’t know how to answer, so she closed her mouth and bit her lip.

Her elderly grandmother underwent surgery for malignant polyps in her large intestine. Michael assured Grandma that now she would just live a long and happy life. He called the best surgeon from Korea to operate on Grandma. The surgery was successful, and the doctor said the prognosis was also good.

Rieul really believed that all trials and tribulations had ended. Her grandmother was happy, healthy, and promised to laugh every day. Michael, who occasionally visited Seattle, felt like a kind, tall uncle. Grandma no longer had to clean building toilets or pick up trash on the streets. From the first day she was hospitalized, Michael asked her to stop working, and Grandma really rested until the end of her life.

Rieul felt very grateful to Michael. Thanks to him, her grandmother was able to cook longforgotten Korean food and try Western-style home cooking. In addition, Rieul, who didn’t even finish junior high school, was finally able to take the SAT exam thanks to Michael.

Michael introduced several private tutors who were graduates of Harvard and Seoul National University to guide her, who didn’t know where to start studying. After six months of tutoring, Rieul took the SAT exam and, fortunately, the results were good enough for her to be accepted into the English Literature department at the University of Seattle, even getting a scholarship for the first year.

Michael always said that it was all the result of Rieul’s own luck. However, for Rieul, it was all a miracle that would never have happened without Michael. It felt like a dream. And like most beautiful dreams, it all ended suddenly. Her grandmother died only twenty days after battling pancreatic cancer.

“Is Woogeon okay?” Rieul asked while holding the warm Mint Chocolate Latte cup, feeling the warmth in her hands.

“As I said, no one can beat the elderly.” Rieul unconsciously let out a soft laugh.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Ah, sorry.”

“No need to apologize. I’m just curious.”

“It’s because… Michael, I mean Grandpa, often said that his youngest grandson is difficult to deal with.”

“Not difficult, just because he tries to win against the elderly.”

Rieul held back a laugh and kept her mouth tightly shut. Michael had said the exact same thing.

“That rude kid never wants to give in! He even wants to win against his own grandfather!” “Doesn’t Yeon Rieul have any desires of her own? Didn’t you say you’re 22 years old? You’re still young and must have many things you want to do.”

Rieul thought that perhaps the reason Woogeon could speak like that was because he didn’t know her well. From Rieul’s point of view, those words felt like overly simplistic nonsense.

When Rieul was eight years old, just before her birthday, both her parents died suddenly. Her mother had no siblings, while her father’s family refused to take care of her. Her grandmother also thought she couldn’t afford to take care of her, as she had never liked Rieul and her parents’ presence in Mac’s house. Little Rieul was unaware of the violence and abuse Mack inflicted on her family at that time.

The child welfare agency was seriously discussing whether Rieul should be sent to an orphanage. Amidst the chaos, Rieul suddenly missed her grandmother, despite a little resentment. However, as soon as she saw her grandmother enter in shabby and hurried clothes, Rieul immediately ran to hug her, sobbing uncontrollably.

Her grandmother then took Rieul back to Mac’s house. Rieul never expected to be hit from the very first day. She struggled to finish elementary school. However, since entering junior high school, violence, abuse, and threats to earn money became more real. Rieul started working part-time and never managed to continue to high school.

For Rieul, life wasn’t about living with determination or dreams, but simply surviving. Every day, upon opening her eyes, all she thought about was whether she could eat that day or not. If she got sick or injured, it would be a big problem, as she had to stay strong to work and take care of her grandmother. She couldn’t afford to be beaten, and she had the responsibility to take care of her grandmother.

Of course, as a young person, she wanted to study and achieve a better future, but for Rieul, all of that was just an unreachable luxury. Sometimes, she read in the newspaper or watched the news about people who managed to escape difficult conditions, get into Harvard, or become great doctors. However, they were miracles that happened only to a select few. Rieul felt she wasn’t someone capable of creating such miracles. Dreaming was beautiful, but for Rieul, dreams remained just dreams.

“I’m already very old,” Woogeon said in a serious tone. Rieul just smiled thinly.

Even now, when she returned to Korea with Michael, she still had a choice other than marrying the older Woogeon. She could choose to go back to college, like when she was first accepted into the University of Seattle.

However, Rieul didn’t want to do that. Michael was now dying. Michael’s life was at its end. Michael, who had brought miracles to her and her grandmother, was now fighting against death. How could she only think about her own comfort, continuing her studies, or pursuing dreams when the man who had saved her life was lying weak?

Michael wasn’t her biological grandfather, but he had treated her more than a real grandfather. He had saved Rieul and her grandmother from suffering, giving them happiness. Even after her grandmother passed away, and now when death was imminent, Michael only worried about Rieul’s future, who would soon be alone.

Michael wanted someone who could take care of Rieul after he was gone. Thinking about it, how could Rieul be selfish and only pursue her own dreams?

“I know.”

“The nine-year age difference is significant. For a 22-year-old girl, a 31-year-old man must look like an old man, right?” The man said casually while sipping his coffee.

He was the simplest and most straightforward man Rieul had ever known, speaking briefly and directly to the point. And he was also the first man who made Rieul curious, even fall in love since their first meeting.

“I know this might sound unpleasant, but after grandpa passes away, I intend to divorce.”

Rieul felt a little sad hearing that. From Woogeon’s point of view, perhaps this marriage did feel forced. If a strange woman suddenly appeared and was asked to marry just because she was close to his grandfather, who wouldn’t object? Even if they divorced after his grandfather passed away, Rieul didn’t feel entitled to complain. This was indeed a forced marriage, wasn’t it?

‘If you knew that your grandfather often talked about you to me… And I’ve liked you since then… Would you hate me?’

“I… don’t feel this marriage is a disadvantage to me.” Instead of revealing her true feelings, Rieul chose a simpler answer.

“I see.” The man calmly sipped his coffee again.

“I’m just an orphan, penniless, with only the clothes on my back. Michael once said he’s one of the richest people in Korea?”

“So, you think by clinging to that family, you’ll get a share of the wealth?”

Rieul gripped her Mint Chocolate Latte cup tighter. The warmth from the cup spread to her hands, making her heart feel more comfortable. Rieul’s reason for wanting to marry Woogeon wasn’t because of money or the family’s wealth.

‘I just like you. If grandpa wants us to marry, I don’t mind. But maybe you hate me.’

Rieul lowered her head and drank her Mint Chocolate Latte again.

“I know about rich people.” The man stared at her silently.

“If I become rich, I can drink this Mint Chocolate Latte every day, right?”

Woogeon chuckled.

“If I can drink this every day, that’s enough for me. I don’t need anything else.”

“That’s strange.” Even though the man murmured like that, Rieul steadfastly sipped her Mint Chocolate Latte.

***