DMH Ch18

A battered old truck arrived at the lavish mansion. The truck owner, who had driven the vehicle into the estate, widened his eyes in astonishment. He hunched his shoulders and peered through the window at the palace-like house. The colorful garden scenery felt like the backdrop of a cartoon movie his eight-year-old daughter watched every day. He imagined a blonde-haired female protagonist opening a large window in the morning, singing as she appeared, and an enchanted frog frolicking and exploring the garden.

“Wow… places like this really exist huh.”

In truth, the truck owner’s astonishment had begun long before this moment. He had been overwhelmed even before entering the garden. As he drove into the neighborhood where the mansion was located, he wondered how such a secluded place could exist, only to realize that this mansion was the only structure there. He continued to steer, feeling intimidated by the gate, which seemed large enough for a hundred people to dance the GanggangsullaeGanggangsullae¹ while still leaving room on either side. The truck driver’s feelings as he passed through the mansion were akin to the moment he stood on a glass floor at the highest observatory in the country and looked down—so immense that it gave him goosebumps.

“Just park it over there.”

Wan pointed out the window. As requested, the driver parked the truck next to a large fountain. The mansion, just a few steps away and viewed from directly below, was incredibly majestic, as if a valiant mythical creature were perched on its peak.

“Thank you.”

The truck driver watched as a high school boy and his father got out of the truck one after the other. He thought that whoever came to live in this house would surely have a successful life.

As Park Wan got out of the truck, he straightened his stiff body. The last time he had seen the garden, vibrant roses had been in full bloom, but now it was covered in snow-white roses. The lush roses in the round bushes numbered in the hundreds, even by a rough estimate.

“Wan, Dad will carry them first.”

Park Gwangcheol headed to the back of the truck. The driver followed and unlocked the truck bed. Park Gwangcheol didn’t seem to care about the garden of the mansion, which he saw every day. Wan looked at Park Gwangcheol’s assigned area, Zone B. White roses were planted there as well, clustered together.

“I’ll carry some too.”

“You just need to take your own stuff down.”

Park Gwangcheol gathered a large bundle of luggage in his arms and naturally walked towards the back of the truck. Wan called out to his father, who was heading towards the garden.

“Dad, where are you going!”

“The staff quarters are in the back.”

Park Gwangcheol said with a grin. Seeing his dark face smiling so happily, oblivious to Wan’s inner turmoil, made Wan’s heart ache even more. Now he would have to see Mu Jeonghoo’s face not only at school but also at home.

“Is everything unloaded?”

The driver who had driven them here asked.

“Yes. Goodbye.”

“Yep-”

The truck driver got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. Soon, the green truck reversed, circled the fountain, and exited the garden. Wan stepped aside and picked up the luggage he had brought from the truck. It was hardly even luggage. A pink bundle containing winter and summer clothes and a simple, square box filled with everyday necessities. It was the same box he had used since his first move, so the outer layer was peeling off in places. Wan placed the pink, bulky bundle on top of the old box. Just as he was about to follow Park Gwangcheol, he heard Mu Jeonghoo’s voice from behind.

“You’re this way.”

Wan frowned and turned around. On weekends, Wan would laze around in the PE uniform he had worn for the school sports day and his school PE shorts. His hair was a mess, and he hadn’t washed his face, making him look like a beggar. But Mu Jeonghoo, even on a day off, was radiant. Even though he was wearing comfortable clothes, he exuded an air of elegance as if he were well-dressed. His smooth face shone even brighter outdoors. He was wearing loose-fitting top and pants, and the seams of the loose clothes followed his shoulders, making them look even broader than usual.

“Follow me.”

“…”

Mu Jeonghoo said what he had to say and walked towards the mansion. Wan looked at Park Gwangcheol, who was already walking away as a small dot, with a wistful gaze. Now, if Mu Jeonghoo told him to follow, he had to follow like a dead mouse. That was the promise he had made to come to this mansion in the first place.

Wan followed Mu Jeonghoo with heavy steps. As soon as he entered the mansion, the pleasant indoor temperature welcomed Wan’s stuffy body. The sweat on his forehead cooled down immediately. Mu Jeonghoo went up the stairs to the second floor. It was a familiar path to Wan. He had passed this way before when he was asked to clean the bathroom by a mansion employee.

“Let me take those.”

Chief Kim approached from the side as Wan kept his distance from Mu Jeonghoo. Before Wan could refuse, he forcibly took the old box and the pink, bulky bundle. Carrying the luggage, he began to walk ahead of Mu Jeonghoo. Wan watched Chief Kim carry his luggage and cross the threshold of Mu Jeonghoo’s massive room, and asked in dismay.

“Why are you going that way?”

Mu Jeonghoo’s gaze turned to Park Wan. His eyes held a look of disdain.

“What have you been listening to all this time?”

“…”

“You don’t have your own room. You’ll live in my room.”

Was he serious? Wan was reminded that he should never take Mu Jeonghoo’s words lightly, even if they seemed like jokes. There was no denial this time either. Wan entered the room, feeling as lost as he had felt while following Mu Jeonghoo and Chief Kim.

Mu Jeonghoo’s room was large enough for a family of four to live in. Mu Jeonghoo had been living alone in this vast room until now. The space, decorated like a separate living room, had a sofa, a television, and even a stereo, just like any other family’s living room. Wan, who had been too flustered to see anything beyond the bed last time, was now able to observe the television in detail. It was surprisingly thin. He realized today that televisions could be so thin. It felt like if he touched it with his finger, he would probably feel the fingerprint of the finger on the other side. The illegal container where Wan had been living only had an old, bulky television. That old thing was now an item that couldn’t even be sold for a price.

He turned his head and looked around the room. There was only Mu Jeonghoo’s large bed in the room. Was he supposed to sleep on the floor? As he explored the room’s space and furniture, Chief Kim approached one side of the wall. It was near the space decorated like a living room. He pushed the hard wall. Wan’s eyes widened. A new space appeared. He almost doubted his eyes. A small studio apartment was hidden inside the wall. It was a secret space that only existed in the homes of the wealthy. The interior of the secret space was neatly decorated.

Chief Kim carefully placed Wan’s luggage on the desk in the studio apartment. Wan walked, following in Chief Kim’s footsteps like the village children following the Pied Piper. Wan’s mouth was so wide open that a fly could have flown in without him noticing. He had never dreamed that there would be such a secret place in the room. Before entering the secret space, Wan gently touched the hard wall that Chief Kim had pushed. It was hard like the other walls. When he pushed it sideways, it moved smoothly like a sliding door.

“This is the room you’ll be using from now on.”

“…”

“Don’t close it without my permission.”

Mu Jeonghoo spoke like a dormitory supervisor giving instructions. Wan couldn’t concentrate on the voice coming from behind. Ever since Chief Kim had opened the secret door, he had been preoccupied with the room he would be using. Mu Jeonghoo chuckled as he watched Wan nodding absentmindedly with a captivated expression.

He was satisfied with Wan’s appearance as he observed the room like he was visiting a zoo. Before this room became Wan’s small room, it had been piled high with game consoles that Mu Jeonghoo had played with since he was a child. When he was bored, he would pick a game console from the room filled with them and play. Mu Jeonghoo willingly gave that room to Park Wan. He made it so clean that Wan would never miss the container that was no better than a doghouse.

To Park Wan, the small room prepared by Mu Jeonghoo felt like the size of a cozy one-person apartment. The fragrant scent of a diffuser brushed against his nose. The room, which looked like it belonged in a high-end interior design magazine, was nothing more than a pipe dream in Wan’s life. A room he had wondered if he would ever be able to live in was now placed before him like a Christmas present.

Wan approached the desk where his luggage was waiting. There was a painting hanging in a position visible when he sat at the desk and looked up. It was a watercolor painting of a green forest path. He had to look at green when he was tired. He should look at this when his eyes hurt from studying. Or he could look at the green garden outside the window. Wan imagined the life he would build in this room. He wanted to throw himself on the bed, which was far away from the desk. But there were too many eyes watching him now.

“Look around some more and then come downstairs.”

Wan unconsciously stroked the wooden desk and was reminded of how he had come to this house and that Mu Jeonghoo, who had nothing to fear in the world, was standing behind him. As soon as he heard Mu Jeonghoo’s voice, he immediately hardened his expression. He had no idea how long he had been lost in thought. After speaking, Mu Jeonghoo turned around and left, allowing Park Wan to enjoy the room he would be living in to his heart’s content.

Wan unpacked his luggage and came down to the first floor. An employee who had been waiting in the lobby led him somewhere. It was a place he had never been before. Only the sound of the employee’s and Wan’s footsteps echoed like an audio track in the quiet interior. After passing the reception room, a long corridor appeared. At the end of the corridor, a long, black door that stretched from the floor to the ceiling was tightly closed.

“Where are we going?”

“You need to have a meal.”

When the employee reached the door, he turned the handle and opened the door wide. A bright interior unfolded through the open door. Wan’s eyes met Park Gwangcheol’s, who was sitting there with Mu Jeonghoo.

“Wan!”

Park Gwangcheol called out to Wan in a bright voice. He was pleased to see Wan standing in the magnificent house. The face of the rich man’s son finally seemed to have found clothes that fit him, and he looked very good in this mansion. He was proud of his son. He had become friends with Mu Jeonghoo, who was practically the owner of this house, after attending the same school. From now on, the path ahead would be smooth sailing. He thought that if Wan worked hard enough in this house to the point of dedicating his life to it, he might one day get a position like Chief Kim, who was next to the young master. He resolved to say something to his son, who was glaring at Mu Jeonghoo as he walked over.

“Sit.”

Mu Jeonghoo said to Wan. Mu Jeonghoo was sitting in the seat of honor, which could be said to be the highest position. Park Gwangcheol winked at Wan. It was a signal to sit down quickly. Wan reluctantly headed to the opposite side where Park Gwangcheol was sitting. One of the employees was already pulling out a chair and waiting for him. Wan walked straight along the long table.

The table was long enough for a snake to stretch out its body straight and still have room to spare. The food filled about half of the table. Among them were dishes he had seen in the school cafeteria, and several dishes he had wanted to eat but couldn’t. He had been starving all day preparing for the move, and his blood sugar was gradually dropping.

“…”

They hadn’t touched the food until Wan arrived. Wan looked at his father. Park Gwangcheol kept smacking his lips and visually scanning the food on the table. Wan looked at Park Gwangcheol’s face and quietly sat down. He decided to eat quietly and go straight up to his room. Mu Jeonghoo opened his mouth as soon as Wan sat down.

“Everyone’s here, let’s eat.”