MIS 12

“You know how I really feel, Hyung. I just said bad things about your mother that day to calm my mom down, I didn’t mean it…”

“Kang Yoon-woo, who is your Hyung?”

The cold night air blew past the two men. Tae-jun’s voice, as cold as the night air, broke the silence.

“A bastard child like you doesn’t know your place. That’s all you are.”

“Hyung…”

Yoon-woo’s face contorted.

“So don’t act like you know anything. You haven’t changed at all since then. Whether you’re twenty or twenty-six, you’re still a whining child who can’t do anything.”

Yoon-woo clenched his fists at Tae-jun’s sharp words.

“Restaurant owner? Don’t make me laugh.”

“….”

“Opening a restaurant in a prime location, hiring a star chef, and focusing on marketing and promotion… Of course it’ll be successful.”

“Don’t jump to conclusions.”

“Anyone can be a figurehead CEO.  Have you even earned the capital for the restaurant?”

“… .”

“How long do you think it will last?”

Tae-jun’s aggressive words scratched Yoon-woo’s pride.

“Is that why Mrs. Choi is trying to bring you into the company?”

“I’m not interested in working for the company.”

Nonsense.

Tae-jun sneered and turned around. He tried to ignore him and walk away, but Yoon-woo’s words stopped him.

“How is Seo-hee?”

“Why are you interested in my secretary?”

“Seo-hee and I, we were special.”

Silence fell between them. Yoon-woo’s face, usually adorned with a gentle smile, was now cold.

“Of course she’s fine. She’s with me.”

Tae-jun spat out the words angrily and walked out of the garden.

* * *

Six years ago.

Tae-jun stood and looked at the lake, breathing in the cold mountain air.

With the mountain behind him and the lake in front of him, this place, considered auspicious according to Feng Shui, housed the family cemetery.

Originally, his mother’s grave was to be placed in the family cemetery of the Jeya group. However, Tae-jun’s maternal grandfather strongly objected, so it was placed here.

He could hear his maternal grandmother sobbing behind him. Even though many years had passed, it seemed that some could not forget.

Tae-jun habitually reached for his cigarette case in his suit jacket, then realized he was in the mountains and clicked his tongue in disappointment.

His great aunt Hye-sook stood next to him.

“None of your family came? At least the chairman should have come in place of your late father.”

“The chairman’s health isn’t good.”

“Nonsense. They’re too ashamed to face our family.”

The crying grew louder. Hye-sook turned to her older sister, who was calling out to her deceased daughter, and spoke in a choked voice.

“Your grandmother is still in mourning. Who can understand the pain of losing a child?”

“….”

“Are you alright?”

Tae-jun stared at the calm waves of the lake without answering.

He had no memories of his mother. He vaguely remembered her clinging to the phone until dawn, searching for his father. Her constant suspicion and obsession with his father’s infidelity.

And finally the scene when she took her own life.

Tae-jun frowned as he remembered his mother’s last moments. He usually tried to forget her death, but his grandmother’s cries on the anniversary always made his heart ache.

Then Tae-jun let out a small chuckle.

Was it even possible for him to miss someone?

His mother, whom he had lost at the age of seven and of whom he had no memories.

“Do you know why I’m angry with your family?”

Hye-sook’s voice was sharp.

“That woman is throwing her son’s birthday party today. She knows nothing about art, yet she wanders around galleries. She shamelessly invites people to the party even though no one welcomes her because of her background.”

Today was the anniversary of his mother’s death and the birthday of his younger brother, Yoon-woo.

“How can they have a birthday party in that house? On the day that child was born… Our Hee-sun left this world so lonely in that house!”

Hye-sook grabbed Tae-jun’s suit jacket.

“Don’t even think about sharing the Jeya Group with that brat. The company wouldn’t have grown without my brother-in-law’s help.”

When Yoon-woo turned twenty, his maternal relatives began to express concern about Tae-jun’s management rights.

Tae-jun understood their intentions.

He nodded slowly, wanting to ease their worries.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

“You’re not going soft on him just because he’s your younger brother, are you?”

Hye-sook’s words were sharp. They used to be particularly close brothers.

Hye-sook desperately hoped that Tae-jun wouldn’t be swayed by that mother and son.

“Tae-jun, you must not waver. Do you understand? Look what happened to your mother because of that woman and her son!”

Tae-jun remained silent. He longed for a cigarette more than ever.

After the memorial service, Tae-jun parked in front of the main house. He planned to give Yoon-woo a birthday present and then head to the office.

As he approached the garden, he heard excited chatter. The garden was beautifully lit, full of food for a big party and filled with people with happy faces.

“Yoon-woo! Happy birthday.”

“When did you get here? Thank you.”

Tae-jun watched as Yoon-woo, standing next to Eun-hye, greeted the guests, then turned towards the mansion.

Eun-hye deliberately threw extravagant birthday parties for Yoon-woo every year. Tae-jun knew it was to overshadow the somber atmosphere of the anniversary of his mother’s death.

The mansion was unusually quiet.

Outside the party was in full swing, but inside there was a chill in the air. Tae-jun went up to the second floor and walked down the hallway. He paused in front of the art studio where his mother had committed suicide, then passed it without a second thought.

Entering his room, Tae-jun looked through the documents he had brought with him.

A long time had passed.

Tae-jun stood at the window and looked down into the garden. The party showed no signs of ending.

He picked up the present he had left on the desk.  He had waited for a while and decided to leave the gift and go to the company.

That’s when he stopped in front of Yoon-woo’s room. He heard a familiar voice from behind the closed door.

“Grandpa will accept Mom too. I’ll make sure of it.”

It was Yoon-woo’s voice. It was a serious tone, different from the one he had used at the party.

Did this guy have such a serious side at all?

The Yoon-woo Tae-jun knew was a bright and playful child.

A pure and innocent child in contrast to himself.

No matter what others whispered, even though his mother had died the day he was born, he was still his younger brother. He couldn’t blame Yoon-woo for his father’s infidelity.

Tae-jun chuckled at Yoon-woo’s mature behavior and was about to return to his room when he heard,

“She’s already dead.”

Tae-jun stopped.

He should leave. It was none of his business what Yoon-woo was talking about with his stepmother in that room.

But a strange feeling stopped him.

“Mom, no matter what anyone says, you are the mistress of the Jeya Group.”

“Then why does your grandfather scold me for having a party in this house? It’s been 20 years, do we still have to mourn that woman in this house?”

Eun-hye began to sob.

“The woman my father loved was Mom, not that dead woman. No one in this house remembers her anymore.”

Yoon-woo comforted his mother with unusual seriousness.

“The employees all say she was a crazy, obsessive woman.”

“….”

“They say father never even looked at her.  So don’t worry, Mom.”

“Yoon-woo…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re recognized in this family.”

Eun-hye cried out,

“Really? There’s only one way to get recognized! Mom wishes you were more ambitious. Join the company as soon as you graduate. Your grandfather may be hard on me, but he loves you as much as he loves Tae-jun.”

“That’s…”

“Let’s try our best. Who knows, maybe you are even more capable than Tae-jun?”

He didn’t need to hear any more.

Tae-jun left the mansion. He reached for his cigarette case, but the present in his hand got in the way.

In the end, he threw the gift, which had been on his mind because Yoon-woo had wanted it, into the garbage can.

The cold night air brushed against his cheek. His mind cooled down with the temperature.

“Ha…“

Tae-jun took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. With a click, the flame of the lighter ignited the tip of the cigarette.

Tae-jun took a deep drag, his eyebrows furrowed. Silently he lit another cigarette and repeated the process.

His mind felt cold. He didn’t understand why he felt so uncomfortable.

He was apathetic by nature.

He didn’t feel any emotion when he saw something beautiful. He couldn’t understand why people cried or how to share their sadness.

Was it because Yoon-woo had spoken badly about his deceased mother?

He knew that Yoon-woo, who was kind to everyone, must have said those things to comfort his own mother.

But why…

Tae-jun felt a burning sensation in his chest, an emotion he had never felt before.

As he lit his lighter again, he heard the sound of footsteps on the grass.

Tae-jun’s eyes followed the sound.

Yoon-woo was leading a familiar girl by the hand, looking for a secluded place.

“Yoon-woo, where are we going?”

“Somewhere private.”

“Why there?”

Yoon-woo blushed and didn’t answer.

“I have something to tell you today.”

“What is it?”

Where had he seen her before?

Tae-jun stared at the girl’s face, then knitted his brows in recognition.

Wasn’t she the girl Yoon-woo liked?

Tae-jun’s gaze shifted to their intertwined hands.