Hidden Vice 35

#35

“Even though he’s my grandfather, he’s someone who doesn’t exist in my memory. How can food go down smoothly when eating with someone I’m meeting for the first time? Somehow I don’t seem to get along with old people either. I just want to go home and take some digestive medicine.”

“Young master, everything else is fine, but please don’t speak like that…”

Even Lee Gyeongjin, who had been constantly praising and encouraging me, found this particular instance difficult to overlook and trailed off pitifully. He would occasionally look startled by the vulgar words I would blurt out during our conversations.

“I understand. I’ll be careful in front of him.”

When I spoke dejectedly with slumped shoulders, Lee Gyeongjin glanced at me cautiously.

“While you’re having your meal, I’ll go buy some digestive medicine. So don’t worry.”

“No, don’t do that. Instead, use that time to get some food yourself. You can eat with the other drivers.”

“I’ll decide based on the situation.”

“I wonder if you even eat regular meals and get proper sleep while following me around. Aren’t you just staring blankly at the car ceiling while waiting for me?”

“No, that’s not the case. You don’t need to worry—I don’t work in such a harsh environment. It seems we’re almost there.”

It seems we were getting close to Grandfather’s house as Lee Gyeongjin and I were exchanging idle chatter. The cars lined up in the alley stopped in front of a modest building. I realized it was near Hosan Hospital. It was so close that if you fell, your nose would touch it—I wondered if he chose this location to frequently visit the hospital in his role as chairman.

One car, then another stopped at the front gate, and finally, the car I was in also came to a halt. Lee Gyeongjin quickly got out and opened the back door for me.

“Have a good visit, young master.”

“Yes, I’ll be back.”

After giving a small greeting to Lee Gyeongjin, I approached the gathered family members. Omega father’s face looked even more rigid. Is he not feeling well today? As I tilted my head and shifted my gaze, my eyes met with my second brother, who flashed a sardonic smile at me.

Oh, really. That bastard’s very existence is irritating. His words irritate me, his silent presence irritates me, his gaze irritates me, and even his smile irritates me. If I could smell pheromones normally, his pheromones would probably irritate me too.

I pressed the doorbell and waited for the door to open. With a clunk, the iron gate opened, and Alpha father, Omega father, eldest brother, and his wife entered in order. As I was about to follow, waiting for second brother to enter, he suddenly moved close to my side, put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me toward him.

“Since you’ve gone crazy and lost your memory, watch carefully how your father is treated today. That will be your position in the future. A male prostitute’s only job is to serve and spread his legs.”

“Does this house keep dogs? I don’t know why some dog is barking like this.”

I grabbed second brother’s arm from my shoulder, removed it myself, and walked past him through the gate. I heard him curse “fucking bastard” from behind, but his voice wasn’t too loud given the setting.

I quickened my steps to join the family members who had arrived at the front door. It was an employee who opened the door and greeted us. Without saying a word of welcome, he quietly ushered the family inside, took our outer garments, and guided us to the dining room. In the suffocating silence, I wondered if everyone here was practicing some form of vow of silence.

“It’s been a while. Sit down.”

The elderly man sitting at the head of the table spoke in a deep voice. So this old man is Grandfather, the chairman. I guess we’re going straight to eating without any polite greetings like “Are you well?” or “You look good.” It seemed like my premonition about indigestion was about to become reality.

My eldest brother and his wife sat next to Grandfather, while Alpha father and second brother sat on the opposite side. The strange thing here was that there was only one chair left, next to second brother.

Puzzled, I looked at Omega father, who was standing half a step behind Grandfather’s chair.

“Sukyung, sit down.”

Alpha father told me without even looking at me. The remaining seat is my place? Then what about Omega father? When I looked questioningly at Omega father, he nodded slightly as if to tell me to sit quickly.

Although I didn’t understand the situation, I sat down for now. Things were taking an odd turn.

“Let’s eat.”

As Grandfather picked up his spoon, everyone else served themselves rice. In the silence broken only by the occasional clink of utensils, Grandfather did something strange.

After wetting his mouth with a spoonful of soup, he lightly touched a side dish with his spoon and then scooped some rice. Omega father, who was standing behind him, picked up that side dish and placed it on top of Grandfather’s rice. After chewing for a while and swallowing, Grandfather touched another side dish and scooped more rice, and Omega father again picked up that side dish and placed it on Grandfather’s spoon.

So this is what second brother meant when we entered. I had wondered what nonsense he was spouting, but now I belatedly understood his words.

Though Omega father isn’t really my parent, seeing him like this made me feel sad for some reason. What wrong had he committed to deserve such treatment? This was closer to ordering around an employee than treating a family member. Even for an employee, making them stand beside you and serve your food would be an excessive demand unless it was pre-arranged. How could anyone demand such a thing from family?

I could see the spitefulness on the old man’s face. Yes, he was acting out of petty spite now. Regardless of the circumstances, they had become a family, but unable to accept that, he was humiliating Omega father by making him stand in front of the other family members.

Omega father and the other family members who silently condoned this situation seemed accustomed to it, as if it wasn’t the first or second time. Second brother’s face was full of contempt as he glanced at me, trying to gauge my expression. The faces of eldest brother and his wife, who concentrated on their meal as if Omega father was invisible, were equally prim.

What a damned household.

I forced myself to chew and swallow the food that wouldn’t go down, then nervously stuck my spoon into the rice bowl.

“Grandfather, this is really too much.”

“Sukyung!”

When I blurted out in a tearful voice, Omega father raised his finger to his lips, gesturing for me to be quiet, while Alpha father called my name in a firm voice. It made my blood boil to realize that even in this situation, Omega father wasn’t allowed to raise his voice.

“Father, why aren’t you showing filial piety to Grandfather as his child?”

Alpha father, who had tried to stop me thinking I was going to talk about Omega father, looked perplexed at my words.

“I mean, the old man barely has the strength to use chopsticks and can only manage a spoon with difficulty. Why make him sit at the table for a meal together once a month? What if he collapses and breaks his jaw? Old people’s bones don’t heal well. You should hire a caregiver. You earn a lot of money, don’t you have enough for a caregiver?”

The family members who had been quietly listening looked dumbfounded. What did they just hear? Their expressions showed disbelief. Alpha father’s expression was no different, and even Omega father stood frozen with his lips parted.

“W-what, what are you saying?”

Grandfather was starting to get worked up, raising his voice. The characteristics of old people are obvious. He would surely start with “You disrespectful brat” and then ramble about manners, etiquette, and respecting elders.

I pushed back my chair, stood up, approached Grandfather, and nudged Omega father toward the chair I had been sitting in.

“And how can you isolate someone like this as if you can’t afford another chair? The old saying is exactly right—children raised are useless. Grandfather, you too. If you need something, don’t be intimidated by your children; speak up promptly. Anyone would think we’re living in poverty.”

“Y-you…”

“Ma’am! Where’s the ma’am who opened the door earlier? Ma’am!”

When I called out loudly, the employee who had been keeping her distance while watching the situation approached. She looked unfamiliar with being called by me, as if she always kept away during family meals.

“I’ve finished eating, so please clear this away and prepare new rice and soup for father. And ma’am, what are these side dishes? Old people have trouble chewing. You should prepare soft food; he’ll lose his teeth chewing on this stuff. The vegetables are also tough, so chop them more finely. As much as possible, even if it’s troublesome, let’s prepare liquid food. This kind of food is hard to digest.”

I’m sorry for repeatedly calling you “ma’am” and for nitpicking about the innocent side dishes. While apologizing inwardly, I firmly continued speaking.

“And if Grandfather is in this state, you should stay close by. Why are you keeping your distance? He might need something, so even if it’s inconvenient, please stay near him.”

“…Yes.”

The employee replied in a small voice while glancing at Grandfather. Even so, she moved quickly to clear away the rice and soup I had eaten and prepared new ones.

“What on earth do you think you’re doing!”