I Became the Lousy Side Top - Chap 103
After eliminating one idea after another for various reasons, they’d narrowed it down to only a few options.
“How about traditional Korean food?”
“Korean food?”
“I was thinking, what about an earthen pot restaurant1? We’ll sell anything that can be made in an earthen pot: kimchi stew, soybean paste stew, and bulgogi.”
“Do you think that’ll work?”
“Sure?”
Jaewoo smiled happily. They had a rough idea now, but there was still a lot of work left to do. They needed to find a space for the restaurant, decorate it, buy furniture, and so on. They also needed to apply for any relevant permits before they could open, which could only be done by Hyunjin.
“Sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
Jaewoo couldn’t help it. This was all because he didn’t have a resident registration card.
“Should I take this opportunity to learn how to cook?”
“Do you want to? I’ll teach you!”
From that day on, Hyunjin also began to learn how to cook. They planned together for the opening of their restaurant, and Jaewoo’s relationship with the kids seemed to be getting better. After all, the way to a person’s heart was through their stomach.
The one problem was Mujin.
‘I feel like something is going to happen soon.’
Things had been so quiet, Jaewoo couldn’t help but feel anxious.
‘Mujin isn’t the sort of person to remain inactive.’
He didn’t know why Mujin hadn’t done anything already. He almost wished he would do something quickly, so that they could get it out of the way. If Mujin caused trouble after they opened the restaurant, it’d be harder. But it’s not like they could approach Mujin and ask him to hurry up and bother them. While Jaewoo was busy worrying, Hyunjin spoke up.
He’d just returned from handing in his notice to his job.
“What do you think about renting the first floor of a building on the outskirts of the marketplace for the restaurant? The cafe that’s currently there is closing, so the space might be available.”
Hyunjin must have passed by there on his way back.
“It seems like a decent spot. There’s a fair amount of foot traffic, and the space isn’t too small.”
“Really? Alright, let’s call them and ask before the cafe closes.”
“Okay.”
Luckily, no other restaurants were interested in the location, so it was easy for them to lease. Next, they hired an interior design company and started renovations. Jaewoo and Hyunjin looked at furniture and dishes together. Their dream was almost within reach.
Even though each day was exhausting, it was also rewarding. In the meantime, Hyunjin’s cooking skills had also improved. If he had to, he might even be able to take Jaewoo’s place in the kitchen.
“You’re amazing.”
“It’s because you taught me well.”
Hyunjin beamed at him, his eyes crinkling with happiness. While the adults were busy researching dishes together and running around all day, the kids were busy thinking of a name for the restaurant.
“What about ‘Woohee’s Restaurant’?”
“That’s your name.”
“So?”
“Do you think that’s okay?”
Hyeonu scolded Woohee even as he diligently wrote down various names in their notebook. As he ran through the list once more, he found one that he liked.
“What do you think about ‘Our House’?”
“Isn’t that too plain?”
Woohee tilted his head to the side in contemplation, but Hyeonu liked the name. Since his older brother was opening a restaurant, he wanted to come up with a name that would be meaningful to their family. Now that they had become closer with the new Uncle Jaewoo, he thought they should include him as well.
“I still like it.”
“If you like it, then I like it too.”
Woohee instantly changed his opinion, simply because Hyeonu said he liked it. He was still the same good kid, following wherever his older brothers led. The name had been decided, and everything had been proceeding smoothly, when Mujin finally made his presence known once more.
It was night, and the contractors fixing up the store had all gone home when Mujin arrived. He looked even more haggard than the last time Jaewoo had seen him – his cheeks were sunken in, and he reeked of cigarette smoke. Jaewoo couldn’t help but feel responsible for his plight.
“You’ve been busy. Looks like your preparations are going well.”
“Why did you come back?”
Once again, Hyunjin stepped forward to confront Mujin, but Jaewoo stopped him. He didn’t want Hyunjin to take on that risk alone.
“What do you mean? Am I not welcome here? I came because I wanted to see what you were doing with Jaewoo’s money. Turns out you’re planning on opening a delightful little restaurant together.”
Mujin took the cigarette from his mouth and extinguished it on the clean white wall. Seeing a dark burn mar the freshly-painted surface, Jaewoo’s temper instantly flared.
“What are you doing?!”
“What am I doing?”
As Mujin chuckled, a crowd of people suddenly appeared behind him. They were tall and strong, holding long clubs or other weapons in their hands.
“Destroy it.”
As soon as those words were said, the group of men rushed into the restaurant and started going berserk. They’d worked so hard on this place! Jaewoo forgot about his fear and took a step forward, but this time Hyunjin was the one to hold him back. When he turned to look at him, Hyunjin shook his head.
Jaewoo’s anger burst out of him.
“I’m calling the police.”
“Call them. But if you do, isn’t there someone else they’d be interested in?”
Mujin jerked his chin at Jaewoo and laughed again. That damn resident registration card… Why did Mujin take such delight in tormenting people?! Jaewoo clenched his teeth.
“Now that I have your attention, let’s make a deal.”
Mujin said as he took out a new cigarette.
“First, tell me everything about where you came from. Then, once you agree to be mine, I’ll tell my men to stop.”
Why did Mujin keep coming back over and over again, always singing the same tune? It was incredible. Jaewoo decided to keep denying it for now.
“I’m not Seo Jaewoo.”
“But you act like him.”
This time, Hyunjin was the one to step forward.
“Mujin, no. Aren’t I enough for you?”
“You’re not enough now. It was fine at first, but I don’t like the idea of needing someone else, even if it’s mutual – in fact, I despise it. But back then, it was necessary. I needed someone else who remembered Jaewoo, someone who could bring back those memories.”
“Then I can keep filling that role.”
“Hyunjin!”
Jaewoo shouted Hyunjin’s name. What was he saying? He couldn’t believe that he’d agree to spend more time with Mujin, that almost-lunatic.
“You can’t.”
Jaewoo tried to speak firmly, but Hyunjin didn’t budge. Mujin just ignored him entirely, continuing to speak only to Hyunjin.
“In the past, I would have agreed. But it turns out I found someone who reminds me of Seo Jaewoo even more than you do, so I’ve changed my mind.”
“I already told you, you can’t have him!”
“That’s not up to you.”
Mujin’s gaze finally turned to Jaewoo.
“How about it? I’ll keep coming to destroy this restaurant just like today, again and again and again, unless…”
A curse welled up in Jaewoo’s throat. Mujin was the most selfish man he’d ever met. He’d blocked off every escape route so that he’d be forced to accept his proposal. How could he refuse? Jaewoo took a deep breath and looked around at the men smashing up the restaurant.
They could fix anything they broke, but if this kept happening, they’d never be able to open. And not just the restaurant – even if he found a new job, there was no guarantee that Mujin wouldn’t do the same thing there.
“Jaewoo, don’t.”
Hyunjin shook his head. His hand clenched tighter around Jaewoo’s wrist. Even though it was tight enough to bruise, Hyunjin refused to let go.
“It’ll be okay.”
Jaewoo said the same thing he’d always said when it came to Mujin.
“Each time you’ve said ‘it’ll be okay’, has it ever actually turned out okay?”
That couldn’t be true. Jaewoo’s face scrunched up unconsciously.
“But I don’t see any other way forward. It’s not like I want to give up.”
“Sometimes giving up is better.”
Hyunjin seemed like he had no intention of letting go of Jaewoo. Finally Jaewoo turned to Mujin, gesturing towards him. Watching the two of them, Mujin peeled himself away from the wall and slowly walked closer. His eyes were fierce, but inside of them, a strange sort of sadness was apparent.
‘He really loved me a lot.’
That was why he was in so much pain now. Jaewoo understood Mujin’s feelings, but his anger was still in control.
“Mujin. Choi Mujin.”
When Jaewoo called his name, Mujin’s eyebrows twitched.
“You asked me where I came from?”
Mujin didn’t respond at all. He merely listened silently.
“Did you finish eating all the pickled garlic I left in your apartment?”
At that question, Mujin froze. Finally, he croaked out.
“Who told you that?”
“Who do you think?”
“Someone trying to take me out, knock me down from my position.”
“I don’t even know who you’re talking about.”
Even when he’d worked for Mujin, he didn’t know anything about what he did. All he knew was that he was an executive in a financial institution that was a front for his work as a gangster.
“Then who was it?”
“Can’t you guess?”
“I don’t know.”
The cigarette fell from Mujin’s numb hand. Before he could take out another one, Jaewoo acted quickly to stop him. He didn’t want to see his restaurant ruined any further.
“Seo Jaewoo…”
At those words, Mujin paused again with his hand halfway in his pocket.
“What would you do if Seo Jaewoo was still alive?”
“What would I do…?”
Mujin didn’t answer right away. His head tilted to the side and he appeared lost in thought.
“If he came back…”
Mujin’s voice was low.
“…I don’t know.”
Jaewoo had thought that Mujin would say ‘tie him up’ or ‘never let him go’. It seemed like he was a more complicated person than he’d thought.
“But I do know this. I wouldn’t do anything stupid, like I did before.”
“What stupid things?”
“All the things that used to bother him.”
“So you’re saying you’d protect him?”
“In my own way.”
Those words, ‘in my own way’, were terrifying. Could he really trust him? Jaewoo asked himself that question over and over again.
