Chapter 52
“How can you say that…”
Mrs. Shin Eun-sook looked quite flustered, as the words I uttered were exactly the same as what she had repeatedly told her child.
However, I didn’t show any sign of hesitation and continued with what I had to say.
“Every parent thinks they know their child very well. Maybe, that’s true. After all, how can they not know them, when they raised them from infancy. But even if they are parents, they don’t know everything about their child.”
“What don’t I know?”
“Possibility.”
I said it bluntly.
“They say you can know ten miles of water but not one mile of people. That doesn’t just mean their inner thoughts. It also means their potential, their infinite abilities that they will have in the future. I ask you, do you really think your daughter Yura has no talent as a collector?”
“Of course she doesn’t.”
“Are you really sure? Even if she is your child, can you boast that you know exactly what her true talent is?”
“Well…”
As I pressed her hard, Mrs. Shin Eun-sook couldn’t say anything.
In the end, that meant she knew.
She knew that one couldn’t easily judge someone’s talent and potential.
“But even so, I can’t let my child go on a dangerous path…”
“I don’t blame you for that, but you still can’t do that.”
Maybe, if I were in her position, I would have done the same.
But after going through various things, and having an experience that shook my whole life, I came to think differently.
“If someone has a half-hearted attitude and mistakes it for a dream, then it might be a better choice to make them give up. But if they have a dream that they want to achieve no matter what anyone says, then they have to do everything they can.”
I leaned forward and spoke with clenched fists.
“Even if that path is dangerous and painful, as long as their goal is at the end of it.”
Even if they fall over and over again, and writhe in agony.
They don’t stop.
They can’t be stopped.
Never.
“You…”
Maybe she sensed something from my words, Mrs. Shin Eun-sook looked somewhat worried.
“Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“Yes. Just, for a moment…”
“Are you worried about me? A teller you met for the first time today?”
“Yes? Oh, no… It’s just, I suddenly had that thought.”
I smiled slightly at the sight of Mrs. Shin Eun-sook looking confused.
It was the first time I had seen my mother, who was always confident and steel-like, look so noticeably flustered.
It felt fresh, but I also felt grateful.
Mother.
You still worry about me, even after all this.
But I’m no longer the old Kang Yu-hyun.
I know now. My dream and my purpose, and what I have to do to achieve them.
“So, please trust Yura a little more. Instead of criticizing her dream, support her. Even if you’re worried, it’s her choice. If you find out that she’s not half-hearted, but sincerely thinks that way… Then you have to make a different choice than now.”
“Is that… so.”
In the end, Mrs. Shin Eun-sook lowered her head and surrendered.
“Phew. Yes. You’re right, Mr. Yu-hyun. Maybe I was using my authority as a mother to block my daughter’s potential. It’s funny. I was the one who told her to live right more than anyone else, and I’m doing this.”
“People make mistakes. There’s no perfect being in the world. Not people, not tellers, and not even the spirits in the sky.”
Spirits also regret, feel pain, and make wrong choices.
If they do that, how much more would humans?
“Sigh. This is really amazing. I’m having such a serious conversation with someone I met for the first time today, no, a teller.”
“Haha. Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s a strange feeling. It’s like meeting a grown-up child and having a heart-to-heart talk. I feel quite refreshed after talking.”
“…I see.”
I felt embarrassed inside, but I laughed it off.
Actually, I didn’t say it, but I was the same as my mother.
I learned about her inner feelings that I didn’t know before, and had a serious conversation about them.
The worry of ‘what if we meet’ had already disappeared long ago.
“Thank you for everything today. I think I’ll have to talk to Yura again when she comes back later.”
“I’m sure you’ll be able to make the right choice.”
“Will I?”
“I guarantee it.”
Just as the conversation was almost over, Kang Yura came back to the cafe.
To be precise, Kang Hye-rim brought her back.
“Yura.”
“…”
Kang Yura still seemed sulky, as she pouted her lips and didn’t answer.
But unlike when she cried earlier, she seemed to have calmed down mentally.
Before my mother could say anything to her, I opened my mouth first.
“Mother. Can I talk to Yura alone for a moment? Since I’m a teller, I think I can give her some advice on that matter.”
“Would you do that for me?”
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“Yes.”
“…Then, please do.”
Sure thing.
I gestured with my hand to call Kang Yura over.
She hesitated for a moment, but when Hye-rim whispered something in her ear, she finally came over to me with a timid look.
Hye-rim and my mother moved away from their seats, and so I sat face to face with Kang Yura alone.
“Um, well. I don’t know what to say first, but you said you wanted to be a collector, right?”
“Yes. I did.”
“Why do you want to be one?”
“Well… because it’s cool.”
“Just that?”
“That’s…”
Yura seemed hesitant about what to say.
“Don’t worry. Just be honest. I won’t laugh at you or anything.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
“Phew. Okay. Well, then why do I want to be a collector? It’s because they’re cool. Or rather… exactly…”
She paused for a moment and then continued.
“It’s because their lives are so proud and confident, and they look dazzling to me. I want to be like that too. It sounds funny, right?”
“No. Not at all.”
I sincerely think so.
“You don’t laugh at my dream.”
“That’s because I have a similar dream as you.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah. I’m a teller, but I’m a bit weird.”
“What?”
Kang Yura reacted as if she couldn’t believe that such words came out of my mouth as a teller.
I smiled inwardly at her expression.
She looked like my sister again.
“What I want to say is this. It’s possible to have a dream. People might laugh at you. The important thing is your attitude.”
“My attitude.”
“Yeah. Let me ask you one thing. Can you risk your life to become a collector?”
“My life…”
At the sudden change of topic, Kang Yura seemed quite taken aback.
I guess that’s natural.
She’s still a 14-year-old girl who has a fantasy about collectors.
It might be too harsh to tell her the reality right now. But this process was necessary.
“Yura, do you know? The collectors you admire, like Hye-rim, fought across the line many times to get to where they are now. They were ready to stain their swords with blood, and didn’t avoid fights that could really kill them if they made a mistake. They fought to the end.”
“…”
“Not all collectors are like that, but probably most of the successful ones are. They endure and overcome fear and pain. That’s why I’m asking you. Are you prepared to do that?”
“I, I…”
Maybe I was too scary for her. Kang Yura quickly sank into gloom.
Hmm. I guess this is enough for the whip.
“I don’t expect an answer right away. But I’m telling you this because I want you to keep it in mind. Someday, you’ll have to answer this question I asked you. Even if I don’t ask you, you’ll ask yourself one day.”
“…”
“Then, you can’t just keep silent like now. Eventually, whatever choice you make, you’ll have to answer. I did, and so did Hye-rim.”
“Then do you think… I can do it?”
“Do what?”
“You know, if I really want to be a collector, and I’m prepared. Do you think I can really succeed?”
“Hmm.”
The fact that she asked that question itself proved that she wasn’t sure yet.
But I didn’t point that out.
I wasn’t unaware of the anxiety she had.
Anyone could have the thought that the end of the path they chose might lead to a cliff.
In my case, I would go on even if I knew that, but it would be too cruel to expect the same answer from her, who hadn’t even formed her identity yet.
“You can.”
Realistically, the chances of her failing were high.
But still, I said she could.
“I think so, for sure.”
“…Really?”
“I’m a teller, and I guarantee it. You can do it too.”
I didn’t hear anyone say that I could do it.
They said I couldn’t do anything, and that it would be better to give up early.
I heard those words, and in the end I had no choice but to kneel before the cruel wall of reality.
But sometimes I wondered.
What if.
Just what if.
There was someone who said to me once that I could do it.
Wouldn’t I have changed then?
‘It’s a meaningless assumption.’
It’s already something that can’t be undone, and I’m already walking the path I chose. No matter what anyone says to me now, nothing will change me.
‘But she’s different.’
At least Kang Yura didn’t have to walk the same path as Kang Yu-hyun.
“So don’t ever stop if you have a goal. But don’t think idealistically either. The important thing is to think as realistically as possible. It’s foolish to say you’ll do something that’s really impossible. But if there’s even a slight possibility… Then you have to fight for your life.”
If she did that, she would surely change.
‘I don’t know if my advice worked well.’
But my worries disappeared as soon as I saw the change in her book.
“That’s right. That’s all you need.”
You’ll be different from me.
***
The consultation with Yura was over and it was time to say goodbye.
“Aww. I wanted to see more of you.”
Yura seemed reluctant to part with Hye-rim, as she whined.
But unlike before, her expression looked somewhat cheerful.
It was the same for Mrs. Shin Eun-sook.
“Hye-rim is busy too, so we can’t help it.”
“Mom is so mean. Do you think I don’t know that?”
“Yes. I thought you didn’t know.”
“You see? This lady.”
“Have you ever seen such a young and pretty lady like me?”
We couldn’t help but laugh out loud at their bickering.
“It was really nice meeting you today.”
“Yes. We feel the same way.”
“I hope both of you achieve what you want.”
“Hehe. We’ll do that even if you don’t say it?”
I liked Kang Yura’s confident answer.
That’s right. That’s all you need.
“Well then.”
“Bye bye. Brother!”
“Take care.”
And so we parted ways with Kang Hye-rim, my mother and Kang Yura.
My steps towards the bus stop felt lighter than when I came here.𝑛𝗼𝘃𝖊𝑙𝗯𝔦𝔫.𝘯ℯ𝒕
“Huhu. Mr. Yu-hyun. You look quite happy.”
“Did it look like that? More importantly, what did you talk to Yura about?”
“Um. That’s a secret.”
Kang Hyerim winked at me with one eye and said playfully.
Well, judging by her answer, it seemed like there was nothing to worry about.
They looked surprisingly close to each other.
“But, Yu-Hyun. Are you really nothing to Yura? I thought you were siblings.”
“She’s human, and I’m a teller.”
“Is that so? You look alike.”
We chatted like that while waiting for the bus to go back. From afar, I saw Mrs. Shin Eunsuk, whom we had just parted with, waving her hand and coming towards me.
“Hyerim. Just a moment.”
I was puzzled by my mother’s behavior, leaving Yura behind. Did she forget something and leave it behind? It didn’t seem like her to be so careless.
“What is it?”
“I felt like I didn’t say everything properly before leaving.”
“Didn’t say everything properly… Huh!”
Before I could say anything, my mother hugged me tightly.
As I was stunned and unable to react, she stroked my head with one hand and whispered in my ear.
“You did well.”
“…!”
The moment I heard those words, I shuddered as a shock ran through my body.
The dam of emotions that I had been suppressing inside me, without letting anyone know, was about to burst.
“I…”
I had to make an excuse.
I’m not your son. I’m just a stranger.
I had to say that and draw a line.
But.
I couldn’t do anything in response to my mother’s warm praise, which I would never hear again.
It was what I wanted to hear since long ago.
I wanted to show her that I worked hard. That I became successful and proud as your son.
I wanted to say that and hear that.
I thought I would never hear it again after my mother passed away.
‘I am.’
I couldn’t say that I had nothing to do with you.
I wanted to be recognized by you.
That I failed and suffered, but got up again.
That’s how I got here.
‘I am.’
There were so many things I wanted to say, like a mountain.
I only had to hold a few of them in my hands and show them to her.
I was out of breath.
My trembling lips couldn’t utter a word.
How could I choose what to say…
Surely, my expression was indescribable.
But still, I
“Yes…”
With a smile of relief somewhere, I could only answer like that.
“I did well.”
No matter how much time passes, how much appearance changes, or even race changes.
A mother never fails to recognize her child.
