Chapter 243
When Min-Hyuk was a child, before he even started elementary school, he was sent to live with his grandmother without being told why.
He was at an age when the warmth of parents’ hands was essential, so, naturally, the absence of it made him cry a lot. Memories of throwing tantrums, acting stubborn, and getting angry at his grandmother came rushing back. He also recalled hiding under a blanket all day, crying and begging to be sent back home because he missed his parents so much.
By the time adolescence came around, he had learned the truth—that his parents had abandoned him. But surprisingly, he felt nothing.
His parents had him when they were too young, which caused conflicts in the family. His mother left home, while his father drowned himself in alcohol and eventually declared that he couldn’t handle raising a child. As a result, that responsibility fell to his grandmother.
Later, his mother remarried and started a new family, and news came that his father had passed away from an acute myocardial infarction caused by alcohol abuse.
When Min-Hyuk realized his grandmother was his only remaining family member, he matured more quickly than his peers. Financial struggles made it impossible to dream of attending college, so he chose to enlist in the military right after finishing high school.
“My dear grandson, I won’t be able to see you off tomorrow...” his grandmother had said.
Min-Hyuk couldn’t bring himself to ask his elderly grandmother, whose mobility was limited, to travel all the way to the training camp in Nonsan.
Her frail body, hunched from age, her calloused hands, and her face lined with wrinkles lingered in his mind. He agonized over leaving her alone, but ultimately decided that finishing his service quickly and securing a stable job to provide for her would be the best way to show his gratitude.
“If there’s anything you want to eat before you go, let me know, and I’ll make it for you.”
He said he wanted fried chicken. The crispy fried chicken he’d occasionally had in school lunches or when his class president treated them on special occasions had left a lasting impression.
“What’s this fried chicken...?” she had asked.