Jae-Sik and his wife continued to talk about the condo that Gun-Ho bought Jae-Sik to appreciate his help in the GH Logistics’ sales transaction. Jae-Sik’s wife was trying to make Jae-Sik feel better about receiving an expensive gift from Gun-Ho.
“President Goo now has GH Logistics with 27 vehicles. When you started working for that company, it had only one freight truck. President Goo realized what profits you brought to him and paid you with that condo. You don’t have to feel owed to him. I’m sure President Goo is happy that he could buy you that condo.”
Jae-Sik’s wife had looked so tired when she arrived home that evening, but now she seemed to recover all the energy. She gave a kiss to Jae-Sik on the cheek.
“Hey, let’s go and take a look at the condo now. You said that he gave you the entrance passcode, right?”
“Right now? It’s already 9 pm. It’s kind of late to go there. Let’s do it later.”
“I want to see it right now. It’s our home, right? I want to see.”
Jae-Sik couldn’t ignore how much his wife wanted to look at their condo. He headed to East Incheon Station with his wife to show her the condo.
Jae-Sik’s wife grew up in a poor family just like Jae-Sik. Her father was a duct worker. He was now too old to continue to work as such, so he was making money by selling vegetables and fruits with his truck. The family lived in an old townhouse, but they didn’t have any debt unlike Jae-Sik’s family. Her little brother graduated from a two-year college and was working in Incheon City. Jae-Sik’s wife used to write poems while working as a private tutor or doing some editing work as a contractor in a publishing company. When she was working contracted by a publishing company, she met Jae-Sik who was working in the editing department at the same company. They lived together without getting married at that time.
They were happy together until the publishing company closed its business and Jae-Sik lost his job accordingly. They started experiencing acute financial difficulties. The problem was aggravated when Jae-Sik spent money using his wife’s credit card and failed to pay for it. Both Jae-Sik and his wife became a person with a bad credit score. After they had a huge fight, they decided to be separated. While living separately from his wife, Gun-Ho helped Jae-Sik by letting him work at GH Media as a chief editor. At that time, Jae-Sik and his wife reunited and started living together once again. Money indeed seemed to play an enormous role in people’s relationship even between lovers.
Jae-Sik and his wife arrived at the condo. Jae-Sik entered the passcode and opened the door. The condo was dark. Jae-Sik searched for a light switch in the dark and turned it on. The first thing that he heard was his wife’s scream of joy. The first room that they could encounter when they passed the entrance was the living room. Its wall was all new, and Jae-Sik’s wife absolutely loved it. She then quickly hugged her husband and screamed.
“It’s our house!”
“Yeah, it’s ours.”
“You know what? I’m pregnant.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I just found it out too. I can give birth to our child while we’re both in China.”
“When we move to China, the company will provide us a place to live and a car. According to President Goo, since the Chinese partner company is a government-owned company, they will give us at least a 30 pyung large condo. We can live there, and let’s have my parents live in this condo. We won’t be here anyway.”
“But this condo is under your name, right?”
“Yes, of course. It’s purchased with my name only.”
“That’s good then. We can’t let it sit vacant while we are in China. Your parents can take care of it.”
“Thank you.”
Jae-Sik’s wife cried. She felt so happy.
A few days later when Gun-Ho went to work at the building in Sinsa Town, he received a long email from Jae-Sik Moon.
[To my dearest friend, President Gun-Ho Goo,
I made the final payment for the condo today. I don’t know how to thank you for having my own place here. I was so happy when I saw my wife who couldn’t hide her excitement when she saw our place. My wife agreed that she would quit working at the book café and join me in China.
Actually, my wife is three months pregnant right now. I’m not sure if you remember this. I told you once that my wife’s dream was to wear a wedding dress, and I decided to make her dream come true before we leave for China. I will have a small wedding at a church in Bucheon City on the 26th this month. It will be held in the evening, and only our family and a few friends will be there. I hope you could come as well.
Please do not tell anyone. I’m inviting only you and Director Jong-Suk Park. I was hoping that Min-Hyeok Kim could come, but since he is in China, he won’t be able to make it. Oh, I also invited Min-Ho Kang who is working for a civic organization. Again, it will be a small wedding with a few close friends and family only.
My wife will ask her three or four friends to come. We won’t go for a honeymoon trip though. It feels kind of embarrassing having my wedding now, and honestly, I hesitated to ask you to come. But you are my best friend, and I want you to come to my wedding. I hope you understand how I feel.
From your friend, Jae-Sik Moon]
Gun-Ho replied to his email right away.
[My friend, congratulations. I will definitely be there. I will ask Min-Hyeok Kim to make a trip from China. I want you to have a glamorous wedding, but I do respect your decision to have a small wedding instead.
But, I do insist that you should have your honeymoon trip. I will reserve flight tickets to Jeju Island along with a room at KAL Hotel.]
Gun-Ho bought a refrigerator, a washer, a sofa, and a dining table and sent them to Jae-Sik’s new condo as his wedding gift. When he saw a large TV on sale, he bought it and sent that TV to Jae-Sik’s new place too. It didn’t even cost him 4 million won to make those purchases. There had to be someone in the condo to receive those things, so Gun-Ho sent Chan-Ho there for the duty. And, he sent a text message to Jae-Sik to let him know.
[There was a sale going on for home appliances. So I bought some of them and sent them to your condo. It’s my wedding gift for you. If you don’t like their design or anything, you can change them with something else that you like.]
He received a reply from Jae-Sik.
[Thank you so much. I’m not even sure if I could pay you back for all the kindness that you showed me in this life.]
That evening, Jae-Sik went to the condo again. In the living room, a sofa and TV were placed. In the kitchen, a refrigerator and washer were there. The condo looked like someone was already living there. Jae-Sik went to his mother’s place in the basement in Hwapyeong Town. It was not far from his new condo.
“Mom, let’s move your stuff to the new condo. I will come tomorrow and help with your moving. It will take some time for someone to take this unit, and you don’t have to wait until then. Let’s just move into the new home.”
“We need to retrieve my security deposit of 1.5 million won.”
“Tell your landlord that you can’t live here any longer because there are so many rats and ants. You told me the other day that it’s hard to live here because of those problems. And, I’m getting married, mom. You need to move to the new place so your daughter-in-law can visit you.”
“You are getting married? Oh, my. I haven’t prepared anything for your wedding. It’s so sudden.”
“Don’t worry about it. I will have a very simple wedding at the church before I leave for China. The bride sent some money to buy you an outfit.”
“I’m sorry, son. I’m supposed to prepare everything for your wedding as your parent, but I couldn’t.”
Jae-Sik’s mom’s eyes were welled with tears.
Jae-Sik made a call to his father on the spot.
“Dad? Mom and I are moving to a new place.”
“To where? Her current place is finally scheduled to be demolished?”
“No. I bought a condo. It’s Solbit Condo near East Incheon Station.”
“You bought a condo? Where did you get the money?”
“I saved up some money, and my employer helped some.”
“Really?”
“And, I’m getting married on the 26th this month.”
“You are getting married this month? But I haven’t prepared anything yet!”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a simple wedding at a church. The bride wants to buy you an outfit.”
“Really?”
“And, quit working at the hog farm. I know it’s even harder working there during the summer because of the odor. Just move in with us to the new place and take a rest. I will send you your living expenses.”
“Speaking of which, the farm owner asked me to quit the job because he has a new young worker from India. I was looking for another job.”
“That’s good. Just move to the new condo and do not work. You can retire. I will send you money for living expenses.”
“I don’t know what to say, son.”
“We are moving there tomorrow. Come and join us, dad. I will text you with the address.”
“I’m sorry, son.”
“Don’t say that, dad. I’m sorry too for the things that I said to you the other day. I didn’t mean it.”
“No. It’s not your fault.”
“I’m leaving for China right after the wedding with my bride. My bride is pregnant, and that’s why I wanted to do the wedding this month.”
“What? She is pregnant?”
Jae-Sik’s father and his mother, who was listening to the conversation while sitting next to Jae-Sik, screamed simultaneously.
