That letter I received from Damian really surprised me. I never expected to receive that kind of information from him, I mean, he always looked so serious, and even impossible to take down. That's why it surprised me to receive something like that.
That envelope I received from Damian wasn't actually a letter, it was actually a medical record of Damian, signed by a hospital all the way in Mokpo. But the thing is, it clearly said how Damian was suffering from Lung Cancer for quite a while now.
That's the reason I'm right now in front of the same Hospital that issued the medical record that I received. I couldn't come immediately because I had to settle some things with the company, as well as get some money for the transport expenses here. With that being said, it's actually been some days since I first received the envelope. But now, here I am, at the reception of the hospital.
— I'm sorry, I'm looking for someone that could be a patient here — I asked the pretty nurse that was staring at me. Once again, probably because of my foreign features.
After being distracted for half a second, the nurse finally recomposed and said.
— Of course, could you please give me the full name of the patient? — as soon as she said that, I was pretty shaken by the fact that I didn't really know his Family Name. But still, I said.
— His name is Damian… — I nervously said, hoping that only his name would suffice. Still, I was surprised by the nurse's reaction.
— Damian? THE GENERAL?! — the general? What did she mean the general? She continued — *cough* sorry for that, I'll take you to him!
It was quite refreshing to look at the nurse's reaction, but still, I was actually relieved by the fact that she knew who I referred to, but was still puzzled by this "general" that she talked about.
We actually had to take a big walk, even taking the elevator and having to still go up some stairs, until she finally said.
— Here it is, please remember to respect the other patients in the room — as she said that, I nodded, only to be interrupted by a big scream from inside the room.
— OLD BASTARD, YOU'RE CHEATING ONCE AGAIN? YOU'VE GOTTEN SHAMELESS WITH THE AGE — I could recognize that voice any time. It was actually Damian, making me sigh, only to notice that the nurse was also sighing. I gave an embarrassed smile and bowed, finally entering the room.
The room was nothing special, white walls, a big window, two beds by each side of the room. The only curious thing was the big table in front of the mirror that had a shogi board on it. By each side of the table were two old men, one of them clearly Korean, but the other one was the reason I was here.
I interrupted their agitated discussion, saying.
— Nice to see you so lively, old man. You haven't changed at all — I said quite seriously.
Damian was initially surprised, but then turned to me and checked me out. Even stopping to put his glasses on, and checking me once again after wearing them. Finally, he said.
— You unfilial bastard, didn't I write you a couple of letters, and you only come now? This bastard's son has been visiting him a few times, making me having to endure his gloating all this time — I respectfully bowed at the Korean man in front of Damian, the man only nodded back at me, saying.
— So, you're that Jangsu or Chris that this bastard has been talking about that much? — I respectfully nodded at him, he checked me out and continued — you're not half bad. My son is also training to be a singer0 he just went to the bathroom.
I could sense his proud while talking about his son. But Damian interrupted this heartwarming moment for the Korean man.
— Anyway, old Lee bastard, I'll talk to you later, I have to settle some issues with this young bastard — I rolled my eyes at him. But then I noticed how Damian, as well as the Korean man, were actually using a wheelchair.
"So it was true" — that was the only thing passing through my mind right now.
Without noticing, Damian has already left the room, leaving me alone with the Korean man. While I bowed at him and was ready to leave the room, he seriously said.
— He's told me a lot of things about you. Just know, he's really proud of you, just too embarrassed of saying it — I could only nod at him.
As I left the room, I crashed into someone else. I immediately apologized to the other person.
It was actually a young man, a couple of years older than me if I must guess. But still, I could see the resemblance to the older man I just met in the room. I inquired.
— You must be Mr. Lee's son, nice to meet you! I'm Park Chris — I introduced myself to the handsome man in front of me.
— Nice to meet you, you should be the one Damian's been talking about, it's nice to finally meet you. Hope we can talk a little bit more later — I nodded, and just when I was about to look for Damian, the young man said once again — Almost forgot, Damian just took the elevator to the rooftop, he told me to tell you.
Giving my thanks to the young man, I finally went to the rooftop of the hospital. And there was Damian waiting for me. He threw me a can of coffee that I skillfully received. It was Black Coffee that Damian loved so much.
I approached Damian and sat on a bench that was just next to him, just at the edge of the rooftop, both of us silently sipping our coffee while looking at the scenery. The silent went on for full 10 minutes, the coffee was already cold, but both of us were still drinking it. That was, until Damian finally said.
— It's nice that you came, lad — I stayed silent, letting him talk — I thought you wouldn't come in time.
I looked at him, and asked.
— Is it that bad?
— It's cancer lad, not a flu, of course it's bad — he said with a bitter smile on his face.
— Why not go to Seoul? There should be better treatment there — Damian immediately shook his head while saying.
— There's no need, little guy — it was so familiar. That was the way he called both Eimi and me all those years back in Guryong village — I have a lot of things tying me here.
I noticed he looked towards his right, I looked there and noticed that was…. A graveyard? Puzzled, I looked at him, hoping for an explanation.
— Your grandmother is there, your only one if I must say so, as your father was an orphan as far as I know — I was wide eyed there, he finally told me somethings about my parents, but he interrupted my thoughts — I'm pretty sure Sang Min told you some things, didn't he?
— Just that you were his biological father, and that you were probably my grandfather — I immediately said, while looking directly at his eyes.
— *sigh* Well, that much is true — he took a dried gourd from a bag hanging from his wheelchair and drank from it, I raised my eyebrow at him, after he noticed, he said — don't worry, it's not alcohol, just water.
As he said, he gently caressed the gourd, as if reminiscing some things. After a couple of minutes, he finally said.
— I made this gourd myself with your grandmother, and even your mother. This is the last thing I have from them — indeed, even in guryong village, he had a gourd, I just didn't know the origin of it.
He finally turned to look at me, looking at my eyes, then my eyebrows, then my hair. Then, he said.
— You know, you're the living image of your mother. She was a beauty; I was really proud of her. And even though I loved her so much, I failed her at the last moment — Puzzled, I waited for him to continue.
— Her mother, your grandmother, died giving birth. When she died, I was completely devastated, I left myself to alcohol and even games — He did? The Damian that was always so strict? — I know what you're thinking brat, I was so strict because I knew what those things you did led to.
After that little interruption, he continued.
— Anyway, your mother was the only thing that had me alive. She was the only one that cared about this old man. But I was too deep in those addictions, I couldn't raise her. But your mom, she was a strong woman, as strong as you are. She raised herself, she was so mature earlier that most kids. I… I… failed your grandmother like that, I couldn't raise the kid she died for — Damian was on the verge of tears by now, but still forced himself to continue — But still, I was so proud of her. That's why I couldn't accept your father when your mother introduced him to me. He was an orphan as I told you, I was so biased against him, just for being of a humble origin. Funny, isn't it? Someone living in Guryong village being that discriminating against an orphan.
As he said that last part, he had a self-mocking smile plastered on his face. I could feel how much regret he was feeling right now. Still, he continued.
— Now that I think about it, he was really a good man, much better than me at least. Yes, he was definitely the man your mom needed in her life.
He was choking on his word by now, almost breathless.
— Your mom was just as me, stubborn to the death. On the other hand, your father was a sensible man, he knew how to appease her — Damian chuckled — I'm really thankful to him, as he was the only one that put a smile on her face. The only times I saw your mom so… happy, was with him.
Tears were now streaming down, but Damian was smiling, while looking at the sky. He frowned, and kept talking.
— But still, at the time, I couldn't accept their relationship, but your mother didn't care, really stubborn that girl. And then, you were born, lad — he turned to me, as if trying to imprint my image in his mind, or maybe overlapping my appearance with that of my mother — That day they brought you to me, I was really happy. A little guy, you were not even 1-year-old at the time. I couldn't raise your mother, but I could raise you, I could finally do my duty. But I was so stubborn, I discussed with your mother that day in Guryong village about your father, I don't even remember what did I say that day. It was the biggest discussion we ever had, your mother went out, really mad. Your father, as kind as always left you with me while he went to appease her, even apologizing to me. Can't you believe it? He apologized to the man that had insulted him so much.
He took a large breath, and finally said, while dodging my eyes. Still, I firmly looked at him, waiting for him to end his story.
— That day, there was a shooting in Guryong village. It was a lot more chaotic back then, probably two bands fighting each other for dominance — his face was all distorted by crying — your parents got caught in the middle of the shooting. Both of them died that same day. It was my fault, I failed your grandmother twice… and even failed your mother when raising you.
As he said that, he started crying while reaching to my back, or instead, my scars. His apologies were the only thing I could hear for some time. But I seriously said.
— Old man, you did a great job — I said while patting his back, with tears dripping down — indeed a great job.
That way, I decided to stay for some time to take care of him....