While driving Bang Seon-Woo home, I started telling him about the entertainment industry. Even though he was just a composer, it was important to know how the industry worked
Listening to my stories, Bang Seon-Woo opened his mouth with hesitation. "...Until yesterday, I was just cooking pork soup, and now this... I can't tell if this is a dream or reality."
His voice was laced with tears. The fact that he found a glimmer of hope in his hopeless life thanks to me weighed heavily on my mind.
"Just trust me. I'll handle all the tough and challenging parts for you."
Wiping away his tears, Bang Seon-Woo nodded. "Yes, I'll trust you—just like my mom said."
When I returned to the restaurant with Bang Seon-Woo, it was just past midnight. However, Kim Chun-Ja was there waiting for Bang Seon-Woo in front of the restaurant, still awake at this late hour.
"You're back, Seon-Woo."
"Yes, I got 10 million won as a bonus for signing the contract, Mom!"
"Really?"
"Yes, really!"
I felt a lump in my throat as I watched the two of them hugging, crying, and laughing.
Kim Chun-Ja offered to give me a drink and let me sleep over, but I politely declined and headed home. Just then, my phone rang.
"...Why are they calling at this time?"
I answered the phone with trembling hands. From the other end, I heard the voice of the person I had always hesitated to call after I traveled back in time.
-Son?
My heart started racing.
-Did I wake you up?"
I took a deep breath and replied, "Ah, no. What's up? Did something happen at this hour?"
-Oh, I didn't realize how late it was because I just finished bathing and putting the kids to bed. There's nothing serious going on. I just wanted to hear your voice. I'm sorry for calling so late.
"No, it's okay. I told you I usually work till dawn, remember?"
The person who called with a bright voice was Sister Mikaela, who ran the orphanage where I grew up in.
In my past life, I never called her 'mom' even though she always referred to herself as such. I thought she was a fake mom when I was younger. And as I grew up, it just didn't feel natural to call her that. But only after she died did I realize that Sister Mikaela was indeed my mother.
I would never have survived the orphanage life without her. Despite her love and care, many kids at the orphanage didn't appreciate her. After traveling back in time, I never managed to call her because I didn't know where to start. But it was as simple as a son calling his mother to say hi, just like how she called me.
'I'm sorry, Mom.'
I resolved to start calling her 'mom' from now on.
"W-wait a moment. Let me park the car."
Holding back my rising emotions, I pulled over. And for the first time, I called her 'mom'.
"Uh... M-Mom. What's up? Why did you call?"
There was a brief silence—and then I heard sobbing from the other end of the phone.
'Calling her 'mom' isn't too hard after all. Why did I hesitate for such a long time?'
My heart grew heavy hearing her weeping. Sister Mikaela—no, Mom—tried to stop her tears and spoke.
-N-nothing much. I just... wanted to hear your voice.
This had always been the case. She usually had no reason to call me but just wanted to hear my voice.
In my past life, I would have hung up without much thought. But after having a second shot at life, I knew why she was calling me.
"Are the kids giving you a hard time? Do you want me to go over right now?"
The location of the orphanage was Gyeonggi-do Gwangju, and the traveling time was not too long.
-N-no. It's too late for you to come all the way here. I'm fine. I'd be too worried that I won't be able to sleep if you came now. Come for a visit later when you're not busy. Everything is fine here.
Once I called her 'mom,' doing so for the second time wasn't so hard.
"Okay. Give me a call if anything happens because I want to listen to your voice more often, Mom. No—actually, I'll call you every night from now on."
A voice brighter than before came from over the line.
-Calling you tonight was a great idea, son. I didn't expect you to call me 'mom'.
Upon hearing how emotional she sounded, I felt sorry for not being able to call her 'mom' earlier.
"I'll call you more often from now on. Oh, and Mom, make sure you get a medical examination done this year, no matter what."
-Okay. There's nothing I won't do for you, son. I promise to go this year.
In five years, she would be diagnosed with stomach cancer just like me. Although her surgery was successful, her cancer would suddenly spread to a different organ and she would die. I couldn't let that happen again.
I mustered up courage once more.
"I'll visit soon, Mom. And you know I always…love you. Right?"
-Yes. I always love you too, my son.
"Me too."
Just like that, we continued our conversation, chatting about simple and everyday topics.
That night, I was able to sleep soundly and without any worries for the first time since I traveled back in time.
***
The next morning, I headed to the hotel as soon as I opened my eyes. When I opened the door, Miso, who was wearing her PowerTuff Girls pajamas, jumped out and welcomed me.
"Uncle Yoon-Ho~."
"Miso~."
Miso ran into my arms and then puffed her cheeks as if she suddenly remembered something.
"Hmph!"
"What is it~?"
"Hmph! Hmph!"
Miso turned away in my arms. It seemed like she was protesting because I didn't visit her last night when I had promised her I would. But having already expected that she would be upset, I brought her a doll.
"I'm sorry, Miso. Work ended later than expected last night. But I brought you a gift."
Only after giving her a PowerTuff Girls doll did Miso deflate her pufferfish-like cheeks.
"Hehe, it's pretty."
Miso hugged me tightly with the doll in her hand.
"Where is your mom, Miso?"
"Mom is taking a shower!"
I could hear the water running in the washroom. I sat in the living room of the suite and watched the kids channel with Miso while listening to her experience of living in a hotel.
Click.
Then, Yoo-Jin came out of the shower and greeted me.
"Oh. Hi, oppa."
"Hi."
"Give me a moment. I'll be back after drying my hair."
"Okay."
Yoo-Jin went into the room. But I noticed that she was subtly pouting her lips, seemingly upset.
'What's going on?'
At that moment, Miso approached me and began to whisper the reason her mom was upset.
"Uncle Yoon-Ho. Mom is…"