Jacob stood in front of the small, dilapidated house he called home. It was made of broken concrete, mismatched bricks, and a patchwork of old metal sheets for a roof. To anyone else, it looked like a structure that should have been condemned years ago, but for Jacob, it was where he grew up. His heart weighed heavy as he looked at the cracked walls, the peeling paint, and the way the house seemed to slump under its own weariness. It mirrored how he felt about his mother, whose frail body was struggling under the weight of illness.
Taking a deep breath, Jacob opened the door and stepped inside.
"Mom, I'm home," he called out, his voice soft but filled with a new sense of purpose.
His mother, Ms. Mary, sat on the floor, slicing vegetables for a simple meal. She was cutting coupons from old newspapers, trying to save whatever little money they had. Her hands, thin and trembling, moved slowly. Her face, once vibrant and full of life, now looked pale and gaunt, the toll of her chronic kidney condition evident in every line and shadow on her skin.
But when she heard Jacob's voice, her face lit up with a warmth that cut through the bleakness of their surroundings.
"Oh, my baby's home!" Ms. Mary exclaimed, dropping the vegetables and rising slowly to her feet, though it clearly took a lot of effort. Her eyes sparkled as they landed on her son, now standing tall in a clean black uniform. The uniform represented not just the school but also the new chapter in Jacob's life. He looked mature, his posture straighter, his gaze sharper, no longer the lost boy she had worried about for so long.
Jacob moved toward her, and she wrapped her thin arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. She kissed his cheek, the way she had when he was younger. "You've grown so much, Jacob. Look at you! You look so handsome," she said, her voice filled with pride.
Jacob, always tough and rough around the edges, felt his heart soften in her embrace. His mother's affection, her warmth—it was something he had taken for granted in the past. He had caused her so much grief, so much worry with his delinquent behavior. He remembered all the nights she stayed up waiting for him to come home, wondering if the police would drag him in or if he'd end up in a juvenile detention center. Sometimes, she had to use the little money she saved for her dialysis treatments to bail him out of trouble.
But now, things were different. He had changed, and he was determined to make up for everything.
"Come outside with me, Mom. I've got something to show you," Jacob said, taking her hand gently, careful not to hurt her. She was so thin, so fragile. The years of skipping dialysis treatments because they couldn't afford them had taken a serious toll on her body. Her two kidneys had almost completely failed, and yet she still worried about him more than herself.
Ms. Mary let herself be led outside, her weak legs wobbling a little. As they stepped onto the cracked pavement, her eyes widened in shock.
Parked in front of their crumbling house was a luxury Rolls Royce, gleaming under the sunlight like something out of a dream. It was a stark contrast to the poverty surrounding them, a beacon of wealth and power amidst the broken homes of the neighborhood.
"Jacob... What is this? Where did this come from?" Ms. Mary asked, her voice trembling with confusion and disbelief.
Jacob smiled, trying to reassure her. "It's my hyung's car. I'm working for him now," he explained, keeping his tone light and calm. He didn't tell her everything, didn't mention the violent life he was part of or how he became involved with H-High's Division, a gang-like group that ruled the school. Instead, he focused on the parts she could understand.
"I'm a bodyguard now, for the successor of a big company. My life's changed, Mom. I've changed."
His mother looked at him with concern, but also pride. She hesitated, looking at the expensive car as if it might vanish if she touched it. "But... I'm dirty. How can I sit in a car like this? What will your boss think if I ruin his beautiful car?" she said, wringing her hands nervously.
Jacob's chest tightened at her words. Seeing his mother degrade herself like this, so worried about her worth, about dirtying something material, made him feel a surge of anger and sadness. She had spent her entire life sacrificing for him, enduring pain and suffering, and yet here she was, feeling like she didn't deserve even the simplest comforts.
"Get in, Mom," Jacob said softly but firmly. "Please."
Ms. Mary hesitated for a moment longer, but finally, she relented and got into the car. As she settled into the plush leather seat, she looked around in awe, her fingers grazing the smooth surfaces with reverence. Jacob could see the emotions swirling in her eyes—disbelief, pride, and a flicker of hope she hadn't allowed herself to feel in years.
Jacob climbed into the driver's seat, and they drove off, the Rolls Royce gliding through the streets like a royal carriage. First, he took her to a high-end clothing store. The moment they stepped inside, he shouted at the staff, "I want all the clothes in my mom's size!"
The shop attendants scrambled, gathering the finest clothes as Ms. Mary stood there, flustered and overwhelmed. She had never owned anything expensive in her life. After the clothing store, Jacob drove her to a beauty parlor, where the staff pampered her with treatments she had never even dreamed of. Her gray hair was styled, her skin given a radiant glow. She looked like a different person when she walked out, tears welling in her eyes.
"You didn't have to do all this, Jacob," she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion.
"I wanted to, Mom," he replied simply.
But Jacob wasn't done yet. He took her to a jewelry store next, where he bought her a necklace with a delicate gold chain and a small diamond pendant. The sight of the sparkling jewel around her neck made Ms. Mary laugh and cry at the same time. It was a laugh of disbelief, a cry of joy. For the first time in years, Jacob saw his mother smile—a real, genuine smile—and it filled his heart with warmth.
"I'm so proud of you, Jacob," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so proud of the man you've become."
But Jacob wasn't done. The biggest surprise was yet to come.
He drove her to the central hospital in Seoul, the largest and most prestigious medical facility in the country. As they neared the hospital, Ms. Mary noticed something else out of the window. H-High, the school Jacob now attended, came into view—a towering, impressive building with pristine grounds.
"Is that your school, Jacob?" she asked, her voice filled with awe and pride. "It's so beautiful."
Jacob nodded, glancing at the school but not saying much. His focus was on what was coming next.
When they arrived at the hospital, Jacob took his mother inside. The doctor met them in a private room and explained her condition in stark terms. Ms. Mary's kidneys were failing, and without an emergency operation, she didn't have much time left.
Ms. Mary lowered her head, the hope draining from her face as she realized how bad things really were.
But Jacob was prepared. Without hesitation, he pulled out a golden card from his pocket and placed it on the doctor's desk. It was the same card that Toji had given him—the card that symbolized immense wealth and power. The doctor's eyes widened at the sight of it, knowing that this card meant money was no object.
"Do whatever it takes," Jacob said firmly, his voice steady. "Save my mom."
The doctor nodded and quickly began making arrangements for the surgery.
The operation was long and complicated, but it was a success. Ms. Mary's life was saved, and for the first time in years, Jacob felt a sense of relief he hadn't known he was capable of feeling. As his mother recovered, Jacob stayed by her side, watching her sleep peacefully for the first time in a long while.
As he sat there, holding his mother's hand, Jacob thought about everything that had led to this moment. His troubled past, the mistakes he'd made, and the people who had helped him find a new path. Toji's guidance, no matter how harsh, had set him on the right course. And now, with his mother safe and recovering, Jacob felt a sense of purpose that he had never felt before.
He had changed, and for the first time in his life, he was proud of who he was becoming.