Oncheon-dong, Dongnae-gu, Busan
Although a small, two-building low-cost apartment, the newly constructed Oncheon Apartments amid the crumbling residential area being developed somehow looked pleasant.
Taewoo and Yeongha, a couple celebrating their 5th year of marriage, lived happily, similar to any other newlyweds. Though it was a rented apartment, their little ones were everything to them. The once tiny, adorable child had grown into a healthy, mischievous four-year-old.
"Mom! Mom! What's this called?"
"Mom! Mom! What do you call this?"
"Mom! Mom! Can I go play outside? It's raining so much, the courtyard turned into a swimming pool!!"
Despite his slightly chubby cheeks and a head full of nonsense, the mischievous kid with a heartwarming laughter called for his mother all day long. Curious and full of desires like any ordinary mischievous child.
Yeongha, holding a ladle, shouted, "Kim Geon!!! I told you to stay quiet while I'm cooking! Don't touch that! No! It's pouring outside, there's a flood! Where do you think you're going, hey!! Don't get into the tub!!?"
Geon, holding a fully inflated tube around his waist, hesitated by the front door, then turned around crestfallen. With puffed-up cheeks, he looked at his mother, but facing her fierce gaze, he couldn't win.
Unable to let go of his reluctance, Geon opened the window and looked below. More than half of the first floor was submerged in water, various objects floating by. He yearned to go out and play with the animals despite their cries for help.
As the door unlocked, Geon rushed to it, asking, "Who's there?"
Even though it couldn't be a stranger unlocking the door with a key, Geon widened his eyes expectantly, waiting for it to open.
"Dad!!!"
Entering after unlocking the door was Geon's father, Taewoo. Drenched from the rain, he wore a blue raincoat over shorts and slippers. Taewoo looked down at little Geon and took off his raincoat.
"Alright, our Geon. Not even a pet dog, but still welcoming me after going out to throw the garbage. Thank you, my boy."
Taewoo picked Geon up, hugging him tightly.
"Our son. Did you want to go outside? Today, let's play with Dad at home."
"Umm... Dad, are we going to play together? What are we going to play?"
"Dad and I haven't mixed beats in a while. Has our little one improved in Galaga skills?"
"Okay, Dad. If I win, will you buy me ice cream?"
Geon asked with a shy smile and a hint of coyness.
With Geon in his arms, Taewoo switched on the game console.
"Hahaha, alright. If I win, you'll massage Dad's legs for 30 minutes, deal?"
"Okay, let's do it!"
They connected the game console to the 22-inch TV and got immersed in the game.
Taewoo made a living as a wine glass seller.
Starting with nothing at marriage, Yeongha's hard work earned them over 400,000 won monthly, enabling them to save more than 350,000 won, fostering dreams of a better future.
Taewoo didn't drink alcohol or gamble. He smoked a lot, but his only escape was playing games at the local arcade when he had time.
When Geon turned three, Taewoo, returning from a few days of business, bought him the latest gaming console, Remix 11, on his third birthday. It was more of an excuse for himself than a gift for his son, but whatever Taewoo's intentions were, Geon was simply happy to spend time with Dad playing his favorite game, especially on rainy days when Taewoo rested at home instead of selling outside.
Engrossed in the game, Taewoo suddenly turned to Yeongha in the kitchen and asked, "Honey, is Shihwa sleeping?"
Yeongha smiled, watching similar-looking men playing games together.
"Yes, she fell asleep earlier. Her fever from last night subsided today, thankfully."
Hearing that, Geon momentarily put down the gamepad and dashed into a small room.
He softly opened the door and saw his two-year-old sister, Shihwa, asleep under a blanket adorned with various animal drawings. Unlike Geon, she didn't resemble him much, but she was his most precious little sister by blood.
"Why are you so sick and making a mess with the blanket... You're sleeping all curled up like a flipped-over frog."
Gently speaking to the sleeping Shihwa, Geon rearranged the blanket that she had kicked off.
"Geon! Dad's gone for a moment, you have to massage his legs later!! Hahaha"
Looking at Shihwa sleeping, Geon heard Taewoo's voice from the living room and hurriedly ran outside.
"Dad! Where are you going? It's raining a lot outside!"
Quickly putting on his shoes, Geon ran out, looking back at Taewoo.
"Oh, look outside, it stopped raining a while ago."
As Geon watched outside from the window ledge, it was still cloudy, but the rain had stopped. However, there was still a lot of accumulated water outside, reaching up to the adults' knees.
Leaning on the window sill, Geon suddenly spotted Taewoo walking through the water on the ground floor. Lost in thought, Geon shouted to Yeongha.
"Mom!! Dad's going to the arcade again!!"