"Min Ho, Min Ho!" Grandpa's voice echoed through the hallway, breaking the silence.
Min Ho turned around, his eyes focusing on Grandpa's warm, weathered face. "What's up, Grandpa?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Grandpa's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I want to talk to you about something. Privately."
Min Ho's heart skipped a beat. What could Grandpa want to discuss? He followed Grandpa to his room, the scent of old books and cigar smoke enveloping him.
Grandpa lit a cigar, the flame casting a golden glow on his face. He cracked open the window, allowing a cold breeze to sweep in. The atmosphere shifted, becoming serious and intense.
Min Ho took a seat near the tea table, his fingers drumming a nervous rhythm. Grandpa puffed on his cigar, exhaling slowly, the smoke curling toward the ceiling.
"Come on, kiddo. What's been bothering you?" Grandpa asked, his voice low and encouraging.
Min Ho's words spilled out, like water from a dam. "Did my mother really abandon me?" The question had haunted him for years, a constant ache he couldn't shake.
Grandpa's eyes widened, and he turned away, his voice measured. "Yes, of course. What made you think of this now?"
Min Ho's reply was curt, "Nothing." But his mind was a whirlwind of emotions, memories, and doubts.
Grandpa's eyes narrowed, sensing more to the story. "Is that all?" he pressed.
Min Ho's next question caught Grandpa off guard. "Who was the lady with you during lunch at the office?"
Grandpa's voice faltered, and he cleared his throat. "Oh, Ms. Kim... She's one of our clients. What's the matter?"
Min Ho's response was nonchalant, "I met her somewhere." But his mind whispered, "That mysterious lady." Who was she, really? And what was her connection to Grandpa?
As Min Ho turned to leave, he unlocked the door and paused, looking back at Grandpa. "Is there something in our family that I don't know, Grandpa? I was just joking."
The hint of a smile belied the seriousness of his question. But Grandpa's expression remained solemn. He knew Min Ho wasn't joking.
Min Ho departed, leaving Grandpa amidst the falling ashes of his cigar. The silence between them was heavy with unspoken words.
On his balcony, Min Ho's thoughts swirled like a vortex. "Who can I trust in this family? Who is this mysterious lady, and what's her connection to Grandpa? Why did he use Mother's name as the password, and why hasn't he changed it despite his hatred for Father? What's going on?"
The questions swirled, a maddening puzzle he couldn't solve. As the night deepened, Min Ho's resolve hardened. He would uncover the truth, no matter the cost.