TGMC 11

chapter 11

Maybe there are spirits like us.

“Customer, you’ll become a VIP next year right away.”

“Huh? Me?”

The staff nodded and handed over the receipt.

Wait a minute. How much is this?

I did spend more than I thought.

‘Well.’

It wasn’t just one or two things I bought today.

You could almost say I changed the whole household’s belongings.

Now I understood why the staff said I’d become a VIP.

“Then please take care of the delivery.”

“Of course, customer. We just need to contact you at this number before delivery, right?”

“Yes. I think I’ll be abroad then, so a friend of mine will receive it instead.”

“Understood, customer.”

When I left the store, the staff bowed 90 degrees in a folder-style salute.

I guess that meant today’s sales I brought in were pretty good.

I immediately called my phone.

“Hyung, it’s me. Minwoo.”

[Oh, Minwoo. What’s up?]

“The thing I mentioned yesterday, I just finished buying it. They said it should be delivered around next Thursday.”

[Really? When did you say you’re leaving the country?]

“I’m leaving next Tuesday.”

[Then I’ll go down there in advance.]

“Thanks for helping even though it’s a hassle.”

[What’s there to thank me for? I’ll prepare a proper surprise, so look forward to it.]

“Yes.”

[Ah, don’t forget to buy gifts at the duty-free shop.]

“I remember. See you next week.”

[Alright. See you Monday.]

I hung up.

The person I just talked to was my architect hyung.

The day before I went up to Seoul to look at home appliances, I had asked him for help in advance.

I expected Mom would hesitate and end up buying nothing.

Mom had always reused and repaired things stubbornly until they were completely broken.

Even the appliances we had replaced for the wallpaper and flooring were brought back because she was so frugal.

But if everything was replaced while she was away on a trip?

Then she would have no choice but to use the new appliances.

“One is taken care of. I wonder how the other one’s going.”

Before going down to the second floor, I called again.

“Ah, yes. Team leader, how’s the matter I asked for?”

[I was just about to contact you. Good news. There are still spots available, so promotion seems possible.]

“That’s a relief. Please take care of the spots for me and my mother.”

[Yes, understood. It will generate a fair amount of extra cost, is that okay?]

“Of course.”

Another surprise event was confirmed.

Only then did I take the escalator down to the second floor with a relieved heart.

Mom was walking around the women’s clothing section, looking at the clothes.

“Mom! Did you find any clothes you like?”

“Well… I’m not sure.”

“I’ll buy you just one. Pick anything you want.”

“Really? My son’s buying it?”

“Of course.”

No matter how expensive, it would only be a few million won.

Actually, I was willing to buy even more expensive ones.

Then Mom walked quickly as if she had found something she liked.

“How about this one?”

She pointed at a white coat.

“Do you think this is pretty?”

“Yes. I think it’s pretty.”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it was pretty.

To me, it looked like an ordinary coat.

“Are you really going to buy it?”

“Of course. A man doesn’t…”

But I stopped talking when the store staff came over and said:

“Oh my. Is your son buying a coat for you?”

“Yes. How much is this coat?”

“This coat is a natural mink coat with only a few in Korea. The original price was 20 million won, but now it’s specially discounted to 10 million won.”

What?

A single coat costs 10 million won?

“Son, you’ll buy it, right?”

Mom asked mischievously.

I stubbornly answered.

“Yes. I’ll buy it for you.”

Then Mom waved her hand.

“No, it’s fine. I can’t wear such a heavy coat. I won’t have a reason to wear it. Am I going to the village hall in this? Or work in the fields? I just said that jokingly because you offered to buy it.”

“No. If you like it, you can have it.”

Mom shook her head firmly.

In the end, we turned around.

While heading to the escalator, I asked Mom:

“Did you know that coat was a mink coat?”

“Of course. Even so, I have a good eye, you know.”

Not wrong.

The coat she picked after one round around the section was the most expensive on the second floor.

After going down to the basement food court, I asked:

“Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

“Let’s see.”

Mom scanned the shops and pointed to a shabu-shabu restaurant.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

We ordered two servings of beef shabu-shabu and waited for the food.

Mom looked at me and asked:

“Son, are you really going to move to the countryside?”

“Of course.”

It’s already been over two months living together in my hometown.

But Mom still didn’t seem to fully trust my plan to farm.

“Isn’t country life boring?”

“Not at all.”

Mom didn’t know, but I was spending daily life happily with spirits.

Also with the prickly stray cat, Jeomsuni, and the three lively little ones.

Life couldn’t be boring.

And by May, the remodeling would be finished, and I’d open the hanok pension.

In spring, I’d plow the vegetable garden and plant lettuce, cucumber, pumpkin, peppers, chicory, and all kinds of vegetables.

‘I should also manage the YouTube channel.’

Recently, views had been increasing.

Subscribers were still under a thousand, but growing it was fun.

There were so many things to do.

“What about marriage? What are your plans?”

“I’m not thinking about it. I’d rather live alone. Even if I wanted to marry, you need a partner to get married.”

I had already been hurt badly once.

My ex-girlfriend left and never contacted me.

She told me the winning Lotto numbers via messenger but seemed to forget about it herself.

She probably didn’t even know I won the first prize.

I didn’t plan to tell her.

It would only stir trouble.

“Huh, I see. Kids these days don’t even date, let alone marry.”

Mom grumbled.

I understood her desire to see a grandson like me, wanting me to marry.

But I had no intention of dating or marrying for the time being.

With Dangul, Hoya, Dumdum, and Jeomsuni’s family I rescued, plus Mom whom I love the most,

There was no chance to feel lonely.

My surroundings were already filled with love.

Before I knew it, it was the day of the trip.

Mom, full of excitement, wore the clothes I bought and dressed up.

Dangul was also excited.

Hoya, on the other hand, was indifferent.

“Do you have everything?”

“Yes. And you, son?”

“Yes, I think it’s time to go.”

Our flight to Auckland was scheduled to depart at 5:55 PM.

Considering we needed to be at the airport at least three hours early, we had to go to Dongdaegu Transit Center to take the airport bus immediately.

“Hyung, please take care of things.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take you there quickly and accurately.”

My architect hyung, who came down yesterday, put the luggage on the bus, and we left.

Luckily, we arrived on time and took the airport bus.

“See you, hyung. Please handle the event well. Also check the pension construction site thoroughly. And take care of Jeomsuni’s family.”

“Sure. Trust me and enjoy. We’ll see when you come back.”

“Thanks, hyung.”

After saying goodbye, we boarded the airport bus to Incheon International Airport Terminal 2.

It was a premium bus.

We arrived at the airport while I had dozed off.

There was still plenty of time before the flight departed.

We headed to the meeting point first.

I approached the tour staff.

“Hello. We’re Song Minwoo and Park Eunjeong. Flight to Auckland at 5:55 PM. This is a 7-night, 9-day New Zealand package tour.”

“One moment.”

After checking, the staff gave me two pouches.

“These are for Song Minwoo and Park Eunjeong. They contain the guide, schedule, and flight tickets. Please check them and go through security on time.”

“Thank you.”

With the pouches, we went to check in the luggage.

The guide would meet us locally, so we had to do departure procedures ourselves.

“Son, why are you going there?”

The economy class check-in line was long.

Meanwhile, the business class counter was empty.

And I headed straight there.

“Son?”

“Mom, check the flight ticket.”

Mom checked the ticket and widened her eyes.

“I thought this was a package tour?”

“You can upgrade seats for an additional fee. I originally planned first class, but Auckland doesn’t operate first class anymore, so I booked business class.”

“You’re really… trying to surprise me, huh?”

Mom shook her head.

This was another event I had prepared.

We checked in immediately without waiting.

After checking in the luggage, we passed security and went inside.

We explored duty-free shops and even visited the lounge exclusive to business class passengers.

There was plenty of food, and showers were available.

It was a new world.

“Thanks to you, I get to enjoy all this luxury.”

“Mom, this is your 60th birthday trip, so I upgraded to business class. No need to feel burdened.”

“Thank you, son.”

While relaxing in the lounge, the notification appeared that our flight to Auckland was boarding.

We went to board leisurely.

The business class seats were wide enough to stretch our legs.

Once seated, a flight attendant brought welcome drinks and a bag of peanuts.

The flight from Korea to New Zealand took 11 hours 40 minutes.

Thanks to business class, I could stretch and sleep, and soon New Zealand appeared below the window.

Even though it was January and summer there, the mountains were covered in perpetual snow.

Mount Cook, where we would trek on the sixth day of the 7-night, 9-day trip.

Then it happened.

Dangul and Hoya, who had been quiet, stared at Mount Cook and spoke.

[Sir, that mountain doesn’t look normal.]

[Right. Maybe there are spirits like us on that mountain.]

I fixed my gaze on Mount Cook.

The tallest mountain in New Zealand.

Rugged, covered in snow and glaciers.

Could spirits really live there, as they said?

If spirits lived there, what kind would we meet?

My heart was already racing.