Vantage || Hwang Hyunjin

Chapter 27. 𓇼 ⋆.˚ Their Story ❶

"It's time I tell you about Yulhee and me."

The old man adjusted himself in his chair, holding the photo album carefully in his lap. His fingers brushed over the worn cover for a moment before he began speaking again.

"I was born in 1934, in Yeongcheon, Gyeonggi Province."

His eyes drifted toward the window, as if the memories were unfolding right in front of him.

"My parents had known each other since they were children. They grew up together, became friends, and eventually fell in love."

A soft smile appeared on his face.

"My mother became pregnant with me at a very young age. Her relationship with her parents wasn't good, and when they found out about the pregnancy, they told her to leave. They made it very clear they wouldn't help her or my father raise a child."

He sighed.

"Instead of abandoning her, my father chose to leave with her. They were very young, but they decided they would build a life together on their own."

The old man's expression softened even more.

"They worked harder than anyone I've ever known. During my early years, we lived comfortably. My parents gave me everything they could. More importantly, they gave me their time."

He chuckled quietly.

"I thought every family in the world was as happy as mine."

Hyunjin and I listened silently.

"When I was still very young, my mother became pregnant again. My little brother was born shortly after. My father had to work twice as much, so I tried helping my mother whenever I could."

His smile faded slightly.

"As you know, Yeongcheon was close to the northern border. After Japan surrendered, people were told the division of Korea would only be temporary. Just administrative matters, they said."

He shook his head.

"It didn't stay temporary."

The room grew quieter.

"In 1948, the separation became official. Two governments. Two ideologies. Two countries." His fingers tightened around the edge of the album.

"By the time I turned sixteen, things had become dangerous."

I could hear the bitterness hidden beneath his calm voice.

"Tensions kept growing. Everyone knew something terrible was coming."

"And then it did," Hyunjin said quietly.

The old man nodded. "The war."

For a moment, nobody spoke.

"Because we lived so close to the border, my parents knew staying would be a death sentence. We gathered whatever we could carry and left."

His eyes lowered. "We left our home behind."

A painful smile crossed his face. "The same day."

I frowned. "The same day?"

He nodded.

"Only a few hours after we escaped, our hometown was bombed." Silence filled the room. "We lost everything."

The old man's voice remained calm, but somehow that made it sadder. "The house. The business. Our belongings. Everything my parents had sacrificed so much to build."

He paused. "And we weren't the only ones."

Nobody interrupted him.

"We eventually arrived in Gangwon Province after a very difficult journey. My father still had a few acquaintances there, and through them, we managed to obtain this house."