The uncle who saved me from this fucking house where violence was rampant every single day. That was already two years ago.
This shitty corner of the house that can no longer be called ours was where my father was an alcoholic, and my mother, who earned money for my father's alcohol and household expenses, passed away from cancer. When my mother passed away, I was the one who had to earn money for my father's alcohol.
As a high school student, there weren't any places willing to hire me for part-time work, so I finally got a part-time job at a convenience store after begging desperately. I should be spending time with friends and studying, but I skipped school to work.
I wished someone would save me from this hellish life. If there really was a God, I wished he would save me.
But tears welled up in my eyes at the reality that there was no one to save me.
"Student, are you crying?"
I looked up at the warm yet worried tone of voice, and saw an old man looking at me with a worried expression.
"Oh, I see. Sorry."
Maybe it's because the word "sorry" is ingrained in me, but I've developed a habit of apologizing, whether it's my fault or not.
The man who heard me saidWhy are you sorry?He held out his handkerchief to me. When I took it, the hand of the man who brushed against my hand was truly warm. It was the first time I felt the warmth of someone else's body.
After wiping my tears, I handed the handkerchief back to the old man and quickly calculated the amount.It's 3900 won.What the old man brought was chocolate milk, triangle kimbap, and a bottle of water.
"Okay, students drink this milk."
I just stared blankly at the chocolate milk he offered me. It was my first time receiving anything from anyone. Chocolate milk, more than anything, was my favorite type of milk.
Um... You don't like chocolate milk? Should I change it to something else?The old man thought I hated chocolate milk because I just looked at him without accepting it.
"Oh, I like chocolate milk."
The man who heard from me that he liked meThat's good. Then drink well.He said with a faint smile and turned around before leaving the convenience store,
"Oh, and I'm not a student or an old man."
"Next time, call me oppa."
For the first time in my life, my heart fluttered. He was the first person I'd ever met who had treated me so warmly, who had even smiled at me.
From that day on, I just waited for the old man, but even after several days, he didn't come.
Next time, call me oppa... I'll call you oppa or not.
I heard the convenience store door open and lowered my headWelcomeAfter saying that, I looked up and saw my father, the man I hated so much I could die from seeing him.
"This bitch, she didn't even tell her father where she was working."You made me search for a long time?!"
I was so scared that I couldn't say a word and just trembled.
"Okay, I'll take 10 bottles of alcohol, so pay with your bitch money."
Convenience store alcohol is so expensive. 10 bottles would cost half of my part-time job wages...
"10 bottles is not enough..."
What?! What can't be done?!My father, hearing my words, raised his hand, and I closed my eyes tightly. But I felt no pain, and I slowly opened them.
"What are you doing now?"
The man I had been waiting for so long was holding my father's arm and glaring at him with an angry face.
"I'm the one who's fanning my own kid, what's it got to do with you!"
My father raised his voice at the old man. I decided it couldn't be helped, so I tried to step forward, but the old man shook his head. Perhaps he was signaling me to stay still and do nothing.
"Do you want to go out nicely? Do you want to be dragged to the police station?"
"No. It must have all been caught on CCTV. Should I send you to jail?"
My father, who discovered the CCTV cameras on both sides, muttered curses and left the convenience store. As soon as he left, my legs gave out and I collapsed to the floor.
The man who had stopped me asked me in a serious voice, "Is that really your father?" Since I had nothing to hide or be ashamed of in this situation, I nodded.
The next question was whether I lived with my father. Again, I nodded silently. The man sighed heavily at my words, thought for a moment, and then opened his mouth.
"You live with me"
This one word from the old man was our starting point.