Chapter Text
"Mom.... mom... Grandpa's saying weird things again..."
My grandson was jumping around, the juices from the ice lolly in his hand dripping on the creaking wood boards of my back porch.
I only laughed when he continued shouting through the back door at his mother, who was preparing lunch in the kitchen.
My daughter was beautiful - she had the same straight dark hair as my grandson, and they both had huge round eyes. Wiping her hands with her apron, she hurried out towards his son's cries. "What's the matter, hm?"
"Grandpa's telling me that weird myth again," the boy sucked on his lolly. "About the cursed and the blessed." His nose scrunched up. "It's... weird."
"Hey, it's not weird," I retorted. "And it's certainly not a myth!"
His mom turned to look at me with accusing eyes. I tried my best to look innocent. "What? I'm not lying, so don't look at me like that. Hmph."
I swore she rolled her eyes as she turned back to his son. "What did my father tell you? About the spirits again?"
He nodded, finishing the last of his dessert. "He said that some spirits are naturally unbalanced. Some are very unlucky, while others are extremely lucky. And until these two meet each other, neither of them will live a good life." As an afterthought, he added, "Is that true, mother?"
"No, don't listen to him..." My daughter gave me a death glare, but I just smiled sheepishly. "He's just making up stories. Right, father?"
I stood up and pretended not to hear her. "Hmm, is dinner ready? I smell some kimchi stew..."
"Father!"
"Alright, alright! Go on in and set the table, I'll explain everything, okay?"
When I finally shooed her in and she was out of earshot, I bent down to look at my grandson. "Don't listen to your mother."
He cocked his head, thought for a while, and nodded firmly. "Okay, I trust you, grandpa."
I laughed again and ruffled his hair. "You're such a smart boy, I know it! Let's eat dinner, come on."
I started pulling him into the house when he said, "I still don't believe your story about the spirits, though. I don't believe in curses or blesses. Aren't we all born the same?"
I paused and turned around. With a smile, I replied, "next time you visit, I'll tell you the rest of the story, how 'bout that?"