I Live Alone (Home Alone / 나 혼자 산다)

- Is that a train station? - Yes.

Dongdaegu Station?

- Oh, you're from Daegu? - Yes, I went to my parents' place.

When did it become such a new city?

I can't recognize it.

You look like a student though.

I know. He really does.

The weather is so nice.

Today, I'm visiting my hometown, Daegu,

- after a long while. - Are you wearing a uniform?

It's been three years.

I'm visiting for many reasons,

but most importantly, the promotion for my solo album is done,

- Now that you can make time... - so I wanted to go...

and take a break.

My parents came to see me in Seoul for the last three years,

so I thought it was about time I visited them.

I can't believe it.

It didn't look like this when I was a trainee.

I can't get used to it.

When did they build a department store?

So that's where my mom visits every day.

Where should I go from here?

I should get a taxi there.

Hello.

Sir, why did so many things change around here?

I guess you're visiting Daegu after a long while.

Yes, I haven't visited in years.

That's a huge Starbucks.

It didn't use to be like this, right?

You're starting to speak in the Daegu dialect.

- He's starting to. - I'm getting used to it now.

Goodness. How fascinating.

Thank you. Have a good day.

(He's visiting his parents' place in 3 years.)

Where is their place?

- You don't know where it is? - My parents moved to a new place,

so I'm still not used to it.

I constantly looked for it as I went.

It feels like visiting someone else's house.

The passcode.

- It's really confusing. - I must check before pressing it.

- It must've been exciting for you. - Right.

Gosh, it smells like home.

It was nice because it had my mom and dad's smell.

- It does look familiar. - It's a typical family home.

- It really is. - That's right.

- It's nice. - Oh, my.

(Their best interior decoration is their son's photo.)

Oh, my.

- I look exactly the same. - You're so adorable.

(can be found everywhere in the house.)

That's how our parents' places look like.

Right. They have all the albums too.

How come no one is home?

My mom is still working as a head nurse.

My dad retired,

but he had worked in finance,

so he's working as an investor.

They've always worked, so I've always been home alone.

It was a weekday.

You can rest and eat up there and leave.

- That's right. I always do. - You're an only child, right?

- Yes, I am. - Of course.

(He's comfortable, but it's somewhat awkward.)

Did it always look like this?

Oh, you have your own room there?

Yes, they made a room for me.

Hello?

- Mom. - Hey.

- You answered right away. - Right.

Is there anything to eat at home?

- I made a meal for you. - You did?

Where? Is it in the fridge?

It's in the fridge.

Rice is in the rice cooker.

You should microwave the seaweed soup.

It's really neat.

I prepared some fruit, so have it after.

Okay. I'll take them out and eat them.

- Okay. - Bye.

(It took him a while to take out the side dishes his mom made.)

She prepared so much.

Your mom made all those to feed you.

What's this?

A letter?

My mom always leaves a letter for me.

(I'm sorry that there's no one to welcome you home...)

(when you haven't visited for so long.)

(I haven't made you seaweed soup since we started living apart, )

(so I made abalone seaweed soup. I hope you'll enjoy it.)

(A letter filled with his mom's heart)

All right.

- It was touching. - Does she write letters often?

She does, and I also write one for her.

- Really? - Yes, we often exchange letters.

It's so touching.

(He hasn't had his mom's seaweed soup for a long time.)

She made so many side dishes.

- It looks so good! - It's a mom-made meal.

I want to eat it too.

- It's a mom-made meal. - It's jangjorim!

- It looks so good! - She made so many side dishes.

Moms love those plates.

- I know. Ones with flowers. - Thank you for the meal.

It wasn't plain rice either.

Right. Moms always make multi-grain rice.

They do.

It makes your eyes go wide.

(He tries the abalone seaweed soup next.)

It looks like your mom is a good cook.

(He keeps slurping it in as though he's enchanted.)

It must've been really good.

You're getting more?

Are you done already?

- Of course not. I don't think so. - Isn't he getting more of it?

- It's too bland. - What?

What?

Oh, it wasn't seasoned well.

My mom rarely cooks,

and she doesn't really like it.

The same goes for my dad.

She's good with side dishes though.

But she's really bad at seasoning soups.

I'm actually not sure where I got my love for cooking.

- I think she wanted you... - It should be bland.

To eat it less salty.

- That's right. - I think so too.

- No, it's not that. - No?

- She's just bad at it. - She's bad?

- Aren't you being too objective? - It's not that.

(He starts seasoning the seaweed soup.)

My mom always makes it bland.

I'm glad it's good.

But I was glad that she made it for me.

Now you're saying that?

It's too late.

It does feel a bit late.

- This is it. - This is how my mom's dish tastes.

That's not how your mom's dish tastes.

- You fixed it. - Right.

(He's having a home-cooked meal after 3 years.)

No matter how good or bad my mom is at cooking,

it's nice to have a home-cooked meal.

The comfort you get from eating at your parents' place.

This is nice.

Doesn't eating at your parent's place...

- help you digest well? - It certainly does.

And you tend to eat a lot.

- I'm even sweating. - Oh, my.

You sweat if you eat well.

I'm so full. Which one was for which?

You need to smell each one of them.

Or you should check what's coated on the lids.

Right.

(Putting the side dishes back in the fridge)

I'll have the fruit.

It's a dessert.

(It's a must to have fruit as a dessert even if you're full.)

I get to eat fruit only when I'm at my parents'.

You tend not to eat them when you live alone.

Right. They all go bad even if I buy them.

(Whose ringback tone is set as "Bad Love"?)

You're filled with energy.

(Whose ringback tone is set as "Bad Love"?)

Hey, Ki Bum.

- Dad. - It was your dad's ringback tone?

Why is the house so empty?

What do you mean?

Has it always been like this?

Yes. Since only the two of us live there.

I just had a meal.

Mom made so many side dishes.

She wanted to cook for you since you were coming.