Chapter 44: The Tired Janitor

It was still dark when Lee Jihoon stepped out of his apartment. The city was resting in that quiet space between night and morning—the rare pocket of time when even the air felt still. Only the streetlights lit the way, casting long, golden pools of light across empty sidewalks. A few cars passed in the distance, their engines humming softly. Somewhere far away, a bakery's shutter rattled open.

Jihoon tugged his hoodie sleeves over his hands as a light breeze brushed past him. The cold bit just enough to wake up his senses. He hadn't planned to wake this early. No alarms, no appointments. He had simply opened his eyes before dawn and, rather than stay in bed staring at the ceiling, decided to go out and let the morning clear his mind.

A peaceful walk to the nearby library seemed like the perfect choice. It was one of his favorite quiet places—cozy, slightly dusty, and often empty in the early hours. The library wouldn't open for another 20 minutes, but Jihoon didn't mind waiting. Sometimes, just walking without a destination felt like healing.

The route took him through a quiet residential street before turning into a side lane that led to the library building. He passed rows of small trees, their leaves still glistening with dew, and a few convenience stores just beginning to restock shelves.

As he approached the wide steps that led to the library entrance, he paused.

The stone tiles glistened in the dim light, not from the dew—but from water. A large mop bucket sat on the landing above, and beside it, hunched over a step, was a man with a brush in hand.

He was scrubbing hard, body low to the ground, his arms moving slowly and deliberately. He paused often, placing a hand on his lower back as if stretching out pain that refused to go away.

Jihoon squinted.

It was Mr. Baek—the janitor who had worked in the area for years. Jihoon had seen him plenty of times before, quietly sweeping leaves, wiping windows, or adjusting signs. They'd exchanged polite greetings, but rarely more than that. Still, Jihoon had always respected the man's steady presence.

But today… he didn't look steady.

His movements were sluggish. His shoulders hunched deeply. His breaths were audible, and his cap sat low on his head, shielding a face that looked more exhausted than usual.

Jihoon stood for a moment, watching him scrub. He was cleaning each tile meticulously, like it mattered more than anything else in the world.

Then Jihoon noticed something else—his gloves were thin and frayed, his shoes were soaked from the soapy water, and the entire stairway was far too wide for one man to handle alone, especially at this hour.

Something in Jihoon stirred.

He walked forward slowly, climbing halfway up the steps before crouching beside the janitor.

"Mr. Baek," he said gently. "Are you alright?"

The older man looked up slowly, blinking as though waking from a daze. His eyes were bloodshot, his cheeks slightly pale.

"Oh…" he murmured with surprise. "Good morning, young man. I didn't see you there."

Jihoon gave a small nod. "That's a lot of stairs for one person."

Mr. Baek chuckled softly. "It's part of the job. The director wasn't too happy yesterday… said the stairs looked dirty after the rain. Didn't want anyone to slip."

He tried to straighten up but winced visibly. Jihoon instinctively reached out to steady him, but Mr. Baek waved him off with a shaky hand.

"I've done this a hundred times," he said, breathless.

"But should you still be doing it alone?" Jihoon asked, concern clear in his voice.

The old man tried to laugh again, but it came out as a sigh. "There's no one else. And someone's gotta keep the place clean."

Ding!

[New Kindness Challenge]

Help someone carry the weight they were never meant to carry alone.

Reward: 43,000 KRW

Jihoon stood up and immediately slipped off his jacket, tossing it onto the railing.

"Let me help."

Mr. Baek blinked, confused. "You don't have to trouble yourself, really—"

"I'm already here," Jihoon said, walking toward the bucket. "And besides, it'll keep me warm."

Before the older man could argue again, Jihoon grabbed the second brush leaning against the wall and dipped it into the sudsy water. He knelt beside the bucket, then moved to the lower half of the stairs and began scrubbing.

The brush was coarse and a little slippery in his hand, and the motion wasn't particularly comfortable—but Jihoon worked with calm efficiency. The soapy water chilled his fingers, and his knees began to ache after just a few minutes, but he didn't complain.

After a few silent moments, Mr. Baek resumed cleaning beside him.

"You remind me of my son," the man said quietly. "He used to help me all the time when he was younger. He's working overseas now. It's been over a year since I last saw him."

Jihoon didn't respond immediately. He looked over at the older man, who was now scrubbing with a little more ease, encouraged by the company.

"You must miss him a lot," Jihoon finally said.

Mr. Baek nodded. "Every single day."

They continued working. The sky slowly shifted from deep blue to pale orange as the first signs of morning arrived. More birds began to chirp, and a couple of early joggers passed by, offering surprised glances at the two figures scrubbing the stairs.

When they finally finished, the steps were spotless. The tiles shimmered with reflected light.

Mr. Baek sat back with a deep sigh and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. Jihoon stood and stretched his arms with a soft groan, feeling the strain in his shoulders.

"I don't know what to say," the janitor said. "You didn't need to do that."

Jihoon gave a tired smile. "Maybe not. But I think you needed someone to."

Mr. Baek looked down, the lines on his face deepening into a warm expression. "Thank you. Truly."

Ding!

[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]

Reward: 43,000 KRW

Jihoon grabbed his jacket, now slightly damp at the edges, and slung it over his shoulder.

"You should take a break," he said. "Go get something hot to drink."

Mr. Baek chuckled. "I will. After a nap."

Jihoon began to walk toward the library doors. Mr. Baek called after him, smiling.

"Pick out something good to read."

"I'll read a chapter for you too," Jihoon replied with a grin.

Inside the library, the warmth welcomed him. A faint scent of old paper filled the air as he settled by a window with his book.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

[Daily Kindness Reflection]

"Some burdens are silent and unnoticed. But when we choose to share them, we lighten more than just the load—we lift the heart too."

Jihoon turned a page, his hands still a little sore from scrubbing.

Yeah.

That sounded about right.

One small act at a time.

End of Chapter 44

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