82.
Only after leaving the building did the doctor, Park Jingeon, release the sigh he had been holding in. This place was far too strange. But he couldn’t complain or confide in anyone about it. After all, it was his choice to come here, knowing it was strange.
One day, he had received a call from a senior colleague with whom he had cut ties years ago.
“It’s been a while, Jingeon. Would you like to take on a job?”
“After years of no contact, that’s what you ask? What kind of job?”
Though he responded casually, he felt somewhat uneasy. This was because his senior was notorious for all the wrong reasons. Soon after graduation and establishing himself, he had opened a private clinic.
A private clinic? Sure, why not. Doctors had easier access to loans compared to others and could borrow more. Getting a loan to open a clinic wasn’t particularly problematic.
The issue was that this clinic wasn’t for ordinary people. Rumors had circulated for a long time that his senior had become a doctor with the backing of some corporation. This was known because someone who had lived in the same neighborhood since childhood knew his circumstances.
‘They say gangsters frequent that place. They were the ones who sponsored him too.’
He had casually dropped this information about a former friend. The rumors spread quickly, and his senior lost most of his friends. The same applied to Park Jingeon.
“A job that pays well. Aren’t things difficult for you these days?”
Indeed. As a psychiatrist, he had done something he shouldn’t have. He had made advances on a patient, and somehow it became known, ultimately leading to the closure of his practice. Still, he thought he could get by as a paid doctor somewhere. Though difficult, it was something he could overcome soon.
“It’s not that bad.”
“Even so, I think you’ll change your mind once you hear the details. The pay is different. The pay.”
Park Jingeon was quickly tempted by his senior’s proposition. When he had said the pay was different, the amount was truly staggering.
“You just need to deal with one patient.”
“What kind of patient?”
If it was a gangster as rumored, he’d decline.
“A patient who had an accident and can’t recall most of their memories.”
“They don’t remember anything at all?”
“It seems memories surface occasionally.”
“So I just need to care for them until they recover their memories?”
“No, you need to ensure they don’t recover their memories.”
“…What?”
“Jingeon. If it were just ordinary treatment, they wouldn’t offer this much money, would they?”
“A-are you crazy? Why are you asking me to do this?”
“Among the people I know, it suits you the best. Close your eyes to it once, and you’ll have enough money to reopen your clinic. Don’t you want that?”
This is a crime, he thought. Yet, Park Jingeon couldn’t readily say no. The amount offered was too tempting. He hadn’t come from a wealthy family, and he was the only one supporting his household. Money is a commodity that’s better in abundance.
“You’ll do it, right?”
His senior’s words sounded like a devil’s whisper. The job he accepted wasn’t difficult. He pretended to provide counseling while trying to prevent the patient from recalling memories. In the process, he began to understand more about the patient.
‘Setting aside the fact that it’s a relationship between two men.’
Choi Mujin, whom he met every time he visited, was unsettling. He was probably the gangster in question. But why did he want Haseo not to recover his memories? What happened in the past? Though such thoughts crossed his mind, he had no intention of investigating further.
His senior was right. Park Jingeon was truly suitable for this job. He suppressed the questions that kept arising and got into his car.
* * *
Haseo was watching the departing doctor from the second-floor window. The doctor’s steps seemed more anxious than usual. It seemed he knew something. And at that moment, a wave of anxiety suddenly washed over Haseo. What if that person told Choi Mujin everything? It was a trivial question, but he didn’t want Mujin to know.
Even though Choi Mujin, his brother, was a good person, Haseo sometimes felt strangely apprehensive around him. What had happened in the past? As he was lost in thought, Mujin’s voice came from behind.
“Haseo, would you like some fruit?”
“What kind?”
“Strawberries and grapes. You like them.”
“Yes, I’ll have some.”
Haseo went downstairs and sat at the table. Mujin sat across from him and cut off the strawberry stems with a fruit knife to make them easier for Haseo to eat. Mujin seemed very gentle at times like this.
‘Perhaps I could just ask directly?’
After a moment’s hesitation, Haseo asked Mujin.
“Brother.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know what my parents do?”
“Parents? Which one?”
“Both.”
“Ah, your mother remarried. She had a daughter and is living peacefully. And your father went abroad. I heard he had a large debt and agreed to work there for a few years.”
“Is that why they couldn’t come see me when I was sick?”
“That’s right. Why, are you upset?”
Haseo rubbed his chest with his hand. It felt somewhat constricted, but it didn’t seem like the emotion of being upset.
“No.”
“That’s good then. After all, our Haseo is an adult now, so you should be independent.”
“True. But isn’t there someone else? I mean…”
Haseo recalled a face that had briefly flashed through his mind recently.
“Grandmother.”
“Ah, Grandmother? She entered a nursing home because her health wasn’t good.”
“A nursing home? What’s wrong with her?”
“Various issues. If you’re really concerned, would you like to visit her next time?”
“…Is that okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? But you need to recover more before going.”
“Yes, I will.”
It seemed his worries had been unnecessary. Haseo relaxed, releasing the tension from his body. Several days passed without incident. Jisu still visited, but less frequently than before.
“I’m going to start attending an English academy.”
Jisu grumbled and complained. But today, unlike usual, Jisu stayed for a longer time.
“An acquaintance, an old man, said he’d come pick me up with his car.”
“What about your parents?”
“Mom and Dad don’t like me coming here.”
Having said this far, Jisu covered his mouth with a surprised expression.
“You mean you’ve been coming here without permission?”
When Haseo asked incredulously, Jisu stuck out his tongue.
“But who’s this acquaintance of yours?”
“He’s someone who lives on the outskirts of the village. He said he was born here. He grew up, went to Seoul, and then came back. His words are rough, but he’s kind.”
“Really? I’m curious about what kind of old man he is.”
“You’ll see him soon!”
Since Choi Mujin had stopped preventing Jisu’s visits at some point, Jisu had grown bolder. Now he had started getting rides from other people to come here.
“But is it okay even though your parents are against it?”
“It’s not like I’m doing anything bad.”
Jisu rolled his eyes subtly. Not long after, they heard the sound of a car approaching from outside.
“Jisu!”
The old man who got out of the car called Jisu’s name loudly, his voice reaching inside.
“He’s here already!”
Jisu quickly ran toward the sound of the old man’s voice. Haseo followed slowly behind Jisu to see who it was.
“Hello.”
The moment he faced the old man, Haseo recognized him.
“Huh?”
Haseo wasn’t the only one surprised. The old man, who was hugging Jisu, was also looking at Haseo with a shocked expression. He moved his lips several times and then bowed his head. The hand holding Jisu trembled slightly.
“W-why are you here!”
Even at this murmured utterance, Haseo couldn’t find an answer.
“Grandpa?”
He was the old man who ran the pawnshop where Haseo used to go after spending nights with different people and stealing items. Their last encounter hadn’t ended well. Haseo had fled without receiving the full payment for a watch he had pawned. How desperate and afraid he had been then.
‘Why was I afraid?’
It wasn’t simply the fear of not being able to make a living. Haseo nervously pulled at his sleeve. His head felt like it was being pierced with an awl, but he tried to grasp the emerging memories.
Meanwhile, before Haseo could say anything, the pawnshop owner hurriedly put Jisu in the car and left, as if escaping.
“I’ll see you next time!”
By the time Haseo chased after them, it was too late; a person couldn’t catch up to a speeding car. Haseo glared at the receding car, panting heavily.
“My head hurts.”
Why wouldn’t the empty parts of his memory surface more easily? Haseo sat down gasping for breath. It seemed he would have to find the pawnshop owner himself.
‘Someone who lives on the outskirts of the village.’
The outskirts of the village. If young Jisu could go back and forth, surely he could too. Despite his weakened body, he was still a grown man. Come to think of it, Mujin would be away from home tomorrow. He’d leave someone behind, but Haseo would find a way to slip out. Nothing would change if he remained as he was.
With this resolve, Haseo slowly got up. After dusting off the dirt that had clung to him, he spotted Choi Mujin outside the house, watching him. He forced a smile and approached Mujin.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
