Chapter 48
[Seo Igeon-nim?]
Ah, it’s not Han Taekyung.
“Yes, that’s me. Who is this?”
[Hello. I’m one of Han Taekyung-nim’s security guards. My name is Kim Woo-seok.]
Hearing this, the voice seemed familiar. Come to think of it, someone had died during that incident. The gym looked so normal that the horrific scene didn’t immediately come to mind… but hearing the security guard’s voice brought everything back, making his skin crawl and feeling like he might vomit. It felt as if the smell of blood was suddenly in the air.
[Seo Igeon-nim?]
“Ah, yes. Kim Woo-seok-nim. Is Taekyung—”
[…This is why I’m calling you.]
He must have heard what Igeon was about to say, but seemed to have no intention of answering about it. Then why call?
[I’ve been instructed to deliver your belongings as the officetel is being cleared out. Are you at school right now?]
Ah, so they’re clearing that place out. He had been holding onto that place as some kind of thread of “maybe”… but it seemed that too was now gone.
“Yes, I’m at school. But I can come to the officetel to pick things up.”
[That won’t be necessary. The clearing out is already finished. I’ll come to the front of the dormitory. I should arrive in about 20 minutes.]
“I understand. I’ll wait at the park in front of the dormitory.”
After finishing the call with the security guard named Woo-seok, Igeon fidgeted with his phone. He had so many questions but held them back. It was obvious that over the phone, the guard would just avoid answering like before, so it seemed better to wait and talk in person. Igeon turned on his phone and looked at the last KakaoTalk messages he’d exchanged with Han Taekyung.
‘How’s it at Instructor’s place? Don’t you miss me?’
‘You crazy bastard. I don’t miss you at all. Just go to sleep.’
‘Come back early. Because I miss you.’
We had such a conversation. Igeon smiled slightly. He wasn’t even angry anymore. He just wondered what had happened. How things were progressing. And how Han Taekyung was doing.
And it was both amazing and frightening that despite people having died, there wasn’t even a news article about it. Could NI be that powerful? Or was it that the existence of Han Taekyung shouldn’t be revealed? What were they trying to protect? Would those men in black hoodies no longer pursue Taekyung? He couldn’t understand why everyone was being so cruel to him, what terrible thing he might have done. Igeon rubbed his face and looked at the sky, now completely taken over by darkness. Then his phone rang in his pocket—it was his instructor. Come to think of it, he hadn’t been able to contact him at all because he’d been sick.
“Hello, Instructor.”
[Hey. Have you had dinner?]
“Yes. How are your injuries?”
[I’m fine. The helper Taekyung sent has been a big help. I don’t have any difficulties with daily life, and I went to the hospital today.]
“That’s good.”
[But Igeon, did something happen… to Han Taekyung?]
“What?”
Igeon was surprised when his instructor suddenly mentioned Han Taekyung’s name. He switched the phone from his left ear to his right.
“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
[It’s because Instructor Kim is acting strange. He was unreachable for days, then yesterday he suddenly contacted me, cursed at the world with every profanity imaginable, and then came here drunk and passed out in my room.]
“What?”
If it’s Instructor Kim, he might know enough about the current situation.
“Is it possible to wake up Instructor Kim? Could I talk to him?”
[I don’t think so… he’s completely out of it. Earlier, he was causing such a ruckus that I got angry and hit him a few times, but he didn’t even budge.]
“Ah… I see. Then if Instructor Kim wakes up, please ask him to call me.”
[Okay. Got it. But Han Taekyung is Han Taekyung, and you’re okay, right?]
That simple affirmation that he was okay wouldn’t come easily. Strange, isn’t it? Why did everything suddenly feel so heavy? Especially in one corner of his heart.
[Igeon?]
“Yes, I’m fine. Don’t worry. Go back in.”
[Okay. I’ll see you later.]
“Yes.”
After ending the call with his instructor, Igeon sighed deeply. It felt like he was just a little bit away from getting answers, but someone kept holding him back from reaching them. As if he shouldn’t get close to those answers.
“Seo Igeon-nim.”
Had 20 minutes already passed? While fiddling with his phone, he looked up at the voice and saw the security guard from earlier calling him, holding a suitcase. Igeon quickly stood up and approached him.
“Ah, hello. Thank you for coming all this way.”
Igeon received the suitcase that contained his belongings. It was heavy. When he went to the officetel, he thought he wouldn’t be staying long, so he only packed a few pieces of underwear, wondering why he needed to bring anything… but somehow his belongings had increased this much. Well, during that time, Han Taekyung had bought him a lot of things, saying “You need this” and “You need that.”
“It’s nothing. Then, I’ll be going.”
“Ah, wait, is Taekyung okay? I haven’t been able to contact him. Oh, and this.”
Igeon handed Taekyung’s phone to the security guard.
“I picked it up where he collapsed. I couldn’t give it to him since I couldn’t meet him.”
“I’ll make sure to pass it on. As for Taekyung-nim… I can’t tell you anything about him.”
Right, that was expected. This person is just an employee; what could he possibly tell me?
“But there is one thing I can tell you….”
“Ah, yes?”
“He was unconscious until yesterday and regained consciousness early this morning.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Now, I’ll be going.”
The security guard left after delivering just that one piece of information. Igeon stared at the spot where the guard had been standing. Han Taekyung regained consciousness? Had he also been unconscious for a week? Was the imprint shock that severe? No, did he really imprint someone? Although he’d heard the news about Taekyung that he so desperately wanted, he still had nothing. Instead, more questions piled up, making everything more complicated. Still, Taekyung had woken up, and his phone was delivered, so maybe there would be some action. Maybe he could get information if he met with Instructor Kim. Igeon thought.
“Contact me, you stupid idiot.”
I’m not even angry anymore about what you did to me. Let’s just talk. And spar together, Han Taekyung.
How had he become such a deep part of his daily life? Was it because, as the seniors said, they were inseparable day and night, like one body? Now that half of him was gone, the autumn breeze that was steadily approaching already felt chilly.
â—†
After waking up in the morning, patiently eating breakfast, and finishing the morning training, around 10 AM, he called Instructor Jin. It was a sweet sleeping time for the two elderly men, but waiting until 10 AM was already a long wait.
[Yes, Igeon.]
Fortunately, he answered the phone, but his voice was still clearly under the influence of sleep.
“Instructor, could I possibly speak with Instructor Kim?”
[That guy was just here until a moment ago, wait. Ah, he’s coming in. Hey, Igeon wants to talk to you.]
That’s a relief. He hasn’t left yet. And the fact that he’s moving around means his condition is good. Well, he was always good with alcohol.
[Yes, I’ve taken the phone.]
“Ah, Instructor Kim, this is Igeon.”
[…Yes, I figured you would call.]
“…Yes, I’ll get straight to the point. About Han Taekyung. Do you know what happened?”
[How much do you know?]
“That… I know up to the point that he imprinted Sunbae Kang Yuhan. That they both lost consciousness from imprint shock and were taken away… Yesterday I met one of the security guards, and he said Taekyung regained consciousness yesterday.”
[So you know the beginning and the end, but not what’s in between.]
“Yes. There’s been no contact from him to me. Is everything I’ve heard true?”
[Honestly, I don’t know everything either. But… what’s certain is that the imprint is real.]
So it’s… real.
[But I don’t think Taekyung forcibly raped him. Kang Yuhan’s parents have been threatening and making a fuss, but I don’t think that’s true.]
“Why do you think that?”
[…The reason, well, Taekyung isn’t that kind of kid. I’ve known him… since he was little. He’d rather cut off his own genitals than rape someone.]
That’s… what Igeon thinks too. But at the same time, part of him wanted to say that’s not true. Because he himself was “raped” by Han Taekyung.
[And now, Taekyung has several problems…]
“Problems?”
[I know he regained consciousness because I saw him yesterday. But even when he was unconscious, his pheromones were pouring out like crazy, and even after regaining consciousness, he can’t control them at all. Normally, after imprinting, pheromones shouldn’t be detectable. Kang Yuhan’s pheromones can’t be sensed, but Taekyung’s pheromones can. They’re so strong that he’s basically under semi-confinement right now.]
“…What? No, what about the pheromone suppressant…?”
[It’s useless. He’s had more than ten injections. He’s had more than 10 times the normal dosage, but it’s useless.]
“Good grief.”
Ten times the normal dosage…? Han Taekyung. What on earth…
[At this rate, that kid… might have to quit taekwondo.]
Han Taekyung….
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
