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Hayun arrived in South Africa, but nothing had changed from when he had only heard reports in London. He was still at a loss about where Dawoon was or where to start looking. Dawoon didn’t have any connections or acquaintances here. How was he managing without a card or a mobile phone?
Hayun was certain someone was helping him, and that it must be Choi Seon-gyeom. However, even though they had people watching Choi Seon-gyeom, there were no results. Choi Seon-gyeom, who had returned to Greece, immediately started working with his staff and was focused solely on work.
They were using all available means to track Choi Seon-gyeom’s communications and even his card usage, but nothing suspicious was found there either. If Choi Seon-gyeom was really looking after Dawoon, it seemed as if he was anticipating Hayun’s tracking attempts.
As each day passed, Hayun’s nerves became more and more on edge, like a well-sharpened blade. As a result, except for Director Park, no one dared to speak to Hayun casually. By this point, it was affecting work. For now, Director Park was covering well, but if this state continued for long, it would inevitably damage Hayun’s reputation.
Knock knock. After knocking, Director Park opened the bedroom door and stifled a short gasp. Hayun was shaking pills from a bottle into his mouth and swallowing them with water. It was the tranquilizer he had started taking recently.
“If you keep relying on those pills, something serious will happen.”
At the sincere concern, Hayun pulled up the corner of his mouth in a smirk. It was a smile more cynical than usual.
“Find Jeong Dawoon and bring him to me. Then I won’t need the pills.”
At the curt reply, Director Park let out a long sigh. If he could do that, he would do it right away. Over the past few days, he had come to realize painfully how much Jeong Dawoon meant to Jeong Hayun.
“We found someone who claims to have seen someone resembling Dawoon from the photo we’ve been circulating.”
At Director Park’s report, Hayun’s eyes changed instantly.
“Where?”
He looked ready to chase after Dawoon immediately if told where.
“Please calm down and listen to the end. We’re not sure if it’s actually Dawoon. Since East Asians tend to look similar to the locals here, it could be a mistake.”
The person who claimed to have seen him became evasive when further questioned. Normally, Director Park wouldn’t have even reported such a result to Hayun. But now, if he didn’t report even this, he knew he’d be criticized for not doing enough to search, so he had to show that they were doing something.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a mistake. I’ll confirm it myself, so guide me there.”
“Vice Chairman.”
Director Park blocked Hayun, who was about to grab his jacket and leave. Just blocking his path was enough to sharpen Hayun’s gaze.
“I’ve already brought them to the hotel lobby. So there’s no need to hurry.”
He knew that whether the witness’s words were true or false, Hayun would only be satisfied if he confirmed it himself. When it came to matters related to Dawoon, Hayun never left the handling to others. He had to check everything personally and was only satisfied after seeing with his own eyes.
Upon hearing that the witness had already been brought in, Hayun finally took a deep breath and brushed back his fallen bangs.
“I’ll bring them up if needed.”
“No. I’ll go down.”
He seemed unable to wait even for the witness to come up.
“I’ve already spoken with them, and I think it’s best not to expect too much.”
At these additional words, Hayun turned to look at Director Park. His eyes were a mix of all sorts of emotions – expectation, anger, disappointment, and desperation.
“Let’s meet them first.”
He seemed to have regained the last thread of reason, answering in a calm voice. Just the possibility of a lead had reduced some of the anxiety on Hayun’s face.
***
The whiskey bottle in front of Hayun was gradually showing its bottom. He was in the process of emptying an entire bottle of whiskey by himself. Unable to watch any longer, Director Park snatched the bottle away as Hayun was about to refill his glass.
“That’s enough.”
Hayun just glanced at him, raising his eyes, and tried to take the bottle back. Director Park pulled his hand back to avoid it and put the whiskey bottle down far away.
“If you mix pills with alcohol, you’ll collapse before we find Dawoon.”
At these reproachful words, Hayun burst into laughter. The self-deprecating laughter soon lost its strength and sounded like sobbing. Wondering if he was actually crying, Director Park frowned as he watched him.
“That can’t happen. Until I find that guy, Jeong Dawoon… I won’t be able to close my eyes even in death…”
It wasn’t clear if he was talking to himself or to Director Park.
Seeming to have given up on drinking more, Hayun stood up. But the moment he took a step, he staggered. Director Park quickly supported him. A person drunk on alcohol felt several times heavier than usual. After barely managing to take Hayun to his bedroom and lay him on the bed, Director Park couldn’t help but sigh.
They hadn’t obtained any clues from the witness they met earlier in the day. All they learned was that someone resembling Jeong Dawoon had come to their store, bought a few clothes, and was accompanied by another man. That was it. They had no idea where they went or who the man with him was.
If anything, the fact that someone was with Dawoon only further agitated Hayun. As a result, for the first time in his seven years of assisting Hayun, Director Park was seeing him in such a mess, drunk.
It seemed like something serious was going to happen at this rate. The longer they searched for Jeong Dawoon without finding him, the more it seemed that Jeong Hayun – the man who looked like he could survive alone even if the sky fell – would break down first. Jeong Hayun’s instability had a special meaning. If he wavered, the real power in the Haedo Group would be shaken. Furthermore, it could lead to a crisis for the Haedo Group itself.
***
Haram was pacing endlessly in front of the entrance door. The housekeeper had already tried to persuade him several times that waiting here wouldn’t make Dawoon return any faster, but he wouldn’t listen. At least during the times when tutors came for lessons, he quietly went inside to attend the classes, but other than that, he waited for Dawoon in front of the entrance at every opportunity.
“You’ll get heat stroke at this rate.”
The housekeeper approached and lifted Haram, who had sat down in front of the entrance.
“But…”
Haram’s gaze moved across the garden towards the main gate. His face contorted at the thought that Dawoon might open that door and call for him at any moment.
“It’s time to go to the Chairman’s house.”
It was already Friday. A few days ago, the Chairman’s health had improved significantly, and he was discharged from the hospital. As soon as he returned to the main house, he first looked for Haram, whose London study abroad had been canceled, and since Hayun was also in London, he suggested that Haram come and stay at the main house. However, Haram refused, saying he didn’t like that idea. His reason was that someone needed to be at home to greet Dawoon when he returned. The Chairman reluctantly respected the child’s wishes and asked him to at least come and stay on weekends.
“What if hyung comes back while I’m gone?”
Haram looked up at the housekeeper and asked.
“I will contact you immediately.”
Even with the housekeeper’s answer, Haram wasn’t reassured.
“Could it be that he’s not planning to come back? Because all the relatives hate hyung… Because grandfather keeps scolding hyung, could he have left for good?”
The housekeeper couldn’t give any answer to the child’s questions. He had thought that Haram, who had always acted so innocently, wouldn’t understand Dawoon’s situation well. But that wasn’t the case. He had noticed the meaning behind the adults’ attitudes all along and had just pretended not to know. It seemed he was maturing faster than expected.
“He’s not the kind of person who would leave for such reasons.”
That was all the housekeeper could say. He guessed that rather than the Chairman’s or relatives’ mistreatment, it was probably the strained relationship with Hayun that made Dawoon make up his mind, but he could never reveal the truth to Haram.
“When is… Hayun hyung coming?”
Again, the housekeeper couldn’t answer. Company matters were not his domain. He could only guess that since Dawoon wasn’t with him, the London branch matter would probably fizzle out soon.
“If I behave better… If I listen more, will Dawoon hyung come back soon?”
At Haram’s wish, the housekeeper swallowed a groan in his throat. The child was blaming himself for no reason.
“Young master, you’ve always been doing very well, both before and now. So don’t blame yourself. If the second young master knew, he would be upset.”
At the housekeeper’s consolation, Haram looked up at him, made a bitter expression, and then turned his head away. Even being told it wasn’t his fault didn’t seem to reassure him. The housekeeper didn’t know what to say to cheer up the child.
“Housekeeper.”
One of the staff approached with something in hand.
“This seems to have come for the youngest young master.”
She held out a white envelope. The housekeeper and Haram’s gazes simultaneously turned to her hand. The housekeeper took the envelope on Haram’s behalf and opened it.
“What is it?”
Haram asked curiously, craning his neck. Instead of answering, the housekeeper took out the postcard from the envelope and handed it to Haram.
“Republic of South Africa?”
Haram read the letters written in the corner of the postcard. It was a postcard with a view of Cape Town, South Africa. There was nothing written on the back. Just four words: “To Haram.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
