But Hyeol only confirmed to me that it was his possession. As I stood there dismayed, Hyeol put his hand in the bag again, rummaged around, and took out another cell phone. This time it was much bigger than the kids’ phone.
“Daddy’s.”
“Ah!”
I had hoped… it was Chae Seungyeon’s cell phone. I was wondering if it had fallen into the river since there was no cell phone among the luggage on the bridge… It seemed like he hadn’t taken it when he left home at dawn.
“Thank you.”
I quickly turned on Chae Seungyeon’s cell phone that I received from Hyeol and rapidly looked through the contacts. As expected, there weren’t many contacts.
Husband, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, young master… and one name clearly displayed on the screen.
[Friend]
What, he does have a friend?
Both Hyeol and the mother-in-law sent strange looks, so I worried for nothing.
I immediately called [Friend]. It might be a friend he hadn’t contacted in a very long time, but anyway, it was a friend he hadn’t cut ties with… Even if I couldn’t get a room to stay in right away, I thought I might be able to get some small help.
“Hello…?”
-We provide dreams and hope. Doran Doran Rainbow Counseling Center. This is counselor Lee Eunyoung.
“……”
But perhaps that was my excessive hope.
“Um… are you by any chance Chae Seungyeon’s… friend?”
I still asked just in case. Because a friend could be working as a counseling center employee.
-Yes?
From then on, I started to feel something ominous. But I didn’t give up.
“It’s me… Chae Seungyeon, Seungyeon… Chae Seungyeon!”
-Ahh…!
When I repeatedly said Chae Seungyeon’s name, the friend finally seemed to remember Chae Seungyeon and let out an exclamation.
-Hello, Chae Seungyeon mentee! It’s been so long!
“Yes? Mentee…?”
Do friends call each other that in this novel?
-Mentee, I’ll start with pricing first. This counseling session is available for 360,000 won per hour. If you want, we can proceed with a 2-hour package for 500,000 won. Or should I help connect you with the specialist counselor who discussed mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict issues with you last time? If you make an additional payment this time, premium worth 680,000 won…
Click.
I hung up the phone and sat there dazed for a while.
This isn’t it…
It was another time to look back on Chae Seungyeon’s life.
“Daddy.”
At that moment, Hyeol leaned against me. The child’s body was cold. Come to think of it, despite it being the middle of winter, both of our clothes were too thin. Hyeol at least had a coat on, but I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt that I had put on at Baek Woojin’s house.
I should have at least packed the child’s clothes before leaving… I was so focused on escaping from the mansion that I didn’t think of it. I tried to pull Hyeol close to share warmth.
“When are they coming?”
“Huh?”
At that moment, Hyeol asked me another question. What’s coming? I was suddenly scared.
“Where’s the car?”
But that wasn’t all.
“Where’s the driver uncle?”
“……”
Both… aren’t here…
I looked at Hyeol, who was born into a wealthy family and had lived like that his whole life, and after falling into thought for a moment, I eventually took out the business card and called Baek Woojin.
“Chae Seungyeon-ssi.”
And in less than 10 minutes, Baek Woojin appeared in front of me driving a car.
Thud thud, Baek Woojin was walking toward us with an unusual expression.
“This driver uncle is handsome.”
At that moment, Hyeol, mistaking Baek Woojin for a driver, said.
“Oh, no, that person is…”
While I was trying to talk about Baek Woojin, Hyeol got down from the bench and ran toward Baek Woojin. He seemed to want to greet him.
“Hello…”
“Are you alright?”
But Baek Woojin didn’t even glance at Hyeol and strode over to me to ask. I was startled and shot up from the bench. Baek Woojin pressed down on my shoulder again and knelt down.
“Stay seated.”
“Ah… but still…”
He became serious-faced and grabbed my chin to examine it this way and that.
“Your face… is swollen as if someone hit you.”
“Ah, well…”
Should I explain…? It’s difficult to honestly reveal that I was hit by the mother-in-law with Hyeol here…
I glanced at Hyeol standing behind Baek Woojin’s shoulder. Hyeol was standing still in the same frozen state as before.
“Ah, Hyeol…”
“I kept looking for you.”
I was about to call Hyeol, but Baek Woojin completely blocked my view.
“Right after I left the house, suspicious people came looking for you…”
He muttered with eyes full of worry, then suddenly brought his hand to my cheek.
“I should have been more careful…”
I could feel the warm heat from Baek Woojin’s large palm as he muttered in a somewhat regretful voice.
Thud.
That’s when it happened. Hyeol had approached at some point and grabbed Baek Woojin’s wrist.
“Please remove that hand.”
Hyeol said in a cold voice. Only then did Baek Woojin take his eyes off me and look at Hyeol. His eyes looked a bit surprised, as if he had only just noticed the child’s presence.
“Hahaha… Hy, Hyeol-ah, daddy’s sorry. I was just having a quick chat…”
I became embarrassed and grabbed Hyeol’s hand, hugging the child. Only then did Baek Woojin stand up from his seat and look back and forth between Hyeol and me with quiet eyes.
“Ah… This is Hyeol. Gwak Hyeol. Chae Seungyeon’s… no, my son Hyeol. You know, right? From the photo back then…”
“I know.”
Baek Woojin replied briefly and cast his gaze toward Hyeol again. Hyeol likewise raised his head toward Baek Woojin.
Crackle! For a moment I thought sparks were flying. Looking again, the two were glaring at each other with murderous eyes.
No, why… why are they acting like this…
The atmosphere seemed to be changing in such a bizarre way that I was at a loss and sweating profusely.
“Hello, I’m Gwak Hyeol. Please call me Hyeol.”
Hyeol suddenly greeted Baek Woojin politely. Hyeol, who bent his waist straight and bowed his head, then grabbed my hand tightly again. It seemed like he was showing such a polite attitude because he was in front of me.
“I’m Baek Woojin, I work as a psychiatrist, not a driver.”
“……”
I thought he hadn’t heard… His ears are quite sharp.
“Psychiatrist… specialist…?”
Then Hyeol muttered as if he didn’t know what that was. Then Baek Woojin took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Hyeol.
“…You’re a doctor?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…”
Hyeol seemed to be thinking about something as he fluttered the business card in his hand, then put it in his pocket.
“……”
That was it. The first meeting between the two was nothing but cold.
Honestly, they both have peculiar personalities. I’ll let Hyeol slide since he’s an obsessive little rascal, but Baek Woojin also seemed kind yet somehow had a cold side to him.
At first, I thought his attitude toward his own son was too much, but after seeing how he treated Hyeol, I changed my mind. Perhaps, contrary to what others think, Baek Woojin was giving Kkotsu very great affection.
“Let’s get in the car for now. It’s cold.”
Then Baek Woojin took off his coat and put it over my shoulders as he spoke.
“Oh, the coat is fine…”
I tried to take off the coat quickly, but Baek Woojin, who avoided my hand, was already walking away. I had no choice but to take Hyeol and follow.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
