ASOBY Ch 1

How would a person inside an elevator that fell from a high-rise building end up? I heard they become unbaked pizza dough. Jeong Taekjin hated that story. Because he thought that someday, he too, might become pizza dough. It wasn’t simply a fear born from a mixture of rumors and fantasies, but a fear with a practical reason.a159a96db0c26a8f

That fear wasn’t in vain. Jeong Taekjin was thinking about pizza after falling from the roof of a three-story building. His whole body was wet and cold because of the heavy rain that drowned out all other noise. The full-body pain, difficult to describe, was a secondary issue because it was so cold.a7cd4aed018ce5cf

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Jeong Taekjin lay 727d8cdbe5 on the fishy-smelling 2ad05f4eb5 floor and thought,d4069b5e267161ba

‘Ah, it’s cold even though it’s not winter, why is that? Am I cold because I’m pizza right now? Would it be less cold if I went into an oven… Ah, I have to go to my part-time job later, I’m screwed.’54462821fddb0bbe

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As he was 7e27ff504a thinking this, someone bc6bfd2fc3 slapped Jeong Taekjin’s 498db330c2 cheek. As he faintly 24086018e1 opened his eyes, 3882bf951d he saw a 7c5ab76891 figure under the a376cb7605 streetlight, its light 1a460c7faf blurred by the 8d32992d8f moisture. Jeong Taekjin narrowed 8151da0ad2 his eyes and 30d44446d3 barely managed to 24eea2ef68 focus. Then, one by 6f7df1f1ae one, elements that c0a774458d allowed him to 09a8b9d835 distinguish the other 0b62ed8fcd person came into 847b018e14 view.588ed161e10fcd4e

He, sitting and 19ed87d615 bending over next 8680b38c04 to the dying b3d2139195 person, was wearing aa7ceb6f38 the same school 723fb84093 uniform as Jeong 820c88dd9c Taekjin. On the chest 2612e82814 pocket of his b478ac8f0e jacket, three embroidered 33e2044528 letters of his 2763b14033 name shone brightly 2415a0f3e6 yellow.61178fc18260f650

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The name was Chu Nakwon.e4f2175858e710e7

It was a name so unique that it would be hard to forget once heard. Suddenly, Jeong Taekjin felt the pain surging through his body begin to disappear one by one. What increased instead was a touch he couldn’t understand. Chu Nakwon, with a touch as cool as the falling rain, fumbled around Jeong Taekjin’s waist and said,1465f7b8ce64ecf1

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“Don’t die.”6438d724f6b3c0ed

There was no warmth in those words. It was just as impassive as an inanimate object. He didn’t seem to be a paramedic who came to rescue Jeong Taekjin or a close friend. I don’t need to hear those kinds of words. Having come to that conclusion, Jeong Taekjin let go of his consciousness without hesitation. Consciousness and memories disappeared as if being sucked into a sewer drain mixed with rainwater, and the only thing left in Jeong Taekjin’s head were three unique letters: ‘Chu Nakwon’.c41e540d8ae16e24

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Absolutely Obedient Boy27a81d21974c5595

絕對服從少年968001ef210d1023

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When Jeong Taekjin 712d18e56f regained consciousness, the c2d15e93d2 hospital room was 347c645071 full of people. Seeing people he had never 4e69e70e0b seen before gathered in twos 72fdb07d1d and threes, Jeong Taekjin absentmindedly b0bb16fdd4 thought that his poor father c029b63003 must have admitted him to d61e888417 an eight-person room.bcd1d02472ad2cb4

As Jeong Taekjin blinked, a stranger he had never seen before suddenly leaned down towards him, his hand on the bed. He was dressed in a neat suit and wore an unfamiliar perfume that tickled Jeong Taekjin’s nose. He just rolled his eyes, and the man cautiously asked,da13031285175a87

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“Tae- Taekjin. Are you alright? Can you speak?”ae4de4dea0da26c9

“……?”aec4e0f69c830a2f

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Gradually, Jeong Taekjin’s mind cleared, 5e8431c191 and he soon realized that c0d05a78ea this was a situation that 1759d58c56 couldn’t be understood unless it e7105b0477 was a dream. No matter where 2e9ee81efd he looked, there 84bdd15a4b was only one dbc9702759 bed in the 48825db7cc room, the one 16fe0afd88 Jeong Taekjin was 88c4ad50a0 using, and despite ea9a2892b6 the number of f7177d7d9d people, it felt 6f64edd17e solemnly quiet. Moreover, all of them 184814216f were men in black eff2ddb833 suits. Their cool gazes b753faf2a6 made Jeong Taekjin e3d58e0262 nervous.650b6088aaf2434a

‘Don’t tell me, those gangsters again…!’60a2aeb64124d171

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Remembering the visit from the debt collectors, Jeong Taekjin almost jumped up, forgetting he was injured. The thought of them coming all the way to his hospital room gave him goosebumps. As Jeong Taekjin tensed his abdomen and tried to raise his shoulders, the man standing next to him quickly grabbed Jeong Taekjin’s chest and arms and carefully pressed him down.19604ffbb3b3bb45

“What…!”42416dad26534bb8

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“Calm down, Taekjin. Okay?”35d7cb9c85d8e76b

Pressed down by force, 8aa56c175c Jeong Taekjin, lying back f7ea7b4c27 on the bed, looked 22e11c47f4 at the owner of 12db112ab0 the hand with a 166c10aba0 bewildered face. His neck and shoulders edcdd3e3de ached every time he 6a823b06ef turned his head, he 76f88cf464 became short of breath 34fe4f7794 instantly, and his limbs 0a1c77730d ached all over. Jeong Taekjin, brought back to 26104d1957 his senses by the pain, 5deb9094b4 barely managed to ask,37518ebd3b0d1362

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“No, ugh. Who are you, here….”a9052faa91181393

At Jeong Taekjin’s question, the man who had taken the seat next to his bed exchanged glances with another man in a suit. His face was filled with hesitation and worry. Soon, he spoke in an extremely cautious voice.5ef154d7fcd4ef7f

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“Taekjin, I am your… family.”7186affe10f67f2a

“What?”325223f7c9d56ef3

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The tension drained from Jeong Taekjin’s raised shoulders. It must be a dream or some hidden camera program on cable TV. There’s no way he could have a family like this. Jeong Taekjin lived with his father in a crumbling single-room basement apartment. Jeong Taekjin was young, and his father couldn’t work properly due to a severe leg injury in the past. They lived on various subsidies that came under his disabled father’s name, supplemented by Jeong Taekjin’s part-time job earnings.669a84eb426f0305

So, there was no way 18f6210b31 this man in an expensive-looking 1e2ba068c4 suit could be his family. Jeong Taekjin thought that 9e46429375 if they weren’t filming 086db2bd71 a program without his 87ff062aa4 consent, they must be 623a3e29e2 greatly mistaken. Maybe someone with 496b36974f the same name f2caec0348 was brought to ad03dc9f36 the hospital around c03345c455 the same time 6fead7fcbf and there was c8f09fa4d8 an administrative error. They might not 9203b3cbb3 recognize him if 0ff01101e2 his face was e5550867ec badly injured too.f3ef94b188f15072

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While Jeong Taekjin was making these assumptions, the man reached out and took Jeong Taekjin’s hand. Reflexively, Jeong Taekjin looked up and their eyes met. Even in his dazed state, Jeong Taekjin felt a distinct sense of familiarity with the man’s face. He’d seen this face somewhere. Momentarily stunned, Jeong Taekjin quickly pushed the man’s hand away.f371f3899e8d7f57

“…Excuse me, but I think you’re mistaken. My family is….”eed4b2220f03c0c3

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“Jeong Seoksu, right?”3d02e5574f1b91df

At the mention of his father’s name, Jeong Taekjin’s eyes widened. It was a name he’d only heard from debt collectors. This also meant that these people weren’t mistaken about Jeong Taekjin’s existence, at least.41571fcc8c49155a

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‘What?’fbc23c11c9490d47

Jeong Taekjin suddenly felt an 74bfc43009 ominous sense of reality. The unbelievable hospital room, these c478595757 strangers surrounding his bed who d05deac7c6 seemed to know his father 1f44d97701 instead of his father himself, f514e24729 claiming to be his family.454d388277c556de

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Finally, Jeong Taekjin 16c9dda029 pushed away the 1093036561 hand holding his 70e3a2c315 arm and sat 121491e806 up. Perhaps due to 6e9ef92bed the sudden movement, 9f9521a25e his vision momentarily 42359cc518 blackened before returning. A bright red digital 5118f25ec4 clock appeared in front 026681327a of his wavering sight. The date and time were ccef99649e vivid, as if sending a 449222564b signal.78aa4334b658cab2

November 17th.c815aa08513d37c3

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A sharp pain suddenly shot db21adc1fd through his head as if a389e36618 stabbing deep inside. July 8th, rooftop, falling, 6e1cf6d713 pain, pizza, sound of 84455cac88 rain, cold, and….775a04f97c4d267b

“Chu Nakwon.”a04ee97928267c36

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“……!”65cd75674bad1a4a

As soon as the word bdf8bb4758 slipped out like a groan, aafeefd1d8 the strength drained from the 0a147ec9d1 hand that was holding Jeong 7d5d832069 Taekjin. They seemed to know b53684b322 something about that name. Jeong Taekjin quickly tried to fb634bd640 connect his thoughts to that d56f8902bc name. But strangely, nothing came d97e97a63e to mind.1f8ac27be290d38f

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‘Chu Nakwon?’d605809a3a30cfd0

The only thing that came to mind with that name was the accident itself. He fell from the building rooftop, it rained heavily, and it hurt like hell. And at that time, Jeong Taekjin saw someone his age with the name tag ‘Chu Nakwon’. That was all. Why he went to the rooftop, whether he fell on his own or was pushed by someone, how he got to the hospital, and who ‘Chu Nakwon’ was. He couldn’t figure out anything. And why did this man, who was here instead of his father, react to the name ‘Chu Nakwon’?1e3f679b67796fb4

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As if reading b9eeccac0a Jeong Taekjin’s question, c626fae6b7 the man next 593ff4f04d to him breathed af06c86103 a little heavily. He suddenly seemed tense. Jeong Taekjin’s gaze turned 36c989d9e5 back involuntarily. The man was much 503a50316e paler than before, and 0ec41d45a0 as their eyes met, 1874476185 he seemed to make 6fd4be9e1e a significant decision, pulling 6155168988 his chin up firmly b4838b7879 before speaking.2626477859b10bf1

“You won’t have to see him anymore.”d89406ed0d9c4afd

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“……?”7401cd3d81b20031

Who are they talking about 4c40a7c43f seeing or not seeing? Jeong Taekjin’s expression a586c77f13 crumpled with confusion 5b5294e5f1 and embarrassment. The man gently wrapped 545305f67d his hand around Jeong 5655ff6bb0 Taekjin’s shoulder and continued.965be5c62b799a68

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“Chu Nakwon, he’s been expelled.”f4b45e3e19dd39a7

“…Expelled?”e971af569d7212d8

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“Yes, I wanted to lock him up… but… Don’t worry. There’s no one left in this world who can harm you.”e2bdd4a41c5b9935

The man’s voice was laced with anger that felt almost venomous. Jeong Taekjin was bewildered. He tried to recall his school life at the word expulsion, but even that was empty. He didn’t doubt that he went to school, but he couldn’t recall any specific events.2ebbc8cb7513b532

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What is this blank space?5b039699ebb5c3da

Jeong Taekjin, racking his 11551db65f brain, asked back in f7b609a53e a daze.8c7d77416457af45

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“What did he do?”573c8ccba924b5c3

At that question, not only e0dae2aa49 the man but also several 96758dca73 others around the bed gasped 0d5aea1854 or murmured. Was it something 077f26d387 he shouldn’t not e4090a8a8b know? Embarrassed by the unexpected a1e517de76 turn of events, Jeong 93896200bd Taekjin quickly added,a66ca4c4a1eaecdd

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“…I don’t remember.”01412e527a7f977c

“You, you don’t remember? That incident? Secretary Kim, quick, call the doctor!”088f5307adfa65ce

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As soon as the man finished speaking, the person called Secretary Kim pressed the call button by the bed. People started moving busily, and Jeong Taekjin’s eyes followed their movements. It was hard to understand what was happening. Confused, Jeong Taekjin grabbed the man’s arm and said urgently,a8ba91b8f019f201

“Excuse me, sorry, but can I borrow your phone? I need to call my 4ac21b537f father….”30134a3250560bd1

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“Yes, yes. Calm down, it’s 6961512e46 natural to be 95eb7892d9 confused. Because of the b40727a8bc shock from the 8e507c8dfb accident, you don’t e0c49dc920 remember…”d00b32986e1cae26

“No! I’m fine, just edb48ef891 let me make 316cd471de one call to f3d1c223d2 my father.”b491bbd2f0041012

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“Taekjin!”8026cbea2bb2ff4a

The man cut him off d150b13b89 firmly. Unlike his coaxing demeanor just 8c87095ef3 now, his voice was heavy 4a5f2606bc and sharp, like a large a6adbd8531 knife being brought down. He sternly told Jeong Taekjin,9b642dcf508a7b33

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“That man isn’t your father. Jeong Seoksu, that man… kidnapped a child, confined him, and raised him for over ten years without the child knowing. He’s a criminal.”306433df2abc1e80

“Crimi, what?”d956dbe2d4e4e305

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Almost as soon as 5744fbc49f the man finished speaking, 21c4b13038 a doctor and two 29266fa9b4 nurses entered the room. Jeong Taekjin was overcome 86c42f75a4 with even more confusion. He said, “What ef440f506c nonsense,” but it 8ad749d4e2 was hard to 07d8570441 tell whether he f4f24ca903 actually voiced the e8ee58f5b0 words or just 99532e721d gave a hollow 9673f854a9 laugh. The more he became 2220a2b4e9 aware of his missing b0edbecc78 memories, the more his 15ab625945 headache intensified, and everything 1af829c0ff around him felt like f293b6724f it was shaking, as fd3ea410de if he were at ebd668fc7a the epicenter of an 255e61ba32 earthquake.7ba31122f3f2d942

The accident, Chu 80cad0332f Nakwon, his father, a9c695b6a7 the two people 75dae57e99 claiming to be b523afc811 family, kidnapping…?4b60e87e04438350

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As if fueling 0ae4c0cea4 the confusion, the a513744780 man added with bed7cb8685 a serious face,4dc9b8ab14639c23

“Jeong Seoksu, that good-for-nothing isn’t your father!”1445a13e879678cc

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At the words denying his father, Jeong Taekjin couldn’t hold back and shouted.e1f49c30560124e5

“No, what the hell are you talking about! What do you mean my father’s some criminal, what the fuck. Swarming in here like bees and spouting bullshit?!”8cdd593f1bb44d47

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After shouting with his 0378d54a8c shoulders straightened, it felt e6e5826b7d as if all his 199fc0790d nerves had awakened, each bf4c3119a0 asserting its presence. Sporadic pains he hadn’t been 6286d9bda0 aware of before exploded through 16f2907034 all his joints and muscles. It felt like 9c92802d66 sharp awls were 603fbe18db stabbing into his e1593dcded bones.c634046eff7181e7

Jeong Taekjin, who had been b852537284 stiff as if tied with d987b76b96 ropes, collapsed under the excruciating 51ab3b4394 pain. He couldn’t even scream. The flustered medical dd948a1c38 staff and the 1a9cad9702 man grabbed Jeong 1493807a9a Taekjin’s shoulders and 1051d04ab9 laid him back 64dc386ed5 down on the 18dedcde4c bed. Jeong Taekjin struggled, trying to 60a20b2260 shake off the arms holding 2fd8df88c4 him down, but it was 788cb9b700 all in vain. A cool pain shot f13d619a4c through his forearm, and 4f8e5db1a8 then the strength drained 9484c7ed95 from his body, his 2386452124 consciousness growing hazy. Jeong Taekjin gasped and 9599b64626 resisted until the very 22742c6fa8 end.c174dff8b969e3aa

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“Fuck, stop talking bullshit….”caf886174765ecd7

The man’s face filled his blurring vision. Incredibly, it was around then that Jeong Taekjin realized who the man was. Anyone, not just him, would probably have recognized him. It was the face that sometimes appeared on the 9 o’clock news. The vice chairman of Cheongun Group, a large company that everyone in Korea knew. This man had come to the hospital room of a boy who had fallen from a rooftop, claiming to be his family.e5e0725f9bb979f9

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When Jeong Taekjin fdd04ee122 regained consciousness again, cb47116ba6 he was limp 634aa22a88 as a corpse. After yelling his lungs out, 319fa4e268 his whole body ached, he 17a0d840f8 had no energy, and whenever f4690265ba he tried to think of e1e347af78 something, a splitting headache would d72c380069 come, so lying still was 8d3fedb52c the best he could do.7053f8a704875113

The man apologized repeatedly for speaking so abruptly and clumsily. He said he shouldn’t have told the young boy about his father without considering the shock right after he woke up. He seemed to regret blurting out about Jeong Taekjin’s father so suddenly. Perhaps because of this, the man was hesitant to speak, just watching Jeong Taekjin’s expression.034b893b139e5bf7

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‘Just what the hell is going on.’ffad1b989b6a8f16

The silence didn’t aa566622ab give Jeong Taekjin 49e509afcb any answers. Jeong Taekjin sat 3e04830625 still on the 4db5fd242a hospital bed, quiet 0b827b60c9 to the point f535da1ace of feeling oppressive, 34c699c145 staring at the c2e40c9f2d digital clock on 9d059d71e2 the wall.0025510dd9263552

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November 17th. The last date Jeong Taekjin remembered was July 8th. Since July 10th was payday, he was sure of it because he’d been thinking that he had to pay off the rice he’d put on credit at the discount store in front of his house as soon as he got paid the day after tomorrow. However, except for July 8th, the day of the accident, even his memories from April to June were hazy. He vaguely remembered being scolded for sleeping through the June mock exams.58405ecbe042d94b

So not only were his bc1a5727af memories from April to early a004b76586 July blank, but he had ae13b4230d also been unconscious for five dd204a3807 months after the accident. He wanted to a75e33c7d6 know what had 0bb436c5cf happened during that 64e967f9ff time. Jeong Taekjin turned to the eab721a59c two gloomy-faced adults and brazenly 0864bc18ea opened his mouth. The fact that he ff6f0ccc6d had yelled earlier had 936b3c766f already left his mind.cf913da4c87574f2

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“Excuse me, can you please explain what happened? I… I only remember falling from the roof. How did I end up meeting… you two? And where’s my father? Oh, man. I have to call my part-time job boss, too.”cb6aef26ff0494d3

“Taekjin.”436b71da2ac585bf

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The man who called Jeong Taekjin paused for a moment. He was fiddling with the wedding ring on his fourth finger, and he seemed quite hesitant, perhaps because of Jeong Taekjin’s earlier outburst. Soon, he cleared his throat and slowly opened his mouth.13740c8d30483aac

“You’re probably having a hard time accepting reality right now. Rest for a day or two, and then we can talk about it slowly….”ef50006e4ca35e6b

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“You’ve already said half of it, and now you’re trying to avoid it? Just lend me your phone. I’ll make one call and then right away….”b9d852892dd4f4e7

“…That’s not possible, Taekjin.”288ecd0665c2d65e

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“-Ah, come on!”8ab8ee7968959d06

He shouted, annoyed by a5a909ed1a the way they were 1132fe5e91 vaguely explaining things and 09e5a51ffc then changing the subject. The man looked 7bad0dec6b at Jeong Taekjin 4e370d362e with a perplexed 0de2cbaf94 expression. It was a clear bf5e01a2b3 look of pleading, which 5226522ce7 frustrated Jeong Taekjin even 2fb1cb0d02 more. The words about criminals 08fdbf73c2 lingered uncomfortably in the 027b2e32d2 back of his mind. However, the two adults, with cf0003b30f their apologetic and flustered faces, fc711a776b seemed to have no intention 2b3763bff6 of speaking further.4eff4e5c83003001

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‘Then why did you even bring it up in the first place?’72b08cea024d2b84

Grumbling inwardly, Jeong Taekjin swung his legs out of the bed frame before they could stop him. Pain shot through his body, but not enough to prevent him from walking. The man was more surprised than Jeong Taekjin, jumping up from his chair. Ignoring his reaction, Jeong Taekjin took a step with his bare feet. And after exactly three steps, his knee hurt as if it would shatter, and he stumbled, grabbing his leg. It seemed likely he had broken something in the fall. The man quickly grabbed Jeong Taekjin’s arm.9e482d7a14be395f

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“Taekjin, I know you’re confused. But you can’t go like this…!”e9fcbdaf452538df

“Damn, since you’re not finishing what you’re saying, I’m going to find out myself. Let go. I’m going home….”ce0056d3e404a274

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“Jeong Taekjin!”379af8cc8fa8f813

“Just, fucking let go of me!”280f626e4b351faf

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Jeong Taekjin shouted at the hand gripping his shoulder tightly. His shoulder wasn’t completely healed either, as a burning pain flared up. This time, it was more of a reflexive shout due to the pain than annoyance. The man’s face flushed red for a moment, then lost its color and turned pale. He muttered with a despairing expression,e53e83a45460eadd

“How could that man raise you like this?”4f574a6271e2e1c6

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That man was referring to Jeong Taekjin’s father. It wasn’t a shocking insult, as he had heard it often. Enduring the pain, Jeong Taekjin straightened up, tilted his head to the side, and met the man’s gaze. The man, as if in anguish, covered his face with his free hand and said with a sigh,a6f769501e45ba71

“Even if you go home… no one will be there.”9f62a038ecb195d6

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“…Speak so I can understand.”1083ff64563b41ce

“You said you don’t remember.”f011944a8eead540

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Jeong Taekjin frowned and nodded. The man still seemed apprehensive, 3bc291b5c5 but after exchanging glances with 93d101d7f1 the woman, he slowly opened 10e95cb0ed his mouth. Soon, the past Jeong Taekjin 2b9374c3ec had forgotten flowed from him.11d6d78601d55362

“Taekjin, you were… being bullied by a student named Chu Nakwon. On the day of the accident, he called you to the rooftop… and you fell while trying to run away from him.”9669b35e38727277

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“Bul, bullied?”79d23f42a2d5f003

Jeong Taekjin frowned 565e241b55 as he asked fd754889e3 back, dumbfounded. He felt an unpleasantly 6a8c7aa0d3 strong sense of tension 2be28a84a4 at the name Chu a285b0ac2b Nakwon, but had absolutely 03050342fb no memory of being 907987d8fe bullied. Jeong Taekjin narrowed 1538b8417d his eyes and 71f0301217 asked suspiciously,e7078d6f6f0bb057

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“How do you know that? I haven’t regained consciousness since the accident.”7e6fa08f5c03a06e

“That’s because….”a3063a17f344eb9f

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The man seemed to 84963ef911 choke up for a 8bee1bd44a moment, then barely managed 76e0bf9e1c to continue,76ad8d6377b1e7cc

“Chu Nakwon told me. He reported it first. That you fell from the rooftop.”29196938e5263e22

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“…….”044f646ca5deb3e9

“He said he didn’t intend to do it, but he would accept any punishment. And he was expelled from school as a result. He swore to me that he would never go near you again, so you don’t have to be afraid.”ab6c7a5d0fbd07aa

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As the man continued, he took out his cell phone and operated it. As the story ended, he held out the cell phone to Jeong Taekjin as if waiting. A paper photograph was displayed on it. Looking closer, it was a handwritten document. The letters were as neat as if they had been typed and printed. Jeong Taekjin’s eyes quickly caught a few sentences within.e3b76e5c4cf61a6c

‘I assaulted and bullied Jeong Taekjin.’4a25a932d6720d92

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‘I am truly sorry.’d2f4c7812307dcf7

‘I want to receive any punishment.’a9f3de205a333de2

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‘But what happened on the rooftop was an accident.’e80390e3bd5a63bd

‘I didn’t intend to kill Jeong Taekjin.’4aa701bf94aec84d

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That was the moment. A very short 8b7254269c memory, which he 54a45e8418 thought didn’t exist, a6b704ac67 flashed through Jeong f5411eff83 Taekjin’s dark mind. The image of someone 9ffe9fb5cd on top of him, 6afbe506aa raising their right fist bd296fe85d high, was as vivid 12e2b65c32 as a photograph.f9fa1cdd66c4b8d6

Because of the backlight, the face was obscured, but the silhouette of the shoulders and arms was clear. The following headache made Jeong Taekjin groan, “Ugh,” and clutch his head with his hand.429a58ae09ca01f9

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‘No way, was I really… a pushover who got beaten up?’1d0bc335dc5529fa

Jeong Taekjin didn’t want to f61440ea3b admit it. Even though Jeong Taekjin had dd80d26d82 a straightforward personality, he had 6492e25eef never been involved in other 9e7dcde073 people’s fights. Even if some guys occasionally 6c5e3d5b8c picked on him because of 7499d3c321 his pretty face, Jeong Taekjin d191b9ced2 would usually back down amicably. He wasn’t in 6b78a0e7e3 a situation comfortable d2dae6f365 enough to waste b3b04f5d3e time on petty e5d439cd33 ego battles. Getting into a fight f54ce21e73 would only be a b8c8fda5a4 losing proposition unless he 381e103a74 could get beaten up d182034df1 properly and extort money d14edf7738 for medical expenses.f579fe97f1eb280a

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But the problem was 1a4ac5021e that there was clear a8de9617b6 evidence that made it 829b725119 difficult to dismiss it 0e81f6a54e as a lie. The name ‘Chu 60f31e0d95 Nakwon’ and the c729cc990d moment of the 99bde4441c accident were vivid, 4a3dc8304d and these two 81e61c6ca9 adults wouldn’t be af1b00607f playing a prank 4f8edadf77 by putting him 4b980f6eb7 in an expensive beb879b95c single hospital room 1e149ad957 and telling him 78f684f7a8 this story.aface2a8912b2935

While imagining ‘Chu Nakwon’, whom 90c314f20a he didn’t even know the d7d8209604 face of, bowing his head 57aea48dec and apologizing to these two eed1495d83 adults, Jeong Taekjin suddenly felt acf776727f something was strange. Why did these people receive cd63650eec a vow from Chu Nakwon 1b49982c53 as if they were his e96992f0af guardians?1705511d9f33e437

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Where is my father?559d1551ff01caa9

It was back to square one. Searching his memory, Jeong Taekjin turned his head sharply and met the man’s eyes. The man, who had been fidgeting with his hands raised to his chest, swallowed dryly with his mouth shut. Jeong Taekjin didn’t give him a chance to speak and asked,0b6357d303ea02dd

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“Why did you catch that Chu Nakwon guy? Not my father.”587fc528307e4a39

“…That’s because.”573cc9f0274521a0

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“Where is my father now? Did you tell him I woke up? Let’s contact him.”bd26f6516f9c71d4

The man’s face hardened, and Secretary Kim, standing behind him, coughed in surprise. Jeong Taekjin felt a chill as if his ankle had been grabbed. Then the man took something out of his inside jacket pocket and held it out. Jeong Taekjin immediately recognized what it was. It was the leather watch his father always wore. Jeong Taekjin snatched the watch and looked at it. The third hole in the strap, slightly stretched from frequent use, the clearly scratched frame, it was his father’s watch. The shabby old watch had stopped at 9:21.c500685cfb6d003b

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As soon as he saw 9fb820cc81 it, an unknown fear arose b86f201403 in Jeong Taekjin’s heart. It was like watching a fec027839d horror movie, knowing a scary 8a9949a912 scene was about to pop f7aff98565 out. The man clasped his hands 9cc7523a1d together, his face slightly dazed 7793f342af as if recalling a distant cafb7c6a54 memory, and opened his mouth.47ca3447813950be

“I’m Choi Jihyuk.”9e915b97d86d9fb5

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“…….”a0b9bf4faa3abdd7

“Seventeen years ago… yes, your father, Jeong Seoksu, kidnapped and raised you. He harmed your mother and 14e47114bf ran away with you. I was abroad… and 84fe9a8421 only found out about 4caaa699f0 it after it happened. I came back and searched de155d9422 for you, but I couldn’t ffe4b421ee find either Jeong Seoksu or 668683ca79 you. By the time I 09dcd05b8c finally found you… it a0aa6d6d7c was too late to 895287a6e2 prove that he was d15b49d2c5 the culprit or that 5897fbf9cb you were my son.”f4c9d12dbdc52f12

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Jeong Taekjin’s eyes 7e6a684449 wavered at the c00614bc85 story that was c7749f8366 beyond his comprehension. The mention of his 647b3cd051 mother was extremely awkward e5c92276dc for Jeong Taekjin. He had never heard f26c6f4610 about his mother while b469e698de growing up. His father had a1d4b4f0b9 told Jeong Taekjin 497d026f4b early on that c0e59cb98c his mother had e2f6fbe279 abandoned the family fde39e3163 and left, and fd801914d8 scolded him harshly 042493d5ab whenever his young 457db733db son showed any 07c9ae2b82 curiosity. Until elementary school, he 804f28a3a3 had felt resentful and 13a4503dd0 scared of such reactions, a429bbca0f but after accumulating unpleasant a439e2b0c2 experiences, he had reached ee844ec54f a point where he 910cedf5eb felt no curiosity towards 0ee4124dd2 his mother, almost as 2c8e9e2a18 if he had been 43aff899d1 well-trained. He just assumed his father 7ef367574a was being harsh because he 57613e3a84 didn’t want to think about 565fb560a7 his mother.65155c541e49e838

‘But, if that story is true….’71c823b41f842574

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No, that can’t be. What reason would that cold c9490d82a7 and heartless father have to 01793fac3b kidnap and painstakingly raise him? Jeong Taekjin shook his head, 504e5eb255 gripping the watch tightly. The man, who had introduced bff8e4224c himself as Choi Jihyuk, observed 2ccb6b2ec0 Jeong Taekjin’s expression and continued 819c86ac34 speaking in a cautious tone.f7bf38040d20acaa

“I’ve been keeping an eye on you, on Jeong Seoksu. Then… I heard 21a7e27e2a about your accident. That you were brought cfe9faecba to the emergency room 6d8cb31266 without a guardian. Concussion, multiple fractures, ruptured organs… 847ca5a75b You needed immediate surgery.”b65c5af3d5266f8c

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It was a 3eb682e68d list of injuries b472bfebef that made his 9e3afc7c6d legs weak just 91e812716b listening to them. So that’s why his 8172c3ba34 body was like this. Jeong Taekjin flinched, ae38693155 conscious of the 034dc24dec pain, and Choi 10bf5c9e8d Jihyuk gave him 911fd6890d some time to d65dee31e8 process, keeping some 0fa199354e distance before speaking dd319475d3 again.e26e322c62c8e4e0

“…I thought that was… my last chance to get you back. I pretended I couldn’t 279f33813a reach Jeong Seoksu, and 7feecba589 if you were left 80beb4391c like that, you would…”64cfe1caad464328

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“What kind of…! No, are you making up 5983a59f1c a story now?”ee2697fda7bc597c

Jeong Taekjin abruptly interrupted and asked back. He could accept that he was severely injured, but not the circumstances surrounding it. Choi Jihyuk’s story was something that would only happen in a novel. He retorted as if building a wall of disbelief, but he felt hot sweat beading on his palm gripping the watch. In reality, his father, with his frail body, had been doing some kind of ‘work’ that he didn’t reveal to Jeong Taekjin, and because of that, the days he came home were few and far between. Moreover, he often didn’t answer Jeong Taekjin’s calls and never answered calls from unknown numbers. Even if someone tried to contact his father about Jeong Taekjin’s accident, there was a high chance they wouldn’t have been able to reach him. This gave credibility to Choi Jihyuk’s words.f3017b6eb6151092

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The entire situation surrounding Jeong Taekjin, along with the tangible presence of Choi Jihyuk, felt like a tight grip on Taekjin’s mind, forcing him to accept this as reality. The man, who had momentarily paused his speech, responded in a subdued voice.1eac8df9965022ca

“…Yes, would it have been nice if it were just a novel?”0aed4e098005bbc6

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The man, staring at the 6c6e82792a frightened young man, was terrifyingly 59046937a2 serious. Overwhelmed by his d48dbde2b2 imposing manner, Taekjin 23cdedfe21 gradually retreated. Jihyuk, on the daf50fe0e4 contrary, straightened his 1ad65bdd02 chest and closed 9e9f8dcbc9 the distance between 976e24feb0 them. As he approached, d2f9c59048 he spread his bc64c0c9a3 arms as if 2611f2ac2e to embrace Taekjin’s f9fb1323fc shoulders and spoke 4d5529e5d4 in a slightly d061ad48b0 brighter tone.d12ccc6e7ced8ac3

“Taekjin, hasn’t it been difficult all this time? No, it must have fa5eaf7e9e been difficult. Living in a crumbling house, 2876194732 unable to study properly, working 6585eb9da1 part-time all night. You don’t have to do 1a3c99802d that anymore. Now that you’ve returned to a1db3d9be8 our family, you can forget d663d7c24a all about that sewer-like life.”de809dac27c7601c

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“…….”14265065c2f58b16

“Haven’t you ever dreamed of something like this? What do you e077a827de call this in 9c635cf8cc your words…?”14dbd47fd79be1bb

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“…….”8dd0494b9ef688db

“A reversal of fortune….”3976fdc4d31b2b54

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Taekjin, who had been 6182a8c51f stepping back one step 2496319fed at a time, felt 5e9677e38d his heels hit the f94bc2331d wardrobe. To Jihyuk, this af83744ea1 situation seemed nothing 559ee14c19 less than a bf8c55b923 grand family reunion, a26ac8882b a story of 9c064e2da5 a poor boy’s cfe5bfc612 rise in status. However, that was 9805550846 Jihyuk’s subjective interpretation.746faa23a3ac3409

Taekjin, regardless of 4924923431 any reversal of 65ffbd61b0 fortune, wanted to b49d54cd44 see his father, 4eb4dc4e49 whom this man 1dd762c9c5 was portraying as 49e5a9534b a kidnapper, right 5d8bc1d55b now. He wanted to hear from e78e743551 his father’s own mouth that 17558b18ee everything this crazy, rich man aacca4272a was saying was a lie. Taekjin rubbed the 2ef48b90e1 screen of his f30071e147 watch as if f740e8ebfc to compose himself 465b34738b and managed to 82954d21bd speak.64cffa65a057f091

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“I want to… talk to my father first.”46161464153a05fb

At his unwavering insistence, the man’s face, which had regained a bit of color, darkened again. Jihyuk closed his mouth and withdrew the arms he had extended to embrace his rediscovered son.73005fdb00d21533

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A heavy silence fell between the biological father and son. Taekjin, enduring the piercing gaze, imagined the words that would follow. If this man’s words were true, there was no way he would have left his father alone. This man’s family was harmed, his son kidnapped, and wasn’t he the vice chairman of the great Cheongun Group? Even if, as he said, so much time had passed that the past incidents could no longer be proven, he would have done something, one way or another. Compared to Jihyuk, his father was utterly powerless, and Taekjin was the only one who would take his side. In that case, wouldn’t his father have already been arrested? Even if it wasn’t for the past incidents, under the pretext of some kind of ‘work’ his father was doing…. Taekjin recalled a prison visitation scene he had once seen in a drama.567275e69f937056

However, before Taekjin could even picture himself facing his father in a visiting room, Jihyuk completely shattered his imagination. He gestured towards the watch in Taekjin’s hand and opened his mouth.91719cecc1689082

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“Jeong Seoksu, after all the facts came to light… took his own life.”627e012876964b72

“…!”2f84bf7492b28f55

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“It happened three months ago…. I’m sorry, Taekjin.”9fd70f0d3bf550cd

His vision swam as if he had been struck on the head. Taekjin realized what the wristwatch, given to him by this man, signified. His father had taken his own life. Taekjin, who had been frozen like the watch, grabbed the man’s arm, shook his head, and denied it.0e4151092032be44

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“You’re lying. You’re just saying that so I can’t see my father, aren’t you?”f5fbec9588de0618

Instead of answering, fd1e61b452 Jihyuk averted his 12fd792597 gaze with a dc7ec65905 sorrowful expression, as a3492db055 if to drive 2191d97740 the nail into c117901868 this despair. Still, Taekjin didn’t 4a461e24ff want to accept d8c023e59b it. He felt the urge b9ebec17a8 to run away, anywhere, fe6c013984 before he gained any bb79056819 more certainty. As Taekjin, drained of 78aa2991ad all strength, stumbled, gripping 8f8a096c98 the wardrobe, Jihyuk hurriedly 4a566544a1 supported him and sat f264630b6a him down on the cc8ba8284f bed.73d184a594910617

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Taekjin recalled his father’s last moments. His father, who couldn’t use one of his legs, would leave the house early in the morning and return abruptly late at night. The moments Taekjin faced him were fleeting, in the late hours of the night. What kind of expression did his father have then, and what did he say? He couldn’t recall anything. It was unclear whether those memories had never existed in the first place, or whether they had simply vanished.9c9a7077283ef0d4