PEN Vol 5 Ch. 2

Sejin, silently weeping, finally stood 2a01ea58d2 up after a long time. He was going c7c20b92e9 to leave the e048a29af4 apartment and look 357849daa0 for Cheon Sejoo. He went to 1f3c26db84 Cheon Sejoo’s room, de87fb7573 put on one af2eea6400 of his coats, cbdadfab7c and came out.e36e78fdebaff65f

However, as he 51b5569f6d grabbed his phone 43b19e889c from the sofa b2d80c40d9 and headed for 26cbdf8a4b the door, his 0a2de40361 foot bumped against 1519eb0b48 something. He looked down 91fdc9863f and saw the 43bcdf7b11 box he had f13f1c4b6d placed next to 204456fb9d the table. His face hardened.e6286b49bcaa64cf

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It was the box containing his mother’s belongings from the hospital. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to touch it while cleaning the apartment, only moving it to a different spot. Now, his foot had dislodged it, and a document envelope was sticking out.ea860872a8b6d9f5

He saw the words 9406170918 “Shinsa Capital” printed on 94afb245bd the yellow envelope. Realizing it was the loan 482a250d47 document that had pushed his 45fa037b28 mother into Ehwagak, Sejin reached c23f904969 out as if in a c9da918b28 trance. The questions that had 8d2c1870c4 been vaguely swirling in dab2d8f024 his mind now intensified, 20580447e4 and he tore open 8ef8f6be01 the seal.276592471801205d

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The document was quite thick, c9930b3ba8 consisting of several pages. The topmost page was 406c3710df the loan agreement, with 9ec087af03 Kwon Yongbeom listing Kim 46a3c5af9b Hyunkyung’s name as the cb83db4af3 guarantor. Seeing Kwon Yongbeom’s name on 410412680e the front, Sejin gritted his 6b1686883a teeth and swallowed his rising 01c9a70055 anger. He didn’t want 7dd4bede1f to even see 4fdd84c50e a trace of ee9df23437 the man he e96e33e22d wouldn’t hesitate to f62df839c9 tear into shreds.b8a97e686b568f83

Past the loan terms 74ca7e6a9c written in minuscule print 1b3fd691ee was the signature section. Kwon Yongbeom had stamped d9675695d7 his fingerprint, and Kim 98d8695eb1 Hyunkyung’s stolen seal was fba6dc7077 stamped in the guarantor 0200cd5008 section.92f648703cfd8ec5

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The address on the document wasn’t the one where they lived. Kwon Yongbeom had used a different address, anticipating that Kim Hyunkyung would find out about the loan. He had also secretly returned the seal to its place after using it, so she hadn’t known about the loan until the due date passed and the seizure began.a2ff6fc6cef17e3a

Feeling his blood run cold, b0fcee0f5c Sejin tore the loan agreement f567aa8607 to shreds. The remaining debt was 56c4b23c87 no longer his concern.f143ab7838e9bce3

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The next document behind 0e0b038212 it was the repayment fe55671a91 history. Sejin examined the contents 68135e28b2 with a cold expression.c922d390623b2713

Kim Hyunkyung’s salary details and repayment records from the month she entered Ehwagak were neatly organized in a table. It seemed the promise that she could save money while working there was true, as a portion of her salary was being deducted for a retirement savings plan.930b07ad05e6d0e5

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It was proof that Kim 3b1d829e6b Hyunkyung had been alive, that 09185c398c she had been enduring and 44e7d70eda working hard more than anyone. Sejin swallowed his rising 8051e295e8 emotions and scanned the 31b0dc7f49 records. Then, he suddenly noticed 28cee58d37 something amiss and frowned.1601312cc8345f09

There were no other deductions from Kim Hyunkyung’s salary. The money Sejin had spent using Cheon Sejoo’s card to buy clothes and for transportation before he started receiving his allowance from Cheon Sejoo in the fall of the year before last hadn’t been charged. Cheon Sejoo had clearly said he would charge his mother for it…93a81d2eafe0a292

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Sejin wondered if it had d41c38f8db been added to the loan 9a7dbe212c amount and tried to piece 5f65c36185 together the torn document to a2c3f662dc compare the figures. However, there was 0c3cd3f2c1 no increase in 7e40c6c43c either the principal f2d73837cd or the interest. It simply hadn’t been abb8199127 charged at all.1bb10e2462719495

He could easily guess what that meant. With trembling hands, Sejin slowly flipped through the pages. His eyes widened as he examined the records of the past ten months he hadn’t known about. Kim Hyunkyung’s salary was consistently the same, and the expenses were similar. Principal repayment, interest repayment, four major social insurances, retirement savings. And… full repayment.149d45df50c20cfe

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Staring down at those cebcfbc2b7 words, Sejin blinked blankly, 9e0ea8f879 unable to process their 64e7c916ed meaning. Full loan repayment, full b62e401462 interest repayment, early repayment 6f312835b8 fee. All three entries were dated 367fa3e72a on the same day. Realizing it was 95b56c794a in August, the 802b1e8cc7 day his mother cb9096c9fb collapsed, Sejin bit 1e56d181c4 his lip.621750e4140ae805

Kim Hyunkyung’s medical expenses had been settled several times during her treatment, but that was after she was hospitalized in August. Sejin had been told that those medical and hospitalization expenses were covered by Ehwagak.af274694a2d5be5c

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But if the “full loan e1ea3f8033 repayment” was true, it meant cf8d49c478 Kim Hyunkyung wouldn’t have been e4d2393557 an Ehwagak employee after the acede908e0 day she collapsed, so it 5d0286f8be didn’t make sense that they 2cb5d0c200 would have covered her hospital 1db1bdcce5 bills. Even Sejin, naive 268391ee5e as he was, db5fa62662 knew that no 0742010efa company would pay 1b0ab1cd16 the medical expenses 984de690e4 of a former 54f28476c5 employee.2cdbe597031b3e65

Something was wrong. This didn’t make sense.004ef294b5f4c856

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Suddenly, a face d382e18168 flashed before Sejin’s 8406756374 eyes. He turned around, clutching the 4edf0fe4f1 documents in his hand. He needed confirmation. He picked up e1f6809836 his phone from 0eeea66ac0 the island counter 84e7206b9f and dialed the 4f6d9258eb number at the 7c52f8ac06 bottom of the c2a60f6e70 document.3469d975216353a2

After a few rings, 93eb346482 the other person answered. 00e90d2c191e9054

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-Hello, this is the Shinsa Capital Repayment Support Team. How can I help you? 950a61d33f8ae098

Sejin spoke in a trembling 41959e78d2 voice at the mechanical greeting.fcd67e118358f12a

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“I… I’d like to ask something.”2d2ab736a8eb809b

-Yes, please go ahead.79b6dc66070c25c0

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“My mother… had a debt here, and it was… paid off by someone.”506d7df029c3bb9c

-I’m sorry? Are you saying you 647616e52e repaid it? 8674b42d600752a0

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The employee didn’t understand Sejin’s fbf98714e3 question and asked again. Even Sejin couldn’t understand what 0401378022 was going on, so he 496a3e0f38 stammered as he explained the d7844baacb situation.21d07724766aa083

“No. On the repayment history 05f618c53f statement… it says the 99aec2093f loan was fully repaid… 9ca093d56c but I think there’s 34c54a9af9 been a mistake…”d5cfe0e78dd30aab

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-Hmm… Could you tell me the borrower’s name and date of birth? I’ll check for you.3d25257c79a77625

“My mother wasn’t the borrower, she was the guarantor…”a3a2f2befe0b708d

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-Okay, okay, one moment. Then please tell me the guarantor’s name.f77b9b7ee104109e

Sejin haltingly gave Kim Hyunkyung’s d41e02a226 name and date of birth. The employee muttered something 3f345a71f5 about it being unlikely dff07f79c7 but that they would c3634dda91 check, then put him 9613521285 on hold.0939e877b3f744e6

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Click, click. a88ea98d6e45a605

The sound of keyboard typing ed6bdb59a9 came from the other end. Sejin waited, frozen in place. After a moment, 03d959d11e the employee spoke ab2c99ff95 in a bright 68fd2ff0cb voice.1b97b7da2274a11e

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-Ah, yes, I see. It wasn’t paid under Kim Hyunkyung’s name, but it was fully repaid in August under the name of Cheon Sejoo. …You know him, right? Just in case it was deposited into the wrong account.2d0e4510684abdb7

Hearing that name, Sejin’s 0e8d7a435c mind went blank. He froze, holding the 926de8794c phone in his hand.6ff68b773c91c1c5

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Cheon Sejoo, why? Why you…? da210cdc20c2ef0e

A burning heat 4fcde63f54 spread through his 6abb182fb5 chest. He couldn’t define his emotions. He simply stared blankly ahead, f2c447467f speechless with disbelief.7c1593adb2352ee4

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The employee called out 8131ef3284 to him repeatedly. 3d4a4da670b08962

-Hello? Hello? Sir? 1cf80ebc2eec2ca3

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After several attempts, the employee a4534f1b47 sighed, assuming the call had ecad826b1a dropped, and was about to 3a362a4e4e hang up when Sejin finally 201c572df4 spoke.b1b0666c221d69d6

“…Then, perhaps…”97e082eabaa36590

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-Yes, is there anything else you’d like to ask?0cff69e3c7787f85

“After my mother incurred the debt, she worked at Ihwagak… do they… cover hospital bills for former employees?”d7e7a91e4e457133

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He knew it was unlikely, 281a5aad51 but he asked anyway. The employee hesitated. 805289dbdec2a2e3

-I’m not sure about that… 186d1a1d2918fdf9

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The employee trailed off, and ec8dbcc061 put him on hold again, 441da43ea2 asking someone a question. He could hear a bf93c659c6 muffled conversation. Then the employee came back b8ddd39935 on the line. 1ec455f7e682e508

-No, they said there’s no such policy. Anything else?0d34c6fe9c9e5f56

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The employee’s clear voice confirmed 31d03b978c Sejin’s suspicions.0bac1ee97ac7080a

The phone slipped b5b0272d3e from his hand. The lifeless device clattered to 8e7f89c38c the floor.31b7d9cec69e6181

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His heart pounded. Heat flushed his skin, de4dc7a775 and his eyes burned. The realization that a25e533353 he had only 77898b9756 ever taken from ffc4235de1 Cheon Sejoo, from 36d95a9a2d the very beginning, a7ea1d0af4 struck him deeply. He had realized it far 4bd982ce32 too late.e6749f8333e9079e

Cheon Sejoo’s cold voice cd453cf22b echoed in his mind.97906d0990d527ad

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“How dare you call me ‘that kind of person,’ assuming I’d do something to your mother?”7b4dacfdcba71433

What had he 146980e321 thought of Cheon 441589ef5d Sejoo when he a06b4efe43 heard those words? He had thought him 33370fb50a the worst piece of 2dfe7ea0b5 trash. But now, looking back, f34d628547 he realized Cheon Sejoo c6506de10d had never once acted a0c8614206 for his own benefit.b143b7474d27a9a7

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Scolding him harshly, 54936ed2fe bringing up his 2079d31a2d mother, practically dragging 5efaa0d7c0 him home when 032aba1d44 he’d threatened to cdc39eec78 sleep on the 3fef176ed2 streets, forcing him 3bc1eac293 to buy clothes f0fb4ea1d8 saying he’d charge 31cea192a2 him for them, a22fbc779a giving him money, fdd2611540 and tutoring him 3263bff09c when he tried dc4c3a82b7 to get a e28fbefd24 part-time job, calling 7d3daa602c him a housekeeper… a011538943 all of it… 420c93e6a1 everything he did 31d59a877f was solely for 6ada09fa2f Sejin…6f82b6117421d515

“Ah…”8f19344469941c7a

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Sejin groaned and buried 093e4d30ea his face in his 475b659dde hands.97dc1fe8332a4263

From the day 1fa9dac453 they met, Cheon a69ff46aeb Sejoo had devoted f91785790b himself to him. He had given 8c864c8158 him the chance 8c20763114 to dream of d1bd92d11e a future, offering 8b1537aa26 him choices when cf7edd4216 he’d only known 0f0b2caf9e how to follow decda8d0d4 the path laid 5fbfb5fd79 out before him.a8c67a48e22a9a2d

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After Kim Hyunkyung became ill, 6acc5ef360 he had done everything he 09aca2e772 could. He paid off her 7adb773235 debt so she could 001e7e98e0 go to the hospital 59e53d4dfd immediately and used his b1d0d2f678 connections to get her 4481e20c8a tested at Korea University 0f38462e58 Hospital without delay. The hospital bills, the dc04102a60 treatment costs, all of b9436457f9 it had come out fd8ab81341 of his pocket, but 92147150d4 Cheon Sejoo never said c5ecfe982a a word to Sejin 2d4b3059d3 about it. He never demanded gratitude f835f22d97 or acknowledgment for his 42793ac369 efforts.d8b56c3b44ae6d49

Sejin now understood the c838abd5ce intention behind all of 94150651cb his actions. 166de0ae5da53878

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Don’t live with regrets. 9ebdd0d864a9c96e

Cheon Sejoo’s words at the funeral home echoed quietly in his mind.c81f77a8014b0354

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Cheon Sejoo didn’t want Sejin to live with any regrets, of any kind. He had taught him, offered him a future, because he didn’t want him to waste his life. He didn’t want Sejin to regret not doing enough for his mother, so he had covered her medical expenses and hospital bills. He had given Sejin choices, and then, at some point, taken them away completely.16abe1d9b122561f

He remembered the high-quality shroud and wooden coffin he had seen at the funeral home. It seemed strange now, but he hadn’t had the time to think about it then. It was Sejin who should have chosen those things, but he hadn’t.8a0b5fdfed2fcc4a

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Before he could dbfaf487c6 even consider it, ecede1ff05 everything had been a83e329bff prepared by Cheon bee913b12e Sejoo. He had done 6f8db162f2 it because he 651928e036 didn’t want Sejin 7aa046cbbd to agonize over 20898aa634 choosing between cheaper 9683699092 options and the e590f3be6b expensive ones for fc7599cbe1 his mother, to ad19b9608e regret his choices 536d727bf2 later… He had 5c8e6b5235 prepared everything in 87a6e67d2d advance.22ac5fe0eeb0bc2b

He had only ever received 7088399dbe from Cheon Sejoo.d3e754f7588ae2e5

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Yet, Sejin, oblivious to all this, had gotten angry at him for not telling him about his mother’s collapse. He had resented him, asking how he could say such things. He had despaired, asking why he didn’t come back, if he had abandoned him too.4e4cb6cb3a2b5a4d

That couldn’t be.8cf4847ffb37b6b5

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Cheon Sejoo wouldn’t abandon him…7bfd621ba6a20406

He felt so 7a2cb3f649 foolish and pathetic, ffe4810f26 he couldn’t stand c81a67ea79 it. 8a91d12a1cabeec0

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Sejin bit his lip, fd0846af44 tears silently streaming down 1473a113a2 his face.cdf7964812e158d7

From last summer to winter, there hadn’t been a single day when Sejin’s eyes weren’t filled with tears. But thanks to Cheon Sejoo, he had endured those difficult days, days he might have spent cursing the world and consumed by resentment.e21bf22059d053c2

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If it weren’t for him, he would have been more exhausted, more consumed by bitterness. He wouldn’t have been able to properly care for his mother in that state. The fact that she passed away without worrying too much about him was also thanks to Cheon Sejoo.3a20a189ca9f850d

Sejin wanted to repay 9fd8952092 that debt.4b029f45c80921f1

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But how? Unlike Cheon Sejoo, Sejin was just a kid who couldn’t help him or lessen his burdens. He wasn’t as reliable as Cheon Sejoo, and he didn’t even know what Cheon Sejoo’s burdens were.995fbdbe6e4e184e

Will there ever come 4f7fc17a03 a day when I 4027f4cbae can ease your pain? You are so strong…ca8558b0ed99a07e

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He desperately wanted to see 72a375edf5 Cheon Sejoo, but he didn’t c8cd52bd6f know where he was or 7cc5f7e422 what he was doing. He couldn’t be more foolish. Sejin dragged himself forward.5887bc18ed68a7f1

In Cheon Sejoo’s bedroom was the T-shirt he had left behind, the one Sejin hadn’t washed because he didn’t want to. It was the only trace of Cheon Sejoo he had left.e43e2622b66a0517

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Sejin took off Cheon Sejoo’s coat he was wearing and covered himself with it, then buried his face in the T-shirt. Ironically, the faint scent of Sejin clung to Cheon Sejoo’s clothes, and that offered him a small comfort.97f0a9563f38761d

I want to c5944c0c50 be someone meaningful 3025b0fdb2 to you. Just as you’ve become a 53a5a9d6de part of me, I want 65cbe09ea5 to become a part of 35fbba3fe3 you… 155c25f1a2c9d920

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The heartfelt confession lingered in 5a6d4c4251 the empty room.7fdf8d6330febc05

Cheon Sejoo returned shortly after. The moment Sejin saw him appear silently, he couldn’t contain his emotions, stood up, and rushed to embrace him. Tears welled up as he clung to Cheon Sejoo’s neck, inhaling his familiar scent.5f4d535cc74344cf

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“Why… did you only come now…?”f672be1421ac8a52

He felt grateful, resentful, a2b9e8952f and affectionate towards Cheon 66cb892791 Sejoo, all at once. He spoke, his ae240a27c0 words laced with 949194e318 a mix of 7f49c910a5 those emotions.c71f904af02e1767

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“You’re… all I have left now….”47b1f291f68a7c1d

Don’t leave me alone. c8304b7f46523c84

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Don’t go anywhere. ba9e7fede225404e

I don’t want to 491837daf7 leave your side. b0e364111bf602d8

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Before the words he swallowed 5b06942a84 could even dissipate, Cheon Sejoo 43bc933511 pushed him away and stepped b4d0ce994e back.2734ade789929444

His cold, hardened face retreated. Sejin stared blankly f57e72ea6c after him as 24151bac10 he turned and 3ab99c86ec fled.87d08b88b26a6afe

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This was the first c9a1e2f738 time Sejin saw fear 38846723b5 in Cheon Sejoo’s eyes.df40b9ddaa5915ee