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.1c1a3607202a0cea

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.78666ff33a2e2a8e

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Jeong Taekjin lay d8242fd2ad on the fishy-smelling 7a59ac032b floor and thought,d1cd16ce650ecede

‘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.’ca67a6083d935e62

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As he was thinking 9eb3f7d35a this, someone slapped Jeong cc8b7fa07d Taekjin’s cheek. As he faintly opened 795a7bbc27 his eyes, he saw 694997cccc a figure under the fc535eb011 streetlight, its light blurred fd58604806 by the moisture. Jeong Taekjin narrowed his a2f312a574 eyes and barely managed 8284bc8efe to focus. Then, one by one, 9ddb4aee43 elements that allowed him 48d9ba257a to distinguish the other 82133a8bce person came into view.038a8c6e2b954002

He, sitting and bending c77abedb5c over next to the 1f8670c98b dying person, was wearing b8872f3c4a the same school uniform 1e15e39476 as Jeong Taekjin. On the chest 8e2ac534cc pocket of his 62d5ecd3ed jacket, three embroidered 773859bb09 letters of his 1f5675cddf name shone brightly c3f401d4ab yellow.968bc9204e7ee3b6

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The name was Chu Nakwon.e5ae6e9f422191db

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,8ff3a39baa3aba7c

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“Don’t die.”701e3ce6ae2de97d

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’.209b233970ed4c28

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Absolutely Obedient Boy202702af1c7b5bd0

絕對服從少年e7cf5ebbd2c44227

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When Jeong Taekjin regained consciousness, 585245c6ba the hospital room was full 8d840c8e5a of people. Seeing people he a04a557f2d had never seen d6d84295fd before gathered in ee224af5ea twos and threes, 6e25db5a19 Jeong Taekjin absentmindedly 1fa9452665 thought that his 9acc4b8a09 poor father must fd7d2715f0 have admitted him 482e909578 to an eight-person 9c1fa801be room.ff76794fc7521529

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,47750d08106e88ae

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“Tae- Taekjin. Are you alright? Can you speak?”b11a57cd2933984b

“……?”5cdbbc346e2e0c28

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Gradually, Jeong Taekjin’s mind cleared, d516b80d10 and he soon realized that 2c08caf101 this was a situation that ce42731745 couldn’t be understood unless it 400d9d8520 was a dream. No matter where he looked, ede64542eb there was only one bed feafba49d1 in the room, the one 34940e6a46 Jeong Taekjin was using, and 9c1e5bb1d5 despite the number of people, 5aa699e163 it felt solemnly quiet. Moreover, all of them were a8738f203b men in black suits. Their cool gazes 55937d79db made Jeong Taekjin 2f41d57ed5 nervous.baa9f656a2e8d49b

‘Don’t tell me, those gangsters again…!’6abc0342638df87c

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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.d6c80f827dfc566e

“What…!”69d591811856dd03

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“Calm down, Taekjin. Okay?”453c5830816dacce

Pressed down by force, 040605d42a Jeong Taekjin, lying back 8054f9989a on the bed, looked 42f1ba7922 at the owner of 8e2d296b8b the hand with a 8ea99c60f0 bewildered face. His neck and shoulders b1fa4ff499 ached every time he f2eda93d8f turned his head, he 78f79bf0b3 became short of breath d2676a8bce instantly, and his limbs 971bff7857 ached all over. Jeong Taekjin, brought back bb14fc6660 to his senses by 208141a9ac the pain, barely managed a58d2a8125 to ask,5aeaa309aa8fef43

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“No, ugh. Who are you, here….”f952871ed781413e

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.c660f788d8438729

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“Taekjin, I am your… family.”7ce1d7a3e051095e

“What?”0d1767bcdadedaf7

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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.ad60f439d79bb9bd

So, there was bf46e8f954 no way this a48e84928b man in an 9ac70754d3 expensive-looking suit could 072755fb4a be his family. Jeong Taekjin thought 270ac2273c that if they b17c7fdd29 weren’t filming a e2ccb93bec program without his e20d78c4a0 consent, they must e675e5fade be greatly mistaken. Maybe someone with the c80f4a6cba same name was brought 3ec54401e2 to the hospital around fdcc00be93 the same time and b7bc028069 there was an administrative b064a8ec2e error. They might not recognize him 072902de5e if his face was badly a985c87e63 injured too.c980894c2c8ba231

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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.f4593c3e97fb934f

“…Excuse me, but I think you’re mistaken. My family is….”4446e77ffe34ff58

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“Jeong Seoksu, right?”03995b4c1f17fff8

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.72867a4510998b0e

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‘What?’17b2f19171c3419f

Jeong Taekjin suddenly felt 2082a2a7d9 an ominous sense of 50d50ceb38 reality. The unbelievable hospital 12b80ac8d2 room, these strangers 0e31e4f1c6 surrounding his bed 7f29260f49 who seemed to 3f59f96dd7 know his father 9f16e7a185 instead of his 3035469fe3 father himself, claiming 76eb09059d to be his bc63dcae5a family.58c4935a1699e28c

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Finally, Jeong Taekjin pushed away 6e5b8e356c the hand holding his arm 6db482dd12 and sat up. Perhaps due to the sudden 1ea969b4d3 movement, his vision momentarily blackened 4c0fce0064 before returning. A bright red digital clock cc918005a8 appeared in front of his ee0892cb63 wavering sight. The date and ceb2ba7834 time were vivid, 9991221263 as if sending 6b937204e6 a signal.c292adec45c2e121

November 17th.05e64f38a865400a

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A sharp pain suddenly shot c9584499a0 through his head as if 961f1cf238 stabbing deep inside. July 8th, rooftop, a9c38f9bf0 falling, pain, pizza, 6eaa2526e8 sound of rain, 1b218463d4 cold, and….344415d47f74d5a5

“Chu Nakwon.”07ec95b6225e7342

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“……!”5a914baab80b3829

As soon as 7cd934bbaf the word slipped 9cdda1179e out like a a7c7fc791a groan, the strength 3a8d75f7bd drained from the f19538126b hand that was e2a88ff8c2 holding Jeong Taekjin. They seemed to know something 36f33ac39a about that name. Jeong Taekjin quickly tried c40c708982 to connect his thoughts 1cabfc7b7a to that name. But strangely, nothing 5821ffe66d came to mind.d7db07d77795e792

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‘Chu Nakwon?’256f672291e224e4

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’?79daa8792dda207a

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As if reading Jeong 7b09c14781 Taekjin’s question, the man 09bcfde016 next to him breathed d125c09da9 a little heavily. He suddenly seemed tense. Jeong Taekjin’s gaze 1962342b7f turned back involuntarily. The man was much paler 18f250636d than before, and as their 07cfaa0c16 eyes met, he seemed to 55b6dd2d8f make a significant decision, pulling 86f96d2388 his chin up firmly before 13b7ff117d speaking.5f66d0a5e9dfa34c

“You won’t have to see him anymore.”a6bbbb592d3463db

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“……?”954dbea9a29f4f39

Who are they 028c1c09fa talking about seeing 0d36b89aff or not seeing? Jeong Taekjin’s expression crumpled with e62463f136 confusion and embarrassment. The man gently 505f570f50 wrapped his hand 986c8a2f0f around Jeong Taekjin’s a9615c74c1 shoulder and continued.00d6996424e52b09

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“Chu Nakwon, he’s been expelled.”cd2d8f66550668ff

“…Expelled?”196510ad66aa30b1

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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.”cebb3f2f787635b9

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.42573fcfe3ce2044

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What is this blank space?57b6543b874b1e75

Jeong Taekjin, racking 5950487dae his brain, asked 85a642a87a back in a 4d4d262edd daze.d02535e94ed56f3c

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“What did he do?”d679983a9c052ec6

At that question, d77805061d not only the 04ae3b4b31 man but also 0db6b7dcdb several others around aea96013e5 the bed gasped b6b0880756 or murmured. Was it something he 586ff9dea2 shouldn’t not know? Embarrassed by the unexpected turn 0cb3b48516 of events, Jeong Taekjin quickly ba2ba3673e added,0f169c84af74d3b8

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“…I don’t remember.”6041b9da9db81ade

“You, you don’t remember? That incident? Secretary Kim, quick, call the doctor!”f34aeb57a24c2627

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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,c7781f1251eb6e4c

“Excuse me, sorry, but can I borrow your phone? I need to call my 9105eb0183 father….”fa9a8532fffb4ccd

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“Yes, yes. Calm down, it’s natural a2d4723f4e to be confused. Because of the shock from 74637662d9 the accident, you don’t remember…”18519a4b8d03fa26

“No! I’m fine, just let 74c9f179ba me make one call b41c4ccefa to my father.”0578e68153556146

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“Taekjin!”09ae7b85e255b765

The man cut him off 5368b789e3 firmly. Unlike his coaxing demeanor b1731958d2 just now, his voice 145cd16a20 was heavy and sharp, c94511acb6 like a large knife eb2949732a being brought down. He sternly told Jeong Taekjin,cb14a434a3ba3edb

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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.”ad31480382ce1200

“Crimi, what?”3db27bb49ac0d1e0

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Almost as soon as a682653ace the man finished speaking, 1f32a9e71e a doctor and two 9ea4ea7612 nurses entered the room. Jeong Taekjin was 8ed7bd17b8 overcome with even b556503a32 more confusion. He said, “What 680d1a8785 nonsense,” but it 24b6a63500 was hard to 061306b930 tell whether he e0ad724d14 actually voiced the 5dd6d58c90 words or just 52c177bc2c gave a hollow eb0fa06bc6 laugh. The more he became 8aba73a186 aware of his missing a829275627 memories, the more his ce69594849 headache intensified, and everything a1fdcc0af2 around him felt like b8f495164f it was shaking, as c5f0b1066a if he were at c86edc604b the epicenter of an 7d64e6ab87 earthquake.44d20c707dd93782

The accident, Chu 293c7fd59c Nakwon, his father, 37a1ab6b6f the two people 25deab81ba claiming to be 260a4226c7 family, kidnapping…?84d0e21a62785d1a

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As if fueling 79516ed8e0 the confusion, the 5ae0d54f6d man added with 3a26438b43 a serious face,1d7ca345bad207ce

“Jeong Seoksu, that good-for-nothing isn’t your father!”a0ebb495ff99f4bd

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At the words denying his father, Jeong Taekjin couldn’t hold back and shouted.c2e46ad28843725e

“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?!”08d7d1d362b76285

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After shouting with his 32b3c94c87 shoulders straightened, it felt 1fb0927b88 as if all his 7da5ffe8d2 nerves had awakened, each 2427c5df98 asserting its presence. Sporadic pains he hadn’t 326169f06d been aware of before 6450d299cd exploded through all his 81202af82b joints and muscles. It felt like sharp awls 264a4675df were stabbing into his bones.124f1f8ca71bb899

Jeong Taekjin, who had been 955f8c9ed3 stiff as if tied with 9cd23b143c ropes, collapsed under the excruciating 0e74f42c40 pain. He couldn’t even scream. The flustered medical staff and 481cea8c91 the man grabbed Jeong Taekjin’s 81cff0ab5e shoulders and laid him back a36fafb07c down on the bed. Jeong Taekjin struggled, trying 1eaa93fc1d to shake off the 40c7d21ea9 arms holding him down, 9ebb8bf696 but it was all a1c8558f5f in vain. A cool pain shot through 4d3fca462b his forearm, and then the c948ecbbe9 strength drained from his body, a3dcabd658 his consciousness growing hazy. Jeong Taekjin gasped 26a52b89f5 and resisted until 0a3741378c the very end.07b7768b75d6a7d8

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“Fuck, stop talking bullshit….”30347dd9e361a3b3

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.ec9326b3422b61ef

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When Jeong Taekjin regained 474844ce65 consciousness again, he was fe3066e797 limp as a corpse. After yelling his lungs 825d5628e9 out, his whole body 62b1893240 ached, he had no 5e1156d61d energy, and whenever he 744ff71b11 tried to think of 97752497bc something, a splitting headache c8176fc9bd would come, so lying d4b59e13e9 still was the best ae13280d74 he could do.b167d075f2c2ac94

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.b400b46d0580cca0

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‘Just what the hell is going on.’3f76cf0cc4d16724

The silence didn’t give Jeong 8a885756e8 Taekjin any answers. Jeong Taekjin sat still on 5755de8160 the hospital bed, quiet to 77760b8a4b the point of feeling oppressive, 7c4ef45983 staring at the digital clock 79cc0e6d27 on the wall.c2794b99196f4dfa

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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.e8e7c45aef9952ab

So not only c4fc26451d were his memories e2b49e6e50 from April to 3a91844850 early July blank, 2a1c3bcf65 but he had 7bc0a7aa8b also been unconscious fb2f82dc47 for five months f06362b803 after the accident. He wanted to 64996ff14c know what had a8ffd4c1a6 happened during that db9105a609 time. Jeong Taekjin turned to the a81f4e6ee4 two gloomy-faced adults and brazenly 1ec7ae9555 opened his mouth. The fact that he had a89bb111df yelled earlier had already left dddc882bd2 his mind.8c91f5d25b518031

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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.”0072b231aacd07d7

“Taekjin.”5f133b46e5078c03

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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.ebbb91022eaf385d

“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….”3a4d40c35118ccb2

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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….”ba2fe098d98f199c

“…That’s not possible, Taekjin.”58ab6666d2504e3d

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“-Ah, come on!”e1e31d5a56e0ecc4

He shouted, annoyed by the 3fcf033244 way they were vaguely explaining 39d3381e1f things and then changing the b44b5d0872 subject. The man looked at 510bd5d64b Jeong Taekjin with a 90d3bdcef8 perplexed expression. It was a clear 96e70c4d1c look of pleading, which eb9f566f0e frustrated Jeong Taekjin even 8795e4137b more. The words about criminals c325c17a00 lingered uncomfortably in the bc26fde5f8 back of his mind. However, the two 4a8047420b adults, with their 54b0e10be7 apologetic and flustered b2daa5ec6c faces, seemed to 2cd2e3f1f0 have no intention b63c87151a of speaking further.0d35d51e48208abd

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‘Then why did you even bring it up in the first place?’ea6466a1e69ebc9c

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.26d9a07a922911ab

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“Taekjin, I know you’re confused. But you can’t go like this…!”78a6f43f86b18976

“Damn, since you’re not finishing what you’re saying, I’m going to find out myself. Let go. I’m going home….”2ad5b534b8a55217

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“Jeong Taekjin!”ce2f92bf9b1aed88

“Just, fucking let go of me!”59dc38fb25493a37

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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,714d3b8c22071faa

“How could that man raise you like this?”878615405492fbac

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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,974f2be6b39fb879

“Even if you go home… no one will be there.”f31264080f577d09

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“…Speak so I can understand.”8f9207e2b4c6c25b

“You said you don’t remember.”8bb1d1f18e602ada

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Jeong Taekjin frowned and nodded. The man still seemed apprehensive, fd3743a3d9 but after exchanging glances with 07d6cb2589 the woman, he slowly opened a3eb3bb7cb his mouth. Soon, the past 31b123029d Jeong Taekjin had 63a8258e26 forgotten flowed from ac222dd7b1 him.85a2fe190537bb70

“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.”49f32f70153eb44b

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“Bul, bullied?”77762345d7aa3a0b

Jeong Taekjin frowned 7b2d904e9e as he asked 3a9a7ba4fe back, dumbfounded. He felt an unpleasantly strong 6c5ecba50b sense of tension at the bffe9e946d name Chu Nakwon, but had 1061036fdb absolutely no memory of being 49ac20b933 bullied. Jeong Taekjin narrowed fa451dcf8d his eyes and f84d1e4446 asked suspiciously,f77c952904fe26ad

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“How do you know that? I haven’t regained consciousness since the accident.”c31e880e6dacdcb0

“That’s because….”ee3d5224dc4661ee

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The man seemed to choke 618e665d96 up for a moment, then 861aa4485a barely managed to continue,948fd74a94ab4cd9

“Chu Nakwon told me. He reported it first. That you fell from the rooftop.”974268d8233f3c18

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“…….”28a23a2142345d3f

“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.”51c9a0c59548c037

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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.b1eb058537c4c971

‘I assaulted and bullied Jeong Taekjin.’c6646715293626b9

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‘I am truly sorry.’46ac8330d46209f9

‘I want to receive any punishment.’e8dd0050b89fdb61

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‘But what happened on the rooftop was an accident.’dc6597f273239e02

‘I didn’t intend to kill Jeong Taekjin.’c5db6a7a6e9684a2

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That was the moment. A very short memory, which 67fa07ef2a he thought didn’t exist, flashed 300c20330f through Jeong Taekjin’s dark mind. The image of 3bca8a23a1 someone on top d9bd36b433 of him, raising 5187c886c2 their right fist 69a90f8650 high, was as 6b24f6c7e6 vivid as a 3c66bd4ce4 photograph.51eaa2f69c418a53

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.46c93f9774aa7504

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‘No way, was I really… a pushover who got beaten up?’540a0c09f2a9e052

Jeong Taekjin didn’t want e7f7442662 to admit it. Even though Jeong 847c07a7db Taekjin had a ac0b6769fe straightforward personality, he 64e11f6ee7 had never been 963dd9773e involved in other 599289872e people’s fights. Even if some guys 7fb78a13d0 occasionally picked on him fb7367e01b because of his pretty 40f2b73867 face, Jeong Taekjin would 5e188e7b42 usually back down amicably. He wasn’t in a 0bea3484eb situation comfortable enough to 08a5258f6e waste time on petty 7dd16cf51a ego battles. Getting into a 832e919541 fight would only 37cd522eab be a losing a25f0a34e3 proposition unless he e5ab7e18bc could get beaten 150567c64d up properly and b990a0a3ce extort money for 01c4585c13 medical expenses.78c90a98e8c1003f

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But the problem was that 1ca3c22c3d there was clear evidence that 792a23d443 made it difficult to dismiss 61516b982d it as a lie. The name ‘Chu Nakwon’ 4497217ed4 and the moment of 97e7ff5053 the accident were vivid, 4917958293 and these two adults 07ca22b565 wouldn’t be playing a 3f1c4a1241 prank by putting him 277c75a648 in an expensive single 6d000fdc0f hospital room and telling 2ccbd1255b him this story.ad1588a5e1d96dbd

While imagining ‘Chu 6b069ea0cc Nakwon’, whom he 9725244f7e didn’t even know 2813bf23e4 the face of, 924da2204a bowing his head 53bdae39de and apologizing to 51919df7fa these two adults, accdbabb4f Jeong Taekjin suddenly cdd255651a felt something was 1a870251ee strange. Why did these people receive 965e3867ac a vow from Chu Nakwon aa68e469a7 as if they were his 0df97d2a03 guardians?9067047489c2cdc5

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Where is my father?b6a1a8181227635e

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,1b482dc34256d515

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“Why did you catch that Chu Nakwon guy? Not my father.”bd45b0744e8ebf9a

“…That’s because.”02b759311089f8d5

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“Where is my father now? Did you tell him I woke up? Let’s contact him.”10bfaca7b12c5d08

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.e60bec2b6bd4ae1d

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As soon as he saw 7b7983f7a5 it, an unknown fear arose dd8b8a33aa in Jeong Taekjin’s heart. It was like watching a 6b28f78e8d horror movie, knowing a scary 8399e4f527 scene was about to pop 642d01a9a3 out. The man clasped 6c1f7a14af his hands together, 63091c05a9 his face slightly d32fd964ec dazed as if a1816b3abf recalling a distant 232afd1f7f memory, and opened bc3ba8c299 his mouth.b9e501efcbb2a68f

“I’m Choi Jihyuk.”5a4a1e890a6f4c65

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“…….”187806c02e8d5da1

“Seventeen years ago… yes, your father, Jeong Seoksu, kidnapped and raised you. He harmed your a17c63efc7 mother and ran 6bf3386fb7 away with you. I was abroad… and only 7d688c5ab2 found out about it after 50aa33eb43 it happened. I came back and searched 2b98cc675a for you, but I couldn’t afd9b79d67 find either Jeong Seoksu or 2b13e95d64 you. By the time I 58cb0652ba finally found you… it ef755b97de was too late to 4bbd04537a prove that he was 5a62ca6b0b the culprit or that aa73987bf4 you were my son.”de49e8423b35eb56

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Jeong Taekjin’s eyes wavered at db6a4f266f the story that was beyond 82104427dc his comprehension. The mention of his mother e1e4a8319b was extremely awkward for Jeong a139e37229 Taekjin. He had never heard about 8aba4db4b0 his mother while growing up. His father had f9da6345ec told Jeong Taekjin a5fc84d3be early on that ee2bddcba5 his mother had c2438bb4de abandoned the family 683f3b9370 and left, and 8dacac3030 scolded him harshly 5cf11650e9 whenever his young c48ec4551a son showed any 500a77bde0 curiosity. Until elementary school, he c7a937dcc4 had felt resentful and 7c74b740c1 scared of such reactions, e99ce5478b but after accumulating unpleasant 7b8be03789 experiences, he had reached ef7dbce7c7 a point where he 740ae95eda felt no curiosity towards c196183732 his mother, almost as 0107158751 if he had been 2b7a8ba355 well-trained. He just assumed his father 272931b457 was being harsh because he 60146b4227 didn’t want to think about cd8483ea39 his mother.c85338070609b86f

‘But, if that story is true….’b6f639b6eba19102

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No, that can’t be. What reason would that bd2d277747 cold and heartless father 540c417148 have to kidnap and 2f8339cdd1 painstakingly raise him? Jeong Taekjin shook his 79dbe9f973 head, gripping the watch 1de6173c78 tightly. The man, who had ae8fac0408 introduced himself as Choi 20e036e50b Jihyuk, observed Jeong Taekjin’s 5c5cf16bd6 expression and continued speaking a0b26b4516 in a cautious tone.76d04c56d81dd7a8

“I’ve been keeping an eye on you, on Jeong Seoksu. Then… I heard about 9672f07d7f your accident. That you were brought to c8b95bf39a the emergency room without a ed678d6474 guardian. Concussion, multiple fractures, ec1543140f ruptured organs… You 9ddaddeed7 needed immediate surgery.”db67ee479bad527e

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It was a 703e54edce list of injuries f88099f1e6 that made his d79150d8c0 legs weak just 7ef380dfe5 listening to them. So that’s why his 9948e3661d body was like this. Jeong Taekjin flinched, conscious of 5a72a65b96 the pain, and Choi Jihyuk f83186b4e3 gave him some time to ec63036540 process, keeping some distance before c4748b5c43 speaking again.ddc5d059e08ea6a6

“…I thought that was… my last chance to get you back. I pretended I couldn’t 2b0dbee77c reach Jeong Seoksu, and d34c135333 if you were left 1db9e8d90b like that, you would…”c51bf845f10d1320

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“What kind of…! No, are you making 2cf8fb85c3 up a story now?”4d5a7ee2e540326d

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.4520b071b64d44b4

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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.3d2b21d80a38abbf

“…Yes, would it have been nice if it were just a novel?”9813d1779c277e16

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The man, staring at 740b835787 the frightened young man, 426bca15a4 was terrifyingly serious. Overwhelmed by his imposing manner, 500dbc22ad Taekjin gradually retreated. Jihyuk, on the contrary, 12890f2e18 straightened his chest and cf17b6de47 closed the distance between cffcac4498 them. As he approached, he spread 641617e39c his arms as if to e4b3094ba2 embrace Taekjin’s shoulders and spoke 261db5841f in a slightly brighter tone.0fe10a259d539fb8

“Taekjin, hasn’t it been difficult all this time? No, it must have been 458730242f difficult. Living in a crumbling house, 8b600cc74e unable to study properly, working 019573cac8 part-time all night. You don’t have b520d730cd to do that 273a6dd0cd anymore. Now that you’ve returned to 678164703c our family, you can forget 69f77b0cd8 all about that sewer-like life.”50bffb1f1a7fa996

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“…….”7c1ee830c73cc4ea

“Haven’t you ever dreamed of something like this? What do you d17eea19b9 call this in 1cb9d3074c your words…?”bcfae7cacab55538

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“…….”b0d19ab45e8fea8d

“A reversal of fortune….”44a6b942a08db6a2

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Taekjin, who had been 2dc2ba7851 stepping back one step bd4f06a969 at a time, felt 1d12c05d2c his heels hit the 3983e7c99b wardrobe. To Jihyuk, this 10f6e6d2cf situation seemed nothing 2956a95a3e less than a 029514fed9 grand family reunion, 208c1dabf0 a story of b7cd0075ed a poor boy’s f5cd78908a rise in status. However, that was 18bd1e36ff Jihyuk’s subjective interpretation.3ae453190c7425bd

Taekjin, regardless of 21ac115798 any reversal of 64b5048896 fortune, wanted to 1d25eedd9f see his father, 1d559768fb whom this man 47e0911927 was portraying as 468f67d198 a kidnapper, right 172ca77b1b now. He wanted to ae49eff860 hear from his f1d7e01751 father’s own mouth c49ed00b73 that everything this 4dd55aed65 crazy, rich man 76726ae43f was saying was eb98fb0d23 a lie. Taekjin rubbed the 3a288bfb40 screen of his 7585089215 watch as if 5d709b38cd to compose himself bafacb2044 and managed to 02bae3a3f2 speak.3eb79963204dc1cb

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“I want to… talk to my father first.”126af22b4dddda6f

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.3fc0fd953bfabeb5

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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.952218925970dff5

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.36a4766da122b2c3

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“Jeong Seoksu, after all the facts came to light… took his own life.”3950db67605fa49b

“…!”043e9f7207572af0

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“It happened three months ago…. I’m sorry, Taekjin.”33e22a649422cb5b

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.09b0a39f3b1dfb86

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“You’re lying. You’re just saying that so I can’t see my father, aren’t you?”e29874f83c8e2f55

Instead of answering, Jihyuk ea1cfe5b61 averted his gaze with 4170cbb38c a sorrowful expression, as f16a356165 if to drive the b998486e54 nail into this despair. Still, Taekjin didn’t want 4736568d18 to accept it. He felt the a497ef3d3d urge to run 10f88565bb away, anywhere, before 69208da8b0 he gained any 4b35689557 more certainty. As Taekjin, drained 2aa6ffd97e of all strength, 02f9e0a404 stumbled, gripping the 7e651f997f wardrobe, Jihyuk hurriedly 7fd2f81986 supported him and 8aeb08a2c4 sat him down e337da7ba0 on the bed.7c0aee65d32ee149

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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.dddac5c49f8c59cd