Ephphatha Prologue

Two days ago, she received her mother’s body from the police.  

 

Cause of death: drowning.  

 

With a history of depression, a suicide attempt two years ago, and the will her mother had on her at the time of death, her passing was easily ruled as suicide.  

 

A sudden sound of footsteps intruded into Seul-ah’s ears as she sat blankly in front of her mother’s portrait. The presence storming into the empty funeral hall was intense.  

 

Seul-ah slowly began to turn her head.  

 

Her movements were noticeably weak. She had been born frail and had spent most of her life lacking vitality, but now, staying up for two nights played a bigger role. Losing her mother must have also contributed.  

 

“…….”  

 

When she completely turned around, the first thing she saw was pitch-black socks.  

 

Four socks. Four feet. Two people.  

 

Who could they be?  

 

She had no visitors to expect. She had only informed her one and only friend, Aunt Chae-young, of her mother’s death, and her aunt had visited on the first day of the funeral, grieving deeply before leaving.  

 

Then who were these people?  

 

Just as a faint doubt surfaced in her mind and she blinked, a tongue-clicking sound rang out.  

 

“Looks like we’ve got another corpse to clean up.”  

 

A deep, low voice came from right above her head. It seemed to belong to the owner of the black socks she had first seen. She raised her head very slowly.  

 

Following the black pants upward, she saw the hem of a shirt embroidered with an elaborate pattern swaying over his thighs. Her gaze climbed up from the lowest fastened button one by one, and she saw that the front of his shirt was open.  

 

The black fabric was densely adorned with gold patterns, and through it, a glimpse of tanned skin was visible.  

 

Seul-ah looked further up. A strong, straight neck, a prominent Adam’s apple, and a mouth drawn in a crooked arc entered her sight. His neck was thick, his Adam’s apple large, and his lips were red.  

 

As she stared blankly, those lips moved.  

 

“I feel like I’m getting eaten alive with just your eyes. What do you think, Kang Jin-ah?”  

 

Seul-ah’s gaze could go no higher. Just as she felt herself growing weaker, her vision suddenly blacked out.  

 

“Damn it.”  

 

A sharp voice lashed out toward the collapsed Seul-ah. His furrowed brows and disinterested eyes were filled with irritation. When the man who had come with him asked if they should call a doctor, he waved a hand dismissively, as if it were a hassle.  

 

“Stand guard. I need to have a word with her when she wakes up.”  

 

“Yes, sir.”  

 

Once the other man withdrew, silence filled the funeral hall.  

 

The man, who had been idly watching Seul-ah, slowly crouched down before her, sitting cross-legged as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Even as he flicked one out and placed it between his lips, his gaze never left her.  

 

“…….”  

 

Her curled-up body was unusually small. Twenty-five years old, yet she looked young enough to pass through a high school gate unnoticed if she wore a uniform. Just as he had heard.  

 

Was it because of her pale skin? Or because she was sleeping so fitfully?  

 

The man pushed the cigarette tip into the eager flame of his lighter and inhaled deeply. And just as he exhaled a long breath—  

 

Cough. Cough.  

 

The unconscious Seul-ah suddenly started coughing.  

 

As he watched her curl up even tighter and cough, the man let out a smirk.  

 

He had heard she was born premature and was especially weak. Her body, from her lungs to her heart, was all below average.  

 

Not that it was any of his concern. He continued to take drags from the cigarette between his fingers. She wouldn’t die just from inhaling a little smoke. The long exhale of smoke coiled around the incense burner.  

 

“Ugh…”  

 

“…….”  

 

As another wave of smoke engulfed her, Seul-ah groaned and rubbed her cheek against the floor in distress. Watching her feeble movements, the man’s eyes rolled toward the ceiling in irritation. Then, with a flick of his fingers, he extinguished the cigarette.  

 

Even after that, Han Seul-ah continued to groan in discomfort.  

 

“What more does she want now?”