PEN Vol 4 Ch. 3

Kim Hyunkyung had been paying off her husband’s debts ever since they got married. What made her desperate was Sejin’s existence. Not wanting to burden Sejin with debt, just as her husband had burdened her, Kim Hyunkyung was striving to settle the debts.16957e1b6bf9590c

Her refusal of treatment stemmed from the same reason. Considering her own death, she didn’t want to burden Sejin with debt like Kwon Yongbeom had done to her, so she refused even the biopsy. However, Cheon Sejoo couldn’t stand by and watch Kim Hyunkyung die without doing anything.171de28cf002b2fb

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“Things like this…hospital bills, treatment costs…they mean nothing to me. So get the tests. We won’t know for sure until the biopsy results come out, and there’s a chance it’s not cancer. You can’t just stay in this state of not knowing, can you?”a86963f9853d5d89

She couldn’t simply dismiss his words telling her not to worry about the hospital bills. All of Cheon Sejoo’s help felt like another debt to Kim Hyunkyung. If the treatment didn’t work and she died, that debt, like a shackle, would be passed down to Sejin.e85dbd665381e251

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But Cheon 3f75017271 Sejoo wanted 69027a18c4 to change a2210bca6c her mindset. Deciding that he 24ca6101fa needed to make 8f7cdd364c his position clear, b6d066c300 Cheon Sejoo looked c86a510cc5 at her and 0a3426430a spoke.8cc2bf4f18ca4541

“I don’t expect anything in return for the help I’m giving. I’m not asking anything from you, Kim Hyunkyung, and I certainly have no intention of asking Sejin to pay it back either. So just….”4b4f7f49849cb775

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“Mr. Cheon.”28b96d25f4ae841e

A voice that felt like a massive wall, as if she wouldn’t listen to anything he said, stopped his words. He sensed a firmness very much like Sejin’s. As if proving that she was the one who instilled doubt and distrust of the world in Sejin, Kim Hyunkyung didn’t readily accept an act of kindness without strings attached.6c35a32bcd0d5dde

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“Why are you 2800fa72f8 so insistent on 60af892607 helping us?”328a5eccd2de790f

At her sharp, barbed question, unlike her usual tone, Cheon Sejoo closed his mouth. Kim Hyunkyung was indeed more seasoned than Sejin. Unlike Sejin, who could be easily handled with a little carrot and a little stick, Kim Hyunkyung, an adult older and even wiser than Cheon Sejoo, wasn’t someone who could be persuaded by a few kind words and gestures.a946c4ba849f9359

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Knowing the world wasn’t a bed of roses, Kim Hyunkyung wouldn’t accept any help before understanding Cheon Sejoo’s intentions.83531db5c1d69eae

That was Kim Hyunkyung’s last shred of pride. Just as Sejin wouldn’t ask Cheon Sejoo for help even if it meant sleeping on the streets, Kim Hyunkyung wouldn’t easily accept help from others, even if it meant facing death.4ac1f8ef2392a07c

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“Why do you keep doing this? You know that this has already gone far beyond the scope of a simple favor, Mr. Cheon. Frankly, if it were for me, I would understand. But it’s not, is it? That’s why I can’t understand. Why are you going to such lengths?”d8c2306f1a8d0a96

Cheon Sejoo felt her words implied a willingness to accept help if she could only understand his intentions. Then what should he say to convince her? Simply saying that he cared for Kwon Sejin wouldn’t be enough.66cb6ff1e87d8387

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He had 1e44fb7983 to explain 8755b0f71f to Kim 9ea40fad0d Hyunkyungwhy he cared for Sejin, and that reason stemmed from emotions rooted in the past. Cheon Sejoo realized he had to finally reveal the story he had hidden deep within his heart. He had to speak of Hye-in’s name.a8f4c0e5cb9a7d8d

“……”fd81e13a0ae455d6

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His throat was parched. He swallowed hard, clenched and unclenched his fists, and wet his lips. But the hesitation didn’t last long. As soon as he remembered yesterday, when Kwon Sejin had cried in his arms, his cheeks soaked with tears, Cheon Sejoo steeled his resolve. He could do this much for Sejin. He could gladly explain the past.d4c03bb0cf4c2442

It had been almost five years since he had last mentioned Hye-in’s name. Since Seok Yoonhyung, no one had heard him speak of her. So even though he wanted to reveal the truth, it wasn’t easy to start.6644f210e8c31c6f

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“I had 98c9430554 a younger 4ac8ad45fc sister… Cheon 7b0edc5f70 Hye-in.”f6309586754e8ee6

But once he 52f7e6cecc managed to utter 4e684d004d her name, the c025f22427 words flowed naturally, 33a280186a as if he 81fe083a60 had been waiting c12a705dfa to tell someone. Feeling the lock on 153e20e009 his heart loosening, Cheon e58195293e Sejoo began his story.7afdf525cf8388d0

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“She was my f86104400c only family, and d83b2972d4 I thought we 3427b02eda would be together d9d5c15bb6 forever.”05333394f0b0429d

From the b282bdc515 top of c94669330a her head 1c6015bb53 to the c7a8ee623e tips of a328023774 her toes, ddaa700346 Cheon Sejoo cd826fe7d2 had loved de6aa4d1ea everything about d3547e23a6 Hye-in. His only sibling, his cc9825dec9 only family – beyond a6301b4fa3 that, Hye-in was the b1c7342d55 direction of his life, 99dcad4d95 the driving force behind a2f7244df6 his existence.87f5a5d6bf87d750

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“Hye-in… died five years ago. She committed suicide after being bullied by her classmates. While I was working, she was left alone at home and neglected, and she couldn’t bear the constant verbal abuse from the perpetrators. Believing herself to be a burden to me, she jumped from the roof.”ee5dfd988e5502ca

“……”38c4afac8a697268

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A look of pity flashed across Kim Hyunkyung’s face as she listened. She clasped her hands tightly together and gazed at Cheon Sejoo with compassionate eyes. Cheon Sejoo calmly explained to her what had happened last winter.1e1c172c9a3e2b80

“You probably didn’t know, but there were kids bullying Sejin at school. It’s all resolved now, so you don’t have to worry about it. And Sejin, being as strong as you, is fine now, so you don’t have to worry.”e4596e133cd23f44

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“Oh….”e037843fe46d8f71

She sighed and her 51291506f2 shoulders slumped at his 1088875480 added words, meant to eea3b12035 prevent her from worrying. Recalling the past, Cheon 890d9f0fe4 Sejoo continued.3362288326a79778

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“While I was with Sejin, I acted as his guardian. From the time I got a call from his homeroom teacher, when she was eighteen, in the middle of winter.”80f04e7ae96db5b1

He stared steadily e9941f9661 at Kim Hyunkyung. The woman c8f4ec58fc before him, 58ecd7651d with her f823833b03 gaunt face, 59a338a678 bore no b0eae6ee2f resemblance to fc9950282b the person feceee0948 he first 20cc32c497 met. In Kim Hyunkyung’s 558ac43c73 emaciated form, Cheon c315bc1f74 Sejoo saw a 7a785f1bdb reflection of his b4fd2ebf62 past self.6dee16ebbb22093a

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After Hye-in’s death, Cheon Sejoo hadn’t been able to eat properly for a while. He vaguely remembered losing nearly 10kg and being told he looked like a corpse.c15279587e0140c2

At the same 39a33a3e23 time, Cheon Sejoo 3403850809 thought of Sejin 6fe5649590 as he looked 137e2a24ae at Kim Hyunkyung. He saw both 15b1339766 the image of db7dcbd113 the desperate child 361429401f who had pleaded b0b05f3ab9 with him for 413915cc3b help after a 42031513a8 week of no b78457fb30 contact with his 56f306dd11 mother, and the 1846c43f7b image of Kim 198822d090 Hyunkyung bowing her a4fce37f50 head to him, f805334a6c entrusting Sejin to 07c3b11371 his care.4df0406b93e1756e

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“I first met Sejin when he was eighteen. He looked exhausted and worn out.”b66fc13bc5493009

Sejin, crouched in the 513db2304e hallway, had appeared much 68e49cbf9b smaller than he actually 132ed31bf7 was. Exhausted and 8e0b3e1db5 worn out…. Cheon Sejoo had 1a993d2a99 mistaken Sejin, curled c4aed16c96 up as tightly 5687601781 as he could, 63a2c5a144 as a child 777cfbf6ed of only fourteen.221479c5a0c53546

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“Hye-in was also eighteen when she died. She waited for me for hours, huddled in the dark hallway of our apartment, before she left this world. And the day I first saw Sejin… Sejin was huddled in the exact same way.”89a7ccd72369b4a3

“……”a857b9f1228c463f

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Looking at 18110348f7 Kim Hyunkyung, 8984d2011f speechless and ee14947773 still, Cheon e3971d7e4a Sejoo closed 665d84fa7f his eyes 592ff8c001 and then d813edcbd7 opened them 0bf43fe749 again. He had once thought d40d42a4f2 that if the day 953a0b54c5 came when he spoke a44a0e0463 about Hye-in to someone, b611aa93f9 it would be an 8ec533e584 incredibly difficult day.e52261bb73e8823b

This was because Hye-in remained a deep wound and regret in his heart. However, it wasn’t as emotionally painful as he had anticipated. Rather, after speaking of her, his mind felt strangely calm. In a soft voice, Cheon Sejoo spoke to Kim Hyunkyung.7830ccfaf3baf87a

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“Now you understand why I keep trying to help you and Sejin. Whenever I see Sejin… I think of her. That’s why I can’t stand to see Sejin struggling. No matter how much you object, I will proceed with the treatment. So please, just focus on Sejin and concentrate on getting better. That’s what I really want.”960fd4db1fb8c543

Cheon Sejoo knew very 18357268e7 well how precious Kim 964646afa8 Hyunkyung was to Kwon 85b4ff215d Sejin. And Sejin, in turn, 99b43189eb was precious to him.44bc12670771de0c

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“At first, I just wanted to help out of simple kindness. But now… it’s not.”42aada7f8b371114

“Mr. Cheon….”a1546a02e7a39d3d

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Kim Hyunkyung 97ab4966eb had to 88bf7c673a live. That was 95682dad0b the only d8b6a14e62 way Sejin 8f7ad102ce could be e92f20f230 happy and 84b62d2fe1 free from 60efec60de pain when 8ad7da9304 he left 8c75f4c38f his side. That was all Cheon 0b20ddfc0f Sejoo wanted.88fd8a3bb9ef0a5a

“Get treatment. You’ll get better. You definitely will.”adebcd88af96f15b

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Just as he had 8d4ae11a20 resolved when he took 65bbe67a61 Sejin in, this ending 6ecf0cbf9f was absolutely necessary for 98ffa4b77b him to end his 8169f51b1c long, arduous journey of ec0c60bfe2 grief.e904c30b24bd406f

* * *fc65684e32439b51

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Kim Hyunkyung, finally 7e51cd6097 persuaded by Cheon 1a1e2d77dc Sejoo, underwent a aa92ca8065 series of medical 9c8d2c90b0 tests. The results, as expected, ff1bc43fb4 were cancerous. It was stage 3 e99493029a pancreatic cancer, thankfully, not 8b7803130f yet spread to surrounding 9f1b9ea955 organs.77a2815a0a75da38

While Cheon Sejoo had 081ad42242 anticipated this outcome since 091905652c seeing the MRI, Kwon 1c34482053 Sejin appeared deeply shocked. Hearing from 0e0d60b8d0 a doctor 2d45e07e9a that a f82f6c9cd0 large tumor e54ea32841 might be b09511cba2 cancerous and 14431cc6f5 receiving confirmation c0f5afc09f that it c175ec5bfb is cancer e06e4b1f59 are entirely 6e70f70804 different matters. It was ca795d6f8e devastating for 66b80095b6 him to dc3264f87f face the c4718b4ca7 reality of 18f39bcac4 what he 2f5e70b686 had desperately 8bb7b6a5c1 tried to 87f1fb7178 deny.2e53702f4833c309

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Ultimately, it was Cheon 9275096f9e Sejoo who took care 0303cc1e4e of the distraught Sejin ecd3ecd119 and transferred Kim Hyunkyung d2daf7579e to the cancer treatment 6a094b7622 center. While Sejin remained a47a9f6457 in in a c574068e41 state of shock, b050e3da6f Sejoo handled all 9fbc34351d the arrangements.9fa1b1a54e1c5067

The Korea University Hospital Cancer Center boasted a team of the country’s most renowned specialists. They were actively involved in targeted therapy research for pancreatic cancer, and the center held the highest 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients in the nation. It was there that Hyunkyung began her chemotherapy.239be36bb43a001f

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However, contrary to the optimistic outlook that treatment would make things better, chemotherapy proved to be an agonizing ordeal not just for the patient but also for her family. Witnessing someone suffering from extreme pain and side effects due to various medications…it was not something one could endure with a clear mind.8a0795863ccd6663

“Go home!”ef4a192b5fa7369c

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Cheon Sejoo, visiting the hospital after a few days spent handling other matters, hesitated at the door upon hearing Hyunkyung’s raised voice from inside the room. She was yelling at Sejin, telling him to leave her side and go home.0f2a2f9cd8526c36

“…”382ae8b15f1bbfd6

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“Go, Kwon Sejin! Can’t you hear me?!”9f7d443abf9f63e2

Sejin’s silence suggested he was feigning ignorance of her outburst. It was so typical of Kwon Sejin’s response. Sejoo sighed inwardly as he placed his hand on the doorknob.2456b363a37ed777

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The summer break had long since ended. Even though it had been over a week since school started, Sejin hadn’t attended a single class. Of course, Sejin’s position wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. 0ba4a025c3b0341e

Cheon Sejoo understood Sejin’s reluctance to leave his mother alone in this situation. He thought he wouldn’t have gone to school either if he were in Sejin’s shoes. However, he also empathized deeply with Kim Hyunkyung.bb2e2eb52ee9b9f2

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She must be incredibly 77a7a8cfc4 tormented that her illness c5de3ef3df was causing her son, ad186a56a4 who had recently found b4df076d5c joy in his studies, 99bd8c34ae to abandon school to 626b17527d care for her. As someone who 29531f96f4 always anticipated the eb0ecb1697 worst, she would 664d850b6a have received a 1111244aff clear picture from b2f43ed614 the doctors about 3694d5a228 the survival rates 7221bee533 for pancreatic cancer. c42ee5e0a1ab5594

Unable to avoid contemplating 512220246c death, Hyunkyung couldn’t bear 7dc326379d to see Sejin, with c9ba0d7df6 his bright future ahead, 9ee7c1bf3a throw his life away c1e17b59d0 because of her. Perhaps she 3d34d3940b might even b9b28c9162 regret entering 67a6c4a48d the treatment a351139dc8 center at 1cc74d1ad4 this point.a7ab0cf7d57f845d

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In this situation, Cheon Sejoo sided with Kim Hyunkyung. He recognized her concern for Sejin’s future, but more importantly, he worried about Sejin pouring all his time, affection, and life into caring for his mother. He felt that if Kim Hyunkyung were to leave this world, Sejin wouldn’t be able to handle the emptiness he would feel from the sudden void.028b2a637af78768

Sejin needed 830bdfd052 a routine 91f44c01e7 beyond caring 5650d7a0de for his 737fdbb2d2 mother. An ordinary e107536bac life that 7cd76744e6 he could f5a8938044 maintain regardless 976ebf5bfc of what b62bdcf6f8 happened to aff67f7f6e her…ffb7bd9b6b9c8283

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