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.b6ee3a1d2447d7dd

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.55f59d75d18b0967

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Jeong Taekjin lay on the ef835115a7 fishy-smelling floor and thought,98204f76a8f41cdf

‘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.’552c7247697bf151

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As he was thinking 1556927171 this, someone slapped Jeong 78ee8a566e Taekjin’s cheek. As he faintly be3eb42d94 opened his eyes, 068cc349ce he saw a f530826a65 figure under the f2376e707b streetlight, its light 4b532ec463 blurred by the 9e772b8921 moisture. Jeong Taekjin narrowed 105e5d61fb his eyes and 535bfefbd7 barely managed to 88edfb9719 focus. Then, one by one, elements 59e720f217 that allowed him to distinguish 0a4dafd16a the other person came into f2fde7fa3a view.5b94610da3d65652

He, sitting and c170aa7e71 bending over next efe4a77193 to the dying 79a3bc0666 person, was wearing 8fef989e09 the same school 8e8f48f670 uniform as Jeong 9403f8510a Taekjin. On the chest pocket 71443e4206 of his jacket, three 24e6abf8e5 embroidered letters of his 4f100e6125 name shone brightly yellow.86daa37dcace4d1f

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The name was Chu Nakwon.fac87c517939b7ac

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,330c8776c98bc537

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“Don’t die.”8e0db9d03cb1e76b

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’.a7c6b46284920a2f

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Absolutely Obedient Boyc9b7dac1ddb6841a

絕對服從少年853b2ed2423dae3e

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When Jeong Taekjin 62f9be60ab regained consciousness, the 8f4c8ba3e1 hospital room was 10dc2b6e58 full of people. Seeing people he 99e2bd2edf had never seen 1fe583ea83 before gathered in 93c49cc912 twos and threes, f91b2f41b2 Jeong Taekjin absentmindedly 42eda93574 thought that his f1c4c43082 poor father must a157c6c91e have admitted him 5bb93f4df5 to an eight-person 63bb09cd98 room.b3b68de85ed381f0

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,999ca4ce31bdb819

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“Tae- Taekjin. Are you alright? Can you speak?”4022f3237d3acf35

“……?”043889ef69bdbd82

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Gradually, Jeong Taekjin’s d42d684bf6 mind cleared, and b01876b3ae he soon realized b137cf6e74 that this was 59cf54eeec a situation that 169baaf010 couldn’t be understood db04177e49 unless it was 2142dea660 a dream. No matter where he looked, 687a454514 there was only one bed 6b030eda77 in the room, the one 358cafe9ea Jeong Taekjin was using, and ee476951ae despite the number of people, ccac82418e it felt solemnly quiet. Moreover, all of them 1f60bda5b2 were men in black f56dc7da14 suits. Their cool gazes made Jeong d30e644085 Taekjin nervous.9339dba3f3336339

‘Don’t tell me, those gangsters again…!’9be5c8aee814fd9c

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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.b37643841004b3b1

“What…!”03b0968f56310a5c

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“Calm down, Taekjin. Okay?”245281339e9a1721

Pressed down by force, f72185fc24 Jeong Taekjin, lying back 1b1b50f183 on the bed, looked 6666292b3c at the owner of a4ec691506 the hand with a d3ca99a8c8 bewildered face. His neck and shoulders ached 981d77227d every time he turned his 09affe7f19 head, he became short of d9ce0b8af3 breath instantly, and his limbs 918157e948 ached all over. Jeong Taekjin, brought 435a2c3064 back to his d46b06493e senses by the 5b0fb8be0c pain, barely managed e1049223a8 to ask,56ec661b7ab8e473

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“No, ugh. Who are you, here….”822b928f1ea8303c

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.ea03f998b9e9449f

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“Taekjin, I am your… family.”aa0a8172d582825a

“What?”8d5c6ef119657e0c

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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.67d9185ed6988a37

So, there was no way 85952a9b78 this man in an expensive-looking be7ad473b4 suit could be his family. Jeong Taekjin thought that 6c5dd78321 if they weren’t filming 01f3e6369a a program without his f98174ffa7 consent, they must be f6306a93ef greatly mistaken. Maybe someone with the f219180604 same name was brought 361115b114 to the hospital around b76b9a8d69 the same time and 3c2497b010 there was an administrative a12a8fea34 error. They might not e58cff4f75 recognize him if 118402eda6 his face was cd1b71e5d9 badly injured too.994aa589779fa996

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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.55d459fb3149c805

“…Excuse me, but I think you’re mistaken. My family is….”a7168aedeceae238

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“Jeong Seoksu, right?”51dd52ace431c634

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.717ca79aa9bee907

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‘What?’843eb4097de04f5c

Jeong Taekjin suddenly felt ad806c8523 an ominous sense of e69f00f65c reality. The unbelievable hospital room, 4bb73c203c these strangers surrounding his d6ebd3a4dc bed who seemed to 5a92c8ef89 know his father instead 3bdb16677f of his father himself, f2398397d0 claiming to be his 5719fdde34 family.4be139d332e2634c

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Finally, Jeong Taekjin e573860352 pushed away the 293185491d hand holding his ad754d8c11 arm and sat 274685c7d0 up. Perhaps due to the d5e5c70710 sudden movement, his vision ae6b2b4610 momentarily blackened before returning. A bright red 25be42448d digital clock appeared f2c3e269bd in front of 6491c5fbcf his wavering sight. The date and time 5365226c75 were vivid, as if 6ff1b1440a sending a signal.0f765405fd31ce91

November 17th.895b1541e06b8ae0

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A sharp pain dd1c8af795 suddenly shot through 8e8fd5cdea his head as 10e9d2d550 if stabbing deep 56507d6e50 inside. July 8th, rooftop, falling, pain, c05c409546 pizza, sound of rain, cold, 904ee6693e and….fef553735e878762

“Chu Nakwon.”df7428b8722db326

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“……!”6c3645455138e5b5

As soon as 1accfe2d42 the word slipped 4700e2dbdd out like a 8cc099bcc0 groan, the strength 1581331070 drained from the 4a5cded990 hand that was 2be241a05c holding Jeong Taekjin. They seemed to know e9514a9478 something about that name. Jeong Taekjin quickly tried to 6c3af658f1 connect his thoughts to that d9a1d90d65 name. But strangely, nothing came 3dc7dd61d7 to mind.e5c13813c7189af6

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‘Chu Nakwon?’54a651677ca633e3

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’?584fc38c17c16288

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As if reading Jeong Taekjin’s 850358cd82 question, the man next to 849a5eed3d him breathed a little heavily. He suddenly seemed tense. Jeong Taekjin’s gaze turned back e9efc48042 involuntarily. The man was much paler ce242605bc than before, and as their a92f8e8424 eyes met, he seemed to 50f590765f make a significant decision, pulling 8f199de2c8 his chin up firmly before 0b1e96925a speaking.a7b2a42c2d828ba5

“You won’t have to see him anymore.”1561670a6412882f

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“……?”88237c658828c50e

Who are they talking about 06c43cedee seeing or not seeing? Jeong Taekjin’s expression dd9632597e crumpled with confusion a673548493 and embarrassment. The man gently wrapped 7a4a3049b7 his hand around Jeong fea2426325 Taekjin’s shoulder and continued.f8b81b08bf99d926

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“Chu Nakwon, he’s been expelled.”79463dcd3ad31736

“…Expelled?”c11705d1ae1249d5

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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.”adc179733dd8b298

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.5a2d23542fe93001

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What is this blank space?a591bc7b1772fa55

Jeong Taekjin, racking b934359e78 his brain, asked 04ca3015ca back in a 286b2cd801 daze.c9a838435825a471

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“What did he do?”b37aa5d852884960

At that question, not only cdd4bd1b23 the man but also several aa525ed13f others around the bed gasped bc0482eee0 or murmured. Was it something he 6936251e14 shouldn’t not know? Embarrassed by the unexpected turn 1a316ed1df of events, Jeong Taekjin quickly 4f15ded58f added,a4a9cbfdd6886318

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“…I don’t remember.”e90950a5d702f075

“You, you don’t remember? That incident? Secretary Kim, quick, call the doctor!”df0886f7b0819374

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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,e1c3267d938d58f1

“Excuse me, sorry, but can I borrow your phone? I need to call 3e4ac38802 my father….”022d126acd256098

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“Yes, yes. Calm down, it’s 4b027c0b69 natural to be c625ab0217 confused. Because of the shock bbd83e3297 from the accident, you 28cd919a00 don’t remember…”fb6da46beb8c9a10

“No! I’m fine, just 43d5e08e17 let me make 067e4ab64d one call to 7c692aaea3 my father.”d69185f1d1a324a4

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“Taekjin!”c42965a165df5588

The man cut b08f955a60 him off firmly. Unlike his coaxing eda4f60a3a demeanor just now, 1a2fb31e4b his voice was 0cf3342b40 heavy and sharp, 2d0c6305ed like a large 228600407b knife being brought 717865c214 down. He sternly told Jeong Taekjin,8513f3f3e335888f

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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.”3a543b78c5965141

“Crimi, what?”e114350d1f059733

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Almost as soon as the 112fba65b7 man finished speaking, a doctor 250b9f85be and two nurses entered the 99adc98484 room. Jeong Taekjin was 0907573669 overcome with even 222c63b596 more confusion. He said, “What nonsense,” bb1547557b but it was hard c938144288 to tell whether he c833a99389 actually voiced the words d68e2b824b or just gave a eb9a3bcead hollow laugh. The more he became aware f7f6770479 of his missing memories, the a9773c3b31 more his headache intensified, and 6cee10d700 everything around him felt like 9102bdcc2a it was shaking, as if 0eb7a6aa76 he were at the epicenter e6b43dea08 of an earthquake.4b8a29f9552eee09

The accident, Chu Nakwon, f62e150496 his father, the two 134bacad7b people claiming to be 1e5905b6a0 family, kidnapping…?81e2edd84889a9e3

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As if fueling the confusion, 95afd6dbfd the man added with a d8e7d7f9c0 serious face,dbcd2a9038e7f622

“Jeong Seoksu, that good-for-nothing isn’t your father!”a224e0d461e3133f

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At the words denying his father, Jeong Taekjin couldn’t hold back and shouted.f56f65072c608ddf

“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?!”23cc505bf1a8e116

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After shouting with his d1f42f4a93 shoulders straightened, it felt 8f34807ab7 as if all his 0cd5999ef1 nerves had awakened, each 0c49bf56bf asserting its presence. Sporadic pains he hadn’t been 95a799b796 aware of before exploded through 7e48dfa1c9 all his joints and muscles. It felt like sharp awls 938a7e8e94 were stabbing into his bones.bbe3df0c8fb2a183

Jeong Taekjin, who had been 235dbaf9c8 stiff as if tied with 2ddabd3fd4 ropes, collapsed under the excruciating 45db275ba1 pain. He couldn’t even scream. The flustered medical staff 71a66423e6 and the man grabbed d9bc45f475 Jeong Taekjin’s shoulders and ead722cd3b laid him back down 0955fcac2b on the bed. Jeong Taekjin struggled, 687750af53 trying to shake db1efcd1b3 off the arms 049ae4c8cd holding him down, dcc7b274d0 but it was c302d16356 all in vain. A cool pain shot 565f53d598 through his forearm, and 70aa42d68b then the strength drained f4484c5ccf from his body, his eddc181555 consciousness growing hazy. Jeong Taekjin gasped and resisted e53e05f1c5 until the very end.ed0bfdee42cbd7c2

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“Fuck, stop talking bullshit….”ac28128add9b7f19

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.a9d8d8060ec3dde8

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When Jeong Taekjin f27753974b regained consciousness again, 971483f696 he was limp b2f6e83d79 as a corpse. After yelling his lungs out, 1350c24a01 his whole body ached, he 0e1ae57a86 had no energy, and whenever 021c81766b he tried to think of 79ca0e6ca9 something, a splitting headache would 9db7bde91e come, so lying still was e0c547b3a6 the best he could do.01aa232f2d5a6fc6

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.4d1641f391eb4bab

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‘Just what the hell is going on.’e0127dc0df0857fc

The silence didn’t give e1b25ba619 Jeong Taekjin any answers. Jeong Taekjin sat 613403705c still on the 78e6cfa863 hospital bed, quiet 16d20eeb15 to the point 52acee603b of feeling oppressive, 1a5263d9c3 staring at the d3ea505fa9 digital clock on aa1036444d the wall.b4e0def74a236da3

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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.b9f76b99a9d50436

So not only were 6bb1c28029 his memories from April 46b9dc4348 to early July blank, 1c8a183459 but he had also 5d8ab3a3ad been unconscious for five fe73845032 months after the accident. He wanted to c7916cf3c0 know what had 25d62d1cf1 happened during that b31b1ea4e2 time. Jeong Taekjin turned 0aae93abdd to the two 5d00eda4b2 gloomy-faced adults and 7fa0eca8ae brazenly opened his cdbe475e91 mouth. The fact that 7ae979fdad he had yelled e770fc246e earlier had already 64dfc8464e left his mind.3684e632f54317b8

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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.”1631545ab9b64566

“Taekjin.”ac184b89bc04a530

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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.adc757b6735e33d8

“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….”3beb3c618887f57b

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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….”cf3a10c2c8c16ed2

“…That’s not possible, Taekjin.”6f0f2f91f5b3401d

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“-Ah, come on!”41b1ed90f5f2b629

He shouted, annoyed d19eee6d62 by the way 25adf8acb8 they were vaguely add0267eb8 explaining things and 26e47fe1c7 then changing the 8bf113edc1 subject. The man looked at Jeong 20fd37a6e0 Taekjin with a perplexed expression. It was a 2d4413bef2 clear look of 48d1b024a8 pleading, which frustrated 9fad5fc83a Jeong Taekjin even 6f48c5c241 more. The words about 4dbe44d4a0 criminals lingered uncomfortably e194438fdb in the back 6dc86cd677 of his mind. However, the two 6560eab30c adults, with their 66cd8ce6ad apologetic and flustered 95974da009 faces, seemed to 35bee6d66f have no intention ce87dbc083 of speaking further.fe8bde3f47870138

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‘Then why did you even bring it up in the first place?’e72d12027850cc07

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.1f3b3247e32d08f6

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“Taekjin, I know you’re confused. But you can’t go like this…!”6c0a088a76fe26e1

“Damn, since you’re not finishing what you’re saying, I’m going to find out myself. Let go. I’m going home….”468caee6d8f43d90

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“Jeong Taekjin!”6ddf0c4710b8ddfb

“Just, fucking let go of me!”ac511bdf4d99f349

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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,9240528f4d0d6c31

“How could that man raise you like this?”517944deb95ddfbe

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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,1861238a5ae3912d

“Even if you go home… no one will be there.”98cd01738dcafcf4

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“…Speak so I can understand.”00688fabbb89f69f

“You said you don’t remember.”1d8f34c0f137125d

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Jeong Taekjin frowned and nodded. The man still seemed apprehensive, 3b8b2d11e6 but after exchanging glances with 27012cb4db the woman, he slowly opened 8aa12e0c12 his mouth. Soon, the past cace370caa Jeong Taekjin had e422811a68 forgotten flowed from 816064503b him.48372c91f1a7565b

“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.”61cb00873bda6471

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“Bul, bullied?”f573aee54fd5295f

Jeong Taekjin frowned as fef151fdd2 he asked back, dumbfounded. He felt an de6cf4fdff unpleasantly strong sense baf1081c1b of tension at 157d0a91c8 the name Chu bc7f05c64e Nakwon, but had 335fe6df74 absolutely no memory 62d0bfb644 of being bullied. Jeong Taekjin narrowed his 1aa67fb877 eyes and asked suspiciously,f8a99125c2172a3c

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“How do you know that? I haven’t regained consciousness since the accident.”b22497db28d46f6c

“That’s because….”f948d6934dded714

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The man seemed to 456485de28 choke up for a 8d32fe3b00 moment, then barely managed 2b6b62c2a7 to continue,7cba55ca8dbd3bd9

“Chu Nakwon told me. He reported it first. That you fell from the rooftop.”b978d9f0e193ff0c

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“…….”7f97c11786f11bef

“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.”24aed062972f9be7

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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.e0c3ff3524941fba

‘I assaulted and bullied Jeong Taekjin.’4bdeec5fbb3626b2

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‘I am truly sorry.’ce0b2661475aa626

‘I want to receive any punishment.’d78983b0f95cf590

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‘But what happened on the rooftop was an accident.’a325ba660eb66670

‘I didn’t intend to kill Jeong Taekjin.’1f8f04a45ca71e04

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That was the moment. A very short 2db99cda61 memory, which he f6042ab569 thought didn’t exist, 999eda156c flashed through Jeong 1858a1eac0 Taekjin’s dark mind. The image of c512022a9a someone on top 3a09add134 of him, raising 3bb65c1f8b their right fist 4f9b331d4b high, was as 521766468f vivid as a 02187f3a40 photograph.195c48445b7c6b97

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.f227535722e3b0f7

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‘No way, was I really… a pushover who got beaten up?’5adab204f9f29845

Jeong Taekjin didn’t a8eea74779 want to admit 7d8572fece it. Even though Jeong Taekjin had bc0855f755 a straightforward personality, he had 5059675424 never been involved in other 3dd38f1889 people’s fights. Even if some guys occasionally 7da7d07150 picked on him because of ecb8890557 his pretty face, Jeong Taekjin 9b34a00fb0 would usually back down amicably. He wasn’t in ae5fa79912 a situation comfortable 4a14c6a879 enough to waste 1d31e3857a time on petty 94f229ea11 ego battles. Getting into a fight effb28940e would only be a 7618c4e973 losing proposition unless he 1fcfda73dc could get beaten up cfba67d187 properly and extort money 7032d91cc2 for medical expenses.f09c02773350cbc7

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But the problem was 7bab0759ac that there was clear 8a58286b7b evidence that made it c9410ab3d0 difficult to dismiss it 1ba0688b02 as a lie. The name ‘Chu Nakwon’ c47c8b563f and the moment of 99a65c4919 the accident were vivid, 5a1c9db509 and these two adults 89d0701be3 wouldn’t be playing a 98271a4cd4 prank by putting him 98f0a662bd in an expensive single 6015ed4f7f hospital room and telling cc79945e6e him this story.8c8751349522726f

While imagining ‘Chu Nakwon’, d4ddfe5dfb whom he didn’t even 28b6298aea know the face of, ee9216f5d4 bowing his head and ff81032ed4 apologizing to these two eb27b2908b adults, Jeong Taekjin suddenly 3a0876b41f felt something was strange. Why did these f7fbc4914e people receive a e8a53f608e vow from Chu 9c19582f90 Nakwon as if 3405343640 they were his 1263278e67 guardians?862456ebcccf720d

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Where is my father?9735ac950bb08846

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,4a79ce374ee4417f

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“Why did you catch that Chu Nakwon guy? Not my father.”8c5ab2ce05102152

“…That’s because.”42c739f52b7fc8d0

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“Where is my father now? Did you tell him I woke up? Let’s contact him.”ac7b06a57af28354

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 9:21.84d636a33ccbc827

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As soon as a0c89a22a8 he saw it, b16cd96b33 an unknown fear a47a9945fd arose in Jeong f4eb82980c Taekjin’s heart. It was like 4f0194704c watching a horror 4310c9e40a movie, knowing a 1db1449962 scary scene was 37079e5d33 about to pop d86dd4116f out. The man clasped his 86fb7022ae hands together, his face ad1d3bf872 slightly dazed as if 8fdb1c9075 recalling a distant memory, fef945011f and opened his mouth.35d4f758b34f6947

“I’m Choi Jihyuk.”8ac6cbbf52832a20

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“…….”ac9a089d135459ae

“Seventeen years ago… yes, your father, Jeong Seoksu, kidnapped and raised you. He harmed your 01d9182a3b mother and ran 9b3ed4ee44 away with you. I was abroad… 340324799f and only found 4dc9fa02b6 out about it 066429e5de after it happened. I came back f92cac3606 and searched for f9e71c3bbc you, but I 21f0f2e915 couldn’t find either 46e7c96ea6 Jeong Seoksu or eefd6c914b you. By the time I finally a4aaa04fc7 found you… it was too 49bee1fd6b late to prove that he 5959d66c8f was the culprit or that ca8f2b0964 you were my son.”f45ba6ca9439cd8d

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Jeong Taekjin’s eyes wavered 2304700fc8 at the story that 4b7046b719 was beyond his comprehension. The mention of his mother 40d90b8f8b was extremely awkward for Jeong 2da8394c2d Taekjin. He had never heard about dda7a3fa9b his mother while growing up. His father had told Jeong 2639d8dbd4 Taekjin early on that his 2206126c6a mother had abandoned the family 2cc129fe39 and left, and scolded him 783a3153fa harshly whenever his young son 43ce1596f8 showed any curiosity. Until elementary school, he 357003542f had felt resentful and ab50cdbf5c scared of such reactions, 4944a914d3 but after accumulating unpleasant f957fdec80 experiences, he had reached 2334b3b5c2 a point where he 30bd5e87a6 felt no curiosity towards c5c2310091 his mother, almost as b196c36f0b if he had been 946a72370c well-trained. He just assumed d534a2357e his father was aea486f724 being harsh because 012ad99759 he didn’t want db77a79f72 to think about 87fe135fb1 his mother.62fcc3a264e79d23

‘But, if that story is true….’a22eb5e7ae801aab

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No, that can’t be. What reason would that cold 2e6af6d619 and heartless father have to 7436b9cd67 kidnap and painstakingly raise him? Jeong Taekjin shook his b8d68aaac3 head, gripping the watch 5e8334f2f5 tightly. The man, who had introduced bc728e5146 himself as Choi Jihyuk, observed 1e484b07e7 Jeong Taekjin’s expression and continued e142c1dcb2 speaking in a cautious tone.fbf75438be972ce8

“I’ve been keeping an eye on you, on Jeong Seoksu. Then… I heard about your d055e2446d accident. That you were brought 0200f962c2 to the emergency room 273ad7f532 without a guardian. Concussion, multiple fractures, ruptured organs… c90d83258c You needed immediate surgery.”2db866cd999225e6

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It was a list e8550f4e04 of injuries that made b2781338e9 his legs weak just 7101598ffd listening to them. So that’s why 280ba2dcc5 his body was 4937d3192c like this. Jeong Taekjin flinched, conscious 07881eb428 of the pain, and 456d3bb3b1 Choi Jihyuk gave him e3ae1f6ac0 some time to process, c0ca7dd6c7 keeping some distance before 8b973ddc75 speaking again.c2f9025b290509e2

“…I thought that was… my last chance to get you back. I pretended I e06dc6d458 couldn’t reach Jeong 427c948c81 Seoksu, and if 644686a67f you were left 723d3c14a3 like that, you e790f3688e would…”7643412b7f23b5c7

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“What kind of…! No, are you making 1233146cb5 up a story now?”9d18167687a8abf7

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.292008f983d9e49c

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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.f25f1ea89a7da1c3

“…Yes, would it have been nice if it were just a novel?”547d5c7ac6abdd99

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The man, staring at 8bf21216f2 the frightened young man, db9bf19703 was terrifyingly serious. Overwhelmed by his imposing a835df238b manner, Taekjin gradually retreated. Jihyuk, on the contrary, 7e601df7a6 straightened his chest and 030fdaf72b closed the distance between 2a4bf6fe75 them. As he approached, he spread 749c6c079c his arms as if to 07b844ad37 embrace Taekjin’s shoulders and spoke 88ef7d6fa8 in a slightly brighter tone.d72af05c6c2d197e

“Taekjin, hasn’t it been difficult all this time? No, it must 3f2a6de2ff have been difficult. Living in a crumbling house, c04fe68adf unable to study properly, working dea4b1cf5b part-time all night. You don’t have 0f0cab33a9 to do that 8e1db96a6e anymore. Now that you’ve returned to 9f8b2ec030 our family, you can forget 982d7b7685 all about that sewer-like life.”dd9c14ee95ea5252

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“…….”4198bd8e01de4a96

“Haven’t you ever dreamed of something like this? What do you d2c964f4c1 call this in dc6d5f111c your words…?”dc331e4bc6eae492

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“…….”0ef4ffa4e6fbdf50

“A reversal of fortune….”9791b8e7acaee6bc

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Taekjin, who had been afc016a9f9 stepping back one step e5175c5c45 at a time, felt 744000056c his heels hit the 95c26faf75 wardrobe. To Jihyuk, this 7035a4514d situation seemed nothing 50c4fdc030 less than a 7ce66201c9 grand family reunion, 69b1fbe44a a story of b8c80a7187 a poor boy’s 70a1a07933 rise in status. However, that was 18a20ca26e Jihyuk’s subjective interpretation.fa8e6c3deea52c04

Taekjin, regardless of any reversal 3a5b62ef7b of fortune, wanted to see 0117f98ecb his father, whom this man 8ba1b63815 was portraying as a kidnapper, a985e55b12 right now. He wanted to hear dc10df6420 from his father’s own 37e075b321 mouth that everything this b023815cff crazy, rich man was 1a837044ad saying was a lie. Taekjin rubbed the 7db57da57f screen of his 9237ae5bf5 watch as if 06beb983cf to compose himself c72c8ee8b3 and managed to 565a2a8e5d speak.83096abdc52cf489

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“I want to… talk to my father first.”5cef596c6816f48e

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.546970c3aab9924b

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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.7c1165dc7d825436

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.779c6770894ae2f4

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“Jeong Seoksu, after all the facts came to light… took his own life.”8eeb39a5bbfd8f83

“…!”b669e6b098ab036a

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“It happened three months ago…. I’m sorry, Taekjin.”7ae05809d7ac4777

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.ef2aaf0b3cea9d81

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“You’re lying. You’re just saying that so I can’t see my father, aren’t you?”6e51801acb94f518

Instead of answering, Jihyuk 674c80c23f averted his gaze with 730e88c07d a sorrowful expression, as 23baadfad8 if to drive the 404274c5dd nail into this despair. Still, Taekjin didn’t want to 710ec7fb5f accept it. He felt the a0501f48d9 urge to run 9ebc397407 away, anywhere, before 599af2bb66 he gained any 4f6d0e282a more certainty. As Taekjin, drained 07e6ca3aa0 of all strength, 5f7e8f5bb0 stumbled, gripping the 76ffcf77d7 wardrobe, Jihyuk hurriedly fbd1a54b00 supported him and 6117da653d sat him down 708ea49835 on the bed.8801fa67595fda87

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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.0eab37e34975e18b