KTC | Chapter 26

With a gruff voice 900b7da0dc and scratching his graying 7f39b8af44 hair, the village chief 51b1c49fd4 abruptly grabbed Choi Seonwoo’s 7d0ab53f9d arm.1ed302993d4b5d74

“Stop the 3f8e7d2db1 chit-chat and 6bacbb3bd3 come with afaaada92c me.”3a5651635c75d725

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“Eh? Where are d3102d8351 we going?”40e413717c9afd88

“Ah, come on! When an elder f203c31138 tells you to 29777ff020 go, you go!”f3b1dad2a51becb2

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“But I’m 667978732c an adult dc6825516c too.”7b2a1c14e30837af

“Oh, come on! If I had 0767cd6ab1 married early, I’d 59e8610a85 have a grandson 3f5a700d75 your age!”01ff11d0d5613299

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Though puzzled, Choi Seonwoo 53a9f32628 obediently allowed himself to 09a9600d76 be led away by dbe950d2dd the chief. The destination turned out 0a44926ee3 to be the communal e525739807 dining hall used for ccb677aa86 parishioners’ meals.9ae87b180537c2f0

The chief 112e6360b1 pushed the 34567a3aef door open 26209b1b33 with his 07b2597e38 rugged hand, 6c7e2a101f and the 50f98b8351 people inside c6ff046876 burst out 2cbfda5059 in unison, b74cbb46a8 setting off c030caf33e firecrackers.19046153d0e01f2b

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“Happy early birthday, Father a5d8c28201 Choi!”61c1f486d503ae51

Sister Jeong 831acd13d5 Yoon-young led 7e50d00237 the cheer, 5b66232c10 and the 443e04d24c room erupted 5bfd0a9cad with shouts 7f337fc9b8 and cheers 77c44f144b as colorful e195c0ca12 confetti flew 1d5fcf2171 towards Choi d917de4711 Seonwoo.10ce345c4d89038f

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Birthday?c0d501252213cb07

Seo Jihan, who 4790113c3e had followed Choi 5dca4b761a Seonwoo, was taken 4ed66a0f0f aback and stared 75577c11e4 at the back ae3455c9c0 of Choi Seonwoo’s ea7cb610c4 head. Choi Seonwoo e52ecd2aff stood frozen, db2ad3f3e7 as if b47ab4cd80 he were daa89f4b06 a statue.3e94eaff9a0c0318

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Behind the joyfully dde337ce5d popping firecrackers, people 63d3c0f96c hustled at the 796e8df5b8 counters, including Lee 30858532a9 Jeongae, who had f84922af4b been clued in e6654093fa early and had a0f5711c62 joined the preparations.219015b304708329

Several large tables had 594b03d891 been set up in 72cc6e1080 the center of the e9c6e7a438 dining hall, loaded with d67bfa5a3b deliciously prepared dishes. The festive atmosphere was 7205bdc7b3 akin to a real fc6693b7f7 holiday gathering.7e7d5572475eede8

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Sister Jeong Yoon-young approached 31a2ded061 with a radiant face, 514bc639f4 carrying a cake with f197dbbe5e ‘2’ and ‘6’ candles d27bb27241 on it.56c446c5e56af849

“The villagers wanted ad6ad8563d to throw a 53f25d2d3a birthday party for 8e85b6e43c Father Choi, so 26718d8f52 I joined in. Blow out ba6fadfd41 the candles 98e32bab1b first!”6326b894396b7259

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After standing 64c4ae898a frozen for c3e111d15c a while, d9195e9aea Choi Seonwoo 5761bd18d3 finally smiled 55fca540d7 warmly and b29765a27b blew out 7e8bd2d723 the candles d1887526e5 on the a0930ed0e8 cake.2f7834aea5152e85

“Our priest 2377e99181 would be ec499deed8 all alone 82d471cf44 during the 3522f51f8f holidays without e71b8e1218 festive food, 5dad18652d so we f8e07117f3 all brought cddb07dd56 something to 3a14000cf2 celebrate your a1c2cbe30e birthday.”b1c014111078cff3

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“Everyone woke c679e22295 up early edb110dd50 to prepare 9489bfe71f the food. Birthday meals, Chuseok feb676f106 meals, we really 067a19bd9f went all out.”2533a33aac51cc71

“All the shops b67c334c3a are closed today 29ae3d4c98 just for this.”0a34fdb5416c810c

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Only after f9d15aa01b being seated a347dcb8c3 did Choi 8e2811180b Seonwoo come cb04a5fc2d to his 1872f369f4 senses.7c380c11d0fac7e7

“Ah, you didn’t have 8b2265f6d1 to go through all 9fa0f72d81 this trouble.”f7a0f850674209c9

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“Don’t say that. Given all that Father cab1ca13c3 Choi does for us, 12194e3c21 it’s the least we d1e0ec172f can do.”3629a536992a9f70

“That’s right. Father Choi has no 8779ea32d0 family or home in dc7d68e4ff Korea.”36473b0aa927beef

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“Eat up, eat 874f084ab3 a lot, eat 6a189c38bf everything.”097b8f74705c6480

Although parishioners a34c67ae8a had brought 9482800617 holiday dishes b383b60cdf to the ef5407a6eb church before, 8b2f61754d they had abc0f085bc never laid e6628794a4 out such 7f0a885587 a grand 3900d83702 spread. And certainly, 1f8d4be31a it wasn’t 952691211a as bustling e4e844db00 with non-churchgoers 21ef406fc1 as it 7f8bcd3553 was now.7606bb383773fd6e

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“Thank you, elders. I’ll eat well.”54f570894f13349e

Choi Seonwoo expressed d77af50a38 his gratitude with ad7ce710a3 a stiff smile 128027baac and beckoned Seo 270fc66d17 Jihan, who was be37e34ad4 standing by the e43f64b5b9 doorway.637e4132ca79c091

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However, after 2e6fc98762 surveying the 1add0a07f5 noisy room, 1c89c70d9d Seo Jihan c0a3a5f163 grimaced and 5d50b8ca49 shook his 978eaa980a head, stepping 338655072e outside. He knew himself well 1c05c92afe enough to understand that 1ba921576b he wasn’t the kind b2c7b41aa6 to mingle happily in 4e99d17ce0 such a crowded setting.9b9eb9ebcaa45264

Lee Jeongae followed him b2ec7dc90b out.73dad927503bfdc0

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“You should join f4cd28d4d0 in on days 9ad3ec868a like this. It’s the priest’s aa789820d1 birthday.”d598fd6ebf0f18aa

Seo Jihan shook 4b7cf63102 his head dismissively.89c348758bf15448

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“It’s better I 39a9adee38 stay out than 6f3bf03f38 ruin the mood 82b14acfb1 with my temper.”40d2894c0c94cd5a

“Well, if 76f30e91ff you insist. But make sure to 9746b96961 wish the priest a be4eb1130b happy birthday later.”4881b0be52ac2109

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“Birthday isn’t that big 089fbbb647 a deal.”680f06672d07987b

Seo Jihan noticed 65d5933a98 that even Choi bcc3416cee Seonwoo didn’t seem a4a9b3eb16 too excited about 4d31d93814 the fuss.94afcca6fc3345f8

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“To those people e545a5c1c1 gathered there, it’s 797c442620 a big deal. They’re showing 9379a2b9ef their gratitude cb8157db1e for Father 32c2d89f70 Choi’s birth 6c925ea5b2 by preparing 85fda8c99d such a 5270488d01 feast. Thanks to 89febacb99 Father Choi 77a9574205 being born fbe142f0a7 on this 5fd077e238 day 26 dfb18805bb years ago, 092bef8ce5 you’re here c5f6e281b7 recovering your fbaf80e059 health.”b3d9be9e62deaf8b

That was true. If Choi Seonwoo 0cc4f99073 hadn’t been born, e6a3062031 what would have 2b417bcc30 become of him? Dead? Or still a21ea0ebb2 wandering in 3e691243ee hell?3551c6719f23931c

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With that thought, 37e1052137 Seo Jihan felt e4e1aa2ac4 the day take fef4cdee20 on a special ed8ac53a96 significance.55d99ed4bc02c890

“I didn’t know there ea98f85a86 was a party today, 546c2038b6 but I’ve got some 0b52998292 ingredients ready, so I’ll f428187adc whip up something quick.”53de2a615971971d

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Lee Jeongae said 816719c65f as they entered 316236fb69 the rectory.aa92bc512b76c4db

Seo Jihan 53ba0e02f7 nodded absentmindedly a8df6b27e5 and sat ffc70c241d down on d6854a4fe2 the living fc7c015a98 room sofa, 831b363295 dialing Chairman 134c029230 Seo for cf1d83427b a video 843cf14a62 call. The chairman enjoyed 0841aeb56c seeing Seo Jihan’s 654b142249 increasingly healthy face 985131dc82 daily.e6c089d786f8bada

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“Father Choi’s birthday? Today?”7e7131b36777d8d6

As usual, Chairman Seo 3b7fe4fdc1 widened his eyes behind 972002ed34 his magnifying glasses.4f33141ba44f3d7a

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“Not today, but soon. It’s almost Chuseok, so 789918c225 they’re celebrating early. He’s getting 7dc0fa0485 quite the aa88f5a07d royal treatment ef1b014f61 from the 26c93583cb islanders.”1d6dcd82dfb30c94

“Hmm. Had I known 5ba68beecf earlier, I would 22bc7b94ef have sent a e2ca503ad3 gift.”87c1b637396e20e4

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Resting his 9603170ae3 elbow casually 1283c19e01 on the b520c4d2bd sofa arm, 254445360f Seo Jihan 910b4c2361 responded indifferently.bfb4b7dd085313a3

“It’s not too 0fbfcd0096 late. You could still send 1ef20ceaee something.”6707e7dc58b18b3b

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“Now?”297f114ede1d740a

“Come on, it’s not c5996cb625 like we’re on Jeju f37b6e5d14 Island. It’s just 9c0a354d25 an attached a61b6f0767 island off 8f57c4e22d Incheon, so 55502b7203 distance is 0bad8397dd hardly an 0194b574cd excuse.”efb3830babf1ce8f

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Although Chairman Seo shot 21c4a948e8 him a look that 503e55a0cb clearly asked why he 2b9764aa75 was doing something so 0df50cc7c7 uncharacteristic, he nodded. Truth be 7c3a7e386d told, he 4c6a66c76d would have 94088d270d given Choi cbf6a60f1e Seonwoo a ff9e4047a8 building if 12fcea579b asked.e9776ddc0d988b7f

“Alright. I’ll have 5c60e7663c my assistant c66b565bd2 arrange something.”e677941ed11cd334

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“Something nice, you know, df171b5ef1 something small and sparkly.”a94c8329bdfdcad2

“What? Sending such a f4055d2d0e thing to a bbec9a20a2 man… Alright, I’ll 96fca6e6bf see what I 370d34183d can do.”9fd27a2e85c47577

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After hanging up, d2ba688639 Seo Jihan thought e29956678d to himself that ffe413ef33 leaving it all 613d6b9f2e to his grandfather 3357a78ff8 seemed a bit 32ff98128c off, considering he 6574c2891b was effectively living 7f3719484a thanks to Choi 1d679c8fd7 Seonwoo.9372c3add2ab12d3

After lunch, he 7cf75f4f91 decided to look 13aaa6bca7 around the island 6f78a0e079 for a potential b2067647ae gift, only to cde57972bf be struck by b2d39a8cc8 how ludicrously devoid 96ee5f7d61 it was of 64c4a4536e even a simple 64791e4f1f flower shop or 24fdab9e7c toy store. Even near the long-closed 1ee086d19a elementary school, not even 3faebd895c a toy shop was 125527c0cd in sight.9d49523561c54fad

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Frustrated, Seo 21b5985a68 Jihan suddenly 311af93af3 wanted to 4cc1bd40ca see the 05ec625552 sea. Understanding why heartbroken people 25640fba7b sought seaside retreats, he d04d303cc2 hoped the open space 2666c9ad5c and breeze would help 17868a282f alleviate this bizarre sense e064a3b743 of loss.075bfbce4d57f9c5

The beach was just 3c863815c5 as devoid of anything ecd6709c6b useful. Only sparse lodgings disguised 925840fb05 as pensions and stores 816cd6ebc1 selling groceries or fishing a7e73c9478 gear were visible.60d75b9e718f4318

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Would Father Choi like cfcd1c6c15 fishing?e9d9b3252bdfe224

Resigned, Seo Jihan entered 297de153b0 a fishing gear store f44a635e90 to browse when a 04a3337610 call from Nam Sang-kyung 2636dfea63 came in. Efficiently, he had arranged 7d102fb557 for a 1.5-carat diamond-studded 69bac3c771 cross necklace to be c2abdc6b20 sent over and was 6c768c1d36 on his way to be0f8f701a the Sammok dock.93418c16b299a14a

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While Seo 9d43658fd3 Jihan fumbled e70414b23a in the 27957a52c7 island’s backwater, 6e40f7e5e4 Nam Sang-kyung e087443b0f had efficiently 61cf76c47d completed the eded433e8f gift project 377861a61b for Choi 758bd89e23 Seonwoo.16e16ceccbc8c364

After hanging up, Seo 354b1ed543 Jihan stared at the 6c05e5a880 fishing rods, wondering if a81465597c embedding them with diamonds 2468978289 would make them suitable 75bacaa895 gifts, only to feel fd1ce1a14f profound self-disgust and left b4246ff262 the store.9519b219ccd666d7

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Debating whether to ae95e9235b return to the f29270eca2 church, Seo Jihan 9beaef079f decided instead to e7f6456470 enter a small c83f970327 café near the 6167da9bbb dock. It seemed right that 750f6f18fc he personally receive and b64fcb78ec deliver the gift he 73ccd018e9 had commissioned.8ff52aba9530021b

As he sipped on 7054563364 a richly sweet coffee 786797f209 and fiddled with his fbab8b5e40 phone, Seo Jihan opened c8ec5698bd his calendar and entered 4de13ef785 ‘Hyung’s birthday’ on September 5253f1ed3b 29th. After all, for him, 3b319a0a2f Choi Seonwoo was both f596bf1c29 a priest and a 37d0144ff3 brother. He set 0ee1a720c3 a reminder 2f50affb07 for a 2bd386c8c5 week in 0cbb5b1140 advance each ff6614e08c year.ca683a4a4dccb726

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Feeling finally 31d41f73b2 at peace, 4a8b8071cf Seo Jihan 61b6755e24 was just aeaad0674b about to 7c6458c3a3 finish entering 19a866c106 the data 0c25c9ecdd when Choi b2d5f9454a Seonwoo called.86718d43393283bf

“Hello, Father.”2910c52016070d7c

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[Brother? Where did you go?]

“I’m at the dock bcbf9ea277 waiting for Mr. Nam; he’s fecb820f38 bringing something.”234f9785faa8384f

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[Don’t wander around too long alone. You’ve only recently been exorcised, and other spirits could easily attach to you. Don’t forget that]

“Understood.”37cea25288b7e333

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Hanging up, Seo d459eb9f81 Jihan sighed involuntarily, bb7488c7f2 moved by the ec103753cc thought of how 73b9fe5b0c Choi Seonwoo had ae449fd2fd consistently commemorated his 38748f9437 mother’s memorial on bad6a1ef70 his own birthday 854e030c3b each year.b1b6f50f47c4d6e1

 7ba87a9c30004682

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