By Zephyria 
I looked up at the hospital building from the entrance, and many thoughts crossed my mind. When I went to the ward, a security guard blocked my entry, asking what business I had. Lee-eum showed his ID and explained the reason for his visit. Then, the security guard contacted someone, and Kim Ji-cheol’s secretary hurriedly appeared. It was a different person from the one I had seen before.
“Hello, I’m Yang Ji-wook, serving President Kim Ji-cheol. What brings you here?”
“I have a few questions regarding Kim Ok-cheol’s suicide.”
“He needs to rest right now. Could you come another time?”
“Ten minutes, no, five minutes will do. I understand he has regained consciousness and is capable of conversation.”
The secretary looked troubled and went inside, telling me to wait. Then, he came out sooner than expected and opened the door. Stepping inside, the ward was the size of a typical house, and there were even spa facilities inside.
Lee-eum walked to the bed. Kim Ji-cheol was lying down, both arms restrained, with an IV drip attached. According to the detective from the main office’s investigation department, he occasionally threw fits.
The oily sheen on his face was gone without a trace, his eyes were sunken and unfocused, and his cheeks were hollow and gaunt. Although I couldn’t tell if he had fingers due to the bandages, his appearance was no different from a living corpse.
“What brings a detective like you here?”
Even in that state, Kim Ji-cheol was sarcastic, and Lee-eum looked at the man introduced as the secretary.
“I’d like to speak with him alone.”
“That’s a bit…”
As the secretary looked troubled, Kim Ji-cheol told him not to worry and to leave. Once the secretary disappeared and they were alone, Lee-eum moved closer to Kim Ji-cheol.
“How are you feeling?”
“Ha, are you worried about me? Goddamn, I could cry.”
“You will be investigated for abetting and instigating Kim Ok-cheol’s suicide. In addition, the hit-and-run death of Kim Da-hyun’s mother will also be reinvestigated. So, you need to recover first to be properly investigated.”
“Kim Ok-cheol? Who’s that?”
“Kim Da-hyun’s father. The man you drove to his death by sending him a video.”
“What bullshit are you spouting? Do you have proof?”
“Seo Min-ho, your secretary, testified. We also found the late Kim Ok-cheol’s cell phone, and today, the Southern District Office will obtain a search and seizure warrant from the prosecutor’s office to search your home and office. No, they’re probably doing it now.”
“You son of a bitch!” Kim Ji-cheol tried to raise himself up but gave up and lay back down, grinding his teeth. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes.
“Hey, tell me honestly! You’re the one who did this to me, aren’t you? You did this, didn’t you?”
Kim Yi-eum looked down at Kim Ji-cheol without a word. To be honest, he had been feeling disturbed until he came here. He wanted to kill him, but now that his fingers were all cut off, he felt strange.
“I’m asking you! Did you do it, you bastard!”
Looking at Kim Ji-cheol’s sunken eyes, Lee-eum slowly moved closer to his head.
“How does it feel?”
“What!”
“Are you still not afraid of anything?”
Kim Ji-cheol’s face contorted, and Lee-eum smiled bitterly.
“Or have you become afraid now?”
Kim Ji-cheol twisted his lips.
“Hey, just because I’m lying here like this, do you think you’ve gotten revenge or something? Don’t be ridiculous. My life isn’t over just because I don’t have hands. My father will make a comeback soon, and I can just get these hands transplanted!”
“……”
“Then your life as a detective will be over too. I’ll send you to that bitch Kim Da-hyun’s side. You were honestly interested in her too, weren’t you? That’s why you’re clinging to me,”
Before he could finish speaking, Lee-eum grabbed the pillow next to him and pressed it against Kim Ji-cheol’s face. Then, he pressed down with force. “Ugh, ugh!” His body thrashed, and the bed shook. Just before his arms and legs lost strength, Lee-eum removed the pillow.
Kim Ji-cheol coughed incessantly, spitting saliva with a face as red as if it would burst. He trembled, his eyes filled with fear.
“You, you!”
Lee-eum lowered his voice as he looked at Kim Ji-cheol.
“Do you know how many people you’ve thrown into hell?”
“……”
“Now it’s your turn.”
As Kim Ji-cheol trembled, the door opened, and the secretary came in. Hearing that visiting hours were over, Lee-eum told Kim Ji-cheol that he would see him later and went outside. He heard a belated scream threatening that he wouldn’t be let off, but Lee-eum knew. Unlike before, his voice was trembling severely.
Lee-eum walked down the hallway, stopped midway, and stared blankly at the palm of his hand. It still felt like the sensation of pressing down on Kim Ji-cheol’s face remained. Trying to shake it off, he clenched his fist tightly and let out a deep sigh.
❖ ❖ ❖
Amid the crowd in front of the airport exit, Chairman Choi sighed, holding an arrival welcome sign. The sign in his hand had the three letters of ‘Choi Won-joon’ written on it, and the colorful design was something you’d use at a talent show.
In fact, Chairman Choi remembered holding and waving something similar when Choi Won-joon was in kindergarten. Of course, it was because his wife, Lee Mi-ran, had told him to. Lee Mi-ran was holding roses and standing with an excited expression, and Chairman Choi was annoyed but couldn’t help but smile when he saw his wife’s face.
“Are you that happy to see your son?”
“It’s been ten days. I couldn’t even video call him because it would interfere with his work.”
“You don’t do that to Tae-seung or Ji-seung, but you’re especially like that with Won-joon.”
“Maybe it’s because he’s the youngest, but he still seems like a child to me. I wonder if he got any sleep on the way here.”
“His insomnia hasn’t been just for a day or two.”
“I’m worried because it’s gotten worse lately. Director Park said he’s taking more medication.”
At that moment, a woman with a green bag passed by among the foreign tourists, and Madam Lee’s gaze naturally followed the woman, muttering to herself.
“That’s a very pretty bag…”
No sooner had she finished speaking than Chairman Choi gestured to his secretary next to him, and the secretary took out a camera and took a picture of the bag as if he was used to it. Probably in a few days, the same bag would be in Madam Lee’s hands.
After waiting for a long time, people started coming out of the exit one by one. Choi Won-joon was also there, and he stood out at a glance because he was much taller than the others. Director Lee was also with him.
Madam Lee waved her hand happily and signaled to her husband. Chairman Choi reluctantly waved the sign half-heartedly, and Won-joon approached as if it was a common occurrence and hugged Madam Lee.
“Mom, it’s been a while.”
“Jun-ah. You’ve worked hard. Director Lee, you’ve worked hard too. You both look tired. Let’s go home. Mom has made some delicious food.”
Choi Won-joon looked apologetic.
“I’m busy, so I have to go straight to the office. Dinner later.”
Before Madam Lee could answer, Chairman Choi suddenly interjected. He grumbled about how difficult it was to have a simple meal, and how much your mother had prepared ribs and everything else since yesterday. If his mother wasn’t there, Won-joon wanted to grab his father and ask. If his mother’s food was really delicious.
Choi Won-joon’s mother’s cooking skills were terrible, but she occasionally cooked with her own hands, and every time she did, Chairman Choi always gave a thumbs up, saying it was delicious. He wondered if his tongue had become numb with age, but it seemed to have been like that since Won-joon was young.
Thanks to that, Won-joon and his brothers hadn’t been able to say it honestly until now.
As Chairman Choi got angry, Madam Lee glared at him and patted Won-joon’s back.
“It’s okay. It’s enough to see your face. Work comes first. Can you come on the weekend?”
“Yes. I’ll definitely go.”
“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”
After hugging his mother again, he tried to do the same with his father, but they both recoiled in disgust and stepped back. After coming outside and seeing his mother and father off, Choi Won-joon got into the car with Director Lee.
“How’s Kim Ji-cheol?”
“He’s still in the hospital.”
“His recovery?”
“Secretary Yang says he’s much better.”
Won-joon had bribed Secretary Yang, Kim Ji-cheol’s closest aide. That was why he was able to find out his schedule that day and kidnap him so easily. Buying people’s hearts with money isn’t difficult. Although there are definitely people who aren’t like that.
Won-joon shifted his gaze to the window, and Director Lee carefully asked, watching his expression.
“Are you going to tell Detective Kim Yi-eum the truth?”
“No.”
“Isn’t that why you did it, to impress him?”
“Ji-hoon-ah.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think Kim Yi-eum is the kind of person who would say, ‘Oh, Won-joon Oppa, I love you! You’re so cool!’ just because I cut off those damn fingers?”
“Not at all…”
“Right. It’s more likely I’ll get cursed out and handcuffed.”
Just then, the car passed over a bridge, and the sea came into view. Won-joon rested his chin on the car window and looked outside. Kim Yi-eum’s hobby was fishing, so I wonder if he likes sea fishing too. I have a mountain of work to do at the office, but thinking about it makes me want to see him so badly.
“Ji-hoon-ah.”
“Yes.”
“Shall we go see our Lee-eum?”