ACJY C44

The man shouldered the remaining sack and followed Taeheun. He walked a little further, instructing Taeheun where to place the sack. Looking back, he saw that instead of piling the sacks in one place, he’d distributed them evenly throughout the field. He was skilled.

“Is it fertilizer?”

“Yes. Compost and fertilizer.”

“Are you going to spread all of this?”

“Yes. After spreading it all, I’ll till it in again.”

“Again?”

“So it mixes well.”

The man had Taeheun continue tilling the field while he spread the fertilizer and compost.

Taeheun watched him from afar, and after finishing tilling, he started spreading the fertilizer and compost from the opposite side, just like the man. Spreading it wasn’t difficult. It was just the smell that was awful. He got a splitting headache. He hastily wrapped a towel around his nose and mouth like a mask, and it finally felt a little better.

He glanced back, wondering what the man was doing. The man must be smelling the same thing, but he only winced slightly, not making a fuss like Taeheun.

The sun got hotter and hotter while they were spreading the compost. It was unbelievably hot for June, and because of it, he was drenched in sweat. Finishing the work by 12:30 was out of the question. By the time they’d spread the compost and tilled the entire field, it was almost 2:00.

Feeling sorry that the work had been delayed because of him, Taeheun sat in the driver’s seat. Even after showering at the village hall, he kept hold of the steering wheel.

“Get some sleep on the way to town.”

“It’s okay.”

“Okay? Your eyes are full of sleep.”

The man immediately fell asleep.

Taeheun drove quietly, enduring the rattling vibration of the truck, the loud engine noise, and the lukewarm air conditioning. They arrived in town, but the man was sleeping so soundly he couldn’t bring himself to wake him.

He quietly observed the man. The man, who had clearly been farming under the scorching sun for over 10 years, had smooth skin. Freckles dotted the skin beneath his eyes, fringed by long eyelashes. The bridge and slope of his nose were neither too high nor too low. Unlike his seemingly gentle expression, his lips were quite full and red. They hadn’t stood out before because of his dark complexion.

What kind of woman did this man date? Why did she leave him and the child? Did she die?

Come to think of it, the child resembled the man, yet didn’t. He must take after his mother more, Taeheun thought, just as the man’s long eyelashes fluttered. As if he had intended to wake him all along, Taeheun shook the man.

“Mr. Gibeom, wake up. We’re here.”

The man slowly opened his eyes. He straightened up from his reclined position on the seat and yawned, wiping his eyes and rubbing them clear of sleep.

“Shall we have some naengmyeon?”

“Yes.”

A deeply sleepy voice replied.

Taeheun got out of the truck first. He locked the door after seeing the man follow him out.

They ate naengmyeon and king-sized dumplings, then went to the market to pick up Taeheun’s boots and sneakers. They felt a bit small because of his thick socks, but not unwearable.

After buying tteokbokki for the child, the two climbed back into the truck, each with an ice cream in hand. There were no arguments like last time, and they were kind and affectionate to each other. They were comfortable, as if they’d known each other for years, or even a lifetime. Taeheun liked the sense of stability the man gave him.

Should I live with this man?

As if to wake him from this futile dream, his cell phone vibrated. Taeheun, sitting in the passenger seat, opened the phone to check the caller ID.

“Could you pull over for a moment?”

At Taeheun’s words, the man pulled the truck over to the side of the road.

Taeheun answered the phone as he stepped out of the car.

―I heard you’ve been working with Gibeom these days?

Detective Oh asked. Remembering his meeting with Detective Park on Sunday, Taeheun felt embarrassed. Fortunately, Detective Oh’s voice was bright.

“Yes. I’ve just been bored.”

―Can I take that to mean you’re doing well?

“Of course. Thanks to you, I’m doing well.”

He reiterated that he was indeed doing well.

―Well, I have some good news. I know it would be proper to tell you in person, but I thought it best to let you know by phone first.

Detective Oh spoke at length, which was unlike him. It seemed he was still mindful of having offended Taeheun a few days ago regarding the police commissioner’s in-laws. This man was so kind. Taeheun chuckled softly.

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

―The preliminary DNA results have been delivered to Lee Seokdu. It seems Lee Seokdu pulled some strings and put pressure on the National Forensic Service. Thanks to that, the preliminary results came out quickly. The final results won’t be out for another three weeks, but the NFS insisted that whether it takes a month or two, it’s definitely Lee Seonjae. There’s no way it could be wrong, apparently. Well, with the country’s top authority saying that, what can Lee Seokdu do? Anyway, the funeral is starting tomorrow.

Finally, Lee Seonjae’s funeral was taking place. Lee Seokdu, his uncle, had acknowledged Lee Seonjae’s death. He was briefly stunned, then felt relieved.

―It seems we’re over the hump.

Detective Oh’s voice was also relieved.

“Yes. It seems so. You’ve worked hard.”

He heard a hearty laugh from the other end of the line.

―I’m so relieved that the results are good. There’s still a long way to go, but now that we’ve overcome the biggest hurdle, things should go well.

“Of course. I’ll do my best to make sure there are no mistakes.”

―Oh, thank you. We’ll also do our best to make sure your sacrifice isn’t in vain.

Detective Oh spoke in a firm tone.

―Talking to you like this makes it feel like the end is really just around the corner. I should feel relieved, but I don’t know why I feel a bit sad.

The moment he heard the word “end,” Taeheun’s throat tightened.

It was what he had wanted so desperately, yet instead of jumping for joy, he felt lost. Once this was over, all that remained was to run towards the real end. The end he truly desired. Death. But why didn’t he feel happy at all? He looked at the man sitting in the car.

―…llo? Director? Director? Did we get cut off?

He hadn’t heard a word Detective Oh had said.

―Director?

“Ah, yes. The signal is weak here, it keeps cutting out.”

―That’s probably because you’re in the countryside. Anyway, you just need to correct the ledger by the day after tomorrow.

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

The ledger was the evidence. Lee Seonjae had written it and encrypted it. Once Lee Seonjae was proven to be the author, Lee Seokdu and several other high-ranking officials would be summoned one after another. Whether they received appropriate punishment was another matter, but that wasn’t Taeheun’s concern.

While the summoning process was underway, Taeheun would simply leave the country with his newly issued ID and passport. All testimonies would be given in writing or by video, and even if he had to appear in court in person, there would be nothing to fear.

It was a ledger he had worked on alone for over 10 years, so proving it was a piece of cake. That’s how it should be. But remembering a mistake he had made during the last task, he wasn’t so sure. A prank he’d pulled unconsciously, or rather, a mistake. He didn’t know when he might repeat the same mistake. If the mistake was repeated, the evidentiary value of the ledger would be questioned. Even if they were inferior to him, the advisors working for the other side also made their living with numbers. It was obvious how those number-crunching professionals would interpret his frequent mistakes. A chill ran down his spine. His hand holding the phone was damp.

Taeheun looked at the man. Looking at him calmed his anxiety. As if oblivious to Taeheun’s feelings, the man didn’t even pretend to eavesdrop on the conversation. He just sat silently, gazing at the scenery across the street.

Pay some attention to me. I’m right here, where are you looking?

He sent a childish telepathic message to the man. It wouldn’t work.

―I’ll stop by soon. Let’s have a drink together.

“Yes. Let’s.”

He closed the phone with his chin and wiped his damp palm on his pants.

Taeheun opened the passenger door. The man turned around. The radio was playing quite loudly. He’d probably turned up the volume on purpose so as not to hear the conversation. He was needlessly considerate.

“Do you smoke?”

Taeheun asked.

“…No.”

“At all?”

“I used to, but I quit because it’s bad for my kid. Why, do you have any?”

He rummaged through the glove compartment and held out a pack of cigarettes. Marlboro Lights. It was about half empty, and a disposable lighter filled the empty space.

“Why do you have cigarettes if you don’t smoke?”

“Yongjun often leaves them here.”

“I see.”

Taeheun took a cigarette from the pack and put it in his mouth, still standing. He flicked the lighter’s flint on and off but didn’t light the cigarette. Then, with the cigarette still in his mouth, he got into the passenger seat.

“In the car…”

“I won’t smoke. I’m just going to hold it.”

“Okay.”

The man started the car.

✽✽✽

After parting with the man, Taeheun headed to the abandoned house. He was supposed to work on the ledger Detective Oh had asked for, but he couldn’t concentrate at all. At first, he was distracted by the fact that he had made a mistake, and later, by thoughts of his own funeral the following day.

Lee Seonjae’s funeral was to be held at a university hospital funeral home. That was all the information Detective Oh had given him. Taeheun let his imagination run wild.

Since Lee Seokdu was Lee Seonjae’s legal father, his older brother, Lee Hyeonjun, would receive mourners in his stead. Regardless of how he felt inside, he would at least put on a sorrowful expression. He was a showman, so he might even cry. Lee Seonjae’s biological parents and siblings would probably be treated like strangers, kept at a distance. He wondered who would receive Lee Seonjae’s life insurance payout. All sorts of things crossed his mind.

As evening approached, the man came to pick up Taeheun, who was still at the abandoned house.

“Are you there? Hello?”

The man politely knocked on the front door and called out.

Taeheun had just finished his work and was writing an email. He hadn’t expected the man to come looking for him and was so overjoyed that he almost ran out barefoot, nearly ripping through the black plastic sheet covering the front door. He barely managed to regain his composure, went out the back, opened the kitchen door, and ran.

“I’m here!”

Taeheun shouted, worried that the man might leave without seeing him. He threw open the front gate at the same time. The man, who seemed to have expected him to come out later, was startled and stepped back.

“Why are you so surprised? I’m thrilled to see you.”

Taeheun grumbled, and the man, embarrassed, nudged the ground with his slipper.

“Um, haven’t you had dinner?”

“I need to eat. But how did you know I was here?”

He asked and then immediately regretted it.

“I told you.”

This time, Taeheun awkwardly scratched his eyebrow. The man’s gaze shifted to the cigarette between Taeheun’s fingers.

“Oh. Sorry. I was smoking while working.”

He quickly flicked the cigarette to extinguish it.

“Does it smell a lot?”

“Yes.”

“Oh dear. Jihye won’t like that. I’m almost done with work, so I’ll come down right away. I have clothes to change into. I’ll change and come down.”

He rattled on, even though there was no rush.

The man just looked at Taeheun for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“I’ll wait. Come down.”

“Yes. I’ll be right there.”

The man turned and walked down the alley.

I should have invited him in.

There wasn’t much to see, but wouldn’t the man have been curious? He felt bad for making the man wait outside the gate. And grateful. Grateful that he had come looking for him, that he had invited him to dinner.

He smiled foolishly to himself, overwhelmed with emotion. He barely managed to compose himself and sent three faxes in succession. After confirming that the faxes had gone through properly, he turned off the stand lamp and fluorescent light. Leaving behind the scattered ledgers, notes, and disposable paper cups from which he’d drunk water and coffee, he left the abandoned house.

His anxious mind had returned to its usual calmness. Until he heard the phone ringing. It was coming from the abandoned house. Was there a problem with the email he had just sent? Had he made another mistake? His heart sank. Taeheun ran back to the abandoned house.