DI Ch 210

Though it’s a common phrase, I couldn’t help but think of Tae Seong-je. Whenever I try to spend money, he always prevents me, saying where a student would get money from. I wondered if he would still do that even after I graduate and start working.

“Maybe I should have accepted it earlier.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, at the company.”

It seems I wasn’t the only one lost in thought as he suddenly changed the subject. Then I realized from his brief comment that he had gotten the job through an offer, a headhunt. And quite early too.

My impression at that moment was quite simple. He really knows how to take care of himself. I felt I wouldn’t have to worry even if Kang Moo-hyun showed up again. Wait, am I the one who should be more concerned about my own life? As a sense of crisis hit me, the words I had said to Seo Seung-joon came back sharply, making my stomach sting. I realized I was in no position to say anything to others.

“I had received offers before, but I turned them down because they felt excessive and unsettling. But now that I’m actually working, I don’t have any other thoughts and I’m enjoying it.”

As I stood there clutching my stomach, Woo Ji-min sighed and spoke again.

“Although there aren’t many people, the atmosphere is good, and even though it’s busy, there’s a lot to learn, and there’s a satisfaction in checking my bank account every month. So lately, I’ve been feeling grateful.”

For the first time, Woo Ji-min looked straight into my eyes without avoiding them. Just as I thought I saw his eyes flicker due to the lighting, he spoke again.

“So, make sure to pass that along for me.”

“Sure.”

“……”

“Wait, me?”

Huh?

“Why me?”

“…If you don’t want to, then don’t. It’s fine, you don’t have to relay it! I don’t need it either!”

Why was he suddenly embarrassed? His flustered reaction, as if he’d been humiliated, caught me off guard. Wait, who am I supposed to pass this to?

“Ah! You mean my hyung?”

“……”

I almost clapped my hands like a child without realizing it. Ah. Then that company? So that means that’s the one? Memories started coming back one by one, from the empty office that seemed like someone had urgently left, to the nameplate with Tae Seong-je’s name and the congratulatory wreath. I thought this area looked familiar, it was that place I suddenly went to. How embarrassing, but I had prepared as if I knew what I was doing and ended up getting kidnapped. Shit…

It wasn’t particularly a good memory so I had tried to forget it, but as the puzzle pieces belatedly fell into place, everything started to make sense. So this is how he meant to help when he said he would. I hadn’t thought of this method, so I could only marvel. People always said that with money, you could do almost anything—and it turns out they were right. It was fascinating to see it play out like this.

“I must have misheard. I’m sorry. I’ll pass the message along.”

There were so many things I wanted to ask, like what kind of place it was, whether hyung even went to work, or if he actually did anything there. But I was short on time, so I quickly mumbled my words.

“Wait a moment.”

“Yes?”

As soon as I got in the car and lowered the window, Ji-min spoke. For a moment, it seemed like he glanced at my phone with a disgusted look.

“I forgot to ask this.”

“What is it?”

“Did you drink the alcohol I gave you?”

Alcohol? For a moment, I didn’t understand what he meant and missed the timing to answer.

“You know, the bottle I gave you from the bar where I used to work? I didn’t need it, so I gave it to you as a gift. Don’t you remember?”

“Ah. That.”

How could I forget that? I almost ruined my life in two ways because of it. I had forgotten about it until just now, but it was an unforgettable incident.

“Yes, that. You didn’t drink it, right? You said you’d just keep it for decoration.”

“That’s… right.”

When I laughed awkwardly, Woo Ji-min seemed to take it as an affirmation. He looked somewhat relieved.

“Seeing that you haven’t said anything until now, it seems you didn’t drink it. That’s good. We need to submit that as evidence, you know? Can you give it back? You still have it, right?”

“…Evidence?”

“There’s something weird inside, so don’t touch it. Don’t open it. If you do, it’ll disappear fast. It’s, uh, a date r4pe drug.”

“……”

It was then that I sensed something was off.

“It came out that the place I worked part-time was one of the distribution points. Didn’t you see the news? It was quite a big story. Ah, you probably didn’t have the mind for that. I understand. Anyway, they couldn’t properly file charges because there was no evidence, but someone reported it and they caught everyone.”

“…Ah.”

“Doesn’t sound like it’s about our country, right? I thought so too, but when I got involved… Hah. Even though I’m not directly related, given the situation, I’m also under suspicion and investigation. They think I diverted it because I gave two bottles that the boss gave me as a gift to someone else. Anyway, so…”

My ears were ringing. What is he saying? Words I never imagined like drug, victim, charges, and trial were floating around in my head. It was suddenly overwhelming, and I abruptly cut off Woo Ji-min’s words.

“Aren’t you misunderstanding something?”

I was about to ask what he meant by that sudden statement, but seeing his face harden, I realized I had misspoken. I couldn’t remember how I ended the conversation. I’m not even sure if I apologized properly. The only thing I could focus on was my phone, still connected with only the other side’s screen off. He must be hearing everything on the other end, but there’s no reaction. I could feel the driver watching me from the front seat. The journey back was filled with heavy silence, and I kept my mouth shut.

As soon as my fingers started searching online, articles popped up as if they had been waiting for me. The scandal wasn’t limited to just politics or the entertainment world; even the sports industry was involved. I knew Woo Ji-min wouldn’t lie about something like this, but I couldn’t help hoping it was false. Unfortunately, there was no denying it. The perpetrators, who had been hiding in plain sight, were being dragged out like criminals caught red-handed. I thought I had finally opened my eyes and was living in reality, but it seemed I’d been living with my eyes closed and ears plugged this whole time.

Why did hyung, Tae Seong-je, tell me not to say anything when I came back? I thought it was jealousy. I thought it was just jealousy. I assumed he didn’t like the idea of me recalling and rehashing conversations with other people because of his fragile emotions. I was so caught up in that thought, enjoying myself like I was strolling through a flower garden, that I didn’t notice how strange everything had become. Why didn’t I notice? Why was I the only one who didn’t know? No, why didn’t hyung say anything? If this had gone unnoticed, he’d be the one seen as the bad guy. Or maybe he only found out later and couldn’t say anything. But if he knew later, shouldn’t he have told me at some point?

If nothing else, I know well enough that hyung doesn’t do things that would disadvantage himself. For example, when he switched places with his comatose adoptive father to save me, even my younger brother must have witnessed that. After all, Seo Seung-joon was the last person with me back then. Although scared and afraid, Seung-joon must have kept quiet and acquiesced out of immediate concern for me. However, someday, no matter how late, there will come a time when he finally speaks up. It wasn’t just me who anticipated this, so hyung spoke honestly with the right timing, atmosphere, and subtle nuance. In the end, the situation ended without anyone being disadvantaged. If he could have kept it hidden until the end, he certainly wouldn’t have said anything. Yes, that’s the kind of person hyung is.

But what about this? Isn’t this just too much of a loss for him? Honestly, he could’ve hidden this until the end, but he didn’t. Instead, he left it for me to find out on my own. What happened to “ignorance is bliss”? Learning about something like this later on feels absolutely horrible. Was that what he wanted me to understand? Holding my aching stomach, I stared at the black camera lens. This reversed situation was really unpleasant.

As I was cursing inwardly, I suddenly heard a knock. When I looked up, I saw a familiar silhouette through the window. I don’t know when we arrived, or how time had passed like this. As the door opened and I was greeted by a smiling face welcoming me, I moved my lips slightly. I admit that beyond being insensitive, I was selfish. Yes. I lived that way just to make myself comfortable. But even so, wasn’t this method of correcting my behavior too much? This is messed up.

“Sand…”

It’s awful, but still.

“I want to see the sand.”

In the end, all I could say was that I wanted to see Sand, because of the promise I had made. I couldn’t look straight at the faint upward curve of his lips. The mansion had become quiet to the point of being empty as if everyone had left, and my mind felt similarly vacant. I couldn’t ask why he hadn’t told me. Because I had done the same. I had ended conversations by saying it was all fine if I was okay. I often overlooked things even when I knew, if there wasn’t much reason to correct them. I did it often. Because it was comfortable. Also because I didn’t want to complicate things further when there were already so many headache-inducing issues even when staying still. The tightening in my stomach was so painful that I almost burst into tears. Is this what they call mirror therapy?

“Did you eat dinner well?”

“Yes…”

“You’ve been in the car for a long time, aren’t you tired?”

“Yes…”

At that time, given the situation, I thought hyung might have been too angry. And above all, I believed it was okay because I had done something worse. But no matter how you dress it up, it was ultimately r4pe, and I should have been angry with him then. I shouldn’t have let it slide thinking that people can do such things when they’re too drunk.

There are things in this world that aren’t okay, even if the person says they are. And no matter how much love is involved, there are things that cannot be forgiven. Situations change, and hearts get hurt because of that. As hyung’s sincere words finally hit home, I felt a stinging sensation at the back of my head. Every word he had said, considering my feelings, sharply pierced my weak spots, making my whole body ache.