OMS 101

Looking at the documents before him, Park Dong-sik let out a long sigh. While investigating Lee Hee-soo’s movements on the day of the accident, they discovered he had taken a taxi, and they found the driver. According to the driver, Lee Hee-soo had left some documents behind that day. He kept them hoping Lee Hee-soo would come back for them, but it looked like he had completely forgotten about them recently.

The taxi first picked up Lee Hee-soo at a city hospital, and according to Kim Jun-han, that was probably where he learned about Kim Kyungsu’s death. The documents were quite detailed, and Park Dong-sik unconsciously rubbed his face while holding Kim Kyungsu’s papers.

“Did he really…freeze to death on the street?”

“Yes, he was declared disabled after injuring his leg in an accident, and it seems life became difficult when he couldn’t find work. He became dependent on alcohol and met his end on the street.”

Damn it. How did the three of us end up with such miserable fates? What if we had known earlier? Even if I was only concerned with myself, I would have taken responsibility. I wouldn’t have let him freeze to death on the street, and I wouldn’t have let Hee-soo make that choice either.

At this point, those people called parents weren’t just resented, they were cursed. He only wished them to rot in pain for the rest of their lives.

“The hospital staff said Hee-soo came the first day, and Kim Kyungsu’s twin brother came the next. Since they were identical and the deceased had no relations, the hospital naturally believed they were family.”

“The twin brother would be Hee-soo who entered Park Dongsik’s body, right…?”

“Probably.”

“So Hee-soo really did put on a show with Kim Kyungsu’s body?”

“Do you resent him?”

“It would be a lie to say no. Why did he run away in someone else’s body? I hate him, but I also feel sorry for him. How terrible and hard must life have been for someone so young and beautiful to want a body like mine? I feel sorry for the dead twin, sorry for Hee-soo…So many pitiful people…”

Park Dong-sik cursed and leaned back on the sofa, squeezing his eyes shut. Then Kim Jun-han came over from across the room and sat down on the carpet without hesitation, looking up at Park Dong-sik from below. Surprised to see him sitting on the floor, Park Dong-sik stared at him.

“What are you doing?”

“They say looking into the eyes of someone you love helps calm your mind.”

His throat choked up at the unexpected tenderness.

“So, what did you talk about with Tae-han today?”

Park Dong-sik tried to pull his feet away in disgust.

“What, I should have known.”

Though he struggled to get away, Kim Jun-han held his ankle firmly and wouldn’t let go, so he finally gave up and had to face him.

“I just watched him eat porridge and left. Your mother came this morning, and she was so worried about him not eating, so I went to check on him.”

“Were you worried?”

“Who? Me?”

“Yes.”

“Hah, why would I worry about someone like him? He’s just a con man who did all sorts of terrible things behind my back…”

“You say that, but I know you were worried.”

“…”

“Because you can’t just cut out feelings for someone like cutting radishes.”

“…”

“I won’t rush you or get angry.”

Park Dong-sik kept his mouth shut. If one or both of the twins were Kim Tae-han’s, what would you do then? Could you still stay by my side? From his experience, Kim Tae-han might be able to endure it, but Kim Jun-han definitely couldn’t.

“Do you have something to tell me?”

Park Dong-sik shook his head.

“Just…tired and sleepy.”

“Let’s go to bed. I’ll read you a book.”

He took his hand and helped him up, and they moved from the living room to the bedroom. After lying down on the bed, Kim Jun-han gently kissed his belly and began reading the book he had chosen. Though all the characters had the same voice and tone, his pleasant timbre made even that sound like a lullaby.

From under the covers, Park Dong-sik fumbled for Kim Jun-han’s hand. Holding it tight while closing his eyes, Kim Jun-han put down the book and gently stroked his hair before touching his ear. Under the warm touch, Park Dong-sik mumbled drowsily.

“You know what…?”

“Hmm?”

“Touching ears makes you sleepy…”

He heard a soft laugh, and Park Dong-sik drifted off to sleep, unable to stay awake any longer. Part of him prayed that Whitey and Blacky would visit him in his dreams tonight. To tell him, even now, who their father was. But the mischievous little ones, seeming intent on tormenting Park Dong-sik, never bothered to show their faces.

***

“How about this?”

When he showed her the tiny clothes, Kim Yoon-ah smiled brightly and said that she loved it. “So cute.” 

Feeling cooped up at home, he was browsing baby items at the department store with Kim Yoon-ah, and there were so many pretty things. While excitedly looking at other items, Kim Yoon-ah suddenly brought up Kim Jun-han.

“Shouldn’t you be coming to places like this with the CEO?”

“Jun-han is super busy. He came home at dawn yesterday too.”

Checking the price tag on the baby clothes, Park Dong-sik’s jaw dropped to the floor. Not believing what he saw, he counted the zeros from the end, but still couldn’t believe it.

“Wow, clothes small enough to fit in the palm of your hand are more expensive than adult clothes.”

“That’s how it always is. There’s a famous singer abroad who bought their four-year-old daughter a designer bag worth tens of millions of won.”

“Geez. In my day, we used to fight over who got to wear the hand-me-downs, pulling each other’s hair…”

Park Dong-sik trailed off, flustered. He had carelessly mentioned his life at the orphanage. He glanced at Kim Yoon-ah, but there was no reaction. Come to think of it, Kim Yoon-ah had stopped asking if his memories had returned. When did that start…?

“Yoon-ah.”

“Yes?”

“By any chance, do you know who I am?”

“You’re Hee-soo, aren’t you?”

“…”

Park Dong-sik forced out a smile and avoided her gaze. Maybe it was a foolish thought. As they wandered around and reached the luxury brand section, they happened to see two familiar people entering a store.

One was Lee Hee-soo’s mother, and the other was Lee Hoon-jae. Seeing them arm in arm made him want to vomit. They should take better care of their own children.

“Look who we run into here.”

“Should we go to another floor?”

After thinking for a moment, Park Dong-sik shook his head and headed toward the luxury section. Up close, they were buying bags and shoes without hesitation. Seeing this, Park Dong-sik snickered and muttered.

“That’s right, spend it all, spend away. It’s all debt, debt.”

Kim Yoon-ah, who was listening, chimed in.

“I heard Lee Seon-jae practically lives at clubs.”

“Clubs?”

“Yes, they say he spends money like water there. He got plastic surgery again too.”

Park Dong-sik clicked his tongue. Right, enjoy it while you can. Soon the gates of hell will open and the Grim Reaper will come for you. As he turned away, not wanting to see anymore, an unexpected figure approached from the opposite direction. Park Dong-sik hurriedly pulled Kim Yoon-ah behind a pillar.

Dragged along suddenly, Kim Yoon-ah blinked and asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“Isn’t that Kim Jun-han?”

Kim Yoon-ah peeked around the pillar and gasped. 

“Yes, it’s the CEO.” 

Park Dong-sik tilted his head to one side. What’s this? He said he was busy, so why is he at the department store at this hour…?

Moreover, he wasn’t alone but was with a refined, tall man. Whether he was an omega or beta was unclear, but they seemed quite close, chatting and laughing as they walked.

Rolling his eyes, Park Dong-sik took out his phone and called Kim Jun-han.

[This is Kim Jun-han.]

“Are you busy, CEO?”

[I’m out on business briefly. Is something wrong?]

“No. I’ll see you tonight. Hanging up.”

After hanging up, Park Dong-sik’s eyes narrowed.

“That person is suspicious. What business could he have at a department store?”

“Indeed…”

“Is he having an affair?”

“No way…”

“But why do I feel strange? I’m suspicious and irritated. Is this pregnancy depression?”

“Should I go check it out?”

After thinking things over, Park Dong-sik shook his head.

“No, let’s just go. It would be awkward to run into them.”

Even after hurriedly taking the elevator down and getting in the car, his curiosity grew. Why did he come here? Who was that person with him? They were quite beautiful. Could he really be having an affair? Oddly enough, he felt more angry than when he’d heard news of Kim Jun-han’s romance after he ran away.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s probably not an affair.”

At Kim Yoon-ah’s words, Park Dong-sik shrugged his shoulders, trying to act cool.

“Not at all. We’re divorced anyway, and I’m not in any position to say anything. Let’s go eat. I’m getting hungry.”

As Kim Yoon-ah started the car, someone knocked on the window. Park Dong-sik’s eyes widened in surprise. When he lowered the window, Kim Jun-han leaned down, resting his hand on top of the car.

“Secretary Choi said he saw you, but I couldn’t believe it. So you were here. Did you come to do some shopping?”

“Y-Yes…”

“I was upstairs, didn’t you see me?”

“I didn’t…”

“Get out and come with me. I have something to tell you.”

“Where did you leave your companion?”

“I thought you didn’t see me.”

“…”

Kim Jun-han urged him with his eyes, and Park Dong-sik reluctantly got out of the car. After telling Kim Yoon-ah to drive safely, he followed Kim Jun-han. Even after getting in his car, his curiosity remained unresolved. Why did he come here? What for? Who was that person with him? As he stared suspiciously, Kim Jun-han reached for something from the back and handed it to him.

“I was going to give this to you at home, but this works out too. Open it.”

Park Dong-sik’s expression hardened as he opened the envelope. Though the photos were taken from far away, he could immediately tell who it was.

“We found them at a cafe in Jeju Island.”

Looking at the increasingly clear face in the photos, Park Dong-sik couldn’t close his mouth.

“Wow, it was true. He was alive…”

“We’ll need to take a plane to meet him. Will that be okay?”

Park Dong-sik looked worried.

“I’ve never been on a plane before…”

“It’s only an hour, so it shouldn’t be too strenuous. We’ll have medical staff accompany us too.”

“You don’t need to go that far. But do you have to take your shoes off on the plane? I knew someone who said you had to take your shoes off at the entrance…”

Kim Jun-han opened his mouth, then closed it, and Park Dong-sik nodded his head.

“Well, people pay good money to ride, so they must keep the floor really clean…”

Kim Jun-han’s expression was caught between wanting to laugh and not as Park Dong-sik spoke with such seriousness. However, Park Dong-sik was too absorbed in the photographs to notice.