OMS 93

Waking up late, Park Dong-sik stretched as he left the bedroom. The living room still showed traces of Kim Tae-han and Kim Jun-han from last night. He’d ended up pushing them out to the main house, irritated by their constant bickering. Checking his messages, he found one from Kim Jun-han saying he’d gone to work.

As he was typing a reply, a call came in. Since the housekeeper would be arriving soon, Park Dong-sik returned to the bedroom to answer.

[“This is Lee Hee-soo’s investigator. We’re still looking into Kim Yoon-ah’s birth parents, but I called because I have some other questions.”]

Park Dong-sik leaned back in a corner chair.

“Yes, go ahead.”

[“While investigating, we found out you’d previously hired another agency for the same request. They said they provided you with some materials. Do you remember?”]

Park Dong-sik scratched his forehead awkwardly.

“I lost my memories in an accident. When was this?”

The detective gave a date, ten days before the accident.

[“You don’t remember anything?”]

How could I remember when I’m not Hee-soo?

“Not at all…What materials did they send? Did they include Park Dong-sik’s photos?”

[“They were similar to what I provided, and yes, photos were included.”]

Park Dong-sik was stunned. What? Then, when he came to borrow a light before dying, he knew my face? But he seemed so calm…No, thinking back, he did seem somewhat tired and resigned.

[“Also, we confirmed Park Dong-sik’s birth mother yesterday. After checking all nearby hospitals with no results, we discovered that he had a midwife come to the house.”]

“A midwife?”

[“They used to call them sanpa. She’s elderly with some dementia, but when I visited, her memories were quite clear.”]

Park Dong-sik asked with a darkened expression on his face.

“Is Park Dong-sik’s mother really my mother…?”

[“Yes. Yoo Hyeon-oh, who was once an actress.”]

Park Dong-sik rubbed his face vigorously. Hee-soo and I have the same mother…Though he’d suspected it, and it wasn’t a huge shock, he couldn’t help feeling conflicted about the whole thing. If he was going to abandon one, he should have at least raised the other one well.

When there was no response, the voice continued through the receiver.

[“But there’s something strange in her testimony. According to the midwife, more than one child was born that day. She says they were twins—”]

Park Dong-sik asked incredulously.

“Twins?”

[“Identical twins of the same gender. But as I mentioned, given his mental state, it’s hard to know how much to believe.”]

This makes no sense. He’d never heard anything about twin siblings from his father.

“The old lady must really have dementia…”

[“Well, I also doubt its credibility, but it bothers me. We could confirm with Park Chun-bae, but he’s currently wanted for fraud, making contact difficult.”]

Ah, this bastard again…It’s no wonder he looked better when seen on the street. With multiple previous convictions for gambling and fraud, he won’t get out easily if he goes to prison this time. For society’s order and peace, hopefully, he’ll rot in there.

“Leave it. That person would just try to extort money if we found him. Besides, if we were identical twins with the same face, how could we not have known about this?”

[“Right? I think similarly. I’ll let that rest and contact you if anything else comes up.”]

After hanging up, Park Dong-sik stared at the phone with a troubled expression. So Hee-soo’s mother really was my birth mother. No wonder I felt no attachment from the first meeting. It was neither surprising nor sad, just utterly ridiculous.

However, the fact that Lee Hee-soo knew about me and chose to borrow a light from me before dying remains mysterious. Did you have something you wanted to tell me…?

Just then, another call came in, and seeing the caller ID, Park Dong-sik gritted his teeth tightly.

“Some people never learn.”

***

Ah, I didn’t want to come to this house…

Park Dong-sik had the security guard wait in the car while he crossed the yard to the entrance.

Before he could knock, Lee Hee-soo’s mother rushed out with a bright face.

“Hee-soo!”

Anyone watching would think they were incredibly close. He still couldn’t believe the person before him was his birth mother. Do we look alike…? Though he tried to recall Park Dong-sik’s face, the memory was strangely dim. Only the bloated image from the morgue remained clear.

As he sat on the sofa, Lee Hee-soo’s mother brought out some tea and cut fruit. Sitting beside him, he held his hand with an affectionate expression on his face.

“My Hee-soo, I’m so happy you seem to be back to your old self. I know you’ve felt hurt all this time. I’m sorry for not understanding you. But you know my heart, right?”

His skill at sweet-talking and coaxing was artful.

Though he offered fruit and tea, he didn’t want to eat, not knowing what might be in them.

“Mother.”

“Yes?”

“Mother…”

“What is it?”

He thought calling him “mother” would feel different, that some affection might develop where there was none, but no. He was still just as repulsive. Park Dong-sik smiled bitterly and continued his questions.

“I’m curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“Did you know about what Hoon-jae did to me?”

When asked this casually, his mother’s face froze and he stammered.

“You…you…did your memories return?”

“So you did know.”

“That…that was so long ago. He was just playing around because you were pretty when you were in middle school. The misunderstanding was cleared up, and you got over it. Don’t tell me you’ve been angry all this time because of that? You haven’t told anyone else, have you…?”

Playing around? You really think that was just playing around? As he was about to speak, footsteps came from the stairs as Lee Hoon-jae and Lee Seon-jae descended. Park Dong-sik completely changed his expression, standing with a smile.

“Hi, brothers.”

“You bitch! Come here. You stole something from my room after knocking me out last time!”

Lee Hoon-jae approached aggressively, but Lee Seon-jae caught him in time. 

“Brother, don’t.” 

Lee Seon-jae seemed to know why Lee Hee-soo came today. While their mother tried to calm the situation, Park Dong-sik stood in the middle and looked at each of them in turn.

“I asked to see you today because I have something to tell you all. So please listen carefully from now on.”

Lee Hoon-jae snorted. 

“Fuck. Just like some congressional speech.”

Park Dong-sik continued undeterred.

“I already told Mother, but I’ve agreed to receive money from that house in exchange for having the baby. That’s why I’m here today.”

Lee Hoon-jae sneered.

“How much? About a billion won?”

Lee Hoon-jae had received a billion won from Chairman Kim for the video. But judging by his look, that money was long gone on cryptocurrency. After a pause, Park Dong-sik smiled sweetly.

“60 billion.”

All three’s jaws dropped. Judging by their exchanged glances, they were thoroughly shocked.

Park Dong-sik fidgeted with his hands clasped together.

“But I need several more months until I give birth. Mother keeps pressuring me for money now, and it’s hard for me to handle…”

“Dear, when did I pressure you? I just confided in you a little…”

“So, how much are you giving us?”

“You’re not saying just a hundred million each, right?”

Everyone’s attention focused on Park Dong-sik’s lips.

“I’ll give you all 60 billion.”

None of them could close their mouths. Not half, but all of the money?

“But since you need to wait until I give birth to get the money, it’s difficult right now.”

“What? Are you mocking us? Want to die?”

“Hee-soo. Mother needs money right now…”

Park Dong-sik nodded understandingly.

“That’s why I called someone who can lend you money today.”

“Lend? Money? Who?”

Just then, the doorbell rang, and Lee Seon-jae rushed to check the monitor. A man in a black suit stood on the screen.

“W-What’s that…?”

“Someone I know. Let him in.”

At Park Dong-sik’s words, the door opened and moments later, a man entered carrying two briefcases. The three watched him warily. The man introduced himself and handed out business cards with just a name and contact number, making Lee Hoon-jae suspicious.

“This isn’t some loan shark thing, is it? Are you trying to screw us over?”

This pig’s quite sharp. The man silently placed the two briefcases on the table. When they opened with a click, they were full of 50,000 won bills, making Lee Hoon-jae, Lee Seon-jae, and Lee Hee-soo’s mother’s eyes glitter with greed.

The man who brought the money spoke.

“I work under Chairman Lee Hwa-ja. I’m here because of my connection with Hee-soo-ssi.”

Lee Hoon-jae’s eyes opened as wide as saucers.

“Lee Hwa-ja? That big shot Lee Hwa-ja?”

The man who brought the money nodded his head.

“Yes, my chairwoman.”

Lee Hoon-jae laughed in surprise. “Wow, Hee-soo, you’ve got better connections than I thought?” Park Dong-sik smiled shyly. Just wait, you pig. I’ll give you an even more thrilling surprise.

The man took out documents from his briefcase and placed them in front of Lee Hoon-jae, Lee Seon-jae, and Lee Hee-soo’s mother.

“These are the contracts. Please read them carefully and make your decision.”

Lee Hoon-jae flipped through the papers irritably.

“Why is there so much? Damn, can’t even read this, the fine print is so small. What does it say?”

“Hee-soo, why do we have to sign this? You should make the contract since you’re paying it back.”

“Yeah, you should do it…”

Park Dong-sik put on a troubled expression and started acting.

“Mother, I’m already on bad terms with my mother-in-law. If I get caught doing this, I might not get any money. They even sent someone to watch me today, imagine if they found out I signed something like this. It would be a disaster.”

The man interjected, “Actually, we only lend to people in business or politics. Lending to individuals without special occupations goes against our internal regulations, but it’s possible if the three of you split the contract. There’s also a clause stating that if the principal and interest aren’t repaid, all responsibility transfers to Heesoo-ssi.”

As all three searched for that section in the contract, Park Dong-sik quickly stepped in.

“But I have one request.”

All three looked up as if on cue.

“What?”

Park Dong-sik put on a somewhat pitiful expression.

“This is the last time. I don’t want to see you anymore after this.”

“So you’re saying we get 60 billion and cut ties?”

“Yes…”

Lee Hee-soo’s mother looked troubled but her expression changed completely when she saw the money. Before they could even think it through, the man’s phone rang.

“Yes? Now? Understood.”

After hanging up, the man turned to the three.

“The Chairman urgently needs me. I’d appreciate a quick decision, or should I be considerate and come back another time?”

When the man moved to close the briefcase full of money, all three stopped him. Without another word, they signed their names on the last page. They probably wouldn’t be able to keep their promise. When the money ran out, they would come looking for Lee Hee-soo again. Just like always.

After collecting the documents and checking them, the man gave orders through his radio, and several people in suits appeared. They brought boxes and began stacking bundles of cash on the table.

60 billion in cash. An amount unbelievable even seeing it with their own eyes.

They gathered around the mounting cash like moths to a flame.

“This is crazy, really. This is our money? How do we even count it?”

“There’s a money counter upstairs, right? Seon-jae, go get it!”

“Don’t try to pocket any while I’m gone!”

They were busy squabbling and collecting money.

They would never have known, even if they died and came back to life.

That you should always check documents carefully when borrowing money.

Above the relatively clear text stating: [Hee-soo will repay all principal and interest.] was written in tiny print [However, in case the debtor dies or becomes permanently unable to participate in society due to disability]

In other words, unless they died or became permanently disabled, they would have to live being chased if they couldn’t repay the money. Park Dong-sik smiled wickedly at the three who were too obsessed with money to see anything else.

Just wait. All the karma you’ve built up will weigh on your necks and strangle you for life. I’ll show you what hell really feels like.