PSY CH 103

“…I’ll talk to that guy myself,” Dohyun said, watching Jooyoung’s reaction. Jooyoung, who had been staring at the closed glass door, turned to look at him.

“It’s okay.”

“…”

“I don’t mean the ‘it doesn’t matter’ kind of okay—I really mean it.”

But Dohyun still looked upset.

“If he comes to you and says anything… just tell me right away.”

Jooyoung figured that saying anything more would be pointless, so he just nodded. Only then did Dohyun seem to relax a little.

Jooyoung, watching him count and sort bills, suddenly asked, “Where’s your phone?”

Dohyun’s hands paused.

“Oh.”

He put the bills down and checked his back pocket first. Soon realizing his phone was nowhere to be found, he muttered a low curse. 

“Did you leave it at the bank?”

His hand ran through his hair. After a moment of searching his memory, he let out a sigh.

“Haah… I’ll go get it.”

“I’ll come with you. Or should I call it for you?”

“Nah. Just stay here.”

Before Jooyoung could follow, Dohyun quickly slipped out of the arcade. Watching him go, Jooyoung remembered something Hangyeol once said.

“I told you last time, Hwangdo’s super scatterbrained.”

Now that he thought about it, Dohyun had lost his phone before. Jooyoung remembered how he had come straight to the arcade when he couldn’t get in touch with him. He had been worried sick, nearly going crazy, only to find out later Dohyun had lost his phone, and felt a bit deflated.

Over the past few days of staying close together, Jooyoung had seen that scatterbrained side often. Like when Dohyun went to get water and ended up doing something else in the living room, or forgot about the water altogether. He always seemed to forget where he put his phone or wallet. There was a subtly clumsy side to him.

How many things had he lost over the years? Sometimes, he still seemed like a kid.

“I know better than you how that bastard lived—that’s why I’m saying this.”

Jooyoung’s softly curved lips dropped sharply.

“…”

A little while ago, when Hangyeol said he would continue doing this, it hadn’t been directed at Dohyun—it was a kind of warning aimed at Jooyoung. He wasn’t afraid of what Hangyeol might do next. He didn’t think Dohyun would be easily swayed either.

But he couldn’t stop wondering: was there really a reason for Hangyeol to go this far?

Could there be something going on with Dohyun that only he didn’t know?

What flashed through his mind was the way Dohyun had reacted so sensitively when asked about his injury.

***

Just before mealtime, the hospital was filled with the faint smell of cooking rice. After organizing the items his aunt had packed for him, Jooyoung sat down. His grandfather was looking at him with a gentle smile.

“You didn’t come with Dohyu-i.”

Jooyoung held a paper cup of warm green tea in his hand.

“I’ll come with him next time.”

“So you two really made up, huh?”

Jungseop narrowed his eyes and wrinkled his nose with a knowing look. Sensing he knew something, Jooyoung asked, “Did Dohyun say something?” 

“Nah. Just listening to how you talk, it’s obvious.”

Jooyoung didn’t think he had been that obvious, even when they weren’t getting along, but it seemed Jungseop had noticed. He rubbed his brow with his warm hand, feeling a little embarrassed thinking about how adults could pick up on those things.

Jungseop chuckled as if he found it cute.

“You know, Dohyun…”

“What’s with him?”

“Did his parents… never come down from Seoul?”

Jungseop straightened his bent back and let out a deep sigh.

“Yes. I haven’t seen them since graduation.”

“…”

“They’re so heartless. I don’t know how they’re not haunted by guilt, leaving him like that. Even an outsider like me worries about him.”

Apparently, after his grandfather passed, Dohyun had been living alone ever since. Jooyoung thought of Dohyun’s house, where the lights never went off, even at night. Maybe it was a habit—or maybe not. The lights were on in the living room, the kitchen, and every room, as if to keep even the smallest shadows from creeping in.

“At least he didn’t try to sell that building, that’s something…”

Jungseop shook his head in dismay. He added bitterly that, despite his gambling, the old man had at least taken care of what needed to be done before he passed.

“By the way…”

Jooyoung had been about to ask if anything had happened to Dohyun after his grandfather died, but swallowed the question. He suddenly felt it wasn’t something he should be asking someone else.

Even during the height of summer, Dohyun had stubbornly worn long sleeves. It was something hard to explain—unless it was to hide the scars. Maybe… not even his grandpa had known.

After dinner, Jooyoung took a walk with Jungseop around the hospital grounds before preparing to leave. Jungseop held both his hands and urged him to come with Dohyun next time.

The road home was quiet. Fallen leaves painted the streets in shades of crimson. Even the distant mountains were covered in colors. Come to think of it, there was a famous autumn foliage spot nearby. Maybe one day, he and Dohyun could visit together.

As he turned onto the path leading to the parking lot behind the building, Jooyoung saw a patrol car parked out front. His heart dropped for a moment.

But he quickly shook his head. This was a small neighborhood—it wasn’t unusual to see a patrol car parked while the officers chatted with local residents. No need to overthink it.

Still, as he got closer to the third-floor lodging house, a sense of unease crept in. The noise filtering into his ears grew louder. Forcing himself to keep moving despite his slowing steps, he finally reached the top of the stairs.

And the moment he saw the lodging house door wide open, Jooyoung realized the patrol car wasn’t there for nothing. The noise was coming from inside.

Jooyoung’s legs stiffened.

“I told you to think carefully, didn’t I? Last time you claimed someone stole your shoes, but it turned out you were drunk and left them somewhere.”

“T-That time was…!”

The man thumped his chest as he spoke.

“That was—yes, I’m sorry! That was my fault!”

Sunwoo shrugged at the police officer as if to say, See?

“But yesterday, I wasn’t even drinking. I clearly remember putting it on my desk! But when I woke up this morning, it was gone. I even searched everywhere else, just in case!”

“Couldn’t you have lost it somewhere outside? Are you sure?”

The police barely seemed to be listening, and the man looked like he was going to lose his mind from the frustration.

“Ah, seriously! Forget everything else, just show me the CCTV footage! That alone will tell us everything!” 

Jooyoung, who had frozen in place from the rising voices, sensed someone coming up the stairs. Then, a familiar and comforting scent reached his nose.

As he turned around, his eyes met Dohyun’s. Dohyun looked a bit surprised to see Jooyoung there. But then, with a hardened expression, he walked past him.

“Oh, boss!”

Sunwoo raised a hand in greeting when he saw Dohyun. Not just him—even the police acknowledged Dohyun.

“Hwang Dohyu-i! It’s been a while.”

“Uncle.”

The officer’s smile was warm as he lightly patted Dohyun’s back, suggesting they were close. After exchanging a few words, he gestured with his chin toward the man who was still fuming.

“He wants to see the CCTV.”

Dohyun frowned, looking troubled.

“Why? Is it not possible?”

At that, the officer, Woosang, asked what the issue was.

“The disk is broken, so there’s no backup.”

“No backup?”

“Yeah. It only shows live footage.”

“Wow… what are we supposed to do now?”

Woosang put his hands on his hips and glanced at the man. The man widened his eyes in disbelief at how things were turning out.

“No backup? Are you serious? Come on, do something. You’re the police!”

He stomped his feet in agitation.

“What can we do if it’s broken?”

The younger officer who had come along at least made a show of taking notes in his notepad, but the middle-aged officer with graying hair remained passive, as if thinking, Why are we even dealing with this?

“Then, then—ah! Fingerprints!”

“…”

“Can you at least dust for fingerprints?”

The younger officer looked visibly uncomfortable when the man brought up fingerprints. Woosang, still rubbing his shoulders, clicked his tongue.

“Look there. See that doorknob? That round one?”

He gestured toward it.

“Those don’t really hold fingerprints well. Even if we tried, it probably wouldn’t work.”

“What does that have to do with anything? Just try it anyway!”

“Haah, seriously. You don’t listen, do you?”

Woosang let out an exaggerated sigh. But seeing that the man wouldn’t give up so easily, he reluctantly called over the junior officer.

“Joon-ah.”

“Yes.”

“Call forensics and check.”

“Yes, sir.”

The officer stepped outside the lodging house to make a phone call. Jooyoung watched him dialing on his phone. Meanwhile, the man continued to explain his unfair situation nonstop. Before long, people from other offices came out to watch the commotion. 

These past few days, Jooyoung had been staying at Dohyun’s place. Unless he was picking up clothes, he hadn’t come to the lodging house much—this mess likely had nothing to do with him.

But he didn’t know why he felt so anxious.

“…”

He clenched his fists to hide his trembling hands. That’s when his eyes met Dohyun’s again. It seemed Dohyun had been watching him for a while. As soon as their eyes met, Dohyun silently mouthed something. 

“Go upstairs.”

He gave a small, careless gesture with his chin toward the upper floor.

The tension that had made Jooyoung’s whole body stiff suddenly melted away.