VDN Ch 173

“Vacation?”

This time, everyone’s gaze was fixed on Nam-woon. Nam-woon nodded with a calm expression. The men exchanged urgent glances among themselves, and Se-han’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What kind of vacation?”

“A hotel where we can rest. It’s a trendy way to take a vacation these days.

Oh wow. Se-han’s lips formed a round shape as he expressed his admiration. Nam-woon glanced at Kwon Sang-moon, who was looking flustered, and continued speaking.

“Your dad has been sick for a long time. Seo-oh heard about his discharge first and arranged this celebration. The reason the three of us were supposed to have a meal today was actually to meet here. That’s why Jang-mi brought you.”

“Really? That’s so cool!”

Se-han, who was giggling, suddenly tilted his head as if something seemed off. Then he stared curiously at the unfamiliar uncles beside him. He seemed to find it strange that there were people he didn’t know at his dad’s discharge party. Realizing this, Kwon Sang-moon quickly spoke up.

“Se-Se-han, dad told you earlier, right? These uncles were hospitalized together with him. They all suffered because they were sick… Dad asked Seo-oh to invite them.”

Meanwhile, Nam-woon shot a sharp glance at the bewildered uncles who were just blinking. What are you doing? Hurry up and agree. The uncles stammered as they spoke.

“Y-yeah. We were invited by Sang-moon. Vacation. Right, Taek-soo?”

“That’s right. I’ve been looking forward to this vacation for a few days, and everyone is here, hahaha!”

Hahaha! As all the adults laughed in unison, Se-han finally opened his mouth widely and laughed. Then he added,

“Hyung, when is brother coming? Is he coming after finishing work later?”

Nam-woon, who had been staring blankly at Se-han for a moment, quickly added,

“…Umm. Seo-oh will come when he is done with work. But he said he can’t come today because he’s busy. He’ll probably sleep for the night or so and come right away.”

“I see! Yay! Then I don’t have to go to school!”

“Yay! And I don’t have to go to work!”

Se-han screamed at Nam-woon, who was shaking him violently, and then looked around. In the eyes of the child who had never been to a hotel, everything suddenly seemed good. This place with multiple rooms was definitely better than the house where Se-han and Seo-oh lived!

Se-han sang the song “Vacation. Vacation” with sparkling eyes and then suddenly ran off somewhere.

A little while later, Se-han emerged from the room with a square box in his hands. The child placed the box in the middle of the living room and looked up with expectant eyes. The adults, who had been anxiously watching the child like a dog waiting for a treat, flinched and quickly shifted their gazes. They wanted to avoid getting involved in any troublesome situation, but it was already too late. Se-han looked at them and brightly suggested,

“Let’s all play Halli Galli^[1] together! I got this for winning second place at Min-chan’s game party!”

The first to sit in front of Se-han was, of course, Nam-woon. He seriously asked how to play Halli Galli and then frowned as he glanced at the adults.

What are you doing? Hurry up and sit down.

Under his intimidating gaze, Kwon Sang-moon and his kidnapping accomplices hurriedly found their seats in the living room. The middle-aged men, glancing at Nam-woon, each expressed their admiration.

“Oh… a game, that’s great!”

“Y-yeah. This sounds fun.”

And so, that’s how their confinement turned into a vacation….

***

“Ah, Wooni Hyung! If you do that, the bell will break.”

“I didn’t hit it that hard.”

“No, Wooni Hyung, you hit it with a bang! The bell jumped.”

“This is too weak. Min-chan must have given you a cheap one.”

“No, that’s not it! It’s because Wooni hit it too hard!”

Oh, sorry. Nam-woon casually replied to Se-han’s words and stared at his palm. Then he asked Se-han to blow on it, claiming it seemed a bit scratched. Se-han, with his eyebrows raised like an angry bird, blew out forcefully, causing Nam-woon to giggle, saying it tickled. Then, he picked up the cards again, with a serious attitude.

The game, which had briefly paused, continued, and one of the middle-aged men sitting in front of the table whispered to Kwon Sang-moon.

“But he doesn’t really think this is a hotel, does he?”

“Um… it seems Se-han really believes it….” 

Then the man shook his head.

“No, not Se-han. I’m talking about that young man over there. Was his name Nam-woon?”

They didn’t know that Nam-woon was the son of Seok Jin-cheol. Those who harbored deep resentment against Seok Jin-cheol would certainly cause a bloodbath if Nam-woon’s identity were revealed, so Kwon Sang-moon remained silent. As a result, they only knew Nam-woon as the child from a place where Kwon Sang-moon used to work.

As they discussed the hotel stay, the middle-aged men watched Nam-woon wildly ringing the bell while talking about vacation. When a strange silence fell, Kwon Sang-moon cautiously spoke up.

“Um, the young man isn’t really that bright. Besides, I heard he hit his head hard when he fell off the bed as a child…” 

“Oh my… that makes sense. Now that I see him, he acts around Se-han’s age. He seems really excited.”

“Ah, the last time I saw him, he seemed to be getting better, but now his mood swings seem to be going back and forth.”

Mood swings… The man who didn’t catch the rest of Kwon Sang-moon’s words wore a pitiful expression.

“I figured as much…. It might be a bit harsh to say this, but didn’t Sang-moon say that the young man’s father is as bad as Seok Jin-cheol? Maybe that’s why he abandoned the child after seeing him like that. It’s really sad for such a young person… tsk tsk.”

They clicked their tongues for a while, looking at Nam-woon. Kwon Sang-moon also gazed at Nam-woon with a complicated expression. What if he suddenly gets angry or throws things like before after playing so well…? Se-han would be surprised.

Regardless, Nam-woon was seriously engaged in the board game, hitting the bell as if he was going to break it.

***

Fast footsteps echoed in the empty alley. Seo-oh quickly climbed up the hill and reached the front gate. He stood in front of the gate with a stern expression and took a moment to catch his breath.

He went around the Catchdoll that Min-chan had mentioned and the playground near his house, but Se-han was nowhere to be found. There was also no news on Nam-woon. His heart was getting more and more anxious.

Nothing will happen. Both of them must have forgotten the meeting time and are playing at home. When he opens the front door and they see him entering, they will have that surprised expression as if they just remembered. Seo-oh repeated the same words to himself like reciting a spell and pushed open the door. 

“……”

The small yard was a mess. There were large footprints scattered all over the vegetable patch that Nam-woon and Se-han had tidied up by pulling weeds. Seo-oh stared down at it and then turned his feet toward the front door.

The situation inside the house was no different. The floor that had been clean when he left that morning was now covered in gray dirt, and various items were scattered all over the place. With a blank expression, Seo-oh looked at the scene and slowly turned his head. His gaze fixed on one spot. 

A sharp knife and bloodstains scattered across the floor.

His chest began to rise and fall rapidly. “Hyung, Se-han…” murmured Seo-oh softly as he immediately turned his body. There must have been someone who saw the two of them somewhere. Hyung said he was coming from work, so he might still be staying at the office.

He went down to the yard again, half-dazed. At that moment, a small noise was heard from outside the gate.

“……!” 

Seo-oh hurriedly ran towards the gate. Someone was standing in the doorway. It was too dark to see their face clearly. 

“Hyung? Nam-woon Hyung?”

Seo-oh, who was hurriedly approaching the front gate, stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the man’s identity. The man who had entered the gate without permission spoke in a strange tone.

“You managed to hold on without getting dragged away.”

A familiar face. It was Director Yoon. The man who always played the role of a loyal dog beside Chairman Seok.

Director Yoon gradually narrowed the distance while looking around the messy yard. His entire face was flushed as if he had been hit somewhere. Director Yoon, who was standing right in front of him, held out something in his hand and opened his lips again. However, before Seo-oh could hear his words, he immediately grabbed the man by the collar and pulled him. Then he asked in a chilling voice.

“It was you.”

“……”

Director Yoon blinked as if he didn’t understand what Seo-oh was talking about. The small pupils within his cracked eyeglass lenses trembled slightly. Seo-oh was already certain.

“It was you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Hyung and Sehan. You took them, you son of a bitch.”

Bam!

A large fist struck Director Yoon’s cheek accompanied by harsh reprimanding words. Unable to defend himself, Director Yoon fell backward, landing on his butt. His scratched glasses were flung into a corner of the yard.