OMS 7

“Oh my. What is this?”

“Wow.”

Everyone at the table turned their eyes to Park Dong-sik. He smiled sweetly. Enjoy your meal. Mother-in-law Madam Song frowned at the omurice on her plate, clearly in disbelief. Despite the heart drawn in ketchup on top, unfortunately, not a single person seemed to appreciate it.

Ah, except for one person.

“I’ll enjoy it, sister-in-law. It looks delicious.”

Right, that guy. Park Dong-sik smiled back at Kim Tae-han’s grinning face. Yeah, you might be a conscienceless bastard lusting after your sister-in-law, but at least you treat me like a human being. He was curious though—was Kim Tae-han really the owner of that phone?

Meanwhile, Chairman Kim called Butler Yoon. There was no discussion about the food. As soon as he gestured, Butler Yoon understood and immediately directed the staff. The omurice plates were cleared and quickly replaced with rice, soup, and side dishes. Throughout this, Kim Tae-han insisted on keeping his omurice and ate it with relish.

Park Dong-sik glanced at Chairman Kim. Seeing the old man sitting there so solemnly, when everyone knew he harassed his daughter-in-law in private, made his blood boil, chaebol or not. Well, whatever, I’ll be out of this body soon enough. Park Dong-sik licked his front teeth before smiling.

“Father, you don’t like the meal I made? Your daughter-in-law made it himself—why not at least taste it? Or should I make you some healthy alternatives next time? Something good for stamina, perhaps?”

Chairman Kim jerked his head up. His eyes said, “How dare someone like you speak to me like that at the breakfast table?” Madam Song looked fidgety as if shocked by his bold words. Sensing that dishes might start flying if he continued, Park Dong-sik shut his mouth and shoveled omurice into his mouth.

The atmosphere remained cold throughout the meal. After dinner, as everyone returned to their places and Park Dong-sik was about to do the same, Butler Yoon blocked his path.

“You may have forgotten, but you shouldn’t speak carelessly to the Chairman at mealtimes.”

“Why?”

“It’s the rule. And especially avoid frivolous behavior like earlier.”

“Does this apply to everyone else?”

“No. Just to Lee Hee-soo.”

“What the hell? How childish. Are you discriminating against me?”

Butler Yoon’s eyes widened then twisted at the crude language. Park Dong-sik caught himself and mumbled excuses. As he tried to escape more nagging, Butler Yoon blocked him again and gestured toward the mountain of dishes.

“You need to clean up.”

“All of that?”

“Director Kim must have told you. Two days a week, Lee Hee-soo is responsible for all household chores.”

He couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t just cooking?

“You’re joking?”

“Of course not.”

“With all these employees, you want me to cook and clean all day? Seriously?”

“Losing your memory doesn’t mean you can forget your place.”

Park Dong-sik’s eyebrow twitched at the word “place.”

“What is my place?”

Butler Yoon gestured to a staff member who brought rubber gloves and handed them to Park Dong-sik. Park Dong-sik stared at the rubber gloves. So they’re saying I’m no different from the household staff?

Whether this was always the case or if he became treated like leftovers after his father’s death, seeing even the household employees looking down on her like this, he must have been quite lonely here. Still, that’s no reason for suicide. Well, maybe it is. But if you’re going to die, die alone—why drag an innocent person like me into it?

As he let out a small sigh, Butler Yoon turned sharply and left. Instead of putting on the gloves, Park Dong-sik tossed them to the side, rolled up his sleeves, and went to the sink. He squeezed dish soap onto a sponge to make suds and started washing the dishes.

The body was so weak that he was already tired after washing just half the dishes. Then a plate slipped from his hands and shattered on the floor with a crash. A nearby employee glanced over but deliberately ignored it. Too embarrassed to ask for help, Park Dong-sik had no other choice but to squat down and start picking up the pieces.

A piece grazed his skin and drew blood. Damn it. As he put the cut in his mouth to suck on it, one of the employees stared blankly before frantically running away. Park Dong-sik watched with an incredulous expression on his face.

“What’s with that reaction?”

As he was about to resume washing dishes, he paused, catching his reflection in the glass cabinet. Slightly disheveled hair, straight white arms visible below rolled-up sleeves, still-beautiful face. He finally understood why the employees were staring.

It might not be my face, but it sure is beautiful.

***

“Ugh, gives me the creeps.” Kim Ah-ra rubbed her arms. Despite her mother Madam Song nagging her to sit down and calm herself, she continued pacing around the reception room dramatically.

“Don’t you think Hee-soo’s really gone crazy? Shouldn’t we have put him in a mental hospital instead of bringing him home?”

“Be quiet. Don’t talk nonsense.”

“He’s obviously strange. His way of speaking, his behavior. Hasn’t his walk become somewhat loose? Did you see how he sits with his legs spread like a thug? Can someone change that much just from losing their memories? To be honest, I thought something was off since I saw him at the hospital. It’s like he’s possessed. Ugh, gives me goosebumps again.”

Kim Tae-han, who had been listening, lifted his teacup with composure and smiled.

“I like it. I think it’s cute.”

Kim Ah-ra looked at her second older brother with disgust. Not only did he openly leer at his brother’s partner, but he constantly showed it—perhaps the real crazy one wasn’t Lee Hee-soo but this guy.

“Mom, what do you think? Don’t you find him strange too?”

“You’re giving me a headache. If you’re going to talk nonsense, leave.”

Kim Tae-han, who had been listening to their conversation this whole time, finally chimed in.

“For driving out spirits, a gut ritual works best.”

Madam Song, who was about to snap at the mention of gut, hesitated. She, too, felt that Lee Hee-soo seemed like a completely different person. Could someone really change that much just from losing their memories? It seemed strange no matter how she thought about it.

She wet her lips several times before taking out her phone and making a call. When the other party answered moments later, she smiled broadly and headed toward the bedroom.

“Yes, Master Shaman. It’s me. Have you been well?”

Kim Ah-ra glared at her brother Kim Tae-han. Her expression criticized him for mentioning the gut ritual and unsettling their mother. Their mother was already fanatical about shamanism, and they suspected she had spent enough on rituals and prayers behind Chairman Kim’s back to buy several apartments.

When the bedroom door closed and Madam Song disappeared, Kim Ah-ra fiercely criticized Kim Tae-han.

“See? Because you fanned the flames, Mom’s calling that so-called master again.”

“Let her be. It’s her only pleasure. Just like how Father comforts his loneliness by rolling around with young girls.”

“Ha, are you criticizing Dad? Do you have the right?”

“What did I do?”

“How shameless. Do you think no one knows? I can tell what you’re thinking just by how you look at Hee-soo. I saw you flirting while eating that omurice earlier. It’s sickening, so please stop. You’re obviously obsessed.”

“Would you call it love instead?”

When he smiled slyly, Kim Ah-ra involuntarily shuddered. Just then, a ringtone sounded from Kim Tae-han’s pocket. He took out his phone and stared at it quietly. Kim Ah-ra, who was watching, cut in.

“That’s new, isn’t it? Did you change phones?”

Kim Tae-han smiled, slipped the phone back into his pocket, and got up from his seat. After pressing the back of her head saying “Little ones shouldn’t worry about adult matters,” Kim Ah-ra threw a fit, telling him not to treat her like a child.

“At twenty-one, you’re still a baby.”

He went outside, came downstairs, and walked to his annex. Humming a tune, he admired the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Though it was cold that winter, the sunlight was quite warm. The phone in his pocket rang incessantly, and he stopped halfway down the corridor to press the call button.

“Hello?”

The other party said nothing.

“If you’re going to call, you should speak.”

The other party remained silent, and Kim Tae-han smiled.

“Hee-soo.”

As soon as he called his name, the call cut off with a click. What expression would Hee-soo be making now? No, what would he be thinking? As his curiosity grew, so did his heartbeat. Kim Tae-han changed direction. Past the main house, heading toward the opposite annex.

His brother would be at work, and Lee Hee-soo would surely be alone on the second floor.

Sure enough, as he was about to go up to the second floor, Lee Hee-soo was coming down. With an expression clearly showing shock and confusion. It was an expression he hadn’t seen once since he was discharged.