Chapter 21

17 minutes later, it was only when Mr. Chung-yeon came into the chaotic store that the situation was resolved. On a day when I was exhausted from working hard for no reason, Woo Min-jae overpowered me with one hand. I was sitting there fuming, and Chung-yeon and Ji-yong were close to him and gossiping. Occasionally, when I felt bad, I turned on the double wick, but the two of them cowardly hid behind Woo Min-jae. AC, where is the stick?

“Boss, are you looking for a weapon now? I’ve already cleaned it all up!”

Jiyong scoffed. I will kill that bastard second only to the class president.

“Hey, Jiyong Moon, why do I trust you…”

“Kwon Hee-chan, sit quietly. Otherwise, I will recite the last episode of that drama, even the lines.”

Startle. As I sat down on the chair, shaking, the two looked at Woo Min-jae with respect. Damn, no matter how busy I am, I always end up watching that drama. Meanwhile, Minjae Woo watched the video Jiyong showed while listening to the explanation. It was easy to frown when you looked at it, but you looked at it with concentration as if observing an object and muttered.

“It’s Taek-in.”

He took the phone from Jiyong, touched the screen a few times, and then showed it to me.

“Do you know who this person is?”

I huffed and looked somewhere else and then turned my disapproving eyes. He was a man pretending to be a dog and lying down. However, the face that was bowed in the front that I saw was visible on this screen. How am I supposed to know who that person is?

“Give it to me.”

I took the phone and looked at it closely. It's hard to be sure because the screen is small, but it was clearly the student I saw at the hotel.

“I was a student who was coming out of the hotel with my class president. At that time, I was dragged away by the class president as if I was sick... Fuck.”

I couldn't finish my words and cursed again. I didn't even want to imagine what was happening in the hotel. What on earth is this guy that gets bullied by the class president?

“I need to find this student.”

"how?"

“I heard you saw the school uniform? Which school was it from?”

“I don’t know.”

Minjae Woo shrugged his shoulders as if it didn’t matter.

“Then tell me what it looks like. Uniforms are different at each school.”

"..."

“Don’t you remember that either?”

“That was because I was glaring at the class president... and he passed by too quickly...”

My voice quietened without me realizing it. AC, it's strange to see that clearly. But I felt like it was my fault for not remembering, so I looked away. And fell.

“That’s right. He might be a student at XX school. Taekin’s partner said he saw Taekin meeting a student from that school before.”

  11 am.

I just kept looking at the clock. I was lying on my back on the bed, waiting to see if my soul would move, but even after 5 minutes or 10 minutes, it was still my body. Why don't you move it? You have to move quickly so you can go to school and beat the class president to get information. I was anxious to meet the class president, grab him by the collar, shake him, and scold him. Although Taek-in was physically no match for me, I wanted to make sure he knew about his brother. If Taek-in was harassing me knowingly, I wanted to hit Taek-in with his fist even if it meant getting hit on his body. And when I went to visit him and asked if he had hit my beloved local brother, I would take bloody revenge... The moment I thought about it, I felt dizzy. Finally, the moment I've been waiting for. However, the place I opened my eyes was unfamiliar, but at the same time familiar. Although it was my first time seeing this place, it had a hospital-specific smell. Why are you at the hospital again? This was not the time to waste time in a place like this. I have to go to school and become class president. I was so anxious that I quickly raised my upper body, but fell back on the bed due to dizziness. Wow, what a dizzy feeling. I counted, caught my breath, and stood up again. However, I suddenly raised my head again at the faint sound of fighting. Taekin's voice was his mother's. I got off the bed and looked around. It was a two-person hospital room with no one in it. Taek-in seemed to have been hospitalized, judging by his patient uniform. Why on earth... I was about to complain when Taek-in's mother, whom I saw early in the morning yesterday, came to mind. When I looked outside, I was crying. Maybe she was afraid that her son would never wake up. Since I don't know what to do without anyone to rely on, the only option is a hospital. And when I went outside the hospital room where I heard the sound of fighting, I saw Taek-in's mother raising her voice with a man of the same age. She seemed to have chosen another method. Although it was my first time seeing this man, I knew who he was at a glance. Because he was a man who looked exactly like Taekin.

 

“What on earth did you do to the child that made him look like that? He just keeps sleeping? Does this make sense?”

“I don’t know. You were the one who abandoned the child, right? You have no right to say anything to me.”

“Why aren’t you qualified? I’m your dad! I gave you all the house you wanted. When you get married, if you came with your bare hands and bought a house worth hundreds of millions of dollars, you should be mindful of your conscience. I gave it to you because it was me. No one else would have even thought about it.”

Taek-in's mother looked so shocked that she couldn't speak.

“And if something like this had happened, you should have contacted me right away, or done a thorough examination at the hospital. You’re not an idiot, and if a child had physical problems like that, shouldn’t you have done something? Now, he’s awake for 3-3 hours a day. "You said it's only for 4 hours? Then, if something bigger happens..."

"mom."

Two people turned around in surprise at my voice. As soon as Taek-in's mom saw me, she ran over and grabbed her hand.

“Are you awake? Are you okay?”

“It’s okay. I said I didn’t have to come to the hospital, but why did you bring me here?”

She couldn't answer and Taekin just held her hand.

“I’m going home. I’m really fine.”

“Still, more tests…”

“No. I’m just sleeping, so there’s nothing they can do at the hospital. Mom, you have to trust me. You’ll get back to normal soon.”

She tried to convey her sincerity, but another voice intervened.

“I’m just in the hospital. I’m so sleepy that I can’t even go to school? It’s not because you don’t want to go to school on purpose, is it?”

I looked at the man who looked like Taek-in and asked.

"who are you?"

"...what?"

Taek-in looked at her mother as he was visibly embarrassed. Even though she explained her memory loss, Taek-in's stern expression on her father's face did not ease.

“Taekin, if your memories aren’t coming back, be sure to get tested…”

“Uncle, I don’t know who you are, but I and my mom will take care of my work, so don’t interfere.”

“Hey, I’m your dad…”

“From what I saw earlier, it seemed like you were harassing my mother. If you yell at my mother again, I won’t let you go. I will kill half of you, no matter who you are. Do you understand?”

Leaving him speechless from shock, I held his mother's hand and returned to the hospital room. He returned home after completing some basic tests. He rode the subway for about 30 minutes, got off and walked home for about 10 minutes while Taek-in did not say anything to his mother. When the apartment came into view, I stopped and turned around. Taek-in's mother was thinner than when he first saw her, and her complexion was not good.

"sorry."

"what?"

“I’m giving it a hard time mom.”

“No... something like that...”

"I'll be back to normal soon. I won't fall asleep anymore, I'll remember everything, I'll go to school properly, and I'll study hard so Mom doesn't worry. Mom's having a hard time raising me by herself, and I'm sorry for not being able to help you and worrying you. "

She couldn't say anything. Her eyes were red, as if she was going to cry, and she just pursed her lips. I had more to say, but I couldn't and just turned away. Behind her, Taekin could hear her mother slowly following behind her. It felt hot and painful, as if my heart had been dipped in hot water. I think it was my reaction, not Taekin’s. Maybe it was because the words she should have said 12 years ago came too late.

Once the waters were opened, other evidence appeared with perfect timing, as if they had been waiting. That too is a decisive witness. She didn't know when she would collapse, so she gave up going to school and Taek-in came home. As she sat down on her bed and checked her phone, someone sent a message on her newly installed SNS.

[I know you don't like being contacted by me, but... I have something important to tell you. Hanyoung, what happened with your younger brother? Don't go to school. You should never go. Brother Hanyoung listened to his brother and said he would guard the school gate to catch you.]

The sender was an unknown number, but there was a name that caught my eye. Hanyoung is the name of your class president brother, right? I first transferred the captured screen to my phone and tried to call the caller right away. But my head was spinning. I looked at Shige before I collapsed. 2:30 p.m. Today is only three hours. shit. As time passed, the swearing increased.

I'm not that lucky. Even when I bought the lottery, I never won 5th place, and even when I did draw, I got in the middle at best, or last place. However, I thought this time I didn't need much luck. What are the chances that Woo Min-jae recognizes me when I'm near school, when it's not even time to get off work yet?

“Why are you doing this?”

Oh my, this is a surprise! I was really surprised. I was hiding behind the signboard of a snack bar near the school gate and was so surprised that I almost stabbed him in the butt.

"What? Why are you here?"

“That’s what I’m going to say. What are you doing here?”

I looked around and quickly pulled him down next to me.

“I’m waiting for someone. I don’t want you to be caught, so hide quickly.”

"who?"

"..."

“Kwon Hee-chan. I’m asking who you’re waiting for.”

Why does this kid raise his voice so scary...

“Just stay. You’re the one waiting. If you don’t have anything to say, don’t interrupt and just get out.”

I took a seat behind the sign again, but he didn't go and looked around me with sharp eyes. Only then did I remember what I had placed next to me and quickly tried to hide it, but it was already too late.

“Hammer, crowbar, monkey wrench.”

He recited the items in the bag as if he had seen them. I was startled and looked at the bag and then at the guy.

“How did you know that?”

“Are you going to beat the class president to death with that?”

“Hey, why are you saying such things to me?”

“Not the class president? Then who is? The class president is coming to school today?”

He was like a ghost with a keen eye for attention. Even though I tried to deny it, I was so shocked that I kept my mouth shut, so I was convinced that the answer was correct.

“How did you know the class president was coming?”

“...I got your message.”

“To whom?”

I just shrugged my shoulders and got up. I didn't want to give away important information to someone who was trying to interfere with my plans. But this guy snatched my bag.

“Hey, give it to me.”

“How can you stay quiet when a suspicious person is hiding in front of the school with a weapon?”

What kind of award did I receive... I did receive a bit of an award. However, the lady at the snack bar told me to wait while I ate and even gave me some fish cake soup. One summer she thought she was going to die because she had burned the roof of her mouth.

“How on earth do you know I’m here?”

“Jiyong called. He said he left something at the store and saw you leaving the store carrying a tool bag. He said it looked like you were going to get some work done.”

“You traitorous bastard. But you didn’t tell me where I was going, right?”

“It’s obvious where you’re going. Since you don’t know where the class president is, what else can you do but lurk around the school to follow him?”

I felt bad because it seemed like he had read all the moves. He frowned and, not paying attention to me, pulled his arm.

"Follow me."

Of course I resisted, but this time I felt it again, this guy's strength is great. What kind of exercise did you do? I followed him into a small cafe nearby and had no choice but to tell him everything. And showed me the screenshot sent to my phone.

“I think it’s the boy in the video. I haven’t called him yet. I thought it would be better to introduce him in Taekin’s voice rather than a stranger. So I don’t know which school or who he is yet.”

“I’m a student at xx school.”

“How do you know? Have you checked?”

“Yes. I found out your name.”

For a moment, no words were exchanged between us. He probably felt the same way as me. The thing I was so curious about appeared before my eyes, but I felt at a loss as to what to do next. That student must also be a victim? What if something terrible happened and Taek-in tried to help but failed, so he continues to live like that? I couldn't imagine what that child's life would be like.

“Why did Taek-in jump in front of class leader’s car that day?”

“Only you will know.”

“The owner of Bokgeonbang said that Taek-in jumped in with the intention of dying, so he didn’t wake up because he believed he was dead. He was trembling with fear. What is certain is that the class leader is an object of fear for Taek-in, and unless that bastard is dealt with, Taek-in will not wake up. "I don't think I'll ever wake up."

“But you should never try to solve it with a hammer.”

“You’re saying the police won’t be able to solve it?”

Woo Min-jae looked somewhere else for a moment and was lost in thought. I expected him to find a way, but he said something else.

“First, let’s meet the student in the video tomorrow and hear his story first.”

He said his name was Jeongbeom. His appearance was somewhat reminiscent of Andy, but if Andy was standing at the end of the bright side, this kid felt like he was standing at the end of the dark side. He couldn't make eye contact with people. He came out after receiving a call from Taek-in, but was trembled like a guilty person as two unfamiliar men stood by him. When Woominjack revealed that he was a teacher at Taekin's school, I became more thoughtful. He thought it would be easier for me to talk, so he asked the first question.

“Did you film porn?”

I felt Woo Min-jae's strong gaze next to me. I guess he was impressed with my choice of questions. Jeongbeom must have been even more impressed, as he lowered his head completely and closed his mouth like a clam.

"No? Then, the two of them are forced to be forced to have the cubs of Gae's feet?"

​

 

Only then did Jeongbeom raise his surprised eyes. I was about to ask more, but Woo Min-jae grabbed my arm and stopped me. And then he asked himself.

“How did you get to know this bastard named Han Young, who won’t be happy even if he chews it?”

I was embarrassed by his swearing, and Jeongbeom was also embarrassed. Only Woo Min-jae asked again softly with a nonchalant expression on his face.

"You can answer when you want to say, but you need your help to get it quickly from a dog."

Jeongbeom looked at me and Woo Minjae in turn with a confused look on his face.

“Why... why are you helping me?”

“Because of Taekin.”

I confessed honestly. Fortunately, Jeongbeom raised his head a little more, as if he felt responsible for Taekin.

“Is Taek-in okay?”

“It’s not okay.”

“Uh, what do you think?”

“It’s very serious.”

The already white face became as pale as a corpse. But I couldn't afford to look at it.

“For Taek-in to return to normal, we have to deal with Hong Han-yeong, who he is afraid of. But I don’t know why Taek-in got involved with that bastard. So, you tell me.”

Jeongbeom shook his shoulders as if he was going to cry, then nodded his head. It took a long time to explain in a low voice, but time passed quickly. Most of the content was the worst we had imagined. Jeongbeom says he met Hong Hanyoung on a gay site. While we were in contact there, we actually met her, and she said that she had a lot of money and her good looks and manners were good, so she agreed to date her the day we met. And that day he went to a hotel and was raped and videotaped.

Jeongbeom described himself as Hong Hanyoung’s dog. At first, she couldn't break off her relationship with him because he threatened to send her videos to her parents, and she tried to run away from his increasingly violent and perverted behavior, but this time he threatened her with her life. That will come early. It is said that he, who was unable to hang out with anyone after the new semester began, accidentally met Taek-in on the street. Taek-in became friends with him through the gay community even before that, and he knew that they were from the same neighborhood. Taek-in noticed that Jeong-beom was strange at first sight, and when he heard the situation, he wanted to help. Moreover, he is said to have found out that Hong Han-young was the class president of his class and that he would find the evidence and give it to him. So, I think I deliberately approached the class president and went to his house.

I don't know how they did it, but looking at the original video on my laptop, it was clear that they had found it. Taek-in planned to film the confession directly from Taek-in's mouth under the pretense of reporting it to the police since he had evidence. He secretly recorded it with his cell phone, but he probably didn't know that something terrible was going to happen to him. It is said that he could not even utter the evidence he brought to negotiate and was even beaten like a dog. It was probably the time when Taek-in came to school injured after fighting with the class president. Since then, Taekin has not said anything and has been bullied by the class leader. Feeling guilty that this happened because of him, Jeong Beom lied to him and said that he was no longer seeing Hong Han Young and cut off contact.

“But on the morning of the accident... I think Taek-in saw Hanyoung forcing me into the car to go to school. He suddenly jumped in front of the car... I don’t know why Taek-in did that.”

“What if you don’t know that? I jumped in to save you. To get you out. I thought you were being taken by that devil-like bastard again, and I was worried about what would happen to you. At that moment, I was shaking that I might get hit by a car and die, but I just left you alone. "It wasn't possible."

I got angry without realizing it and shouted lowly. I soon realized that the child with his head down was the victim. But she had to say what she had to say.

“Taek-in was also extremely scared of that bastard. But he didn’t ignore you. But you just left Taek-in lying on the side of the road and just walked away. Even though you stepped forward and told people who Taek-in was and why he jumped in front of the car. .."

Fuck, that would have made things easier. There was more I wanted to say, but Minjae grabbed my arm next to me. Out of frustration, I asked him as if to vent my anger.

“Why on earth did Kim Taek-in, such a scared bastard, try to solve everything on his own? If his friend was in danger, he should have told the adults. He’s not a fool, so why did he take it on himself?”

“He never received help himself, so he probably thought there was no adult to help his friend.”

Woo Min-jae's voice was calm, but there was anger mixed inside. As if he blames himself for not noticing in advance and not giving faith. I was a similar adult, so I had nothing to say. While I was silent, he asked Jeongbeom.

“What about Taekin’s bag? That bastard took it, right?”

Jeongbeom nodded his head.

“Taek-in fell down looking for his cell phone, unlocked it with his fingers and searched inside. Taek-in said he shouldn’t know that it was because of him that he jumped in front of the car...”

They must have deleted all the contents of the fallen guy’s phone. It is clear that Taek-in was later sent to the hospital, leaving behind a bullying KakaoTalk message to make him look like a student trying to commit suicide due to bullying. I couldn't hold back my anger. How can someone who is only in his mid-20s be so mean and choose to do such shameful things? I swallowed my anger and asked something important.

“Class president, does Hong Han-young’s younger brother know what you’re doing?”

Nod.

“When I was filming a video... I came and watched. I was smiling.”

I was speechless. There was heavy silence as Woo Min-jae seemed to feel the same way. I really couldn't understand. You cursed that bastard Taekin and called him gay, right? That's why you humiliated and bullied me in front of the class, right?

“Doesn’t the class president have a double personality? Otherwise, you curse gay people like that at school and then laugh and watch what your older brother does?”

“The bigger and dirtier the secret you want to hide, the more you act the exact opposite on the outside.”

As Woo Min-jae said, Captain Ra-myeong's hidden half was a disgusting, ugly monster that was nothing short of dirty. It wouldn't be easy for two brothers to do this together.

“You don’t have to meet that bastard again. We’ll help you.”

However, Jeongbeom muttered with blank eyes at my words.

“You don’t have to help me. I can’t help it anymore. Even if I get away from Hanyoung, I’m already a dog.”