―So, you’re saying something happened to Taejeong? In your view, it’s serious?
“Yes.”
Instantly the sound of an intake of breath was heard. He was probably swallowing a curse.
―I’m not in Korea right now…
“…”
―I just arrived today… Ah, this is driving me crazy. Wait, I’ll contact my wife right now. Are you sure Taejeong’s at home? Should I go to the house? Hello?
When Seonwoo said nothing, Seungho added urgently.
―I just sent a text, okay? I’ll go straight to the airport too, but honestly I don’t know how long it’ll take. Even taking the fastest one, I won’t arrive until tomorrow. But where are you? Whose phone is this? It’s not a cell phone number.
“It’s the hospital phone.”
―Hospital? Why? Are you hurt?
“No. It’s the hospital where my mom is. When there was an accident, she hit her head and can’t get up. But you see. The truck driver did that, right? He said he was tired and drove drowsy. If you search on the internet, it comes up.”
―What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?
“There was a trial too. I don’t know if it’s still going on, but anyway it was an accident. But he said his dad caused the accident. He’s shouting that it’s his father who made my family like this, but I don’t understand why he’s saying that? But he says it’s true. He got really angry saying I don’t believe him. Does he originally have delusions and talk nonsense? Since you’re family, do you know anything? But it didn’t seem like he was lying…”
―…
Seungho said nothing. Was it because he asked many questions? Seonwoo waited until an answer came back.
―…You, is there anyone else beside you?
Anyone else? Seonwoo raised his head. The nurses were looking at him with shocked expressions.
“There are, why?”
―No… Never mind. Anyway, I just got a reply from my wife, okay? She’s leaving right now so she’ll arrive soon. That, what you just said… I have no idea what you’re talking about. First, when I get to Korea…
“Got it.”
There was no need to drag on when he said he didn’t know. Though Seungho was still in the middle of talking, he hung up. Seonwoo handed back the phone saying thank you. But none of the nurses answered.
“Miss.”
The moment he turned his head, Seonwoo spoke. The nurse who was pointed out was startled and answered.
“Yes?”
“Where is the Vice Director’s office?”
It was an ordinary question. Seonwoo’s voice was calm both during the call and now, and there was no change in his expression. But his eyes—his unfocused pupils—were not normal.
No one answered. They were wary of Seonwoo, not knowing what he might do. Someone was debating whether or not to press the emergency call button after seeing the bloodstains spread on Seonwoo’s top.
“…”
Seonwoo stared blankly at the nurses who showed no reaction, then left the ward. Where Seonwoo had passed, faintly stained footprints continued in a line. Unlike usual, there wasn’t a single nurse calling out to stop Seonwoo.
He wandered around and went to the elevator. He read the floor directory right next to it, but the Vice Director’s office wasn’t anywhere. Seonwoo looked around and crossed the skybridge to move to the adjacent building. There was a floor where administrative departments and such were gathered. Seonwoo got on the elevator and headed to that floor.
When the door opened, what he saw was a warning sign. Though it said ‘No Entry Except Authorized Personnel’, Seonwoo didn’t even pretend to notice. It was completely different from the ward full of bustling sounds. Lights were on in each department but it wasn’t noisy, and there were no people coming and going in the corridor.
Gleaming eyes thoroughly scanned the signs. His enlarged pupils from excitement moved here and there. Seonwoo circled the corridor with wide eyes. He walked to the end of the corridor, then came back to the same spot and headed to the opposite corridor.
After searching the entire floor, the sign Seonwoo had been searching for finally came into view. The moment he confirmed the letters that said ‘Vice Director’s Office’, his gaze fixed there.
Without even catching his breath, he flung open the door. What greeted Seonwoo was the darkened interior. Though the door wasn’t locked, there was no one inside.
He went inside and turned on the lights first. There was a wide desk at a position with its back to the window and three sofas in front of it. Anywhere he looked, there were no traces of anyone having stayed.
Seonwoo sat on the sofa as he pleased. With his head leaning against the backrest, he turned his head. The desk, organized to the point of being not just neat but empty-looking, entered his view. His gaze lingered on the nameplate with the hospital logo drawn on it.
‘Vice Director Baek Jinseok.’ Seonwoo stared intently at those letters.
The window behind the desk was open, so the view was good. Everything here seemed to indicate that the owner of this space was quite a successful person.
Outside the window was a sky tinged with navy blue, the sun having set not long ago. It gradually changed to a dimly dark color. The scenery outside the window could no longer be seen.
Instead, the interior of the Vice Director’s office was reflected like a mirror. The furniture placed under the bright lights and even Seonwoo’s appearance leaning against the sofa were all clearly contained.
It was then. The door reflected in the window opened. Through the open door, the Vice Director entered.
Though an uninvited guest was occupying a seat without permission, there was no sign of surprise at all. He only confirmed Seonwoo with his gaze and closed the door nonchalantly.
“Seonwoo, you came?”
The Vice Director spoke as if dealing with someone who had made an appointment. Then he moved according to his own routine.
He placed the document envelope he was holding on the desk and slowly took off his suit jacket to hang it on the coat rack. He walked to the window and even lowered the blinds. The interior that had been reflected in the window until just moments ago was all hidden.
As if Seonwoo’s presence, having come without notice, was of no concern, he moved according to the routine he’d repeated every day. The Vice Director, who had walked toward the desk, bent down, picked up something from the floor, and approached the sofa.
They were ordinary indoor slippers. He placed them in front of Seonwoo’s feet. Though the bleeding had stopped, dried blood was stuck here and there. Even though Seonwoo stayed still, he didn’t urge him to put them on. He didn’t ask how he’d gotten hurt either.
“It hasn’t even been a day since I told you to wait at home, but Seonwoo really doesn’t listen either. Did you catch it from Taejeong?”
It wasn’t a scolding tone. Rather, it was an intention to strike up conversation intimately. Just looking at the attitude of offering slippers, he didn’t seem to have thoughts of driving him out.
The Vice Director asked curiously little. Why he was here, why he’d entered on his own, he demanded no explanation. Leaving Seonwoo as he was, he headed to the cupboard prepared beside the bookshelf.
The sounds of taking out teacups and selecting tea leaves could be heard clattering. As if ingrained in his body, all his actions flowed naturally like water. As if even this moment was nothing more than the daily routine repeated every day, no sense of incongruity was felt.
“Ahjussi.”
However, the moment Seonwoo opened his mouth, everything scattered as if shattered to pieces.
“Did you cause my family’s accident, ahjussi?”
The clattering sound stopped abruptly. In the space that had been full of an everyday atmosphere until just moments ago, heavy silence instantly settled.
The Vice Director slowly turned around. It was the moment their eyes met.
“Did Taejeong tell you?”
The Vice Director was smiling. It was a benevolent smile as usual.
Seonwoo had secretly thought. That if he asked such a question, he might be treated as mentally ill. Since he came without anything to present as evidence.
But the Vice Director admitted it in an instant. So this was what it meant to be at a loss for words. The Vice Director showed not an inch of agitation.
With a nonchalant face, he put down the teaspoon and headed to the desk. Even the heavily resonating sound of his dress shoes felt more carefree than Seonwoo. He took something out from a drawer, approached the sofa, and handed it to Seonwoo.
It was an ordinary document envelope. When Seonwoo didn’t take it, he directly placed it on his lap. Though a heavy sensation pressed on his thighs, Seonwoo couldn’t take his eyes off the Vice Director.
“Don’t you need to look? Taejeong went around collecting these diligently.”
