“There’s a big sign at the front gate that says Life Sciences Research Institute though?”
“I told him that was fake. I told him that the kidnappers haven’t been caught yet. If the drug doesn’t work, we have to handle it somehow on our own level.”
“Ah… I understand, but that’s a bit much.”
“Can’t help it. If a civilian who’s been beyond the Guimun has vivid memories, that’s problematic in its own way…”
Those who entered the lobby saw Han Jaejun and stopped talking. Han Jaejun looked over those wearing white gowns and left the lobby.
“That’s why I said let’s just drink coffee at the research lab!”
“…It’s fine. It doesn’t matter if he knows.”
Leaving the two whispering behind, he came out of the building. The person they were talking about was Joo Seonghan. Seongshil, who had struggled alongside Han Jaejun and survived in the semi-humans’ land. He had heard that his memory had been successfully erased, so he thought he’d be living well, but it wasn’t over yet. The researchers were trying to call Joo Seonghan directly to the research lab. As far as Han Jaejun knew, it wasn’t a common method. Perhaps they were trying to conduct several experiments on him. Erasing memories of a period exceeding two weeks would be something even the researchers were doing for the first time. To them, Joo Seonghan was a good clinical trial subject.
“Ah, why did you take so long? Can’t you see the sun is setting?”
“Shut up and just drink this.”
Not intimidated by the oppression, Han Jaejun got in the car and threw the drink to Kang Hyeonjoo.
“Your taste really…”
Looking at the drink with a green pine tree drawn on it, Kang Hyeonjoo muttered. Han Jaejun, who let his words go in one ear and out the other, pulled the pull tab of the drink with a thoughtful face. At his serious expression unlike himself, Kang Hyeonjoo made meaningful eyes.
“Did something happen inside? Are they making you work starting today?”
“No. Monday as planned.”
Han Jaejun answered briefly and took a sip of the drink. What filled Han Jaejun’s head right now wasn’t his own business but Joo Seonghan’s. Researchers belonging to the semi-human research lab tended to think nothing of sacrificing the few for the many. It was a place where only people that passionate about their work gathered. He couldn’t definitively say Joo Seonghan was in danger, but having directly heard that earlier conversation, it bothered him.
“About Joo Seonghan-ssi.”
“Ugh, yes.”
Kang Hyeonjoo, who had taken a sip of the drink, frowned and started the car. Kang Hyeonjoo didn’t like this drink.
“He must be doing well, right?”
“Why so out of the blue? He’s probably doing well. Ah, did he really open a cafe? It seemed like his family had money.”
The shirt he was wearing was probably my week’s salary. Kang Hyeonjoo muttered the afterthought and started the car.
“It seems like they’re trying to call him to the research lab.”
Han Jaejun, who had belatedly put on his seatbelt, said while scratching the back of his head. Kang Hyeonjoo, who had exited the parking lot, frowned.
“They’ve never done that before.”
“Right. Look into it a bit.”
“…Me?”
Kang Hyeonjoo asked back in an unenthusiastic voice. He still believed the theory that the researchers had deliberately sent him beyond the Guimun. The prohibition order on mentioning how to open the Guimun that had come down from above and Park Gyujin who wouldn’t meet him even when he tried to meet fueled his suspicion. He hadn’t told others in detail, but he was looking into various things on his own. He was busy with that, but Han Jaejun was trying to pile on another task.
“You’re good at that kind of thing. If you do that for me, I’d be quite grateful.”
Han Jaejun, who spoke in a soulless voice, grinned and looked at Kang Hyeonjoo. Kang Hyeonjoo’s lips twitched facing his smile. He could see strength entering the hand gripping the steering wheel. Han Jaejun giggled and smacked Kang Hyeonjoo’s forearm.
“…Don’t buy me this anymore from now on.”
Kang Hyeonjoo, who gestured with his chin toward the drink, recited with an indifferent face. Han Jaejun picked up the drink Kang Hyeonjoo had taken a sip of.
“Making a fuss even when I buy it for you. Got it, man.”
Han Jaejun, who spoke in a voice tinged with laughter, gulped down the drink. Kang Hyeonjoo glanced at him and shook his head back and forth.
* * *
The red dot on the phone screen moved here and there, unable to find direction. Joo Seonghan, who had readjusted his umbrella, took his gaze from the screen and recalled his memory. Soon, he discovered a familiar sign and walked toward it.
[Call me when you wake up.]
Yeon Dogyeong, who had said he’d contact him around the weekend, sent a text on a morning four days later than promised. Joo Seonghan, who checked that text as soon as he opened his eyes at 1 p.m., immediately called Yeon Dogyeong. To him asking if he just woke up now, he answered no in a voice that had just woken from sleep. Embarrassment rushed in belatedly, but Yeon Dogyeong only made a deflating laugh and didn’t point it out otherwise.
‘If you have time today, go to Doctor Choi and get checked to see if your body is okay. I was going to take you, but I don’t have time.’
After stating his business, he then recited the address of the research lab. He hurriedly took out a pen and scrap of paper from the corner of the bed table drawer and wrote down his words. Having recited the address once more, he confirmed whether Joo Seonghan had written it down properly, then hung up the phone with the words see you later. He couldn’t convey his thanks for introducing him to his parents as a friend, nor that he had dealt well with the Semi-Human Department person. All Joo Seonghan had said to him was yes and no.
He felt an indescribable feeling. Not confident in finding the answer, he washed up and immediately left the house. He took a bus through the drizzling rain, got off at a stop near Doctor Choi’s research lab, and after wandering a bit, found the familiar shabby building.
Joo Seonghan, who had folded his umbrella, shook off the moisture and went up to the second floor. Unable to find a doorbell to announce his visit, he knocked on the door. Before long, there was the sound of the door lock being released. But that was all—even after waiting, the door didn’t open, so he opened the door himself.
Whether he had opened the door remotely, Doctor Choi’s figure was not visible. Joo Seonghan looked around, stood his umbrella to one side, and looked down at his damp feet. Fortunately, he was wearing shorts that came to his knees so his clothes weren’t wet, but his sandals and feet were soaking wet. Remembering that Doctor Choi had a fastidious personality, he was looking for something to wipe his feet with when he appeared holding a towel.
“Hello.”
Doctor Choi, who silently bowed his head at Joo Seonghan’s greeting, spread and laid down the towel in front of the entrance. Joo Seonghan took off his sandals and wiped the moisture from his feet and ankles with the towel. When he even took out and put on the indoor slippers that were stacked, Doctor Choi turned his steps. He walked down the hallway following him. He entered the room across from where blood had been drawn last time.
Various machines of unknown purpose were scattered around. As he was looking inside, Doctor Choi, who had approached closely, handed over a basket containing white clothes. When Joo Seonghan received it, he pointed to a curtain in the corner. Understanding that he should change clothes, he headed toward the curtain.
“Have you had any piercings?”
Doctor Choi asked toward Joo Seonghan’s back. Joo Seonghan’s hair didn’t cover his ears. Even without looking carefully, he would know he hadn’t done anything, so he didn’t know why he was asking.
“No. I haven’t.”
When he answered while looking back, Doctor Choi nodded and turned toward the scattered machines. Joo Seonghan watched him for a moment, then went behind the curtain, changed clothes, and came out.
The examination proceeded more variously than expected. He attached patches connected to the machine all over his body and stayed for a few minutes, and like an MRI scan, he entered a machine he’d never seen before and took photos of his entire body including his brain. And he placed his face on a machine that would be in an ophthalmology clinic and had his eyes examined. Doctor Choi looked closely at both of Joo Seonghan’s eyes through lenses of unusual colors and quickly recorded something, looked at various places inside his mouth with other tools, then moved to the opposite room and drew blood. He thought that was the last, but he pointed to the bed placed in the middle of the room.
Not knowing whether to sit or lie down, he sat on the edge of the bed for now. Whether sitting was correct, Doctor Choi, who brought over a wheeled chair, spread Joo Seonghan’s legs and positioned himself between them. He rolled up the loose pants to above the thighs. Doctor Choi, wearing special glasses that looked like sunglasses, brought his face close to Joo Seonghan’s legs and scanned his skin thoroughly. He looked closely from thigh to knee, knee to ankle, and even the top and bottom of his feet while pressing the remote control he was holding. Having checked both left and right legs, he stood up from his seat while taking off the glasses.
“It’s finished. Please change your clothes.”
“Yes.”
Having finished the examination in silence where only the occasional sound of machines could be heard, he entered behind the curtain in the opposite room. Following the shorts, he was putting on a long-sleeved shirt when an unfamiliar voice was heard faintly. Listening carefully, he picked up two phones and his card wallet. When he came out of the room, the voice became much clearer.
“Isn’t it fall in Korea now? Hm? But why is it raining like it’s monsoon season?”
“…The sofa is getting wet.”
“You can just buy a new one.”
Wet fabric slapped onto the leather sofa. The culprit who had taken off his clothes was hidden by Doctor Choi and couldn’t be seen, and from the back of Doctor Choi standing in the middle of the living room, it seemed like black smoke was rising. Joo Seonghan hesitated in his steps, then quietly approached them.
“What brings you here?”
“While I was in Korea for a bit, I came to see if the machines were running well. Where’s Dogyeong hyung?”
His eyes met with the man who stuck his head out from beyond Doctor Choi’s body. The man, who had dyed his short hair yellow, looked Joo Seonghan up and down. His eyes stopped at Joo Seonghan’s hands.
“Isn’t this place kind of a secret hideout?”
“That’s correct.”
