[After you left, they told me to get a detailed examination at the hospital, so I did, and it seems… there’s a big problem with Roun. The doctor, the doctor…]
That day, Euiyeon’s phone call delivered the most devastating news in Euiju’s entire life.
—Euiju-ya. Why, why do only we have to live experiencing these things? How much did I do wrong in my past life that these things keep happening! This can’t be. This, this is too unfair. If I had died back then instead, wouldn’t our Roun not be sick? Euiju-ya, what about our Roun? Huh?
That day when he headed from Jeju to Seoul, Euiju, who went up after hearing shocking news from Euiyeon, rushed straight to the hospital. As soon as he entered the noisy 8-person room like a marketplace, he saw the twins and Euiyeon surrounding a bed in the corner. Inside was Roun sleeping like an angel.
Euiyeon, upon facing Euiju, collapsed right there.
—There was a reason, a reason he wasn’t eating. This is all my fault. I was too busy living to just ignore it. I just thought he had indigestion, thought his stomach wasn’t feeling well… Even when the kid played a little hard, he acted like he’d collapse, there were hints everywhere but I was ignorant. I kept saying let’s go next time, let’s go, but I was too busy living so I didn’t! Euiju-ya. This is all my fault. Noona, noona is really sorry…
Roun not eating was a frequent occurrence, but since he was a child who always ate sweets well, Euiju had also passed it off as nothing serious. He thought the child’s body getting tired quickly when playing outside was just his innate constitution.
—The doctor said something strange. That Roun won’t live long. That even if we extend his life, he won’t be able to graduate elementary school. What should we do? Euiju-ya. What about our Roun?
Having lost her fingers in an accident, taking care of young children, and tormented by the endlessly incoming household chores, Euiyeon suffered. She endlessly blamed herself for not properly noticing the youngest’s illness because she was too busy living.
A rare disease where there’s a problem with growth factors so the cardiovascular system no longer grows. A rare disease where the child’s physical growth continues but the cardiovascular system can’t grow, resulting in death before achieving an adult body—it couldn’t even be cured domestically.
Globally, there were only seven cases of it occurring in children. Related research was currently being conducted in the United States, and there was a case at a certain hospital in America that exponentially increased a patient’s survival.
In the end, to treat Roun, they had to go to America.
—If we can cure the child’s illness, I could go not just to America but even to hell.
The hearts of Euiyeon and Euiju were no different from any parents who love their children. To cure the child’s illness, they could roll around in a dung field, or even throw themselves into hot lava to melt their bodies. If sacrificing one body could cure the child, they were confident they could do anything.
However, the problem was money.
—I’m not getting approval anywhere. …Well, it’s strange to get it when we have nothing.
When they said they would borrow money and go abroad, loans were uniformly rejected. For several days, Euiyeon and Euiju went around putting in footwork, but all they got back were rejections.
They didn’t know whether they’d be in America for a few months or a few years. Taking all the twins along, sending them to school, covering Roun’s hospital bills, and settling down to live there would require considerable funds.
Euiju looked down blankly at the business card in his hand. There was no light visible in those pupils.
“Customer. We’ve arrived.”
At the driver’s words, Euiju’s mind snapped to attention and he urgently took out his wallet. After finishing payment, he got out in a hurry.
The place he arrived at was Hankuk Hospital.
When he called the number written on the business card, Jeong Gwangho couldn’t hide his trembling voice.
[I, I’ll send a car to your location.]
Euiju firmly refused. He said he’d find his way there himself and only requested the address.
“You’re Lee Euiju-ssi, right? Hello. I’m called Moon Jeonghun.”
Before he could even recite Jeong Gwangho’s name, a tall man who had been waiting at the entrance approached Euiju. He was someone Euiju was seeing for the first time, yet somehow the gaze with which he looked at Euiju was full of warmth.
The man who lightly introduced himself guided Euiju inside, telling him to follow. Euiju, who got into the transparent elevator that clearly revealed the outdoors, stared coldly at the bright outside with an utterly expressionless face.
“Right. You came.”
In the middle of a hospital room incomparably more luxurious than where Haeseong had been hospitalized before was Jeong Gwangho. Jeong Gwangho, who had been reading a book leaning against the bed head, closed the book he was reading and placed it on the shelf when Euiju entered.
Jeong Gwangho’s complexion brightened blatantly upon facing Euiju. It was just Euiju visiting, yet he had a refreshed expression as if he’d resolved a long-standing worry.
“……”
“……”
Euiju and Jeong Gwangho’s gazes met, but Jeong Gwangho averted his gaze first. After clearing his throat several times, he instructed Moon Jeonghun.
“Bring it.”
Moon Jeonghun, who had been standing like a minister, presented the briefcase that had been on the table before Euiju as if he’d been waiting. When the black square case opened, neatly stacked orange bills were revealed. Euiju’s eyes widened enormously.
“I prepared it in cash for now. There shouldn’t be any shortage.”
It was clear he had prepared it in advance, anticipating the purpose from the moment he received Euiju’s call. Euiju, who had been quietly biting his lips, bit down hard on the tender flesh inside his cheek. It was to the point of bleeding, yet he didn’t release the pressure.
“…Aren’t you going to ask the reason?”
When Euiju asked, Jeong Gwangho’s body flinched. Soon a very tense voice began to flow out.
“From the moment I wake up until I fall asleep, I hear a lot of news. I heard long ago that the youngest was sick and hospitalized. I’ve been waiting for your call since then. If I contacted you first, I thought you wouldn’t give me even this small opportunity.”
Moon Jeonghun, who was holding the money bag, extended the handle toward Euiju.
Euiju’s lower lip, who had been staring down at it blankly, trembled. He exhaled, unable to hide his breath trembling with anger.
“You’re going to America. I know a capable person, so go to the hospital where he is. Team Leader Moon next to you will tell you in detail, so you don’t need to look into it separately.”
An unusual gleam appeared in Jeong Gwangho’s eyes.
More than the fact that it was unfortunate that his friend’s child had contracted a serious illness, it was a truly self-centered and selfish face that was pleased to have gained an opportunity to be active.
When Euiju thought about Jeong Gwangho, who would sleep a bit more comfortably from tonight on, he wanted to throw the bag of money at that face. He wanted to shout not to dare think about finding peace, to feel infinite guilt for the rest of his life.
However, Euiju endured. With clenched teeth, he said quietly.
“…I’ll repay you. I’ll earn it somehow and repay everything. Think of it as high-interest debt and I’ll earn everything and pay it back.”
“There’s no need to…”
“So, ahjussi, don’t die either.”
The person called Jeong Gwangho shouldn’t easily crumble to a disease called cancer. He was someone who should live long, ruminating on his sins every night, suffering and being tormented by nightmares, and ultimately living his whole life suffering mentally like a sinner. He was someone who shouldn’t fall to something like a mere disease.
“…I’ll be going.”
Euiju, who turned around coldly while gripping the bag, quickly left the hospital room with wide strides. Moon Jeonghun quickly followed behind him.
Euiju, who had been glancing at the man continuously following him, stopped walking and glared at the man coldly.
“Don’t follow me.”
“He ordered me to drive you to your destination. Since you’re carrying a large sum of money.”
Euiju, who was about to firmly refuse, looked down at the bag in his hand. He nodded reluctantly.
After stopping by the bank to handle the money, Euiju was heading to the bus stop to take a bus to go to the hospital when he stopped at the sound of someone calling him.
Moon Jeonghun hadn’t left and was waiting for Euiju.
“I’ll take you to your destination.”
“It’s not necessary.”
“I have something I urgently want to tell Euiju-ssi. Please.”
The man, who was quite young to be Jeong Gwangho’s right-hand man, bowed his head deeply with a somehow earnest attitude.
“Let’s go.”
He opened the car door himself and spoke, so Euiju had no intention to refuse further. He let out a deep sigh and entrusted himself to the luxury sedan again.
“Where would you like to go?”
“…Please go to J Entertainment’s headquarters.”
“Understood.”
The man talked about the overall life in America the entire way to the destination. Honestly, Euiju, who didn’t know he’d receive this much support, couldn’t grasp whether he should be angry that Jeong Gwangho had planned everything without him knowing, or feel relieved that Roun’s treatment had become a bit easier.
“I sent all the necessary documents to your home this morning. Ah, and Euiju-ssi.”
“……”
“If you permit it, I’d like to help Euiju-ssi’s family with your life in America going forward.”
“……?”
At the unexpected words, Euiju, who had been only looking outside the window, turned his head. His eyes met with Moon Jeonghun’s through the rearview mirror.
“My parents are in America. Originally, I frequently traveled back and forth between Korea and America taking charge of the Vice Chairman’s work. If you permit it, I’ll review Euiju-ssi’s family’s overall life and help you settle stably in America. Since it’s unfamiliar land, after all. That place.”
His eyes somehow looked earnest. It looked like he was pleading as if Euiju must accept.
“…It’s strange. Why would you go that far?”
“The Vice Chairman is no different from my benefactor. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to repay his kindness.”
Benefactor.
Euiju snorted as if it were absurd.
A person who was a terrible enemy to someone was being praised as a benefactor to someone else. The smile Moon Jeonghun wore was somehow self-deprecating, as if he too knew this contradictory fact.
Euiju, who had no intention of accepting his proposal, indifferently turned his gaze outside the window.
The gaze looking at Euiju through the rearview mirror was somehow persistent. Euiju, who was only looking outside the window, didn’t notice it.
