Chapter 20
When I just lay there doing nothing, Hyunjae seemed to be losing his mind in his own way. I stared blankly at nothing with zero motivation, like a terminal patient waiting for death. I didn’t know how many hours or days had passed. Hyunjae tried to persuade me, begged me, even deliberately got angry while clinging to me.
But at this point I really didn’t want to do anything. I didn’t want to play along with this system that was obsessed with toying with me. The more I tried to be happy with Hyunjae, the more it seemed like everything would go in the worst possible direction. Like it would close in on me cruelly, dangling ridiculous bait like this <Hidden Route>.
When I suddenly came to my senses, Hyunjae wasn’t by my side. He seemed to have kissed my forehead last, but I wasn’t sure if that was real. Thinking I was truly alone in the world, I actually felt relieved.
But not long after, the door burst open and people in uniforms rushed in. And behind them, I saw Hyunjae standing there quietly with handcuffs on.
I was taken to the hospital first. Father and Mother took turns visiting, but I didn’t answer a single word. Father clicked his tongue and left the room, while Mother just cried. Hyunjae probably wouldn’t be able to come here. Having barely survived, I could no longer find meaning in life except seeing Hyunjae’s face. But the reality was that Hyunjae could no longer be by my side.
It was such a shitty ending. I’d probably spend my life locked up in a mental hospital, and Hyunjae would rot in prison for the rest of his. This situation where I had to bear not only my own misery but Hyunjae’s as well was suffocating.
A few days later, Mother visited the hospital room again. I noticed a tall man entering behind her. It was Cha Suhyun. The timing made sense since he would’ve returned from studying abroad when I was seventeen.
“I thought seeing Suhyun might cheer you up, so I asked him to come.”
Mother said something really ridiculous. Suhyun very diligently played the role of Mom’s friend’s sweet son.
“It’s been a while, Chanhee.”
“…Yeah.”
Mother was absolutely thrilled that I’d spoken for the first time since being admitted. She made a huge fuss for a while about how happy Chanhee must be to see Suhyun. Both Suhyun and I were inwardly sneering at her words. The adult Cha Suhyun didn’t feel unfamiliar to me after all this time. Maybe because that dream was still so vivid, it felt like I’d personally met the Suhyun from back then.
“It’s been a while.”
As soon as Mother left, Suhyun looked down at me and spoke like he found me fascinating.
“I didn’t expect you to be half-dead like this.”
“You look better than I expected.”
Suhyun’s expression hardened. But he quickly relaxed his face again and kept his composure.
“Yu Hyunjae is ruined.”
“…”
“It’s kind of boring.”
Suhyun spoke like it was disappointing. He’d probably had plans to thoroughly destroy Hyunjae after returning home, so from his perspective, it made perfect sense to feel that way since Hyunjae had self-destructed on his own.
“Two murders. What an impressive guy.”
I didn’t have the energy to correct him about that. No, I didn’t even feel like arguing with Suhyun. I thought about asking him about his relationship with Yu Dohyun but gave up quickly. I just wanted him to leave. I was half-listening to his words, half-tuning them out when suddenly I had a thought.
“Hyung.”
I reached out and grabbed Suhyun’s arm.
“Choke me.”
After saying this and pulling his arm, Suhyun shook off my hand forcefully.
“Are you insane?”
“I dated Hyunjae.”
Suhyun made a confused expression like he’d misheard, then his face twisted.
“You dated Hyunjae, who killed Dohyun hyung.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Don’t you want to kill me?”
“What?”
Suhyun made an incredulous face. I kept talking.
“I was really happy with Hyunjae.”
“You’re out of your mind.”
“You were happy with Dohyun hyung too.”
Only then did Suhyun react properly.
“How do you know that?”
“Want me to tell you something?”
I smiled bitterly. I must’ve looked like someone who’d truly lost it.
“You’ve never been truly happy, not even once.”
“…”
“And you never will be. I know everything.”
“You crazy bastard.”
Suhyun strode toward me. And instead of choking me, he slapped my cheek. I stayed still with my head turned. Maybe I was too hasty. After Suhyun left the room, I slowly got up.
Blood was slowly seeping out from my arm where I’d ripped out the IV. The stitched wound was starting to tear open. I paid no attention as I escaped from the hospital and ran without stopping once. I felt like I was going insane at how brilliant my own idea was. The system seemed to have caught on to my plan and had been sending me warnings nonstop. Ignoring even those, I sprinted down the road.
<You are reaching the ‘Hidden Route’ bad ending branch point.>
<Would you like to save?>
I flipped off the air. Then, as soon as I emerged from the alley and saw the four-lane road, I jumped in without hesitation. I made eye contact with a car rushing toward me. It’s weird to say I made eye contact with a car, but anyway, I finally encountered that blessed vehicle that would restart my life. I was hit by the car in an instant and sent flying through the air.
And I opened my eyes again. I was back. There was no way I could forget this familiar feeling. The only difference from before was that my body was still seventeen years old, and I was lying in my bed with an injured leg. I smiled with satisfaction, recalling the situation that would soon unfold.
Soon the door opened, and Father’s stern expression was immediately visible. The event had begun. I stalled for a bit more time. Father asked me the same questions as in my previous life, like a machine. And Hyunjae had just arrived at the door. For a moment, I saw Hyunjae’s face clearly again.
That Hyunjae, not yet unhappy, is behind the door. I was so grateful for this ordinary situation I could cry. I was thankful to have this opportunity again. No matter how broken I became, it was a relief that Hyunjae could smile again.
“Father.”
Father looked at me expressionlessly. There was hardly any change, but he seemed slightly taken aback. I continued with a pleasant smile.
“Isn’t Hyunjae really funny?”
And I added with sincerity.
“He thinks he’s on the same level as me just because I played with him a little.”
After saying this, I genuinely laughed out loud. Now the hidden route was thrown away. Hyunjae wouldn’t be unhappy.
“I just messed with him because it was really funny.”
There was no sound from behind the door. Hyunjae didn’t enter my room even after Father left.
