Chapter 83
“I can’t trust you.”
Yu Hyunjae took a step back. He tried to control himself, but his pupils and lips trembled uncontrollably. It wasn’t that he couldn’t trust me—it was that he didn’t want to. I didn’t say anything more. I didn’t want to confuse him further.
“Chanhee.”
……
“I said I can’t trust you. Answer me again.”
“……I’m sorry.”
Yu Hyunjae let out a hollow laugh, rubbing his face repeatedly as if exasperated.
“The only thing I can tell you is…”
……
“……to use my father, my family, as much as you can. Take everything you can from them.”
Just as Yu Hyunjae was about to respond, the hospital room door opened again. Father strode in and stood before me, his face unreadable as usual.
“Stay here until you’re stable. I’ve assigned enough security, so don’t do anything reckless.”
“……Yes.”
Father glanced at Yu Hyunjae, who stood beside me, pale as a sheet.
“Are you staying here, too, Hyunjae?”
“……No.”
“Then come out now. We’re heading straight home.”
Yu Hyunjae vanished from in front of me in an instant. As I listened to his retreating footsteps beyond the closed door, I buried my face in my hands. Had telling him the truth really been the best choice? Regret flooded in like a tide. But the world never gave anyone time to consider the best option. If I had waited any longer, it would have only hurt more. I pressed my fingers hard against my burning eyelids, trying to hold back the tears.
***
We consciously avoided each other until Yu Hyunjae left. Fortunately—or unfortunately—Yu Hyunjae didn’t seem to let on to anyone that he’d heard those words from me. Unless he told someone himself, there was no way to know for sure, but I hoped he’d listened to me.
[Han Jaemin: Answer your phone.]
Ignoring Han Jaemin’s calls had gone on for nearly a month. I’d already revealed my biggest secret to Yu Hyunjae and even used his information to summon Yu Dohyun. I had no intention of avoiding Han Jaemin forever, but since I didn’t have to go to school for a while due to my medical leave, I spent all day cooped up in my room. Yu Hyunjae, who had submitted his leave of absence, did the same. We shared the same floor but made every effort to avoid each other. Since Yu Hyunjae was determined to do so, I matched his actions. His cold back as he descended the stairs without even glancing my way still felt unnatural, but there was nothing I could do.
[Han Jaemin: Is this your choice?]
It was the day before Yu Hyunjae’s departure. As usual, Han Jaemin sent me a threatening message. I read it and turned off the screen. Tomorrow, Yu Hyunjae would leave South Korea. For at least a few years, we wouldn’t see each other. So I just had to deal with the mess I’d made in the meantime.
[Han Jaemin: Do you feel like you’re the most miserable person in the world? ㅋㅋㅋ]
Han Jaemin sent another provocative message.
[Han Jaemin: Now that Hyunjae’s gone, and you’re just waiting for your death day, how does it feel?]
Bastard. So what? What are you going to do about it?
[Han Jaemin: Does it feel like it’s all over now?]
I hope it is over. I hope I die and don’t have to go back to that damn past again.
[Han Jaemin: I told you, I know how to make you the most miserable.]
Can I get any more miserable than this? I was almost curious.
[Han Jaemin: Have a good day at school tomorrow.]
[Han Jaemin: See you soon. ^^]
Since I’d used up all my medical leave days, I had to go to school tomorrow. It was an odd coincidence that it fell on the same day as Yu Hyunjae’s departure. Maybe Father had pulled some strings, because he told me to move with the security team. I didn’t have the energy to refuse, so I nodded. I didn’t even think about what the words “Have a good day at school” might imply.
I went to the second-floor living room to get some water. As I walked toward the table, Yu Hyunjae came out of his room at the perfect moment, dragging his carry-on luggage. It seemed he was taking the rest of his things to the car ahead of time, excluding the items he’d already shipped.
Yu Hyunjae hesitated when he saw me. I slowly turned my head and poured myself a glass of water. His footsteps faded away. I deliberately drank the water slowly, waiting for him to come back up. Yu Hyunjae returned and stood in front of his room. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke to me.
“Take care. I’ll probably leave early tomorrow morning, so I’m telling you now.”
I gripped the glass harder. My fingers turned white in an instant.
“……Yeah. Have a safe trip.”
“I’m just doing what you said—the best I can right now.”
“……Yeah.”
“Because right now, I really can’t do anything else.”
“Yeah.”
“So I’ll come back stronger.”
“Yeah. Make sure you do.”
“But… it’s not because of you anymore.”
……
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
Yu Hyunjae stared at me. Before I could answer, he went back into his room. I dragged my heavy feet back to my own room. Since this was what I wanted, there was nothing more to say. Of course. All the truth demanded Yu Chanhee’s downfall and Yu Hyunjae’s independence. Maybe this was the ending the system intended. It must have decided that a lifetime of misery suited Yu Chanhee better than an early death. That’s why it had tormented me for so long.
I had a dream for the first time in a while. It was short. Yu Hyunjae and I were on a plane together. We were dressed lightly, as if we were going on a trip. In the dream, we seemed to be adults, casually ordering beer from the flight attendant. Yu Hyunjae soon fell asleep, leaning against my shoulder. I watched the in-flight movie in a relaxed position. It was an indescribably peaceful time. Only after waking up did I remember that I’d had a similar dream before.
The clock showed it was past seven. Yu Hyunjae would have already boarded his plane. I blinked slowly and got up. The first day in South Korea without Yu Hyunjae had begun.
***
“I got a text from Hyunjae yesterday.”
As soon as I arrived at school and endured the welcoming fuss, I managed to return to my seat. Go Hankyul showed me his phone, chattering away.
“He kept saying he was leaving, but I didn’t think he’d actually go.”
“So he really left? Was it supposed to be fake?”
“It’s just weird that he didn’t say a word.”
“Rich kids going abroad for school—what’s new? Your sister’s in the U.S., right?”
“Hey! That’s different!”
“How?”
We exchanged a few words, but it didn’t change the fact that Yu Hyunjae was gone. I glanced at his empty seat and opened my textbook. The lesson, which I was hearing for the first time in a month, was still boring but somehow refreshing. Being cooped up at home for a month must have been more stifling than I realized.
The school’s security had been strengthened, they said. After the incident in the science lab and Father’s special request, security personnel with special abilities were stationed full-time, and the security system had been updated to the latest version. The main perpetrator of the attack was never caught (of course—it was Han Jaemin), and there were so many complaints from parents that the science lab was shut down.
“So where does the Crafting class meet now?”
“I don’t know. They said they’re building a separate building.”
“Really? They’ve got money.”
“What are you talking about? It’s 100% state-funded.”
“Oh, really?”
“Watch the news once in a while, even if you are the son of the Security Bureau Director.”
“I don’t have the mental space for that.”
“You’re something else.”
Father’s influence must have reached here, too. I didn’t know how he managed to get state funding for a school project, but it probably wasn’t through legitimate means. It left a bad taste in my mouth.
Go Hankyul scrolled through a portal site on his phone, then suddenly stopped. He must have found something.
“Hey, Chanhee……”
“What?”
“This… news…”
“I said I don’t like news.”
Go Hankyul stared at me, his face stiff and pale. He looked like he wanted to say something but couldn’t get the words out.
“What? Did some serious article come out?”
“This…”
Go Hankyul held out his phone with a slightly trembling hand, showing me the screen.
“Is this… your dad?”
Just as I was about to read the article in detail, my phone rang. The caller was Kim Guhyeon. I was a little surprised by the unexpected call and swiped to answer.
“Hello?”
……Chanhee?
“Yes. Go ahead.”
You need to come now.
Kim Guhyeon’s voice carried an unusual panic. I’d never heard him sound this shaken before.
“Why? I’m at school. I can’t move without my father’s permission.”
The Director…
……
has passed away… It seems he was in a fire at home of unknown origin.
Only then did I read the contents of the article on Go Hankyul’s phone screen.
[Breaking News] Current Combat Division Security Bureau Director Yu Gyuhwan found in a fire of unknown origin at his residence; rescue operations underway.
