Small and Fragile Things - Chapter 61

After finishing his deal with Kim Deok-gyu, Chairman Choi immediately moved on to the next step. To keep Choi Hyun tied down, he had Jung Yoon and Yook Jung-pal arrested.

The charges? Possession of illegal substances and aggravated assault. Of course, the whole thing was a carefully laid trap, and thanks to Detective Oh Jiseok, both were taken in on the same day.

“Shouldn’t they just crawl back to Father before they really end up behind bars? Keep pushing it like this, and you might end up taking the fall for something too.”

Choi Jihyun wasn’t just talking nonsense. Choi Hyun had gone into hiding instead of showing up once his people were taken hostage, so there was every chance he’d try something reckless.

But Muk-hyun had no intention of moving the way Chairman Choi wanted.

“What exactly do you mean by giving me what I want?”

“Chief Jung’s got airtight evidence against him, he’s hard to pull out. But the other one, I can get him free.”

“And how the hell would you do that?”

“He was caught red-handed, right? That was Chief Gu’s handiwork. I’ve got proof it wasn’t him. Solid proof.”

When she noticed he didn’t believe her, she went so far as to show him the video on her phone. It really was enough to clear Yook Jung-pal’s name.

“How do you even have this?” It was the very footage Muk-hyun had been hunting for until just a moment ago. The fact that Jihyun had gotten her hands on it before him stung.

“I’ve got foresight, okay? Just leave it at that. Don’t ask questions.”

“And you thought I’d be grateful if you shoved unverifiable evidence in my face? Waste of time.”

“It’s not unverifiable!”

“Forget it. Let’s just handle our own problems separately.”

When Muk-hyun tried to stand up, Jihyun’s voice grew desperate.

“Hey, hey, fine! Sh1t. I planted someone under Chief Gu. Cheol-young—you know him.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe that?”

“Yeah! Damn it, believe me for once! The dog that came by earlier? That was him. He sucked up to Gu and got me this video. Happy now? Do you always have to force me to say sh1t like this?”

This time, her pride was clearly bruised. No wonder, if she’d had to crawl that low under Gu’s lapdog, even she’d feel humiliated.

“What are you hesitating for? You really think you can get those two out alone? Take it. Take it!”

“And why should I trust you enough to take your evidence?”

“Because… damn it, what other choice do I have? Do you think it’s easy to bribe people for this kind of job these days? Even errand boys are greedy as hell, always looking for leverage. Just—ugh. Fine. You’ll do it, right?”

“Send me the file.”

In the end, Jihyun had to hand over not only the video but also all the data she’d gathered through Cheol-young. It felt like she was getting the short end of the stick, but putting out the fire in front of her mattered more.

“Hey! If you run away, I swear I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth and kill you!”

Ignoring her shrill screaming, Muk-hyun slipped out as quietly as he had come, not crossing paths with a single person.

On the surface, he looked perfectly fine. But just as he stepped onto the main road, sunlight reflected off the building across the street and sent him reeling.

The headache he’d been expecting hit like a hammer, his eyes aching like they were about to burst. He could barely keep himself upright.

“Urgh—!”

He stumbled into a narrow alley and vomited until his stomach was completely empty. Even after that, dry heaves wracked him until his shirt was drenched in cold sweat.

“……”

In the blazing midday sun, people bustled along the streets outside, vibrant and alive. But in a dark, narrow alley, where sunlight couldn’t reach, he sat slumped against the wall, eyes black and lifeless.

By force of habit, his hand searched his pockets, but there was nothing. The gnawing thirst made him restless, and he brushed a hand across the corner of his empty mouth.

Pointless self-torture. Every time he craved a cigarette, he remembered that moment. Those wide eyes that couldn’t believe it. That desperate face looking up at him, asking if he was really going to let her go.

When he remembered her, the withdrawal symptoms faded. When was the last time he’d slept properly? Or eaten? He hadn’t. He’d just been piling stress on top of stress. No wonder his body was falling apart.

Like a doctor diagnosing himself, he breathed mechanically. He didn’t really want to live, but he’d decided to. That’s why he let her go.

“Thank… you.”

With a rough motion, Muk-hyun shoved his messy hair back. He tried to push himself up against the wall, only to collapse again. His arms hung over his knees, his head dropping forward.

“…Fvck.”

At his feet, pale sunlight wavered weakly.

***

Meanwhile, Irang was still in Heungin City. Originally, she was supposed to be escorted to Seoul. But her condition had taken a sudden turn for the worse mid-transport, forcing them to change plans.

They had brought her to a pharmaceutical research lab owned by Moon Heesook’s family, where she was being treated.

“Her response is too slow.”

Irang’s face on the bed was swollen beyond recognition. Her veins were so shot that they had to insert IV lines into her foot and groin.

“She’s already developed resistance. This dosage isn’t working anymore.”

“What if we increase it?”

“Her liver won’t survive. It’s already at the limit. Look here.”

The test results they’d just received had the doctors deeply concerned. It was around then that Irang, who’d been in a coma, opened her eyes.

“Oh? She’s awake. Can you hear me? Are you conscious?”

“…Water.”

The older doctor wetted some gauze and dabbed her lips. The younger doctor started to speak but stopped at the elder’s sharp glance. As her lips moistened, Irang fixed her gaze on him and slowly spoke.

“Doctor… long time…”

He’d been her physician since she was a child. She hadn’t seen him once since being locked away at the villa, but until then, he’d always been her doctor.

“Yes, it’s been a long time.”

“Your hair…”

“Mm. It went white in just a few years. After my wife died, it all happened suddenly.”

He brushed back his fully white hair, a faint smile on his blurred features.

“Maria… she’s in a good place now.”

The doctor flinched at that, lowering his head. When he raised it again, his eyes were a little red.

“You remember things like that?”

Of course she did. He was the only one who had ever told her stories when she was bored.

Irang gave a weak smile, then looked around the room. When she saw that she was closed in on all sides, disappointment crossed her face.

“How long… have I been here?”

“Half a month.”

“Half… a month.”

Only fifteen days had passed?

Irang let out a weary sigh, recalling the agony. Her body had burned like it was on fire from fever so high it blurred her mind. She had thought it would end. She had thought she’d finally die. But she was still here.

When her eyes had first opened to blinding white light, she had thought it was over. But no.

“Your fever’s come down, but your condition isn’t good. We’ll keep you on medication for now. If anything hurts, tell me, Illy.”

How much longer would she have to endure this? Even if she recovered, what else would she be forced to endure after? Just the thought was crushing.

“Doctor… I have a favor…”

“More water?”

He was making it clear that was the only favor he could grant. But Irang ignored it and went on.

“Send me… to where Maria is.”

“……”

Her body was breaking, but it felt like her heart had died long before. She didn’t want to live anymore. She didn’t want to run anymore. She was just… tired.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw that lake. Even in unconsciousness, even in dreams, it was always there.

The dazzling, beautiful lake. The sky reflected on the surface, the glittering ripples, the people she loved. In that place she could never return to, she had been smiling brightly, like a fool.

“Illy. I swore I would do everything I could to save a life, no matter the circumstances.”

Her soft laugh at his solemn words wasn’t mocking. She wasn’t scoffing at his oath, or at the fact that he was here, aiding in something like this.

She laughed for another reason.

“Am I… really a person?”