According to the man, Obin died at the exact same time he turned off his phone and drank. It was a truly unrealistic story. It would be more realistic to say the Earth was destroyed. Beomgyu pondered this, then asked Jihoon in a tone of disbelief.
“Huh? What do you mean? I just got a voicemail?” ((Beomgyu
“I think it was sent at dawn. We looked at the records.” ((Ji-Hoon
What are you talking about? What nonsense are you talking about? Beomgyu was so dumbfounded that he couldn't even speak. He just put the phone away from his ear, laid down on the sofa, and switched it to speakerphone. Then he checked the time Obin had sent the voicemail.
“12:27. Right?” ((Ji-hoon
12:27:34. Jihoon's words were accurate. Beomgyu quickly turned his positive thinking circuit, then paused. He hit his head, feeling foolish for even a moment, assuming Jihoon's words were true.
“So… you’re the police and Obin committed suicide… something like that?” ((Beomgyu
Jihoon was silent for a moment at Beomgyu's question. While Jihoon was silent, Beomgyu could be heard muttering softly, "Then I'm the president."
He didn't believe he'd believe him right away. He was afraid that if he heard from him right then and there that Obin had committed suicide, Beomgyu might hang up, so Jihoon decided to get to the point first.
“I am contacting you because Mr. Jeong Oh-bin’s guardian is not present.” ((Ji-hoon
“Wait a minute. I think you’ve made a mistake. Why is Obin dying? No, is it Jeong Obin…?” ((Beomgyu
“...I’m sorry.” ((Ji-hoon
“You’re a police officer, aren’t you supposed to protect citizens??? You ignored all the calls that Oh Bin made because of the stalker, and now what? Dead? Jeong Oh Bin? That Jeong Oh Bin?” ((Beomgyu
Beomgyu's hair was turning white. He couldn't even tell what he was saying or what he wanted to say. His hands began to shake violently, and his breathing became ragged. His heart was beating so fast he could feel the hot blood rushing through his body.
“We will have to do an autopsy to find out the exact cause of death, but we are presuming it to be suicide.” ((Ji-Hoon
“Lies. How do you know that? And how can I trust you?” ((Beomgyu
“I’m sorry. But...” ((Ji-hoon
“Suicide... That’s ridiculous.” ((Beomgyu
Beomgyu cut Jihoon off. Even if he had given in a hundred times, no, a thousand times, that Obin had died in an accident, Obin wasn't the type of person to make that choice.
This is clearly stalking. Beomgyu concluded so.
“S, stalker! Stalker. Please direct the investigation there... No, no, Obin is not dead.” ((Beomgyu
“A will has been found.” ((Ji-Hoon
Until then, Beomgyu hadn't listened to Jihoon. No, he hadn't believed him. He couldn't believe it, so he felt it would be easier to confirm it himself. He couldn't understand why he kept assuming it was Obin when it wasn't.
“So, you should come now.” ((Ji-hoon
“Is Obin at the police station right now? You know he’s a real conman, right? A dead person is at the police station… Did some ghost report it himself?” ((Beomgyu
Jihoon, who was at a loss as to what to do with Beomgyu's emotional reaction, finally made a decision. He thought that showing Obin to him was a priority rather than coming to the police station and asking Beomgyu questions about this and that.
“...I will go home.” ((Ji-Hoon
Jihoon hung up after saying that. "This is ridiculous. Who said Jung Oh-bin died? This is a ridiculous joke." Beomgyu couldn't believe it.
“Really. The world is going crazy. I have to tell Obin. He said something really funny happened.” ((Beomgyu
Beomgyu chuckled to himself, but the sound of his laughter was so awkward that he decided to stop laughing. If Jihoon was right, then the voice message he'd received earlier must have been sent by the already dead Obin.
“Answer the phone, Jeong Oh-bin...” ((Beomgyu
Beomgyu, still on the phone with Obin, began to bite his fingernails as he heard only the ringtone. His anxiety only grew, and he continued to call until the doorbell rang.
“Mr. Choi Beom-gyu, this is Detective Park Ji-hoon.” ((Ji-hoon
Beomgyu slowly turned his head and looked at the front door. It was quiet. And then he denied the unbelievable reality. A chill ran down his spine. Feeling his spinal cord become more sensitive, Beomgyu stared at his phone, his pupils trembling so much he worried he might lose focus.
The phone was still just making that damn beeping sound.
Dandelion seeds
You eventually became a star
Obin's funeral was held quickly. Obin's death was so perfect.suicideIt was a death that had been prepared very slowly, three months in advance or even earlier.
That's why it was murder. No one could claim that Obin had been killed. That fact made Beomgyu feel even more miserable.
“That… Beomgyu…” ((Jihoon
Jihoon, who saw Beomgyu's expression, quickly bowed in front of Obin's photo and walked towards Beomgyu.
“Once a person makes up their mind, they can’t change it. I hope you don’t blame yourself too much.” ((Ji-hoon
Jihoon patted Beomgyu on the shoulder and said, "Thank you." Beomgyu bowed his head, expressing his gratitude and apologies. Even though he knew she was sincere, he still regretted it.
From the moment he saw Obin's cold body, Beomgyu's self-reproach began. As the tears of guilt dried, tears of anger directed at Obin flowed. And when those tears dried too, and no more tears flowed, he felt as if he were swimming in a deep darkness, overcome by feelings of longing.
“I feel really bad for Writer Moon. That young person... sigh... “
“There is no one as talented as Writer Moon. It’s just that Writer Moon is not good enough.”
Since Obin had been a fairly famous writer during his lifetime, most of the people who attended his funeral were well-known figures in the publishing industry. The Obin they were talking about didn't seem to be the Obin Beomgyu knew.
Occasionally, when Obin's friends come over and tell him about Obin from long ago, he returns to the Obin he knew.
" nice to meet you. "
Ah... yes... nice to meet you... heh '' ((Beomgyu
The author was truly more sincere about his work than anyone I've ever known. He said he would introduce me to his boyfriend, who later became his muse... and now I get to meet him like this.
Even the actors who appeared in Obin's works came to Obin's funeral and told Obin's story, so it felt like a small talk party rather than Obin's funeral.
“…Writer Moon really liked Beomgyu. I could feel his affection. So… I want to tell you that it wasn’t Beomgyu’s fault that Writer Moon fell into a deep sleep.”
If it wasn't my fault, Obin wouldn't have died. ((Beomgyu
....There's a line like that among the lines the author likes. Maybe it's the last words the author left behind...? ''
...I made a mistake. Thank you for your condolences. '' ((Beomgyu
Beomgyu simply bowed his head, offering a soulless thank you like any other horse. Emptiness, emptiness, futility, helplessness. All these negative emotions seemed to mix together.
During the funeral, I cried for a long time, sometimes falling asleep from exhaustion, and other times I couldn't sleep because I was afraid that if I closed my eyes, it would disappear. The smell of food made me sick enough to vomit, and then I felt an unbearable hunger and ate in a hurry.
“Hey Choi Beomgyu” ((Subin
“…” ((Beomgyu
Choi Beomgyu!! Come to your senses, please... '' ((Soobin
Subin, who had been watching Beomgyu like that, forcibly lifted him up. Beomgyu slumped down like a corpse and offered no resistance.
“Ha... wake up. You look terrible.” ((Subin
Subin was really scared that if things continued like this, they'd end up having to hold Obin's funeral and then Beomgyu's. Beomgyu was in such a precarious state that he'd give up everything and throw himself away at any moment.
“Where are you going?” ((Beomgyu
“Let’s go get some fresh air.” ((Subin
I don't like it... '' ((Beomgyu
Then, are you going to cry outside where Obin can't see you? Are you going to show Obin only crying until the end? '' ((Subin
I followed Subin out, forced to go outside, and it was pitch black. I thought it was morning, but it was pitch black night.
Ah... it's night... '' ((Beomgyu
Yeah, it's night, honey. ((Subin
“It’s a star.” ((Beomgyu
Beomgyu looked up at the stars in the sky and muttered.
“I guess it’s Obin.” ((Subin
“...Obin is the moon.” ((Beomgyu
While pondering why Obin was the moon, he heard his own voice from far away, telling him to become the moon while he was young and that he would become a shining star.
Obin liked stars better. He said his star was prettier because it sparkled more. Maybe that's why he became a star. Beomgyu soon realized that he was the selfish one in every moment with Obin.
“It was my own star...” ((Beomgyu
He muttered meaningless words, thinking he would never be able to see the stars or the moon again. Soobin didn't speak to Beomgyu again. The two maintained that long silence.
Just then, he saw snowflakes falling from the sky. It wasn't that cold, so it felt really out of place. Beomgyu reached out and grabbed the snowflake, and soon he was able to grab a fluffy one.
“Dandelion seeds...” ((Beomgyu
Beomgyu slowly opened his clenched fist. The wind brushed Beomgyu's fingertips, sending the seeds flying away with him. Watching the seeds drift away from his hand, Beomgyu thought he would go and tell the others about spring.
“You ended up becoming a star.” ((Beomgyu
After saying those words, Beomgyu went back inside. Subin quickly turned around when she saw Beomgyu like that.
“Hey, Beomgyu!!” ((Soobin
At the sound of someone calling his name, Beomgyu paused for a moment, but didn't look back. Feeling the sound of sobs mixed with his light breathing, Subin guessed that Beomgyu was crying.
“I’m sorry. I just want to be alone right now. But I feel better now than before. Thank you so much, hyung.” ((Beomgyu
Beomgyu's pace quickened and he came crashing into the bathroom. He quickly turned on the water, let it flow down the sink, and sat down, covering his face. Only then was he able to cry in peace.
This year, a particularly harsh spring has arrived.