“…It’s not your time to see it yet.”
Jimin's voice was low, but commanding.
With those one words, the air in the room changed.
He held the documents tightly and looked at Sohee. The depths of his eyes were shaking.
Sohee stared blankly at him and then opened her mouth.
“…Why? My parents’ names are written on it, why can’t I see it?”
Jimin kept his mouth tightly shut.
“This… needs further verification. It’s a document with unorganized content.”
“So, I’m going to check that.”
“You still—”
“You’re still young? You don’t know yet?
Do you still think I should live like I did when I was young, without knowing anything and just doing whatever I’m told?
Sohee cut him off and took a step closer.
His eyes were bloodshot and red.
“Please, tell me.
Why do you keep shaking my memories? Why are you being so nice to me?
“Your father… is part of the organization that killed my parents.”
"...that"
"You don't act like my enemy. Rather, you act like you owe me something. Why?"
Jimin's eyes hardened for a moment.
Sohee didn't stop.
“Do you know how I lived since that day?
No one ever told me exactly."
Jimin bit his lip tightly.
His eyes cleared for the first time.
“I… don’t know what to do after that day.
“I’ve endured everything alone up until now...”
After being silent for a long time, he quietly opened his mouth.
"...Are you confident you can hear the truth?"
".... Even if it makes me more desperate or kills me, I have to listen."
“Don’t you remember who hid you in the closet at your house that day?”
Sohee's eyes shook.
“…The person who hid it…?”
“You were in the bedroom at that time.
It was I who held you back as you trembled... and told you to hide in the closet.
If I hadn't hidden you, Hwayang might have found out."
Sohee took a deep breath.
The memory was vague like an old dream, but it still existed.
[Flashback: Childhood]
Young Sohee was shivering in the messy living room.
Outside the door, someone was shouting loudly.
“Where’s the brat! Han So-hee!!! Come out! Catch this bitch, got it?”
When Sohee heard someone's presence, she covered her ears and closed her eyes tightly.
But I suddenly opened my eyes to a hand grabbing me.
“Shh. I’m trying to help you. This way. Hurry up!!”
A little boy was holding out his hand.
It was unfamiliar and urgent, but there was no other way.
What I remember is that her hands were really warm.
The hand dragged him into the bedroom closet.
Just before the door closed, the boy said.
"Never, ever come out. Promise-"
Looking at the hand with the little finger extended, tears fell down, but Sohee soon hooked the little finger.
"I promised."
His hair was short and his face was dark and hard to see, but his eyes were clearly visible.
—Trembling eyes.
Soon the closet door closed and the child was gone.
[today]
Sohee exhaled as if something was about to burst.
He closed his eyes tightly and whispered.
“…That was…you?”
Jimin nodded quietly.
“I was young too, and I couldn’t do more.
But for that moment… I had to let you live.”
Sohee closed her eyes tightly.
"... Tell me the truth. Why did you save me from Yeonseong..."
Jimin quietly placed the documents on the desk.
His face was a mix of complex emotions.
“…It wasn’t Yeonseong who killed your parents that day.”
"yes?"
“To be exact… Hwayang intercepted the money that Yeonseong was trying to repay.”
“…What does that mean…”
“Your parents owed Hwayang a debt, and Yeonseong tried to pay it off. Your father and my father were friends before.
...Your parents could have survived. But Hwayang moved first… and when Yeonseong followed… it was already too late.”
Jimin's words were calm, but each word was filled with compassion for her.
"It's still not clear why Hwayang made your parents do this, even though he knew he could pay her back."
Sohee couldn't continue speaking.
I just stood there, holding my breath.
“No… that’s a lie.”
“Yeah, that makes sense from your perspective.”
“…Then why didn’t you tell me until now?”
"When you... when you were older and had some power to think, your father instructed you to tell the truth.
That's why I asked you to come and pay me back."
"... her..."
"If we find you first, Hwayang will know where you are."
Sohee couldn't continue speaking and just breathed heavily.
“I was trying to protect you. I was afraid that you, who didn’t know anything, would rush into revenge…!”
“Who are you!!!!!!”
Sohee couldn't hold it in anymore and screamed.
"Okay. Don't follow me. I don't want to see you."
Sohee ran out like that.
Jimin just looked at Sohee like that.
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Handing🩷