[TOMORROW X TOGETHER Beomgyu] To the point of aching

Episode 15. The place we gathered again

After returning home, everyone was silent for a while.

 

Dani bustled back and forth, applying fresh medicine to Beomgyu's wound, and Yeoju's ankle was wrapped in bandages again.

By the time the sun reached its zenith, the four of them had each caught their breath where they were.

 

Yeoju sat alone in the room, retracing the events of the past few days.

From the day she first met Beomgyu to today, it felt as if every moment had been a path leading to this place.

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

Soon after, Kim Yuhyeong first had people gathered to the inner quarters.

 

"...I think it's time to talk about the stories we've put off."

 

Beomgyu sat on his knees.

 

"...I'd like to hear how you've been for the past ten years."

 

At Kim Yuhyeong's quiet question, Beomgyu closed his eyes for a moment and opened them again.

 

"After I lost my mother in the fire, I was taken in by an old monk hiding out at a nearby temple. I grew up there, learning swordsmanship and letters."

"Every night, I held on by one resolve alone: that someday, I would surely uncover the truth and reclaim my parents' names."

"At such a young age... you carried that grudge all by yourself."

 

Deep sympathy seeped into Kim Yuhyeong's voice.

 

"..."

"After I became an adult, I began meeting, one by one, others like me who had lost their families to Jo Seunghak. My friend Taehyeon is one of them. He's a descendant of the old Choi household. We came together to find hard evidence proving Jo Seunghak's crimes."

"While chasing that man's remnants, I was badly injured and ended up drifting all the way to the edge of this village."

 

Only then did Yeoju feel the story of the day he had first collapsed in the courtyard finally come together.

She realized anew that what she had thought was a chance meeting was, in fact, something inevitable forged over ten years.

 

"...So even pretending to have lost your memory, was that all part of the plan from the very beginning?"

 

"At first, it was only to hide my identity. But... later, I found I didn't want to leave this house."

 

Yeoju's face turned red.

Kim Yuhyeong listened in silence for a long while, then at last placed both hands on the floor.

 

"...The one I should be apologizing to is none other than you."

"Sir..."

"Knowing that Choi Daegam was dying unjustly and still remaining silent, and driving you away in fear even though I knew it was you—everything was my fault. Your ten years may as well have been made by my hand."

 

Beomgyu's eyes grew red.

 

"...It would be a lie to say I didn't resent you. But even just bowing your head to me like this is enough."

 

The lady also wiped away her tears and bowed her head.

 

"I'm sorry. And... though it's late, thank you. For saving Yeoju."

 

Yeoju, watching from beside them, could not hold back her tears in the end.

 

"Father, I'm sorry too... for spending all this time resenting you."

"No. Thanks to you, this father was finally able to summon up the courage."

 

Kim Yuhyeong rose from his seat and brought out an old chest.

Inside were two faded letters.

 

"They are secret letters I've kept tucked away for ten years. Hard evidence that Jo Seunghak gave the orders himself."

 

Beomgyu's hand trembled faintly.

 

"This... only now to me."

"I should have handed them over long ago. And this won't be enough by itself. I'll also give you the private soldiers I brought back when I returned to the countryside. Go to Hanyang and bring Jo Seunghak completely crashing down."

 

"...Sir."

"This time, I'll fight with you too. I won't hide behind fear anymore."

"...Thank you. I will surely repay this kindness."

"It's not kindness. I'm only returning what was yours from the start, only now."

 

Kim Yuhyeong placed the secret letters directly into Beomgyu's two hands.

 

"Call together that friend named Taehyeon and everyone who follows you. On the road to Hanyang, my private soldiers will go with you."

 

Yeoju quietly watched the scene, then suddenly met Beomgyu's eyes.

No words were exchanged, but what each felt in their eyes was clear.

Now, truly, it was time to head toward the end.

 

"...Please come back."

 

At Yeoju's soft words, Beomgyu smiled at last, at ease.

 

"...I will. This time, I promise."

 

Kim Yuhyeong and his wife watched the sight with warm satisfaction too.

For the first time in a long while, laughter drifted through this house.

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

That night, Beomgyu wrote a letter to deliver news to Taehyeon and the others.

Preparations to head for Hanyang were quietly beginning like that.

 

On the side of his face as he moved his brush, there lingered a steely resolve, one not seen in a long time.