I want to live with my face, boss.
26. The End Returns to Its Place
Seokjin's point of view*
Kwaang-
김석진
"ha..."
Maybe... just maybe, if only I had told my father sooner... maybe none of this would have happened. All of this happened because I couldn't trust myself and overcome my fear of myself.
Tiring- tiring-
Then, as if in response to my thoughts, the bell rang.
김석진
"[..Yes, sir.]"
경찰 청장
"This is a private matter, so feel free to call me Seokjin. Yes, you've taken control of the JU organization so that no one on our side will be harmed."
김석진
"[..Yes, Father.]"
경찰 청장
"You're a great man, my son. Of course, there were civilian casualties, not just our police officers."
경찰 청장
"It's nothing else...your brother sent me a letter from America. I left it on your desk, so go read it."
김석진
"[...Yes, Father.]"
경찰 청장
"[And...thank you."]
경찰 청장
"I... didn't have the courage to capture Lee Hyun-guk's men. I had enough men to catch them, but... even if I won the physical fight, I lost the battle of ideas."
경찰 청장
"But you... so graciously gave me the courage to catch them... so all that's been building up is finally being released."
김석진
"[...Don't be so kind, Father.]"
경찰 청장
"[....Is that kid okay? I heard he was pretty badly injured...]"
김석진
“[There are no major wounds other than the one where he was stabbed last time, but there are many small wounds here and there, so he will probably have to be hospitalized for a week]”
경찰 청장
"[..Okay..You take good care of him, Seokjin. He's a poor kid..]"
김석진
"[..Okay, Father.]"
경찰 청장
"Okay... let's hang up now. You should leave work early today. Let's have a meal together for the first time in a while."
김석진
"[Yes, Father. Come in.]"
Thump-
김석진
"I guess we should both go back now..."
김남준
"Huh? You're here, Inspector."
김석진
"What..where are all the other police officers and you're the only one here, Namjoon?"
김남준
"Ah... Mr. Lee Hyun-guk is on trial right now, so we all went there."
김석진
"What? There's already a trial?"
김남준
"Yes... I heard the director gave special instructions."
김석진
"(Father...)"
김남준
"But, strangely enough, the trial will end in the first instance. The lawyer is probably a famous lawyer from a major corporation..."
김남준
"Anyway, they said they'd contact me right after the trial ends, so I'll report back as soon as I hear from them."
김석진
"Okay, please."
김석진
"Sigh... I guess I'll turn on the TV..."
Tillyrik-
"Breaking news. The current Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, Kim Seok-hyun, has made headlines after revealing his past in court and declaring his resignation. We'll be reporting from the scene in front of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Seoul."
김석진
"...!!"
김석진
"Ugh...Father...!! S...No way..."
"Is it true that you are now attending the trial as a witness and that you were friends with the suspect and condoned the murder in order to sit in that position?"
경찰 청장
"Yes, it's true. The defendant and I have been close friends since childhood, and I condoned the murder of Jeon Jeong-hyeon, then a candidate for police commissioner, to secure this position."
"What exactly is the relationship between the three of you? Please explain in detail!"
경찰 청장
As I said, defendant Lee Hyun-guk and I have been friends since childhood. Then, one day, I learned that the organization led by Lee Hyun-guk had killed my rival, Jeon Jeong-hyeon. Blinded by my current position as the National Police Agency Commissioner, I ignored this fact and ignored it.
경찰 청장
"Therefore, I will step down from this position as of today and reflect on the wrongdoings I have committed."
경찰 청장
"Also... I would like to express my apologies to Jeon Jung-kook and Kim Tae-hyung, the sons of the victim Jeon Jung-hyun who was murdered at that time."
"Who are Jeon Jungkook and Kim Taehyung? Just one more thing, sir!"
"Chief!"
김석진
"..father.."
김석진
"That's right... a letter!"
"To my beloved son"
"By the time you read this letter... I will have finished my trial and told the reporters everything that happened in the past."
"First of all... I'm sorry... Seokjin. I don't have the courage to say it myself, so I'm leaving this message as if it were a letter from your brother."
"Actually... when I saw you getting close to Jungkook and Taehyung, I was actually really scared. I was worried that you might get killed by Lee Hyungook at some point..."
"So, I unconditionally followed Lee Hyun-guk's orders, everything he told me to do. As a result... our relationship only got worse."
"But I hope you don't forget that I really love you."
"I'm sorry... I'm a father who can only do this..."
"That kid... Tell that kid I'm sorry... I'm shameless... but I want to be forgiven, even now."
"There's not much time left in the trial, so I'll have to cut it short here... Lee Hyun-guk will receive life imprisonment. He'll live forever isolated from society. I'll take full responsibility for everything... I hope you're happy."
"Finally... I love you, son."
김석진
"..heh..sob...father..."
I love you too, Father.