Chapter 98 (1/2)

Chapter 98.

It was said that Woojin returned to the office after having lunch with Eejun. Shin also got a text message from Woojin that day about meeting up after work. But when the workhour was over, Woojin was nowhere to be seen. Shin waited in the basement parking lot, and when Woojin didn’t show up, he went back up to Woojin’s department.

The office was empty and Shin still couldn’t get ahold of Woojin. That night, Woojin never returned home. Shin didn’t get any sleep at all, waiting in their home.

Shin believed Woojin would return, and he kept calling, but there was no answer from Woojin. Shin sent a text every hour, but they all remained unread. It was a living hell for Shin.

Woojin had disappeared. He didn’t go to work. He didn’t return home. It was as if he never existed.

Shin asked Siwoo, “How are you?”

“…”

“Did you hear from Jihoon Kang yet?”

That day when Woojin disappeared, Jihoon had business meetings all afternoon outside of the office. The next morning, Shin received a call from Siwoo. Siwoo’s voice was trembling when he said to Shin, “Jihoon Kang hasn’t returned home. He isn’t answering my calls either.”

Shin inhaled deeply. Both Woojin and Jihoon disappeared suddenly. Something was obviously going on.

Siwoo replied, “No.”

“Did you eat anything?”

“No.”

“Wait for me. I will be there.”

Siwoo didn’t know much about Jihoon. All he knew were that he was Woojin’s cousin and that his mother had been sick for a long time. So when Jihoon disappeared, Siwoo panicked, and Shin realized something.

“Siwoo, are you dating Jihoon Kang?”

When Siwoo didn’t answer, Shin didn’t prod. Their priority now was to find Woojin and Jihoon. After they were found, Shin knew Siwoo would explain everything to him.

Shin told Siwoo a summary of what he knew about Woojin and his situation.

How Woojin’s father was murdered. How it was initially suspected that Jihoon’s mother was the one behind this crime. How Joowan Kim was relevant in this complicated family situation.

Siwoo didn’t say much. Shin asked, “Did Jihoon Kang really not tell you anything?”

“He didn’t.”

“…”

“That idiot never mentioned Joowan Kim’s name in front of me.”

Siwoo didn’t even know that Joowan was one of the heirs to Hana Pharmaceuticals. His voice trembled as he asked Shin, “If… they were kidnapped…”

“… Siwoo…”

“Then what should we do, Shin?”

Shin didn’t want to think about it. Right now, what he needed to do was focus on finding where Woojin was. Shin hastily picked up his coat on the bed and looked around the room. Except for missing Woojin, it looked the same. It looked normal, but for some reason, everything looked dimmer.

He whispered, “Where are you Woojin…”

Shin thought perhaps his dream was telling him something. Woojin Choi waited for Shin for a long time, and now, it was Shin’s turn to wait. Love appeared in disguise sometimes. At first, it would look like a coincidence, but in time, it often became clear that it was fate.

***

Woojin felt like his head was going to explode. He lifted his hand to touch it, then suddenly noticed the old scar on his wrist. It was an ugly injury, and although it was sutured well, the cuts were deep and the scars were ugly. The strange thing was that Woojin didn’t mind the scars as much as he used to.

Woojin wondered where his bracelet was. He sat up, trying to look for it when he realized that he was in a strange room. The smell of lavender was overwhelming.

“…”

Woojin sighed and looked around. He was certain he had never been here before. Where did Eejun bring him? Woojin felt weak and when he tried to stand up, his feet hurt. His body felt disconnected from his brain. This was the second time he felt this strange sensation.

The first time was when he was found in that swimming pool in high school. He remembered that time like he was watching an old movie.

The day he returned home… He remembered Jihoon’s white dog. His aunt was there too. Then suddenly from behind, someone gently touched his neck.

It was a cold big hand, and…. a knife? This was the first time Woojin remembered this part of his past. He was deep in his thoughts, trying to remember more when someone said to him from behind, “Are you finally awake?”

It was Eejun Bae. Unlike his usual light outfits, Eejun was wearing a pair of black jeans and a pullover. He looked so unfamiliar to Woojin that it gave him goosebumps. The room was warm, but Woojin felt cold.

Eejun walked in with a small bottle of water. Woojin asked, “How long was I unconscious?”