83 The Heartbreaking Truth (2/2)

”...” Hyuk's eyebrows creased. His mind flashed back to that awful memory. Even now, he could still remember that feeling of powerlessness and helplessness as he watched Yeo Ri getting violated.

Suddenly seeing Hyuk's expression turning grim, Jin Goo knew that there was something wrong.

”...Did something happen to Yeo Ri?” Jin Goo slowly asked. He felt like he knew the answer, but he needed the confirmation.

”Yeo Ri...” Hyuk squeezed out her name painfully. ”Yeo Ri, she...”

”What is it?” Jin Goo leaned in.

”That b*stard... he raped her.”

Hyuk gritted his teeth as he spoke the words. A flash of hatred crossed his eyes. His body trembled with the need for revenge. He would never forgive that man for ruining Yeo Ri's innocence and taking away her chastity.

”W-what?”

Both In Guk and Jin Goo was startled. Their hearts skipped a beat at the unexpected news. They knew that Lee Do Joon was an abuser, but they had never expected him to sexually abuse Yeo Ri.

She was his daughter, wasn't she?

How could he do that, to his own daughter?

”H-how... w-what?” In Guk stuttered. This knowledge was more shocking and painful as compared to when he found out about Hyuk and Yeo Ri's relationship.

”W-why?”

”How the f*ck could I know? Yeo Ri said he was drunk,” Hyuk glared at the wall.

”Ha!” In Guk scoffed hatefully. ”What a great family! The brother sees her as a woman, and the father rapes her! Like father, like son, I see!” In Guk couldn't stop himself from blurting those words. After saying them, though, he felt immensely regretful. How could he say such a mean thing to his best friend?

”...” Hyuk looked away, not refuting In Guk's words. Perhaps blood is truly thicker than water. He could recall the few times he had shamefully fantasised about Yeo Ri. Perhaps he was really as sick in the head as that man.

”Hey! Stop it, In Guk!” Jin Goo sighed. At this rate, their friendship might end up broken.

In Guk shifted uneasily. He didn't really mean what he said and had only said them in the spur of the moment. ”Sorry, Hyuk. I didn't mean what I said,” he quietly apologised. ”Sorry.”

”...It's fine,” Hyuk smiled with self-derision. ”It's true, after all.”

”Shouldn't we report this to the police?” Jin Goo remarked.

”Sure. He'll go to jail for a few years, and then what?” Hyuk mockingly laughed. ”When he comes out, he'll just repeat everything all over again. And what about Yeo Ri? I'm basically homeless, without a stable income. If the court says I'm not legible to take care of Yeo Ri, then she'll get sent away to some orphanage or another. I'd rather take her with me first before anybody takes her away from me.”

”...” Jin Goo sighed. Disregarding Hyuk's blatant distaste for the higher authorities, it was clear that he had given the situation a lot of thought. It surprised him to find out another side of Hyuk that was so thoughtful.

The three fell into another bout of silence. After letting the tension run so high, Jin Goo decided to call it a day and retired to bed. Then, Hyuk and In Guk followed suit, letting their discussion end with an unresolved note.

Yeo Ri, the main topic of their discussion, remained blissfully unaware of what transpired on the floor above her.