Chapter 62: Chapter 62.

Chapter 62.

“… You are being awfully familiar.”

Jihoon wondered where he had seen Siwoo before, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember him. Siwoo wasn’t someone forgettable. The way he acted… His looks…

When Jihoon bit his lips, Siwoo reached out and touched them with his finger. He said with a coy smile, “Your lips look like they might hurt.”

Siwoo then added, “I am starving!”

“So?”

“Let’s eat first.”

“What about drinks?”

“Not a bad idea.”

Siwoo raised his hand to order a few bottles of soju. Watching him, Jihoon became a bit excited. He wondered what this night might hold for him.

No love, just lust. Jihoon Kang liked this kind of relationship. To use and be used. No expectations.

At least tonight, Jihoon thought that he may not need his pills.

***

Shin just came out from the shower. Woojin had to work late today, but Shin insisted they leave work together. In the end, he ended up waiting for Woojin and they ended up going to Woojin’s home.

Lately, Woojin has been sleeping at Shin’s home almost every night, so Woojin’s apartment seemed empty and cold. As soon as they arrived, they turned on the heat. Perhaps it was because there were two people in the place. The apartment seemed to get warm very quickly. Woojin was sitting at the sofa when Shin, his hair still a bit wet, approached him with a smile. He hugged Woojin, who asked him, “Did you want something?”

“Is there something you want for a Christmas gift?”

“Not really…”

“But I want to get you something.”

After staring at Shin’s eyes for a while, Woojin said to him, “Shin Kim.”

“Yes?”

“I think Siwoo and Jihoon Kang met.”

“Pardon?”

Woojin held Shin’s hand tightly for warmth. He didn’t want to let Shin go. There were days when Woojin thought he was prepared for the end, but in truth, he never wanted to leave Shin.

Never.

Eejun warmed Woojin many times, “There is something you don’t know, Woojin.”

“…”

“Beware of Jihoon Kang. Be careful around him, Woojin.”

Woojin wondered what the difference was between hallucinating and educated guess.

Just who in his family inherited this illness? Woojin’s grandfather seemed to be waiting and calculating to see which of his children presented with this family disease. Woojin’s father ended up becoming the unlucky target, and during treatments, he passed away.

When Woojin’s face darkened, Shin reached out to hold his face. He murmured, “When you feel like sharing your thoughts with me…”

“Yeah…”

“Please let me know.”

“Ok.”

When Eejun warned Woojin about Jihoon, Eejun looked almost scared. Woojin couldn’t understand why, and not knowing caused him the most fear. And now, it was time to figure out the truth. Woojin still remembered the advice his father gave him, “Woojin, you must protect those you love… Even if that means you need to leave them.”

Woojin never forgot his father’s words.

***

Shin found this quiet and quaint hospital very interesting. The place was very neat with no clutters. Only the absolute necessities filled the space. Shin didn’t feel awkward around Dr. Yoonil, probably because they have met each other before.

This doctor reminded Shin of a blank page. No color, no odor. Yoonil provided a calm, almost empty, atmosphere to this place.

Woojin was out of the room for a few minutes to get some tests done. He had to get checked every month, and it was Yoonil and Eejun who recommended Shin to accompany Woojin. Eejun, who was also present in the room, took a sip of his jasmine tea after Woojin left.

Eejun asked Shin, “It didn’t take much to convince you to come with Woojin, I see. Why is that?”

“Because we are lovers.”

Eejun almost spit out his tea. He barely held it together. Eejun frowned and exclaimed, “Are you crazy?”

When Shin shrugged his shoulders, Eejun asked, “Are you planning to let EVERYONE know that you guys are dating?”

“Nope.”

“Then why did you say that just now?”

“I figured you already know about us, Mr. Eejun.”

Shin liked Eejun much more than Jihoon Kang. Eejun seemed honest. Not sneaky like Jihoon. It was very hard to meet people who were as transparent as Eejun Bae, especially around Woojin.

Shin later learned that it was the manager at the villa that found Woojin. If he hadn’t, it was hard to know what might happened to Woojin. Woojin certainly wasn’t going to call anyone for help. He was so used to being alone. He didn’t know how to get close to someone. Shin found Woojin’s awkwardness adorable, but he also felt sad about it.

Shin asked, “What kind of treatment is Woojin getting here?”

“Psychiatric.”

“…”

“He can’t seem to remember.”

“Remember what?”

“Who killed his father. The murderer.”

Eejun’s voice seemed calm, but he sighed deeply, making Shin feel tense. Eejun continued, “You are the first person outside of this family that knows about this now.”

“…”

“Well… I guess I can’t call myself part of the ‘family.’”

“And is there a reason why Woojin Choi needs to remember this?”

“It will prove that Woojin isn’t sick.”

“What?”

Eejun sighed loudly again and showed Shin three photos. One showed a man, the second one a woman, and the third one Jihoon Kang. The woman in the second photo looked so pale. She looked shockingly like Woojin.

“Is this Woojin’s mother?”

“No.”

“But they look so alike.”

“That’s Jihoon Kang’s mother.”

When Shin looked up at Eejun in shock, Eejun replied, “Of course Woojin and that woman look alike.”

“Why?”

“Because she is his aunt.”

Woojin always tried to avoid mentioning his aunt. He didn’t even call her his aunt, but “that woman.” The woman that hated Woojin… The only sister of Woojin’s father… Then…

“So Jihoon Kang is Woojin’s cousin?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“This hereditary illness apparently skipped a generation, and Woojin’s grandfather didn’t have it. So he was certain that one of his children must’ve inherited it.”

“But?”

“None of his children had it. This genetic disorder”

As Woojin’s father and his sister grew up, they had to constantly get tested and suspected. Eejun didn’t see it with his own eyes, but he heard stories from his own grandfather and his father. What he heard was… horrifying.

Eejun continued, “Woojin’s father wasn’t planning on getting married.”

“…”

“He was so sick of it all. Having to go to the clinic every month…”

“…”

“There is no way of knowing the truth. Did both of the siblings not have this illness? Did one of them have it and hid it well? Maybe both of them had it. Who knows? Either way, the Chairman, Woojin’s grandfather, never let go of his suspicion that one or both of his children had it. He was desperate to find out because he needed an heir to his company.”

“So what happened?”

“Woojin’s father ended up giving up his inheritance.”

“…”

“But even then, Woojin’s aunt remained anxious.”

“…”

“She was especially worried about Woojin Choi.”

That was the beginning of this tragedy. Never ending obsession and suspicion.

“Woojin’s family illness is a mental disorder. If you have it, the symptoms get worse as you get older, and…”

“… and?”

“Eventually, you end up experiencing hallucinations.”

“And this is a hereditary thing?”

“Apparently, these people are born with an abnormality in their brains. They end up experiencing constant hallucination.”

“And?”

“The question is, did Woojin’s father see a hallucination, or was someone really coming to kill him?”

“…”

“Woojin Choi was the only one there at the time of his death. This means only Woojin knows what really happened.”

Shin remembered the blood in the swimming pool.

“Woojin doesn’t want to remember that day. He also seems to question himself.”

“What?”

“If Woojin’s father didn’t have this illness, it is very possible that Woojin has it”

“…”

“My bet is on Woojin’s aunt who killed Woojin’s father.”

Eejun looked at Shin’s eyes and added, “And that is why this family hates me.”

“…”

“And Jihoon Kang hates me the most.”

“…”

“Probably because I suspect Jihoon Kang isn’t sane either.”

“What?”

“You better protect Woojin. You and I are both surrounded by enemies.”

“…”

“I am not even sure about Yoonil. Is he really trying to restore Woojin’s memories, or is he actually erasing them? I can’t be certain.”

Shin felt like he was falling endlessly into a darkness.