Ch 50

A single remark from the grandfather, devoid of any particular emotion, made his eyes sting. He wasn’t someone who cried easily, yet lately, his emotions and tears had been far too fleeting… Ji-an absentmindedly rubbed the area beneath his nose with his index finger and let out a small laugh.

“I’m going.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow….”

Unable to lie in front of his sincere grandfather, Ji-an spoke his honest thoughts.

“I don’t know if the wife will let you go so easily. If so, I’ll take you to the town’s bus terminal at dawn tomorrow. Keep that in mind. You’ll have to transfer here anyway.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“When you settle down a bit, at least give us a call. I don’t care, but your grandma will fall sick.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know the phone number?”

“No.”

“Then go get yourself a phone over there. I’ll be getting my hair cut at the barbershop here. Can you manage?”

“I’ll be back soon.”

Walking side by side with his grandfather, Ji-an, for the first time since linking arms at the market, pulled his arm away. He hadn’t noticed while they were together, but the moment he separated from his grandfather, he felt the cold wind, and it made him smile for no reason.

After parting ways with his grandfather in front of the small barbershop and the cellphone store across from it, Ji-an immediately stepped into the cellphone store. He didn’t care about the phone’s design or features, so he simply chose one from the small selection available and waited for it to activate with a new number while gazing outside.

As he absentmindedly watched the countryside market bustling with elderly people, his eyes landed on a clothing store for women beside the barbershop. Should he buy a warm knit and a nice vest for his grandmother? She seemed to enjoy knitting, and he recalled how she always wore vests, saying sleeves felt too restrictive.

Thinking he should buy it before heading back to his grandfather, Ji-an sat comfortably in his chair, gazing at the clothes hanging in the women’s clothing store, when his body gradually tensed.

Amid the crowd of elderly people, an unfamiliar figure stood out. A tall man dressed neatly in a suit. Not just one, but several, scanning their surroundings. Ji-an instinctively took a step back from the window and looked urgently at the store employee.

“The phone is ready.”

As soon as the employee, who had just placed a cheap, transparent case onto the most basic model in the store, spoke, Ji-an reached out and grabbed the phone he had already paid for.

There was no reason for men like that to be wandering around in a place like this. More than that, they weren’t even trying to hide that they were checking their surroundings rather than heading somewhere with a specific purpose. His mouth went dry.

Were they looking for him? If not for Ideun, there was no one else who would. After all, everyone wanted him gone. No, maybe even having this thought was a luxury. Perhaps they were here for a reason that had nothing to do with him.

Swallowed by unease, Ji-an pressed his lips together and quietly watched as the group drew closer. Would Ideun really go this far to find him?

In that moment, he recalled the words Ideun had spoken to him—words that were both embarrassingly sweet and painfully warm. Not just “I like you,” but even “I love you,” along with countless affectionate words, full of care and consideration.

His heart skipped a beat again, and the urge to return surged within him. The truth was, he hadn’t wanted to run away like this. He wanted to say that he was scared, that he feared his ugly past being exposed.

He hadn’t known what he was getting into at first, and after the second time, he had tried to stop, but Secretary Baek had dragged him along. If he confessed everything, would Ideun understand?

Of all people, Ideun was the only one he had ever been with, even if he had no memory of it. The only person he had ever imprinted on.

What would Ideun do if he told him that the imprint he so desperately wanted to erase belonged to him? Ideun had said he loved him too. Maybe… just maybe, he would accept him.

His thoughts spiraled endlessly, but more than anything, he just wanted to be in Ideun’s warm, broad embrace. He wanted to breathe in that deep musk scent and rest—not through passionate kisses or physical contact, but simply by feeling him, as he was.

If those men outside were sent by Ideun… could he go out? If he apologized for disappearing suddenly, would Ideun accept it? The longer he questioned, the more convinced he became that Ideun would accept him no matter what he did.

Even if everyone around Ideun despised him, would Ideun still accept him? He had no energy to think about what would happen next, or even what the distant future might hold.

Maybe he could go outside, and if someone recognized him by chance, he could explain the situation honestly, listen to what was going on with Ideun, and decide what to do. Of course, the chances were higher that the men had nothing to do with him and were just passing through.

Taking a deep breath, Ji-an opened the door of the cellphone store and stepped outside, silently watching the approaching men. With their sunglasses on and earphones in, they stood out awkwardly in the rural market. Wearing his grandfather’s jumper, it seemed they weren’t able to spot him easily.

Just as he was about to take a step forward, Ji-an turned his body instead.

Through the fogged-up window of the barbershop across the street, he could see his grandfather getting his hair cut.

When he turned back, a familiar face kept appearing and disappearing among the men in black suits.

…At least his grandfather’s contact information. Or… at least a final farewell.

But contrary to his thoughts, his body instinctively moved into the narrow alleyway between the cellphone store and the neighboring building. Too afraid to draw attention by running, he walked briskly, white puffs of breath escaping his lips.

***

Maehyang clicked her tongue at the sound of the creaking iron door being knocked on and stepped outside. She was already in a foul mood because of the group of suited men who had come in a swarm earlier, and now, another visitor had arrived, far from welcome.

The burly men pounding on the door with enough force to make the whole yard shake were just as unpleasant as the earlier visitors. Whether they used their fists or feet, the noise made her head throb, and the cows and chickens stirred in alarm.

Even as she walked across the yard toward the entrance, they showed no sign of stopping.

Before she could even ask what was going on, one of them shoved a photo of Ji-an in her face and demanded if she had seen him, their tone filled with irritation and impatience.

The large man at the front loomed over her, while the ones behind him grumbled loudly, as if wanting her to hear their complaints.

“How many times is this now?”

“He’s not here.”

“Damn, what a pain in the ass in this cold weather.”

The rudeness of these thuggish men, who lacked even a trace of courtesy, made Maehyang ask first, “Who are you?”

‘You don’t need to know that. Have you seen this or not?’

Even if they had asked politely, she might not have given an honest answer. But hearing their outright informal speech and threatening tone, Maehyang simply stared at them in silence. Now she understood why the boy had been so frightened and had run away. What kind of past had that frail, delicate child experienced to end up in the hands of such men?

His gaunt frame and sickly appearance must have had their reasons.

‘I don’t know.’

‘Ha, damn it. Look properly before you answer, huh?’

With a loud bang, one of them kicked the iron gate and thrust his long arm over the not-so-high door, shoving the photo closer to her face. At their violent behavior, Maehyang stepped back and grabbed the broom made of twigs by the yard.

‘I haven’t seen him, so get lost.’

‘You really haven’t seen him?’

‘For days, it’s been nothing but snow. Not even an ant has passed by. Why are you throwing a fit here, you bastards?’

‘She really doesn’t seem to have seen him. And honestly, would he be hiding in a place like this?’

‘Ha. It’s freezing out here, and who knows where the little rat is hiding… Hey, how many more places left?’

‘About ten villages still to go.’

Without another word, they turned their backs and disappeared. As soon as they left, Maehyang went to the kitchen, grabbed a handful of salt, and sprinkled it generously inside and outside the gate. Since they had mentioned ten more villages to check, at least for today, they wouldn’t be back.

Had she made a mistake sending the old man to the market? She should’ve just kept the boy safely in the house.

No, that wasn’t it. If Ji-an had seen this commotion, he might have walked out on his own and followed them. And if he got scared again, had another fever, or fell ill, what then? It was better that he wasn’t here right now.

As long as those men were searching nearby, they wouldn’t run into the old man and Ji-an at the market. Once they returned, she would have to make sure Ji-an stayed put inside the house.

Trying to calm her pounding heart after the sudden intrusion, Maehyang placed a large pot on the stove, filled it with pears and balloon flower roots, and let them simmer. Since the boy couldn’t take proper medicine because of the baby in his belly, she would have to boil jujube, ginger, and honey together and make him drink it.

Hopefully, the old man would also stop by the clinic while he was out. It would be good to confirm whether he was truly pregnant or not.

Just as she was lost in thought, another unwelcome guest arrived. The moment she stepped into the yard, Maehyang instinctively grabbed the twig broom once again.

“Excuse me.”

Instead of shaking the door violently or kicking it, this man knocked politely. His respectful words made Maehyang’s sharp gaze soften—just a little.

“What do you want?”

But since she had already dealt with one troublesome group, her tone remained filled with thorns.

“I’m looking for someone. I know this may be rude, but…”

“But?”

The man was tall, well-dressed, and even polite. This time, Maehyang took a step closer.

“Did a young man come through this village about three or four days ago? He’s about this tall, with black hair—”

“Got a picture?”

More than his gestures, what reached Maehyang first was the scent of wood. It was strong, with a faint trace of musk mixed in.

“…I don’t.”

She stared silently at the handsome man before her, his slightly disheveled hair and somewhat tired appearance standing out.

It’s him. That’s the father of the child.

His limbs were intact, and he looked decent enough. Even though he was in a hurry, he still maintained a certain level of courtesy. Most of all, the scent lingering around him matched exactly what Ji-an had described.

“No picture, huh? Then how am I supposed to know?”

“If you haven’t seen him, have you at least heard anything? Even if he just passed through briefly…”

“I don’t know.”

It was definitely him. But if the boy didn’t want to be found, she had no right to speak.

He should have taken better care of the kid while he was still by his side. How could he let someone carrying his child wander around alone in this cold weather, dressed so lightly? If it was fate, they would meet again. If not, then that was the end of it.

“He’s not in good health. He’s probably not feeling well either…”

“If he walked out on his own, then he doesn’t want to be found. Everyone has their reasons.”

“…Here’s my card. If you happen to hear anything or if he comes by, could you contact me?”

“Why would I?”

“Then… at least a warm meal… Ah! Here…”

Flustered, as if time was running out, the man fumbled to pull out a small black card from his wallet, mumbling to himself. Then, he even started taking out money.

It was obvious—he was connected to the thugs from earlier. The brutes searching recklessly and this man, who showed up a step later offering money as if to say, “If you see him, let him rest before sending him back.”

The boy was exhausted, and so was this man. But should she really just pretend not to know and let him go without at least giving him a meal? If they met, she’d see for herself how Ji-an reacted.

Feeling unsettled, Maehyang turned back toward the house, but before she could go inside, her phone rang in her pocket.

“What is it?”

— The boy’s gone.

“What do you mean gone? Why would he be gone?”

— The kid at the phone store said he bolted the moment he got his phone. Now he’s just… gone.

Hearing the old man’s urgent voice, Maehyang unconsciously turned to look at the man still standing outside the gate.

“The one you’re looking for… is Ji-an?”

The moment she spoke, the gate shook violently.