SATURDAY 78

At those words, I flinched in surprise, causing my uncle to widen his eyes.

“Why? Are you unhappy to hear that your mother and father are doing well?”

“A-ah, no, it’s not that….”

Inha had definitely told me that both of them had passed away. I hadn’t been able to think of it because my mind was in such a mess….

Come to think of it, Inha also told me that Mr. Taeseon was dead. Seeing how every single thing was wrong, perhaps his only goal was simply to break my sanity.

When I cautiously relayed this story to the two of them, Mr. Taeseon knit his brows, thought for a moment, and spoke.

“Inyoung, you had all your psychological tests, right? At the time, it said you didn’t have PTSD.”

“Yes….”

They say it is a disorder that usually occurs even after a minor traffic accident, so it was indeed unexpected that it hadn’t appeared despite everything that happened. However, what if I was fine then but it developed later?

“Maybe it’s not a matter of the Shaman or whatever, but due to trauma. Let’s get another psychiatric evaluation tomorrow.”

“What if the Shaman is actually doing something harmful?”

My uncle also grew serious. Originally, neither of them believed in ghosts or superstitions at all. However, since both had experienced certain things, they were accepting it to some degree. I also cautiously opened my mouth.

“I… also think that rather than PTSD, it might actually be Inha appearing.”

Mr. Taeseon tilted his head. It might be hard to believe my words since I am weak-minded, but these two people are completely on my side. I mustered the courage to explain.

“I heard that if it were PTSD, you would see the scene of the accident, or have a seizure when a similar situation occurs. For example, if you unexpectedly saw a gruesome corpse, that image would keep appearing like a ghost. But… it’s a bit different.”

I told them about the incidents where Inha had appeared—things I wasn’t sure were dreams or reality. How Inha appeared and approached me, how he tormented me…. As they listened to my words, the faces of Mr. Taeseon and my uncle grew increasingly grave.

Especially regarding the two or so nightmares I had at home previously and what I experienced in the hospital just now, there are parts that are insufficient to explain simply as PTSD.

“Wait, stop talking, Inyoung. Your face is pale right now.”

“Yes…. It’s all over anyway. That’s everything.”

I fiddled with my face, which Mr. Taeseon said was pale. My hands had grown so cold while speaking that my face, which felt white as a sheet, actually felt warm in comparison.

My uncle silently raised the temperature of the room. It was pouring rain, but the temperature hadn’t dropped, making the weather humid and hot. My uncle was in a short-sleeved T-shirt, and Mr. Taeseon had even undone his tie, wearing only his shirt and slacks. Even so, they were turning up the heat because of me.

Since the curtains were closed on top of that, it felt like it would be really stifling, so I quietly asked my uncle.

“Uncle, I’m sorry, but could you open the curtains a bit?”

“It’s still raining a lot.”

“I think I’ll be okay.”

My uncle hesitated slightly but opened one side of the curtains. The raindrops were so thick that even though it was the middle of the night, every streak drawn in the air was visible.

It had rained exactly this much on that day, too.

The sound of vehicles passing on the road outside mixed with the sound of the rain. I opened the curtains just a little, but it was more alright than I expected. My only fear was the thought that Inha might be clinging to the window in that rain, watching me.

As expected, this seemed somewhat removed from the trauma of the traffic accident itself. If I had to say, it was related to Inha, not the accident.

“Still, I’ll get the psychiatric evaluation tomorrow.”

Mr. Taeseon nodded and stroked my cheek. His hand is very warm. It made me sad to think that as much as I felt his warmth, my cheek must feel as cold as a dead person’s to him.

Just then, my uncle’s phone rang. My uncle, who answered with a “Yes,” had a brief conversation, said he would see them tomorrow, and hung up. Judging by the caller’s voice and the words heard intermittently, it seemed to be a call from Inhyeon University Hospital.

“D-did something happen?”

I asked as soon as my uncle hung up. My uncle had a calm expression, but since he is someone who remains composed even when hearing news that all his works were burned in a racist attack during an exhibition in France, or when Inha damaged his paintings, I can’t let my guard down.

However, it seemed this time it really was nothing much.

“Nothing’s wrong. Both my hyung and sister-in-law are recovering so fast they even drank a little bit of water.”

“Really? This quickly?”

Both of them had suffered significant major injuries requiring two surgeries each. Multiple fractures, organ damage…. But seeing that intensive care ended in ten days and they were already drinking water, it meant their recovery was indeed very fast, just as my uncle said.

“Do they recognize people well? I mean when the relatives saw them…. How was it? How did it look to you, Uncle?”

“They were dazed at first, but later they recognized all the relatives, asked a few things about company business, and then fell asleep quickly. There won’t be any need to worry now.”

“….”

I hesitated and looked at Mr. Taeseon. My guardian was Mr. Taeseon. Moreover, I was a patient who had been having seizures just a moment ago. So I was just hesitating, unable to say anything, when Mr. Taeseon gave a bitter smile as if reading my mind and spoke.

“You’re going to see your parents, so of course you should go. Instead, we’ll confirm that your condition is completely stable tomorrow. We’ll do the evaluation after we get back.”

“Oh… is that okay?”

Suddenly, my uncle let out a short sigh and spoke.

“Director, I know you’re a control freak, but Inyoung is a person and your marriage partner. Don’t show that habit even to Inyoung.”

It was a sharp tone, unlike his relatively mild manner until now. I shook my head in a fluster.

“No, Uncle, it’s not like that….”

“What do you mean it’s not like that. You are mentally vulnerable, so you are easily victimized by that kind of thing. No matter how good a person Mr. Lee Taeseon is to you, it doesn’t mean you’re handing over your right to self-determination.”

Mr. Taeseon said nothing. As if in affirmation. I felt a bit strange.

It was true that he had that side to him. It was a temperamental issue, and it suited Mr. Taeseon’s current position… an executive of a mega-corporation, but it could be poison in a romantic relationship.

I am well aware of that. However, that wasn’t what was important right now. We were talking about my parents. My uncle realized this quickly as well, let out a single sigh, and continued.

“Both my hyung and sister-in-law are young and usually manage their health so well that their recovery is fast, they say. They’ve already removed several life-support devices. As for the relatives….”

In an instant, my uncle’s eyes grew cold.

“Well… you can guess, right? Saying it’s a good thing while secretly feeling regretful.”

“Mm-hmm….”

The fortune of the Jegang Group is immense. My father is the second-generation head of Jegang, and my mother was an executive.

Several of the relatives also hold executive positions at Jegang. If the two of them passed away at once… of course, most of the fortune would go to “Inha,” but there would still be some crumbs falling to the relatives.

That is why the relatives were gathered like that in my parents’ hospital room. Probably they would feel self-conscious about leaving as soon as they woke up, so even if I go tomorrow, most of them will remain or return under the pretext of a visit.

I do not like the relatives. While my mother, father, and even Inha might be one thing, I felt the relatives crossed the line by ignoring and hating me, treating me like a monster or a ghost.

Furthermore, whenever something bad happened, the relatives would come running to the house to report it to my mother and father. Then all eyes would turn to me. The relatives would pour out their resentment at me, and my parents would hand those relatives some money as a form of consolation.

“There’s no way I could be that significant….”

At my unintentionally mumbled words, Mr. Taeseon turned his head.

“Hmm?”

“Ah…. No, I mean the relatives.”

When I mentioned a few things that had happened from my childhood until now, Mr. Taeseon looked at the ceiling with a sigh, and my uncle pressed his hand to his forehead as if a bad memory had surfaced. Mr. Taeseon spoke while crossing his arms.

“Yes, you’re right, Inyoung. Bringing misfortune to relatives—there’s no way a single individual could have such a grand power.”

“Right….”

“But it’s the same for your family, too.”

I lifted my head and looked at Mr. Taeseon. I probably looked a bit puzzled.

“I told you earlier, didn’t I? You don’t have the power to bring misfortune to your family.”

“…The Director is right. Claiming it was your doing just because a kitchen staff accidentally started a fire in the kitchen—what are you, the Omen1)?”

“Haha….”

‘What are you, the Omen?’ is a phrase my uncle has used often since long ago. Probably an enfant treated as a devil appeared in that… though the child’s name is actually Damien, not ‘Omen,’ it was just like a habit of my uncle’s.

Come to think of it, it was strange. When the relatives said I brought misfortune, it felt unfair. However, I naturally considered things that happened within the house to be my fault. Was it because of the difference in psychological and physical distance?

And currently, to be honest, I haven’t completely escaped it. The Shaman’s words linger in my head. That I tore the family apart. Maybe that was correct.

Because I tried to be happy, Inha died and my parents met with a near-fatal accident. Although Mr. Taeseon said my parents’ accident was the doing of the Shaman and the Professor.

…Can I really say that wasn’t my fault?