CHAPTER 53 #2
Duri regretted the certainty immediately. He couldn’t promise that. Not yet.
So, he corrected himself.
“We’re going to find him.”
Ji-Woo nodded once.
***
Chung-Hee was in the kitchen preparing dinner when the intercom rang. He stopped cutting vegetables and looked toward the screen.
Noeul had slept for most of the day. When he woke, it was rarely for long.
His eyes wandered without recognition, his thoughts too fractured to hold onto anything for more than a few moments.
He knew where he was and who Chung-Hee was, but that knowledge did not always keep him anchored.
Sometimes he stared through the room as though the present had become too distant to reach.
The intercom rang again. His grip tightened around the knife.
Who would come here without warning? Almost no one visited. For one brief, terrible second, he thought of Ji-Woo.
Or Duri.
Someone looking for Noeul.
Then the screen lit up.
Jun.
Some of the tension left Chung-Hee’s shoulders.
“Hee, what took you so long?” Jun asked, smiling into the camera. “If Ms. Kim hadn’t told me you were home, I would’ve thought you were avoiding me.”
Chung-Hee forced himself to smile. “I’m busy.”
“Aren’t you going to let me up?”
“I’m expecting someone.”
Jun raised an eyebrow. “A business guest?”
Chung-Hee said nothing.
Jun’s smile turned teasing. “Or a guest guest?”
Normally, Chung-Hee might have laughed. Tonight, irritation flickered through him. “Does it matter?”
“To me? Not particularly.”
“Then come back tomorrow.”
Jun leaned slightly closer to the camera. “I brought the financial analysis from the last six months.”
Chung-Hee’s expression shifted.
Jun continued before he could refuse. “There’s something in it you need to see before Monday. It won’t take long.”
“I can look at it tomorrow.”
“You could.” Jun’s smile remained easy. “But if you make me drive all the way back here tomorrow because you were too busy protecting your love life, I’m billing you personally for the fuel.”
For a second, Chung-Hee almost looked like himself again.
Almost.
Jun saw it and pushed. “Ten minutes, Hee.”
Chung-Hee hesitated. Then pressed the button.
The elevator activated.
“Ten minutes.”
Jun smiled. “See? You do love me.”
The screen went dark.
Chung-Hee remained in front of it for several seconds. Then he looked toward the closed bedroom door.
Meanwhile, Duri and Ji-Woo took the elevator to the neighboring penthouse.
Ji-Woo glanced at him as the numbers climbed. “You told me your mom moved.”
Duri kept his eyes on the display. “I did.”
“You left out the part where she moved into one of the most expensive buildings in Seoul.”
“Ji-Woo.”
“And apparently that you inherited enough money to…”
“We’ll talk about it later.”
Ji-Woo fell silent.
Duri looked at him. “I mean it. I’ll tell you everything. Just not now.”
Ji-Woo’s expression softened. “Okay.”
The elevator chimed, and the doors opened directly into the penthouse.
“Duri? Is that you?” a warm female voice called from farther inside. “You didn’t say you were coming. Aren’t you working tonight?”
Duri’s mother appeared a moment later.
Ji-Woo bowed automatically. “Good evening, Mrs. Kang. My name is Jung Ji-Woo. I’m a friend of Duri’s. I’m sorry to come so late.”
She barely had time to respond.
“Eomma.” Duri’s voice shook. “Noeul hyung is in danger.”
Her expression changed instantly. “What happened?”
“We think he’s in the penthouse next door. With the man who lives there.”
“What happened?”
“We don’t know.” Duri swallowed. “But he’s been missing for three days, and we think Lee Chung-Hee may be keeping him there.”
Ji-Woo stepped forward. “We need to get across the garden.”
Duri nodded. “There’s a fence between the two penthouses. Mr. Han is already inside. If he can open the garden door, we can cross over.”
His mother stared at them for half a second.
Then she moved.
“Go.”
Duri blinked. “Eomma…”
“Go. Quickly.” She hurried toward the glass doors. “If your friend is in danger, you don’t need to explain anything else to me.”
She unlocked the door leading to the garden. “Bring him here.” Duri looked at her. “I’ll help however I can.”
That was all he needed. He and Ji-Woo ran outside.
Jun was already inside Chung-Hee’s penthouse. The bedroom door was closed. Chung-Hee stood in the kitchen preparing dinner for two.
Jun noticed that immediately.
Two bowls. Two sets of chopsticks. Two glasses.
He kept his expression neutral. “You really did have company.”
Chung-Hee continued chopping vegetables. “I told you I was expecting someone.”
“Where are they?”
“Not here yet.”
Jun glanced toward the bedroom. No sound. Nothing. That silence bothered him.
He checked his phone. No message from Duri yet. He needed more time.
Jun moved closer to the kitchen island. “What are you making?”
Chung-Hee gave him an irritated look. “Since when are you interested in my cooking?”
“Since you started hiding mysterious guests from me.”
Normally, that would have earned a smile. It didn’t. Jun’s unease deepened.
A vibration came from his phone. One message. We’re here.
Jun slipped the phone back into his pocket. When Chung-Hee turned toward the stove, Jun moved casually toward the glass doors overlooking the garden and unlocked them. The click sounded much louder than it should have.
Chung-Hee looked over his shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“Getting some air.”
“It’s freezing.”
Jun slid the door open a few centimeters. “Exactly.”
Chung-Hee stared at him.
Jun smiled, then closed it again, leaving it unlocked. His pulse had begun to race.
He returned to the kitchen. “Are you making dinner for Noeul?”
Chung-Hee stopped. Only for a second.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because I haven’t seen him since Tuesday.”
“I already told you. He requested leave.”
“When?”
Chung-Hee resumed cutting. “Jun.”
“When did he ask for leave?”
“I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember?”
Chung-Hee put the knife down. “Why are you interrogating me?”
Jun’s smile disappeared. “Because Noeul has been missing for three days.”
“He isn’t missing.” The words came too fast.
Jun went still.
Chung-Hee seemed to realize his mistake. “He asked for leave,” he added.
Jun studied him. “Then tell me where he is.”
“I don’t know.”
“Call him.”
Chung-Hee’s jaw tightened. “Leave.”
Jun didn’t move. “Tell me Noeul isn’t here.”
“He isn’t here.”
Jun looked again toward the closed bedroom door. “Then you won’t mind if I check.”
Chung-Hee stepped in front of him. “No.”
Jun’s stomach dropped.
“Move.”
“This is my home.”
“Where is he?”
“I said leave.”
“Chung-Hee.”
Jun’s voice changed. Not playful now. Not the CFO. His friend.
“Where is Noeul?”
Chung-Hee stared at him. The silence stretched.
Then a phone began to ring. Both men froze. It came from the bedroom. Jun looked toward the door. Chung-Hee didn’t.
The ringing stopped. Then started again.
Jun moved.
Chung-Hee blocked him.
“Move.”
“No.”
Jun shoved past him. Chung-Hee grabbed his arm, but Jun tore free.
The phone continued ringing.
From somewhere outside, another sound reached them. The garden door sliding open.
Chung-Hee’s face changed. “No.”
Jun looked toward the living room. Chung-Hee lunged toward them. Jun caught him.
“You can’t take him from me!”
The words ripped out of Chung-Hee before he could stop them.
Everyone went still. Ji-Woo’s face drained of color. Duri looked toward the bedroom.
Jun tightened his hold. “Take who?”
Chung-Hee struggled against him. “You know who!”
Ji-Woo moved first. He rushed forward and grabbed Chung-Hee’s other arm.
“Where is my brother?”
Chung-Hee fought harder. “Let go of me!”
“Where is he?”
Duri was already moving toward the bedroom.
Ji-Woo saw him. “No. I’m coming.”
Duri turned. “Ji-Woo.”
“He’s my brother.”
“I know.”
“Then move.”
Duri didn’t.
For one terrible second, neither spoke.
Then Duri lowered his voice. “We don’t know what’s behind that door.”
Ji-Woo’s face crumpled. “I have to see him.”
“No.”
“Duri hyung!”
“I’ll go first.”
Ji-Woo shook his head. “I should be the one.”
“What if…”
Duri stopped. He couldn’t say it. He didn’t have to.
Ji-Woo understood. Neither of them knew whether Noeul was conscious. Whether he was injured.
Whether…
Ji-Woo closed his eyes.
Duri stepped closer. “If he needs you, I’ll call you immediately.”
Ji-Woo’s jaw trembled. “And if…”
Duri couldn’t finish that sentence either.
He put one hand on Ji-Woo’s shoulder. “Let me go first.”
Ji-Woo looked toward the closed bedroom door. Then, finally, nodded.
Duri turned. His hand shook as he reached for the handle. He opened the door. The room lay in near darkness. For a second, his eyes struggled to adjust.
Then the smell hit him.
Blood.
Something else he refused to identify.
His stomach turned.
“Hyung?”
No answer.
Duri stepped inside. The room felt unnaturally still.
His eyes moved toward the bed. And stopped.
Noeul lay on his side beneath the weak light, naked and bruised. One wrist was still cuffed to the bed, the skin around it raw and bloodied.
His eyes were open. But they weren’t looking at Duri. They were fixed on the wall, distant and glassy, as though whatever part of Noeul normally lived behind them had gone somewhere far away.
Duri forgot how to breathe.
Then he saw the faint rise of Noeul’s chest.
Once.
Again.
Alive.
Noeul was alive.