Worry and curiosity were mixed in her round eyes. Her eyes were fixed on Kang-woo’s slightly opened lips.

“Let’s stop here today.”

“…Crap.”

Kang-woo raised his sweater to check the time. By now, he must have almost finished preparing.

“Let’s go.”

“Wait. Before we leave here, I have something to say.”

In Kang-woo’s gentle eyes, Se-ah’s small fist clutching my forearm gently relaxed.

“Speak.”

“…Um…”

“I might have told you to demand boldly.”

“…That’s too one-sided.”

“It’s fine for me. Especially for you.”

“Yeah. What I want to say is, Kang-woo, even though you’re busy… still… since you’ve just been discharged, I hope you take care of your health first. I’m honestly scared that you might collapse again… I’m really scared.”

The doctor’s words that she cried a lot echoed in her mind. Whether she was recalling the day she was brought to the hospital, Se-ah’s pupils became moist. Perhaps even my dry eye corners seemed to be trying to become tearful. Maybe that’s why.

“Sorry.”

“What? Why are you suddenly saying that?”

“I’ve been too indifferent. Without admitting it.”

“That’s already in the past.”

“In hindsight, I feel sorry for not saying sorry.”

“…I did. Forgive me… I said it.”
“I didn’t do it exactly.”

Without being ordered, Se-ah came into Kang-woo’s arms in a single breath.

“I was really moved. But now, it’s really okay. Because it’s all in the past.”

For a while, in silence, Kang-woo only swept away Se-ah’s back of the head.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Softly, snowflakes fluttered on the street.

A shadow fell on the face of Director Shi as he turned the steering wheel. Ignoring the incessantly ringing phone, having been delayed for two hours without the urgent rush, Nam-tae would probably be breathing his last by now.

“Seok-a, you shouldn’t sleep at the hospital today, right?”

Anxiously, the face of his mother, who was holding his hand tightly, brightened. Unable to leave her, Nam-tae stayed by her side until she fell asleep again.

Whether he felt some strange symptoms himself. The attitude of Nam-tae’s mother today was truly different from usual. Even though she was someone who never asked for anything, fearing to burden her son, on such a day, she didn’t even say a single plea.

Even on such a day, once again leaving her in the care of a caregiver, he was on his way to Cheongdam-dong.

The schedule for some time was truly murderous. He visited newly appointed party members instead of Nam-tae.

To gather as many personnel as possible for the election campaign, he posted, managed, and conducted education for recruiting candidates everywhere.

Furthermore, because a large amount of money is needed during the election period, he entertained to seek support from companies or wealthy individuals. He did not hesitate to threaten to repay the favor to the orphanage and sponsor who had supported him.

Pressing the accelerator lightly, he passed through the massive gate like a castle.

In front of the entrance, Mrs. Young-cheon was waiting, clasping her hands. I guessed how she looked inside the house, with her shoulders drooping so much.

“What about the assemblyman?”

“He’s in the study.”

Saying that the car is fine, he immediately went up to the study.

As soon as he opened the door, Nam-tae, holding back, was seen looking out the window with a baggage on his back.

“Sorry for being late.”
For about ten minutes, Nam-tae maintained silence. He was well aware that this was a kind of punishment. The director waited silently with a composed posture.

“Seok-a, do you remember?”

Still fixed on the snow falling outside the window, Nam-tae solemnly opened his lips.

“It was around this time. The day my mother passed away.”

“Yes.”

Several years ago, during the time when this director was running errands for Nam-tae. While driving him to a typical event attended by other assembly members, Nam-tae received news that his mother was critically ill.

Upon hearing the news, Nam-tae thought, “People’s lives aren’t so easily severed. It was said to be a crisis last night, but she must have overcome it well.”

This time, it seemed truly urgent. The attending physician pleaded for him to deliver the final words, but Nam-tae remained stoic. With a face like a mask, he only searched through the sponsorship ledger in his hands.

“Life and death are in the hands of fate. If my mother wants to go to Representative Kim’s house, let her.”

Thunk. The sound of footsteps on the wooden floor brought back a sense of reality. With his face contorted, Nam-tae stepped closer to the director.

With each step, Nam-tae violently loosened his tie and threw his jacket onto the sofa. After opening the ornament on the golden watch he had, the watch, along with the decorations, flew off as he raised his foot without mercy, stomping on the director’s knees.

It was a sudden attack, but the director maintained his composed posture. Successively, Nam-tae, with the hand holding the watch, ruthlessly scraped beneath the director’s chin. Thud, after a dull friction sound, the director’s glasses fell to the floor.

The boldness disappeared as quickly as it had come. Nam-tae, with cold eyes like those observing a pig, glared at the director who was looking down.

“You arrogant child. Living like a human thanks to someone. That’s why they say not to raise black-haired beasts.”

“I apologize.”

As he opened his lips, his chin felt numb. Drops of blood fell onto the white shirt collar, perhaps scratched by the watch.

“Still, what can I do? Even though you’re my child.”

“……. ”

“Even if a child pretends not to know his father, a father cannot do the same. I, a descendant of Cheonryun, and a lowly illegitimate son like you are different beings. I even acknowledge others who are not of my blood. Why!!!”

In the gaze of Nam-tae, which had a brutal look, madness flashed before the director’s face.

Nevertheless, the director remained silent with pursed lips. It was not the first time something like this happened. Inwardly, it would end, so he endured it.

“That reporter kept saying that during the last election, you were involved in illegal campaign activities. Who was spreading rumors behind you?”

Nam-tae parted his firm lips. Holding his trembling right hand with his left, he slowly turned around the director.

“Director.”

“Yes.”

After turning around, Nam-tae confronted the director again.

“Everyone dies. It’s not something we humans can control. It hurts because you’re my son; don’t I know that? Why didn’t I say that before?”
With a softened voice, Nam-tae casually looked at the director. He lightly tapped the shoulders of the director, who usually remained expressionless.

“When your mother passes away, I plan to generously repay you more than you’ve suffered so far. Don’t people in the countryside value such things? I’ll do my best to take care of her until she passes away, and when she does, I’ll make sure people look up to her. That’s filial piety.”

“I understand what you’re saying.”

The director lifted his head and replied to Nam-tae. Only now, seemingly satisfied, Nam-tae loosened the corners of his mouth.

“Don’t resist me again. Mercy is enough only once.”

“Yes.”

“The election is not far off. Find out who dares to challenge me from behind, catch them like this. Go out.”

“Yes.”

After the bow, the director turned away.

As he reached for the door latch to close it, Nam-tae, sitting on the sofa in the narrow gap, became visible.

A sense of disdain was etched around his lips.