Kang Woo opened the file. Contrary to expectations, the content was scant. It was all on two A4 sheets.

The only family of this director was his mother. The father had already left the world. The property was a 30pyeong apartment in Sadang, where he lived with his mother. There was nothing special about the other personal information either.

Kang Woo’s clear forehead furrowed.

“Is this all?”
“We have received basic personal information first. Apparently, even if you follow him all day, Black’s movements are short and clear. He’s said to have no private life and just follows behind the congressman, between his house and the National Assembly. Ah, one piece of information that might be useful is that he visits his mother, who is fighting cancer in the VVIP room of Hansung University Hospital, about twice a month.”
As promised, Secretary Choi called the director “Black”. The voice was firm, but also quiet. No one would hear the confidential conversation in the office, but there is no absolute in the world.

“Only twice a month when his mother is fighting cancer? And he has no other family.”
“He’s very busy too. There could be hidden circumstances.”
“It’s too bland. More uncomfortable.”
“That’s right. I also think it’s a bit… Even if he is loyal to the congressman, could he really have no private life? According to the informant, even though he doesn’t visit the hospital room often, his relationship with his mother seems good. His mother boasts to the nurse about her son. Saying that her son graduated from the top university in Korea and became a prosecutor the year before last.”
“A prosecutor?”
Questioning, Kang Woo scanned the documents again. He had graduated from S University Law School six years ago, but there was no record of passing the bar exam. If he had passed the bar exam, he wouldn’t just be an aide.

“Yes. It seems like his mother doesn’t know much about her son. She just seems to be a naive person who believes her son.”
“The more I hear, the worse it gets.”
Kang Woo furrowed his brow and fell into thought.

Even if the salary of an aide is not small, the cost of this level of hospital would be a burden. That too for over a year. Even if part of it is covered by insurance, there are nursing costs, VVIP room costs.

Well, what, if he was a father’s retainer, helping to that extent wouldn’t be a big peculiarity.

“Please look into it more deeply. He’s meticulous, so be careful not to step on his toes. He may have already noticed and reduced his movements.”
“Yes. You don’t have to worry about this. We have experts.”
Anyway, not a grain of information related to Se Ah came out. A sense of relief seeped out.

((()))((()))((()))

Another week passed quickly.

Se Ah, who was detailing the character’s personality in the shared writing room, shrugged off the shawl she had on her shoulders. It was stifling to wear an outer garment, but it was cold without anything.

As she stretched and looked around, the other writers seemed to be busy knocking out their assigned work.

“Writer Se Ah.”
“Yes. Writer Ji Na.”
Among the writers, we attached a pretty title called ‘nim’ after each other’s names. Unlike office or technical jobs, there was no rank among writers.

They were all just main writers or assistant writers in charge of their own productions. Naturally, salaries varied according to experience and performance.

If we had to say, the main writer would be the superior, but they didn’t treat them like juniors.

“I have an external appointment today, so I don’t think I can have lunch together… Is that okay?”
Writer Ji Na made a sorry face for a small matter. Grateful for her consideration, Se Ah chuckled.

“It’s okay. I eat well on my own. Go and have something delicious.”
“I can’t eat alone… Don’t be like that, shall we go together? I’ll introduce you to a colleague.”
“No, no, I’m really okay. I have a lot to do anyway.”
“Alright, then. Writer Se Ah, are you going to finish your work here today and leave?”
“Yes. I have a consultation with the main writer this afternoon.”
Writer Ji Na said she understood and left the writing room first. The two or three remaining writers also left their seats.

Se Ah continued to work. There were many characters in the game. It was important to touch up the plot and dialogue to include as much of the current sensibility as possible.

She was in the middle of tapping the keyboard when the monitor started to act up again. The screen flickered. As a stopgap measure, she tapped the monitor and the screen came back.

Ah, do I need to buy a new one? It’s still usable though….

Actually, she was compulsively clicking the save icon. In case the work flies away in the middle.

The laptop that Kang Woo had gifted was still unopened, left on one side of the desk. Useless yet impossible to throw away. It was the baggage I had been reluctantly carrying around.

It mirrored my love for him.

Sigh. An object is just an object. Let’s use something good without lingering regrets.