Kang Chi: Beyond Life and Time

Chapter 5: Beyond Life: Life As She Knows It

Yeo Wool was surprised when she read the message from Jung Ju. It was not uncommon for him to text her, but what caught her attention was the content.

"Daepyonim Choi of Baeknyeon Hotels came by at the station and issued a statement. Watch the news, it should be on tonight."

She was about to ask Han Wool to turn to the news channel when....

"Eo, Nuna! Ibwayo! That's your captain and partner!" He excitedly exclaimed as he pointed to the television screen. She came near to take a look, still holding her phone and a wooden spoon in each hand.

What's gotten into him? He doesn't look like the type to settle easily like this? Wae gurae?

"Nuna..." Han Wool looked at her with wide surprised eyes. "You arrested him? Waeyo?"

"Ani...Geuge anira..." She was at a loss for words. "Geunyang...."

Her phone alerted with yet another message from Jung Ju.

Are you coming to work tomorrow? Captain So wanted to talk to you.

Honestly, she was not planning on going back to work just yet. It is already Thursday anyway, and one more day, it will be the weekend. She just wants to spend some time with her brother, and maybe head back home and visit their father....

Mianhaeyo. I'm still not feeling well. Maybe I'll rest through the weekend. Sent.

She heaved a deep sigh and looked at her brother-his eyes glued on the screen-watching as if there is no tomorrow...which could be somehow accurate for him, because at nine years of age, he was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma. He could go totally blind within two years if treatment is continuously postponed. He needs surgery and proper medication. It is an unexpected occurrence that has to be prioritized and addressed before it is too late. On top of this, there are bills to pay and loans to settle. And even though she wants to save up for Han Wool's college, her father's retirement, and her own future, she has to put them off for a while.

When their mother was diagnosed with kidney problems after giving birth to Han Wool nine years ago, she, at just nineteen, had to work and study at the same time. Their financial status had always been below average, so it was a real struggle making ends meet, more so dealing with her mother's illness. Even so, her father sustained them by accepting every odd job offered to him. He made sure that they eat good food three times a day-even more-and sleep peacefully and comfortably during the night.

She wanted to continue her schooling, but she did not want to be a burden to her family, so she left Jeollabuk-do by boarding a train bound for Seoul, during the night of her 21st birthday, despite her parents' disapproval. Armed with only a million won and plenty of courage and determination, she worked part-time in public bathhouses and karaoke bars to full-time service crew in 24-hour convenient stores, and still managed to attend school in between.

Her father's dream of becoming a policeman-that was passed on to her when he himself failed to make it into the police academy after sustaining a permanent athletic injury in high school-proved to be difficult to realize. Yet, witnessing her father's diligence and struggles while she was growing up made her admire him too much to the point that she found it hard to disappoint him. She decided that fulfilling it for him is one way of showing appreciation for everything he had done.

When she left for Seoul, her father was left to take care of her ailing mother and baby brother. Yet, she never heard him complain, even though she knew-and felt-that he wanted to. He kept everything within and showed her his support by letting her know how proud he is of her. When her mother passed away five years ago, she felt his heartache and sorrow, yet he kept calm and collected for them. She knew he did not want them to see him in a dejected state, because their situation called for courage and he should be the first to possess it. His strength and resoluteness were just a few of life's lessons that he taught her by example.

Thinking about her father made her want to see him more.

"Han Wool-ah..." Calling her brother from the kitchen. "Do you want to visit Abeoji?"

"Geuraeyo!" He exclaimed with excitement.

"Wash your hands and let's have dinner. Then go to bed early."

Han Wool swiftly rose to his feet and did as told. During dinner, Yeo Wool was a little silent than usual, but it went unnoticed, since there were only two of them, and her brother was doing much of the talking. After dinner, Han Wool washed up and went to bed early. She was left cleaning up the kitchen while her mind was aimlessly wandering. Then...that man came to her mind again, and she could not shake him off even after she finished the task at hand.

I think I know you...or maybe I don't....The words kept on playing inside her head.

Why did he say that? Did he say it to purposely confuse me?

Reaching for her phone and heading for the couch, she searched for Choi Kang Cheol on the internet. She was surprised to see that not much was written about him, other than the usual birthdate, place of birth and family origin that indicated he is thirty-two years of age, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and the only son of Choi Kang Chi, the Baeknyeon Hotels CEO for the past forty years. His parents met in 1980 in the US, during a conference, when his father was as old as him now, and his mother, a Korean American, was twenty-seven. They married after six months of dating and he was born the following year, before his mother died due to complications of giving birth to him. He was appointed as the new CEO of Baeknyeon Hotels when his father passed away almost a year ago, the same time he moved to Korea. That was it-the entire article, accompanied by a recent photo.

Hmm...Isn't this much too short for someone his status? It's almost a year since he became a CEO. There should've been tons of write-ups about him by now.

She decided to search for Choi Kang Chi instead, and she was amazed by the volume of articles about him. But what surprised her most was his picture, at thirty-two years of age, taken in 1980, a year before Kang Cheol was born.

Hwa...He looked so much like him...They could pass as twins! Talk about like father, like son!

She searched for his picture during his later years, and perhaps a snapshot of his last days, but she found none. Only articles and write-ups, but not much of images and pictures.

Reading about Kang Cheol's father made her feel something-somehow, somewhat-familiar. It was as if she had seen this man before. Somewhere....

Of course, you've seen him before! He's all over the news your entire life!

No...That was not it. But....

Well...It probably is.

She shook her head to get rid of her silly thoughts...and of him. He had been filling her mind much often than he should, and it does not do her any good. It is like a severe migraine attack-temporarily debilitating.

As she was relaxing on the couch, she dozed off and woke up the next morning at the sound of her cellphone's alarm. She had been having trouble sleeping these past few weeks, but she was thankful that this night was a peaceful one.

She got up, woke Han Wool up and prepared themselves for the 3 ½ hour trip to Jeollabuk-do.