Closet Monster

Chapter 17

Nam Ilhoon was sure that he was the epitome of luck.

All his life he had been lucky, luckier than humanly possible. He wasn't smart as a kid. But that didn't stop him from wanting to be rich, famous, liked.

They say non intelligent people tend to be luckier and that was truth in his case. He wasn't smart, he always eeny meeny miney moe-d the answer to get passing marks, and it always worked! He got lucky even in the police entrance exams and got in. It didn't shock him, good things always happened to him. He got various chances of earning some extra cash during his duty as a police officer. He would be a fool to not use those chances. He used his luck to get wealth, he may have done some illegal things to accumulate the money, but whatever. He just used his luck. He may have ruined a few lives in the process, some people may be unfairly in jail, some people may have never gotten justice, some criminals may have been roaming around freely, but who is checking, right? He even got so lucky that he became commissioner general. He used his sweet voice and kind face and empty promises to win over the public all these years. He even married in a rich family and got blesses with two sons. He barely lost in gambling games. His friends used to take him to the casinos and each won thousands of dollars betting on the number he chose. He was really a lucky man. Ilhoon thought he would stay this lucky for his whole life.

Then why is his luck running out right now?

His life came crashing down in the last two months. Someone exposed all of the evidence of almost all of his crimes. Bribery, gambling, obstruction of justice, intentionally ruining evidence, drug intake, illegal dealings and so much more. Ilhoon doesn't know what and how and who would be behind this. He used to clean up so well after everything. How did that person get all those? Why is the person doing this? They don't seem to be after money, what are they after?

The police had ironically come and arrest him immediately and put him behind bars. The whole nation's eyes were on that case so the higher ups were pressured to do everything so fast. And everything did happen fast. He was arrested, investigated and his trial had started very very quickly. He was guilty no one could prove otherwise but still he got the biggest lawyer in the country, paying his millions of dollars. The lawyer fought hard needless to stay, but all he could do was get him a lesser sentence. No one could get him out. He lost almost all his money on the lawyers, trying to bribe anyone he could to get him out but God knows what will happen.

Today is the day of his last trial. The verdict and sentencing would be announced today. He was worried. He was transported in the prison bus. Outside of the courthouse was filled with people, giving him nasty looks, cursing at him, mocking him. He was so loved just a few days ago, now what is this? Reporters were having a field day covering this case. It was like a competition. Who gets a reaction out of him and who doesn't.

The courtroom was also filled with a lot of curious people and reporters. His wife and sons were nowhere to be found. Of course his wife is from a very rich and prim proper family. She also cared about her image as much as he did, maybe even more. This happening to her is worse than dying. There's no way she is gonna get involved in her husband's crimes and let her sons be involved either. He is sure she is already meeting a divorce lawyer. God knows how much alimony she would ask. He is gonna probably have to give away the remaining pennies he has to his wife. He doesn't blame her. He would honestly do the same, maybe even worse.

The judge hadn't arrived yet. Ilhoon was sitting at his defendant chair with his lawyers by his sides. He was nervous, he felt awfully thirsty. So he drank the whole bottle of water in one gulp. The water tasted a bit weird but is okay. It must be his hallucinations. He must be going crazy after losing everything.

Won't his luck save him this time? Wouldn't something miraculous happen this time to him?

Ilhoon sighed and looked around the busy courtroom. His eyes scanning particularly for nothing. His eyes stopped when they fell on someone. A guy. Around in his mid twenties. Very attractive. His glasses were sitting on his nose, bags covering his forehead. Ilhoon tried to remember if he ever seen this guy. He looks familiar for some reason. Is he a reporter? Then where is his notebook?