Legend [YEONBIN] ✓

fifty-seven ; soobin

It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be true. I sprinted out of the hospital, ignoring the shouts of annoyed nurses and patients following me.

My father was a useless waste of space. My mother always said he wasn’t someone to seek out because she was ashamed of ever loving a man like him.

But Detective Hae was an honorable man. At least that was how Yeonjun described him. And he was a detective who sought to save lives.

Was it possible that instead of being ashamed of Detective Hae, mom was ashamed of us? That we were monsters who killed while the man she once loved was a good man?

There was only one way to find out. I called mom.

“Hello?”

At the sound of my mother’s voice I froze. I didn’t know how to explain that I felt hurt by her keeping so many secrets. But I also needed my mother more than anything right now.

“Hello? Soobin ? Is that you?”

“Mother.” The word was a croaked whisper. I coughed to clear my throat and tried again. “Mother, I need to ask you something and I need you to be honest with me.”

There was a long, pregnant pause before mom replied. “What is it?”

“My father.”

“Soobin, I don’t want to—”

“I met him!” I blurted out. “And he’s not a horrible person like you claimed. He’s a detective and he seems like a good man. And you kept him from me and—”

“Do not talk to that man!” Mom’s voice was a high screech that forced me to hold the phone away from my ear. “Do not talk to him, do you hear me?”

“So you admit it! You knew he was in Seoul.”

Mom sighed. “I only recently found out where he was. This is one of the reasons I told you not to return. That man is not what he seems, Soobin. Do not go near him or that boy again. Not until I get there.”

“But he’s my father.”

“Promise me!” Mom demanded.

I hesitated a bit too long.

“Promise—” With a beep the line went dead.

I stared at my screen, wondering if my phone had died. But it blinked the time of the call at her before returning to the home screen. I tried dialing mom again but it went directly to voice mail.

I hung up, wondering where mom was now. Probably in an airport on her way back to berate me for all of my bad life decisions.

With a sigh, I pocketed my phone and walked without knowing where I was going. I just knew I needed air. And maybe a drink.