Kang Chi: Beyond Life and Time

Chapter 28: Beyond Time: Realization of the Present

Kang Cheol and Yeon Seok did not anticipate the traffic jam that is ahead of them. Of all the days such a catastrophe could occur, it just had to be today. The Baeknyeon Hotel transport service had already reported that they had brought the Captain and the Sergeant to their meeting place and are waiting for them. He closed his eyes and exhaled a sigh as if releasing the tension building up inside him.

"Should we go back and travel by air instead?" Yeon Seok asked.

They should and they could...but the traffic jam back to where they came from is as worse as the one they are currently in. He did not answer. Instead, he impatiently dialed on his phone, trying to reach someone...anyone.

"What is wrong with this country?!" he frantically asked rhetorically. He is about to lose it.

"Daepyonim, should we...."

"Ani...andwae," he answered, not letting Yeon Seok finish what he was going to say. He continued dialing but he just could not get through. He frustratedly threw his phone on the space beside him.

"I couldn't get in touch with the Captain," he informed Yeon Seok.

The wait amidst the traffic jam seemed like eternity. Their travel time to Jirisan that should take 3 and a half hours almost doubled. Along the way, he had been trying to get in touch with the Captain, and he still is until they reached their destination. He could not quite comprehend why he just could not get through to him.

"Kaja," he said as he opened the car door and got out, still dialing his phone as he made his way into Jirisan. Yeon Seok blindly and blankly followed him.

They began trekking up the designated trail, hoping that the Captain would still be there waiting for them.

At the summit, he looked around for the Captain while still trying to get in touch with him through his phone, but to no avail.

"They've probably left," Yeon Seok concluded.

"You think?!" he asked, sarcasm dripping through his voice. "Who wouldn't? I would not wait for me for a minute, let alone hours!"

Yeon Seok did not answer. He just released a sigh and held himself back from saying more. Good for him, he thought, because he did not want to hear more.

They stayed at the summit for a while, not bothering to keep track of time. He just stared at the distance, not exactly seeing the beauty of the mountain surrounding him. Yeon Seok silently waiting for him to decide and make the next move.

"Kaja," he said at last, obviously to Yeon Seok's relief.

"Eodi ?"

"Geunyang kaja," he answered as he treaded the path back down. Yeon Seok followed blindly.

"Keys," he said when they reached the parking area. Yeon Seok gave it to him without uttering a word. He just went with it.

He drove for at least half an hour to end up in front of a farm hanok unfamiliar to Yeon Seok.

"Daepyonim...uriga eodie itjjyo?" he asked.

He did not answer, for he, too is also wondering why he drove to the Dam residence. He has not planned on seeing nor meeting Yeo Wool just yet. He does not even know if she is there with her father and brother.

Wae? Why am I here?

A little apprehensive, he got out of the car, Yeon Seok following his move.