Uncover

32.

"Hate to be that guy, but Mrs. Kim, is there a possibility that both the deaths are connected?" Taeyong asks cautiously, knowing that it's a sensitive topic at the moment for multiple people in the room. 

Eunbi nods. "As the investigative officers in charge of the case, Jimin and Kai were closely in touch with Prosecutor Huang. He was an honest and righteous man." She turns to Renjun and pats his head. "A man of few words just like you. Harsh on criminals and gentle with his loved ones." 

Renjun's eyes become moist as he soaks in details about his father. Jieun notices this and softly rubs the back of his hand. In turn, Renjun brings their intertwined hands closer to himself. 

Meanwhile, Eunbi continues to recollect the past. "That day, everyone was dejected as the criminal they had worked so hard to catch turned out to be completely unrelated to the case. However, in the evening, Prosecutor Huang suddenly messaged, saying he had evidence as to who the serial killer was. So he asked Kai and Jimin to meet him urgently."

"Wait, you are telling me Renjun's dad found the killer that fast!?" Haechan asks in disbelief. "Damn. Now we know where Renjun gets his brains." He mutters to Chenle.

Eunbi shrugs. "Don't know. We were rushing Jungwoo to the hospital. The kid somehow managed to get food poisoning. So Kai told Jimin to go ahead first and that he'll join soon. However... Prosecutor Huang and Jimin..." 

Eunbi trails off. She didn't need to complete the sentence. From the looks on everyone's faces it was evident, they had already guessed what it meant. 

There was a heavy silence in the room. There were questions floating in everyone's minds but none dared to speak up out of fear that they might overstep the line.

"Umm..." All attention goes to Chenle. "I know I sound stupid but why was it all covered up as a mere accident?"  

"About Prosecutor Huang, I have no idea how it turned out like that but for Jimin, it was all covered up upon his request. In order to protect Jieun and Jisung from the serial killer."

"Was Jisung even born back then?" Chenle asks jokingly and instantly receives a look from Jisung.

Eunbi laughs. "Oh he was born alright. He was... lets see, I think 3 years old at the time? Right Jieun?"

Jieun furrows her brows. "I don't really-"

"His birthday was around when Kai brought you home." With a guilty look and downcast eyes, she adds. "I'm sure you'll never forget that day."

Jieun freezes in her place. Of course she remembers. It was the day she had been hit and locked in the storage room for wanting to celebrate Jisung's birthday. That was the beginning of all the fights in the house, of Jungwoo distancing himself from her and Jisung and of her enduring Eunbi's torture in Jisung's stead. 

Just a mere mention of those days, would always make her body go stiff and her mind would spiral into a storm of its own. Her hands would start shaking and breathing would become short. It has always been that way till now. 

Jieun can feel herself shaking but strangely its not as intense and uncontrollable as the previous times. Tears are lining up her eyes and her thoughts are raging but they are not as overwhelming as before. 

Jieun looks down, to her side. Renjun is still holding her hand, in fact he's intertwined their hands tighter. And now he is caressing her hand softly with his thumb. She looks up and finds Renjun staring at her with gentle eyes. He leans a little and whispers, "Thank you for being so strong Jieun. Everyone here is thankful that you stayed." And when he backs away, Jieun sees him show a hint of a smile. His words fill her with a sense of warmth and acknowledgement that she didn't know she needed till now.