Mr. Bitter's Sweetness | So Junghwan ✓

Chapter twenty one

Weekend..

Before heading home, I decided to stop at the police station. I needed to report the messages I'd been getting from an unknown number.  It would give me some peace of mind. I was curious about their motive – why were they texting me these things?  It was already clear what they were implying, but I hoped it wasn't my mom or dad's killer. I didn't want to die, not yet.

The police said they would investigate and take care of it.  That made me feel a little safer. My fears started to fade. I hoped they’d catch the person soon.

On the way home, I was cautious.  Even on the bus, I kept my eyes on the road. Now, as I walked, nothing seemed suspicious. I was exhausted and not in the mood for ice cream, so I went straight home.  I tossed my bag and phone on the sofa and headed upstairs to change.

Back downstairs, I wasn't sure what to do. I turned on the TV, flipping through channels, but nothing held my interest. I felt sleepy and decided to go to my room.  As I reached the door, I heard a knock. I was so tired, I just opened it.

A tall, familiar figure in black stood in the doorway. I froze.  I tried to shut the door with all my strength, but he was already inside. I ran, but he grabbed me, his grip tightening around my neck.  He pinned me against the wall.

"W-who are you?" I gasped, the words barely audible.

"You should die!" he said, pressing harder.

 

"You should die!" he snarled.

"Your father killed my family! You have to die too!"

I struggled against his grip, desperate to escape.

"Now that you're the only one left, my family will finally get justice," he said.

"This isn't the way to get justice, sir," I managed to say, my voice a strained whisper.  My lungs burned, my heart pounded against my ribs.

I pushed with all my might, but only managed to pull off the man's mask.  As I saw his face, my world shattered.

"Ajjushi?" I choked out the name.  The man I'd considered a father, the one I trusted, was the one trying to kill me.

"Why?"  I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"You heard it!" he yelled, pulling out a gun and aiming it at me.  I was paralyzed with fear, my hope fading fast.

Just then, the door flew open, revealing Junghwan. He charged forward, pulling the man away from me. The gun clattered to the floor.  I couldn't stand, so I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.  My heart felt like it was about to burst.

The man fought back, managing to regain control of the gun. A loud shot rang out.  Junghwan was hit, the bullet piercing his stomach.  He crumpled to the floor, groaning in pain.

I was frozen, helpless. Then, I remembered my phone on the sofa.  I frantically dialed the emergency number.

"Please hurry," I begged.

The operator assured me they were on their way.

I couldn't walk, so I crawled over to Junghwan. He was in agony, but he still managed to smile at me, our hands intertwining.

"Don't sleep, Junghwan, please," I pleaded, my voice choked with tears.

But I was the one who lost consciousness first.

The ambulance arrived soon after, taking us both.

 

The next day, I woke up in the hospital.  I pulled the oxygen mask away and stumbled out of bed, desperate to find Junghwan. The nurses tried to stop me, but I wouldn't listen.  I saw Junghwan's father in the hallway.

"Uncle, where's Junghwan?" I asked, my voice filled with anxiety.

"He's still in the ICU. The doctors are monitoring him. He's in critical condition," his father said, his face grim.

"Why are you here, Cindy? You need to rest," he said.

"Uncle, I'm so sorry," I cried. "If it wasn't for me, this wouldn't have happened to him."

"No, child, no one wants this to happen. It's not your fault," his father said
...

"Uncle, maybe I should leave. I'm already causing him so much trouble. He doesn't deserve this."

The doctor emerged from the room, saying it was time to see Junghwan. His father let me go in first.

As I entered, I saw him surrounded by machines, their flashing lights casting an eerie glow. I didn't know what all those machines were called, but they seemed to be keeping him alive.

"Junghwan," I whispered, my voice thick with tears. "I'm so, so, so sorry for everything. Maybe I should just leave now."  My sobs filled the room.  "I feel like I’ve caused you so much trouble."

 

I was eventually discharged from the hospital, but only after I begged Junghwan's father for permission. He tried to stop me, but I insisted.  I needed to get away from the city, from everything that had happened.

The man from the ice cream shop had been caught yesterday.  They'd taken him straight to jail.

Before leaving, I decided to go to the police station to talk to him.  I had to see him.

"What now?" he said, his voice cold.

"I-I'm so sorry, sir," I cried. "I'm so sorry on behalf of my father. I didn't know he was capable of doing something like that."

The man explained that he'd been struggling to pay off debts from my father.  He'd done those unthinkable things out of desperation.

"I should be the one to apologize," he said, his voice softening. "Your mom knows everything. I’m truly sorry."

 

Back at home, I packed my things.  I was leaving.

When I finished packing, I headed to the bus stop.  I waited for the bus that would take me back to my province. Shobi, our cat, was still at Junghwan’s house. I couldn't bring myself to take her with me.  I knew I wouldn't be with Junghwan anymore, and I left her with him, hoping she would remind him of me.

On the bus, I stared out the window, watching the buildings blur past.  After a while, the bus pulled over at another stop.

"Cindy? Wow, you haven't changed a bit!" exclaimed a guy.

"Excuse me, do I know you?" I asked.

"It's me, Junkyu!" he said, grinning.

"Junkyu? Junkyu the junkyard?" I laughed, remembering our childhood nicknames.

"Shut up, dwarf," he said, his voice laced with teasing bitterness.  He sat down next to me.

"I almost didn't recognize you! You've gotten so tall," I said. "Even taller than Junghwan, I think. And you're so handsome. You've always been handsome, ever since you were a kid."

"You haven't changed either," he teased. "How are you going to get your revenge if you're still a dwarf?"

"Where are you going, Junkyard?" I asked, ignoring his teasing.

"Shut up. I was going to where you and Aunt live now.  And you? Where are you headed, dwarf?"

"Going back home, Junkyard."

"Mom told me to pick you up.  Let's get off here first."

We both got off the bus.  Junkyu pulled out his phone and called someone. I was confused. Why was he taking the bus instead of driving his car? His family was rich.

"Why didn't you take your car?" I asked.

"It’s tiring," he said. "I called my driver, and he's picking us up here."

I nodded.

Soon, his car arrived.  We were on our way to his house.  It was huge, just like Junghwan’s.

We were greeted by the house staff, who we greeted back in turn.

"Mom, we're home!" Junkyu called out.  His mom appeared in the doorway, smiling at us.

Junkyu led me to my room.  He helped me unpack my things.  His mom had asked him to.

"Wow, this room is too big for me," I said.

"It's just half of my room, bro," Junkyu said, puffing out his chest with pride.

"Okay, who cares?" I said.

"You want me to kick you out here?" he said.

"Whoa, still rude. Nothing's changed," I said, shaking my head.

"Just kidding, bro. My mom would protect you more than me," he said, rolling his eyes.

"See, I'm a girl. Stop calling me 'bro' or 'men', Junkyard."

He leaned in close, and I took a step back.

"If you weren't my cousin, I'd totally ask you to be my girlfriend," he said, grinning.

"You're crazy," I said, pushing him away.

"Just a joke, dwarf," he said.

"So, how was life?" he asked, his teasing tone fading a bit.

"I almost got killed yesterday," I said, my voice flat.  His eyes widened in shock.

"That's why I want to go back to the province. But I'm okay now. The guy got caught."

We talked for a little while longer, but then I felt a wave of nausea. I grabbed my mouth and ran towards the bathroom.  I knelt down, trying to throw up, but nothing came out. I was shaking and felt dizzy.

"You okay?" Junkyu asked, his voice concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine now," I said, trying to steady myself.

"I'll leave you here. Join us for dinner later," he said.  Then he left. I felt a little better after a few minutes. I was still shaken from everything that had happened, but having Junkyu around helped. He reminded me of simpler times, before everything had gone crazy.