Chapter 96
- Is this even possible?
2023.08.04.
The bedroom, with its blackout blinds completely blocking the sunlight, was still like midnight even at noon.
Tae-joon finally woke up after 12 PM.
He felt puzzled by the absence of Han So-eun, who was usually sleeping soundly beside him. Checking the time, he jumped out of bed. The sudden movement caused a throbbing headache. He pressed his temples and reached for his phone.
His phone was in Han So-eun's place. The time on the phone also indicated it was past noon.
They were supposed to get up early and go for a workout together.
How could he have slept so deeply? Did Han So-eun's Sleep spirit transfer to him?
Was he just tired? He didn't feel sick.
Despite sleeping so deeply, he didn't feel fully rested, and his head felt fuzzy, which made him uneasy. Tae-joon stretched his neck and left the bedroom.
"You should have woken me up."
He grumbled towards So-eun, whose whereabouts were unknown.
Usually, making a sound like that would elicit a response from somewhere.
The quiet, still air in the house felt strange. The further he walked, the more uneasy he became.
"Han So-eun."
He called out louder, wondering if she hadn't heard him.
"Han So-eun-ssi."
He was reminded of playing hide-and-seek as a child. Finding the hidden kid was easy, and sometimes they would even leave the hidden child behind, but still, he would get annoyed if they didn't show themselves right away when he went looking.
"So-eun-ah."
He didn't want to recall the day when that child disappeared without a word, and they couldn't play hide-and-seek anymore, leaving him feeling as if someone had stolen his entire head.
"Han So-eun. Come out now. This isn't funny."
His voice, which was always gentle with her, became stern. When she didn't appear even with his harsh warning, Tae-joon finally picked up his phone.
[The number you have dialed is not in service. Please check the number and try again.]
An unfamiliar mechanical voice came on instead of Han So-eun. Tae-joon couldn't believe it and checked the phone number again. He couldn't have dialed it wrong. It was saved as speed dial number 1. He only checked to see if Han So-eun had changed the phone number saved on his speed dial as a prank.
But the number was correct. The number with the call history and text message history was definitely Han So-eun's phone number.
How could this be a nonexistent number?
The fogginess in his head moved to his chest.
Even if it's you, I don't like this kind of joke. I hate this.
I really can't forgive this kind of prank. Even if you appeared right now with a bright smile, I would foolishly let my anger go.
I really, really hate it. So...
Tae-joon urgently searched the house.
The bathroom, the dressing room, the study, several rooms, even the pantry he had never opened.
So-eun was nowhere to be found.
Returning to the living room, Tae-joon decided he had to report it to the police. That his lover, who had been with him until last night, had disappeared overnight. That she had erased her phone number and vanished without a trace. That she was such a kind and gentle woman, she would never leave him unless someone had plotted it, and yet she had suddenly disappeared.
Even while dialing the police station's phone number and waiting for the call to connect, he couldn't stay still. His gaze, wandering around the living room as if trying to find a clue, entered the moon jar.
[This is the police station. How may I help you?]
"Ah, I'm sorry."
Tae-joon hung up and looked inside. The moon jar, which usually contained a few candies when So-eun visited, now held a white note and an international mail envelope.
The envelope was addressed to the Korean Embassy in the Philippines and had So-eun's name on it. So-eun had found the mail he had hidden. Only the envelope remained; the contents were gone.
Tae-joon unfolded the note in a hurry. His heart was racing like crazy.
The neatly written lines were definitely Han So-eun's.
"You said you had nothing else to hide from me.
Then why did you do that?
I've been waiting for news about my dad, how could you hide this from me?
Why do you manipulate my life as you please?
I can't forgive you. I'm suffocating because of you now.
I'll take care of the compensation for the emotional damage myself. Don't ever look for me again.
I'm leaving everything behind and running away because of your creepy, persistent, and suffocating nature. I hope you think you just met the wrong person."
What is this?
As he read the sharp sentences, so unlike the Han So-eun he knew, his eyes felt as if they were burning.
Tae-joon went to the dressing room where he had kept So-eun's mail. He hurriedly opened the watch display case, and his eyes froze.
Han So-eun had left, taking five of his wristwatches.
\
Tae-joon went straight to So-eun's house.
The front door was closed but opened without entering the password on the door lock. The house was clean. It was a room with only the furniture Han So-eun used, such as the bed, wardrobe, and desk, remaining.
Did she empty the house completely?
He went inside and opened the wardrobe and drawers, but there was nothing. She had left the furniture and taken only her belongings.
Tae-joon went outside and rang the doorbell of the house next door.
After waiting a while, a woman in her forties came out.
"Who is it?"
The woman, who came out with a frown, quickly softened her gaze at Tae-joon's handsome appearance.
"I'm sorry to bother you suddenly. I'm looking for the woman who lived next door. Have you heard her say anything about going somewhere?"
"Well, did she say she was going somewhere? I did see her throwing away a lot of things a couple of days ago. It looked like she was putting clothes in the clothing donation bin too."
"I'm sorry, but could you possibly give me the landlord's contact information?"
Tae-joon politely requested, trying hard to suppress the churning in his stomach. After a moment, the woman came out with her phone and gave him a phone number, asking with a curious voice.
"She seemed like a nice young lady, did she perhaps borrow money and run away without paying it back?"
"It's nothing like that. She left suddenly, so I'm a little worried."
Tae-joon bowed to the woman and turned away, contacting the landlord. The landlord, who answered the phone indifferently, only repeated twice that Han So-eun had urgently put the house up for sale and it had barely been sold yesterday.
After hanging up, Tae-joon's gaze, as he trudged down the stairs, turned to the mailbox. There was mail in So-eun's house, mailbox number 304. It was the mail that Tae-joon had personally requested from the Philippine Embassy. Mail containing information that So-eun's father had passed away and that the inheritance could be received with some effort.
Tae-joon reached for the mail to take it, but then put it back deep inside the mailbox and got into his car.
His whole body felt heavy as if it were made of bricks. He wanted to think rationally, but he couldn't calmly process his thoughts as he wished.
Tae-joon took the note out of his pocket again. He had mulled over each sentence several times, but it felt new and absurd every time he read it.
'Is this even possible?'
Really, you left because you were tired of my persistence?
Shocked by the fact that I hid the letter from the Philippines? So suddenly?
No. It didn't make sense.
I was going to give you the house and the bank account, do you think I'd believe you if you disappeared with just a few watches?
I know you. You would never do this. Never.
You used to tell me everything. You wouldn't leave without warning like this.
There must be someone's plot involved.
Two people came to mind: Yang Hee-wook and his aunt.
Yang Hee-wook. It was most likely that that bastard had threatened Han So-eun in some evil way. Since I said I would kill him, his hatred must have exploded. That day he came to me, fuming, there might have been a camera or microphone that I didn't notice. He could have used that to threaten Han So-eun and make her leave me.
When did Han So-eun decide to leave me?
Last weekend, when I came back from my business trip to the Philippines and asked to meet, she said she wasn't feeling well and refused to meet. And when I went to see her without saying anything, she had a bewildered expression.
Did something happen when I was away on a business trip?
Tae-joon contacted the counselor he had hired to tail Yang Hee-wook.
[Yes, hello, customer.]
"Thank you for your hard work. I have two requests."
[Yes, please tell me.]
"I would like you to compile and send me Yang Hee-wook's activities for the past two weeks, from last week until today. The more detailed, the better."
[Yes, I will do that.]
"And another thing, Han So-eun suddenly disappeared today. Without any warning. If you find any clues that can lead to Han So-eun's whereabouts, please let me know immediately."
[Yes, I understand.]
"Thank you for your help."
After finishing the call with the counselor, he still felt uneasy.
Yang Hee-wook was cunning and full of tricks, but he wasn't perfect.
Could such a Yang Hee-wook have so cleanly spirited away Han So-eun? This was not convincing.
Then the second possibility was his aunt.
\
Returning home after an event that lasted until late at night, Seok-hwa received a call from Tae-joon. Tae-joon asked about Seok-hwa's schedule and promised to wait in front of her house.
What could be the matter with her nephew, who rarely contacted her, especially on a weekend night?
Seok-hwa was certain that something big had happened. And she had a feeling that it was related to Han So-eun.
Seok-hwa went straight home without stopping anywhere else and met Tae-joon in front of her house.
"Aunt."
"Yes, Tae-joon."
Even under the soft lighting, her nephew's stiff expression was clearly visible.
"Han So-eun has disappeared."
His voice, trying to hide his emotions, was as dry as brittle firewood.
"...Disappeared?"
"Exactly as I said. I woke up and she was gone, leaving a note. The house was already cleaned up."
"..."
"Did you say something?"
"No, I haven't even met her. Really."
"Aunt, you'd better tell me the truth."
Her nephew's eyes were much more fierce than when he had coldly turned away, saying they weren't even family a while ago.
A chill ran down her spine.
Her nephew, who had thrown away his pride to protect a woman, now seemed to have no problem showing his murderous intent towards his one and only aunt.
"It wasn't me, Tae-joon. Really, it wasn't."
Seok-hwa had to assert her innocence with all her heart.
"I promised you, didn't I? I can't help, but I won't tell anyone."
Tae-joon, who was looking at her with an expression devoid of affection and eyes full of suspicion, opened his mouth again.
"Then could it be Grandpa?"
