Chapter 9.2
It seemed so. This unnatural interruption intensified Seoryeong’s suspicions.
She instinctively glanced at the large mirror covering one side of the wall.
“Well, the attempted defection due to mental instability will be sorted out. Still, there will be a fine of around ten million won for damaging military facilities. Han Seoryeong, thank you for your cooperation in the investigation. You’re free to go home now.”
“….Do you know Kim Hyun?”
“Yes?”
“It seems like you are trying your best to hide him.”
“….”
“Is it okay for the department catching spies to just look at people’s faces and leave?”
The man clicked his tongue briefly. But Seoryeong’s gaze was fixed beyond the mirror.
“Come out here before I break that mirror.”
“….”
“If you’re playing hide-and-seek, we should do it together.”
“Ms. Han Seoryeong, let’s stop the jokes here.”
In an instant, Seoryeong, now pale, threw the file on the table toward the wall. Papers scattered from the file onto the floor.
“The joke is what you are doing now…! Why haven’t you even conducted a simple investigation on Kim Hyun!”
“….”
“Why are you hiding him?”
Her voice, now frigid, echoed in the interrogation room. She tried to remain calm, but her breath betrayed her, becoming shallow.
Remaining employee, as if on alert, cautiously bit his lip before saying,
“Are you properly taking your medication?”
“What?”
“Just by taking your medication regularly, there shouldn’t be any problem on your daily life.”
What nonsense is this again? She scoffed, turning her head away.
“It says here you stopped taking medication a while ago. Probably since then, delusions about your husband disappearing started.”
“…Medication? What medication?”
Seoryeong couldn’t follow his words and just clenched her teeth.
“We also brought your psychiatrist’s opinion on the way here.”
“What?”
The man’s gaze briefly went to the scattered papers on the floor. A bad premonition crawled up her spine like a bug.
Avoiding the mess on the floor, Seoryeong started going through the scattered documents.
And…
“Hanmaeum Scenery Hospital.”
She found a bundle of papers containing the doctor’s opinion. The cold eyes quickly scanned through the content.
Prescriptions for antipsychotics and the psychiatric evaluation for schizophrenia were identical, only the dates were different. Last year, the year before, the year before that…
No. It couldn’t be. Hanmaeum Scenery Hospital was the hospital she had been going to since childhood.
The kind and gentle doctor who corrected her troubles as if straightening out her bent spine.She was thankful to him that she even invited hum to her wedding. It was the hospital he worked.
“This is wrong… There must be some mistake.”
Her hand holding the paper trembled.
***
“―A woman in her 20s was caught attempting to defect in the border area of Paju, Gyeonggi Province. According to the police, the woman, Han Mo, in her 20s, attempted to cross the northern side of the Unification Bridge on the night of the 12th, crashing through the checkpoint barricade and driving about 3 km after passing through the civilian access control line, before being arrested and handed over to the police…”
A man wearing a crisp white gown was preparing for his medical duties while listening to the morning news.
He hummed a tune, neatly combing his hair, now beginning to turn white. As part of his morning routine, he filled the coffee pot with water, warmed a teacup, and checked his appointment schedule.
When he checked his busy schedule, he couldn’t help but recall old memories. The hospital that started in a worn-out building in the province had grown into a large hospital with five counselors. With this proud achievement, he felt invigorated once again today.
“Let’s see, let’s see. The first scheduled patient for today is…”
At that moment, bang! The door suddenly opened without warning. “You shouldn’t just barge in like this…!” The nurses at the front desk rushed to intervene, but the uninvited guest, holding a large gift box with a bright red ribbon, walked in confidently.
“Doctor, Seoryeong is here.”
“….!”
The doctor’s eyes widened, and his wrinkled cheeks stiffened.
“How could you come without appointment…”
“Well, I thought you might not be here.”
Seoryeong burst into genuine laughter, her bright face radiating joy, but something seemed unnatural. The doctor, who had observed her for a long time since she was ten, quickly noticed the subtle change.
“These days, people around me suddenly disappear.”
“Seoryeong…”
“Please sit down, Doctor. I came for counseling.”
Seoryeong sat nonchalantly on the sofa. She hid her trembling hands quickly and regained a composed expression as she faced the doctor.
He knew Seoryeong’s personality better than anyone else. Therefore, instead of causing provoking her with resistance, it’s better to listen to her story first…
“Shall I prepare black tea for you?”
“Uh?”
“I brought a gift for you, Doctor.”
The box was beautifully wrapped. Seoryeong untied the big red ribbon and opened the box.
Inside, there were sets of packaged black tea, fruit tea, classic world tea, and green tea.
“The water is boiling right now.”
Seoryeong went to the island home bar table set up in one corner of the examination room and chose a teacup. Her attitude was casual, as if she were wandering around her own house. The doctor felt a lump in his throat and loosened his tie a little.
“Honey, your eyes… what happened to your eyes?”
“It’s getting better.”
Seoryeong couldn’t take her eyes off the bubbling water.
“Fortunately, it wasn’t a serious injury. Funny, isn’t it?”
She let out a short laugh. It was fortunate that she was getting better, but it was unclear why it was funny.
However, the doctor politely raised the corners of his mouth, trying to create an empathetic atmosphere. Establishing rapport was always crucial, and creating a supportive atmosphere was important.
“Have you been well lately? How are things these days?”
“I’m currently looking for a job. I need to make a living.”
“And your husband?”
“He ran away.”
“…What?”