Chapter 36.2

Chapter 36.2

Chulhyun’s car smelled of rose potpourri with soft CCM music playing in the background. As he started the car, he glanced at Heeju and spoke.

“What music do you like? I’ll put it on.”

“No, this is fine.”

Heeju glanced around the car’s interior and replied. Chulhyun chuckled, then turned his eyes forward.

“Feels a bit much, huh? Sunggang gets the heebie-jeebies every time he rides in my car. Says I should tone down the Jesus freak vibes. Can’t blame him, I do wear it on my sleeve.”

He flicked the small cross hanging from the rearview mirror. It swayed from side to side.

“You seem pretty devout.”

“It’s more like a habit. CCM calms me when I drive. Grew up with faith, you know.”

“Oh, so your parents were devout.”

“Maybe? Don’t know. Doesn’t matter to me.”

Heeju looked at him, puzzled. Keeping his eyes forward, Chulhyun answered casually.

“I grew up in an orphanage. Left at one when I was born, they say. It was run by a church, so I guess that’s where the faith came from.”

“Aah…”

It wasn’t quite the usual meaning of “born into faith,” but Heeju nodded vaguely.

“I look like this now, but as a kid, I was scrawny and short. I got bullied a fair bit. Places like that, with just kids, are brutal. Competition’s fierce. I couldn’t even hold my own.”

Chulhyun gave a cynical smile. It was a little unexpected for him to talk about his childhood without being asked, but Heeju knew the jungle-like ecosystem of orphanages all too well.

The current Lee Chulhyun looked like he could dominate the orphanage without breaking a sweat, but back when he was small and frail, it would be a different story. Kids were scarily good at spotting who’s stronger or weaker. Especially kids starved for affection.

“But there, if you believed in God hard, the adults would dote on you. Pray, and they’d give you choco pies. I guess after doing that since I was a kid, I’ve kind of brainwashed myself?”

The car slowed to a stop at an intersection. The cross on the mirror now slowly swayed back and forth.

“It’s nice to have a religion.”

At Heeju’s reply, Chulhyun let out an ambiguous laugh. Leaning an arm on the steering wheel, he propped his chin and looked at her.

“Maybe ‘cause I grew up lonely? I’m jealous of people like you with siblings. You’ve got someone to lean on. If I’d had that, I wouldn’t need religion.”

For a moment, their eyes met in silence.

Chulhyun, who’d met her sister periodically under the guise of treatment. Heeju recalled the empty therapy records. He’d dodged the topic all along, so why’d he bring up her sister now?

Heeju held Chulhyun’s gaze and calmly parted her lips to speak.

“Don’t be. Even if you act like you’re all each other’s got, siblings don’t really know each other.”

“Did you find out anything about your sister? You’ve been poking around the physical therapy room lately. Seems like you’re still digging.”

“Not much, except that Mr. Lee Chulhyun was her top regular.”

“Aah, Ms. Ko Heejin’s hands were magic. The new therapist tries, but they’re nothing compared to her.”

Chulhyun shook his head slowly and straightened up. Then, in an overly solemn tone, he said,

“I’ll pray for Ko Heejin today. Special Christmas service.”

“That’s so moving, really. I might cry.”

“I’m not joking.”

The light turned green. As Chulhyun started driving again, he asked, “Got time? Need to drop something off to Yunam hyung. It’s on the way, so we’ll stop there first.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Heeju answered halfheartedly and turned her gaze to the window. She told Gukhyun she had an appointment with the director, but the real reason for going to the lab was something else.

Yeongshin said he’d be in the lab all day anyway, so a slight delay wouldn’t matter.

“Oh? It’s snowing?”

Chulhyun leaned forward slightly, muttering to himself. Heeju rested her head lightly against the window. Just as he said, snow began drifting past the car window.

It looks like it’ll be a white Christmas.

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