CHAPTER 37 – I’m Hwang Dojun (Part 1)

It had been a tumultuous few days. Seoyeon tried not to dwell too deeply on Dojun’s parting words about meeting again someday, but the thoughts kept popping up unexpectedly.

Whenever her phone rang, her heart would drop, and when an unknown number appeared, she couldn’t help but wonder if it might be him, but there were no calls from him.

It was only after almost a week had gone by that she realized the meaning behind those words. His words were simply that – an expression to see each other whenever they coincidentally bumped into each other next time.

Despite resolving to forget everything, she found herself swaying at Dojun’s words, feeling pathetic for waiting at just a single utterance. Yet, she learned one thing: even if they were to meet accidentally like last time, she wouldn’t attach any significance. She wouldn’t be swayed by the words of someone she had erased from her memory.

“Assistant Manager Chae Sohee, would you like to have tteokbokki for dinner?”

Finishing a call with a customer, Seongmi asked Assistant Manager Chae Sohee, as she put down the receiver. It was two hours until closing. It was time to get hungry.

“No, I’ll be leaving early today. I have to go to my hometown.”

“Why?”

“I have to visit my hometown. My mom felt sad because I hadn’t been there for a while since I’ve been seeing my boyfriend on weekends.”

“Isn’t your hometown Busan?”

“No, it’s in Cheonan.”

Since Sohee occasionally used a dialect, Seongmi thought she was from Busan. Listening to their conversation, Seoyeon also thought of her own hometown in Yangpyeong.

It had been too long since she visited Yangpyeong. She couldn’t recall when the last time was. Fumbling through her memories, she realized it had on the Lunar New Year. It had been almost two months now.

“I should visit Yangpyeong this weekend too.”

Thinking of her grandmother, Seoyeon said. She used to visit at least once a month, but she had been neglecting it lately. Even though her grandmother’s memory was fading, she wanted to feel her grandmother gently stroking her head as she lay across her lap. Perhaps then, the bad memories of Hwang Dojun would disappear.

Speaking of which, why not go today?

Seoyeon glanced at the clock on the wall. It would be 8 p.m. when she finished work. If she went to Yangpyeong, she would arrive around 9 p.m.Staying overnight might be too much, but she wanted to at least see her grandmother briefly.

Suddenly, her phone in her pocket began to ring with a long vibration.

[Mother]

It was her stepmother in Yangpyeong. Seoyeon thought this was perfect timing as she answered the phone.

“Yes, Mother. I was just about to…”

— Seoyeon, darling.

Her stepmother’s voice was trembling heavily, overlapping with her own. A sudden ominous feeling gripped Seoyeon’s heart. 

Who got hurt? Did she find out about father’s affair? Was it Kyuhyun? Or…

— What do we do, Seoyeon? Your grandmother… Your grandmother’s not here. I’ve been looking for her since this afternoon, but she’s nowhere to be found. She was definitely here for lunch and took a nap. Sob.

Seoyeon felt her blood drain from her body. She listened to her stepmother’s voice without saying a word.

— I came back in after having tea with a friend, but your grandmother wasn’t home. I went to wake her up from her nap, but she wasn’t there… I’ve reported it to the police, but where on earth could she have gone? Why can’t we find her? Your father is not answering his phone either.

Thud.

“Manager! Are you alright?”

Seoyeon dropped her cell phone and slumped down on the couch, and Chae Sohee rushed over to her in surprise.

Think.

I have to think.

Wiping away her tears, Seoyeon picked up her trembling phone with shaking hands. Rubbing her eyes with her palm, she spoke in a trembling voice to Mi-seon.

“I’ll… I’ll go there now. Mother, I’m leaving right away. So…”

I have to report to the police. No, she already did. I have to call Dad first, and then… 

Her overheated mind struggled to think clearly.

— What if something happened to Grandmother, Seoyeon? Sob. It’s still cold out. She didn’t even dress properly before leaving.

Although fear surged, Seoyeon shook her head. 

No. That couldn’t be. 

Wiping the tears that were falling with the back of her hand, she replied.

“No. Grandmother… She’ll be okay. I’ll go there first. I’ll try to reach Father too.”

After ending the call, Seoyeon said to Sohee, who was looking at her, not knowing what to do.

“Um, Sohee, I…”

Wanting to say that her grandmother had gone missing, but tears streamed down her face again. Watching Seoyeon cry without being able to continue speaking, Sohee hurriedly handed her a handbag and jacket.

“Go quickly. I’ll take care of the rest here.”

Nodding, Seoyeon wiped her tears. 

I have to drive, I have to find my grandmother, I can’t cry like an idiot. It’s okay, it’s going to be okay

Repeating it like a mantra, she left the store.

***

Dojun sat in the conference room in front of the chairman’s office, listening to Secretary Jang’s report. Chairman Hwang, seated at the head of the table, had a presentation screen positioned perfectly for viewing, displaying the achievements of the core businesses for the first quarter that the marketing department had diligently put together, with numbers and graphs overlaid.

It was Friday evening, and all the executives from the distribution department had been called together. The heads of departments and key executives from Hanseong Department Store, Hanseong Mart, Hanseong Retail, and Hanseong Food filled the long table.

“Next, I will post the first quarter report of the Hanseong Retail and Convenience Store business segments.”

The screen changed, and the logo changed. Dojun briefly glanced down to check the time. It was past 8 p.m. Since the retail report was the last one, it would probably be around 9 p.m. when it finished. He chuckled as he mentally calculated the time it would take to get to Seoyeon’s house.

A memory from not too long ago surfaced. Last winter, he had sat in this room thinking of Seoyeon. He had calculated the time it would take to get to Yeonnam-dong just like this. It was a rainy day, and Seoyeon’s breath smelled like alcohol mixed with mint.

The only difference now was his title, from hotel CEO to department store Vice President. Dojun twirled the pen in his hand, waiting for the tiresome report to end.

When Secretary Jang’s voice stopped and the lights came on in the conference room, it was time for Chairman Hwang’s questions and criticisms. Retail manager Kim Kyung-tae, with a tense expression, looked at Chairman Hwang.

At that moment, the conference room door opened slightly, and two secretaries entered. One went straight to Chairman Hwang, and the other went to Vice President Yoon Sang-cheol, who was sitting next to Dojun.

Sang-cheol’s face turned pale at the whispered words. He quickly searched for his cell phone and fumbled with his jacket. Chairman Hwang covered the report he had been holding and said,

“Let’s stop here for today. Vice President Yoon, go quickly.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Sang-cheol hurriedly left the conference room. Perplexed executives, unsure of what was happening, watched as Chairman Hwang stood up from his seat and said,

“Thank you for your hard work today. Vice President Hwang, please come see me briefly.”

Dojun felt a premonition that something had happened at Seoyeon’s house. Following Chairman Hwang into his office, he was immediately informed.

“Vice President Yoon’s mother is missing. Apparently, she has dementia.”

Dojun immediately thought of Seoyeon. Her grandmother used to pick out only the chestnuts from the chestnut bread, he recalled.

“Go and help however you can.”

“I will report back as soon as she is found.”

Chairman Hwang nodded.