episode_0120

Traces.

I resurfaced traces I had temporarily forgotten. It was a paid website account that Jiyeon, I, Doha Unnie, and even Chaerin had once shared.

“Account does not exist.”

I already knew the account had been deleted, so why did I search for it again?

There was no particular intention. It was just to reassure myself. Doha Unnie also never once mentioned the sponsorship site to me. It was because we both knew it would be uncomfortable.

So, I didn’t bring it up either.

…………

But… what was I originally trying to do? Ah… right. There was something I needed to give to Jiyeon. Yes, I need to check the ring first.

I took out the well-maintained ring from the drawer and examined it closely. Indeed, it was the same one I used to wear, even after looking at it again. The mark unique to beta slaves, with a cursive ‘b’ engraved on the inside.

That’s why it was even stranger. I didn’t know how to interpret the fact that Jiyeon had left this ring behind.

She would naturally know what it means… Should I ask her first…?

*Hoo*………… Perhaps because I was so lost in thought on the way back from the movie, I felt a little hungry.

Had Unnie gone out…? I glanced at the closed bedroom door and headed to the kitchen. I wonder if there’s any fruit in the fridge… I want to eat a soft peach.

“Oh… there’s none. Unnie again…? It’s really completely empty.”

When I reluctantly closed the refrigerator door and turned around, I saw several wine glasses, a fruit knife, and the pot and dishes used for cooking ramen lying messily in the sink.

“Ah, what was it…? They called it ‘girls’ talk.’ Looks like they drank and played all night.”

*Pfft*. I chuckled and reached out my hand to grab a snack. A bag of potato chips came into my hand with a rustling sound.

‘Girls’ talk…? Who said that…?’

I put a little force into my hands, *rip*— I tore open the potato chip bag. I picked one up and chewed it with a crunch.

The crispy chip crumbled and disappeared past my throat, leaving only a salty sensation.

‘I don’t remember hearing such a thing. It’s also an unfamiliar word for me to use in the first place… No… What does such a word matter anyway? It’s enough that they had fun.’

I grabbed another handful of potato chips and put them in my mouth. A pleasant sense of satisfaction washed over me along with the stimulating flavor.

*Tsk*… Still, as I eat, my throat inevitably gets parched. I should drink some water while eating.

“――Curious…? It’s just girls’ talk.”

“………Jiyeon?”

I unconsciously put down the water glass and mumbled. Why did it sound so… muffled, so faint?

I-I’ll get you water, Doyun-ah. Just wait for me………

I looked down at the water I was drinking. I touched my throat for a moment. There was a sensation of extreme thirst, a thirst so severe it couldn’t be compared to what potato chips caused.

A memory, almost within grasp, almost at my fingertips, too strong to ignore—.

――*Clank*.

“Son, you were here? Mom woke up so late today, didn’t I? You said you went to see a movie. You could have gone with Mom.”

“Ah… it’s fine. Looks like you stayed up late playing yesterday. There were wine glasses in the sink…”

“Oh…? Ah, that’s right. I got a little carried away. How do I look now…? Does it seem like I’m a little swollen?”

Having seemingly only finished a simple moisturizing routine, Mom turned her refreshed face this way and that, checking it. She still had skin so pristine it would be rude to say she had aged.

With each step she took, her chest gently swayed beneath the thin silk gown, and her slightly erect nipples brushed up and down in rhythm.

But Mom, meanwhile, seemed not to notice my gaze at all as she brewed and savored her coffee.

“I’m worried… I need to dress well from now on…”

“Huh? What…?”

“Ah, just talking to myself. I’m thinking of changing my outfits a bit when I go to work. It was a bit stifling… Oh, right. Speaking of which… Doyun-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Mom recently got a new ring… and it’s gone. Could you help me find it?”

“R-ring? Of course. What kind of ring is it?”

“Thanks. It’s a slightly thin silver ring… rather than luxurious, it’s a bit youthful, I suppose. Have you seen it nearby?”

Silver… ring? The ring in my drawer flashed into my mind, and I was momentarily flustered.

But it couldn’t be. I was convinced it wasn’t.

“I don’t really know from just that… Did you take it off and sleep?”

“I think so. But Mom usually leaves her rings in the dressing room when she sleeps. It’s just strange that *that* ring is missing…”

“Could you describe it a bit more? Like, specific features…”

“There’s nothing particularly special about it. Hmm… I think something was engraved on the inside. Anyway, will you let me know if you find it?”

At that moment, my pupils seemed to tremble slightly. Was it because a crack had appeared in a possibility I had so naturally dismissed?

However, I still believed firmly.

That can’t be. No――. I could at least check. Am I hesitating?

Why? Why am I hesitating? I’m just confirming my conviction that ‘it’s not Mom’s.’

While she calmly drank coffee and changed her clothes, I returned to my room and took out the beta ring. Sweat beaded on my hands, but I didn’t notice it.

“Mom, by any chance… is it something like this? No, what I mean is… something similar to this—”

………*Thump*.

……*Thump, thump*.

“Oh my… Doyun-ah.”

With a gentle, makeup-free face, she narrowed her eyes slightly and fixed her gaze. She looked down at what I was holding.

“Yes. …That’s right. Where did you find it…?”

“Just… I found it near the dressing room. But this ring seems a little… ill-fitting for you. Aren’t there many much better rings than th-this…?”

“Is that so? *Hehe*… Still, it’s not bad. I’m just going to wear it for a bit. It makes me look younger, which is nice, isn’t it?”

………*Thump, thump, thump*.

Mom gently slipped the beta ring onto her left ring finger in front of me. After caressing it for a moment, she met my eyes again.

Why does Mom have this ring? Who gave it to her…? There shouldn’t be anyone, or any motive, for that….

To me, who was left with nothing but questions, she extended her hand, saying thank you for finding it. She gently stroked my flushed cheek.

A soft touch, her hand, which had come down to my chest, turned and slowly withdrew.

……*Thump, thump, thump, thump*—.

‘Are you nervous…?’ It was as if Mom was speaking to me with her eyes. My pounding heart betrayed me before I had a chance to answer inwardly.

As the crack in my belief widened, the 《Character Info》 flickered more intensely. My shattered vision soon returned to Mom’s profound smile.

“Anyway, weren’t you surprised…? I never thought I’d meet Hyeyeon again. Ah, Jiyeon’s mom. You’re seeing Jiyeon’s mom for the first time, right?”

“Yes, yes…? Uhh…”

“She hasn’t changed at all from before. That girl, only her chest got bigger. She said she’s had quite a turbulent time since going into broadcasting. Ah, I met Jiyeon’s mom when I used to work as a writer. But I never thought our paths would cross again like this.”

“Indeed… Hahahaha…”

“What’s with that weak response…? Doyun, you and Jiyeon… you two could have originally been childhood friends, you know?”

Huh…? Didn’t Hyeyeon Auntie tell her everything…? She doesn’t know that I already know Auntie… I saw them talking privately.

“Still, it’s a relief. That you, Doyun, are connected with Jiyeon like this. You’ll… get married, right?”

“Yes… What?! That’s too soon. I haven’t even graduated yet…”

“I just said it. Hmm… But Jiyeon seemed happy when I brought up marriage, you know? So, our son, you should treat her well.”

Mom smiled and embraced me as she always did. Her affectionate touch and the warmth that seeped in. Both were so familiar to me.

I didn’t want to doubt such a mother. The very idea of having impure thoughts while Mom was in front of me was unthinkable.

……………

…………

Dinner. As usual, we sat around the table and picked up our utensils. Strangely, the scent from Doha Unnie, who sat next to me, subtly pricked my nose.

“Unnie, did you put on perfume?”

I asked casually, but I was actually curious. Why would Unnie, who usually only smelled of sweat, do something like this…?

Then Unnie chuckled. She looked at me with an expression that said, ‘Did you notice?’ and picked up a piece of meat from my plate.

“You just thought this, didn’t you? That the only smells from me are the stale sweat from the gym, and the foot odor brought straight from rolling around in the dojo…”

“Ugh, seriously――! We’re eating.”

“Puhahahaha――!! I just got it from Jiyeon. They said it was a luxury brand, so I tried it, but is it a bit too much?”

“It’s not bad. It just doesn’t fit your image, that’s all.”

“Then get used to it~. Fall for your girlish Unnie――!!”

“Ugh, seriously, again!”

Suddenly, Unnie forcibly hugged me, and I struggled hard. Mom gently tried to stop Unnie but didn’t actually restrain her.

Normal family affection, ordinary fondness. Just as I was feeling these everyday emotions, something cold and metallic touched the back of my neck. It was where Unnie’s hand had been.

My senses were inadvertently focused, and my gaze naturally drifted to her hand—.

――Did Unnie normally wear rings?

No, never once――.

――*Thump*.

*Thump, thump, thump*――.

“*Hehehe*, hey. I’ll go on a date with Mom after dinner. You take care of the house~.”

“A date? Are you going shopping or something?”

“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you that.”

My thoughts were fixated on one point. That ring, no matter how I looked at it, resembled ‘that thing.’

The ring Jiyeon left in my drawer. The one Mom was now calmly wearing.

―No. I shouldn’t feel such emotions.

Unnie’s bra faintly showed through her shabby loungewear. Underwear meant only to be seen.

Her untanned white skin was pressed as if about to burst through a thin layer of fabric.

The two of them finished their meal as if nothing was wrong, even wearing the same ring on the same finger. So much so that I wondered if I was the strange one, if I was too sensitive.

…………

……..

No――. Don’t go. At least explain what’s happening―――.

…….

‘Doyun-ah. Are you sleeping……♡? It’s already 5 AM.’

‘My boyfriend sleeping…’

‘How can he be so lovely?’

….

―――――――――――――――

One night. No, dawn.

The man, blinded by passion, soon realized. That he had been deceived by her. And in a very cruel way.

He slowly released the woman’s waist. Until the last moment, he maintained his breathing, only seeking a chance to survive.

But it was futile.

All he could do was one thing: receive a death sentence. He let out a hearty laugh and said,

“Unexpected, Joo Chaebin. To betray me like this.”

“You knew all along, didn’t you? It’s time to end this. Namgeon… CEO-nim.”

“No. I didn’t know. I resigned myself because I didn’t know. This is your doing, Chaebin-ah.”

The people filling the CEO’s office lived different lives and held different professions, but one thing was consistent among them.

They were enemies who hated Namgeon more than anyone else, having once been stripped of everything and ruined by him.

“You deny it to the very end. But it doesn’t matter. Namgeon, even while you tamed countless women… I, Joo Chaebin… only looked at you.”

“—Don’t say such things. At least you, Joo Chaebin, take over Midnight.”

“That shouldn’t happen. Yes… That shouldn’t happen… Now I can’t tell whether ‘love’ comes first or ‘hate’ comes first. So, deliver your verdict, everyone. Our destiny――.”

Under the pale moonlight, Chaebin’s gaze swept over Namgeon’s rigid back as she slowly embraced him.

He too was a human who felt fear. But perhaps they had already come too far to feel such meager humanity.

From the crowd, a middle-aged man walked out. He pulled a small revolver from the inner pocket of his neat suit. Even as he pointed the muzzle at Namgeon’s forehead, the deep wrinkles around his eyes didn’t even twitch.

Even trivial emotions had seeped into the deeply etched lines, so he didn’t delay any longer. Force was applied to the hand pressing down firmly on the trigger.

*Bang*―――.

A short gunshot echoed, and flames spread.

You who grew in the shadows, be buried in the shadows. Forever be far from the light.

Everything turned to ash and vanished. With this, the cycle was broken.

…………

……………………

“How do you want to be born in your next life?”

………………………………

“Yes. You will live a somewhat difficult life, but hang in there. After all, you won’t remember anything in your next life.”

……………………

…………

‘He’ had decided his own fate from the beginning. At least until he found happiness.

….