episode_0103

… … … … …

That evening, when the search for Yeoreum, which took advantage of the association president’s absence, ran into difficulties and she returned home without any proper results.

Sister Seoyeon called me with a different tone of voice than usual.

[Autumn, these days… …what’s going on?]

“Huh?! Oh, no. It’s nothing.”

[… … … I see. Then… … I think it would be best to continue not to do anything strange or dangerous in the future.]

“Ah, yes… … .”

There was no direct questioning, but that made it even stranger.

Unlike my older sister who normally takes a keen interest in my every move, she just said one word and hung up the phone.

Just like that, Seoyeon’s phone call ended, and not long after, I received a text message from Taeyang.

[Little guy, I think you’ve developed a bad habit while we were apart.]

[A bad habit!? What is that… … .]

[Well, you know better than that, kid. If you knew, then don’t do anything stupid. I’m giving you sincere advice.]

“Why is the sun like this… … ?”

That wasn’t all. Before going to bed, the doorbell rang and when I opened the door, Sister Ayoung was standing there.

“Brother, I came to see you because I think you are suffering from a very dangerous temptation these days.”

“Yes… … ?”

Sister Ayoung had a mysterious smile on her face, but her expression and her mint-colored eyes held a seriousness that was not usually seen.

“So I came here to calm my brother’s mind. Could you please give me a moment of your time?”

“Hey, come in first… … .”

Sister Ayoung, who had barged into my house like that, said strange things like, “You have to change your mind” and “You must not fall into temptation” before I went to bed.

The next morning, when I went to President Haneul’s store as scheduled, this happened.

“Son.”

While drinking tea and snacks brought out by the CEO of Sky.

She looked at me with a strangely cold smile. The affectionate ‘motherly’ smile she always wore was not there.

“You shouldn’t hang around in bad places. Okay?”

“… … … .”

A similar thing happened when I went to Dr. Wol-hee’s hospital for a routine checkup in the afternoon.

“Boy. You have me, right? You better not do anything that will get you hurt.”

“Yes, yes… … .”

The time I spent with Teacher Wol-hee passed, and on my way home, Seo-ah, dressed in a black suit, appeared in front of me.

“You must not get involved in dangerous and bad things.”

Seo-ah stared at me with sharp eyes. Her gaze seemed to penetrate deep into my soul.

“While doing this work… …working to implement social justice, I encountered a lot of darkness.

But the fall army should stay away from that darkness.”

She was silent for a moment, then added in a lower voice.

“Please… …don’t do anything strange. If you try to peer into the abyss any longer… …the abyss might look into Ga-eul-kun.”

After saying those words, Seo-ah disappeared into the darkness, and I was left alone in the alley leading home.

… … … … …

“What the heck… … why… … ?”

I returned home and lay in bed, thinking about what had happened yesterday and today.

Seo-yeon’s strange questions, Tae-yang’s indirect texts, Sister A-young’s persistent sermons, President Haneul’s cold smile, Teacher Wol-hee’s subtle pressure, and even Seo-ah’s somewhat direct warnings.

It was clear that they knew I was looking for Summer. No, more than just knowing… … .

“Is everyone… … telling me not to look for summer?”

It was only then that I realized that my recent ‘chance’ encounters and conversations with the women in my fellowship group were not coincidental at all.

They tried to keep me away from the summer search as if they had made a promise.

“But why… …?”

The biggest question in this matter was there. What on earth is their relationship with Yeoreum? Why are they so active in trying to prevent Yeoreum from being found?

My mind became complicated. The last image of Yeoreum, the purple bruise on her wrist, and the cry, ‘Because of you’ kept coming to mind.

“No way… … .”

I had a bad feeling. But I didn’t have the courage to turn that feeling into certainty.

“… … but still.”

I stared at the ceiling and lost myself in thought. No matter how much they tried to stop me, I didn’t want to give up like this.

“At least I should apologize… … ”

If something bad happened to Yeoreum because of me, it was my fault. It would be too cowardly to just step aside and go about my peaceful daily life without knowing anything.

And now, another question arises: Why are they trying to stop me like this?

“There is only one way. If you keep looking… … .”

If I find Yeoreum, I will know the answer. The reason why they prevented me from finding Yeoreum, and what happened to Yeoreum.

“Sorry, guys.”

The worried faces of the fellowship members came to mind. But this time, I couldn’t listen to their dissuasion.

I got out of bed and turned on my computer. I had to find out the truth before the president came back.

… … … … …

The next day, around noon, I was walking through a busy street.

“Ah… …!?”

I saw the target I had been searching for all day, the girl who often hung out with Summer. I couldn’t see her face clearly, but judging by her hairstyle, build, and gait, I was sure it was her.

I ran after her right away, but after running about ten steps, someone grabbed my wrist.

“Autumn… … .”

It was Sister Seoyeon’s hand. She gently grabbed my wrist.

“Now… …let’s stop. Okay?”

She originally emphasized the relationship with me as her ‘older sister’, and I felt like she didn’t tolerate any opposition when dealing with me, to the point where it felt a bit bossy.

Today, she didn’t give off that impression at all. That made me even more embarrassed. Her words were closer to pleading than instructions from a sister. It was as if she was afraid of something.

“Who, sister… … .”

I hesitated for a moment. But the child who seemed to be Yeoreum’s friend was getting further and further away.

“I’m sorry!”

In the end, I shook off Seoyeon’s hand and ran in that direction. The sound of her sighing behind me weighed heavily on my heart, but I couldn’t stop like that.

As Summer followed her friend’s trail into the alley, she bumped into someone hard.

“Ouch!?”

As I was about to stumble and fall, a sharp, strong hand grabbed my shoulder. I could feel the strong grip.

“Son.”

It was the Sky CEO. She, who I rarely saw outside the store, was standing in front of me in this alley I didn’t know well.

Her gaze, which had been looking in the direction where Yeoreum’s friend had disappeared, slowly turned towards me.

“Now… …I think Mom should be a little angry.”

There was no warmth in her voice at all. It was as cold as ice in the middle of winter. The smile on her lips was still there, but it was even scarier.

“Sir, sir… … I am… … .”

I tried to make excuses, but the words wouldn’t come out. The pressure I felt from the Sky CEO’s grip was getting stronger and stronger.

I tried hard to look in the direction where Yeoreum’s friend was, but it was already gone. Another clue had disappeared.

“Let’s go home now, okay?”

It was a tone that I absolutely could not refuse. The eyes of the Heavenly President who was giving me instructions were filled with cold pressure instead of detailed motherly love.

The Sky Boss didn’t let go of my shoulder and led me out of the alley as if she was leading a child. Her grip was incredibly strong, but she was controlled just before she felt pain. Like a mother who is careful not to hurt her child while scolding him.

So I had no choice but to turn back, led by the Heavenly President. Today’s search also ended in failure.

… … … … …

Another day passed. The time for the president to return was getting closer. Feeling impatient, I decided to visit the university that Yeoreum had said she was attending.

“If it’s school… …there might be a clue. Someone will remember summer.”

Yes. Yeoreum sometimes talked about class. Her favorite professor, close seniors. If you go to the department office or student council, you can find information about Yeoreum.

As I headed to the bus stop, I used the Internet’s route search function to check the bus again. As I was about to board the bus, my phone rang.

“Where are you now, Mr. Autumn?”

It was Seo Ah’s voice. It was a tone that lacked composure, which was unusual for her.

“Ah, that’s it… … To get some air… … ..”

“Please tell me exactly. Which direction are you going?”

Seo-ah questioned each person one by one as if she were interrogating a criminal. Her tone was as if she already knew the answer.

“Just… … going for a walk… … .”

“OO University side, right?”

My heart stopped beating. How on earth did Seo-ah know that?

“Autumn, I can’t take it anymore… … I beg you, please go back.”

The murderous intent in Seo-ah’s voice was transmitted through the phone. While I was hesitating to answer, the bus had already departed.

“The bus… … has left. I’m so glad I missed it. I’ll make sure not to go to places like that by mistake in the future.”

“… … … .”

The phone call was disconnected. A cold sweat ran down my spine.

Whatever method she used, it seemed as if Seo-ah knew that I was at the bus stop. At least it seemed impossible for me to take the bus to the university.