Chapter 1 – Sounds of the World – Part 1

Chapter 1 – Sounds of the World – Part 1

[Hello, everyone. 9 o’clock news……]

The news always calmly broadcast political and social issues.

Then, a voice flowed from the mouth of the reporter on site.

The place where the reporter was standing was a warehouse, and old books were piled up high in the room.

[Here, P-kun was confined for a whopping 12 years. In response, the prosecution is charging with kidnapping, confinement, and violation of labor laws……]

***

The doctor, with a sorrowful expression, stood next to the sleeping patient, who appeared to be a righteous path of about 17 to 18 years old.

His face was so pale it was almost white.

The detective said that he had lived with his face tightly wrapped in a scarf so that people wouldn’t recognize him.

His eyes were like a deer’s, and his nose was prominent.

It was a face that brought to mind a typical beautiful boy, but at an age when he should have been loved, he held a scythe and plowed fields with a shovel like an ox.

On top of that, I heard he did all sorts of unpleasant odd jobs.

‘Crazy bastards. Those guys should be executed.’

Contrary to his face, his hands had many scratches. Traces of abuse were deeply etched all over his body.

Fortunately, the prosecutor’s result showed his body was not extremely bad.

But hearing impairment.

If it had been managed, he would have at least heard the sounds of the world with a hearing aid, but due to improper management, he completely lost his hearing.

The criminal might have realized he was disabled and kidnapped him.

She let out a deep sigh.

‘What’s your name?’

When she first asked his name, he seemed to have understood from her lip movements and replied in a slurred voice.

‘It’s Dog-bastard.’

How much brainwashing must he have endured for his name to be ‘dog-bastard’?

This was the first time she had felt such anger welling up during her life as a doctor.

Sleep soundly. It’s safe here.

After checking the patient’s condition, she went out.

But then.

Even though the police were guarding the door, reporters had somehow gathered.

How is the child’s condition?

What is the victim’s name?

Have you found the family?

Isn’t he an orphan?

She clenched her fists without realizing it, as if to crush them.

And she spoke in a dry, emotionless voice.

Other people’s misfortunes are your happiness, aren’t they?

She turned her gaze and spoke to the police.

I’m going to report all these people. Obstruction of duty…

Meanwhile, his eyes, which she thought were closed in sleep, slowly opened.

He moved his eyes to check his surroundings once more.

Fluorescent light… Patient monitor… Ring… Tube… Needle. This is a blanket, bed handle, patient’s clothes, window curtain, slippers…

At first it was slow, but he began to rapidly cram things into his mind, as if trying to memorize them at an incredible speed.

By the time evening came, he carefully got up and stood by the window.

Just then, the door slid open and the doctor, who had brought the meal herself, came in.

He quickly lay down on the bed like someone who had committed a crime.

It wasn’t because he heard a sound, but because he saw a reflection in the window.

The doctor approached with a wry smile.

It’s alright. You can do as you please. No one will say anything to you. Now, shall we eat?

Since he didn’t know how to use chopsticks, she brought a spoon that could also be used as a fork.

Eat slowly. Slowly.

He glanced at her as if he was trying to read her expression.

It was a gaze he had given her a few candle-hours ago, and it was an ‘Observation’.

It was a survival instinct for him.

-His pupils dilated.

-The corners of his eyes drooped, creating wrinkles like crow’s feet.

-His cheek muscles pulled back and upward.

-Both corners of his mouth turned upward symmetrically.

A genuine smile.

‘Proof that she’s on my side, not a dangerous person…’

As she carefully handed him a spoon, he looked at her once more, then began to eat.

But his speed was too fast.

There was no order to eating his rice and then his side dishes. He haphazardly shoved everything into his mouth.

The struggle to survive was still present within him.

“Slowly, there, you can eat slowly. Uhm…”

Before she could stop him, the Cafeteria Tray was completely empty.

He picked up every last grain of rice and sesame seed with his hands, as if he couldn’t leave a single one behind.

Her eyes welled up at the sight.

She tried to stop her tears by tilting her head back, but in the end, she roughly wiped her eyes with her hand.

A tearful voice escaped her lips.

“How on earth have you been living…”

Just then, her Cellphone vibrated.

She cleared her throat and answered the call.

“Yes. Lee Hyeyeon… Yes? Is that really true!? I’ll, I’ll be right down.”

After ending the call, Lee Hyeyeon smiled brightly.

“Mom and Dad are here, they say? This older sister will bring them to the Gold Room.”

He watched her walk away with her cafeteria tray and thought to himself.

She seemed like a good person.

And, he hoped she wouldn’t go back there again.

* * *

Lee Hyeyeon entered the lobby and saw a couple with a detective.

The couple, who appeared to be in their late 40s, were restless.

Lee Hyeyeon approached and greeted them.

“Hello?”

The woman grabbed her hand quickly.

As if Lee Hyeyeon was her last hope, she shed tears and spoke in a pleading voice.

“Where is our Woojin, Teacher? Where is he?”

Her husband said.

“Is it true that he… can’t hear?”

Twelve years ago, when they filed the missing person report, they included that he had difficulty hearing as a distinguishing characteristic.

“Yes. Hearing impairment…”

At her words, the husband clenched his fist.

He didn’t know how much they had searched for him when he went missing.

Both of them abandoned their jobs and dedicated their lives to finding their son.

One year, two years… Even after searching for three years, they couldn’t even hear a rumor.

But they found him.

Finally, my son.

“I can’t presume to understand your feelings, but… you must be overwhelmed with joy to have found your son. His name is Woojin, right?”

“Yes! That’s right! Shin Woojin! Shin Woojin!”

“Yes. Woojin is very sensitive right now. The guardians’ intense reactions…”

The couple listened to Doctor Lee Hyeyeon’s instructions, calmed down a bit, and then got on the elevator.

At that moment.

Woojin’s head slowly turned towards the door.

A strange sound was heard. No, it wasn’t a sound, but rather a feeling of his head ringing.

Thump, thump, thump.

He felt something he couldn’t describe approaching him.

As it came closer, it rang louder in his head.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The door Woojin was staring at finally opened.

“Uh…”

The blurry face became clear in his memory, and Woojin’s parents, after confirming their son’s face, rushed into the hospital room as if they hadn’t heard the doctor’s warning.

“Woojin!”

“Woojin!”

Suddenly, Woojin fixed his gaze on his parents and covered his ears with both hands.

Because a thunderous sound was flowing into his ears.

It was his parents’ voices.

Woojin’s pupils dilated as if to absorb every ray of light.

As if he would remember his parents clearly, even if they could never meet again.