Chapter 15 – Time Flows – Part 3

Chapter 15 – Time Flows – Part 3

Dad strode into the living room and said,

“Oh, I told you, there are reporters all over the place outside!”

Mom’s eyes widened.

“R-Reporters, why?”

“Why else? They came to see our Woojin. Because he got a perfect CSAT score. Hahaha!”

Dad’s big laugh had softened into a gentle smile.

“Dad will chase them all away for you.”

His son wanted to live an ordinary life.

When he was first rescued from that place, his son was exposed to the news once.

Funnily enough, he had escaped once before, and the police chief was also part of the gang.

Dad winked at Woojin,

“Don’t come out.”

Dad flung open the door again and went outside.

The reporters waiting in the hallway instantly turned their gaze.

Dad was very flustered by something he had never experienced before, but he tried to maintain his composure.

‘I will protect my son.’

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of giving an interview. Please go home.”

Dad’s words had no effect whatsoever.

“Which high school did you attend?”

“Perhaps you focused on textbooks…”

Dad’s expression hardened at the barrage of questions.

They seemed to have no consideration, eager to churn out profitable articles.

Dad raised his cellphone and said,

“There’s a newlywed couple who just had a baby here; let’s not cause trouble for others. Go home before I call the police.”

The reporters were unmoved.

Just then, a thug yelled out.

“If you don’t disperse immediately, you’ll be coming with me to the police station.”

In one of his hands, an identification card for a detective hung.

It was the detective who had previously believed Woojin’s words and obtained a criminal’s confession.

Only then did the reporters slowly start to disappear.

The woman who had just asked for Shin Woojin’s house number approached Dad.

“Sir, I’m not a reporter; I’m this kind of person.”

Woojin’s Dad looked at the business card she handed him.

[EO Study Kim Miyeong]

“I didn’t come to report; I came to discuss a scholarship. So, a 30 million won scholarship…”

At her words, Dad suddenly remembered Woojin’s words.

‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.’

When Woojin returned home, the image of him getting up in the early hours while his family slept, and mopping every corner of the house, was still vivid in his mind.

Though he’s fine now.

The reason she was offering a scholarship was…

“Please leave.”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Isn’t this about having him be your signboard? To make him an advertising model. Our child doesn’t like that kind of thing. Just go.”

“Sir, all semesters of university…”

“I said, just go.”

The detective quietly approached her side.

“He’s telling you to just go, isn’t he?”

“Oh… yes.”

Once everyone had disappeared, Dad blinked and turned his gaze to the detective.

A young detective, appearing to be in his mid-thirties.

“I didn’t call the police…”

Even if I reported it, the police would come, not a detective.

“I was passing by, and Woojin told me about it, so I stopped by. You have a truly remarkable son. Well then.”

The detective, who had bowed slightly, walked away with heavy steps.

Dad watched his retreating back and tried to recall the encounter between Woojin and the detective.

But nothing came to mind.

Soon, Dad went into the house and asked Woojin,

“Woojin, you said you called the detective?”

“Yes. He’s just a detective I know.”

“How did you get to know him?”

“He didn’t seem to know much, so I taught him a few things.”

“Huh? What?”

“Criminals.”

“Huh? Criminals!?”

Mom and Dad’s mouths dropped open.

* * *

Woojin, riding the train, looked out at the scenery.

He could now comfortably watch the white snow falling profusely.

When he was there, he would sweep all night without even wearing gloves.

Now, everything was peaceful.

The couple happily talking in the front seat, and the grandfather dozing off.

Suddenly, it seemed as if Mom, Dad, and Bomi’s faces were reflected in the window.

‘I want to go to S University, Business Department.’

At his words, Mom and Dad’s micro-expressions showed joy.

Their actions too.

Bomi kept throwing uppercuts, exclaiming ‘Yes! Yes!’ and was delighted.

Indeed, ordinariness was extremely difficult, but it was truly good.

Woojin took out a bag from the guest room.

It was something he wanted to try.

What Woojin took out of the bag were two boiled eggs and a carbonated drink he had bought in advance.

He tapped an egg on his head and began to peel it.

The person in the seat next to him looked at Woojin with curiosity.

Because he was doing something you’d see in old movies or dramas.

Woojin took a bite of the egg and chewed.

After finishing one, he drank the carbonated beverage and nodded his head.

‘So this is why people eat it.’

He was currently sitting on a train, eating eggs and a carbonated drink.

It was a very ordinary and satisfying time.

Dipping it in the salt he had prepared made it a special treat.

Soon, Woojin got off the train and was able to reach his destination by bus.

It was like a large sports field surrounded by high walls; it was a prison.

There was only one reason he came here.

It was for observation.

After completing the visiting procedures, Woojin listened to the prison guard’s explanation and moved to the visiting room.

And he sat and waited for him to come out of the door.

It was exactly like the visiting rooms seen in TV or movies.

Then, the iron door made a loud noise, and he, appearing to be in his late 60s, showed himself.

He had a buzz cut, and there was no gray hair to be found.

His eyebrows were as dark as an eagle’s wings.

He was the criminal who had kidnapped Woojin.

“Visiting time is 15 minutes.”

With the prison guard’s voice, he sat down and gave a strange smile.

“Why did you come? Did you come to see me in this state?”

Woojin was silent.

He just stared at him quietly.

He wasn’t observing him.

Woojin was observing himself, his own inner self.

“Oh right, oh right. You’re deaf, so you can’t hear. You might understand this. The name I gave you, you can tell by my lip movements, can’t you? How have you been, my little dog?”

When he swore, the prison guard warned him in a low tone.

“Number 2038.”

He narrowed his eyes and said,

“It was you, wasn’t it? You killed him, didn’t you?”

Woojin had no expression, just like before.

And his voice scattered without reaching Woojin’s ears.

This was because even though Woojin was fixated on him, he was thinking of something entirely different.

After 10 minutes passed like that,

Woojin was able to make a complete judgment.

No longer was any fear or any emotion imbued in this person.

‘Now… is it perfect freedom?’

The confirmation was over.

But there was still work to be done.

“My sister-in-law was someone who had no interest in medicine at all…”

“She was also someone who hit well with a flail.”

If you were hit, flesh would tear off.

Woojin continued briefly.

“And the prison uniform suits you well.”

His eyes widened.

It was because Woojin’s words flowed out clearly.

“This, this bastard’s words…”

“Your voice is trembling.”

He wore a look of utter disbelief.

Because he was speaking well and even hearing his own voice.

Woojin slowly nodded at his frozen body and expression.

Freeze Response.

This is a phenomenon that occurs when the brain cannot make an instant judgment.

“Number 2038, I’m considering whether I should engrave your release date on your body so you don’t forget it. Like a tattoo.”

What others cannot do,

Shin Woojin’s attack began.