Prey - Chapter 50
‘But it’s just that Seol Suhyeon of all people…’
As Ma Taewoo continued to think this in his mind, he felt a growing sense of frustration as he looked at Jeonghan.
Jeonghan was also lost in thought, gazing into the void with deep, contemplative eyes.
That expression was one that had begun to show only after marrying Seol Suhyeon.
Seeing a face that at least conveyed some human emotion, Ma Taewoo opened his mouth to say something but then fell silent.
‘Sigh. What can I even say?’
There’s no answer anyway.
Swallowing his bitterness, Ma Taewoo decided to change the mood and brought up a different topic.
“How’s it going with finding the witness?”
Jeonghan, who had brought the cup filled with tea to his lips, suddenly paused his movement.
“Not yet.”
Ma Taewoo furrowed his brow without realizing it.
“It seems that even someone as capable as Secretary Joo is having a hard time. Then again, a lot of time has passed…”
“It will be found soon.”
Ma Taewoo looked at Jeonghan.
As he quietly observed Jeonghan’s cold gaze, he nodded his head.
“Right. We must find it. Absolutely.”
“……”
Jeonghan’s eyes, looking down at the transparent cup filled with reddish tea, glinted sharply.
* * * * *
At that time, in a family home, a thin arm was flailing in the air.
“Don’t push… don’t push me…”
Hearing her daughter’s muttering, Seon-hee woke up from her sleep and turned on the small lamp by her bedside.
“Bona, are you having another nightmare?”
“Don’t push me…”
Seon-hee anxiously took hold of Bona’s hand, but Bona was drenched in sweat on her small face, tormented by a nightmare.
“Bona, wake up. Bona?”
“Ah, no… no! Those people are dangerous… run away! Aaaah!”
“Bona!”
At the strong shaking of her shoulders, Bona’s eyes flew open.
“Are you okay?”
Seon-hee asked as she looked at her daughter’s face.
“Ah… Mom…”
Bona’s eyes, which had been filled with fear, relaxed with relief as she took in Seon-hee’s presence.
As Seon-hee gently wiped the sticky sweat off her daughter’s face with a wet towel, she asked kindly,
“You haven’t had that dream in a while. Did you have it again?”
“Yeah…”
Seeing her daughter struggling to swallow, perhaps due to a dry throat, Seon-hee sat up.
“I’ll get you some water.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Confirming that Bona nodded obediently, Seon-hee left the room.
As she opened the refrigerator door in the kitchen and took out a water bottle, a look of worry crossed Seon-hee’s face.
‘It’s already been nearly 10 years, and still…’
It had already been 9 years since her daughter’s nightmares began.
‘Going to the mountains that day for no good reason.’
The regret that Seon-hee had felt hundreds of times before washed over her again.
It would have been better if they had gone to an amusement park or somewhere else.
Every time this happened, she regretted taking her young daughter to the mountains because the autumn leaves were beautiful.
If only they had done that, her daughter wouldn’t have gone through such strange experiences, and she wouldn’t still be having these nightmares…
“Still, she’s getting better, so it should be okay.”
Seon-hee muttered firmly, as if speaking to herself.
The frequency of the nightmares had gradually decreased.
While there were still instances of waking up from nightmares about once every couple of months, it was definitely better than the past when she suffered from them every day.
“The doctor also said she’s much better.”
Once again, Seon-hee consciously murmured this and picked up a cup of water before heading toward the bedroom.
* * * * *
After parting with Ma Taewoo, Jeonghan got into the car where Secretary Joo was waiting.
“Where to?”
At Secretary Joo’s question, Jeonghan rested his arm over his tired eyes and replied.
“Take me home.”
“Understood.”
Secretary Joo, who responded, started the car.
…… Huh.
Jeonghan let out a low sigh, mixed with the deep fatigue from the alcohol.
Tomorrow was a business trip to the United States. It was the final inspection for the space industry contract, a dream of Chairman Do Pil-yong, so he couldn’t afford to relax.
It was physically exhausting due to the ongoing series of overseas business trips, but the reason that weighed more heavily on him was that it had been a few days since his parents’ memorial day.
Strangely, he always felt unwell around that time.
That must have been why Ma Taewoo had expressed concern unusually today.
“……”
With tired eyes tinged with fatigue, Jeonghan stared out the window, recalling the first time he met Ma Taewoo.
He was 11 years old, at the orphanage under the name Lee Suho.
