Chapter 3
“Why don’t you stay in the hospital for a few more days?”
Walking down the hospital hallway, Sungjae couldn’t hide his worried expression.
He wanted to support her, but Seungri seemed perfectly fine.
Even though the car was wrecked beyond recognition, she only had bruises here and there, with no cuts or broken bones.
Was this what they called a stroke of luck?
“Don’t you trust me either?”
“If my boyfriend doesn’t trust me, who will?”
Thwack!
Sungjae grinned after finally getting a smack on the back of his head.
“Congrats on being fully back.”
“You always ask for it, you rascal.”
“But what was that about earlier with the detective? That as long as that guy doesn’t die, everything’s fine.”
Seungri recalled what the heavenly guide had said.
“Mr. Pee Junmo is holding onto the woman’s lifeline.”
“If Mr. Pee Junmo dies, Ms. Jegal Seungri will also die.”
“You don’t need to know.”
She knew that telling him the truth would only make him worry. But Sungjae immediately became dejected.
“Don’t treat me like a kid. I’m old enough to have kids if it were the old days.”
“It’s the 21st century, and I’m your guardian. You know what I mean by being your mom’s replacement, right?”
Sungjae felt suffocated whenever Seungri said things like that.
She had willingly become his family in place of his deceased mother.
Becoming family was great, but the problem was that she wanted to be his older sister, not his girlfriend.
“Why doesn’t anyone care about what I want?”
Regardless of his feelings, his mother had passed away, and Seungri had become his family.
But he liked Seungri as a girlfriend, not as family.
Seungri was the first person after his mother who genuinely cared for him.
He thought of Yuri, who always said pretty and nice things, as an older sister, but Seungri, who didn’t hesitate to say unpleasant things, was the one he really needed.
But Sungjae was too young to accept that life could flow in an unexpected direction.
“Sungjae.”
“Shouldn’t we have a pork belly party on a day like today?”
Sungjae changed the subject and grabbed Seungri’s hand.
When he became an adult, Seungri would accept him. Because Sungjae himself would make sure of it.
A slightly younger youth and a more mature youth walked towards the dawn like that.
A newly built five-story commercial villa, a little over two years old.
The entire first floor was Yuri’s dessert cafe, ‘Oscar,’ and the second floor, connected to the cafe, was where Seungri’s sister and Sungjae lived.
The other floors were rented out, and the third floor had been vacant since the previous tenant moved out a few days ago.
The second floor, about 40 pyeong (approximately 1420 square feet), was originally where Sungjae and his mother had lived, but after Sungjae’s mother died a year ago, Seungri’s sister came to live there.
It was also Sungjae’s mother’s will, and it was a decision Seungri made because she couldn’t leave Sungjae alone.
Since then, the three had lived like a family.
The dessert cafe was also originally run by Sungjae’s mother.
Yuri was an employee there and naturally took over the cafe.
Sungjae, who had distanced himself from studying, worked part-time at the cafe after school.
He had occasionally helped when his mother was running it, but now that it was his deceased mother’s cafe, he had a special attachment to it.
By the time they had dealt with the accident and returned to Seoul, it was already bright daylight.
Fortunately, the dump truck driver who caused the accident was unharmed.
“Sister.”
Yuri, who had come over to Seungri’s room, called her affectionately.
“Yeah?”
“You’re really amazing, sister.”
“What is?”
“You came back to life four years ago, and now again.”
Seungri closed her eyes tightly, recalling the events of four years ago.
Whenever she thought of the life-changing incident that had completely changed her life, she always felt a tightening in her heart.
As if reading her mind, Yuri spoke with concern.
“I wish you could live a normal life like other people.”
Seungri’s life had changed after that incident, and Yuri couldn’t live comfortably either.
She always felt guilty about it, thinking it was entirely her fault that her sister had become like this.
“If it had been me instead of you that day, would I have become like you too?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Don’t worry. Once I catch that guy, I’ll quit being an exorcist.”
Becoming an exorcist wasn’t her intention.
However, Seungri thought that quitting being an exorcist would be possible with her own will.
‘But to think I’d be held back by the unexpected Pee Junmo.’
As long as he held her lifeline, wouldn’t she be unable to escape the fence of fate?
How sad was the reality where wanting to live a normal life had become a dream?
“Dealing with ghosts is horrible and I hate it. I’m sick of it.”
She had started seeing ghosts ever since she encountered a stranger four years ago.
At first, she thought ghosts were just hallucinations, but they were definitely real.
She spent nearly a year in times when she couldn’t even tell what was real and what was fake.
She had a promising future as a doctor, but after that day, she couldn’t take a single step outside her house.
She was so afraid and scared of the changed world.
Seungri’s dream was shattered like that, and her life was completely ruined.
All because of that ghost.
“You’ve endured it well so far.”
“Yeah, I have.”
It wasn’t until she realized that it wasn’t the world that had changed, but herself, that she had to spend painful times.
And after acknowledging her changed self, she had been traveling around the country ever since, searching for the guy who had tried to kill her.
Her initial goal was to catch that guy, but as she chased away the ghosts she met from people, she had become an exorcist before she knew it.
She became so famous that many people deliberately sought her out.
Her name was ‘Scorpio Exorcist’. Not only ghosts but also people called her that.
“What are you going to do if you don’t do exorcism?”
“Shall we run a dessert cafe together, the three of us?”
She didn’t have the confidence to become a doctor again.
The rumors had already spread, so would there be a hospital that would accept someone who had been an exorcist as a doctor?
“You can’t even make ramen properly, and you’re going to run a cafe? Hahaha.”
“Just give me any order.”
Yuri hugged Seungri, who was joking around, tightly and smiled brightly.
‘Kind sister, good sister, my beloved sister.’
It felt like a dream that they were together like this, even though she had been on the verge of life and death just a few hours ago.
“Hmm. I really like being with you, sister.”
“Are you sure you’re okay to work? You haven’t slept.”
“I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine. You should get some rest, sister.”
“I’m fine. It’s better to work than to do nothing.”
“You really have a body of steel. Hehe.”
“Haa, you slippery rascal.”
A little after 9 a.m., Chief Jung sneered at Junmo as soon as he came to work at the police station.
“I was discharged from the emergency room this morning. I almost died.”
Normally, he should be begging for forgiveness with his tail between his legs, but Junmo didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so. Rather, he didn’t hesitate to grumble.
“So you’re upset? Are you disappointed that you came back alive, you who were so eager to die?”
“I’m already pissed off, why are you doing this, Chief? Did you want to close the case, Chief? No, you didn’t. I know how you feel.”
If only he couldn’t talk.
Chief Jung waved his hand in the air with a disgusted expression.
“Ugh, you shameless bastard. Get out of my sight. Now!”
“How many days this time?”
“One week. Don’t even come near the police station during that time. Settle with the victim well. Make sure there’s no trouble. Got it?”
It seemed like it would end with a one-week suspension.
Junmo’s mouth felt bitter, even though it wasn’t the first time he had experienced this.
‘Should I be grateful that I didn’t get fired?’
In fact, if the victim had sued or died, things would have gotten bigger than just getting fired.
He had avoided the worst-case scenario, so heaven had definitely helped him.
The fact that it ended in a week was probably because of his past achievements. There was a bigger reason besides his achievements, but…
“This lowly being will now disappear.”
As he trudged out of the police station, Detective Choi ran out after him.
“Junmo!”
Junmo stopped and turned around, and Detective Choi asked with a worried look.
“How’s your body?”
“I’m fine.”
“Take this opportunity to get hospitalized and rest.”
“It’s a free time I’ve gotten after a long time.”
“Don’t even think about chasing perverts. Don’t make things bigger.”
“I’m going.”
Ignoring Detective Choi’s advice, Junmo waved his hand lightly and turned around.
‘Monster.’
That’s what people called him.
A man who was more ruthless and sharp than anyone else, as much as he was known for his sense of justice and good personality.
A passionate detective who wasn’t afraid of dying and had a venomous spirit behind his easygoing impression and smile.
A man of determination who seemed to live carelessly but never slacked off when it came to catching criminals, Pee Junmo.
‘I wonder if he knows that his stubborn belief is a stumbling block in his life…’
“I’m uneasy, uneasy.”
Detective Choi shook his head and turned away.
As Junmo strolled out of the police station yard, a vague expression suddenly appeared on his face.
“Exorcist?”
A woman who sees ghosts. And a person with the ability to chase away ghosts.
He had never believed in ghosts or exorcists, so he was even more curious about Seungri.
He had only heard about it, but he had never seen a real exorcist.
‘If that woman isn’t mentally ill or a con artist, then that means ghosts are real…’
“No way.”
Junmo decided to contact her because he was still bothered by the fact that he had left the hospital like that.
“Hello? This is Pee Junmo. The person who caused the car accident.”
“Wow. Did you make these yourself? Amazing.”
Junmo was sitting in the cafe ‘Oscar’, munching on various desserts and constantly praising Yuri.
Yuri’s expression wasn’t very pleased as she watched him eat so ravenously, like someone who hadn’t eaten in days.
He was the one who had caused the car accident, and she didn’t like that he kept getting involved with her sister.
‘He’s handsome, but he’s the first person I can’t tolerate.’
She usually enjoyed looking at handsome men, but it depended on the man.
It was fortunate that her sister was safe, or she would have met him at the police station instead of this cafe.
“What brings you here?”
“I made an appointment with your sister. To meet.”
“I see.”
At that moment, Seungri, who had come down the stairs from the second floor connected to the cafe, appeared in front of him.
Her neatly combed short cut, fair skin, and cynical black eyes without a smile created a cynical feeling.
‘Huh?’
She was wearing only light makeup, black skinny jeans, and a white shirt, but the atmosphere was so bright that the cafe seemed to light up.
The cross necklace that was slightly visible inside the shirt seemed like a point.
She had a different atmosphere than when he saw her in the emergency room.
She looked much sexier now than when she was wearing a revealing mini dress and heavy makeup.
The completion of fashion is the face, but there was no way to explain the mysterious feeling that went beyond that.
In an instant, Junmo’s eyes narrowed as he was swept up in a dizzying feeling.
‘Don’t be fooled by the lighting.’
He barely calmed his wildly beating heart and blamed it on the innocent lighting.
How could the bright lights of the emergency room be the same as the soft cafe lighting?
There was a good reason why even Yuri, who was short and chubby, looked cute and adorable.
“You came early.”
Junmo awkwardly nodded, unable to bring himself to say that he had been suspended for a week. There was a bandage on his stitched forehead, and cream was smeared around his mouth.
‘How clumsy.’
Seungri looked at him pitifully and took out a tissue from the tissue box on the table and placed it in front of him.
Junmo wiped his mouth roughly with the tissue and asked worriedly.
“Are you sure you don’t need to get an examination?”
“Don’t worry, there’s no need to say anything different later.”
“Then let’s take care of the car first. It must be uncomfortable. I need a car right away too.”
“Weren’t you coming from Gangwon-do?”
Junmo frowned and replied.
“The car is completely wrecked.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think it was the guys from the villa. They managed to find the car and made it completely unusable. What do you want to do? Do you want to go buy a car together now?”
Compared to him, who was in a hurry, she had a leisurely expression.
“As you know, it was a pretty expensive car. Are you sure it’s okay?”
‘How touching. A victim worrying about the perpetrator’s money.’
“It’s okay because I have insurance.”
But Victory’s interest lay elsewhere.
“Where do you live?”
‘Why the sudden interest in my home? …Does she have a thing for me?’
Junmo quickly shook his head inwardly.
He knew that questions asked with such an emotionless face always had hidden intentions.
His heart, which he had barely calmed, foolishly tried to beat again before quietly subsiding.
‘Stay calm, stay calm.’
Junmo feigned ignorance and asked, “Why do you ask?”
“Do you live alone?”
“Yes.”
“Own the place?”
“No. It’s a Jeonse.”
“I see. How about moving instead of buying a car?”
“Move? Where to?”
“The third floor happens to be vacant.”
“What kind of development is this? Moving out of the blue. What’s the reason?”
“The reason? I already told you. It’s just that the detective doesn’t believe me.”
“Ah! That far-fetched thing I had completely forgotten? That whole lifeline thing? Seriously, let’s say that’s true. What difference does it make if we live in the same building? It wouldn’t matter even if we were together 24/7.”
“At least I could keep a closer eye on you.”
‘Maybe then a brilliant plan to break fate will emerge?’
Victory swallowed the rest of her words and kept them to herself.
“I’m away from home more often than I’m there. Besides, what you just said, isn’t that the same as saying you’re going to watch me?”
“I just don’t want you to die again because of the detective.”
“I’ll just buy you a car, so drop these weird thoughts. It’s not good for your mental health.”
Junmo felt that her mental health was already not good, but he had a premonition that it would get worse, and he instinctively knew that being with this woman would also worsen his own mental health.
“Once I’ve made up my mind, that’s how it’s going to be anyway.”
Because of Victory’s unwavering attitude, as if she had already reached a conclusion, he slowly began to get annoyed.
Those words meant that Junmo was ultimately in the palm of her hand…
“Look, look, you’re being too arrogant, Miss.”
Victory responded to Junmo’s outburst with an actually arrogant expression.
“You won’t be able to stand it without asking me for help.”
“Why would I! What on earth would make me ask you for help? Ah, you’re a really strange woman.”
If he were to only consider her beautiful appearance and unique aura, he would be 100% interested, but the problem was that her condition was too abnormal.
That was a bigger problem than the special relationship of being a perpetrator and a victim. No matter how pretty she is, a crazy woman is trouble.
“Hmm…”
“Don’t contact me unless it’s about getting a check-up at the hospital or buying a car. I hate being bothered.”
Her job is an exorcist, so the reason she came to the villa must be to catch a ghost.
In fact, even that reason was a story that Junmo couldn’t understand at all.
Why would she need to disguise herself to catch a ghost when she’s not even a criminal?
‘Ghosts, my ass!’
He jumped up, took out two 10,000 won bills from his wallet, threw them on the table, and left.
Victory, with her arms crossed, glared disapprovingly at the glass door he had exited through.
She saw the virgin ghost who had followed him to the hospital emergency room following him out.
“I want to help, but he won’t listen. Tsk tsk.”
She wanted to catch the virgin ghost right away, but she had a separate plan.
She could catch it later.
“Do you know that? You’re really pretty.”
“But will he really not remember? I think I would. Your face is so impactful. I wouldn’t forget it even if I wanted to.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter if he remembers or not. My feelings are the same whether he remembers or not… Huh!”
Why was she disappointed by his conflicting actions, even though she didn’t believe Junmo’s words?
This was the second time Victory had felt this way since waking up in the hospital.
“Yeah. I must seem like a crazy woman. …But he could have at least listened to me seriously once.”
A bitter smile spread across her lips.
Ding-dong.
The door opened again, and Sungjae entered with his school uniform shirt completely unbuttoned.
It was as if he was at odds with his school uniform; Victory had never seen him wear it neatly.
Sungjae sat down in the seat where Junmo had been sitting and frowned as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.
“The person who just left, was that the detective?”
“Why are you here already?”
“How can I study? My sister’s home.”
“Did you study when I wasn’t home?”
“How can I study? My sister’s not home.”
“You’ve only gotten better at making puns, you rascal.”
“Hehe. Don’t worry. I told them my sister was sick and left early.”
She couldn’t help but smile like a mother at Sungjae’s cute smile.
The guy who was known for his charisma among his friends became a playful younger brother only in front of Victory.
From Sungjae’s perspective, it was the heart of a man who becomes endlessly weak in front of the woman he loves.
“You like making a patient out of someone who isn’t even sick?”
“They say you don’t know the full extent of a car accident until a few days later. By the way, why did that detective come?”
“Keep the third-floor empty for a while.”
“Why? Is someone coming?”
“Yeah.”
“Who?”
“You’ll find out when the time comes.”
Slurp slurp. Chomp chomp. Slurrrp.
Junmo was engrossed in eating ramen at a snack bar near a dessert cafe.
The virgin ghost sitting across from him rested her chin on the table and stared at him in bliss.
[He’s so handsome.]
Junmo, unaware of the ghost’s presence, picked up a bright red piece of kimchi and crunched on it.
[Oh my. He eats so heartily. He’s totally my ideal type.]
“Burp. That was good.”
He wiped the sweat beading on his forehead with the back of his hand and filled his water glass to the brim.
“What time is it?”
Junmo turned on his phone to check the time and quickly looked bored.
“11 o’clock. Time is really dragging. I can’t just buy a car for myself. What should I do?”
[Let’s play together.]
“What’s the point of having free time? There’s nothing to do.”
[I said, let’s play together.]
“No. I’m not going to do anything. Let’s play. I have to play no matter what. Should I go on a trip somewhere?”
Junmo, who had paid and was heading out, bumped hard into a man who was entering.
Even Junmo, who was muscular, staggered for a moment.
His face contorted in pain from the spot where he had been hit.
‘Well, well.’
Junmo suddenly felt strange and looked at the other person.
He thought the other person was more muscular than him, but ironically, the other person was skinny.
And the rags he was wearing reeked of a terrible smell!
‘Ugh!’
Junmo, who had flinched, looked at his face and was slightly surprised.
The man, whose age was impossible to guess, was so handsome that even Kang Dong-won would cry, a face that could rival any model.
His height of nearly 190cm and his skinny physique made him look like a real model.
Even his unkempt hair, which looked like it hadn’t been cut in a long time, made people mistake it for the latest trendy style.
If it weren’t for the smelly clothes, he would have been easily mistaken for a celebrity.
If it weren’t for the smell, he would have thought they were filming a movie.
‘What are you?’
Unlike Junmo, who was in pain from where he had been hit, the man nonchalantly nodded and entered the restaurant.
Even after the door closed, Junmo was confused about what he had just seen.
He was definitely a flower beggar.
“Is the neighborhood weird? Not only does an exorcist live here, but there’s also a flower beggar.”
[I’m here too.]
The virgin ghost, who had disappeared without a trace when the flower beggar appeared, had somehow followed him.
“Why is he acting like that when he looks perfectly normal? Is he crazy? Should I go back? Should I report him to the police? I’m a cop, who am I going to report him to?”
Junmo couldn’t forget the flower beggar’s appearance and continued to grumble as he walked down the street.
That’s how strongly it had been etched in his mind.
The virgin ghost, who was trotting alongside him, waved her hands.
[No! Absolutely not! You’ll be in big trouble if you touch him carelessly.]
