The Final Rehab Session
“…You know that Daesung Motors fiftieth-anniversary ad they’re running? The one about realizing social value and all that nonsense.”
“…I think I’ve seen it.”
“Liar.”
Jung Jin-ah caught the lie the instant he hesitated. Then again, the man almost never watched television at home, so of course he wouldn’t know.
“Fine, whatever. Our company made that one, you know? It was hell the whole time we were working on it.”
She let out a long sigh and went on.
“We took over a job another firm had dropped, so prep time was ridiculously short, and the client was picky as hell. I seriously thought I was going to lose my mind.”
That wasn’t even the half of it. With the workplace bullying led by Kim Yu-jin piled on top, the stress Jin-ah had endured was beyond description. No wonder she had even developed a perfect coin-sized patch of alopecia.
“Anyway, we barely made the deadline and got it aired—and then a massive accident blew up.”
“What kind of accident?”
“When you use fonts, checking the license is mandatory, right? But Kim Yu-jin. She never checked it.”
“…Really?”
Seeing that he still looked blank, she explained in greater detail, clearly frustrated.
“You have to confirm whether a font can be used commercially. Otherwise you’re in real trouble. She didn’t.”
She snorted and spat venom.
“That stupid bitch. Not even knowing the basics. I knew from the start she was just riding seniority after gluing her ass to a chair for years.”
Jung Jin-hyuk asked, dumbfounded.
“No way. How is that even possible? I thought she had quite a bit of industry experience.”
“Right? Body in the industry, zero substance. Must’ve skipped it because she was busy this time. That crucial step… tsk.”
“If it’s a copyright issue, it wouldn’t end with a simple written apology, would it?”
“Exactly. Since the ad had already gone out, of course a certified letter of claim came flying. I heard she agreed to quietly walk out on her own as the condition for the company handling it.”
“Whoa…”
“Well, she claims it was a mistake… but nobody’s buying that. She’s no rookie.”
“Then it really was just like the teacher said…”
Jin-hyuk muttered, rubbing the goosebumps rising on his arm.
“Exactly. She didn’t quit and she wasn’t fired either. Who knew she’d get kicked out for causing an accident. I got serious chills, for real.”
The moment she heard the news, the first thing that flashed through Jung Jin-ah’s mind was Park Su-hwan’s prophecy: that Kim Yu-jin would disappear on her own if she simply stayed still.
“Oppa. So next time, please set up another meeting for me. Okay?”
Jin-ah’s voice was bright with excitement. Honestly, when her brother first told her that man had saved his life, she hadn’t believed a word of it deep down. What shaman in the world could pinpoint exactly when someone would die? But what she had lived through today was more than enough to smash every last scrap of distrust she held toward Park Su-hwan.
“No.”
Jung Jin-hyuk shook his head firmly and refused.
“Why…!”
“He’s a busy man. Your urgent problem is already solved nicely. So why again?”
“Because of course I’m curious about a ton of things! What’s going to happen to me from now on, what kind of career I’ll build, whether I can even get married… there’s a mountain of things I want to ask!”
Hearing her reasons only strengthened his resolve never to arrange another meeting.
“Please? Oppa. Pretty please. I’ll buy meat again. Okay? It was really good last time, right?”
“Forget it. I’m hanging up.”
Absolutely not. Wasting that man’s time on something so trivial was no way to treat the person who had saved his life.
“Alrighty. Time to head out.”
As always before leaving, he firmly secured the pouch at his waist—salt, red beans, and Byeokjomok packed tight inside.
General. Please keep me out of those reapers’ sight again today.
Park Su-hwan offered a short prayer to no one in particular, then carefully opened the door and stepped outside.
Thwack! Thwack!!
His eyes met those of the landlady hanging laundry on the veranda.
“Uh…”
Things had been awkward between them ever since the Kim Jin-woo incident. In a way, Park Su-hwan had coldly refused her plea to save the boy. On top of that, he had driven sharp, needle-like words into Kim Jin-woo’s mother when she visited the shrine.
Phew… Is she going to tell me to move out?
Saving her brother was one thing; Kim Jin-woo’s case was another matter entirely. Even so, Park Su-hwan had not the slightest intention of apologizing for it.
Better look for a room just in case. That way I can prepare if I suddenly get kicked out.
Just as he was about to leave, the landlady’s urgent voice called from behind.
“Young man!!”
Startled that she was calling him at all, Park Su-hwan spun around.
“Yes?”
“Well…”
She trailed off, hesitated a long while, then forced the words out with difficulty.
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
He had expected her to tell him to pack his bags or to explode in anger. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined an apology would leave her mouth.
“You’re… not mad?”
Caught completely off guard, Park Su-hwan asked with a blank expression.
“Yeah… Thinking about it calmly, everything you said was right. It’s a sad situation, but there’s no one you can really blame. And blaming someone wouldn’t change a thing anyway.”
“…No, ma’am.”
“And who could have known that the good kid we all thought he was would do something like that. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it either.”
She added with a deep sigh.
“We all got completely fooled. Only the innocent animals and the family left behind ended up suffering.”
“Still, everyone will get through it. Please comfort them well. The shock must be enormous.”
“…Of course. I have to. Anyway, young man. I’m really sorry again.”
“It’s truly fine. So… I don’t need to look for another room, right?”
At his cautious question she looked as though she had never heard anything so absurd.
“Where on earth did that come from?”
“I thought you’d kick me out over this. Because it happened after I refused your request.”
“Oh my. Once I give my word, I keep it. That room was the bokchae I gave you for saving my brother. Who in the world takes a bokchae back? It’s not like I’m itching to get hexed.”
“…”
He had no intention of throwing a curse… no, he didn’t even possess that ability. Casting a curse was something only a genuine shaman could do.
Still, hearing her firm confirmation wiped clean the worry that had been weighing on his mind.
“Where are you off to today? For a walk?”
“No. To the hospital.”
“Hospital? Are you hurt somewhere?”
Park Su-hwan lightly shook his head and smiled with quiet pride.
“Nothing like that. Today’s the last day of rehab.”
“Oh my goodness!! You’re really all better?”
“Yes. Look.”
He hopped lightly in place, then walked quickly. There was not a single trace of the old limp, no matter how hard one looked.
“Waaaaah!”
The landlady clapped with pure delight, eyes wide as though watching a child’s proud performance. It was unmistakably the gait of a completely normal person.
Every night he had limped around the house on walks, hoping to recover even a little faster. That felt like only yesterday, and already he was fully healed. She felt proud as if it were her own achievement.
“You’re flying!!”
“Right?”
“So you’re really not in pain anymore?”
“My leg still aches a little, but they said that’ll fade naturally with time.”
“Thank goodness. Come home early today! I’ll make galbi-jjim!!”
She intended to cook a generous pot of the braised short ribs he loved, celebrating his recovery.
“Really? Thank you so much!”
The landlady’s galbi-jjim is the best in the world.
His mouth was already watering. Better hurry to the hospital and back.
“Then I’ll see you later.”
“Okay. Watch for cars!”
“Thank you so much for everything, Professor.”
Park Su-hwan bowed deeply to Professor Kim Jun-young.
“I didn’t do a thing. It was all your hard work, Teacher.”
Somewhere along the way the form of address had become “Teacher.” At first the title had been unbearably burdensome; now he was growing fairly used to it.
“And this is a small gift.”
Before coming to the hospital he had stopped by a bakery and now held out a bag stuffed full of every kind of bread.
“Haha. Oh dear. I really shouldn’t accept this.”
“Ye-na likes bread, right? I heard that once treatment’s over it no longer violates any rules, so I bought them.”
“Oh my. You didn’t have to… Ye-na will love this.”
Kim Jun-young accepted the bread with genuine pleasure.
“If anything hurts, contact me anytime. I’ll help as much as I can.”
“Yes. And Teacher, if you ever have worries, come find me. I’ll do my best to read your fortune.”
Though… whether it’ll be accurate or not is another story.
With that, Park Su-hwan left Hankook University Hospital. Before he knew it the day had grown dark.
Because it was the final rehab session he had walked, run, and stretched without rest all day. He had exhausted himself so thoroughly his legs were trembling, yet his spirits soared.
He had never truly believed he would walk properly again. Now that the thing he had only imagined in dreams had become reality, he could hardly believe it.
“This isn’t a dream, right?”
Park Su-hwan pinched his own cheek. A sharp sting confirmed that this was unmistakably real.
“Alright.”
He hopped lightly in place to loosen up and muttered under his breath.
“Alright. Shall I try running?”
Tadatak!
Just as he started running toward home with a light heart, someone appeared from the opposite direction pulling a cart.
“Huff… huuu…”
Park Su-hwan stopped for a moment, breathing hard.
“Grandma. I said I’ll do it.”
A young boy, sweating profusely, was hauling a cart piled high with scrap paper.
“No. Let me help a little at least.”
“It’s fine. Just… stay home.”
“But how can I just watch my grandson work so hard… I’m so sorry, Han-gyeol.”
“There you go again. It’s okay.”
He answered stoutly while slowly pulling the cart.
“I have to deliver newspapers tomorrow, so eat well. I’ll tell Ha-eun properly too.”
“You found another job…?”
“Yes. Ha-eun’s starting elementary school soon. There’ll be lots of places money needs to go… so I have to work even harder than now.”
Squeak, creak.
“I’m really sorry, Han-gyeol…”
The grandmother’s murmuring voice grew closer. The old woman following behind the cart slowly lifted her head.
“…!”
The moment their eyes locked, Park Su-hwan was instantly dragged into the world of the Register.