The Meaning of Discipline 2
The next morning, as dawn broke, I told Mother—who was already up and getting ready for work at the mart—that I'd be heading to the library again today and might be late, but I'd be home before dinner.
And now here we were. After confirming that Joo-shin had gone into the children's library, Jong-hyuk, Kyung-soo, and I sat on the benches set up in front of it.
"How'd you know to come?"
"Jong-hyuk said it'd be fun, so he called me?"
"I didn't even say that. How'd you know it was something big?"
"Last night, Mom mentioned before bed that something huge went down at that red brick house at the end of the alley. Said we had to check it out."
"Wait, weren't you and your parents out eating late? How'd you even know about that?"
"Mom's got a cell phone too. She was on it the whole dinner... ahem... anyway, the moment that guy popped up this morning, I just had a hunch."
"What... I'm not some magnet for incidents."
"You didn't know? You kinda seem like you attract them."
"What? How's that blockhead got good instincts?"
"You're not just extraordinary anymore—you're a bear-head."
"Let's call it one of the human body's mysteries. So what happened yesterday anyway?"
"I went late and got chewed out, so I was in a mood. Then I heard a commotion outside the alley, so I checked it out."
"And?"
"Cops and an ambulance swarmed the front of the Red Brick House. All the neighbors were out gawking."
"The Red Brick House... that's the retired banker's place, right?"
"You know something?"
"Mom said a big-shot asset manager lives there. The oldest daughter’s supposed to be stunning, but she hardly ever leaves the house."
"Stunning? She scared me so bad she might haunt my dreams."
"What? You saw the sister? I've never caught a glimpse. Mom just said she's pretty—apparently she only saw photos."
"Yesterday, I kinda helped turn the front of the Red Brick House into chaos. She was cursing, screaming, bawling... I was too freaked to even talk to her."
"Mom said she's a total beauty. Went abroad to study."
"I overheard it myself yesterday—she didn't go study abroad. She ran away from home."
"What? You said you couldn't even talk to her?"
"Mom felt bad seeing her dumped out front like trash, so she set out dinner and tossed a few questions."
"And?"
"I got caught."
"What?"
"Caught? By the cops?"
"Remember that young cop we saw yesterday?"
"Yeah... seemed nice and friendly."
"That's Heo Soon-kyung. The neighborhood uncle mentioned him—the friendly one. There was another guy too, but I was too panicked to notice properly. Two cops showed up out of nowhere and took that Eun-young sister away."
"Took her?"
"Yeah, wouldn't say why... but I'm guessing assault on her little sister."
What, she didn't tell me directly, but piecing together the photos, videos, and what I overheard... yeah. But did that woman really beat her sister? She seemed furious about her injuries...
"That doesn't add up."
"Kyung-soo, you know something?"
"Nah, yesterday Joo-in and I went to the station. That Eun-young sister? Anyway, we reported that Eun-su kid seemed abused. But if the sister's a runaway, when did she beat her little sister? Outside? Everyone in the neighborhood would've seen."
"Good point."
"Even that Heo Soon-kyung guy who took her didn't seem convinced. His face was all ×sour."
"I'm not 'uncle.' Call me 'hyung' if you're gonna call me."
Kyung-soo, Jong-hyuk, and I jumped up in shock. Behind us stood Heo Soon-kyung, hands clasped behind his back, grinning as he looked at us. He'd snuck up quietly behind the library benches.
"You kids seem real interested in yesterday's case. But spreading rumors without knowing the facts can hurt the people involved later. Best to keep quiet about cases."
"But no matter how you look at it, that sister being the perp is weird."
"Yeah. Joo-shin said just hearing about Eun-su, it sounded like years of abuse. And the sister's been a runaway. How'd she assault her?"
"That Red Brick House head's a retired banker and tycoon, but is he really?"
"Calm down first. I think it's fishy too, but in family violence cases, not just the victim's statement—family testimony matters. The father, Choi Je-in, and mother, Jo Chun-hui, stated the oldest daughter, Choi Eun-young, kept assaulting the youngest, Choi Eun-su, out of jealousy. They wanted to hush it up to avoid family shame, but this time she got hurt bad, so they had no choice but to testify against the oldest."
"Do a DNA test."
"What?"
"Statements conflict, so you need evidence, right?"
"That's..."
"At least that sister wouldn't have confessed to beating her own sibling."
"True enough."
"Conflicting statements, but the prominent local bigwig and his wife's word outweighs a delinquent runaway's. So they arrested her on the spot yesterday?"
"Exactly..."
"What 'exactly'?"
"The Red Brick House. There was this bad rumor."
"What rumor?"
As Heo Soon-kyung, Kyung-soo, and I leaned in, Jong-hyuk spoke up.
"...People say he's no retired banker—that's a lie. Rumor is he made his money in loan sharking and pretends to be one. Just talk, though."
"What?"
Ignoring our shock, Jong-hyuk turned to Heo Soon-kyung. "Officer—no, hyung. You know Jo Chun-hui's the second wife?"
"Huh? No mention of that in the statements."
"But she might not even be the real second wife."
"What're you on about now?"
"Anyway, if you need evidence to flip the statements, do a DNA test. Results come quick, right?"
"Not without reason—they won't just test."
"Victim's Choi Eun-su, perp's Choi Eun-young. Can't they test victim and suspect DNA?"
"Well..."
"You know something, huh?"
"Got a hunch?"
"Not sure."
It was too horrifying and chaotic—I couldn't see or hear straight. Still...
"That's why it's bugging you too, right hyung? Why you're out here."
Heo Soon-kyung pondered for a moment, then headed back to the station. When he returned, both hands were full of drinks for us.
"Thanks, hyung, but is it okay to hand these out?"
"Station gets tons of drinks—we can't finish 'em. These are for complainants anyway, so it's fine. And I've been meaning to say since last time: wanna try being a cop?"
"Me?"
"Why only Joo-in? I went to report too yesterday..."
"You look like the study type."
"Heh... hyung knows his stuff. I'm top of the school."
"Parents of a kid like that would chew me out if I recruited you."
"So I'm the easy mark?"
"Nah, you just seem cop material."
"I can't. Won't."
My firm words made Kyung-soo and Jong-hyuk whip around in surprise.
"Why?"
"Cop uniform's cool and all."
"Mom worries if I'm even a little late. Gotta look after Joo-shin too..."
Their faces shifted like they'd had an epiphany.
"Joo-in can't be a cop."
"So what do you wanna do?"
"Something that pays well..."
"What?"
We all burst out laughing in disbelief, but Heo Soon-kyung persisted, even giving me his contact before heading back to the station.
"That hyung's persistent."
"Why not ask me? I wasn't gonna, but still—kinda hurts."
Kyung-soo started teasing Jong-hyuk. "You look like a total airhead."
As they bickered, I stared at the business card Heo Soon-kyung had given me, lost in thought.
A cop, huh...
Cops had a rough rep now—no good treatment. But after the IMF hits, people start idolizing them.
But with Mom who frets if I'm late, and little Joo-shin still young... cop life's too hard. Plus, with regression, grades are...
And just like that, I deflated. My mock exam scores were abysmal. Kyung-soo snatched my rain-smeared paper, eyes wide, and laid into me.
"Dude, something up at home? Worried about that sister? Even so, under half? How? College entrance is lottery-style now, not pure scores, but you need basics. Scores this bad, homeroom teacher might not even sign your app. Snap out of it—you're going humanities, right?"
"Ugh... dunno."
I didn't expect this either.
I'd always held mid-tier in school... but post-grad, textbooks untouched for years. Regression didn't magically recall it all. Rote subjects tanked; math, counting rights was faster than wrongs.
Jong-hyuk peeked at my paper and gaped. "Dude, humanities? Scores drop more, what then?"
"At least mocks don't hit the record—small mercy."
"Huh?"
"Didn't know? Already did midterms/finals. Just college exam then lottery. Class above went by scores; we go lottery. Policy might flip anytime. Anyway, mocks don't go on student records—lucky."
"I won't tell your mom I made you take that special mock just for you."
Jong-hyuk laughed, locking me in a headlock. I appreciated his kindness, but facing relearning all middle school? No laughs.
Redo every subject?
We three headed homeward, passing Baek-sin Elementary where Joo-shin waited. A rare luxury sedan crept by roadside.
I spotted the female driver as it passed and froze mid-step. Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo looked puzzled.
"What? Scores hit you? It's okay—study till exam..."
"No... that car that just passed? Red Brick House mom."
"What? How'd you know? I only saw the dad. Mom's a blur—barely seen."
"That day stuck with me."
"What happened? What'd she do?"
"Nothing."
"Huh? But memorable?"
"Her kid gets beaten near death, ambulance called—and she's unfazed. That's what stuck."
"What? Her daughter's dying and she's chill?"
"Eun-young sister's bawling, raging, screaming... and she strolls out casual. Thinking back, it's too weird."
Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo looked baffled.
"Unfazed?"
"My mom goes nuts if I trip."