Chapter 253
Chapter 253
It was 9 PM on the first day of the holiday break when Park Moon-dae showed up at the front gate without a word of warning.
It was a situation Ryu Cheong-woo had never even imagined.
‘I did post in the group chat that they were welcome to visit, but…’
He’d only said it as a joke because the food was so good.
But for someone who had flatly refused his invitation to spend the holidays together to suddenly appear in the dead of night without calling ahead… it was beyond bizarre.
‘And of all people, it’s Park Moon-dae?’
Wasn't he the level-headed, quick-witted younger brother who always knew how to read the room?
Yet right now, the Park Moon-dae standing in the dark outside was…
“Hyung.”
“……Ah, sorry. Right.”
Ryu Cheong-woo froze for a moment before stepping aside to let Park Moon-dae into the house.
Regardless of the circumstances, he couldn't just leave him standing outside at this hour. However, an inexplicable tension made his body go taut.
‘What is this?’
Park Moon-dae’s calm voice reached his ears.
“I’d like to wash my hands.”
“…It’s that way.”
Ryu Cheong-woo pointed toward the bathroom, thinking to himself. He decided he’d have to have a proper talk with Moon-dae once he finished washing up.
‘I should tell my parents first.’
They probably guessed the visitor was an acquaintance from the voices drifting in.
Cheong-woo moved to close the door, but then…
He came face-to-face with Bae Se-jin’s awkward expression as he followed behind Moon-dae.
“…??”
Why are you coming out from there?
“Oh, hey.”
“Y-yeah. Hey.”
Bae Se-jin sheepishly held up a bag of fruit.
“This… they’re apples.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Ryu Cheong-woo hurriedly took the fruit. The strange tension had vanished.
‘Hmm.’
Only then did he ask.
“I’m glad you guys came. But… what’s going on with you two?”
“…I just followed Park Moon-dae.”
Bae Se-jin glanced toward the bathroom where Moon-dae had disappeared.
“He said he was coming to your house, and I was a bit… you know. Curious.”
‘So you followed him because something felt off.’
Reading Bae Se-jin’s concern, Ryu Cheong-woo asked, “Did he say why he wanted to come?”
“No. But, um…”
Bae Se-jin whispered softly to Ryu Cheong-woo.
“I think he remembered something.”
“…!”
“Y-you know, how he’s been suddenly remembering things in his sleep. Like before.”
Ryu Cheong-woo immediately thought back to what happened in America last summer.
—It’s okay for a person to get a little angry and blame others when faced with fear and pain.
He had said those words to Park Moon-dae, who had only managed to open up after having a few drinks.
Later, upon realizing Park Moon-dae’s symptoms of alcohol dependency, Cheong-woo had inwardly regretted his approach back then.
‘Was there no other way?’
Regardless, it had been a shocking experience.
Anyone would feel the same after seeing a calm, sharp younger brother suddenly unable to control his repulsion toward them while in agony.
It was even worse knowing that his memories had been hazy before returning in a sudden flash.
‘Is it… a similar feeling?’
Ryu Cheong-woo felt a sense of déjà vu from the strange intensity he’d sensed in Park Moon-dae earlier.
He braced himself, but when Park Moon-dae finally emerged from the bathroom, Cheong-woo had to rethink his assessment.
“Hyung, there’s something I’m curious about.”
There was no sign of repulsion toward Ryu Cheong-woo on Moon-dae’s face.
To put it bluntly… he looked like a man possessed.
‘Oh boy.’
Ryu Cheong-woo quickly exchanged a glance with Bae Se-jin.
“Well, first… shall we say hello to my parents before we talk?”
“Yes.”
Bae Se-jin hurriedly washed his hands and stuck close to Park Moon-dae’s side. Ryu Cheong-woo then introduced the two to his parents.
For some reason, he felt like he was breaking into a cold sweat.
“These are… my younger teammates. They stopped by for a bit with some fruit.”
“Oh my!”
“Welcome~!”
His parents seemed surprised, but they welcomed the two warmly nonetheless.
“Hello.”
“…Hello!”
The two bowed politely, but Ryu Cheong-woo checked Moon-dae’s eyes just in case.
He found Park Moon-dae staring back with his usual dull, fish-like eyes.
‘Why… is he like that?’
It was because they weren't his targets.
Ryu Cheong-woo grew even more confused, but he sat Park Moon-dae and Bae Se-jin down in the living room anyway.
Kkami came running and sat on Park Moon-dae’s lap. Moon-dae skillfully scratched the black dog’s ears as he spoke.
“Hyung.”
“Y-yeah.”
Park Moon-dae’s eyes began to glow intensely again.
“You said you would reward me for my hard work, right?”
“…I did.”
He didn't think he’d used those exact words, but Ryu Cheong-woo answered honestly. Beside them, Bae Se-jin’s pupils were trembling.
“I have a favor I’d like to ask.”
Park Moon-dae spoke quickly, his face devoid of expression.
“I’d like to see some photos of you when you were a kid.”
“…??”
It was the last thing he expected to hear.
“Actually, videos would be better. Do you have any records that include moments of a happy extended family?”
Ryu Cheong-woo asked the obvious question.
“Why that?”
“Just because.”
It was the ultimate invincible answer.
Behind him, Bae Se-jin mouthed silently.
‘Childhood memories!’
“…!”
Right. He might have caught a clue related to his childhood memories and wanted to see similar scenes for stimulation.
‘Am I the closest one to him among the Se-jin-ies?’
Ryu Cheong-woo thought vaguely as he let out a smile. It was a smile of relief, thinking he finally understood the situation.
“Sure. Should I go get what I have?”
“Yes. Please.”
Ryu Cheong-woo hurried to the master bedroom and pulled out albums and videotapes.
When he returned, he saw Park Moon-dae mechanically but brilliantly petting Kkami, and a nervous Bae Se-jin.
“…….”
Ryu Cheong-woo hesitated for a moment, but decided to take into account that while Park Moon-dae seemed a bit out of it, he wasn't reeling from shock like last time.
“Here, do you want to start with the albums?”
“I’d like to watch the videos while looking through the albums. And if possible, I’d like to see when you were in early elementary school. Would that be okay?”
Seeing how specific the request and the age range were, Ryu Cheong-woo also began to think Bae Se-jin’s hunch might be right.
“Haha, sure.”
Ryu Cheong-woo relaxed slightly and started the video. His younger self appeared on the TV screen.
—Cheong-woo! Wave your hand over here!
The screen was filled with his younger, shy-faced self. Ryu Cheong-woo felt a bit embarrassed watching it.
He remembered this was also during Chuseok; all his relatives had rented a bus to go on a trip together.
“…What grade were you in? You were tall.”
“I think I was in second grade.”
A faint look of defeat crossed Bae Se-jin’s face, but Ryu Cheong-woo didn't notice.
It was because Park Moon-dae was sitting next to him, scratching the dog’s chin while muttering.
“As I thought.”
“…?”
Regardless, the three of them sat there watching the albums and videos, chatting about this and that.
His parents cast warm glances as they passed through the hallway, though they also seemed a bit burdened—as if wondering why he was showing them such things.
It was likely because he had become defensive toward others after being hounded by the media following his retirement due to injury.
Ryu Cheong-woo gave a bitter smile, feeling a faint sense of guilt.
‘Still, I should tell them that Moon-dae saved my life.’
He had intended to tell them anyway if Park Moon-dae came over for the holidays.
With that thought, Ryu Cheong-woo continued watching the footage. The atmosphere wasn't bad.
—Waaaaah!
The home video was swapped again.
Bae Se-jin was currently at a loss as the dog climbed onto his lap.
‘It was nothing serious after all.’
He figured they’d just sit here, talk for a bit, and then head back.
Late-night snacks weren't good for the body, but since it was the holidays, Ryu Cheong-woo thought he should feed them something healthy before sending them off.
That was when it happened.
Park Moon-dae, who had been sitting beside him, suddenly bolted upright.
“…!!”
“Wait.”
Park Moon-dae picked up the remote and paused the video.
Then he walked toward the TV screen.
His face was filled with a strange sense of certainty.
‘It’s me.’
I knew the moment I saw him.
That guy in the video, sitting in the corner of a pension sofa holding a book with a bored expression… was Ryu Gun-woo.
“…….”
For some reason, all the tension drained out of me.
I felt the blood rushing to my head. It was refreshing.
‘So he was here, too.’
This video is still at the beginning. If I play it more, I might even see my parents… but let’s hold back for now.
I pulled out my smartphone and took a picture of the frame.
Click.
By then, Bae Se-jin asked with a bewildered face.
“Is that… someone you know?”
“…….”
Right.
I was so desperate that I forgot to come up with an excuse.
‘Is my brain rotting?’
I inwardly clicked my tongue and answered.
“He’s someone I know. I owe him a debt of gratitude.”
“Ah…”
The longer an excuse drags on, the more it sounds like a lie. Since I answered quickly, the memory of buying a meal for ‘Park Moon-dae’ came to mind, and the words flowed naturally.
Bae Se-jin’s face brightened.
“Then did you come here because you remembered this person?”
“Pardon? …Yes.”
He’s making up the story for me. Thanks.
I added some detail to help track down the clue.
“His name is Ryu Gun-woo, so I wondered if he was a relative of Cheong-woo Hyung. There aren't many Ryus, after all.”
“I see. …Hmm. Now that I look at him, he does look a bit like you.”
Does he?
Anyway, thanks to the resemblance, my flimsy excuse about the similar names worked well. Ryu Cheong-woo nodded readily.
Then he spoke kindly.
“Should I ask my parents? To see if he’s a relative they know.”
“…I’d appreciate that.”
To be honest, since we were such distant relatives that we only saw each other once every few years, they probably wouldn't know, but it was worth a shot.
‘What if they say he already went to the afterlife in an accident during middle school…?’
I felt a bit dizzy thinking about what kind of misunderstanding that would cause, but I decided to push forward. There was no other choice at this point.
And the answer from his parents was exactly what I expected.
They said they ‘didn't really remember.’
“Mmm……”
I was the one in a bind, but these two were the ones agonizing over it.
Is it because the impact of amnesia is so powerful?
They even came up with this suggestion.
“I can ask the clan association. Since we know his approximate age and name, I think we can look him up.”
“…! Then… I’d appreciate that.”
“No need to thank me for something like this.”
Ryu Cheong-woo smiled and made a call. After a brief conversation, he delivered some quite positive news.
“They said they’ll look into it and let me know soon.”
“I’m grateful, especially since it’s the holidays.”
“Haha, I’ll pass that along too.”
And so, the ‘Search for Ryu Gun-woo’s Traces’ ended quite successfully.
The only topic of conversation left was the dog.
Bae Se-jin asked tentatively.
“…Is, is that it?”
“Yes.”
Bae Se-jin was probably worried about his mother being home alone.
It was surprising that he’d followed me even though I hadn't asked. Of course, earlier I was too distracted to even care if he came or not.
“I’ll let you know over the phone, so don’t worry.”
Ryu Cheong-woo also gave a polite indication that we could head back.
After saying goodbye to Ryu Cheong-woo’s parents once more, I returned to Bae Se-jin’s house with him.
Of course, I didn't forget my manners.
“Thank you for the fruit.”
“I-I just bought it while I was out…!”
He seemed quite proud of himself for saying that.
Anyway, since he helped me avoid looking like a rude jerk while I was out of my mind, I’m thinking of making some holiday food tomorrow.
“Whew.”
I changed back into my pajamas and lay down on the bed.
But perhaps because of the scene I saw through ‘Truth Verification,’ sleep didn't come easily.
“…….”
Fuck it, let’s drop it. I don’t have those memories anyway, so what’s the point of thinking about it now? There’s no answer.
I shook off the thoughts and called out to the one thing that could distract me.
“Status Window.”
Well, I expected that ‘Calculating Rewards’ message to still be there, but…
Pop! Pop-pop-pop!
“…!!”
Suddenly, confetti exploded before my eyes.
The holographic confetti burst from the pop-up, reflecting light beautifully as it scattered over the bed.
And the Status Window flashed with a mesmerizing rainbow light.
[Great Success!]
User: Park Moon-dae (Ryu Gun-woo) has successfully removed all status ailments!
Reward: Permanent Status Window, Title
[Title Created!]
: Successful One (Idol)
We wish you a sweet life.
“…….”
What?