Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: You Absolutely Must Not Get Caught
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Eun-hae hasn't logged into Death Code.
She'd been coming in every day without fail for a while, but it's already been three days since her last login.
[You okay?]
[Not coming to graduation?]
No replies even to texts. She hasn't even read them.
The little "1" next to the messages won't go away.
'Is she really sick? Or...'
Maybe it wasn't right to straight-up ask if it was her period?
She'd always reply within two days no matter what, but now...
She'd at least read them before ignoring. Never straight-up ghosted like this. It made him even more anxious.
Time dragged on mercilessly. Graduation day crept closer, and before he knew it, the day arrived with zero contact.
She didn't show up that day either. Not a call, not a text.
This might be serious.
The campus buzzed with excitement. Everywhere he looked, people in graduation gowns.
"Oppa—"
That rude voice from behind? Had to be his little sister, Sia.
They bickered all the time, but blood was blood. They always showed up for big events like this.
He turned toward the voice. Sia was approaching, clutching a bouquet.
"Oh, you came too?"
"Duh, I'm a college student now, and oppas graduating. Congrats!"
Sia handed over the flowers. He took them casually.
"Thanks."
He gave a half-hearted reply and looked away. Sia narrowed her eyes.
"Why the long face? Someone'd think you got into grad school, not graduated. Aren't you supposed to be happy?"
"Nah, it's not that. Just got something on my mind."
"What, what? Mr. Employed Right After Graduation Seong Si-woo, what's up?"
Sia scurried to his side and poked his ribs with her elbow.
"Ugh, quit clinging and annoying me."
"Wanna bet I can guess?"
"As if you could."
"Girl problems! My intuition's screaming it."
Girl problems. Girl problems, huh.
Could you even call this a girl problem?
She was a girl now, sure, but it felt more like a friend issue.
"No way."
He denied it curtly. Sia nodded like she'd expected that.
"Right? I knew it couldn't be."
Sia really knew how to get under his skin.
"Oppa, Mom and Dad said let's grab dinner after the ceremony."
After the degree conferral, they headed to a restaurant nearby.
The place was packed with fresh grads like him and their families.
His dad smiled warmly amid the chatter.
"Congrats on graduating, son. You're a real adult now."
Then, half-joking but with real weight:
"Si-woo's got everything going for him, but no luck with girls. How's a guy never bring home a girlfriend? No good news?"
Sia jumped in at Dad's words.
"Dad, it's his personality. That attitude? No girl's gonna like it."
Dad turned on Sia right away.
"Sia, you better not bring home a boyfriend. You're in college now—focus on studying."
"Eek—why can oppa bring a girlfriend but not me?"
"Dad, I've been too busy job-hunting to think about girlfriends."
"Didn't you already get a job? And you're moving to a new place after graduation."
"Mom, you already heard all that?"
Mom covered her mouth, laughing.
"...Sorry."
On the way back to his place after the family graduation dinner.
He didn't head straight home. There was one spot he had to check.
Baek Eun-hae's apartment.
'Nah, it can't be...'
She'd always been the anxious type since school days. What if she'd done something stupid? He couldn't shake the worry.
She'd seemed fine lately, but maybe she was faking it.
What if his period question had hit her at a sensitive time and triggered something?
He'd worried because she was fragile, but what if hovering made it worse?
No way she'd actually...
Might be overthinking, but regret after the fact was too late.
She'd done it once before. Twice might be easier.
He went to her door, knocked, rang the bell. Nothing.
The hallway was dead silent.
"......"
Contact completely cut off.
No Death Code, no texts, no calls.
He didn't even have her parents' numbers.
Couldn't force his way in.
'Wait... I know the door lock code, don't I?'
Two voices in his head battled.
What if you find something inside?
Is breaking into someone's place right?
He paced in front of the door forever before deciding.
Do what you can right now.
He punched in 0111 on the door lock. A cheerful unlock beep.
He swallowed hard and turned the handle.
Please, nothing like what he imagined inside.
Creeeak—
Relief. At least not the worst-case scenario he'd pictured.
A pleasant scent wafted out as soon as he opened the door.
Wasn't there last time.
'Did she buy a diffuser like I suggested?'
He scanned the room. No diffuser or anything like it.
So why the nice smell?
Body scent? No, even Sia, his own blood, didn't smell this good.
Setting that aside, he checked Eun-hae's room more closely.
Total vibe change from last time.
Room tidy, blankets neatly folded, clothes drying—
......He absolutely could not let her find out he'd come in.
Freshly laundered? The blankets and clothes gave off a strong fabric softener aroma.
Probably the source of the good smell.
But something was off.
No signs of recent living anywhere.
Bathroom bone-dry, toothbrush bristles parched.
"Where the hell did she go...?"
Had her delusion come true—taken by the government?
As he entertained that ridiculous thought, his smartphone buzzed in his pocket.
The police.
Not for breaking and entering, hopefully.
Heart skipped. He answered.
"Is this Seong Si-woo?"
"...Yes?"
On the train back to his place.
Should he feel disappointed or relieved? He'd missed his once-in-a-lifetime college graduation.
Middle and high school ceremonies hadn't thrilled him anyway, so no big loss. But for Mom, it was different.
Older Brother never went to college, so no ceremony then either.
Sorry Mom couldn't see this life milestone.
Nothing he could do.
He'd stay at his current place until the lease ended.
Force of circumstance. Weekly hospital tests, and the equipment was only in the capital area.
Parents stayed in their hometown. Wanted to come, but finances said no.
This country—if you're gonna support, do it right to the end.
They gave pocket change for living expenses and called it done.
Unprecedented case, nothing more they could do.
Then move the damn machine to my hometown.
Forcing her to live near the capital? Ridiculous.
Scenery whipped by outside the train window.
Things to do upon arrival cluttered her mind.
First up, solo: reissue resident registration card.
Thought it'd be simple—change a few digits. Nope. They were erasing her existence and re-registering from scratch.
Asked if there was another way. No precedent; this was fastest.
Mom handling the rest.
Photo shoot for the ID too.
'Everything's gotta be done outside...'
Her smartphone showed texts piled up from hospital tests.
Usual spam.
[Cocoa Talk Emoticon: 2026 New Emoticons...]
[Nomido Pizza: Weekday Thursdays...]
[Noble Pia: 30-Min Free Pass...]
Scrolling down, a real friend text.
[Seong Si-woo: Not coming to graduation?]
'......'
Si-woo's last message. She tapped lightly to check.
[You okay?]
[Not coming to graduation?]
Pondering a reply, she spaced out. Then a text from Si-woo.
[Yo, police just called me. What's up?]
[? You seeing this?]
"Uh......"
Timing, huh.
What to say?
As she mulled, Si-woo fired off more.
[Why ignore me all this time?]
[Not ignoring. Couldn't. Been in hospital.]
[So you're out now?]
[Police want me to come in. What do I say?]
She must've given his number; they called him.
[Just tell the truth. Probably nothing big.]
[First time cops call. Kinda scared.]
[Explain in person later.]
[Got it.]
[Sorry.]
She sent the texts and gazed out the train window.
Entering a tunnel, darkness turned it to a mirror, reflecting her face.
Oh yeah, Mom said cut hair before ID photo.
Maybe on the day she meets Si-woo.
One trip outside, knock it all out.