Traffic Accident
Kim Do-hoon's parents ran a small distribution company. The employees consisted of him, his father, and Song Jin-ho, who had just called—totaling three people. They each drove their own trucks.
"What the hell do you mean?"
Kim Do-hoon felt his mind go blank.
"You're joking, right, Jin-ho?"
-No, Manager. How could I joke about something like this?
"...So the accident really happened?"
-Yes.
"Why?"
-I don't know the details yet... Anyway, Manager, hurry to Gwanjeo General Hospital!
"Fuck. You hurt too?"
-Just a little scrape...
The mood among the friends grew serious. Shin Jaewoo spoke up.
"...I haven't had any drinks yet. Let's take my car."
He could vaguely overhear the hospital talk even from across the room. He set down the glass Kim Do-hoon had just been drinking from and looked at the other friends.
"You guys settle the bill here and follow when you can."
Any more laughing and chatting seemed impossible now. Shin Jaewoo grabbed Kim Do-hoon and headed out, walking slowly toward his car.
"Haa. This feels so fucking unreal."
Kim Do-hoon muttered beside him. Shin Jaewoo heard it and first unlocked his car door. With a beep and a flash, one sleek vehicle lit up.
"...Dude. My dad just got in a car crash out of nowhere, so I'm already having trouble believing this is real. And now it's getting even weirder?"
Kim Do-hoon stopped walking and said something.
"...Shut up and get in."
"Fuck. Isn't that a Ferrari?"
It was. Truth be told, even Shin Jaewoo hadn't planned on bringing the Ferrari. He'd originally intended to arrive in the Rolls-Royce driven by Derek Coleman. Since he planned to drink with friends anyway, it made sense not to bring a car he'd drive himself.
But I figured I'd leave it here on the way back...
That's why he'd brought the Ferrari. Now, he was glad he had.
Better than taking the Rolls—this thing will get us there faster.
No contest compared to a regular taxi, that was for sure.
I'll eat the ticket if I have to. Pedal to the metal.
His license could get revoked for all he cared.
"Buckle up tight."
Shin Jaewoo said as he slid into the driver's seat. Truth be told, he hadn't really floored this Ferrari before. It wasn't his style. But this wasn't the time for personal hang-ups—this was an emergency.
Who knew I'd end up using this car like this.
With that, the Ferrari pulled out of the alley. Narrow streets made it hard to speed up at first.
Vroooom.
But only for a moment. Soon, it unleashed its signature exhaust roar. Shin Jaewoo flicked on the hazards and took a deep breath.
"Hoo."
Time to channel his inner maniac speed demon.
"Seatbelt on?"
"...Yeah."
Kim Do-hoon seemed to sense something from Shin Jaewoo's tone. Above all, his mind was a mess right now. His dad was in the ER at Gwanjeo General Hospital—a solid place in Daejeon for handling severe trauma like car accidents.
VROOOOOOM!
Finally, the Ferrari tore onto the main road. Matching the lights, it blasted past 100 kph in seconds. Roof still up, but the speed was visceral.
Honk! Honk honk!
The already rowdy Ferrari blared its horn triumphantly. No car dared block its path amid the chaos.
"F-fuck! What the hell?"
"Whoa... a Ferrari."
"That car's insane..."
Envy and condemnation rained down on Shin Jaewoo's ride. By then, the Ferrari was already far ahead. When it charged up roaring from behind, only the steel-hearted didn't yield. This Ferrari was possessed. Speeding blatantly on public roads? Shin Jaewoo didn't care how many cameras caught him.
Fine for a bit—whatever.
That shit wasn't important now. He barely had time to think about it anyway.
VROOOOOOOM!
The speed was no joke.
"Hey, hey! You maniac!"
Even Kim Do-hoon, desperate to reach his dad's hospital, cursed.
"This isn't a game..."
Bang! Honk honk!
A few bold drivers honked back at the Ferrari's antics. It was reckless as hell. Kim Do-hoon trembled. Truth be told, so did Shin Jaewoo.
Screw this up, and we're dead.
But damn, there was a thrill to it. Not something his usual self would do, but rules were out the window here.
VROOOOOOOM!
The Ferrari charged ahead, asserting its dominance, horn blaring. Its rampage parted Daejeon traffic like the Red Sea. More fearsome than any ambulance siren. That thing hits us, we're fucked! Every driver thought the same. Anyway—8 minutes and 57 seconds. That's when the Ferrari screeched up to Gwanjeo General Hospital's ER. For reference, the navigator had estimated 19 minutes.
No signals, and we'd have been even faster...
Shin Jaewoo dropped Kim Do-hoon off and headed to the parking lot. His mind was a whirlwind. The four who'd gathered this time, plus Kim Taeksu in Seoul—five guys who were special to each other.
He was like a father figure to me too...
Stepping out of the car, Shin Jaewoo paused mid-stride. A woman climbing out of a taxi looked familiar.
"Auntie!"
Shin Jaewoo called out. She turned at the sound, spotted him, and her face lit up in surprise. It was Park Mi-ja, Kim Do-hoon's mother.
"Jaewoo! It's you, right? Oh my. I heard from Do-hoon you were meeting up..."
"Do-hoon's already here."
Park Mi-ja's face was ashen. Her husband had been in a car accident. He always worked nights, but this was his first major crash. Driving a massive truck, accidents were rare for him anyway.
Inside, they spotted Kim Do-hoon right away—talking with some people.
Cops?
Probably about the accident. Kim Do-hoon saw Shin Jaewoo and Park Mi-ja enter.
"Mom?"
His eyes widened like he hadn't expected her. Pupils shaky. Shin Jaewoo clocked it.
He didn't want her here...
But dragging her away now was impossible. And the cops' attention had already shifted once she was acknowledged.
"Are you Kim Sun-woong's spouse?"
"Y-yes... I am. But what happened? Is my husband okay?"
"Don't worry about that. The medical team says Mr. Kim's life isn't in danger."
"Ahh."
"Auntie!"
Shin Jaewoo caught her as she nearly collapsed, steadying her. Thanks to him, she didn't hit the floor—just stared at the cops with trembling eyes. Huge relief. Worst-case avoided.
Or so he thought. The real issue was elsewhere.
"Mr. Sun-woong is fine, but..."
The cop trailed off. Shin Jaewoo's expression hardened.
Accidents don't happen alone.
There might be another party. Someone besides Kim Do-hoon's dad.
"There was another victim."
"..."
As expected. Things were heading south.
Why the cops were here?
"Looks like... Mr. Sun-woong will be considered the at-fault driver."
To deliver that bomb.
"...What?"
Park Mi-ja went ghostly pale. Kim Do-hoon whipped his head away, mouthing a curse. Situation sucked, no doubt.
Dad's okay—that's a win. But another victim...
Shin Jaewoo asked about the victim's condition. The cop's face soured.
"They're in surgery now. It's... touch-and-go."
The victim's car was totaled, smashed beyond repair. Against a big rig like Kim Do-hoon's dad's truck? No ordinary vehicle survives that.
"Their family will show up soon, so you'd better try to settle. Not sure it'll go smoothly."
The cop bowed and left. Silence hung heavy among the three. At least Kim Sun-woong had survived. But he'd plowed his truck into another car, and the person inside was fighting for life.
What now?
Kim Do-hoon's face screamed it. Then, another man approached—arm bandaged, young.
"Manager! Oh, ma'am!"
Company employee. And eyewitness to the crash.
"We're victims too! That car crossed the center line out of nowhere—we swerved to avoid it, and bam!"
He vented his frustration.
"What about that car?"
The culprit vehicle.
"That bastard! Caused our crash and just peeled out. Fuckin' Lamborghini! Drunk driving, for sure. Hit-and-run drunk!"
Shin Jaewoo's eyes turned ice-cold. That Lamborghini. He'd catch it, no matter what.