Bride 2
It was the time when the priest had been most foolish and filled with regret while he still walked the earth. At that time, he had felt as if he were possessed by a ghost. He still could not understand why he had done such a thing. Yet even to atone for his sins in those days, he had made an effort after Heejin was born to clear his mind and live with purpose. He had lived every single day carrying the weight of his apologies to his wife. Of course, the wounds in his wife’s heart likely had never healed easily... but at least his efforts had shown. He had truly done everything he could. Especially for Heejin, he had worked so hard not to show her even a single bad side that it was impossible to count. He had never once scolded her. In truth, there had been no need to. Heejin had matured early. She studied well, never once made a mistake. Of course, after she entered university, she often came home drunk, which worried him. But apart from that, Heejin had been like a treasure to the couple who never caused her any concern. Watching her grow, Yongha had regretted his past mistakes countless times. Why had he been so cruel to his wife? If he had gone to Seoul with Jeong Madam back then, he never would have met Heejin. Yes, that was exactly what would have happened. After all, Heejin’s existence had meant he had been reborn. But then... what on earth was this? Was it truly karma? Had his own karma come back around? Then why... why Heejin? Why had it happened to his most precious daughter? If it had happened to him, he could have accepted it, but why... why Heejin? Tears welled up in his eyes despite himself. He hung his head low, and the tears that finally fell traced across the bench. "I’m sorry... I’m truly a pathetic father. I’m so sorry, Heejin..." It was all just my fault. Yes, it felt as if everything had been my fault. He cried for a long time. Before he knew it, past midnight. He could not stay out in the rain any longer. The sky was already gloomy, and now the first drops began to fall. The temperature seemed to drop because of it. Not to mention that his wife at home would be worried, and no matter what strange thing had possessed Heejin’s body, she was still his precious daughter. He could not leave her like that. He could not run away again. Yongha moved his feet that would not stay still. He headed back home once more. Ah... he did not want to go back. It was too terrifying. But he could not. He knew he could not run away again. If he fled now, he would never be able to turn back... Heaving heavy sighs, he chewed on the unlit cigarette in his mouth like a habit and walked toward the house. How long had it taken? Lost in complicated thoughts, he eventually saw the house coming into view. When he reached the front, his steps grew heavier, slower. He truly did not want to go back. Ah... his peaceful house had become so frightening. That was when it happened. Someone stood in front of the house. Holding an umbrella, for some reason. Staring blankly at his own house. It was too dark to see clearly, but it looked like a young man. Moreover, he was dressed in strange clothing. ///// -신부 2- "Who are you?" Yongha asked cautiously. The young man who had been staring at the house slowly turned his head toward Yongha. At that moment, Yongha had to feel a strange chill for some reason. He looked like an ordinary person at first glance, yet the sensation was unnervingly unsettling. On the other hand, the young man paused for a moment, then said, "Do you live here?" "Yes, this is our house... Did you perhaps come from some broadcasting station or something? If so, go back. I don’t do broadcasting." Several times, people from broadcasting stations or YouTubers had come here. He did not know how the rumors about Heejin had spread, but it seemed that the story of a woman possessed by a ghost living in this place had circulated. Probably one of the village residents had spread it. Of course, for Heejin’s future, he had strictly forbidden their visits, but occasionally, even at late night, some people would sneak into the house. Especially the YouTubers were particularly persistent. For that reason, he had had to call the police multiple times to drag them away. Yet lately, things had become a little quieter... Could it be that the rumor of the shaman who had performed the gut here had already died? Yongha’s expression hardened completely. Then he looked at the man in a rough tone. On the other hand, the man, emitting a strange aura, silently circled the house. He looked quite young. Moreover, the atmosphere around him felt different from the people who had come before. At that moment, the young man said, "I am a priest." "Huh? What did you say?" "Ah! I’m just someone who serves the gods." Ah! He meant the priest? Yongha’s expression turned bewildered. Then his face frowned again. Was the church interested in this place too? Even if not the church, he had gone to the church several times to report Heejin’s condition and ask for help. Thanks to that, several pastors had come here. Of course, they had mostly been full of suspicion. They had treated him like a con artist. In fact, they had thought there was something mentally wrong with his daughter, and some even suspected they were neglecting her mental illness. He did not know how much trouble that had caused him. Especially when those people came, Heejin would suddenly say strange things. As if she were accusing him of covering her up. Because of that, the police had come, and of course, no evidence was found, so he had been cleared with no suspicion. In the end, because these incidents had happened so many times, Yongha no longer wanted to believe in a pastor or priest. "So... why did the priest come here?" His tone changed to a blunt accusation. "That... had there perhaps been something strange in the house? Like... that... indescribable kind of thing..." "What are you talking about?" What kind of words were those? Did he come knowing and not telling? Or pretending not to know even if he did? There had been con artists who pretended not to know even when they already had the information, making it seem like they had beaten him. Could this man be one of that type? Of course, he could not believe him. No, he did not want to believe him. He could no longer trust anyone. Especially since the shaman who had promised to help had died without doing anything... "You... I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s over. You came here knowing there’s something wrong in this house, didn’t you? Even if you pretend not to know, it doesn’t work." The man tilted his head. In response to that, Yongha felt his anger rise even higher. He thought this man knew everything yet was still pretending not to. Because of that, his voice grew louder. "Ah! It’s over! You came here to get money from us anyway. We have nothing left! We’re completely broke. So stop and go back." "I... I didn’t come here with that intention..." "Ah! It’s over! Stop and go back! Or I’ll call the police!" Yongha pushed him hard. At that moment, he dropped his umbrella. It fell with a thump on the floor. Yongha felt a little too much, yet he could not suppress the rising fury and slammed the door with a nervous slam as he entered the house. In the end, the only one left outside watched him enter following the family line and picked up the dropped umbrella from the floor. And then he saw it. Through the slightly open gap of the gate, he could see the building. There was a fairly large living-room window, and someone was standing there. It was too dark to see clearly, but the fleeting glance felt disturbingly unsettling. As if it were not a person of this world... Thud... But soon the gate closed. //////// Yongha’s father sighed. Then he stopped for a moment in the courtyard where the rain poured down. The rain lines had grown thicker. Looking at the gloomy sky, occasional thunder and lightning struck. The pouring thick raindrops felt like his own tears. His anxious gaze returned to the house. The living-room window. The inside was extremely dark. Had they not even turned on the lights? Suddenly, the house felt like an abandoned ruin. No, like a cursed house. Even though people lived there, even though the traces of human hands remained everywhere. The eerie feeling made his spine tingle once more. He did not want to go in. He truly did not want to go in... He sighed. He put his hand in his pocket again, feeling the unlit cigarette. He fiddled with it endlessly, yet he could not stay outside any longer. He took unusually heavy steps and finally went inside. The first thing that greeted him upon entering was the terrible cold and a strange foul smell.