Chapter 67: When the Long-Festering Wound Finally Heals
Over many long years, when the wound that had festered finally began to heal. Living life, he'd vowed countless times to one day cast it off for good, yet he'd thought it might burden him forever—that moment when he finally set down the weight on his heart arrived. The emotions surging through him then were beyond words.
A massive tsunami of feelings crashed over him: regret, guilt, self-reproach, and more. The backlash from those negative emotions was immense, but it slowly washed away on the tears streaming endlessly from his broken tear ducts.
He couldn't remember how many times he'd clutched the Burnt and Hidden Marks script to his chest, sobbing through the night until exhaustion claimed him. He didn't even know when he'd fallen asleep. And so, morning broke.
Ding-dong.
Someone had come to Woojin's door. The doorbell rang repeatedly, but Woojin didn't stir an inch. He was lost in deep slumber.
After a while with no response, the visitor finally punched in the passcode and entered the house.
Click.
"Son~ You home?"
It was his mother. Worried sick because she hadn't heard from him all the previous day, she'd come up at first light. Her hands were full of food bundles as always, but when she spotted her son lying limp on the sofa, she cried out, "Oh my! Woojin-ah!" and rushed over with a frantic expression.
His eyes were swollen from crying all night, tear tracks stark on his face. He looked utterly drained at a glance. His startled mother shook him awake, but he wouldn't rouse easily.
"Pull yourself together, son!"
"Mmm…."
At his mother's urgent voice, Woojin finally reacted. Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was her face brimming with worry. His mind snapped alert.
"Mom?"
"What's wrong? What happened?"
Squeeze.
Woojin wordlessly burrowed into his mother's embrace. It felt just like the comfort of being held securely in his father's arms as a child.
"It's okay, it's okay…."
His mother silently patted his back over and over. Even though his eyes were swollen shut from crying, fresh tears kept spilling out. For a long while, his shoulders only shook quietly.
"Cry as much as you need to."
"……."
"My boy, something tough happened, didn't it? Can you tell your mom about it?"
Thanks to his mother's warm comfort, Woojin managed to gather his emotions and speak.
"Mom, I think I finally get it. What Dad must have been feeling…."
The opening words caught his mother completely off guard. Since her husband's funeral, her son had never once opened up his deepest heart to her. She knew why, of course. He'd done it to spare her, raising two kids alone after losing her husband, not wanting to burden or worry her even a little. So he'd always tried to show only his sensible side, growing up straight and true without a single slip-up or incident in school. She was so grateful and proud of him for that. Not just Woojin—Woo-hee too. She was thankful her children had turned out so well.
But separately from that, she'd sometimes felt frustrated and heartbroken, thinking, Someday Woojin will open up like Woo-hee…. She'd had a serious talk about her husband with her daughter long ago, but the conversation with her son remained an unresolved task. Being family made broaching such a sensitive topic all the more delicate. Dragging out painful memories or forcing him to unpack them felt wrong.
In the end, she'd chosen to wait. For the day her son would overcome his wound and take a step forward. That was a parent's role—patiently enduring and waiting.
And now, "I fully understand. If it were me, I would have done the same as Dad…."
His mother's eyes reddened too at those words. She was immensely proud of her son for saying what she'd thought would take more time, and in such an unexpected moment, but guilt welled up as well.
"Mom… You've been through so much because of me all this time, haven't you?"
"No… I'm the one who's sorry."
"Don't cry… Mom, what did you do wrong… I'm truly sorry."
The mother and son spent quite a long time gazing into each other's eyes, talking. Woojin explained how he'd come to understand his father. Of course, he couldn't mention the diary or virtual world, so he phrased it as gaining insight while analyzing the Burnt and Hidden Marks script and letting his imagination run with it.
When tears flowed, she wiped them; when his hands shook, she held them; when his body trembled, she hugged him; they laughed amid sobs as stories bloomed endlessly. They were already an inseparably close pair, but sharing their first real talk about his father made their bond even tighter than before. As the conversation wound down, he thought they should all three—Woo-hee included—talk together next time.
"By the way, Mom. I have a favor to ask."
Woojin said suddenly. His mother nodded.
He continued in a soft voice. "There's someone I want to meet."
"Who?"
"…Uncle Young-jae."
With those words, Woojin hugged his mother tight and vowed. He'd settle this once and for all now. And never again… would he let such a long regret linger in his life.
* * *
That night, after a delicious dinner and seeing his mother off, after much deliberation, Woojin dialed the number she'd given him.
Ring, ring.
As the tone droned on, countless thoughts raced through his mind. What should he say? What words could fill the void of years gone by, erase the resentment that had flowed in the wrong direction all at once?
Hello?
Then it came—a deep, resonant voice caressing his ear. Woojin-ah. Uncle's sorry….
Thanks to the virtual world, he'd come to understand a firefighter's life, if only a little. Memories buried deep had finally awakened from long slumber. Uncle's voice was the same.
The last time he'd seen Uncle was probably at his father's funeral home. The day their close bond, treating him like a son, had shattered in an instant. Though he'd done nothing wrong, Uncle had silently endured the piercing glare of a 15-year-old boy full of resentment.
When you can forgive your uncle, please contact me. Whenever that is, I'll wait. I'm truly sorry….
Uncle. Counting from nursery days, it had been a full 20 years since he'd heard that voice. How had he endured the grueling life of bearing one person's hatred….
I'm sorry for only reaching out now, back in the past. It was the honest cry of his heart.
"……."
But the words wouldn't come easily.
Then—Hello? Please say something.
Uncle's voice came again. Woojin cleared his throat and forced his mouth open.
"Uncle Young-jae?"
……?!
A startled gasp came through the line. Then—Could it be… Woojin?
Uncle's voice trembled. "…Yes, it's Woojin. How have you been all this time?"
…….
Uncle fell silent at the question. A pause stretched over the line. Though only voices passed between them, the flowing silence soon conjured images of each other's expressions and feelings.
Just as Woojin was caught off guard, Uncle must be too.
"Uncle."
Woojin broke the awkward—yet somehow not awkward—atmosphere first.
Ah, sorry. Uncle's been too quiet, hasn't he?
"No, I'm sorry for calling so suddenly. It must be startling."
No. I've been waiting for your call, but I didn't expect it today….
Uncle trailed off, as if choosing his words carefully.
Don't do that. You did nothing wrong—why act cautious because of me? I'm the one at fault….
Words he wanted to say face-to-face, not over the phone.
"Uncle, could we meet when you have time? I have things to say and show you."
Anything is hardest at the start. Once begun, it somehow works out. Like now. Woojin mustered his courage and asked carefully.
Yes. You and I both have much to say. Let's meet and talk. I'd love to see you tomorrow if possible.
"Tomorrow works for me too."
Really? Are you in Seoul now?
"Yes. And you?"
At Woojin's question, Uncle hesitated before answering.
Uncle's free tomorrow too, but I'm a bit far from Seoul for work right now.
"Where?"
In Gongju. For work.
Uncle continued. Though they'd talk details in person, he was currently principal at the Central Firefighting Academy.
I'm sorry. I should come to you.
"No. Of course I'll come. It's fine. Around lunchtime tomorrow?"
Yes. Let's catch up over lunch.
"Yes, Uncle. See you tomorrow."
Alright, drive safe.
The call ended with the promise set.
"Haa."
Woojin let out a light sigh. What was all this? Had it really taken so long? It felt so freeing, so simple.
Swish.
Woojin gazed up at the sky beyond the balcony window. A star shining bright in Seoul's night sky. One of them was surely his father, watching over him with a radiant smile. The day that became the starting point to mend the sad link with Uncle Young-jae, which had bound him in guilt till now. Suddenly, it was a night aching with longing for his father. Are you watching?
* * *
The next day, Woojin headed to Gongju alone. He'd firmly refused Jun-an's offer to drive. This was a deeply personal errand; he couldn't ask someone to drive such a long way. More than that, he wanted to handle this from start to finish 'himself.'
You have arrived at your destination.
After two hours from home, he reached the Central Firefighting Academy in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do.
Knock knock knock.
In front of the principal's office in the main building, Woojin knocked lightly. Soon, the door opened.
On the other side stood, "…Woojin-ah."
A face endlessly kind and warm. But marked deeply by the years, unlike the image in his 15-year-old memories.
It felt entirely different from just hearing his voice.
Squeeze.
Woojin silently stepped forward into Uncle's embrace. Uncle's arms naturally tightened around him. A glance, a meeting of eyes spoke more than a hundred words.
No more tears flowed. He'd shed enough already. Because he'd vowed to one day shed that heart's burden. On a day like this, better to smile than cry. His father would want that too.
A moment later. "Have a seat."
"Yes, thank you."
After the reunion moment passed, Woojin and Uncle Young-jae sat. They began to bloom the stories they'd been unable to share for so long.
Uncle told the full tale of how he'd lived after Father's line-of-duty death. He didn't forget to explain his current role and duties.
Woojin shared that he'd established himself somewhat as an actor and was about to start cranking on a film related to firefighters. Uncle took great interest in that.
"This is what I wanted to show you."
As their talk flowed on, Woojin pulled out the Burnt and Hidden Marks scenario he'd brought and handed it over.
Woojin asked Uncle, who was glancing through the script while listening to his explanation, about firefighter-related questions. The topic, started with his father, gradually shifted to Woojin's film.
"It's quite intriguing. As one firefighter, I think it would make a great movie."
"Preparing for this project helped me understand Dad's and your feelings. Just a tiny part, of course."
"Personally, I think our academy could help out too."
Stroking his chin thoughtfully, Uncle soon picked up the receiver beside him.
Click.
"Yes, Director. This is the principal. Are you at the public relations office right now?"
That one call from Uncle would later bring major changes to Burnt and Hidden Marks.