I Want to See You Again

The next day, Jaehyuk slowly opened his eyes while lying facedown on the bed.

"Ugh..."

Feeling the pounding headache of a hangover, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jaehyuk sat up. He was in his own room, still wearing the same clothes from the day before.

What the hell happened yesterday...??

With that thought in mind, Jaehyuk left the room and heard his mother Sejin's voice.

"Jaehyuk, are you awake?"

"Yeah... Where's Dahyun?"

"Dahyun went out to meet her boyfriend."

Sejin set a bowl of bean sprout soup on the dining table.

"Just how much did you drink last night? Juhwan carried you home at dawn."

Jaehyuk sat at the table, eating rice with the bean sprout soup, and asked.

"Who's Juhwan?"

"Dahyun's boyfriend. Didn't I mention him before?"

"Oh, right. You did tell me."

Continuing to eat, Jaehyuk listened as Sejin smiled and spoke to him.

"Do you know how many times you hugged Dahyun the moment you walked through the door, repeating that she has to be careful with cars? Dahyun called it gross and begged Juhwan to pull you off her. Juhwan struggled so much trying to pry you away..."

Jaehyuk ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠paused his meal and asked Sejin.

"I did that...???"

"You don't believe me?"

Sejin grinned and showed him the video she had recorded on her phone. In it, a drunk Jaehyuk clung to Dahyun, sobbing that one must always be careful with cars. A disgusted Dahyun slapped at him with her palm and pleaded with Juhwan to get him off her, while the man named Juhwan held Jaehyuk and tried to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠separate him from her. In the background, Sejin's laughter rang out, as if she found the entire scene hilarious.

It's me, but damn, that's ugly.

"But why did you film that? Planning to save your son's dark history forever...???"

"Watching it reminded me of when you two were little. Remember how Dahyun would see you and shout 'Oppa is here!' before running over to hug you?"

"She used to do that...???"

"And you, Jaehyuk, would see Dahyun and cling to her, calling her your pretty little sister. Just like yesterday when you came home."

"Really?"

"Anyway, you two were truly close back then. It's not bad now, either."

Hearing the family stories stirred a sudden curiosity in Jaehyuk about his mother and father's relationship. Did his mother truly believe his father was dead? Or had his father at least told her he was still alive? Did she know his real identity?

After finishing his meal, Jaehyuk spoke to Sejin.

"......Mom."

"Yes?"

But Jaehyuk could not bring himself to ask the question about his father. If she did not know about his survival, he thought she would be just as tormented as he was.

No. If Mom believed Dad was dead too, she might be even more devastated than me. Until everything involving Dad is finished, I shouldn't mention him to anyone.

Thinking this, Jaehyuk told her.

"It's nothing."

"What is it? If you have a question, just ask."

"I had something to ask but I forgot."

"Really? You shouldn't be forgetting things so easily already..."

"I know. Lately I've been forgetting a lot of things."

Dodging the subject, Jaehyuk placed the empty bowl in the sink.

"I'll wash the dishes. You rest."

"I can do them..."

"It's okay. I'll take care of it."

Sejin looked at Jaehyuk with a warm, pleased expression.

"It feels like just yesterday you were complaining about how annoying dishes were... Our son has really grown up."

"Mom, your son grew up a long time ago."

"Alright. I'll leave it to my grown son and go rest for a bit."

"Okay."

Sejin went into her room. She glanced at the wallet on the shelf beside the bed, opened it, and took out the photograph inside. She gazed at the image of a man who resembled Jaehyuk, standing beside a younger version of herself.

Minhyeok... If you were alive, you could have seen our son grow into such a dependable young man...

Staring at the photo, Sejin wore a distant, sorrowful expression.

"Hello?!! ......Ah, young master. What about Minhyeok...? Yes...? Minhyeok's... body...?"

It was the news that Minhyeok's body had been found. Unable to bear the shock, Sejin dropped the receiver and collapsed to the floor.

Twenty-five years later, Sejin stared at the photograph with reddened eyes.

If by some chance... if you truly came back... I won't be angry with you anymore... I'll prepare heaps of your favorite raw chestnuts... I won't complain when you cling to me... I just want to see you again, even if it's only once...

She held back the tears that threatened to fall and slipped the photo of herself and her husband back into the wallet.

At a certain cathedral, a man in his mid-fifties wearing a black suit and horn-rimmed glasses stepped inside. Six men and women were praying toward the crucifix of Jesus nailed to the cross behind the altar. Han Gichan, who had just entered, approached the man seated at the very front and sat down beside him.

"If praying made every wish come true, everyone would believe in religion. I can still picture you saying that so clearly."

"I didn't come to pray. I stopped by because someone came to mind."

"Now that you mention it, your wife was Catholic, wasn't she?"

"Yes. Though I hardly participate in religious activities these days."

Gichan rummaged in his pocket, produced a USB drive, and set it beside Minhyeok.

"It's the summarized information on Cha Jinyong, the Gangryonghoe, and everyone connected to them, exactly as you requested."

Minhyeok slipped the USB into his pocket. Gichan asked him.

"Information like this is certainly important, but in the current situation it's a bit of a white elephant, awkward to use..."

"I have a separate place for it."

"Well, if that's the case, I have nothing more to say."

Gichan changed the subject.

"More importantly, why a cathedral of all places today?"

"Because this is where I first met her. And... today is that day..."

"The day you left your wife without a single word."

Minhyeok recalled what had happened on that day twenty-five years ago.

"What's wrong?"

"I was wondering if it's really all right to leave without saying anything... My wife is pregnant with our second child..."

"You know how critical this mission is. North Korean agents are funneling massive amounts of VX precursors to criminal organizations through Iran. If we don't stop it, they'll reap enormous profits."

"I know. But to carry out this mission... I'll have to become a person who officially doesn't exist."

If the mission succeeded, Minhyeok and the other agents would have their identities completely erased, becoming nonexistent even to their families—true black operatives. The mission's success would also earn them the hatred of criminal organizations across North Korea, Iran, and the rest of the world.

After the briefing ended, another agent spoke mockingly.

"Why did you go and make another kid with some woman for no reason? Didn't you understand the importance of this mission?"

"Watch your mouth. Minhyeok was assigned as emergency support. It's not like he met her knowing things would turn out this way."

"So an agent who should be extremely careful with his personal life did well by making another baby?"

"Anyone else could say that, but not you. Think about the position we were put in, having to police innocent women because some bastard couldn't keep it in his pants. I wonder what kind of crazy son of a bitch did that."

"Hey, you son of a bitch! Why are you bringing that up now?!"

Minhyeok, who had been suffering in silence, finally shouted at his colleagues.

"Enough!! It's upsetting, so stop!!!"

He glared at his stunned, silent colleagues, then took a deep breath.

"Minhyeok. If it's really not okay..."

"No. I'm... I'm fine... Really..."

"So? Are you okay now?"

At Gichan's question, Minhyeok's expression grew heavy. He let out a long sigh.

"Looks like you're still not okay."

"...Every time I hear news about the children... the urge to run over and hug them becomes almost unbearable. I think I finally understand what it really means to love someone so much it hurts."

"Well, every parent with kids feels the same."

"And... before I die, I want to see Sejin at least one more time."

At that moment Gichan's phone rang. He checked the incoming message.

"Who is it?"

"The guardian angel I placed beside your daughter."

"Ah, that guy."

Gichan put the phone away and told Minhyeok.

"By the way, did you know your son has finally left the solo life?"

"I know, but let's talk about that later."

Minhyeok stood. The others seated in the cathedral rose with him. As Minhyeok left, they followed, leaving only Gichan behind.

Gichan stared up at the crucifix behind the altar for a long time, then made the sign of the cross and murmured.

"If you truly exist... please help that poor friend of mine."

Meanwhile, in a building in Seoul. It was the headquarters of Athena Korea, the Korean branch of Athena Corporation.

Alina walked down the corridor with a middle-aged white man beside her. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠He asked in English.

""

""

""

""

Alina offered James a gentle smile.

A short while later, walking through the underground parking lot with her special bodyguard Amelia Chase, she climbed into the rear seat of a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

""

Amelia asked from the driver's seat. Alina leaned back against the seat and answered.

""

""

Amelia drove off. Alina gazed at the dazzling Seoul scenery passing by the window.

Yet even as she looked at the glamorous cityscape, only Jaehyuk's face filled her mind.

What is Jaehyuk oppa doing right now...? I miss him.

After their Christmas date, their busy schedules had kept them from meeting. They could only exchange messages. Jaehyuk was busy, but Alina had also been occupied with observational training on corporate management.

Now that I finally have some free time... I should contact Jaehyuk oppa.

Thinking this, Alina took out her luxurious phone and dialed the number saved as OPPA♥.