The Supervisor

"My father had no choice but to join the agency for us," he said, breaking the silence in the room. His words hung in the air, waiting to be unraveled. We were more surprised than shocked by his response, as it hinted at a deeper layer of complexity in Myung's life and the reasons behind his involvement with the agency.

"What do you mean, 'for us'? Can you please elaborate on it further?" Hyung asked, leaning forward with curiosity, mirroring my own questions.

The man, a stranger to us not too long ago, took a moment to gather his thoughts. His eyes, filled with a mix of emotions, gazed out the window.

"Okay, I will tell you everything from the beginning, but it's going to take some time," he said, glancing at both of us.

"How about I make lunch for all of us, and then I'll continue?"

We exchanged glances, realizing that this was a story that deserved the time and attention it required.

"You know what?" Hyung finally spoke up.

"Let's go to a nearby restaurant and eat. The bill is on me. Don't get me wrong, we don't know you completely yet. We just want to be cautious."

The man nodded, understanding our apprehension. "I appreciate your concern, sir. Let me grab my coat, and I'll lead you to the nearest restaurant with good food."

We followed him, and as we reached the nearby restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised. The taste here was excellent, beyond what we had expected. After finishing our meal, we moved on to a nearby cafe for drinks, and that's when he began sharing his story.

"My father never got along with his own father," he began, taking a sip of his coffee.

"He was always the adventurous and free-spirited type," Myung continued with a wistful look in his eyes. "You know, they say that sometimes, in a family, one person is really smart, while another is full of energy and life. In our family, my father was the one with lots of life. His younger brother, on the other hand, was super smart and always got top grades, which made my grandfather very proud. But my father was different. He might not have been the best at books, but he had a knack for street smarts.

Things got tough, and my father ended up without a job. Meanwhile, his younger brother had a good job and a comfortable life. My grandfather, who was tired of my father's actions, decided to send him away from home and cut off all ties with him."

Myung's narrative painted a clear picture of his father, a man who lived life on his terms, driven by his free spirit and resourcefulness. It was evident that life had dealt him a different hand compared to his academically gifted younger brother. The family dynamics and the stark contrast between the siblings' lives became increasingly clear.

Myung's father's journey, from being the vibrant, street-smart adventurer to facing unemployment and eventual estrangement from his family, revealed the complexities of their family's history. This was a tale of not just an individual's trials and tribulations but also the interplay of aspirations, expectations, and the consequences of life's choices. The silence that followed Myung's story was filled with a deep understanding of the weight of his father's choices and the family's fractured bonds.

"So is that when your father decided to join that notorious agency?" I asked, trying to connect the dots.

"No, sir," he replied, shaking his head.

"My father's journey took him far from his family. He moved to a bustling city and began working as a cleaner at the railway station. He didn't have a proper place to stay, so he'd sleep at the station, scraping by with the small tips he earned alongside his meager cleaner's salary. Despite the tough circumstances, he never lost his resilient spirit. Over time, he seized opportunities to work part-time in the shops at the station, a chance to improve his situation.

During this phase of his life, something remarkable happened. He crossed paths with my mother, a passenger at the station who often wore a sad and distant expression. My father, with his innate kindness, couldn't ignore her sorrow and approached her. He simply asked if everything was okay, an act of empathy that marked the beginning of their connection. They started to spend more and more time together, forming a bond that eventually blossomed into love.

As my father continued working hard and building his life, he used his street smarts to make connections with various people. Some of these connections were positive, offering him support and opportunities. However, not all of them were reputable, and he found himself navigating through both sides of life. In the midst of these trials, my mother became pregnant with me. However, her family, adhering to the conservative beliefs of their generation, made the difficult decision to send her away due to her pregnancy before marriage. This choice added to their already significant challenges.

Despite the obstacles they faced, my parents confronted adversity with unwavering determination and an abundance of love. Their story was a testament to the power of love and resilience, a tale of two individuals who defied the odds and clung to each other in the face of societal norms and family expectations."

It was a story that would undoubtedly leave a profound impact on Myung's life, influencing his own journey and the path that had brought him to this moment. Both Hyung and I nodded, realizing the challenges he was describing.

"He had to provide for three of us," he continued, his voice tinged with the weight of his family's struggles.

Myung continued his story, painting a vivid picture of their challenging life. "Things were manageable until I was born, but soon the expenses began to pile up. We never really had a proper home; we used to stay at the railway station, where my father worked. It was far from comfortable, but it was a place to rest.

"As time passed, my father realized he needed to find a way to better support us. That's when one of his connections, someone he knew from his days at the station, told him about a job opportunity. This job was with an agency that was looking for supervisors. They promised not only a decent salary but also food and shelter. It seemed like a lifeline, a chance to provide for his family. So, my father took up the job, and we moved to that place. The strange thing was, that we never knew exactly where it was. It was shrouded in secrecy.

He started as an office boy, the lowest position, and worked tirelessly to move up the ranks. Eventually, he became a supervisor. At first, everything seemed normal. My father had no reason to suspect anything was amiss. It was a job, a way to support us, or so he thought. But then, one day, everything changed. He overheard a conversation that revealed a horrifying truth, something nobody could have ever imagined."

Myung's account took a sinister turn as he delved into the mysteries surrounding his father's employment with this mysterious agency. Life had not been easy for their family, and the promise of a stable job with food and shelter had seemed like a lifeline. Little did they know the harrowing secrets concealed behind the shroud of secrecy.

The tale of Myung's father starting as an office boy and ascending to a supervisory role was a testament to his unwavering determination and work ethic. However, the revelations that lay ahead were destined to shake the very foundation of their lives.

As Myung's words hung in the air, the room seemed to grow colder, the weight of the unknown horrors casting a pall over their conversation. What could his father have possibly uncovered in that clandestine world? What secrets could be so horrifying that they remained hidden for so long? Myung's story had taken a deeply unsettling turn, leaving more questions than answers, and a chilling sense of foreboding settled over the room.

Hyung leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "What did he find out?"

"He learned that the agency was planning to do something unthinkable – they were planning to kill all the laborers they had brought in to work," he revealed, his voice filled with tension and fear.

Myung's narrative took a tragic and chilling turn as he continued, "My father was horrified by this shocking revelation. He couldn't stand by knowing such a terrible thing was happening. So, he acted immediately, driven by a sense of moral duty. He rushed to the work site, determined to put an end to the agency's sinister plan. He bravely confided in one of the workers there, disclosing the agency's malicious intentions. Initially, they appeared to agree with his decision to leave. However, tragically, they didn't intend to let him go peacefully. Instead, they chose to silence him forever, a dreadful act that took my father's life."

The room fell into a heavy silence, punctuated only by the weight of this dreadful revelation. Myung's father's bravery in exposing the agency's cruelty had tragically cost him his life, a harrowing sacrifice for the pursuit of justice. It was a tale of unspeakable cruelty and darkness, and it sent shivers down the spines of those listening, leaving them to grapple with the enormity of the horrors Myung's family had endured.

It was a horrifying turn of events, and the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on all of us as we listened to his heartbreaking story.

I was stunned by the shocking turn of events. "So, what happened to you during all this?"

"I was searching for my father," he continued, his voice quivering with emotion.

"I went into the tunnel where he had gone, hoping to find him. But, just as I entered, a terrible collision occurred, and the buildings around us started collapsing. I was scared and began crying out for my father, but the chaos was all-consuming.

In the midst of the chaos, a kind-hearted gentleman suddenly appeared. He reached out and rescued me from the dangerous situation. I was so relieved to be safe, but my heart still ached for my missing father. I ran to find my mother as fast as I could, hoping for some comfort, but she was nowhere to be found.

As time passed and the chaos subsided, the police arrived at the scene. They found me and, without any family to turn to, they took me into their custody. I was placed in a juvenile center, a place meant for children like me who had no one to care for them.

After some time, I was eventually released and returned to the world outside. But, as I had feared, everything had changed. The place I once called home was no longer the same. I held onto a glimmer of hope, hoping to reunite with my father one day.

I was fortunate to find love, the love of my life. I found hope for a better tomorrow, for the first time in all those years I felt capable of being happy, but the joy came with a price, a price that took her away from me, along with our beloved daughter. It was a cruel twist of fate, how the same agency that separated me from my parents became the reason for my loved ones leaving me with a heart heavy with loss and longing once again. People believed I was an integral part of the agency and they continued to pester me until I came here giving up the hope of finding my daughter. That is when the media flashed about this case and I got to know about the press meet and hence the anonymous notes" he explained.

Hyung interjected, "Can you recall the name of the person who saved you?"

He nodded, his eyes distant. "Oh, yes, I could never forget him. When I was a child, I was always curious, and my father would bring me into the tunnel from time to time. Everyone was kind to me, but this man was different. He looked after me as if I were his own son. It always puzzled me why he acted like he didn't know me when he rescued me. I guess understanding the truth about that place was very hard, and having the courage to save others was even harder. But he did save others, or at least he tried to save some of them."

"What do you mean by 'some of them'?" I asked, growing increasingly intrigued.

"There were gunshots I heard, and later, when the chaos subsided, it was a bloodbath. Some managed to escape, just like me, but they never dared to speak about what happened in there."

Hyung and I exchanged a concerned glance. "Do you know his name?" I asked.

The man's voice quivered as he replied, "Yes, sir. His name was Mohan."

As he continued speaking, everything around me suddenly became blurry when I heard the name Mohan. Visions flashed in front of me – of a boy crying for help. I did not hesitate to help him because I felt he was like my son. I tried to take him to his mother, but then I had to save others. He promised me that he would reach his mother, and I hoped he did. For me, I had no reason to live, so I decided to put a full stop to my life along with this place. Darkness engulfed me, and I blacked out.

I woke up in a nearby hospital, Hyung and Myung Soo staring at me in utter shock. I asked for a pencil and a book and began to draw the little boy I had seen in my dream. For

the first time, I felt like I had done something useful with my dreams. As the picture was finished, Myung Soo couldn't believe his eyes.

"What is it?" Hyung asked, confused and concerned, looking at me and the drawing.

Myung Soo's voice quivered as he replied, "The picture, the boy in the picture is me."

Hyung and I were left speechless, not knowing how to react or understand the inexplicable connection that had just unraveled before our eyes. It was a revelation that defied logic and explanation.

As we sat there in the hospital room, the man who had shared his harrowing story with us now looked equally bewildered by the inexplicable twist of fate that had brought us all together. Myung Soo, the man in the drawing, had been saved by me, and our connection transcended time and circumstance.

Myung Soo, although initially a stranger, now felt like a long-lost son, and the profound bond that had formed between us was undeniable. His story had brought us all to this moment of revelation, and it was clear that there was much more to be uncovered.

For the first time in my life, my dreams had taken on a new purpose. They had led me to something tangible and profoundly meaningful. They had connected me to a lost soul, Myung Soo, a man who was, in essence, my long-lost son. The revelation was astonishing and defied explanation. It was as if the threads of fate had brought us together, weaving our lives into an intricate tapestry.

Our duty now was clear: we had to unravel the mystery of Mohan and the dark secrets that shrouded the agency. The truth, though hidden, was out there, waiting to be discovered. We were resolute in our determination to find it, to shine a light on the shadows that had haunted us for so long.

As we stepped out of the hospital room, the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future pressed upon us. Our journey was just beginning, and the road ahead was filled with challenges and dangers. But we were united by a shared purpose, a shared past, and a shared resolve to bring the truth to light.

Our quest for answers would take us to the heart of the agency's secrets. The story of Myung Soo and his connection to Mohan was merely the tip of the iceberg. We were prepared to dive deep into the darkness, to venture into the unknown, and to reveal the hidden truths that lay concealed.

The three of us walked out of the hospital room, each of us carrying a piece of the puzzle that would lead us toward the heart of the agency's secrets. Our quest for justice and closure had commenced, and we were determined to see it through to the end, regardless of where the path might lead us. We were bound by a shared destiny, and the bonds of our newfound family were unbreakable. Together, we would face the challenges and confront the demons of the agency, unveiling the dark truths that had eluded us for far too long.