Who is he?

The night before I received his text, I was restless, pacing back and forth on the porch. Unanswered questions swirled in my mind, tormenting me. I wondered if I was truly capable of making decisions for an entire team. There I was, struggling to distinguish between my dreams and imagination. The uncertainty weighed on me, causing anxiety and a feeling of suffocation. And my visions were not really helping me; instead, they were amplifying my unease. Each vision added a layer of complexity to my already jumbled thoughts, blurring the lines between reality and the inexplicable. It was a disorienting experience, leaving me in a state of perpetual anxiety, desperately searching for clarity in a world that seemed increasingly enigmatic.

I kept walking, thoughts racing as I overthought the unknown. I considered the words of an anonymous person who said fearing the unknown is a waste of time. But for some reason, I couldn't shake this fear. It consumed my thoughts, and the world around me seemed to blur. I cannot come to terms with agreeing that whatever he said about fear is absolutely right.

My body was drenched in sweat. I finally managed to sit down with support behind my back. As I calmed myself, I began to see things more clearly, realizing that sometimes, we must confront the unknown rather than fear it. It's a challenge, but facing it head-on can be the key to fighting the anxiety and uncertainty that consumed me that night. And then I saw...

"Amidst the joyful crowd, I saw a woman and a young boy, maybe 7 or 8 years old. Their eyes looked empty as if they couldn't feel happiness. Everyone else was celebrating, but they seemed lost in their sadness. They walked away, and something in me wanted to talk to them, to understand their story and their pain.

This scene reminded me of when my own father left us. When the war ended, the world was full of joy, but for us, it meant losing our father. My mom and I left the town we used to live in, just like these two. I wondered if the woman was like my mom, and the boy was like me when I was young. 

I didn't understand why I kept having these visions. It was confusing and made me feel lost. I needed answers to make sense of it all."

As I tried to reach out to them, I found myself unable to move, almost paralyzed. They slowly faded away, and all that remained was the concerned face of Taeri, standing before me. This surreal encounter left me reflecting on the way life's joys and sorrows can coexist in the same moment, and how we are all shaped by our own unique experiences. And further confused me even more to distinguish between reality and the imagination.

She rushed to my side, her hands cupping my face, worry strongly visible across her face. "Are you okay?" she asked with concern in her voice. I wanted to respond, to tell her what had happened, but I couldn't move or find my voice. She shook me gently, hoping to jolt me back to reality, but I remained trapped in my own silent world.

Desperate to comfort me, she pulled me into a warm hug and began rubbing soothing circles on my back. I tried to take deep breaths to calm myself, but the tears welled up, and I couldn't hold them back any longer. That night, I cried an ocean, and she held me through every tear, without speaking a word...her patience was beyond what I could ever imagine.

After some time, she guided me to my room, taking care of me like no one ever had. She made dinner and fed me, all without saying a word about what had happened just now. Her presence, her silent support, meant the world to me. I held her hand as tightly as I could and fell asleep, both of us aware of the unspoken connection between us, yet too afraid to confront it, burdened by our pasts, traumas, and the complex circumstances that bound us together.

The following morning, I found a wholesome breakfast waiting for me in my room, and Taeri had gone back to her own room to rest. After freshening up a bit and having my breakfast, I noticed a message from the anonymous person. He had sent me details about where and when to meet him. I quickly forwarded the message to Hyung, and we both got prepared to meet this mysterious individual.

Taeri, however, was understandably concerned about my decision to go and meet this person. She asked if I was truly ready for it. But as the leader of our team, I felt a responsibility to go through with it. I could sense her worry and understood why she was advising me not to go. Despite her concerns, she recognized the importance of this meeting, and she didn't try to persuade me to stay any longer.

Our unspoken connection and shared understanding of the mission we were on made it clear that this was something I had to do. So, with Taeri's unspoken support, I headed out to face this mysterious adventure that was waiting ahead of us with determination.

We got ready, with Hyung bringing his revolver just in case, and the two of us embarked on our journey to the location the anonymous person had provided. With everyone's well-wishes, we ventured into the unknown together, prepared for whatever might come our way.

The trip stirred up feelings about my father, a void I had long carried in my heart. But discovering more about him made me realize that I already had two fatherly figures in my life. One was his closest friend, and the other was the man driving the car alongside me. It was a heartwarming realization, finding a sense of family beyond blood ties.

We drove in silence, the local radio playing in the background. Our focus was entirely on the mystery that awaited us at our destination. The excitement, fear, and anticipation were all mixed into a feeling of unity, with Hyung and me, side by side, facing the unknown together.

I don't know, as we were approaching the destination, I felt more and more anxious and I guess Hyung sensed it...Hyung takes care of me like Jin, because Jin and I are so alike, like I said I saw myself in Jin, and knowing that little kid is going through something I went through is utterly devastating. Hyung asked me what happened but I did not answer. He understood that I was uncomfortable answering the question so he started a conversation that interested me...

"So what do you think?"

I looked at him puzzled.

"Who this person could be?"

"I have no clue"

"Then let us profile him...wanna bet?"

"Bet on what?"

"Who nails the profile...I will tell you mine and you tell me yours and we will see who is right"

I was intrigued, to be honest, so I said yes with a smile on my face and he started profiling me...

"So by the sound of his voice, I think of a man in his late 50s or early 60s. Curly hair with zero white hair, wrinkles on his face, probably a mustache with no beard, and neat clothing. There you go, your turn now" he pointed his finger towards me.

"Age same as you, but straight hair with lots of white hair and a shabby white beard.."

"Same age as me?" he raised his eyebrow...

"No (I almost squealed) that is not what I meant..." I looked at him a bit sulky and a bit embarrassed.

he laughed out loud and told me to continue...

"The age that you said, that is what I meant"

he nodded as if he understood it in the first go but wanted to tease me.

"Straight hair and shabby beard both white"

he side-eyed me and told me this...

"Well, you already said that, didn't you?"

"Argh! Why do you have to do this to me?" (to be honest, I felt like a child arguing with his father)

"You know when I look at you, I like to tease him a lot too...(he took a pause before speaking the next word) You make sure to remind me a lot about Jin, you and Jin are a lot more alike than you think...you might find a lot of differences between you two, but to me he is a child by age and you are a child by heart...I see a lot of Jin in you and honestly, that doesn't make me miss him as often as I did" he patted my head saying.

Like a lost baby found by his father, I sat there blushing...

"Now continue what were you saying?"

"Yeah white hair and shabby beard and before you stop me, I am going to finish...(he laughs) no wrinkles, has a baby face but all his shabby features hide it...wrinkled clothes...what about height? I think 5 foot 7 inches. what about you?"

"At least 6 feet...wait a minute...omg how could I be so foolish, it is not fair you already saw him, well maybe not his face but his height"

I laugh hysterically..." well that is called tit for tat"

he looked at me affectionately let out a soft giggle and threw his hands in the air for a second to agree with his defeat and said...

"Less anxious now?"

I nod in agreement and...

"How did you know?"

"What?"

"That I was nervous and anxious?"

"Take a wild guess"

"Jin"

"Exactly, Jin used to be anxious just like you and I would come up with a conversation and intentionally give all the wrong answers so that in the end he ends up giggling like you..."

I comprehended every word Hyung spoke, and it struck me that if my dad were here, he might have acted in a similar way. At that moment, Hyung seemed like a father figure to me, guiding and supporting me through this journey. We eventually arrived at our destination, a mix of emotions swirling within, as I struggled with the past and the present, all while appreciating the bond I shared with Hyung, who felt like a fatherly presence during this unique experience.

We waited for what felt like a long time, and doubt started to creep in. It seemed like we might have willingly walked into a trap. An hour passed, and just when we were about to give up hope, an old car, quite worn out, approached. A man in his late 50s stepped out. He had straight hair and a scruffy white beard, his face strangely devoid of wrinkles. His clothes were wrinkled, and he walked right by us, leaving me to think I had lost a bet.

But then, something unexpected happened. He turned around and asked us to follow him. With a mixture of anticipation and curiosity, we trailed behind him. He led us into a slum, an area where the houses had no proper roofs, doors, or any semblance of a decent dwelling. It was clear that the residents here were struggling.

Our guide continued down a street and took us to a house that stood out in this humble neighborhood. It was surprisingly well-maintained, an oasis of relative prosperity amidst the adversity. The contrast was striking, and it left us wondering about the person we were about to meet and the mysteries that lay ahead.

He made us sit, brought us ginger tea, and sat right in front of us. He had a guilt in his eyes...and looked at us and said...

"I know you have a lot of questions to ask...I am ready to answer any questions you ask"

"Let's start with your name first," I asked almost ruthlessly.

"Kim Myung So"

"And what is the guarantee that you are telling us the right name?" Hyung asked.

He handed over his ID card and turns out he was telling the truth.

"Why didn't you approach us directly? Why these notes?" Hyung asked.

"That is because I need help, and turns out no one wants to help me because I am the son of a person who was once a part of the heinous agency that killed many"

"May I ask you what crime are you talking about?" I asked

"The 1960s mine crime, the agency that convinced the workers that they would provide them with better life conditions..."

"Yeah we know it, but why weren't police helping what do you need help with?" Hyung asked.

He took out a photo from his wallet and showed it to us...It was a picture of him, his wife, and his daughter. 

"My wife and I were very much in love, and we got married. We had a happy life together and were blessed with a beautiful daughter. We used to live in a small two-room house, but we wanted a bigger place for our little girl. So, we moved.

However, in our new neighborhood, someone started saying unkind things about me, even though I hadn't done anything wrong. They teased me because my father had done something bad in the past. I was used to it, and I could handle their hurtful words. But then, they began to say mean things about my wife.

My wife was hurt by their words, but her love for me made her stay by my side. She endured their cruelty until one day, they started calling our daughter names. That was when things became unbearable.

I found work in a nearby village, and when I returned home, our house was empty. I could see the pain in her eyes as she had tears in her eyes. She had written a letter. In that letter, she said that it would be better for our daughter if we lived apart. She felt a lot of pain, guilt, and anger when making this decision, but she believed it was the best choice.

She told me not to try to contact them again. She said that when our daughter is older and can understand everything, it would be her decision whether she wants to meet me. Until then, I should not even attempt to reach out to them. It was a heartbreaking situation, and I had tears in my eyes as I shared this with you."

"And you waited?" I asked with a pinch of curiosity and concern.

"Yes, five long years passed, but I couldn't bear to stay away from them any longer. I missed them terribly, and so many thoughts and questions tormented me. What if she had married someone else? Would my daughter be calling another man 'dad'? Where were they, and were they facing any hardships? I couldn't sleep, eat, or focus on anything. The longing became too much to bear, so I made the decision to find them. I searched every part of our village, leaving no stone unturned, but luck seemed to not favor me."

"Did you find them?" Hyung was also intrigued but was still cautious...he kept an eye outside the window too making sure no one suspicious was trailing us.

"No, but with utter difficulty, I found the address, I had high hopes, with the money I saved I bought them a lot of presents and was very excited to give them those...I took the immediate bus and reached the address given, but the house was locked...I tried to talk to the neighbors but none of them seemed interested in talking..."

"So you gave up?" I asked disappointed.

"No sir, why would I? After waiting in front of the house for hours hoping that they would show up, an old lady turned up and she asked me why I was staring at the door and I explained everything and she said she knew them..."

"What did she tell you?" I asked

"That those two were inseparable and they missed me...my wife worked hard to provide for them but never married someone else. She worked hard and hard and ignored her health...she found out that she had cancer and didn't have much time, so, with no choice left, she left our daughter in an orphanage far away from where they stayed."

"Did you meet your wife?" Hyung asked in a very softened voice.

"I did but it was too late, I got to know that she was hospitalized so I rushed to her, but it was too late (he was sobbing...hyung went and patted his shoulder) I was a fool to leave them like that...I should have been there for them, I should have searched for them a little earlier. I tried every orphanage but had no luck, I didn't even know her name. I went to every police station but they wouldn't help me...told me I was a lost case and some didn't even want to look at me because of my father. I just wish..."

Hyung made him sit on the chair and asked him to look at him...

"I understand your pain, I lost my wife too, and I blame myself for that...but we should ask ourselves do they want us to be this?" Hyung pointed his hand towards him and he nodded no.

"But still why us?" I asked

"As I mentioned, my father was involved with that agency, and he lost his life trying to save mine and many others. But not many people know about it. The person responsible, the killer, might still be alive. So, I want to assist you in solving this case, and in return, you can help me with mine. I need this because the case you're investigating is connected to the same situation. I want to clear my father's name, find my daughter, and tell her that I'm sorry and that I was never in the wrong and then tell myself that my father was never in the wrong"

"Can you tell us about your father?" I asked 

and then he said...