FBF chapter 22 part 1

“Is this the store farm…?”

This was Kang Youngsoo’s brief impression as he returned from work to the hospital room. His gaze lingered on the boxes of tangerines stacked next to the sofa, the fruit basket on the table, and the apple mango that Lee Jihoon was peeling, now at his fifth. Lee Jihoon didn’t even pretend to listen as he moved the knife. It had become quite a familiar scene over the past week—Kang Youngsoo complaining while eating the fruit that Jihoon had cut.

“Our Ukie is so popular, what should we do?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what is it? Are the fruits rolling in by themselves? Begging to be eaten just once?”

“Hey, damn it, hold one and eat it. It’s disgusting.”

It had been a week since the surgery. The times when he’d faintly dozed off only to wake up many times a day were gradually reducing, and the hours he spent awake during the day were increasing. Physically, he didn’t feel any significant strain. The results from the tests concerning the brain’s responsiveness, which he had worried might show other issues during the tumor removal process, were also good. The attending physician who had seen him that afternoon said that if things continued as they were, it would be fine to discharge him next week, possibly even earlier than planned. He said I had good recuperative powers for someone my age, speaking with a look of wonder. As they left the examination room together, Jihoon had understood right away, “It’s because you’re eating and sleeping well.” That was a statement made with a firm intent not to allow any rebuttals. I remained silent, recalling the increasingly luxurious meals I had been enjoying. If I said anything here, I dreaded I might end up eating ground pine nuts in porridge sprinkled with gold dust for two days straight.

Anyway, I was also surprised. Everything seemed to be returning to normal much faster than I had expected.

“Jihoon. Jihoon. Look here.”

“What.”

“F*ck you.”

“….”

“Ah, wait a minute, hold on. I wasn’t trying to do this. Just wait a second?”

“….”

“….”

“Here it is. My heartfelt f*ck you.”

Some things were so back to normal that they were starting to be a headache, but now there was no need for Jihoon to stick by me to help with care. After work, Kang Youngsoo would faithfully visit the hospital, and he and Jihoon were acting childish again, bickering like schoolboys every morning and evening. Even as adults, they would joke around, but I thought they had graduated from such raw antics, where they raised their middle fingers and poked at the air.

Sighing, I moved the knife away from the plate where the apple mango, cut neatly by Jihoon, was set down. As soon as I did, Jihoon ran over to Youngsoo, wedged his head between his arms, and began to attack him with light punches. The bed shook along with their tussle.

“The middle finger’s pointing upward, which makes it all the more irritating.”

“Is that so? Score! Ah! My brain cells are dying!”

I had seen Youngsoo desperately trying to escape the entanglement as he pulled on the bed sheets throughout this week.

I really needed to get discharged soon, if only to avoid seeing that sight…

Although, even if I did, returning to work immediately wouldn’t be possible. The doctor had recommended taking at least three months off. The mini wreaths that were stacked neatly by the window, left by the team leader and seniors who had visited that morning, caught my eye. I had heard that the legal battle between Choi Hyuk-jun and Choi Jeong-ho was about to commence in earnest. Though it had become a matter outside of our hands, we still needed to keep an eye out because we had evidence that would be central to the trial. I scratched at my temple, feeling the unfamiliarity of not having any bandages covering my head where I had had surgery just days before.

“By the way, you said you were going to the church. You kept saying you would go this week but haven’t even been yet. Is this the church?”

“Why don’t you go? Go and expel your inner Satan, Jihoon. Even if it’s late, it might not be too late?”

“Stop talking nonsense and just go home or to church. You come here and work hard at eating fruit without even peeling any. It’s so annoying.”

“I cut them for you to eat, so why are you complaining when I do?”

“I didn’t cut them for you to stuff them in your mouth.”

“Ukie said I could eat them!”

“Ah… wait a minute. You didn’t break up again, did you?”

The unexpectedly serious words from Jihoon brought an end to their physical tussle. I turned my gaze from the window. Youngsoo was mouthing something, his expression betrayed that he had been caught off guard.

“I broke up. So I’m hanging on and not going home….”

Jihoon seemed to gain confidence from Youngsoo’s silence. I recognized the pattern well enough too. Whenever Youngsoo got a girlfriend, he would typically reach out less, and as soon as they were about to break up, the frequency of his messages and requests to meet would increase. Jihoon would mercilessly cut him off every time, and it would come back to me.

Youngsoo was sputtering now. Stuttering and wide-eyed, he finally managed to speak in a small voice.

“How did you know I’m seeing someone?”

Youngsoo’s expression as he asked that question appeared anxious, but Jihoon remained unfazed. He crossed his arms and scanned Youngsoo from head to toe before clicking his tongue.

“I thought you were serious since you weren’t acting over the top. But you haven’t changed at all, have you….”

That statement seemed to ignite a fuse in Youngsoo. He jumped up from his seat, quickly rebutting.

“Who’s breaking up? I’m doing great!”

“Really?”

“Really!”

“…Who? You’ve never said anything like that to me.”

My sudden interjection made both of them turn their heads in my direction. Youngsoo’s expression shifted to one of realization. It seemed he just understood that I was also in this room.

Lee Jihoon had said that Youngsoo was likely seeing someone. If he were dating anyone, he would have shared all the details with me without hesitation, and I remember responding nonchalantly to that. But judging by Youngsoo’s reaction now, it seemed Jihoon was right, and I was wrong. Youngsoo approached me cautiously, as if trying to gauge my feelings. He seemed worried that I might be upset.

“Ukie. I didn’t mean to keep it a secret… At first, I didn’t think it would turn out to be such a serious relationship. How should I put it? It just happened before I realized it. It’s a bit difficult to explain. Anyway, I was experiencing something I had never been through before… something strange… something that progresses outside of my will… even though I’m fully aware, it feels a little overwhelming….”

“Are you an alien?”

“…Do you want to die, really?”

Before Youngsoo could lose his focus in glaring at Jihoon, I tugged at his arm and asked.

“Where did you meet this person?”

He had changed partners often enough that every time I heard about it, it felt like they were interchangeable, but for some reason, I was curious this time. The descriptors Youngsoo used to struggle to explain what he didn’t understand were the kind I had never heard before. Jihoon’s earlier claim that Youngsoo must have met someone special might actually hold true this time. Jihoon seemed to be thinking the same, as instead of teasing him more as he normally would, he simply leaned against the wall with his arms still crossed, looking down at Youngsoo.

Youngsoo hesitated for a long while before reluctantly blurting out a single word.

“It’s a, blind date…”

“You’re dragging out a painfully obvious story like it’s some award ceremony.”

“That blind date when you asked me to pick out a shirt?”

Youngsoo’s expression, which had been alternating as he looked at both of us, grew even more ambiguous. Even the moment he nodded felt uncertain.

“Well, it is, but… it’s not the person I went on a blind date with….”

They met on a blind date, but it’s not the same person?

Worried that it was just me not understanding, I glanced aside, but Jihoon’s expression wasn’t much different. Youngsoo hastily tried to wrap up the conversation.

“Anyway, I was going to tell you guys eventually. That person… seems curious about you all too… and today, I think she’s a bit suspicious. Since I’ve been saying I’m visiting my sick friend and haven’t been able to meet… she keeps crying… so, um, let’s say… when the opportunity arises…”

That person? It seemed that the term was awkward for referring to his girlfriend. It wasn’t just me who noticed this; Jihoon too raised an eyebrow at Youngsoo’s use of that phrase. With a nonchalant shrug, Jihoon casually interjected.

“Well, you can just create opportunities. Why not bring her along sometime?”

It was a bold suggestion. Especially considering how apathetic Jihoon had been about Youngsoo’s love life. Perhaps because of that, Youngsoo looked flustered.

“Bring her? What do you mean!”

“You’ve been dying to show her off, so why suddenly hold back now that I’m laying the groundwork? Show us.”

“This is so ridiculous. You’ve never even shown anyone.”

“I’ll show her. I could do it right now!”

I nearly sputtered the drink I was sipping at that. Coughing, Jihoon caught a glimpse of me and tossed me a tissue. I barely managed to regain my composure and wipe my mouth. Now that I thought about it, I needed to say something to Youngsoo. Having not even coordinated our words, I hadn’t expected Jihoon to blurt out something like that. Not even flinching at my glance, Jihoon turned his head away.

“This idiot really will say anything to win…”

Fortunately, it seemed Youngsoo was oblivious to any strange undertones. He seemed to sense that he would lose an argument to Jihoon’s audacity, pulling the briefcase he had thrown down beside him closer to his body. It looked as if he was preparing to make a quick escape if given even the slightest chance.

Just as expected, Youngsoo took a cautious step back from us.

“Um. I’ll head to the church now then?”

For some reason, Youngsoo was trying to avoid this conversation. He watched us with wary eyes, retreating like an animal afraid it would get caught if it turned its back. Jihoon scoffed as he observed Youngsoo inching backward.

“Eat plenty of that apple mango, Ukie. Sleep well at night. If you can’t sleep, give me a call.”

As if trying to divert attention, the words flowed out while Youngsoo kept moving further away. He backed up until his back hit the door, and with that momentum, the door slid open. Seizing the opportunity, Youngsoo grabbed the doorknob and swiftly turned around.

“Then I’ll go, you guys? Take care… ah! Da-in! How did you know to come here?”

Youngsoo’s sentence abruptly sliced off. Despite all his efforts, instead of leaving the hospital room, he had been swept back in. It wasn’t by his own will that someone had pushed him back into the room like a bullfight, and only then did I understand.

A woman I had never seen before stood there.

“I kept calling Youngsoo, but he didn’t answer. I’ve been suspicious about some things lately, so I decided to follow you.”

“No…”

“I confirmed he was in the hospital. Since I’m here, may I introduce myself to your friends?”

I stared at the calm-faced woman addressing Youngsoo, who looked utterly shocked. Clad neatly in gray slacks and a blazer, she appeared as if she had dashed out from work. With ink marks on her cheeks, sleeves rolled up to the elbow, and hair hastily tied into a bun with loose strands sticking out, only she maintained her composure in this impulsive circumstance.

“Oh my, hello. It’s nice to meet you…”

As she spoke, glancing between Jihoon and me, her words faltered. I followed her gaze to see where her attention had turned. With that, the woman spun around to face me, her expression dumbfounded as she looked at me.

“Wait, the Narcotics Unit…? So, you’re Ji Seon-uk from the Narcotics Unit?”

Her fingertip pointed to the mini wreath by the window. It appeared she had caught sight of the words that had been affixed to it, written there jokingly by Jung sunbae.

The woman seemed to be looking for some sort of response, but it was Jihoon who stepped in when I remained silent.

“Do you know her?”

“Um? Ah…”

Her expression snapped back into focus as if Jihoon’s question had jolted her back to reality. Lifting her hand to lightly clap her cheeks, she straightened her outfit, marching towards us with a more composed demeanor. Reaching into her suit pocket, she pulled out business cards to present them to Jihoon and me.

“I wouldn’t say I know him, but I do wish to get to know you better.”

“Is that so?”

Raising an eyebrow, I repeated her words inquisitively.

“I’m a lawyer, so I do have a good grasp of the people working at the police agency.”

She presented herself like a polite saleswoman, leaning her elbow on the table while smiling as if trying to gain our trust.

“Well, it would certainly be hard for me to be uninformed about various matters….”

Jihoon seemed to be ruminating on her absurd compliment more than she was smiling. His expression, slowly losing its guarded look, appeared oddly satisfied. Noticing this, the woman bowed her head toward me as well.

“Speaking of which, I realize we haven’t properly introduced ourselves. My name is Choi Da-in, Youngsoo’s fiancé.”

Fiancé? My head rose before I had even processed her name, and neither Jihoon nor I could hide our intense stares. Youngsoo, however, couldn’t snap out of his daze. Lost in a trance, he mumbled incoherently.

“…Fiancé? Us? We’re…?”

The woman ignored Youngsoo’s bewildered remarks. Instead, as she placed the fruit basket she had been holding onto the side table, she readily continued speaking.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I bought the most expensive one. Considering I went through the trouble to buy this basket while tailing you, I hope you’ll all eat as much as you can of it.”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

“I can guarantee that the apple mango is of the highest quality. If not, please let me know. This is a matter of a long-held trust with the fruit vendors I frequently buy from.”

As I listened to her seriously claim the apple mango that Jihoon had partially peeled for herself, I began to understand why Youngsoo referred to his girlfriend as ‘that person’; it was also evident why he had struggled to explain.

Suddenly curious about Jihoon’s reaction, I glanced over at him. To my surprise, he was grinning. He winked at me, covering his mouth with his hand to avoid being seen, as if sharing a secret.

“See? I told you that guy must have found someone special.”

Before I could respond, Jihoon reached out his hand toward the woman. This gesture seemed surprisingly friendly, coming from someone who had never given a double date to Youngsoo.

“Lee Jihoon. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Oh, that’s what it was.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m getting a clearer picture here. Youngsoo is decent enough objectively, but he’s always been excessively humble, and I’ve been wondering why. Now that I see his friends, it’s starting to make sense.”

“I’ve always felt sorry for that.”

“Is it necessary? Thanks to you, I’ve been given an opportunity, haven’t I?”

Their conversation carried on with absurd amusement, while Youngsoo, half-dazed, remained at the side. I looked down at the business card I had almost forgotten to examine.

Choi Da-in Attorney at JUNG & KIM LLC

* * *

“Are you good at chess?”

It was as if my answer held no importance, as she spread the chessboard before us. I awkwardly gazed at Youngsoo’s girlfriend as she pulled out the pieces from the square box. I had seen her during the first chaotic meeting, clutching Youngsoo’s arm and pleading to go outside, yet she vowed to return. I certainly hadn’t expected her to visit the hospital again, especially since both she and Youngsoo were absent from the room now. With Jihoon unusually quiet, it left just the two of us inside.

Once she was prepared to play, she seemed to become aware of the awkward atmosphere surrounding us. With a short sigh, she set the piece down and shook her head slightly.

“This feels too overwhelming.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I thought I would get to know you better while playing, easing the tension, but now that I see your face, I figure it’s better just to be blunt.”

Just like that, I found myself lost in the flow of the conversation. The woman continued speaking rapidly, not allowing me any chance to catch up.

“Actually, I’ve done a little background check on you.”

Her sudden admission made me involuntarily let out a nervous laugh. I had never encountered anyone so blunt about such matters, especially not someone with a serious demeanor. She remained unfazed by my dumbfounded expression, suggesting she likely had something in mind to discuss, stemming from this initiative. I felt compelled to respond with some levity.

“Aren’t you a lawyer?”

“Why? Do you think lawyers can’t do background checks?”

“No. In fact, it would be even easier.”

“You’re right, it’s ridiculously simple. With just a few connections, I can find out even how many spoons they have at home.”

“…And you know that’s a criminally punishable act, right?”

“Do you want me to file charges? I confessed not to do it, so just let it go.”

She lifted both hands as if mimicking a criminal getting caught, her face exuding no tension. I began to comprehend why she was a contrast to Youngsoo, who would be flustered. While Youngsoo’s emotions were openly reflected, this woman seemed inscrutable. Even now, displaying a face that revealed nothing, she playfully dropped her hands. Such people are the ones whose words deserve extra attention. Keeping my gaze locked on her face, I asked calmly:

“Why did you do it?”

“I found out you’re Ji Seon-uk from the Narcotics Unit.”

“That doesn’t explain the background check.”

“It does. I’m representing Choi Hyuk-jun.”

As that name suddenly surfaced, my mind froze. It revived the image of the wreath that my colleagues had left behind in recognition of the occasion. I recalled her looking back at me, bewildered, due to some inquiries she had. I hadn’t imagined the affair to be linked to that incident. It was just too abrupt.

Suddenly, the name of the law firm written on her business card sprang to mind. It became clear that hers was a firm in competition with my father’s. I realized it was something that had no bearing on me.

So that was the context she intended to discuss just before sharing her findings.

“Alright, the most important detail’s been thrown out there. Now, will we get to the details while playing?”

The woman remained composed, even after throwing a revelation like a bombshell. The way she picked up a piece from beside the board and placed it in its position revealed her nonchalance. When it appeared I was about to make my move, the woman gestured for me with her chin. After inspecting where she had just placed her piece, I moved a pawn in a diagonal direction. Thankfully, I had learned to play chess a little while back. Growing up, my parents would take me to a members-only club where they gathered the kids to teach them how to play.

I wondered if she had been similarly raised in such a manner. The woman observed the chessboard and suddenly let out a thoughtful hum.

“Do you believe in probability during work, or do you trust people more?”

It was a question unrelated to chess. Picking a nonchalant answer, I replied with my eyes still on her.

“It depends on the situation.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, what about you?”

“I trust people.”

As she lifted a piece, she elaborated.

“If I trusted the probabilities, I wouldn’t be taking on Choi Hyuk-jun as a client. The opponent is a big shot, right?”

I stared at her, trying to gauge what meaning she could have intended behind her words. Fortunately, she continued smoothly, as though she had no intention of leaving me to solve the puzzle on my own.

“Do you know why our firm, which is all about winning rates, was willing to take this on?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Because they gave it to me.”

When I hesitated, she quickly clarified.

“I deployed some audicious tactics. I refused to kiss up to my superiors, and learning that I ranked first among my classmates, I questioned why I was assigned this c* case. When they assigned Choi Hyuk-jun to me, they probably thought, ‘this is the chance.’”

“……”

“Crushing the pride of a brash female lawyer while ensuring a hefty commission for Choi Hyuk-jun amounted to a win-win situation.”