A Taste to Spit Out - Chapter 10

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As I opened the next photo,

“Ah….”

It was Kang Yeol-jin. Even more shocking was that I was plastered next to him. It was incredibly hard to believe, almost horrifying.

“..….”

I slid my thumb sideways, scrolling through the memories. We went skiing, traveled to the sea, and I went to the snowy mountains of Switzerland with Kang Yeol-jin, the place I had wanted to see for so long.

Why? Why am I with you? Why do I look so comfortable by your side?

Why do you look so happy, smiling as if everything is perfect?

But I couldn’t deny it; the photos kept pouring out one after another. It was as if they were saying, “Just admit it already,” mocking me for forgetting everything like a fool, asking what I was even trying to deny.

With trembling hands, I deleted each one, wishing I could tear them up and throw them in the trash.

This was a space meant only for Sun-woo and me.

Why did you intrude into our memories? Who do you think you are to intrude?

“Why, why….”

Kang Yeol-jin, no matter where I went, you always followed me.

“Hey, hey, there he is again.”

To find Jeong Hee-jae, all you had to do was look for Kang Yeol-jin. He didn’t just stand by and watch; he lurked in the shadows, observing, and when anyone got too close to me, he’d bark and threaten like a feral dog.

But I knew he didn’t want to do it. It was just a command from his master, and that was all it was.

My father had told me to stay away from those beneath my station. Just being born into this family was enough to soil my name.

So I had to live in loneliness for the rest of my life. No one could approach me because of that damn dog watching over me. I was not only caged in a cell but had my feet tightly bound as well.

I should have been more careful, though. I knew better than anyone that Kang Yeol-jin was a tenacious bastard who I could never sever ties with on my own.

He would pop up out of nowhere, always lurking.

And then, he found Sun-woo. He was watching me share bread with Sun-woo on the rooftop, hiding behind the wall.

That piercing gaze of his…

Screech. When I heard the chilling sound of the iron door closing and the eye that had achieved

its purpose disappearing, my heart felt like it had been grazed by a sharp razor blade. Perhaps I had foreseen our fate even then.

If only I had stopped right then, maybe Sun-woo wouldn’t have suffered such an unjust death because of me!

Finally, my hand, still holding the phone, dropped to my thigh. Despair had drained all my strength away.

“…….”

I slowly surveyed the studio. Why was everything here just as it was two years ago? It felt as if time had frozen.

I traced the easel frame slowly with my index finger, gathering the fine white dust. I had claimed to be happy. Despite pushing Sun-woo to his death, I had greedily swallowed my happiness.

I had lived well, sleeping soundly, and yet I hadn’t picked up a brush even once.

As I was leaving, the only thing that lingered in my heart was the thought of painting. I regretted never being able to create even one thing I truly wanted to draw.

But I, the one who survived, had let it all go. Ironically enough.

Without my father, I ended up unable to paint at all.

Yeah, it’s not surprising. The strings of the puppet that were once tied to my father had simply been passed to 강열진(Kang Yeol-Jin).

That’s all it was. There shouldn’t be any confusion about it.

“…….”

I slowly closed and opened my eyes. In the distance, through the window, I saw a lake.

And there, a large tree stood. The one Sun-woo had hanged himself from… Those thin arms, the swaying white legs.

My vision turned white, and it began to flicker. Thump, thump; my heart pounded irregularly.

Thud! I lost my grip on the phone, and it fell to the floor, rolling away. I crawled desperately on all fours, struggling to grab the phone again. My hands trembled uncontrollably.

“Ugh, hhh…”

A heavy, humid breath filled my lungs, making it hard to swallow. Hyperventilation—damn it, the panic set in.

I feel frustrated; it feels like I’m going to die from it! I had to catch my breath, which was about to escape. Slowly, slowly… I’m trying to calm my racing breath. Now, just a moment… Suddenly, a thought struck me like lightning. Is there a reason I must move forward?