Red Mansion

The clear liquid from the syringe flowed into the patient’s arm, and a drop of red blood emerged where the needle had been. Sung-kyung quickly lowered his head and looked at his mother’s arm. There was no blood at the needle mark.“Please… do it for my mother too.”As she skipped his mother, Sung-kyung grabbed her. Now that he looked closer, the woman seemed to be about the same age as his mother. For a moment, he saw the image of his healthy mother in her face. Sung-kyung shook his head vigorously.She brusquely shook off the frail hand clutching her clothes, and the hand fell limply onto the mattress. His mother’s index finger and Sung-kyung’s thumb touched. He quickly grasped his mother’s fingers. They felt as hard as frozen clumps of earth in the middle of winter.“…”A feeling of emptiness overcame him. He needed the medicine, especially at times like this. That way, he could see things the way he wanted to. His parents rising from their bed, the three of them finding peace amidst the chaos of the Red Mansion, just like it was two years ago. Was he really supposed to abandon his mother in a park?“Damn it.”He couldn’t leave his mother out on the street. Never. But for that, he needed money. Sung-kyung jumped up from his spot, startling everyone who had been watching him.“I’ll get the money. I’ll bring all the money.”Don’t say my mother is dead. I’ll bring the money. Repeating these words, Sung-kyung dashed out of the hospital. As soon as he disappeared, the doctor clicked his tongue and shook his head. He must be completely out of his mind. After hours of silence, that’s all he said. The woman started gathering the empty medicine bottles that Sung-kyung had been guarding.“Where did all the money go? There was some… someone gave it to me….”After fumbling for the right key, Sung-kyung finally entered the store. The first thing he did was open the bottom drawer. He had been storing the money Chungrim had given him as tips in there.“Where did it all go?”Why was there so little? Had someone stolen it? Sung-kyung’s face turned pale. He had forgotten that all his money had been taken when he was falsely accused and dragged away. The money he managed to scrape together from the store amounted to only 80,000 won. His thoughts were intermittently clear and then hazy.“No… there should have been more, much more.”Suddenly, he wondered if Chungrim had actually given him those tips. No, was Chungrim even a real person? Was he just a figment of his imagination?Overwhelmed by anxiety and despair, Sung-kyung grabbed his notebook in a hurry. He flipped through the pages furiously, as if he might tear the thin paper, until he reached the last page.The first call of the morning is the most anticipated. I’m excited by the sound of a sleepy voice. Maybe because I can imagine what he looks like. The feel of the white blanket, the scent in the room. The cool breeze, all of it is vivid. Vivid. Vivid. Chungrim must be real… right?“But…”Every page was filled with stories about Chungrim. Chungrim was not a fantasy. Going to his house wasn’t a fantasy, and neither was the money he gave. Then there should be more money. Why was there so little?Sung-kyung upended every drawer in a fit of rage. Still, no more money emerged. He vaguely remembered using it to pay off interest, but he was sure there should have been more. He chewed on his thumbnail as he anxiously paced around the store.“I can’t wait any longer.”He decided to take the money from the safe. He opened the old safe and grabbed all the bills. Even after scraping every bit, it didn’t amount to 100,000 won, but he shoved the money into his apron and grabbed the key.“Always lock the door, Sung-kyung. Assume everyone except our family are thieves.”His mother’s words when he first started running the store echoed in his mind. He kept repeating those words as if reciting a mantra.At first, it was just a bit difficult to move. But that was just the beginning. Over the past two years, everything had changed. His parents, once healthy and helping with deliveries whenever they had time, had gradually deteriorated.Their bodies stiffened, and they could no longer stay upright. Crawling to the bathroom or the refrigerator was the extent of their movement. Eating the porridge Sung-kyung prepared was a matter of luck. If they were conscious, they ate; if not, he had to feed them. Digesting food became a challenge, and drinking water through a straw was a rare relief.Despite the dire situation, he clung to hope because they were still alive. He heard there were cases where people could still live relatively normal lives despite such conditions, so he never gave up.After double-checking that the store door was locked, he closed his eyes and then opened them, finding himself already inside room 422. He was searching for money somewhere in the house. He didn’t know how he had gotten there, but his body was drenched in sweat.“Where did I put it?”Standing in the middle of the room, Sung-kyung looked around anxiously. Usually, he kept money in an envelope at the bottom of the winter blanket box. He hastily rummaged through the box, tearing through the blankets, but found nothing. Where did he move it? His bloodshot eyes scanned the room until they landed on the short refrigerator.“Oh.”Yes, he had moved it there. He hurriedly opened the refrigerator. After rifling through the containers, he didn’t find the envelope hidden in the kimchi container. His frantic hands reached the translucent drawer at the bottom. Inside was a bundle tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.“Ha, here it is.”A grin tugged at Sung-kyung’s lips. He wasn’t sure if it would be enough, but it was a substantial amount. He unwrapped the plastic and bundled the money in a newspaper lying on the sink. He stuffed the bundle into his apron and rushed out of the house.This should be enough to save his mother. His desperate hope remained unshaken.＊＊＊— Again? Alone?Chungrim walked down the store corridor and headed for the stairs, his face filled with annoyance. His response was curt.— Of course alone. You think I’d drag those dark goons with me like my older brothers do?Except for collecting rent, Chungrim preferred to move alone. The men his brothers assigned were all thugs. Their insistence on wearing black suits even in this heat was ridiculous. Wasn’t it comical to advertise that they were gangsters?“Even if they look like that, they’re good for physical tasks. Anyway, is something going on there? Don’t hide anything. Before handing over to Boss Kim, we need to clear out any trouble.”The residents of Red Mansion each had their own issues, but they were also easy to exploit. With their precarious status and shady backgrounds, they couldn’t easily live outside.There weren’t many ways to make money inside the Red Mansion. Selling the drugs Chungrim supplied was the main source of income. The operation involved many people from packaging to delivery, feeding quite a number of residents. It was a big money business that kept the Red Mansion running smoothly. If drug supply was halted, the entire Red Mansion would suffer.— They’re taking care of a hassle for us; the least we can do is uphold our end of the bargain.Chungrim’s brothers planned to sell Red Mansion and its residents to Mr. Kim, who managed labor services. By providing the residents with job opportunities, Mr. Kim would get a large workforce for cheap since these people couldn’t report any unfair treatment. Moreover, the monthly fees they collected from the residents were quite profitable, making it a lucrative long-term investment despite the initial cost.Once Chungrim’s brothers sold off Red Mansion, they intended to shift their focus away from these tiresome, trivial matters to other ventures.Neither Mr. Kim nor the residents would lose out. The residents believed that as long as they could make money, it didn’t matter what kind of work they did. Therefore, it didn’t matter who was in charge.“There’s nothing troublesome going on.”Chungrim climbed the stairs quickly. He stepped over the threshold where only traces of a door remained. Passing through the hallway, he checked the room numbers: 426, 425, 424…Room 422. His shoe stopped in front of the shabby, rusty door. He knocked loudly, but there was no response.— Don’t let things escalate. You need to handle them while you still can. How many times have I told you?“…”Red Mansion was peaceful. The only one burdened with complications was Chungrim. His brother’s words echoed in his ears like a persistent tinnitus. Handle things while you can. Now seemed like the perfect moment. Despite this, he continued to knock. As there was no reply, Chungrim’s expression soured.“Fuck, hang up.”He checked the time after ending the call abruptly. The ‘exact hour’ without a missed call had passed for the third time. The store was empty. Despite coming to Room 422 listed on the admission form, there was no sign of life. Could that bastard have run away out of fear? That shouldn’t be the case since his parents were still hospitalized.“After all that beating, he still hasn’t come to his senses, that dimwit.”It hadn’t even been a week since he last raised his hand due to a delayed call. Yet here he was again, driven to action by Sung-kyung. Though the reason seemed trivial, he found himself returning to Red Mansion repeatedly despite hating the hot and humid conditions. The peculiar tension Sung-kyung caused was baffling.Chungrim, fanning his shirt, descended the old emergency exit. His polished shoes clashed with the decrepit, ash-covered stairs.“Maybe the hospital.”With so many expenses piling up, did he close the store and go there? He didn’t know his priorities. Having given the money to the doctor, they’d handle it, so what good would going there do? That fool did nothing but stupid things. Chungrim clicked his tongue and quickened his pace.Rounding the corner, he saw Room 109 with its door wide open and loud voices coming from inside. A familiar voice caught his ear.“Damn, there he is.”Chungrim’s face twisted. Despite acting like he’d lick his shoes if asked, Sung-kyung had a knack for rubbing him the wrong way. Normally, he would have cut him off without hesitation, but recently, he found it hard to discard someone who provided such rare amusement.If that idiot looked up at him with that stupid face, he’d snap at him about not making him act like a debt collector. Chungrim gathered the irritation he had felt on the way here, ready to unleash it on Sung-kyung.“I’ll give you everything.”“Ha, really.”A commotion continued inside. Chungrim entered through the open door. Sung-kyung clung to the doctor’s coat, pleading desperately. The elderly doctor, looking troubled, tried to pull up his sagging coat.“Oh, you’re here. Hey, over there.”The doctor, spotting Chungrim first, patted Sung-kyung on the shoulder. Despite the doctor’s words, Sung-kyung didn’t turn around. He seemed oblivious to everything else.“What’s going on?”Chungrim laughed in disbelief, but his smile quickly faded.“His mother passed away. But he keeps insisting to give him money, saying he’ll raise more funds if we pretend she’s still alive…”Standing at the entrance, Chungrim watched the absurd scene unfold. There was a reason for Sung-kyung’s dazed behavior. Sung-kyung’s unfocused eyes finally met Chungrim’s.“Hey, over here.”He had called out like that before. Chungrim had told him to find a proper way to address him, yet he still hadn’t moved past that. Chungrim raised an eyebrow at the vague call.“This guy is a quack. Tell him to give back the money. Hurry.”Sung-kyung was clearly looking at him, but his eyes were unfocused. His speech was disjointed and strange. He seemed like a completely deranged man.“…Ha, really annoying.”It seemed excessive for just a brief fling. He thought he had found someone to play with, a new kind of fun. But this was turning into more trouble than it was worth. He started to regret getting involved with a lunatic.Should he knock some sense into him? Chungrim’s eyes fixed on Sung-kyung’s lips, barely healed from previous beatings.“I’m serious. He keeps raising the price. He says he’ll abandon his mother outside if he doesn’t get the money, and he keeps…”“Hey.”Chungrim stepped forward and gripped Sung-kyung’s trembling shoulders. Holding him firmly as he struggled, Chungrim made eye contact.“…Yes?”“Get a grip.”Sung-kyung’s frail body wavered as Chungrim pushed him towards the doctor. Sung-kyung’s mother lay on the floor, not on the mattress. Two men were wrapping her body tightly in a thin sheet.“How are you planning to handle this?”Chungrim addressed the unfamiliar undertaker without hesitation. The undertaker seemed surprised by Chungrim’s sudden appearance but quickly composed himself, knowing he was the only one who could explain the situation properly.“I told him to think it over for two days. If payment isn’t made within the deadline, we’ll have to treat the body as unclaimed. It’s not right to force a decision now…”The undertaker circled his finger near his head, indicating Sung-kyung’s madness. Chungrim’s eyebrow twitched slightly. He already knew Sung-kyung was crazy, but he couldn’t help but scowl.“If that bastard doesn’t come to his senses in two days, cremate her. My people will handle the payment.”“What?”The undertaker’s expression seemed to question why Chungrim was taking on this task.Exactly, why am I doing this? Chungrim shrugged lightly.If he had to find a reason, he could come up with one. He remembered the day over ten years ago when his father passed away.It was when his father had just been discharged and was resting at home. He said he would take a nap but never woke up. Chungrim was the only one there at that moment. He didn’t know what to do, feeling only fear and helplessness as he looked at his father, who wouldn’t wake up.When his twin brothers came to handle the situation, during the various stages of the funeral, Chungrim was just there, standing by.“No.”Looking at Sung-kyung’s pale face spewing nonsense, Chungrim saw his younger self, terrified and alone. That’s why. The reason for his uncharacteristic compassion and unwarranted sympathy was nothing more than that.“Just cremate her even if that bastard regains his senses. I’ll send someone over later.”“Understood, I’ll make the preparations.”Chungrim took out his phone and dialed one of the unsaved numbers. He hadn’t brought his wallet since he came to punish Sung-kyung for not calling at the exact hour. What a hassle. The call connected after only two rings.— Yes.“Bring some cash to the mansion. About…”Trailing off, Chungrim saw the undertaker hold up five fingers.“A large bill.”The undertaker’s face brightened instantly. Chungrim knew well the power of money. Fear, despair, and even death could be dealt with using money.— Got it. I’ll prepare and come over.While Sung-kyung was lost in his madness, Chungrim, like his brothers, began to calmly handle the situation. This time, he wasn’t trembling in the face of death.＊＊＊Sung-kyung sat on the doorstep of Room 109. His gaze was fixed on the empty mattress. Eventually, his mother was taken by the undertaker, who was clearly in cahoots with the quack doctor. Despite telling Chungrim about it, Chungrim did nothing but give money to the undertaker. He probably didn’t mind giving money to quacks since he had so much of it.His father had briefly regained consciousness before falling asleep again. The medication seemed too strong. Would they also take his father away, claiming he was dead?“Ah, money…”Come to think of it, he hadn’t given the quack any money yet. Maybe that’s why they took his mother. He still had crumpled bills and a bundle wrapped in newspaper in his apron pocket. Did the doctor put it there, or was it Chungrim? His memory was hazy, like a fog.“Why didn’t they take it?”Despite liking money so much, it was strange. They had said they would leave his mother on the street if he didn’t pay. Sung-kyung hung his head and shook it slowly. It was a meaningless gesture.Chungrim, who had just returned after making arrangements, witnessed the scene. There was a woman at the desk, thugs in undershirts in the living room, and the doctor in the room. Four people, yet no one cared about Sung-kyung or tried to stop him.“Hey.”Chungrim knelt in front of Sung-kyung. His bloodshot eyes met Chungrim’s slowly.“Where’s the key to the store?”“The key? It should be here.”Sung-kyung fumbled through his apron pocket. The money and phone made it hard to find the key. As he flapped his apron, a jingling sound came from the pocket. Growing impatient, Chungrim reached into the pocket and pulled out the keyring, shaking it in front of Sung-kyung’s unfocused eyes.“This it?”“Yes.”He began to babble about the keys for the store, the ice cream freezer, and the small refrigerator. Chungrim frowned, then slipped the keys into his shirt pocket. Suddenly, Sung-kyung laughed, his swollen eyes closing with the faint smile.“Are you taking it for the hospital bill?”“…What are you talking about?”“No, that was something else given to me.”Mumbling, Sung-kyung continued to giggle. His shoulders shook, and his cracked lips spread wide. Chungrim couldn’t suppress his irritation. Slap. He struck Sung-kyung’s cheek hard, sending his head whipping around, hair flying messily.“How many times do I have to hit you before you come to your senses?”Opening the store in this state would surely lead to it being looted. He had planned to confiscate the keys for now, but Sung-kyung’s nonsense irritated him further.Chungrim grabbed Sung-kyung’s chin, forcing his head straight. Despite the eye contact, Sung-kyung’s eyes remained empty. His eyes were red but dry. That annoyed Chungrim even more. He tightened his grip on Sung-kyung’s chin and extended his index finger, as if to envelop Sung-kyung’s face.“Follow that guy in two days.”His index finger brushed the soft skin under Sung-kyung’s eye, as if trying to erase the mole there.“Got it?”“Yes… I’ll follow him in two days.”Sung-kyung nodded his head slightly. Chungrim swore under his breath. Every move he made seemed idiotic. But then again, he couldn’t understand why he was bothered by it all. He released the grip on his face and hesitated briefly. Should he take him home?“…”No, it was just a few times of physical involvement. He didn’t want to get more involved. If he did this much, Sung-kyung should learn to handle the rest himself.“I’m leaving.”All he felt for Sung-kyung was mere interest and curiosity. It was just a mix of pity and compassion, nothing more. It would never be anything more.Chungrim left without any regrets, leaving Sung-kyung alone. Follow the undertaker in two days. To make sure he didn’t forget Chungrim’s order, Sung-kyung repeated it over and over.Sung-kyung sat on the doorstep late into the night, utterly lost. Sitting there all day allowed him to watch his father regain consciousness and eat porridge. His father didn’t say anything, even when he saw the empty spot next to him.Did he already know? Dad, they said Mom passed away. What should we do? The words rose to his throat, but he swallowed them back, not wanting to pair his mother with the word death just yet.“Why don’t you go home, huh?”The woman at the desk had gone home, and the guys in 110 were boiling water for cup noodles. The doctor, holding a wooden chopstick, tapped Sung-kyung’s knee as he passed by. His voice was filled with annoyance.“Your dad is sleeping soundly after taking his meds. Sitting there won’t change anything.”“…”“Go home and come back tomorrow.”The white coat brushed against his knee as it fluttered by. The spot where the doctor had kicked felt itchy.“Can I come in the morning?”“Yeah.”Answering begrudgingly, the old man picked up his cup noodles. Sung-kyung finally felt hungry. Did he eat anything today? Maybe just a few sips of water. He stood up and left the hospital without saying goodbye.Every time his cheap slippers dragged across the rain-stained hallway, water spread out. Walking slowly, he reached the store. Did I turn off the fan earlier? The fan, chained to the wall to prevent theft, stood quietly against the wall.He stood in front of the aluminum door covered with numbered stickers. He searched his pocket. But he only found cash, no keys.“This is the house key.”No matter how much he searched, it wasn’t there. That’s strange. Sung-kyung returned to Room 109 and rummaged through the spot where he had been sitting. He even asked the doctor, who just finished his cup noodles, how he bought it if the store was locked, only to get cursed at and told to leave.Wandering around the mansion like he’d lost his mind, he found nothing. Helplessly, he headed home. The room, with its lights and fan turned off, was quiet. Only the sound of rain hitting the window echoed.Slowly, Sung-kyung moved to the spot under the window. The place where his parents would lean back after eating porridge to help with digestion. Sitting there, listening to the rain, he felt at peace.He closed his eyes. His tired eyelashes trembled slightly, finding some calm. If only this were all a dream. If only he could open his eyes and see his parents lying where they always were. He didn’t even wish for their health from two years ago.Just, just… If they were just there, how nice it would be. Sung-kyung hugged his knees and leaned his forehead against them. The pitch-black darkness swallowed him whole.“It’s too quiet.”He had lived with his parents, hearing their faint breathing until just before falling asleep. Now it was eerily silent. He didn’t know being alone could be so frightening. Shivering for a while, Sung-kyung pulled the pile of blankets from the corner.“Good thing I didn’t wash these, right?”It was lucky it was the rainy season. If it were sunny, he would have taken them to the laundromat immediately. He was glad he washed Chungrim’s clothes and underwear first. He spread the old, worn-out blankets and lay down sideways on them. They still smelled like his mother. She hadn’t left; she was still here with him.Tears welled up between his lowered lashes. The sound of Sung-kyung’s sobs was buried under the crashing thunder. It was truly fortunate that it was raining.＊＊＊As soon as day broke, he went to the store and realized he had lost the key. He paced nervously in front of it. Wandering the windless hallway had made breathing difficult. Forcibly taking shallow breaths, he found himself back at Room 109. The old doctor looked annoyed but let him in.Sung-kyung stayed by his father’s side for an entire day. He didn’t feel hungry or thirsty. Whenever his father regained consciousness, he would talk to him as if nothing had happened. Though his father might have sensed his mother’s absence, he didn’t mention it.The day’s memories were like a puzzle, falling apart. There were not just a few missing pieces; large chunks were missing. He tried to piece his memory together, but it didn’t fit. He remembered hearing the doctor eating noodles earlier, but when he came to, it was night again, and he was back in the middle of Room 422.Sung-kyung blinked blankly, scanning the room. Room 422. The house where his mother, father, and he lived. The moldy walls, the old blankets scattered under the window, and the sticky linoleum floor were all the same. The only decent piece of furniture was a small fridge. This was indeed his home. On the drying rack in the middle of the room were Chungrim’s T-shirts and underwear.“When…”When did I come home? I was just at the hospital. He didn’t remember, but his back was damp. Sung-kyung slowly moved his eyes and headed for the drying rack.Room 422. The expensive fabric didn’t fit in this place. That it was hanging in his room didn’t seem real. It felt so unreal, like he wouldn’t even get hurt if he jumped out the window. It was as if he was in a completely different world.“They’re all dry. I should return them.”Oh, did he say it’s okay not to return them? I think we talked about it, but I can’t remember how it ended.Though the clothes and underwear were thin and had absorbed moisture, they were completely dry. He thought about smelling them but gave up, fearing they might smell musty. He felt sorry for the clothes that had traveled from a good-smelling, perfectly climate-controlled place to Room 422.“I haven’t called all day. He gets mad if I don’t…”If he didn’t call at the exact time, Chungrim got angry. He said his orders must be followed exactly. If not, he would come to Red Mansion and slap him. But why didn’t he come today? I don’t think I called even once. Sung-kyung tilted his head in confusion.Unable to withstand the heat, Sung-kyung finally entered the bathroom. He took off his sweat-soaked clothes and washed away the heat. After leaving the bathroom, dripping with water, he changed his clothes. He then sat in the middle of the dark room, monopolizing the fan. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt the breeze so comfortably.His damp hair slowly dried in the lukewarm air. As he tousled his bangs, he felt the scab left on his forehead. On the day this wound was formed, his mother had briefly opened her eyes and spoken to him with concern. By the time the wound had healed and the scab had half fallen off, his mother had passed away. She left without seeing his healed face, carrying only her worries. The memory of his mother’s struggle whenever her medication was reduced, claiming her throat felt tight, made Sung-kyung frown as he felt a similar choking pain.“…”Although the lights were off, the moonlight from outside provided enough visibility. The floor was strewn with the clothes and blankets he had worn. He needed to clean up, but his body wouldn’t move. He sighed and let the fan’s breeze wash over his face.“No matter how tired you are, you have to clean up.”Sung-kyung’s eyes snapped open and he scanned his surroundings. As he quickly turned his head, his hair pricked his eyes.“Huh, Mother?”He was sure he heard his mother’s voice. It was something she often said to him since he was a child. Even if you’re tired, clean up so tomorrow will be easier. If you don’t clean properly during the rainy season, mold will grow. He was certain he heard it. Sung-kyung turned his back to the fan and carefully inspected the empty room. Though there was nothing there, it felt as if she was somewhere.“Mother.”His trembling voice did not echo back. Though he hoped, he was indeed alone.“Ha ha…”Sung-kyung once again fell into a shallow despair. She had passed away. He saw it. So how could he hear his mother’s voice? If only he had taken drugs, he wouldn’t have had to face reality. The clumsy hallucinations clung to him, shaking him.“…”Rattle rattle—. He turned off the fan. While it was spinning quickly, he didn’t notice, but as the speed slowed, the fan blades made a loud rattling noise. He thought it needed fixing but didn’t do anything about it. He couldn’t. He was the kind of person who would never fix the fan blades, only ever feeling lukewarm air from the poorly functioning fan until he died.“There’s no one here anyway, so what?”Besides, even if he fixed the fan, his mother, who would have enjoyed the breeze all day, was no longer there.That night, Sung-kyung lay curled up with his ears covered. He kept hearing his mother’s voice. Sung-kyung, Sung-kyung. The sound clung to his ears like sticky grease-stained dust. In the dark, unlit room, Sung-kyung tried hard not to react to the voice calling him.An apron strewn on the floor caught his eye, but he couldn’t bring himself to reach for it for hours. Reaching out was difficult. He had lost the key to the shop and couldn’t even move his hand—a lazy and useless self. Suppressing his self-reproach, he continued his shallow breathing.After a long time, he gathered the courage to pull the apron towards him and fumbled through its pockets. Lying curled up, only his hand moved slightly. He felt a wad of cash and crumpled bills, then a hard object. He pulled it out and tapped it a few times with his fingers. As the screen lit up, the room filled with light. Sung-kyung, Sung-kyung. The voice calling him was still there.“Right on time.”Coincidentally, it was exactly 3 AM. He remembered calling Chungrim at exact times. If he didn’t do it right, he’d be beaten. Not that he minded the beating; the pain often came with a corresponding pleasure. As he recalled the large hand that would hit his cheek, his toes curled inward.Without realizing it was dawn, Sung-kyung dialed from his call list. The phone rang for quite a while. In the intervals when the ringing subsided, he heard his mother’s voice calling him again.— …Shit, what is it at this hour.The voice was lower and sounded more relaxed than sharp.“I called because it’s the exact time.”— What?A cold laugh returned. Still, Sung-kyung didn’t take the phone away from his ear.“I have something to ask. This sound…”Lying down, he rolled his eyes and scanned the dark room. The messy floor and Sung-kyung, Sung-kyung. The faint call.“Can you hear it? Please listen.”He held the phone up in the air. The call time steadily increased. Chungrim didn’t say anything, but the mother’s voice continued to echo in 422. If he could hear this voice too, it would confirm his mother was somewhere.After holding it up for a while, Sung-kyung brought the phone back to his ear and whispered softly.“Can you hear it?”— What?“Didn’t you hear it? I keep hearing my mother’s voice. She’s calling my name. Oh, my name is Kim Sung-kyung.”Just in case he didn’t know his name, he added it kindly. But all he got was a big sigh in return.— Did you take drugs?“No, I couldn’t.”— Ah, fuck. You’re really getting on my nerves.He cursed a few more times and then abruptly hung up. Sung-kyung stood there with the disconnected phone, dazed. Hearing the word “drugs” made his stomach churn with thirst. The apron in front of him was stuffed with money. Enough to buy drugs. Should he get some? His mouth felt dry as he licked his lips repeatedly.As he wasted time doing nothing, there was a bang—! The rusty front door shook. A faint light seeped in under the door, with a dark figure in the center. Bang—! Sung-kyung, who had been blinking blankly, jumped up.Must be Mother. His lips curled up, and his eyes widened. Bang bang—! Hearing the dull noise again, he got up and unlocked the door.“Mother—.”“What the fuck are you talking about? Move, damn it.”Why is Kwon Chungrim here? The sense of reality didn’t sink in as he roughly pushed past and entered. Had he been imagining too long? Why did this man come to 422 at this hour?“Look at this mess of a house.”Chungrim kicked the clothes strewn across the floor. The clothes, hit by his foot, flew off and hit the wall before falling to the ground. It wasn’t a hallucination. It was really Chungrim. He was wearing a loose-fitting short-sleeved T-shirt and training pants. Unlike his usual flashy appearance, he was dressed comfortably.“How did you get here…?”“You called at dawn and woke me up. You’re such a pain.”The sensor light that had come on in the hallway went out. The room was filled with a hazy darkness again. Sung-kyung quickly closed the front door and groped along the wall. In the summer, he usually kept the lights off because he had the fan on all day. Still, with Chungrim here, he couldn’t let himself appear shabby in front of him.Soon, Sung-kyung’s fingers touched the switch. When he pressed it, the light came on with a click. The sensation left on his fingertips felt strangely unfamiliar.Flickering. Maybe because it had been a while since he changed the bulb, the yellow light was dim and flickered quickly. Chungrim glanced up at the ceiling. His face appeared and disappeared repeatedly.“Are you going to keep standing there like an idiot?”“Ah.”Sung-kyung, who had been standing by the shoe rack in his slippers, quickly stepped onto the worn-out linoleum floor. The sticky and soft floor felt unpleasant under his feet. Chungrim plopped down under the window and settled there. It was a spot where the fan’s breeze barely reached.“Turn off the light and go to sleep already. Aren’t you coming with me tomorrow?”At Chungrim’s harsh tone, Sung-kyung hurried to move. Ah, we’re going to the cremation tomorrow, right? Using the light coming through the window, he fumbled his way to the bed.“Damn it, getting tangled up with a crazy guy is such a hassle.”He muttered loudly enough for Sung-kyung to hear. Sung-kyung couldn’t respond. There wasn’t anything untrue about what Chungrim had said. He just curled up on the old, worn-out bedspread. Chungrim leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, and stared fiercely at the floor.The cool scent wafted from beside him, and he could even feel his breath. Sung-kyung stole glances at Chungrim in the darkness. He almost burst into laughter and had to cover his mouth.It was strange. Since Chungrim had entered room 422, he no longer heard the hallucinations calling his name.