Seo- ryeong suppressed her anxious feelings from time to time and put on a kind and gentle face. She wanted to live a normal life, so she had to become an or dinary woman.
"What time do you get off work today? "There' s no company dinner, right?"
In a moment, he brought a thin blanket and wrapped it around Seo- ryeong' s body without saying a word. I felt her lower her head as if to k i s s her and then quietly back away.
"I have a cold. Even if the delivery man comes, don't open the door."
"That sound every day. By the way, I guess someone is moving."
"why?"
"It's a bit messy. "Sometimes I hear thumping noises as they put their luggage away."
"Wasn' t it noisy?"
He gently stroked Seo- ryeong' s ears. It was a gentle touch, but somehow, unlike usual, it fell off quickly.
"I was just curious. "Because our villa is friendly with its neighbors."
"It will be quiet soon."
"yes?"
"I' ll just leave."
He walked away and turn ed the door handle.
At that moment, Seo-ryeong stretched out her hand and said, "Honey!" Dry saliva was swallowed, and an endearing nicknam e came out.
But he only paused for a moment and did not answer. He did not smile swee tly and call her in the same.
way, nor did he k i s s her happily.
There was a strange, inexplicable silence.
I had a premonition that I suddenly made eye contact with him.
But he wasn 't smiling.
When my husba nd laugh s, there is a unique sound and wave that is transmitted, and this is something that can be easily recognized even if you canno t see. Because they are a couple. Because they are a married couple who live toge ther.
You' ve been strange since last night.
What on earth is going on?
But I was afraid to ask that.
In the end, I shook my head and lowered my arms. it' s nothing.... The only sound that came from my vocal cords, which had been resting from moaning all night, was the sound of the wind.
Clap, tiriri. Soon the door was locked. It was my husband who always said, "I will come back." He was friendl y as usual, but somehow I kept getting on his nerves.
no...! Don't worry. Seo- ryeong shook her head wildly. A teacher once warned me that questioning and doubting every single thing like this was a bad sign.
She moved her legs as if to cut off her persistent thoughts.
I' m leaving work. front... withdrawal... all.
At that time, the sound of his leisurely steps mingled with his voice beyond the thickiron door.
Did I hear wrong?
Instead of leavin g work, I' m going to work now....
Seo- ryeong frowned and blamed me a gain. I must have heard wron g. Seo- ryeong sighed loudly on purpose, saying, "U g h."
At this level, it was truly a disease.
***
-Because the power is turned off, you will hear a beep and then be connected to Sorisam, and a call fee will be charged.
It seems like it will turn a round.
T he current time is 4 a m. Her husband doesn 't ans wer the phone.
N ine hours have passed since I lost contact with my husband, who returns home from work like a machine at seven in the evening.
I was chewing my nails so hard that blood started to form between the broken pieces. The fishy smell of blood filled my nasal passages. Seo- ryeong began to pick at her other fingern ail senselessly.
How did things end up like this?
The thought that started with 'Something must have happened' continued to 'Some thing urgent has come up at the company.' and 'I guess I suddenly have to go out to work and then I'm having a company dinner.'
Like weaving a skein, I tried to think kind and normal thoughts. Otherwise, it seemed like it would start from 'See, he must have had another woman?' and progress to 'He doesn' t love you.'
I needed a teacher all this time to prevent me from being caught up in these vain delusions.
Seo- ryeong took a deep breath and waited and waited. I hope he opens the door and comes in first. May this soggy darkness be driven away.
-The number you are calling now does not existor is a number where incoming calls are prohibited. Please check again and walk...
However, when the company number appeared as an old number, I immediately panicked.
"F u c k, what is this?"
Suddenly a cool smile flashed across her face. Her husband worked for a small business that made and sold medical devices, and he gave her this number himself.
Has the company gone bankrupt?
S o... A h.., s o...
Seo- ryeong took a deep breath again.
But I couldn' t stop banging on the table. She tried to think of him running around busily at work.
I'm sure he hasn't even been able to eat and is busy taking care of things. Yes, it will. So I shouldn' t bother you. Other wive s would be willing to trust her husband. That' s the way it should be....
Let' s only think kind thoughts.
Seo-ryeong headed toward the kitchen as if she was possessed by something. She wanted to do something. She was thinking of making some hot bean sprout soup for her husband, who would retur n home exhausted.
Seo- ryeong didn' t cook often due to her husband' s fear that it was dangerous, but she was good at cooking. Most of the housework was also oftend one before he left work.
Should I wash the bean sprouts first and cut the Cheong yang peppers?
But as time went by, instead of calming down, my breathing became shorter and my hands beca me impatient. And then a h...! The time when I sta rted moaning was when I was cutting the Cheong yang peppers. The tips of her fingers throbbed, as if a small piece of her flesh had been sliced open.
Seo- ryeong snatched the stick and hurriedly put on her slippers without even thinking about putting on her coat. Outside it was raining steadily. She heard the urgent sound of the stick touching the floor: t h u d, t h u d, t h u d.
My husband' s disappearance.
In the end, those two words were the only thing that dominated her mind.
***
"... "I guess my husband went missing-"
My body, soaked from the rain, trembled. The voice was as small as an ant, trembling a wkwardly with un familiar fear.
How ever, the moment the door of the earth belt was opened, the police officers came out like springs and shouted in strong voices as if they were shouting.
"Put down the knife!"
"... yes?"
"Whose blood is that?"
It felt like my ears were going to drop. The radio rang on her left, and the footsteps on her right were distracting. Seo- ryeong took a step towards their presence, which was getting closer little by little. No, my husband is actually-!
"Ahhh-! Put down the knife! Subdue this police officer!"
As someone approached, Seo- ryeong reflexively swung her stick and hit him.
puck-! Judging from the sound it made, it seemed like the shoulder was hit correctly. Ugh...! While he was moaning, he shouted again.
"I think my husband is missing!"
"Yes, I understand. Because I understand... "Put down the knife first!"
"....!"
Only then did I realize that I had come all the way here in a hurry, holding the kitchen knife I used to cut Cheong yang peppers.
She became embarrassed and held out the knife. At the same time, the voices of the men shouting "U u u u u!" continued like a wave. After safely delivering her sword, she sighed in reflection. I wasn 't crazy.
She brushed away the lon lg hair that had been sticking to her face from earlier. And as she wiped the moisture from her face, her intestines strangely became quiet.
what? Even considering that it was after 4 a.m, the chilly air was unusual.
"The blood...."
"yes?"
"Hey, the reporter. You said her husband went missing?"
"yes...! It's a missing person report. Please do it quickly...!"
Howe ver, there was no response from the police des pite the urgent request. Just low whisper s continued.
"Please sit here for now."
The iron chair rubbed against the floor and made an unpleasant sound.
"We will start by registe ring the case. "What is the name of the reporter?"
The police weren' t excited, but fortunately they weren' t upset either. It was a voice that said the spirit of sleep had comple tely escaped.
However, she had all kind s of bad thoughts the whole time she was walking, but when she arrived at the police station, it felt like all the dreams she had imagined were becoming reality. It only took a few second s for her stomach to sink.
"... "Han Seo- ryeong."
"Yes, Mr. Han Seo- ryeong. "How old are you?"
"Twenty- seven..."
"What do you think of your husband?"
"Ah, Sergeant.....!"
The young voice must have hit the sergeant' s side...! There was a sound. Seo-ryeong said indifferently.
"it' s okay. As you can see, because I am blind, my husband wears the same clothes everyday of the wee k. Today I will be wearing a white dress shirt, agray suit, and a blue tie. and..."
Seo-ryeong held on tightly to the stick and lowered her head. Furious and angry, she barely swallowed the sour liquid and gritted her teeth.
"I don' t know his face. But there are photos, wedding photos at home."
"Since what time have you not been able to cont act your husband?"
"It's been about nine hours."
"hmm...."
At that ti me, the police officer' s voice became blurred, as if he was somewhat embarrassed. There was a noise as if he was scratching his head.
"I don' t think we can move right away. "A searc his only possible after a full day has passed since contact with the missing person was lost."
"...."
"It is a practice that arose bec ause many people who went missing return home after about 24 hours... If they appear to be involved in a criminal incident, they may move immediately."
"A criminal case?"
Seo- ryeong' s whole bo dy was shaking now. I couldn't tell if it was because her wet clothes were taking away body heat, or because I could hear the sound of her husband disappearing from my life at every moment.
"For example, trying to disguise an injury case as a disappear ance."
"...!"