Bedtime Story

The Equation of Time

 

 

He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. His thoughts ran wild as he processed the confession of the RecCo girl. The old man was someone he knew, he was probably close to him. A worker in a company, can it be in KJK labels? But that would mean Shi Yoon had already met him. The old man used those women to destroy his family as revenge. Jong kook then wondered at the possibility that the old man was the reason future Jong kook turned into a bastard. There was a high possibility that they had met four years ago. What can he use to destroy us? Jong kook recounted what Ji hyo told him about the old man. Doubts. He was the secret lover. He destroyed the old man’s empire. He used exactly what Ji hyo did against him, doubts. He had the truth. He could’ve told me about Ji hyo being in the mafia… he must’ve twisted the facts and I believed it.

 

He glanced at the envelope beside him. It was taken 8 months ago. If the old man approached him even before Hyo Jong was born, then it fitted with what Ji hyo told him that he suddenly changed four years ago. But if the old man was already successful in breaking them apart, then why did he did still need to use the RecCo girls to blackmail him?

 

Jong kook focused his eyes on the road. A buzzing sound filled the car and he glanced at his phone. Ji hyo. He stepped hard on the break. He panted hard after he almost crashed to the car in front of him. He reached for his phone but it fell from his grasp. His hands trembled badly in anger. The lights turned green and he drove forward while his other hand still touched the vibrating phone.

 

Jong kook pulled over a convenience store and called Ji hyo. “Yeobo! Why weren’t you answering your phone?” he can hear worry and anxiousness in her every word. He willed his voice to sound normal, praying hard that she won’t ever notice. “Ji hyo-yah, I am really sorry –”

“Yah, Jong kook-ah, what’s wrong? Tell me.” he can hear panic in her voice and he wished he could say everything was fine. His throat constricted, it was hard to breathe. Lying to her was suffocating. “J-Ji hyo-yah, listen to me neh?” he can almost picture her nodding to the phone, her eyes tearing up. The image of her doing that made him realize how much she had grown on him. He can already tell what she’s doing without him seeing it, “You trust me right?” there was a soft yes that sounded more like a whimper. “Good. Ji hyo-yah, I may not be able to come home tonight but don’t worry about me, neh? I am with a friend. I need to fix something, then when I come home, I will tell you everything.”

“Is it Shi yoon?” he was taken aback by her answer. This woman knew him too well. “Please yeobo, just come home. I’ll wait for you.”

“Ji hyo, listen to me, it’s all fine. Just trust me.” There was silence. It hurt. She couldn’t answer right away. She couldn’t say it right away, that she trusts him and it hurts. “Please Ji hyo-yah. I’ll be home after I fix this, I promise.”

“Okay, please be safe yeobo.” There was sadness in her voice. He can feel her trying to understand. For a while, there were only silence and the sound of their breathing. Neither said a word. A minute or maybe five had passed, the guard eyed him curiously. Jong kook looked at his phone. The call was disconnected already.

 

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The door opened revealing a smiling Shi Yoon. His smile dropped automatically as he saw Jong kook’s haunted image. “Oh, hyungnim… are you okay?” The older one hesitated. He still didn’t know if he could trust him. There was something fishy there. The old man was someone he knew according to the RecCo girl, then that means Shi Yoon must’ve seen that person already. He sighed, he had no other choice but to ask him, he only needs to be careful of his words. “Hyung, why don’t we sit down for a while? Do you want a drink?” Under normal circumstances, he would’ve have declined but he only nodded. The young man seemed to understand and he was lead to the kitchen.

 

He sat on one of the barstools. A glass of wine was placed in front of him. “That’s the weakest one in the house. So hyung, what happened? It must be quite serious since it’s already midnight.” Jong kook took a sip. The drink wasn’t strong enough to calm him down. For the first time in a long while, he actually craved something that would numb some of his anxiety. He cleared his throat several times. Finally, he set down his glass and looked at Shi Yoon intensely. “What was the old man’s real name?” The young man flinched. He gulped down his own drink and smiled sadly. Jong kook saw a flash of pain in his eyes at the reminder of the unforgotten past and Jong kook knew he could trust the kid. “She finally told you, eh? It’s all in the past hyung… Are you perhaps, mad at her?”

“No, how can I… I am mad at myself. I…” he swallowed but still couldn’t find a better word to call himself, “I was the biggest ever.”

“I am glad you finally realized that. I had always wondered, I wanted to ask you everytime… but I didn’t because Ji hyo-ssi told me not to.” He opened another bottle, the scent was stronger and Jong kook reeled from it. Shi yoon offered to pour him a shot and he accepted. He took a sip and gagged as the other laughed at him. “Serves you right, . She is a great woman, she doesn’t deserve you.” Jong kook nodded silently, his throat burned while his eyes felt teary. The unspoken words hung heavily in the tense air. “I know, I don’t deserve her and all… I just want to make it right.”

“Do you know why I had foolishly let you have her?” The young man’s eyes bore through him, making him uncomfortable. “It’s you she wants. I’m just Im Shi Yoon, I am just a friend.” The two fell silent. The younger one drank some more, while Jong kook stared at his glass. “Shi Yoon, help me. I need to find the old man.”

“What for? He is in the U.S. forever banned to enter Korea again.”

“He is here Shi Yoon.” The younger one turned to Jong kook sharply, his dark brows raised in confusion. “What are you talking about hyung?” How will he explain this? He is supposed to know the old man, but he doesn’t. “The RecCo group… there is something about them I haven’t told anyone before,” he whispered. Shi Yoon smirked, disgust formed in his face. “Your filthy RecCo group hyung? I know that you ed them.” Jong kook shook his head and sighed. He made up his mind already to tell Shi Yoon about what he just discovered. He tossed the envelope in the table. The younger one glanced at him before he looked at the content of the envelope. His jaw dropped at the realization of the blackmail. He stood up and slammed the pictures hard on the table. He ran his hands in his hair in frustration and Jong kook could tell that he is lucky he hasn’t been hit yet. “Hyung this was all blackmail? Why haven’t you said a word? Why didn’t you tell her?” he hastily poured more liquor in his glass and drank it in one go, “I really tried my hardest to shield her from all these, but still she found out. She was a mess thinking it’s all true. And you didn’t even try to deny it. You just ignored it… why? You could have said it wasn’t true, I was there hyung. I saw her cry, I listened to her.”

“There were things that have started making sense just now. Like how Ji hyo can’t tell me about the old man, there were things I can’t tell her too.” I wished I have all the answers but all of us are just trying to find out the truth, “She just told me about the old man. I didn’t know I was being used. Listen to me Shi Yoon-ah… I need to find that person.”

“Do you realize how confusing you are hyung? I need to know everything so I can help you.”

“I know, I am confused myself, but he has the truth.” The younger one contemplated, Jong kook was getting restless. “He is here Shi Yoon, if we don’t find him he will walk the streets freely. He can do what he wants and who knows what that psycho is thinking right now.”

 “! I know I am just thinking.” he went to another room with Jong kook following him. He opened some drawers, taking out papers and calling cards. He looked tense and he shot Jong kook a sharp look. The younger man changed, he looked like a predator. For a while, Jong kook was looking at a gangster’s eyes, bringing him back in time when he almost joined one. The irony of it hit him, he refused before but all his life he had been tied to them. “Okay hyung, I don’t know what’s happening here. I’ll find him and I’ll have people watch Ji hyo and Hyo Jong. You stay here. I think you are his target, so stay put. After this you have a lot of explaining to do.” Jong kook wanted to go home but he was right, if the old man wanted him then he was dangerous to his girls. Shi Yoon retreated to the living room and frantically called people. Jong kook followed him, sitting again on the barstool. He eyed his glass and drank the offensive liquid.

  

Hyung, his real name is Kim Hwan Seul. I know that he was already released from the rehabilitation clinic a year ago. He is on probation but now the officers said he was missing for quite a while and they didn’t know whom to inform. We are looking for possibilities of him changing his name and his face. If he is around us someone would’ve have recognized him or uncle could’ve alerted us, but no one did so it makes sense that he changed his face.”

“Shi Yoon, there’s one more thing I forgot to say, the RecCo girls knows him.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Shi Yoon called someone and barked orders to find the girls. He cringed as foul words echoed in the apartment. Finally, a fuming Shi Yoon dropped his phone and sat opposite of Jong kook. They waited in silence. Jong kook felt a vibration in his pocket and he checked it. It was a text message from Ji hyo. 

I trust you. Please come home, Hyo Jong and I are waiting.

He felt tears springing to his eyes. He tried to wipe them away without Shi yoon noticing. Another phone rang and Shi Yoon quickly answered it. Jong kook wanted to listen to him talk but all he could look at was his phone. He tried to tell her it’s okay, but his hands trembled. He can feel all the fear and sincerity in that message. He finally realized why she didn’t say it right away, she was too worried. It was her trying to hold on to him. He realized why it took her four years to tell him, because they were fools who cared so much for each other that they’d rather hurt for the other. That they’d rather carry the entire burden than to share it with each other. They were fools.

 

Hyung, this makes sense now. You never let me handle RecCo. They are under KJK Labels but that’s only in papers, in fact, I can’t intervene when it’s about them. If it was I, I’d never debut such rude talentless girls, but you… anyway, I found the old man. It’s someone you brought here, RecCo’s manager Park Young San. If only you’ve told me earlier… we were all tricked.” Jong kook clenched his fist as more pieces of the puzzle fell in place. The old man wanted to meet him. The girls letting him know about the old man was a bait, a bait he’ll willingly bite. “Thanks Shi Yoon, where is he?”

“You still have a lot to explain to me hyung.”

“I will, after I talk to him neh?”

“It can be dangerous. Take me with you.” Jong kook sadly shook his head. “I have to fix this mess. It’s my battle now.”

 

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Jong kook found himself in front of a hanok in an old village. He rang the doorbell and a middle-aged woman opened the door. “Is Park Young San here?”

“Young man, do you realize what time it is?”

“I know, I am sorry for being disrespectful, but tell Kim Hwan Seul-ssi that Jong kook is here.” the woman flinched and without a second thought, she led him inside the house. The interior was surprisingly elegant. It was an old house but it was well preserved and the ornate details were something to admire if not for the circumstances. He was led to a room and the woman even bowed to him before leaving. He took a deep breath and opened the door.  A man sat in a corner as if meditating. He let his gaze roam around the room. There was a low desk with medications and other paraphernalia. A bookcase was filled with Korean history books. Confucius’ words were carved on every wooden surface of the room. A low desk had ink and a tablet on top of it, parchment paper scattered on the floor. The scene looked like it was taken out of a sageuk show.

 

“You’re here Jong kook-ah,” the voice echoed eerily in the room. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, an unexplainable chill ran through his body. He stopped walking; he was completely frozen on the spot. The voice sounded like it belonged to a man who knew no boundary of evil. The old man’s face surprised him, he didn’t really look that old. It was a face of a normal person, nothing out of the norm. Then he looked at his eyes, and it was all there. It was gleaming with something he couldn’t name, it was too dark to name. The man was dangerous, he smelled of blood. He wanted to step back but the enemy smelled his fear and he stilled. “Aren’t you here to know the truth?” the old man smiled but it was more like lips twisting in an ugly grimace.

 

“I know what you did to Ji hyo and me.” he hoped his voice sounded brave but he knew it wasn’t. The old man unnerved him, that presence was no joke as he literally felt enveloped in it. A killer was in front of him. A man who takes life with no remorse, he who can smell fear a mile away. He can sense your weakness and use it on you. This was her nightmare. His heart clenched painfully at the thought of Ji hyo being this man’s toy. He wanted nothing but to be with her right now, to hug her tight and never let go. How did the old man approach him? Surely he would’ve have felt that evil aura surrounding him.

 

“Jong kook-ah, are you doing well?” the old man asked him, his tone and voice had changed. It lost the evil in it and if not for the greetings earlier, he would’ve thought he was quite friendly and warm. He managed not to step back, but fear washed over him. This man was not normal. He can hide and lie without you noticing it. A pungent smell covered his face, the effect was instant, his body fell sprawled in the ground.

 

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He can feel numbness all around him. His body felt abused but he couldn’t feel it. His eyes felt heavy and no matter how he tried to open them, he couldn’t. He was aware of the sounds around him. He knows there are two people beside him. He can feel the old man’s gaze on him. “I am a very lonely man. Would you care for a bedtime story?” he wanted to nod, he wanted to hear the truth but he knew his head just dangled there uselessly. “I may be evil but I have my principles. I don’t kill without making sure my target has experienced pain beyond their capacity. It would be fun hearing you scream with that girly voice of yours. It would be fun to starve you until you lose all those muscles. But I think the best thing I can do to you is to torture you with the truth. So listen to my story, I know you can hear me. Listen to me as I tell you how you destroyed yourself.”

 

----------To the old man's mind----------

 

It was a cold night back then. I was brought to the police, but they were my minions. No one knew what to do to me, they can’t let me go but they can’t touch me either.  Everyone had left me, I swallowed my pride and called but they were too scared. The power was passed on to that uncle in the West group. If not for that young man’s beliefs I would’ve been killed even before the authorities could have reached me. Pfft, a youngster defeated me. That Shi yoon, he would’ve have made a perfect leader but he chose his useless dreams. I admired their plan, it was brilliant and effortless. I would’ve died that day gladly. I won’t ever bend down on my knees. That young man, him not killing me was his biggest mistake. I spent a day sitting in a cell when the others who turned their back on me decided on one last gift. I was to be thrown in a foreign land. I am a patriot so that was the harshest thing to do. I love my country more than anyone else does. I lived in a nice hanok, I’ve never wore anything but hanbok. I had never eaten without kimchi. I always insisted on our products, I despised anything outside my country. I am a real Korean whose ancestors fought against the invaders of Korea. Those people I killed before, they were traitors to me and so they are a traitor too of this beloved country. I killed them, I enjoy killing those traitors.

 

At that time I decided to live and come back one day. I had one last request before I was sent away, I asked for some time to heal my wounds and say good-bye. I was hidden away, weak and defenseless. I know those West people were looking for me but they would never guess to look a few blocks away from them. If I was discovered, it would take only seconds for my life to end but I was not scared.

 

A week after that fateful night I was brought to the hospital again for check up. I know I was nearing to my separation with my beloved Korea. The funny thing was that I was brought to the same hospital where Seung Im was treated. What good friends I had, they call it a gift but all they wanted was to get rid of me without staining their filthy hands. I finally realized that the reason I was hidden near the West’s was because they hoped I’ll get caught and get killed. They also brought me to the same hospital were you people are in hopes that I’d be seen. They wanted to get rid of me but they were too scared to touch me. See, I lost everything but those men still cower before me. They are all dead now though. I let them live for a while but I can’t allow Korea to have those cowards as her citizens.

 

And as fate would have it, I saw you. You even helped me locate my room. I know, I know… you already have our first meeting in your memories, but spare this bored old man some time, neh? You looked familiar, I realized you were one of those guys from her show. That’s Running Man right? I really enjoyed that a lot although I didn’t like you being too close to her even without the love line. Your face was filled with sorrow and of course I knew why. I realized you were the lover… I thought it was all lies but it was true. She was really in loved with someone. You also loved that woman didn’t you? But I can see that you haven’t told her nor did you admit it to yourself yet. I found that amusing. And so my best actor moment worthy of the Oscar began. I cried and you asked me why. I remember the moments exactly. You were very easy to manipulate Jong Kook-ah.

 

“I… my son died.” I cried, that’s one trivia people doesn’t know about me. The reason I liked Seung Im was because of those sageuks she’s been in. I love anything about my Korea and who would be the perfect woman for me other than Seung Im who looks good in her hanbok. She has the elegance of a queen and the way she carries herself was perfect. I didn’t expect her nasty temper though, but the wittiness was a welcome entertainment. And you remember what you told me right?

 

Haraboji, you are a good father. I know your son is happy in heaven because he has you.” what a joke. I nearly laughed if not for my acting skills. “You are too kind young man. But you see, it was the way my son died that I can’t accept.” I tried to sound hesitant. You don’t know how my lips curved at your next words, you took the bait. “What happened to him? If it makes you feel better I would listen.” tsk, tsk… you were too trusting my boy, but at least it made things easier.  “You see… my son was involved with some gangster.” tears flowed naturally, as I thought of the next adlib. I felt your arms patting me. I tried so hard not to laugh. A crying father, your appa was your weakness. “I told him not to, but I was too weak to stop him. I know he did it because his father was sick. I killed my own son.” at that point, I had to lower my head to hide the fact that I am smiling. “It was that mafia lord’s fault. Because my son helped his woman escape, he got angry and killed him. My son helped a woman because his heart is pure but they were caught. The woman abandoned him to die and I heard from the others that she was safe and so does the mafia’s child.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. I-I, don’t know what to say to you haraboji, are you alone?”

“I am now alone my child but don’t worry about me. I’ll fend for my own, somehow I’ll manage.”

“Let me help –”

“No, no I can’t do that. You know these matters are dangerous… I can’t drag a stranger into this. By the way my son what is your name?”

“Kim Jong kook.” your face looked surprised and I can’t help but admire my acting prowess. I looked shocked and scared, the perfect image of a weak old man… it was all reflected in your eyes. Then I feigned anger, I tried to run away with my limping steps. You tried to stop me and I turned to you viciously, whispering these words. “You know what my son told me about that woman he saved? He said she was Song Ji hyo… she went to a man Kim Jong kook to save herself and betrayed the mafia boss. My son saved a .” I walked away, satisfied at the look of horror on your eyes.

 

And so I was sent into a place where I was stripped of everything. I still thought of the brilliant manipulation by that kid and the way I tried it on you. There was a patient back then he killed a warden. Why? I planted doubts in his head, Seung Im had a very powerful technique. My good niece here, the one you have met earlier, she became an acquaintance of your wife.  She told me about your family a lot. Seung Im seemed unhappy with your marriage and you were gone a lot. For two years, I reveled in the thought of you two foolishly doubting each other. I know Ji hyo won’t ever tell you about me because she’s scared that you’ll leave her. And you won’t ever tell her what you know because you’re scared that it is true. For two years, that entertained me in my hell.

 

And so the time came when I was allowed to be released but I couldn’t come to Korea. I am an exile from home. I may be stripped with everything, I may be nothing but a plain old man, but what people don’t know is that, power is never lost. It was only my resources they had taken, but I still have me. I am power.

 

I came home finally, with a new face and name. I was walking around like how I should be in the first place. Free, in my beloved country. It was easy to track you. I learned about everything and the industry where I found Seung Im. I was actually disappointed that she was retired, but I can understand it. After all I was the cause of her retirement, right? Slowly I worked my way to you. I met those girls and I decided to use them. Those dumb girls were with me and we made that plan to blackmail you. I promised them they could be the hottest star of Korea, but they made me sick. Of course, I won’t let them pollute this country anymore after they serve their purpose. So slowly, I spread rumors. She learned of your betrayal, and I was in ecstasy. It was all staged perfectly. You never told her about the blackmail as expected from a noble idiot like you so everything went smoothly. I was waiting for the two of you to divorce but it didn’t come. Instead, it seems the two of you became closer recently. I decided I couldn’t wait anymore, I told the girls to tell you already about me. If I want Seung Im to pay, what better payment can there be aside from you.

 

Love, it’s funny how you held on to her despite the doubts. There was something fishy two or was it three years ago. That incident with your mom and your brother, I wasn’t expecting it. It seems that, Jong kook-ah, I am not the only secret you were keeping from her. I wonder what it was. What was that incident before that made me feel the doubts I planted weren’t enough? To be honest I felt threatened that it wasn’t enough anymore so there’s the blackmail. But I guess that doesn’t matter now.

 

----------End of old man's POV----------

 

A cold splash of water awoke Jong kook and he felt his surroundings slowly coming into view. He realized he was chained, his hands tied up in the air. Slowly, as he came to his senses, burning sensations hit him. He grimaced as the effect of the drugs wore off and the wounds they inflicted on him made their presence known. A loud sound of a whip landed on his bare skin making him twist in agony.

“So Jong kook-ah, which is more painful, the whip or the truth?”

“Old man, which is more painful? Your empire collapsing or your plan making me realize that I love – aaaaahhh!” Jong kook bit his lip until he tasted blood. More blows came, he writhed in pain, the chains cutting his skin with every move. He tried to endure, to not give them the satisfaction of him sounding weak. The old man stood up and limped towards him. “Let’s go to hell together. Let’s leave her with lies so that she will forever loathe you.”

“She trusts me.” a blow hit Jong kook again, his body convulsed in shock. “I am not a reckless tyrant anymore, Jong kook-ah. Meditation did wonders to my temper. So you can mock me but I won’t make the same mistake again. I won’t let my anger cloud my sense once more.”

“I stayed with her even after you told me your lies. I didn’t want to lose her and I said no to divorce.” the old man fumed and took the whip from one of the tormentors. He hit Jong kook as hard as he could, those thin arms still caused a lot of pain. Jong kook smiled. The old man didn’t say a word but Jong kook can feel his anger in every hit. “I was a coward. I hurt her but still she loved me.” Jong kook sputtered. He knows those words are the words future him wanted to say. “You’ll never have her.” he coughed blood, his breathing coming out in gasps, the pain intensifying every minute. He finally understood why future Jong kook changed, he loved them but was scared to lose them. He couldn’t tell Ji hyo because he didn’t want to question her. Again, it was all foolishness.

 

“Any last words?” he smirked. He knows he won’t die as Jade said. He scanned the room, grimacing as he looked for the time god. Jade, where are you? He remembered it was Ji hyo who experienced these four years ago. She was there and Hyo Jong. He can feel nothing but pity and regret for his family, loathing at the man before him, and anger at himself because he wasn’t able to protect her from that nightmare. The old man pointed a gun at him. “You know what my last words are?” he spat at the old man’s face and he felt a flash of pain on his head, blood flowed down his neck. He can feel himself losing it. He thought of Ji hyo and Hyo Jong, he thought of what he wanted to say to them. He willed his words to come out of his throat. It was so hard. He spoke a garble of words but it didn’t reach his ears. He tried once more, his body screaming in pain.

“I love them.”

The loud sound of the gun echoed, deafening him. Unimaginable pain shot through his body, and he could only blink his eyes as memories of her flashed by. After what felt like eternity, the pain numbed and he drifted into darkness.

 


After I let my love of TEN I'm so excited for the next season already and Vampire Prosecutor show, I started to plan this story carefully but I am still surprised when it takes unexpected turns. Honestly, I really enjoyed the old man’s character. This is my longest chapter yet so I hope you didn't get bored. And because it is so long already, just ask me if you want to clarify things. Thanks for reading.

Oh and special thanks to Nickx for the beta 

 

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A sequel or a prologue?

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