Chapter 24: The Detective’s Misunderstanding and the Unwanted “Sponsorship”

The Next Day

Kyungheon stared at the contact he had been hesitating over for days, and, unusually tense, pressed the call button. Making an international call was stranger than receiving one, and he adjusted his throat several times as the ringing tone played.

[Hey, Kyungheon.]

Hearing the familiar voice after the connection tone, Kyungheon responded with relief.

“Yes, Pastor. This is Kyungheon. How have you been?”

[Haha. What’s going on, Officer Yoon? I’m doing well. How’s your mother?]

Hearing the familiar, welcoming voice relaxed Kyungheon significantly. Twelve years ago, after his father passed away in an accident, a church pastor who knew his situation provided him a scholarship. Their relationship had since continued with occasional check-ins like today. But the reason Kyungheon was calling was different.

After exchanging ordinary greetings about his mother, the church that had moved to the U.S. last year, and a recent hit-and-run incident, the conversation moved to the main topic.

[Why are you hesitating? Just ask, what’s the matter.]

“Well, Pastor, you mentioned before that your church runs, um… like a study room.”

Kyungheon hesitated several times before starting the conversation, but the other side replied casually, not making it seem like a big deal.

[Study room? It’s not a study room, it’s an educational program. Why?]

From a corner of the parking lot, junior colleague Jongwoon gestured at Kyungheon. Kyungheon waved casually and then slowly explained to the pastor.

“I just wanted to get some information… I was curious.”

“Jongwoon.”

“Yes?”

“How do you cheer up a guy when he’s sulking?”

“…Excuse me?”

Kyungheon nodded at Jongwoon’s question and began to explain vaguely.

“There’s a guy I know… he’s a bit sensitive.”

He was so sensitive that he hadn’t replied at all since yesterday’s conversation. Even the chatroom that had been buzzing with activity was completely quiet. Apparently, he had sulked after being ignored in a message, and today he just read Kyungheon’s message without responding.

“Really sensitive?”

Jongwoon, who was adding chives to their bowls of soup, asked just how sensitive he was.

“Yeah, he stews over a single word all day long.”

“Senior, you’re not dating him, right?”

“Jongwoon, he’s a guy.”

Kyungheon twisted his face and shivered. The thought of dating him was unacceptable. It would be a lifetime of anxiety and stress-induced stomach problems. Sometimes casual chatting was fine, but living like that forever… Moreover, the guy wasn’t even straight.

“Then what should I do… maybe buy him something he likes? Kids love chicken, right?”

“He actually hates chicken.”

“Really?”

Jongwoon, puzzled, suggested another option.

“…Then pizza? Hamburger? Something like that.”

Kyungheon nodded. Pizza would do. But he then realized the guy wasn’t in Korea and sighed quietly. He couldn’t even use food to smooth things over. Giving up on that, he considered distracting him with a word game. As he thought about the young man’s childish tastes, he noticed Jongwoon watching him, so he shifted his gaze from the phone.

Then Jongwoon’s voice, now thinner, came from the other end:

“Senior Yoon, our manager wants to go hiking this weekend.”

“I have flat feet,” Kyungheon replied indifferently.

“Just say you’re dead,” he added.

“If you don’t go, I have to carry boxes of cucumbers and cherry tomatoes by myself.”

“Good luck. I’m not going, so just say you broke something.”

Ignoring Jongwoon, Kyungheon scooped a lukewarm spoonful of soup. His phone on the table vibrated repeatedly. Not a call, but a message.

It was obviously him.

Kyungheon quickly opened the chat and started reading the series of messages:

[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung, when’s your next login?]
[Yoon: Next Thursday.]
[Seo-Hyeon: Your work is fine, but if you get part-time pay, save some for lottery tickets.]
[Seo-Hyeon: Otherwise, you’ll die from it.]
[Yoon: Stop joking, Seo-Hyeon. Did you eat?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Ate and worked well. No one cheated me out of money.]
[Seo-Hyeon: I’ll handle it before anyone bothers me.]

Kyungheon smiled softly and got up, pointing Jongwoon to a bench outside and walking past the noisy hall to a quieter parking area. He didn’t reply to the messages, instead making a call.

After a few rings, a surprised voice answered.

[…Hyung? When I call, you ignore me so many times…]

Kyungheon, slowly rotating his injured left ankle from the hit-and-run, spoke in a measured voice.

“You keep calling me when I’m busy. Seo-Hyeon, I’ll send you a link. Check it out, and if you have questions, ask me. Remember what I said before? If you miss the chance to study, you’ll regret it for life.”

[Who said that, hyung?]

Kyungheon replied casually.

“Didn’t I?”

[Never said that… wait, what link? Another chicken delivery? Try sending it.]

Seo-Hyeon, now fed up with chicken and fast food, stopped complaining when Kyungheon sent a website link and church photos.

“I said I’d help you if I could.”

[…Hyung… why are you helping me?]

Seo-Hyeon stuttered, but Kyungheon remained calm.

“If it’s not enough, tell me.”

[Wait, I clicked the link. What is this? Why a church? Are you proselytizing? I go to a Catholic church!]

Kyungheon continued calmly.

“Just listen and let it pass. I’m not trying to pressure you.”

[Hyung! I’m baptized!]

Seo-Hyeon’s confused and frustrated voice filled the conversation, but Kyungheon’s face darkened slightly. He spoke again after a few lip movements.

“I… happened to find out. Your parents aren’t around, right?”

A small curse escaped Seo-Hyeon. Kyungheon sighed and continued.

“Stand tall, kid. How many people your age work hard in a foreign country without parents?”

He recalled a previous guild chat with Yaong:

[Guild] Yaong: Bu-guild master hates disrespect about people without parents.
[Guild] Machoking: Really?
[Guild] Yaong: Yes… I saw it in the guild chat, not whisper.
[Guild] Yaong: Bu-guild master’s attitude is harsh for a reason…

Learning about Seo-Hyeon’s family explained much to Kyungheon: why he avoided sharing personal matters, why a 24-year-old spent all he earned on games with no goals.

Seo-Hyeon protested: Who asked for this? But Kyungheon didn’t answer immediately, letting him confirm he was really there.

[Hyung, I don’t need this. Get a refund yourself.]

The links Kyungheon sent were for educational programs for Korean adoptees in the U.S., mostly funded by the government or donations. Fees weren’t huge but still not trivial for young adults. Fortunately, one organization could enroll him for free, thanks to the pastor who had watched over Kyungheon.

Without telling Seo-Hyeon, Kyungheon encouraged him:

“Think of it as the price of the items you gave me. Just go.”

With a three-month curriculum set, he could try it and decide later. Kyungheon hoped Seo-Hyeon would find his desired career and graduate from a life spent only on gaming.

[Wow, hyung, what I gave you is more expensive. If you don’t believe me, screenshot and post it.]

Kyungheon laughed.

“Seo-Hyeon, after my father passed, studying was really tough. I had a good foundation, so I got into college somehow.”

[…So?]

Kyungheon’s eyes became momentarily nostalgic under the sunlight. He spoke again.

“I wish I’d studied harder to get into Korea University’s engineering school.”

[…You were touching me with your dad story, then suddenly cold? Give the whole emotion.]

“It’s a Korean church in LA. Reviews are great.”

[Hyung, I have my baptism photos. Why are you proselytizing? Fine, I get it. Answer my questions.]

Kyungheon frowned. He knew what Seo-Hyeon would say. He motioned to Jongwoon and spoke.

“Just go, see for yourself, and decide. Even if you don’t go to college, pick the program you want.”

[Don’t hang up! It’s ridiculous if you just talk and hang up.]

“I have work. Hanging up.”

Seo-Hyeon shouted furiously:

[Why do you always say what you want and hang up? Am I a gossip board? Hang up and see!]

Despite Seo-Hyeon’s desperate protest, the call ended.