Chapter 12
“Do you hate your son?”
“Yes. That bastard. I hate him.”
The security guard gulped down soju and set the empty glass on the blue plastic table.
The wrinkles on his forehead deepened further.
“But what can I do? He’s my child… my poor child who has never had anything go his way, never had anything work out for him. Maybe if he had been born to a better father, he could’ve spread his wings and lived freely.”
The guard’s eyes welled up with tears.
If I had a father right now, what would that feel like?
A heavy feeling of envy rose inside me.
Did his son even realize how blessed he was to have a father like this still alive?
The guard drank soju like it was water and continued speaking.
“Still, he was smart when he was young. He learned Hangul before he turned six. And in elementary school, he even got perfect scores a few times. Haha.”
“He was smart.”
“Right? Look here. See this? He’s quite handsome too, isn’t he?”
The guard hurriedly took out his wallet and even showed a photo of his son.
In the photo was a man in his twenties with thick eyebrows and a stubborn jawline.
—“Is that him? That face looks so slick and smug.”
The red eyes shook their head.
“He’s good-looking.”
“Right? Not as good as you, Attorney, of course, but my son isn’t someone who lacks in looks either.”
“Sir, be careful. You might fall over.”
In the end, the guard got so drunk that I had to take him home.
I hailed a taxi and asked for his address.
He was half-conscious, but his address was correct.
He had never moved even once since birth, so it seemed he remembered it even in his unconscious state.
As we left Ansan’s outskirts, the city and industrial buildings disappeared, replaced by rural scenery. After getting out of the taxi, I supported the guard and took him home.
“Oh my… why did you drink so much…”
His wife woke up and helped him inside. Since he couldn’t stand properly, I helped her carry him to the room and lay him down.
“Thank you for bringing him home.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s late, please stay the night.”
“No, I’m fine. Home is more comfortable.”
“Oh dear, how will you go home? There are no more buses…”
“A taxi is waiting outside.”
As I left the house, a pine tree standing tall in the yard caught my eye.
The pine tree, which had been there since the guard’s great-grandfather’s time, stretched its curved branches under the moonlight, showing traces of its long, dignified existence.
The modest but well-kept garden revealed how much attachment the guard had to this house.
As I was about to leave, something moved within the shadow of the pine tree.
Looking closely, it was the old man’s ghost I had seen behind the guard earlier.
He was probably an ancestor of the family.
The old man was crouching beneath the pine tree with a devastated expression.
—“What now? That couple and even the ancestor ghost look pitiful. One reckless son is ruining everything.”
The red eyes clicked its tongue.
I left the house with a bitter feeling.
Later
By the time I arrived at the officetel by taxi, it was already past midnight.
—“Hey, why are you thinking so much? It’s not even your problem…”
The red eyes complained beside me.
Of course, it wasn’t my problem. It wasn’t even my family.
‘I just thought of my father while talking to the guard. I want to help if I can.’
—“You’re not rich enough to pay 100 million won. How are you going to help?”
‘Yeah.’
While I was talking with the red eyes, the elevator arrived.
Ding— the doors opened, and a familiar face appeared.
“Hello.”
“Oh my, hello. We meet again like this?”
It was Han Su-jin from Room 903.
Beside her was a large potted plant with a tall tree.
—“Wow, where did she even get something like that?”
The red eyes admired the tree.
All living things have their own aura.
Like humans and animals, plants also emit a unique colored aura around them.
The tree beside Han Su-jin had a deep crimson aura.
Despite seeing countless auras until now, this was the first time I had ever seen a tree with such a color.
Standing next to Han Su-jin, who herself had a rainbow-colored aura, the scene naturally drew my attention.
“It’s called Hamsohwa. They say it smells amazing when it blooms.”
As I stared at it, Han Su-jin spoke first.
“Hamsohwa…”
“It’s quite big, right? The moment I saw it, I just felt something…”
“Cunning.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. It’s just unusual.”
“Yes, right? It’s not a common tree.”
While we spoke, the elevator reached the 9th floor.
I held the door open so she could take the pot out.
“Thank you.”
She dragged the heavy pot out with difficulty.
“Wait a second… ah, why is this so heavy… just a moment…”
She struggled to get it past the threshold, sweating.
I lifted the pot and placed it outside for her.
“Oh my, thank you so much.”
“How did you even bring this to the elevator?”
“Someone helped me load it into the car, so I didn’t realize how heavy it was. Getting it from the car to here took forever.”
She laughed awkwardly.
I carried the pot again and walked ahead.
“You really didn’t have to… thank you. It’s heavy, right? But you’re strong. You don’t even look tired. I’ll go ahead and open the door.”
She hurried past me, full of apologies.
Even the lust spirit in the hallway, as usual, avoided her completely.
It seemed accustomed now, sitting with its arms crossed and tapping its foot as she passed.
Han Su-jin opened her 903 door and waited.
I carried the pot inside.
“Where should I put it?”
“Just a moment… here, right here.”
She pointed near the window.
After placing it down, I saw several small potted plants neatly arranged on a two-tier shelf.
“These are succulents. Cute, right?”
She said proudly, as if they were her children.
Fortunately, the smaller plants had normal auras.
—“Is it really okay to keep something like that inside a house?”
The red eyes tilted its head, staring at the large plant.
“Thank you so much. It would’ve taken me forever alone. It’s late, so I can’t offer coffee, but would you like a drink?”
“No, it’s fine. But you really like plants, don’t you?”
“Yes. I usually grow small ones like those succulents, but this Hamsohwa was a gift from someone.”
“A gift?”
“Yes. Honestly, it was too big and a bit burdensome, but they insisted it was rare… so I accepted it gratefully.”
She smiled.
I wondered who would give away something with such strange energy, but it didn’t feel right to ask further.
“They grow naturally in warm places like Jeju, but now they’re considered endangered, I heard.”
At that moment, something clicked in my mind.
Why hadn’t I thought of that before?
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yes. It’s getting late.”
“I don’t know how to thank you. Let me treat you to a meal next time.”
“Sure.”
I left Room 903 and entered Room 902—my home.
The red eyes looked at me curiously.
—“Why are you in such a hurry? What did you just think of?”
“If I do this right, I might be able to solve the problem.”
Next Day
As soon as I arrived at work the next morning, I went to Attorney Park Hyun in Room 3. He was already working early.
“Oh, Yoo. Thanks for handling the substitute trial yesterday.”
“Yes. Did everything go well?”
“Yeah, thanks to you. My daughter’s school homeroom teacher requested a consultation.”
“Something serious?”
“No, nothing major.”
He smiled bitterly.
For a man as responsible as Attorney Park to ask for a substitute appearance, it clearly wasn’t something trivial.
But since it was personal, I couldn’t press further unless he spoke first.
I changed the topic.
“About the client from yesterday.”
“The substitute case? Why?”
“Are you close with him?”
“You mean Young-mok? He’s my high school classmate.”
“Can I get his contact?”
“Hm?”
“I have something I want to ask.”
I briefly explained the situation, and Park Hyun readily gave me the contact information.
“I’ll call him and tell him to cooperate.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem. I can help with this anytime.”
He smiled.
Later that morning
I went with someone to the guard’s house.
“Attorney, you’re here?”
The guard’s wife greeted me first.
“Have you eaten? If not, we don’t have much prepared, but please join us.”
“I’ve already eaten. Thank you. Is he home?”
“Yes, he just woke up and is eating a late breakfast. Honey, the attorney is here.”
“Oh, Attorney!”
It was nearly 11 a.m.
The guard looked like he had been drinking again last night.
Disheveled hair, wrinkled clothes, and unfocused eyes still clouded with alcohol… he looked just like the man I had seen in the past.
He slowly put on his shoes and came outside, limping heavily.
“Did you get hurt?”
“Haha, it’s nothing.”
“Nothing? This man came home drunk and twisted his ankle like this!”
His wife scolded him lightly.
“Did you go to the hospital?”
“Hospital? No need. Some rest and a warm compress will do.”
He then pointed behind him.
“By the way… who is that man?”
He was pointing at the man inspecting the pine tree.
Choi Young-mok immediately recognized it.
“Hmm… this is Abies holophylla.”
“Abies… what?”
“It’s a rare species in Korea. Normally the needles grow in clusters of two or three, but this one grows one at a time. It looks over 100 years old.”
“Yes. It was planted by my great-grandfather.”
The guard said proudly.
“Hello. I’m Choi Young-mok.”
He handed me his business card.
Choi Young-mok, a high school classmate of Attorney Park Hyun, ran a large landscaping company in Hwaseong.
He was also the client from the substitute trial I handled for Park Hyun.
He looked at the tree regretfully.
“So… are you selling this tree?”
“Ah… yes. I need money urgently, but… can this tree even be sold?”
He answered quickly.
Choi examined the tree carefully with a magnifying glass.
After a long time, he stood up and clasped his hands behind his back.
“Attorney Park told me to take good care of this case.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I greeted him first.
He glanced at me, then at the guard, then back at the tree.
“I can offer up to 100 million won.”
“What?”
The guard nearly collapsed backward in shock.
His wife covered her mouth with both hands.
“T-this tree is that expensive?”
“Yes. It’s a rare species, and it’s very hard to find one this healthy. It has high value as a landscape tree. You’ve taken excellent care of it. So… will you sell it?”
“Yes… yes.”
The guard nodded repeatedly.
“Are you sure?”
It was clear how much attachment he had to the tree, so I felt a bit concerned.
“It’s painful… but what can I do? At least we won’t lose the house.”
Tears welled up in his eyes.
He bowed deeply to me.
“Thank you, Attorney.”
His wife also bowed at a 90-degree angle.
She brought a tray of instant coffee.
We all sat drinking hot coffee, silently staring at the tree worth 100 million won.
Despite the freezing air, the pine stood firm, its green branches unwavering.
The red eyes circled the tree, examining it closely.
“Anyway, I’m glad it worked out.”
“Yes. At least we’re not ending up on the street.”
After helping finalize the contract, I left the house.
“Thank you, Attorney!”
They kept bowing repeatedly.
I stepped out onto the main road—
—“Hyun-jae! Something’s wrong!”
The red eyes suddenly shouted urgently.
I turned around.
The red eyes had burst out from inside the guard’s house, running through the wall.
