Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 384

Last Farewell

The Next Day-

“Good morning.”

“Hello, Nurse Su.”

As Nurse Lim Jeong-suk, arriving for her shift, greeted the reception staff and changed in the locker room, Tae-kyung was coming down the stairs.

“Hello, Director.”

“Wait, are you just arriving now?”

“Yes. I’m coming to work now.”

“Why?”

Unless it was a scheduled shift, the hospital staff’s working hours were typically in the afternoon. So, Tae-kyung asked, puzzled, why Nurse Lim Jeong-suk, who wasn’t on duty, was arriving early and already preparing for work.

“Nurse Lim, aren’t you off duty today?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Then why did you come in so early?”

“It’s strange how feelings develop, even in just a few days. I think I’ve become attached to him…”

“You mean Yoo Hyuk-jin?”

“Yes.”

Today was Yoo Hyuk-jin’s discharge day; he was heading back to prison after his hospitalization.

Nurse Lim Jeong-suk had come to work earlier than usual to say goodbye before he was transported back around lunchtime.

If he were simply an escaped convict trying to flee, she wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.

However, Lim Jeong-suk knew his background, which only a few hospital staff members were aware of, and she felt more sympathy for him as a prisoner than fear of him as a criminal.

That’s why she came in early to offer him a warm farewell.

“After dropping the kids off at school, I was resting at home, but I felt this strange urge to come in. I couldn’t resist, so I told my mom I was leaving early and came straight here.”

“You know, you’re a very kind person, Nurse Lim.”

“What are you talking about? You’re just trying to be like the Director. I’m still far from that. Besides, you’re the one who cared most about Yoo Hyuk-jin.”

That was true. Tae-kyung, who was always at the hospital regardless of whether he was on duty, had also paid extra attention to Yoo Hyuk-jin during his hospitalization, rarely leaving the hospital unless it was an emergency.

“How is Yoo Hyuk-jin doing today, now that he’s being discharged? Does he wish he could stay in the hospital longer?”

“Not at all. He’s eager to get back to prison.”

“Why?”

“He wants to walk around in the sun. He’s been confined to the hospital room almost constantly, with handcuffs on 24/7, so it must be tough.”

“I suppose so. People need to move freely, but he’s had so many restrictions here. It must be difficult for him.”

“That’s right.”

-Here are the latest news reports on incidents and accidents.

As the two were talking, the reception staff switched on the TV in the waiting room, and the news began.

-We have several reports of incidents and accidents from last night. First, we have news that Cha Tae-chul, the son of Samto Group Chairman Cha Tae-chon, has died.

Tae-kyung, who had been in conversation, was startled by the news anchor’s voice and moved closer to the TV.

-Yesterday evening, Cha Tae-chul, while intoxicated, ran into the road and was struck by a passing vehicle, resulting in his death. According to CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, Cha Tae-chul suddenly and unexpectedly darted into the street.

However, it has also been revealed that the deceased Cha concealed a crime from long ago, causing considerable controversy. Reporter Joo Shin-yung has more on this story.

‘Cha Tae-chul is dead?’

As Tae-kyung was processing the shocking news, Eui-jin rushed in through the main entrance.

“Sunbae [senior colleague]?”

The two moved to Tae-kyung’s office.

“Is that news story I just heard true? Is Cha Tae-chul really dead?”

“Yes, it’s true. All of it.”

Eui-jin, who had received a call from Go-iji before he was even fully awake, had hurried to meet her.

At the meeting with his junior colleague, he heard the full story of the previous night’s events. He rushed to work because Go-iji had asked him for a favor during their meeting.

“Is Go-iji okay?”

“I was worried because I couldn’t reach her, but I’m relieved to hear she seems alright. Iji is more resilient than I thought.”

Go-iji had said that she was able to shake off her lingering feelings faster than she expected because of Cha Tae-chul’s final 모습 [image/actions] that he had shown her.

She said that if he had acknowledged his mistakes and accepted the consequences, Go-iji would have been more deeply affected.

However, she was able to erase even the smallest remaining affection because he continued to deny and conceal his past actions.

She said she wasn’t happy to hear about his death, but she wasn’t particularly sad either.

“Iji went to the airport to stay with her sister in America for a while to clear her head.”

“There will be news coverage here for a while, so that’s probably for the best. Anyway, the case will be closed now that the suspect has died.”

“Yes, but I heard that Chairman Cha Tae-chon will be investigated by the police for other incidents.”

“That man has plenty of problems, too.”

“Iji said it’s about corruption related to company management, and Chairman Cha’s wife went to the police station and reported it herself.”

“Really? That’s not an easy thing to do. She made a brave decision.”

“And this is what Iji asked me to deliver.”

“A request?”

“Yes, she asked me to give this to you.”

Tae-kyung, who had been talking with Eui-jin for a while, accepted a small envelope and went up to Yoo Hyuk-jin’s room.

Creak-

“Excuse me, guards, but could I speak with Yoo Hyuk-jin alone for a moment?”

“Okay.”

After the guards checked the handcuffs and stepped out of the room, Tae-kyung turned on the TV with the remote. He scanned through a few news channels, then turned up the volume on the channel reporting Cha Tae-chul’s news.

“He died?”

Yoo Hyuk-jin looked surprised and bewildered as the news reported Cha Tae-chul’s death and his past misdeeds.

He didn’t understand what was happening.

“Director, what on earth is going on?”

“His fiancée revealed what Teacher Jeong and I told her at a gathering of his family. I think he was wandering the streets in shock and got into an accident while drunk. And Chairman Cha is in a difficult situation because he’s being sued for company issues and other things.”

“Ha!”

Tae-kyung recounted everything he had heard from Eui-jin about the situation. Yoo Hyuk-jin, who had been listening intently, burst out laughing.

“Director, I don’t know how to react right now… I’m just dumbfounded.”

Yoo Hyuk-jin had mentally killed Cha Tae-chul countless times, but he hadn’t actually wanted him to die.

He had wanted him to admit his past sins and face legal judgment.

“He remained selfish until the very end.”

“I agree. And unfortunately, it will be difficult to investigate the case now that Cha Tae-chul is dead.”

“I know that in this situation, the investigation will likely be dropped because there’s no one to prosecute. But how did the media find out about Cha Tae-chul’s past? Did that woman tell them?”

“No. It wasn’t Teacher Jeong’s junior who told them; it was Cha Tae-chul’s mother.”

“T, the Madam?”

Chairman Cha’s wife had confessed to the police not only her husband’s wrongdoings but also her son’s past actions.

After confessing everything, she was on her way home when she heard the news of her son’s accident.

She rushed to the hospital to say her last goodbyes to Cha Tae-chul and had him cremated in the morning without a formal funeral, along with her husband.

After holding a quiet service, she and her husband visited the charnel house of Yoo Hyuk-jin’s younger sibling and parents to apologize to the deceased for the injustice they had suffered.

Kim Nan-i was also distraught due to her son’s sudden accident. However, she wanted to apologize for the sin of raising a flawed child and for the apology her child could not make. So, she asked her husband for one last favor before their divorce and visited the charnel house together.

“She’s been silent until now… Why did the Madam do this? Why did she make such a decision now?”

“I don’t know. I’m not her, so I can’t know her reasons. But perhaps it was her conscience? And I’ve been thinking about my offer again.”

“That offer is still valid.”

Tae-kyung had encouraged Yoo Hyuk-jin, who had previously declined a retrial, to reconsider, but his answer remained the same.

He said that rather than seeking a retrial to reduce his sentence, he would strive to be a model prisoner and earn his release.

“I don’t want to be a coward like some people. I committed a crime, and I want to accept the punishment for it with dignity and come out a better person.”

“Okay. If that’s what you want, Yoo Hyuk-jin, I’ll respect that. But if you ever need help, contact me anytime.”

“Yes, Director.”

“I have something to give you, Yoo Hyuk-jin.”

“To me?”

“Yes. Take this.”

Tae-kyung handed a letter envelope from his gown pocket to Yoo Hyuk-jin, who looked puzzled.

“What is this?”

“It’s a letter that Cha Tae-chul’s mother left for you.”

“Why this…?”

“Isn’t it explained in the letter? I’ll be going now.”

Creak-

Tae-kyung left the room, and the guard who had been outside came back in.

“What’s with the letter?”

“What, did the Director give you the letter?”

“Did she give it to you because you’re being discharged today? She’s an amazing person.”

The guards glanced at the letter and assumed Tae-kyung had given it to him, so they didn’t pay much attention.

Yoo Hyun-jin, who had been staring blankly at the letter, slowly opened the envelope and took out the letter to read.

-To Yoo Hyuk-jin, hello. This is Kim Nan-i. It’s been so long since I’ve written a letter that I struggled with how to begin.

The reason I’m writing this letter is because there’s something I need to say to you.

I know that too much time has passed and it’s too late, but I still want to say I’m sorry. You may not believe it, but there hasn’t been a single comfortable day for me in all this time.

My son, Tae-chul, committed a terrible act that my husband and I knew about. But because we were his parents, we turned a blind eye to the truth, making a terrible mistake.

I thought about taking Tae-chul to the police station dozens of times a day, but it was already too late, and I was afraid.

I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that as a parent, as a mother….

I bow my head and apologize to all the family members whose lives have been filled with pain because of my child.

I realized painfully that I couldn’t hide my sins any longer when Tae-chul’s marriage fell apart. And I decided to correct the wrongdoings, even now.

I will ensure that my son admits his mistakes, reflects on his actions, and receives the appropriate punishment. And I promise that I will visit you in person in the future and apologize sincerely.

I hope that this will bring some comfort to your heart. I always hope you are healthy. I’m so sorry.

“Ha!”

Yoo Hyuk-jin didn’t fully grasp everything after reading the letter, but he knew one thing for sure.

Kim Nan-i was genuinely sorry. However, he briefly wondered what it would have been like if Cha Tae-chul had been the one writing the letter.

‘Brother, are you watching?’

Yoo Hyuk-jin looked up at the sky through the window and thought of his younger sibling.

‘I hope you’re at peace now. Live comfortably there, and I’ll try to live a good life here, so watch over me.’

After that, Yoo Hyuk-jin put Kim Nan-i’s letter back in the envelope.

“Why? Did the Director scold you in the letter?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked because you looked so serious while reading it.”

“Ah, yes. The Director told me to live a good life.”

“Of course, you should.”

“You’re right.”

Later, Yoo Hyuk-jin, who had eaten lunch a little earlier than the other patients, received his final treatment and came down to the parking lot with the guards.

Nurse Lim Jeong-suk and Eui-jin had already said goodbye inside the hospital, so only Tae-kyung was waiting in the parking lot.

“Director, thank you for everything.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“No, it’s the guards who have worked harder than me. Many things happened, but I’m glad it all ended well.”

“Of course. It’s all thanks to the Director. Hey! Are you really going to be like this?”

The guard nudged Yoo Hyuk-jin’s handcuffed arm, as he was only looking at the ground, and said.

“What am I doing?”

“What else! You’ve been silent since you came down from the hospital room to the parking lot.”

“Aren’t you going to say goodbye to the Director?”

“Director, do you still have that?”

Yoo Hyuk-jin, who had been hesitating at the guards’ urging, finally spoke.

“That?”

“The one I signed my name on last time…”

“Of course. I always carry it with me so I don’t forget.”

Tae-kyung took out the note with Yoo Hyuk-jin’s signature, where he had promised to uphold the three conditions.

“Can I have that for a second?”

“This? You’re not going to tear it up, are you?”

“Director! Of course not. It’s not like that.”

“Here you go.”

Yoo Hyuk-jin received the note, borrowed a pen from the guard, quickly wrote something down, and gave it back to Tae-kyung.

“That’s it.”

“What did you write?”

“I erased my name and signature.”

“I didn’t think you were that kind of person, Yoo Hyuk-jin. That’s too much. But a promise is a promise, so be sure to keep it.”

“Well, I’ll be going now. Director, thank you so much for saving me and helping me. I will never forget your kindness.”

Yoo Hyuk-jin gave his last greeting with all his heart, bowing deeply, and then got into the car with a faint smile.

Tae-kyung turned around as Yoo Hyuk-jin’s car completely left the parking lot and unfolded the note.

-Director, I will try my best to be a model prisoner. If there’s no place to accept me when I get out, you have to keep your promise about the bakery. And please continue to work hard for the sick patients who need help in our hospital, as you always do. Always be healthy.

Tae-kyung smiled as he looked at the note and went back into the hospital.