Chapter 44….
Who… Who disappeared?
In an instant, both of Sojeong’s ears went numb. Even as that happened, the helper’s voice continued over the phone.
I was making juice because she said she was thirsty. Then it got strangely quiet, so I thought to check the living room—and she had already gone out. She even had her shoes on.
“…….”
I rushed outside, but she wasn’t in the garden either. It seems like she went out through the open garage door.
The mention that Harim might have left through the garage door, where cars had been coming and going—both the one from kindergarten and the one Kangchan had brought—made Sojeong’s pupils tremble for a moment. But it was brief.
What should I do? I really didn’t expect her to disappear so quickly…
“First, calm down, auntie.”
Sojeong gently calmed the panicked helper, who was starting to fidget nervously.
“She’s the type of child who loves playing hide-and-seek at home. Please check the house and the garden just in case, and I’ll check outside.”
Yes, yes. I’ll do that.
After hanging up, Sojeong immediately pressed a button to call Kangchan. The moment the first ring sounded, Kangchan answered.
“Secretary Kang. Where are you right now?”
Madam? I just stepped out for a work call after sending the young lady home… Why?
“It seems like Harim left the house again. Did you see anything while you were on the call?”
Huh? The young lady?
Hearing Sojeong’s words, Kangchan’s voice also grew urgent.
I didn’t see her. I was in a corner making the call… So, does that mean she’s already outside the house?
“It seems that way. She probably went out through the garage door. Please check the car’s dashcam to see if Harim was caught on it.”
Understood. I’ll also alert people to search for the young lady right away.
“She has a child-safety necklace on her neck and her fingerprints are registered, so if she goes to the police station, they’ll contact me immediately. I’ll head straight home as well.”
After Sojeong hung up, only silence remained in the car. Beside her, Hyun stood with a fixed expression, seemingly assessing the situation. Sojeong spoke.
“It seems Harim went outside. Whether she was trying to find us or for some other reason, we’ll know for sure when we check the dashcam.”
“…….”
“Sorry, but we’ll talk later. Right now, we need to go home.”
Stay calm.
In situations like this, she couldn’t let her emotions take control. She had to calmly figure out where her child was.
She couldn’t panic.
Her child, unseen at this moment, might be somewhere out there, anxiously looking for her. That alone was reason enough not to break down. If she collapsed now, there would be no one to find Harim. If not her, then who…?
“…….”
Suddenly, a large hand covered Sojeong’s. Feeling the warmth of that hand, her mind finally cleared.
“Focus.”
A low voice resonated in her ear. Only then did Sojeong realize she couldn’t even open the car door properly. The door she struggled with opened slowly under Hyun’s hand.
“Hurry up. We need to find her.”
“…You’re coming too?”
“Then should I not look?”
Hyun countered Sojeong’s question. She stared blankly at him.
Together…
For some reason, the natural assurance in his words, as if “of course I’ll be with you,” calmed her. The warmth of the fingers that had briefly touched hers and the simple command to regain focus—it all made her… made her…
“Please don’t go somewhere strange. Please don’t get hurt. Don’t let some stranger take her.”
At that moment, Sojeong grabbed Hyun’s collar, her hands trembling.
“No, I really can’t. Without Harim… our Harim… I can’t…”
Sojeong’s tears, held back for so long, finally fell in front of Hyun. Looking down at her trembling shoulders, Hyun pressed his lips into a firm line.
“Are you back?”
When Sojeong and Hyun entered the house, Kangchan was already checking the dashcam. Sojeong leaned close to the screen as Harim appeared on it.
“Where’s the child?”
“Just as you said, we checked the dashcam. The young lady appears on it. She walked by quickly, then paused briefly near this door.”
As Kangchan replayed the footage, Harim could be seen walking, turning her head left and right. Sojeong bit her lip as she watched. Eventually, Harim leaned to the right and disappeared outside.
“As you can see, she went to the right. Your car was on the left, so that means…”
“She didn’t come looking for us; she went somewhere else.”
Though Sojeong remained calm as she watched, everyone there knew—her heart was boiling the most of all.
“Yes. The fact that she left without hesitation suggests she had a purpose or was heading to a familiar place. Do you know any places she frequently goes in that direction?”
“Usually it’s the direction my aunt or I would take her. To the supermarket, playground, or park… and sometimes we go for walks on the trail when she wants to.”
“I know those places too. Let’s prioritize searching there first.”
“I’ll give you a few more addresses just in case. Please check those too.”
Sojeong quickly took out her phone. Soon, Kangchan’s phone rang, showing several addresses. Hyun, watching silently, furrowed his brow.
“I’ll send you the locations too.”
“…….”
“Places the child often goes will be marked separately.”
Without responding, Hyun turned and went outside. Surprised, Kangchan asked,
“Aren’t you taking a car?”
“How are we supposed to see a tiny kid like that from a moving car?”
Hyun headed toward the front door, ready to run on foot, and Sojeong followed.
“I’m coming too.”
“No, you take the car.”
Despite the cut on her heel from running up the hill in heels, Sojeong switched to sneakers and tied her hair tightly.
“If we call her name while running, Harim might respond. We’ll keep an eye out as we run. Kangchan, you check slowly by car.”
“Understood.”
“Let’s go.”
Without hesitation, Sojeong flung open the door and ran out. Following the route Harim had taken, she and Hyun reached the garage and looked to the right.
“Let’s start with the nearest supermarket. We’ll go to the usual places first, so keep up.”
The moment she finished speaking, Sojeong started running. Unlike before, in sneakers, her speed was incredible, and Hyun’s eyes widened. He quickly followed her.
“Harim, Choi Harim!”
As they ran, Sojeong repeatedly called Harim’s name, scanning the surroundings. Hyun did the same, but Harim was nowhere in sight. Just as Sojeong’s anxiety began to darken her face, a familiar voice interrupted.
“Oh, hello!”
Passing the supermarket, an employee greeted Sojeong warmly.
“It’s been a while! Did you come with your husband? How have you been?”
The employee noticed Hyun behind her and greeted him brightly too, but Sojeong had more urgent matters.
“Have you seen Harim by any chance?”
“Harim?”
“Yes, she might have passed through here.”
“I’m not sure; I just got to work. Why, did she… disappear?”
While Sojeong spoke with the employee, Hyun scanned the area. In the corner of the store, some children were sitting side by side, absorbed in their phones. Hyun approached them.
“Excuse me, can I ask you something?”
The children looked up at him curiously.
“Yes?”
“A little girl, about this size. Did you see her around here?”
“A girl?”
One child immediately replied,
“Does she have a big heart-shaped hairpin?”
“That’s her.”
“Oh, I saw her. She was heading toward the park.”
Hyun’s gaze naturally turned toward the park. Seeing Sojeong focus there too, other kids added,
“I saw her too! But some adults were following her.”
“What adults? I didn’t see anyone.”
“You were busy beating the boss, so you missed it. I saw. They were whispering to her.”
Sojeong’s face paled, and Hyun’s expression hardened rapidly.
“Harim… Harim…”
As Sojeong turned toward the park, she began to stagger. Just as her legs threatened to give out, someone firmly supported her.
“Sit here.”
“But…”
“I’ll go check. You call everyone here.”
Before Sojeong could respond, Hyun sprinted toward the park. Though it was a fair distance, he ran relentlessly. His breathing grew heavy, and his heart pounded—not just from running, he realized.
“Choi Harim!”
Even with labored breaths, he called out her name—the first time Hyun, who had lost his memory, ever called Harim’s name.
