April 1, 2001
03:41 AM
Donghwa was drinking alone at a convenience store in Nowon—the bar he usually frequented was closed for renovations. He took a sip of soju and ate some pretzels, his phone screen still open to Naver*, displaying a news story about a motorcycle accident involving a woman named Hyun Ahrong—someone for whom it hadn't taken long for Donghwa to develop a deep-seated hatred, to the point of wishing for her death.
Hyun Ahrong was born sometime in 1978 in Dongbo, Seoul. In short, she is Donghwa's ex-wife; they married just one month after the end of AD!. According to friends, their relationship was quite turbulent: Donghwa would go out drinking very often, while Ahrong was extremely manipulative and abusive, making his life a living hell—which only fueled his desire to go out and drink even more. The relationship came to an end in February 1998, when Ahrong suffered a miscarriage—the result of an irresponsible sexual encounter with Donghwa—leading her to place the entire blame on him and, consequently, to divorce him.
"Don't tell me she's going to blame me for this accident, too?" Donghwa thought... words have power. Ahrong's mother, Ji Ena, sent him a message:
Ex-mother-in-law: Ahrong wants to see you.
*Hospital address*
Donghwa had no other choice. "Fine," he typed before hanging up, paying his tab, and leaving the convenience store, ready to settle this once and for all. "Let's see if that bitch tries to blame me again," Donghwa muttered.
04:21 AM
Donghwa arrived at the hospital, checked in as a visitor, and waited.
4:29 AM
Donghwa was finally cleared for a visit and took the elevator up to the ward, arriving at room 5. There was Ahrong, lying down and watching a movie (likely *Pinocchio*—specifically the scene where the boys turn into donkeys). Her eyes were wide open, her expression completely serious; her hair was still long—reaching her elbows—and the Cupid tattoo remained on her thigh. It was as if she hadn't changed at all. "Ahrong..." Donghwa had barely finished speaking when she slapped him across the face. "THIS IS YOUR FAULT!"
"Wait, what?" Donghwa asked almost immediately. "You're the one who caused me to have that accident, Beomseok!" Ahrong shouted. This drew a bitter laugh from Donghwa. "Oh, right—because I was there and wished for your death. Seems like you haven't changed a bit, have you, you bitch?" Donghwa asked.
"Don't you call me a bitch, you wretched drunkard!" Ahrong got up from her cot to take another swing at him, but Donghwa dodged. "Listen, Ahrong—I don't know what the hell happened to your motorcycle, but you can't keep blaming me for everything," Donghwa argued, but Ahrong remained unswayed. "Still trying to defend yourself, huh? You've always been such a loser," she shouted. "You'd leave the house every single day just to go drink. It's because of you that we lived in that filthy apartment in Yongsan, and our marriage was so miserable that we didn't even have the money to buy condoms."
"There was a health clinic near our place that offered both penile and vaginal condoms for free!" Donghwa shouted. Once again, Ahrong didn't want to hear it and slapped him. "And why didn't you ever bring any home?" she demanded. "Because it's your fault I have HPV!" Ahrong yelled. Donghwa raised an eyebrow. "Just you? Within two months of being married, we were diagnosed with HPV and herpes. We had to go around naked because we didn't have any clean clothes, and we ate like animals—all because you, Ahrong, dropped out of college—and yet, you still wanted to have a child!" Donghwa countered.
Ahrong was furious. "GET OUT OF HERE!" she shouted. Donghwa left without hesitation. "I'm not going to waste my time arguing with you," he said, closing the door behind him as he walked out of the hospital. Afterward, he began to reflect on the situation; both of them had been in the wrong and had acted irresponsibly—but now, Donghwa wondered if he had been even more irresponsible. "Could you come pick me up?" he asked, calling Jumin on the phone