Chapter 40, Part 3: Fracture (5)

After finishing my boxing practice and flexing at the pharmacy, I headed straight home.

"Brother, you're back?"

The person who greeted me most warmly was none other than Sarang.

My beloved younger sister, whom I had never seen in my previous life but who, in this life, was dearer to me than my own eyes.

"Brother, you're back. Sarang, have you been good and not troubled Mom and Dad?"

"Yep!"

Seeing Sarang nod vigorously, I laughed like a fool.

Holding Sarang in my arms, I spun around in the living room.

"Yeehaw, I'm so excited."

After placing Sarang back on the floor, I greeted my parents.

Father, who was working, came out from the bedroom.

Mother, who was preparing dinner, poked her head out from the kitchen.

Returning to this peaceful home, my heart felt much warmer.

A home is where the people I love and who love me are.

Whenever I enter the house, I feel as if my drained energy is recharged.

Home harmony leads to success in all things.

The saying that a harmonious home leads to success in all things is undoubtedly true.

The most significant difference between my previous life and this one is also the home.

"Faith, you're back?"

"Looks like you went to the gym today. What's in your hand?"

Father was curious about the bag in my hand.

"Is Mom busy? Can you come here for a moment?"

I eventually called Mother, who was preparing dinner, into the living room. Then, I presented the expensive supplements I bought as gifts to my parents.

"Faith, aren't you overdoing it?"

"Hmm... It might be hard to take all of these at once, right?"

My parents' reactions were a bit different from what I expected.

I thought they would be delighted to receive the supplements, but they seemed slightly burdened.

After all, how many adults in 1999 would take five different supplements?

I was ahead of my time.

"You both should start paying more attention to your health. And if you take them in portions, it's not as much as you think."

I began to persuade my parents with smooth talk.

"Take probiotics with a lukewarm glass of water on an empty stomach right after waking up in the morning."

"..."

"Since you might have stomach issues, take Vitamin B and Vitamin D right after breakfast."

"..."

"Skip lunch and take Omega-3 and a calcium-magnesium complex after dinner. How about that? It's easy, right?"

I added a brief explanation of the supplements' effects after explaining how to take them.

My parents just blinked, seemingly surprised by my extensive knowledge of supplements.

"When did you study this?"

"I have a friend whose parents run a pharmacy. I got help from them."

I was a bit surprised by myself as I spoke.

To come up with such a plausible white lie so quickly...

The quick thinking and smooth talking I've honed since childhood have now reached a level that could rival a con artist.

I will use this ability to save patients and take revenge on my arch-nemesis, Kang Tae-sub.

"Take good care of yourself."

"Thank you, Faith."

"No, it's nothing. Really."

While I was feeling a bit awkward, Sarang pouted and tugged at my clothes.

"Brother, Brother."

"What's wrong, Sarang?"

"Where's mine? I want something tasty too."

Sarang looked upset, thinking she was being left out.

Even though I was blinded by love, I still found her adorable.

"Brother wouldn't forget about Sarang. Here, this is for you."

I was about to give Sarang 'Grow Tall' jelly and chewable vitamins.

However, Mother quickly intercepted the two supplements.

"Wait, I'll keep these. If Sarang has them, she'll finish a whole pack in a day."

"Mom, Brother gave these to me..."

"I know. I'll give you one after dinner, so save them. They're Brother's gifts, okay?"

"...Okay."

Mother handed Sarang one chewable vitamin as if to show her kindness.

Sarang eagerly unwrapped it and put the vitamin in her mouth.

"Ouch... Yuck!"

Seeing Sarang writhing from the sour taste, my parents and I burst into laughter.

In the past, my family revolved around me.

Now, it revolves around Sarang.

If asked which is happier, the past or now, it's obviously now.

* * *

Sunday afternoon.

After finishing lunch, I left home around 2 PM.

Usually, I would go for a walk in the nearby park with nothing in hand, but today was different.

My destination was not the park, and my purpose was not a walk.

I had a bag on my back, filled with essential items.

Today, I was meeting Park Jung-hoon to discuss future plans.

I couldn't bear to see Shim Byung-soo's reckless behavior any longer.

I saw my past self in Park Jung-hoon, who was being bullied.

From my intern days to my second year as a resident.

I, too, had experienced similar bullying.

Verbal abuse and insults were common, and I had been kicked by seniors in prominent hospital areas countless times.

During this time, my heart gradually collapsed, and my work performance plummeted.

My poor performance led to more bullying, creating a vicious cycle.

Thus, saving Park Jung-hoon was also about saving my past self.

I couldn't approach this task half-heartedly or carelessly.

"You're early."

Park Jung-hoon was standing in front of the PC room near the school, our meeting place.

When I greeted him, he waved and acknowledged me.

He still wore an arm sleeve to hide the burn marks from cigarette burns.

Shim Byung-soo...

No matter how I think about it, you are truly the lowest of the low.

The word 'forgiveness' is too good for you.

"Did you eat lunch?"

"Uh? Yeah."

"Then where should we go to talk? Let's go to the bakery nearby."

I moved with Park Jung-hoon to a bakery about five minutes away.

We sat by the window and ordered two glasses of orange juice.

There was only one topic to discuss, and it wasn't a pleasant one.

Watching Park Jung-hoon sit in uncomfortable silence made my heart ache even more.

But wounds only worsen when left untreated.

Now, I had to address the wound directly.

Like a scalpel that cuts through skin and organs but ultimately heals the wound.

"Jung-hoon, I'll be straightforward. Let's take revenge on Byung-soo together. I have a good plan."

"W-What plan?"

Park Jung-hoon spoke in a frightened voice.

"The homeroom teacher only knows Byung-soo as a good student. Since the last time he was called to the teacher's office, he's been bullying me even more."

"..."

"Just enduring until graduation is the best option. I appreciate your concern, Faith, but if we keep this up, you might get hurt too."

Park Jung-hoon seemed to have resigned himself to the current situation.

Of course, it wasn't his fault.

If a victim reports the abuse but the perpetrator isn't punished, anyone would feel discouraged.

"I don't want you to suffer for the next two months. If anyone deserves to suffer, it's Shim Byung-soo."

I clenched my teeth as I continued.

I explained my plan to file a lawsuit, leveraging Guak Do-an's father, who is a lawyer.

"Lawsuit? Doesn't that cost a lot of money? Our family doesn't have that kind of money..."

Park Jung-hoon's eyes widened at the word 'lawsuit'.

"Don't worry. The lawyer has promised to handle this case for free. We've already discussed everything, so you just need to trust me and follow along."

"But even if we file a lawsuit, it might just drag on, right?"

"We have to make sure it doesn't. Together. We must."

As the avenger, I finally took out my secret weapons from the bag on the seat next to me.

One was a camcorder, another a camera, and the third a pen-shaped recorder.

These were the ultimate tools to prove Shim Byung-soo's school bullying.

I had put a lot of effort into acquiring and borrowing these items in just one day.

"Take off the arm sleeve first."

"Uh? Okay."

When Park Jung-hoon removed the sleeve, a dark burn mark on his wrist was revealed.

How much pain and fear must he have felt when the cigarette burned him?

My heart ached.

"Do you have any bruises from being hit?"

"There's one on my shin."

"Pull up your pants."

I took photos of Park Jung-hoon's bruises and burn marks with the camera.

Next, we discussed the traps we would set to get Shim Byung-soo into trouble.

The first trap was for Park Jung-hoon to record the bullying with the recorder.

The second trap was for me to film the scene with the camcorder.

By collecting this evidence, Shim Byung-soo wouldn't be able to wriggle out of this like a slippery eel.

The evidence we collect will clearly prove Shim Byung-soo's school bullying.

When it comes to internal school punishment and criminal and civil lawsuits.

We could also hold Shim Byung-soo more accountable.

Imagining Shim Byung-soo's shock and horror when he gets his comeuppance made me excited.

If the satisfaction of taking revenge on Shim Byung-soo is this intense, how much more satisfying would it be to take revenge on Kang Tae-sub in the future?

I couldn't even imagine it.

"You're really thorough, aren't you?"

Park Jung-hoon shook his head in disbelief.

Of course, in the 2010s, when smartphones were widespread, it might be different.

But in 1999, almost no one would use the same method to prove school bullying.

"If we're going to take revenge, we have to do it thoroughly. Enough to make Shim Byung-soo cry."

I continued calmly.

"I'm sorry that I can't undo the pain you've already suffered, but this is the best we can do now."

"..."

"What do you think? Can you do this?"

I took a sip of orange juice and looked at Park Jung-hoon.

Whether