Chapter 64

Chapter 3 of Episode 64: We Must Stop It (4)

An So-hui trudged through the bustling streets.

Everyone on the street seemed happy except for her.

A couple who looked like college students were walking arm in arm, laughing and joking.

Children of her age passed by, chatting animatedly.

The morning weather was unusually warm, but An So-hui's heart remained in winter.

It was two evenings ago.

Feeling bored with her studies, she had taken out her art notebook to draw a picture.

Unfortunately, her mother burst into the room at that moment, and An So-hui, absorbed in her drawing, didn't notice her mother's entrance.

"An So-hui, what are you doing?"

Her mother's angry voice came from behind her.

Turning around, she saw her mother's eyes, which looked as terrifying as a demon.

Ah... What a fool...

She had been caught drawing.

"Why aren't you studying and drawing instead? Do you think drawing will feed you?"

"..."

"Snap out of it, you brat. You should be solving more math problems instead of drawing."

"Mom, can't I take a break? How can I study all day and night?"

Feeling frustrated by the treatment she had endured, An So-hui finally lashed out at her mother. Why did her mother always try to control her like a mouse?

But not with her brother...

Her mother was always affectionate with her brother...

"And I'm pretty good at drawing. Why don't you take a look?"

An So-hui handed her mother the art notebook.

The time it took for her mother to flip through the notebook felt like several minutes to An So-hui.

"An So-hui."

"Yes, Mom."

"I was wondering why your grades weren't improving. You've been drawing all this time. Oh, you're making life miserable for yourself."

Her mother shook her head in disgust.

Then, right in front of An So-hui, she tore the art notebook to shreds.

But her mother only knew one thing and not the other.

That An So-hui's heart was also torn to pieces along with the notebook.

Without the strength to respond, An So-hui closed her mouth and lowered her head.

She had managed to endure the depression and hardship.

She had been cheered up by her brother's kindness.

Her mother's extreme actions had pushed her back into the abyss.

"Stop fooling around and focus on your studies. You need to know why you're a student."

After her mother left, An So-hui cried bitterly.

'I'm so tired. I don't even want to live anymore. I want to go up to the sky and draw freely.'

Walking through the streets, An So-hui soon moved to the rooftop of a building.

It was a place she had learned about from a friend during her elementary school days when she attended piano lessons.

She leaned against the railing, looking down at the bustling and lively scene of the city waking up.

Indeed, there seemed to be no place for her anywhere.

* * *

-That's how it was? I didn't think it would go that far...

An Tae-hwan said in a dejected voice.

I had just told An Tae-hwan over the phone about the emotions and thoughts I had sensed from An So-hui during our tutoring session.

First, the inferiority and discrimination An So-hui felt towards An Tae-hwan.

Second, the stress caused by her parents' strict discipline.

Third, the pain she had to endure by hiding her love for art.

An Tae-hwan only knew about the second point.

Even with family members who see each other every day, not having proper communication can make their relationship worse than with strangers.

I knew An So-hui better than An Tae-hwan or his parents.

"Her phone isn't answering, and the messages in the BuddyBuddy app are concerning. She might be considering something extreme."

I cautiously expressed my opinion.

Although I used the word "might," I was actually certain.

I knew all too well how An So-hui from my previous life had left this world.

-You don't think she would go that far, do you?

"Hope is what kills people. Regardless, the most important thing now is to find So-hui."

-Hold on, wait a moment.

After a loud thumping sound, An Tae-hwan's voice, now heavy with worry, came through.

-Damn it, I left my phone in the room. And I turned it off completely.

It seemed An Tae-hwan had finally realized the seriousness of the situation.

"Senior, report to the police first. Then tell your parents and search for places where So-hui might be."

-That's probably the best course of action now. Where are you?

"I've left my house and am heading towards your place."

-You're going through so much trouble for me. If we can save So-hui, I'll treat you as my lifelong benefactor. I promise.

"Let's talk about that later. So-hui's safety is the most important thing right now."

-Thank you and I'm sorry.

After hanging up, I stepped out into the bustling street and waved vigorously at a passing taxi.

"Driver, over here!"

* * *

While riding in the taxi to An Tae-hwan's house, I tried my hardest to recall the memories from my previous life related to An So-hui's death.

It was certain that she would attempt suicide by jumping, but I couldn't remember where.

'Well, knowing it would be strange, wouldn't it?'

A bitter smile appeared on my lips.

The An Tae-hwan from my previous life, who had lost An So-hui, would never have told anyone else the place where she jumped.

Just talking about it would be painful.

Moreover, no one who came to pay their respects would have asked An Tae-hwan about the exact location.

In short, no one in this life knew where An So-hui would jump.

"Oh, you're here, Belief."

"Here I am."

When I got out of the taxi and arrived at the entrance of An Tae-hwan's apartment complex, his family was gathered together.

They all looked anxious, probably worried that something might be wrong with their daughter.

I was already on edge and anxious, so I could only imagine how the three family members must be feeling.

"Yes, hello."

"An Tae-hwan told us what happened. So-hui... might take her own life? Oh... It's all my fault. If I hadn't torn up her notebook two days ago..."

An Tae-hwan's mother bit her lip and lowered her head.

"Why do you always try to control her! You should be grateful if she grows up healthy."

"You were just standing by, so don't blame everything on me."

Seeing that An Tae-hwan's parents were about to argue, I quickly intervened.

"Both of you, calm down. This is not the time to argue. We need to find So-hui as quickly as possible."

My mediation made An Tae-hwan's parents come to their senses.

Embarrassed by their argument over their daughter in such a critical situation, their faces turned red.

"But do you know where So-hui is and how to find her?"

An Tae-hwan, looking frustrated, changed the subject.

However, there was a white piece of something stuck on his lips.

"Senior, you have something on your mouth."

"Oh... I was eating a peach at home..."

An Tae-hwan laughed awkwardly and wiped the peach piece from his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Follow me. I know where So-hui might be."

"How do you know?"

"There's no time to explain. Just follow me."

I started running frantically towards the bustling area near the apartment complex.

After desperately thinking on the way, I had a hunch about one place.

It was the landscape that An So-hui loved the most, the one she had drawn in her art notebook.

-Your chosen picture is more complete, but the one I chose has my memories.

-I used to come up to this building's rooftop when I skipped piano lessons.

The place I saw in the art notebook on the first day of tutoring.

An So-hui must be there.

If she were to jump, she would likely choose a place that felt familiar and comfortable to her.

Entering the bustling area with a sense of urgency, I focused on the buildings around the piano school.

The piano school's sign was on the second floor.

There was a snack shop on the first floor, I think?

'I found it!'

It seemed the heavens were on my side, and my desperate efforts were rewarded.

I found a building with a snack shop on the first floor and a piano school on the second. Hope surged within me that I could save An So-hui.

"Belief, how long are you going to run? Do you even know where you're going?"

An Tae-hwan, who was slightly behind me, caught up.

His face was already drenched in sweat.

"It's probably there."

I pointed to the rooftop of a ten-story building in front of us.

The only place where the landscape from the art notebook could be found was the rooftop of the building I was pointing to.

Please, let her be there...

"Senior, go up to the roof with your parents. I'll go up first."

I started running again.

On my way to the building's entrance, I checked if there was any commotion around the building, but it seemed nothing unusual was happening.

In other words, An So-hui hadn't jumped yet.

There was still a chance.

In this regression, I could save An So-hui.

I got on the elevator and went up to the 9th floor, then ran to the roof.

The moment I saw An So-hui's back, leaning against the railing, the tension in my body eased.

"So-hui!"

"Te... Teacher? How did you find me here?"

An So-hui's eyes widened in surprise at seeing me.

From her perspective, it must have been astonishing and incredible that I had found her.

"Ha... Ha... Can you come over here? It's too dangerous there."

"..."

"Please, for me."

Moved by my sincerity, An So-hui, though reluctantly, approached me.

An So-hui was moving away from death.

"I don't know how hard it is for you. I'm not you. But... I can share a little of your pain."

"..."

"Your sadness and pain. Let's face it together. Can you do that?"

Moved by my kind words, An So-hui sobbed quietly.

Her shoulders shook, and tears streamed down her face like rain.

I pulled her into a hug.

"Teacher, I was going to die. I thought someone like me had no reason to live anymore."

"Everyone feels like giving up when things get tough. It's not your fault."

"No, it's because I'm not good enough."

"Stop saying that, or I'll scold you. It's not your fault."

While comforting An So-hui, An Tae-hwan and his parents arrived on the roof.

Seeing An So-hui safe, their expressions relaxed.

"So-hui, I'm sorry. I didn't understand your feelings and only said hurtful things."

"I'm sorry too. I should have paid more attention to you."

"So-hui."

When I let An So-hui go, the three of them approached her, offering comfort and apologies.

The deep-seated resentment in the family was finally easing, and I felt completely relieved.

Saving An So-hui was ultimately due to my attention.

By genuinely trying to understand her and not dismissing her art, I was able to find the place where she would jump and prevent the tragedy.

Isn't it the same for doctors saving patients?

If a doctor carefully examines a patient's symptoms and emotions, showing warm concern, they might be able to save a patient who was on the brink of death.

"Cough, cough."

In the warm atmosphere, An Tae-hwan's actions were concerning.

He kept coughing and seemed to have difficulty breathing, placing his hand on his chest.

There was even a red rash around his neck.

Was it a reaction to An So-hui, who was supposed to die in my previous life, being saved?

This time, ominous signs were appearing in An Tae-hwan.

The tension I thought had disappeared was rising again.

"Senior, are you okay?"

I approached An Tae-hwan and placed my hand on his shoulder.