A YEAR AGO

Seokjin was beyond ecstatic to be finally transferring into his company's headquarters at the capital. Because of the issues related to signing into his post before the deadline had passed, he had to leave for the city all by himself. Due to this provision, his wife and daughter— namely Joobin and Jinjoo— had to stay back at Seokjin's paternal home, which also provided the lovely family of three the shelter they had required since the beginning. Getting separated such way for the first time in their lives, all the three of them yearned for was the day everything was settled back home as well as at Seokjin's new place of work, and they got to live together again.

In a matter of weeks, the awaited day had marked its presence, leading the remaining two females to hurriedly pack up and set out for where Seokjin had been longing for their arrival. Regardless of Seokjin's numerous pleas meant for them to drop their hasty plan of shifting houses, Joobin and Jinjoo did what suited themselves best. Seokjin was a bit upset over them not paying heed to his more sensible idea of letting him come over there at the weekend and then collectively moving into their new abode, but then even he decided to relinquish his dismay after a while.

Considering how the towns were just an hour apart, Seokjin had been looking forward to them chirping all the way into his workplace by literally any minute now. The last time when he had conversed with Joobin over phone, the latter had told him that they had covered quite some distance in the meantime— and that was two hours ago. Seokjin did not deny about not feeling a tinge of discomfort over what was taking them so long, but noting how fascinating the city must be appearing to both of them, he preferred to discard the futile worry and get back to his work.

Finishing the tasks assigned to him left and right like a bolt of lightning, Seokjin grinned widely when his phone rang and displayed Joobin's caller ID— appearing no less than a reward to the family man.

"Where are y—"

"Hello, is this the husband of Ms. Baek Joobin speaking?" A robotic voice asked from the other end of the line.

Seokjin could not decipher much from the clear yet ambiguous question that had been aimed at him. Trapped betwixt solving the mystery of that animated voice and actually responding to it, even Seokjin was surprised over how he chose to go with the latter alternative in the end despite his doubts, "Yes?"

"Ms. Baek Joobin suffered a fatal accident an hour ago, and is currently being operated upon at our hospital—"

"Tell me the address." Seokjin blurted abruptly, his eyes gradually growing bloodshot.