King Of Broadcasting

10. Casting! The Start of the Broadcast (4)

My heart racing with trembling hands, I barely touched the headline of the article, and soon the brief contents appeared.

Broadcaster Itaegon passed away from a heart attack at 3 p.m. in his home in Seogyo-dong, at the age of 85...

"Hey! Han Sejun! Where are you going!"

Even in shock, my body reacted quickly.

Before I knew it, I was running.

Though Shin Se-jung shouted from behind, I didn't look back.

There was no time to hesitate.

"Sejun, you! Stop right there!"

"I'll tell you when I get back! I'm sorry!"

The sound of her heels, initially menacingly close, gradually faded away, replaced by her angry roar.

"Han Sejun! When you arrive, call me immediately to explain! Got it?"

Instead of answering, I raised my right hand in acknowledgment.

I was out of breath from the sprinting.

As I ran, I barely managed to catch my breath before the subway doors closed with a final, resounding thud.

I considered hailing a taxi, but the thought of getting stuck in traffic along the way deterred me.

Inside the departing subway train, I dialed Itaegon's number.

But...

- The phone is off, and you will be connected to the voicemail system.

I couldn't connect the call.

Please, Teacher!

In my anxiety, I found myself biting my lips unconsciously.

The details of the article I read earlier kept replaying in my mind.

3 p.m., home in Seogyo-dong, death.

But most chilling of all was the fact of his death.

"Could it be true that..."

"Itaegon-sensei will die today."

***

"Why are you here at this hour?"

The seated teacher in the wheelchair looked at me unexpectedly.

He seemed perfectly fine.

I felt extremely embarrassed as I rushed into the entrance calling out to the teacher like a blazing fire on a tail.

"Oh, Teacher...!"

"Take a deep breath and speak calmly."

I breathed heavily.

As the teacher wheeled closer, he patted my shoulder.

Although I had come to find the teacher with enthusiasm, I was taken aback by the unexpected situation and couldn't find a suitable excuse.

What should I say?

No matter how much I racked my brains, I couldn't come up with a decent excuse.

But then, an unexpected figure came to my rescue.

"Oh, welcome, welcome!"

The housemaid rushed out of the kitchen and greeted me warmly.

But soon, she frowned and wrapped her right wrist with her hand.

There wasn't a bandage there yesterday, was there?

"Are you okay?"

"I sprained it while playing with my grandson last night. The doctor said I need to be careful for a few days, and of all days..."