I burst into my boss's office and drop the files I was put on my desk. I cross my arms on my chest as he slowly looks up from his newspaper.
"What is it now?"
"How could you make me do this story? It's a lie!"
"Not our problem." He puts down his newspaper with a sigh and tiredly says, "We only do what we are told by the higher-ups."
"No. You let the rich lead. See? This is exactly why—"
"You can barely make means end!"
For the first time, he lets his anger out and I step back at his dark expression. He then lets out another sigh and goes back to his tired look.
"You are in no place to be complaining, Ms. Oh. Just cover the story. No one will get hurt. It's just a small cover for the Kim Company."
I find my strength again. I can't help it. Deep down, I know I should look down in shame and just do the story. But how can I just cover up another murder like that?
So I cross my arms and firmly say, "I will not. Find someone else."
I start out the door feeling that rush through my veins until his words make my blood run cold.
"If you step out of that door and do not cover that story, you are fired."
I freeze at the doorknob and turn with wide eyes. He's serious. I finally understand the look behind those tired eyes. He stands with hands shoved in his pockets and with his face firm. "You've been giving us problems for a while now, Ms. Oh. I have to admit, you are an excellent reporter. You have potential. It's unfortunate you never learn. So I'm guessing I will be seeing you out today."
I wish he was wrong. I wish the frantic side of my brain asking me to cover the story could take over. But I sadly let my shoulders fall and take a box by his desk. It's like a walk of shame as I go back to my desk with that cardboard box. People begin to whisper and others do small smiles of celebration. My arch nemesis since day one, Mari, comes up to me with a smirk and says, "Finally. We don't want this place to get infected by useless people like you."
I stay quiet and try my best to ignore her words. I keep my head down. I keep my eyes down so I don't see their burning eyes as I walk to the elevator. Some ask if I need another box to carry all my mouthwash bottles filled with tequila. If I actually had any, I'd throw it to all of them and ruin their fancy laptops.
Unnie doesn't have a job. I was her last hope. I hope she doesn't get too mad at me.
As I enter the elevator, I'm surprised to see Ms.Lee, the new secretary, in the elevator with a cardboard box and a sullen face. Her sad eyes shine at my arrival and notice my box.
"You got fired, too?! But you're amazing!"
I do a tight smile and sigh as I press the button for the first floor. I want to escape this place already.
"It was bound to happen," I say with a sigh. "Why did you get fired?"
She does a sad shrug. "He said I was too clumsy. He's not wrong but this job was my last option. I guess I'll apply to a fast food place. Or a restaurant."
I feel her pain. I give her a small smile and say, "I'm sure you'll find something. Will you apply today?"
She scoffs. "Are you kidding? I'm getting drunk first and then I'll start applying."
"Hear hear."
We are silent for a moment until she suddenly says, "So you want to join me? I found this place by my house that offers happy hours."
My angry heart tells me to say yes. But I remember the time unnie got mad at me when I told her I might be an alcoholic. So I gently shake my head and say, "I'm okay. I'm going back to my place to make dinner with my sister. Be safe out there though."
"I will." She gives me one last smile before parting our ways. I wonder if I'll ever see her again. Maybe sometime when I decide to take a drink.
For now, I focus on how to give my sisters the news. Should I just be abrupt about it or slowly go into the subject? I don't want In-hye to know. She'll have that sad look in her quiet expression and worry will shine in her eyes. In-joo will probably try to make me feel better with her sweet smile and tell me that we'll find a solution.
Wait. My desperate mind for Jongho suddenly brings the memory of the news station that helped me air the evidence I gathered against the Park family and their interest to have my work at their news agency. I wonder if the position is still open. It's my last option...
I arrive home with a tired sigh. I look into our mailbox before going up the long flight of stairs. More letters telling us to stay alert on our debts. I drag my feet up with those letters on my box, adding tons of weight to it. Finally, I get to the rooftop and just leave the box by the bench where In-hye often sits to draw or play her guitar.
At least I'm home. I really just want to hide under the covers right now.
I enter the dim place. That's odd. Unnie usually likes bringing in the sunlight even through our old windows.
I stop by the kitchen doorway and see the slightest corner of unnie's shoe. I smile and wonder if she fell asleep on the floor. But as I peek in to surprise her, my heart drops at the sight.
In-joo lays on the wooden floor with blood coming from her temple. She's in a fetal position as she quietly groans and wraps arms around her waist.
"Unnie!"
My mind floods with questions. Worry interrupts my brain trying to understand what happened as In-joo slightly opens her eyes and tries to say, "I'm okay. I'm okay..."
I quickly try to sit her up, but she lets out a painful groan as I touch her arm. Tears immediately fall from her eyes as she says, "Leave me here. I'll be okay. Please."
"Are you crazy? Let me get you to bed. Who the hell did this?!"
A sob tries to escape her lips as I use my strength to help her sit up. "It's not important."
I run to get a towel from the counter and try to wipe the blood away from her temple. She winces and I observe her pale face. More blood is dry on the wooden floor and tears want to escape my eyes at my sister's condition.
"Unnie," I sadly say. "We need to go to the hospital. You need to get yourself checked—"
"No!" Her eyes open completely this time. "No no. We can't afford to go to the hospital right now!"
"But—" I can't hold back tears anymore. I cover my mouth as tears come out and I watch my sister close her eyes with pain. Her furrowed brows show how much she's fighting back her pain and it breaks my angry heart.
"Who did this to you, unnie?" I softly say. "Where does it hurt?"
I sweetly put a hand on her cheek and she leans on it with a tired look. When she hears my sniffles, she opens her eyes and says, "I'm okay. The pain will go away soon. Can you just help me to my bed?"
I quickly get up and help her stand. She lets out a small cry of pain before holding on tight to me. She has a bad limp that leaves her sucking in her breath to hold back the pain. So I try to find the strength to lift her as much as I can but everywhere I hold, she winces.
I finally lay her on her bed as I give her extra pillows from my bed. She lets out a relieved sigh after wincing and gives me a weak smile. "Thank you."
I wipe my tears away as my heart reminds me how angry it is at this sight. I hold her hand and say, "Who did this, In-joo?"
She gently shakes her head with a wince. "I don't want you to get involved."
"Who...did this?"
She hesitates but my firmness helps her say, "Someone who used to work with Do-Il. I owed her five hits. From when I asked her money for In-hye—"
"Is that why you were bruised that time?!"
She nodded and I couldn't believe I'd been so blind. I'm always so stuck in this world of stories and investigation that I barely saw how much pain my sisters go through.
This time, I won't fail them. I already did by making their lives hell and getting fired from the same job that opened the gates of hell for them. As unnie asks me to stay out of it, my heart finally listens to the words my boss tried telling me.
I must learn to stay silent or someone else will get hurt.