🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 28
“Chaerin… what do you mean? You can go in together with someone else? You mean we can enter the memory together?”
Startled, Chief Choi shouted even louder than In-hye.
“Yes. Probably.”
Chaerin flinched at the two of them reacting so intensely.
“No way… so you don’t have to go alone anymore…”
“Chief, wait. Let me ask something.”
In-hye raised her hand to stop Choi, signaling him to be quiet.
“So, to summarize… you might be able to bring someone else into the memory with you. Is that it?”
Taking a deep breath, In-hye’s face lit up with excitement.
“Probably….”
But the more she said it, the quieter Chaerin’s voice became.
“Chaerin, can you explain in detail how it would be possible to enter the memory together with someone else?”
In-hye’s expression was like a child about to unwrap a Christmas present, full of anticipation.
She couldn’t hide her excitement, eager to hear what words would come from Chaerin’s mouth.
It felt like stepping onto an untraveled path for the first time—a pioneer’s thrill. Excitement, anticipation, and tension wrapped around In-hye’s entire body.
“As I mentioned earlier, you can bring objects from the real world into the memory.”
Seeing In-hye’s expectant expression, Chaerin adjusted her posture and spoke carefully.
“Right. You brought your phone into the memory earlier, and you were able to use it.”
“Yes. So I thought… maybe people could work the same way.”
“Maybe? What does that mean? So it’s not certain?”
In-hye’s excited smile slowly faded.
“Yes. Not yet… that’s why I said ‘probably’ earlier…”
“So it’s just a hypothesis?”
“Yes.”
In-hye lowered her hands from the keyboard and slumped back into the chair, her face full of disappointment.
“I’m sorry.”
Chaerin felt uneasy, as if she’d unintentionally teased everyone.
“No, it’s not your fault. Still, if it’s actually possible, it would’ve helped you investigate inside the memory. You struggled on your own, after all.”
In-hye smiled brightly, though a trace of regret lingered at the corners of her mouth.
“Then why not just try it? See if it works.”
Seong-jin, watching the conversation, gave them a look as if to say, What’s there to worry about?
“You just stay put. Do you think it’s that easy? And what if you recklessly go into the memory and it’s dangerous?”
Choi jabbed Seong-jin in the side, scolding him.
He couldn’t risk Chaerin based on a single hypothesis.
“You said we’re entering a hypnotized person’s memory. So it’s already a past memory—what danger could there be? And if it gets risky, just open your eyes and come out. Isn’t that right, Dr. Jeong?”
“Well… theoretically, yes.”
In-hye’s eyes shifted from the laptop to Seong-jin. Step back, and everything looks simpler. His words were blunt, but not entirely wrong.
“Also, if the hypnotized person wakes up, they automatically come out. So there’s no way you couldn’t leave the memory. It’s worth trying. And if you’re still anxious, I’ll go in with you.”
Encouraged by In-hye’s confidence, Seong-jin pounded his chest, grinning.
“Dr. Jeong, don’t mind him. He’s just talking nonsense. Let’s wrap this up for now and have a meal together. My treat today.”
“…….”
Choi laughed heartily to lighten the awkward atmosphere, but In-hye remained serious, silently twirling her pen.
“Alright, then. Next time. Dr. Jeong, I’ll leave now. And if there’s nothing else with Chaerin, I’ll walk her out. Chaerin, let’s go. Come on, get up.”
No response from In-hye. Choi awkwardly tugged at Seong-jin’s sleeve and stood.
“Okay, alright. Getting up.”
“Fine. Let’s give it a try.”
As Seong-jin grumbled while being dragged toward the hypnosis chair by Choi, In-hye suddenly leapt from her seat.
“Excuse me? What?”
Choi froze.
“Let’s try it. Thinking about it… Detective Kim isn’t entirely wrong. Let’s just try.”
“See? It could work, right? Look, Chief, she says it’s possible. Hahaha.”
Seong-jin, hearing In-hye, shook off Choi’s hand holding his sleeve, laughing boldly with triumph.
“Chaerin… you okay with this? If you feel uncomfortable, you don’t have to.”
In the end, Chaerin’s choice was what mattered most.
“I’m curious too. If it’s really possible.”
Chaerin finally set her phone aside and lifted her head.
“Okay. Alright. Let’s try it.”
“Dr. Jeong, wait… is this really possible? How can we enter the memory together?”
Choi’s face was a mixture of doubt and worry.
“I think it’s possible if Chaerin synchronizes her brainwaves with the person joining her.”
“So… whose memory should we enter?”
Seong-jin’s voice trembled with excitement. The thought of entering another person’s memory sent shivers down his spine.
“There’s only one candidate here, right?”
Following In-hye’s words, both Chaerin and Seong-jin instinctively turned to Choi.
“Me? Enter my memory? No way.”
Choi pointed to himself, shaking his head emphatically.
“Then who? There’s no one else. Lie down, quickly.”
Seong-jin gently pushed Choi toward the hypnosis chair.
“Hey! No! I said no!”
“Are you nervous?”
In-hye lowered the office lights with the remote and lit a candle beside the hypnosis chair.
“A little.”
Choi, awkward and uneasy on the chair, fidgeted with his fingers.
The thought of someone entering his memory made him feel exposed, as if his deepest, hidden self were on display.
“Don’t worry. I won’t touch those memories.”
In-hye gently held Choi’s tense shoulders and whispered in his ear, clearly understanding his concern.
“Detective Kim, relax too.”
Seeing Seong-jin stiff on the sofa despite claiming he wanted to try, In-hye couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s my first time.”
“Just follow Chaerin’s lead. Chaerin, ready?”
“Yes.”
Chaerin, seated across from Seong-jin, adjusted her posture confidently.
“Detective Kim, ready?”
“Yes.”
Seong-jin lightly tapped his cheeks with his hands, scrunched his eyes tight, and braced himself.
“Alright. Let’s begin.”
In-hye guided Choi softly into hypnosis. His hands, previously tense, relaxed completely. Seeing Choi slip under, In-hye gave Chaerin the signal.
“Entering now.”
Chaerin whispered to Seong-jin and closed her eyes.
Laughter and shouting filled the air.
“Mom, let’s go on that ride, quick!”
“No, too long a line. Let’s go somewhere else.”
Sounds of children laughing and crowds chatting reached Seong-jin, whose eyes were tightly shut.
“Open your eyes now.”
Then Chaerin’s gentle voice spoke.
“Wow!”
Seong-jin opened his eyes and froze in disbelief.
Children holding balloons laughed, couples strolled hand-in-hand—and he was standing among them.
Just moments ago, he had closed his eyes in a hospital office. Now, an entirely different world stretched before him.
“Is… this real? I’m not dreaming, right?”
He pinched his cheeks, eyes wide, marveling at the scents of popcorn, the weight of passing bodies, and the faint breeze brushing his face.
“Nope.”
Chaerin’s calm voice belied her own astonishment. It really works… we can enter together.
“Amazing. This is Chief’s memory… but it’s an amusement park?”
Seong-jin touched nearby objects, eyes wide.
“Looks like it.”
Apparently, Choi’s most vivid memory was of a theme park—a surprising choice.
“But… when is this memory from?”
“The calendar at the snack stand says September 2008… so maybe ten years ago.”
“Ten years ago? Chief must’ve been in his late 30s then. Let’s see that young face. He always said he was handsome back then. Today I’ll see the truth.”
Seong-jin rubbed his hands, grinning mischievously.
“Let’s just leave. We confirmed it works.”
“Already? We came all this way. Let’s at least see the Chief’s face.”
Excited like a child, Seong-jin walked ahead of Chaerin.
“Chaerin… why this memory? Out of all of Chief’s memories, why the amusement park?”
They wandered, scanning the park, until Seong-jin asked curiously.
“I don’t know. Usually, we enter the memory Dr. Jeong designates, or a recent one. This must be the Chief’s strongest memory.”
“Huh—an amusement park as his strongest memory… not what I’d expect.”
Seong-jin chuckled, scanning for Choi.
“Where is he? We need to see him. Let’s go there.”
They followed his voice.
“Dong-woo! Dong-woo! Dong-woo!”
Chaerin saw Choi running frantically, calling a strange name.
“What’s happening? Why is he like that? Who’s he looking for?”
Seong-jin looked to Chaerin, shocked. Even she was bewildered.
“Dong-woo? Who’s Dong-woo? Why is he calling…?”
Seong-jin’s face stiffened as the name repeated in his head.
“Dong-woo…”
Choi’s cries were raw, desperate, almost animalistic.
Suddenly, Choi pulled out his phone, trembling.
“He… hello… please…”
He dropped to his knees, defeated, burying his face.
“A-ahhh…”
A heart-wrenching wail echoed through the memory, incomprehensibly tragic.
“I can’t… I have to see what’s happening.”
Seong-jin, unable to stand by, ran toward Choi.
“No!”
Startled, Chaerin shouted after him.
“Chief, what are you doing? What’s happening… ah!”
Seong-jin grabbed Choi’s shoulders as he collapsed onto the ground, letting out a short scream before falling beside him.
