Page 98 of Perfect Happiness
Laid out on the kitchen table was chicken breast prepared in every form known to man, from sausages to steaks.
“Got any beer?”Eun-ho finally asked.
“Beer?It’s not even five.”
Jinu stepped out onto the balcony and came back in with a sixpack of beer.For something to nibble on, Jinu prepared his own choice of tandoori chicken.The wind rattled the balcony window.The sky was a gloomy grey.It seemed like snow or sleet would start falling from the sky soon.
“Have you gotten the autopsy results back yet?”Jinu asked as he sat down next to Eun-ho.
“Not yet.”
Eun-ho immediately emptied the entire can into his mouth.As the alcohol entered his gut, his body began to relax.Eun-ho hadn’t realized how tense he had become on the ride over here.He also realized that this was the first time he’d touched a drink since two weeks ago, which was coincidentally the last time he saw Jinu.Eun-ho couldn’t believe he had managed without the mind-numbing effects of alcohol.
“I thought of something I wanted to ask you.”
Eun-ho took his phone from his pocket and placed it on the table between them.
“Have a listen, and then I’ll explain.”
Eun-ho emptied a second can of beer into his mouth as Jinu listened to the recording.Jinu didn’t budge and only stared down at his feet.He didn’t even react when his name was mentioned.Only when Eun-ho stopped the recording did Jinu look up.He let out a strange sound, something in between a grunt and “Hmmm.”
“And I have something you need to see,” Eun-ho said.
He opened his photo album and scrolled to the pictures stolen from Yuna’s phone.He clicked on the picture of the Caucasian man and handed the phone to Jinu.
“Flip through the pictures.”
Jinu did what he was told without saying a word.With each picture, he showed more emotion.The first picture brought about subtle surprise, the second confusion, and finally an emotion that Eun-ho could only describe as shock.Jinu had found the same pattern Eun-ho had.
“You know what I’ve come here to ask you, don’t you?You must think I’m stupid for taking this long to figure things out.”
Eun-ho opened his third can of beer.After guzzling half of it, he continued:
“You should have just told me.”
Jinu’s response came many seconds later.
“There were a lot of rumors ...but even I wasn’t convinced.Until earlier today, I still wasn’t sure what I would do if you came asking questions.I didn’t know if telling you what happened would be the right thing to do.And what would be the point of telling you?”
The words “until earlier today” rang inside Eun-ho’s ears.
“What happened earlier today that changed your mind?”
“I met with someone for lunch who asked the same questions as you are right now.”
Eun-ho paused in surprise as he brought the beer to his lips.
“Who?”
“Yuna’s sister.Jane Shin.”
Eun-ho was speechless.He had expected Jinu to say the police or perhaps Min-young.But Jane?How did Jane and Jinu know each other?
“Jane learned about Yuna’s mysterious past through Min-young, just like you.It seems like Min-young went to Jane before she went to you.But I’m a bit surprised by the recording you just showed me.Jane and Yuna?Working together?And I can’t believe Yuna married her sister’s ex-boyfriend.”
“So, what did you tell Jane?”
Jinu stared quietly out the window.A mountain pigeon was hooting in the distance.
