116. Revenge

Mark called Rick while under the influence of alcohol and sadness over memories of his younger brother.

The call connected after a few rings, and Rick's characteristic deep voice came through on the other end, slightly breathless, as if he had just taken a deep breath before answering.

“What's wrong, Mark?”

One sentence. But it was enough to shatter something that had been cracked for a long time inside Mark. At that moment, the entire room seemed to spin. His head felt heavy. The alcohol made everything feel like it was floating, but the pain grew sharper, like a blade that never dulled.

“Do you still remember Michael?”

Rick paused for a moment before answering with great heaviness. “Mark—”

“Michael… was my brother. My only brother. My only family…” Mark’s throat felt tight and painful. The dryness and burning sensation seemed to choke him mercilessly—without pause.

On the other end, Rick’s long sigh could be heard.

“Mark, please. Where are you? Do you want me to come see you?”

The words were sincere. Worried.

But instead of answering, Mark burst into laughter. A bitter laugh that erupted with a thousand reasons he deemed perfectly reasonable at that moment. Because it might be the only escape left for someone who had been holding back the suffocation for too long, whose world had long since collapsed in silence.

More accurately, he was laughing at his own life.

Then, after growing tired, with his breath slightly labored, Mark continued his rambling, most of which was under the influence of alcohol.

“I want to forget him.” Mark laughed again, this time bitterly. “As you said. If I forget him, the pain might lessen.”

“I’m not telling you to forget Michael. You—even I—can’t forget him. I just want you to let him go. Slowly, bit by bit. That way you can move on with your life.”

Rick’s voice was soft. His words were like a foothold he offered at the edge of a cliff, hoping his friend wouldn’t fall.

But Mark didn’t respond. He stared blankly at the clear sky through his apartment window.

The city lights danced slowly on the windowpane, but nothing could distract his mind from the shadows of the past.

But Rick didn’t know. He thought Mark was processing his words. In reality, Mark’s thoughts were wandering wildly back to the past. To the day Michael died. A day he had never been able to forget until now.

That day was still fresh in his mind. The cold air. The ambulance siren that came too late. His brother’s lifeless body, like a doll that had lost its soul. All of it was a nightmare that never truly ended.

“Mark.” Rick spoke again because Mark hadn’t said anything. “You’ve managed to do it all this time. You’ve recovered and become yourself again. Now… why are you suddenly saying this?”

“I—” Mark swallowed hard. “It turns out I can’t let go. I was just pretending. Pretending that I could get better, pretending that I had forgotten what happened. But no—I haven’t forgotten it. That day, Michael’s pale face, his lifeless body… I just can’t forget it. The image keeps coming back to me like a nightmare. Like a ghost.”

The room around him felt increasingly cramped. As if all those bad memories were seeping through the walls and crushing him from all sides.

“Hey, man. Where are you now? At home? I’ll come over right now. Okay? Can you wait for me?”

But again, Mark didn’t respond.

He just started rambling again.

“Do you remember that kid? The one who always fought with Michael?”

His tone changed. Something sharper. Darker.

“Yes,” Rick answered softly and with concern. He was afraid every time Mark brought up this topic. Because he knew Mark still couldn’t accept it, even though the evidence the police had was very convincing. His friend was still haunted by his own unresolved pain. That’s why his suspicions seemed to never end.

“That bastard showed up in front of me.”

“What?” Rick sounded very surprised. He began to think about many things because of Mark’s recent statement. How could that boy show up again? Didn’t his family drag him away from this city immediately after Michael’s case was closed? Did he show up on purpose this time? What did he want?

“But he doesn’t recognize me.” Mark laughed. “How could he not remember my face? No matter how despicable he is, shouldn’t he remember the family of the person he killed? Ah—maybe he doesn’t remember Michael either? Do you think the same as me?” Mark’s voice grew sharper and filled with anger.

Rick got a little answer and a glimpse of his speculation from Mark’s rambling. Though those words made Rick feel like he was on the brink of the same explosion Mark was feeling. After all, Michael was like his own brother.

“How did you meet him?”

“That bastard married my ex-girlfriend.”

Rick was deeply shocked. The tragic fate between Mark and the boy was connected again in the same unpleasant way.

This world is sometimes so small, so cruel, and so ironic.

“I’ve been patient enough. I tried to let my heartache linger. But what if that feeling, without me realizing it, has turned into a grudge ready to explode at any moment? Lately, I’ve become aware. I’m so stupid. Shouldn’t I seek justice for my brother, Rick?”

“What are you going to do? The police said he didn’t do it.”

“I told you they must have been bribed!” Mark suddenly shouted angrily. “The evidence must have been forged!!”

His voice shook the room. Alcohol, anger, and trauma merged into a flame that was hard to extinguish.

Meanwhile, Rick could only remain silent, then spoke carefully to avoid hurting his friend further.

“But we don’t have proof they forged it, Mark. We’re not even sure—”

“I’m sure they forged it!!!” Mark shouted louder and more harshly.

Mark’s voice made Rick grow increasingly wary. He knew he had to meet Mark in person to calm him down. He had to meet him before something he feared, something that had been troubling his mind, actually happened.

“Alright. Can we talk in person? I’ll come to your place, okay?” Rick tried not to provoke Mark further.

“I’ll take revenge.” Mark suddenly spoke in a flat tone. There was a hint of horror in his voice. “If the police can’t do it, I’ll do it myself.”

The atmosphere became very quiet after that sentence. Rick didn’t respond immediately. In his heart, fear began to turn into panic.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Rick was overcome with panic at the question he had just heard. He tried again to get Mark to answer where the man was. Because Rick had to stop whatever was on Mark’s mind right now. He couldn’t gamble on the madness his friend might soon commit.

Amid the ticking of the clock, Rick could only hope… that he wasn’t too late.