Aftermath and a New Beginning

The broadcast aired once more after that, but it ended with that second episode.
When I found out, I called Yoo Jihyeong.

“Hello, PD Yoo Jihyeong. This is Cha Yohan.”
[Ah, yes. Lawyer. How have you been?]
“Yes, thanks to you, PD-nim, I’m doing well, but I feel like I’ve caused you trouble.”
[What? Trouble? Not at all. In fact, thanks to you, the first episode came out exactly as I wanted. So I’d rather thank you.]
“Ah… that’s a relief. I heard that the pilot was only going to be two episodes.”
[We were able to go up to the second episode thanks to you, Lawyer Cha. Thank you. Actually, there was someone I wanted to cast from the time I was planning and preparing this program…]

Yoo Jihyeong’s voice slowed down for a moment, filled with some emotion.

[He passed away in an unfortunate accident a while ago. So I couldn’t find a suitable replacement, and then I came to know you, Lawyer Cha.]

…I think that must have been me when I was Yoon Eunho.
I answered in as pitiful a voice as I could.

“Ah… I see you had such circumstances.”
[Yes. I’m talking about all sorts of things. The point I wanted to make was, yes. So I was glad.]
“What?”
[Because a lawyer like you exists, and I was given the opportunity to let the world know about it.]

Yoo Jihyeong added that he had always wanted to bring back to the surface cases that had become a problem for society like this.

[The higher-ups were not very pleased with that intention. So you don’t have to feel sorry for me. Let’s meet again when we have the chance.]
“Yes, I’ll see you again next time.”

And so, the call ended.
Jeong Myeonggyu also appeared in the second episode, but he had already shown his fervent defense of the company in the previous episode.

‘Far from being a star lawyer, he just got a bad image.’

Thanks to that, only ‘Dike’s’ reputation rose.
Because a lot of public opinion raged that the title ‘Justice’ did not suit Jeong Myeonggyu.
The broadcast was appropriately edited according to PD Yoo Jihyeong’s skill.
As expected, the scene where I recognized and greeted Hwang Yoonhak was edited out.
However, the fact that Hwang Yoonhak was a real judge, and the cases he had judged, were likewise made known to the public.

‘I lost, but it doesn’t feel like I lost.’

Since I had expected to lose from the beginning, I had continued to prepare somehow, but it was not easy to explain a case from the 80s.

‘Especially since there’s no evidence left, only witnesses.’

After the second episode aired, a rumor spread that Jeong Myeonggyu had been kicked out of Justice.
The rumor did not contain detailed circumstances, but there was no one who could not see the clear situation.

‘The biggest reason must be that Hyeon Yeongje’s mood was soured. Does Hyeon Yeongje also know about the family history?’

Given Jeong Myeonggyu’s personality, it seems likely that he would have blabbed to Hyeon Yeongje.
Jeong Donghyeok and Jeong Myeonggyu’s father, Jeong Jaeho, was now preparing to enter politics.
If Hyeon Yeongje knew the secret of Jeong Myeonggyu’s birth, then the knife handle was in Hyeon Yeongje’s hands.

[Shouldn’t we be heading out soon?]

‘Ah, right. Thanks. I was almost late.’

I checked the time on my watch and then grabbed my bag and opened the glass door.

“I’ll be back.”
“Yes, lawyer. Have a good trip.”
“Have a good trip, Lawyer Cha.”

I nodded happily at the greetings of Jeong Donghyeok and Won Youngoh and left the office.

[…But please do not forget that a lawyer is on the client’s side.]

Ah, I’m so embarrassed.
The owner was watching the broadcast with such a happy expression that I couldn’t say anything.
I opened my mouth to the person sitting in front of me, eating, with an awkward expression.
It was the first conversation since we had entered the restaurant.

“Uh… is the food to your liking?”
“Yes, it’s delicious.”

Judge Hwang Yoonhak nodded with an expressionless face.
He had a very upright posture even when he was eating, and that appearance seemed to fit and not fit this old restaurant at the same time.
Though he was expressionless, the food placed for Judge Hwang was already almost half gone.

“Let’s go to a place that Lawyer Cha likes.”

The place that came to mind at the words Judge Hwang had spat out as soon as he saw my face was this place. Family Diner.
The meal continued quietly.
But I didn’t dislike this silence.
Because instead of feeling like a deafening silence or a stillness, it felt comfortable.

[But I also want to apologize. For the share of decades ago, all gathered in this place.]

The old TV in Family Diner, located behind Judge Hwang, was diligently doing its job.
As I, who had been speaking with red eyes on the screen, disappeared, it was Judge Hwang’s turn next.
The image of Judge Hwang bowing his head in the courtroom and the image of Judge Hwang eating in this small restaurant with his head bowed were captured in the same frame.
A short while after the first broadcast aired, a call came from Judge Hwang.

[This is Hwang Yoonhak. Let’s have a meal together when we have the chance.]

It was an unexpected call, but I was excited like a child.
So much so that Gram teased me excitedly because I couldn’t hide my excitement without realizing it.
The meal continued quietly again.

Clatter.

Only after he had finished his entire portion did Judge Hwang put down his chopsticks.

‘The owner gave him much more than usual, and he finished all of it, which means…’

It must have really suited his taste.
This is more rewarding than I thought.
I gave a sign with my eyes to the owner, who was standing by the counter, holding the remote control, and looking at us.
And I gave a thumbs-up under the table.

Swish.

The owner held the remote control to her chest and beamed.
I also smiled and swallowed my last bite, then put down my spoon.
Judge Hwang met my eyes and opened his mouth.

“You must be busy, but thank you for your time.”
“Not at all. It was an honor.”
“The reason I asked to see you… was because I was curious.”

Judge Hwang said that he couldn’t stand this question from the time of filming until after watching the broadcast.

“The reason why you, Lawyer Cha Yohan, chose the profession of a lawyer.”

The restaurant was still full of delicious and friendly smells.
The savory smell of sesame oil, the spicy smell of delicious kimchi jjigae boiling, and the unique charm that can only be felt in an old restaurant.
I held up my empty rice bowl, without a single grain of rice left, and opened my mouth.

“Well, there’s a common saying these days, isn’t there? The saying about what kind of spoon you were born with.”

Judge Hwang looked at my face and the silver rice bowl in my hand.

“I think the moment that spoon becomes the most equal is when you’re eating the grains of rice in this one rice bowl.”
“……”
“One bowl is always one bowl. No matter what kind of bowl it’s in.”

Ding.

The empty stainless steel bowl landed on the table with a bell-like sound.

“Yes, but the amount is different.”

For the first time, I revealed to someone the reason why I had entered the legal field.

“A person who has to eat even a spoonful of cold rice, trembling in fear of it disappearing, and a person who can eat freshly cooked rice whenever they want, sadly, cannot understand each other.”
“……”
“Unless one of them collapses, or one of them risks their life and changes their life.”

‘I’ grew up in a wealthy environment.
Yoon Eunho had never not had what he wanted.
Until that accident.

“It’s a cliché story. My parents passed away in an accident, and I came to understand. In that moment when I was left alone in the world without a moment to spare.”

Why did I become Cha Yohan?
I had repeated that thought several times over the past few months.
With the same habit of pondering a problem with no answer hundreds of times.

“But at that time, there was only one adult who reached out to me.”

Then I came to know.
The fact that Cha Yohan and my childhoods were strikingly similar.

“Looking at his back, I made a decision. I have to become a person like that too.”

I smiled, raising the corners of my mouth, as if I were embarrassed.

“At that time, I learned with my whole body. The fact that there’s nothing like the law to help the wronged. Because he said so. ‘A lawyer is a being who fights the law on behalf of the client’.”

Judge Hwang looked at me for a long time without a word.

‘I feel like I’m giving a final argument, this.’

Judge Hwang’s well-groomed white hair represented his personality.
His clear eyes, without a single speck of turbidity, showed the path he had walked at a glance.
The only things that had changed from the time I had first attended his trial as a college student were his white hair and wrinkles.
Judge Hwang opened his mouth after a long silence.

“…Actually, I couldn’t help but be surprised. The fact that there’s someone who remembers me, I think I was uncharacteristically agitated by that fact.”

Judge Hwang smiled faintly for the first time.

“It’s been more than ten years since I’ve said this, but I used to say this to my juniors sometimes.”

Judge Hwang’s deep eyes flashed with the past years.
He seemed to be reminiscing about somewhere in the past.
I waited for a short silence.

“…The law is not as perfect as we expect. Therefore, what must be perfect are those who handle the law.”

I slowly nodded.
Because it was no different from the thoughts I usually had.

“I think you, Lawyer Cha, would deeply understand these words. I think I’ve finally found a junior to whom I can return these words.”

We stood up from the table, leaving our clean-empty plates.
Judge Hwang extended his right hand to me.

“It feels good to have had a good meal with a good junior after a long time. I think today will be a day I remember for a very long time.”

I took his hand and bowed my head.

“The same goes for me, Judge Hwang.”
“Let’s see each other often from now on. It would be even better if I see you without having to look for you.”
“There will be no shameful news to see you with.”

At my determined words, Judge Hwang smiled without a sound.
It was the first smile I had seen from him.

“Lawyer Cha, I’m going to the trial.”
“Yes, have a good trip.”
“Is the new case not yet?”
“Yes, it’s a bit… It hasn’t improved from the situation I mentioned last time.”
“Haa, this is a problem too. Anyway, I’ll be back. You should talk about that problem with the office manager. Please, office manager.”
“Yes, lawyer. Have a good trip.”

Chime.

With the sound of the wind chime in the background, Won Youngoh hurriedly put his black long coat on his arm and disappeared outside the office.
Though an essential composure that was not flustered even in his haste was evident.
Now, Won Youngoh’s wound had healed cleanly, and a scar was left.

‘That bastard is still keeping his mouth shut and not revealing the mastermind.’

Recalling that fact, I let out a sigh and then rummaged through the files again.
It had been a month since the broadcast ended, but on the contrary, I had not been able to take on any new cases.