어두워지는 텅 빈 방 가운데 서서 너는 마른 눈두덩을 손등으로 비볐다. 뜨겁게 살이 일어날 때까지 비볐다. 정대의 책상 앞에 앉아보았다가, 차가운 방바닥에 얼굴을 대고 엎드렸다. 고통이 느껴지는 가슴뼈 가운데 오목한 곳을 주먹으로 눌렀다. 지금 정미 누나가 갑자기 대문을 열고 들어온다면 달려나가 무릎을 꿇을 텐데. 같이 도청 앞으로 가서 정대를 찾자고 할 텐데. 그러고도 네가 친구냐. 그러고도 네가 사람이야. 정미 누나가 너를 때리는 대로 얻어맞을 텐데. 얻어맞으면서 용서를 빌 텐데.

You stood in the centre of the room, the day darkening around you, and rubbed your dry eyes with the backs of your hands. You kept on rubbig until the flesh was hot and tender. You tried sitting at Jeong-dae's desk, then lay prone with your face pressed to the chilly floor. You ground your fist into the concavity at the centre of your sternum, which was starting to throb. If Jeong-mi were to come in through the main gate right this second, you would race over and fall to your knees at her feet, beg to go with you to look ofr Jeong-dae among the bodies lined up in front of the Provincial Office.

Isn't he your friend? Aren't you a human being?

That's what Jeong-mi would scream while she thrashed you. And you would beg her forgiveness while she did.