TWELVE 102

Gi Seoin was waiting for me without even sitting down. As soon as I saw him, a smirk escaped my lips. Conversely, he approached me with long strides, his face set in a stiff expression.

He looked as if he wanted to ask, ‘How did it go?’ yet he seemed to be waiting for me to open my mouth first. I pulled the corners of my mouth up even further and spread my arms wide.

“Seoin, I passed!”

Immediately, Gi Seoin broke into a broad smile and lifted me up in a big hug. I started to laugh out loud instinctively, but then quickly shut my mouth, thinking I might be heard back at the testing center. Still, the corners of my mouth kept twitching.

“I knew you’d pass.”

“Really? Your face looked like, ‘How should I comfort him if he fails?’ though.”

“I believed you’d pass, really.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

When I narrowed my eyes playfully and glared at him, he spoke as if reluctantly confessing.

“I did think you’d pass, but honestly, I was more nervous than when I took the Suneung.”

“What is that even supposed to mean.”

In any case, the word ‘fool for love’ came to mind naturally.

I was happy about passing, but to begin with, it was an exam that was harder to fail. Since it was the driver’s license written test.

“Quite a few people actually fail the written test too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

I had heard from the driving academy teacher that such cases exist, but I had faith that I wouldn’t be included among them. In truth, I was nervous too. It couldn’t be helped, as it was the first exam I’d taken since dropping out of high school.

Still, I had confidence. It was thanks to solving and re-solving the practice questions until I was sick of them, just so I wouldn’t become one of those ‘just in case’ examples the academy teacher told other students about.

“Is there anything you want to eat? Anything you want to do? Let’s do it all to celebrate your passing.”

For some reason, Gi Seoin seemed more excited than I was. Even if my parents were still alive, I don’t think they would have been this happy over passing a driver’s license written test.

“Let’s do the celebration after the license actually comes out. There are still two big ones left. The course test and the on-road driving.”

“I’m not worried about the on-road driving.”

“Really? I’m worried about the on-road driving the most.”

What I felt while preparing for the written test was that getting a driver’s license was much harder than I had expected. It was by no means an easy task just because everyone else does it.

“I heard a real lot of people fail the on-road driving. There are quite a few on the internal course, too.”

“That won’t be you.”

“Are you giving me confidence, or do you really think so?”

I asked because I was truly curious. Gi Seoin answered immediately without a second of hesitation.

“I really think so.”

I was grateful, but it was a bit burdensome.

“Why on earth?”

“I’ve never once thought there was something you couldn’t do.”

“Oh…”

That was a very Gi Seoin-like and grateful thing to say. If someone else had said that, I would have honestly considered it empty flattery, but since it came from the mouth of a guy who had thick filters over his eyes when looking at me, it felt reliable.

“I really have to pass, so our Seoin won’t be disappointed.”

“I won’t be disappointed even if you fail.”

“Still.”

In reality, I know I’m full of holes, but I developed a greed to appear as a nearly perfect person to Gi Seoin. Also, I have to pass on the first try so he doesn’t have to spend money on academy fees twice.

“But Gi Seoin, you…”

After getting into his car, I said while fastening my seatbelt.

“Don’t skip work for things like this. For the next test, I’ll just go and come back by myself.”

Then, Gi Seoin looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

“I am currently on duty.”

“What are you talking about.”

Thinking it was a joke, I laughed pointlessly and nudged him with my elbow.

“In a little while…”

As he pulled the car out of the parking lot, he said.

“I have something to discuss with my client, Mr. Woo Seungkyung.”

“Ah.”

Being on duty… meant that?

“What is it that you have to discuss with your client, Mr. Woo Seungkyung?”

“Strict confidentiality. I can’t say.”

“Hey, even to me?”

“Of course.”

“Even though I am the client, Mr. Woo Seungkyung?”

Only then did Gi Seoin, who had been intentionally keeping a stiff face, break into a grin.

“Let’s eat first and then talk.”

“Hmm, okay.”

I was extremely curious, but I figured I should eat first before listening if I didn’t want to lose my appetite, so I decided to just wait. If it was something he had to say as a lawyer, it would be related to the kidnapping case.

At Gi Seoin’s insistence, we ended up eating meat. It was a good thing I liked meat; otherwise, it would have been hard to endure this guy who was anxious whenever he couldn’t feed me meat.

It was cold, but the sunlight was nice, so the weather felt too good to go straight home. We left Seoul for a drive and entered a cafe we saw while passing by. Even though it was a large cafe in a tourist area, it was quiet, perhaps because it was a weekday.

“I’ll have an iced americano. What about you, Seoin?”

“Caramel latte.”

“You’re drinking coffee for once?”

Inwardly, I had cast a vote for Gi Seoin choosing a ‘peach latte,’ but I was completely wrong.

“Because I have to work.”

“Oh.”

That’s right, now that we’ve eaten, it’s time for the lawyer Mr. Gi Seoin and the client Mr. Woo Seungkyung to have their conversation.

We chose a corner seat where there were absolutely no people nearby and sat down. I waited until he brought the drinks and then started the conversation.

“Mr. Gi, please tell me what this is about now.”

I spoke playfully on purpose, hoping it wasn’t too heavy a story. Gi Seoin didn’t give off a particularly heavy vibe either.

He spoke in a calm voice.

“We are going to proceed with suing Jeon Juseok.”

“For what?”

“For the case of withdrawing deposits by taking your bankbook and identification card.”

‘It’s finally happening,’ that was my first thought. Since it was something that had to be done eventually, I wasn’t surprised. However, there was a point of concern.

“But, there’s no evidence, right? The CCTV was deleted too…”

“We just need to gather indirect evidence and circumstantial evidence.”

He said it would be enough if we could obtain the financial transaction records of my account and the account in Jeon Juseok’s name—which he stole—and the statements from bank officials.

“But isn’t the problem how to obtain those?”

“Once we enter into a criminal complaint, the investigative agency will collect the evidence.”

“I see…”

Hearing it made it feel like a simple task.

“Then, what do I have to do?”

“Be patient.”

“Is that all?”

“That’s the hardest part.”

As Gi Seoin spoke, he tapped the cup containing my coffee with his index finger. Only then did I realize I had been holding my breath. After taking a deep breath in and exhaling, I took a sip of coffee.

“I’d rather it not happen, but.”

The guy watching me continued.

“Jeon Juseok might contact you again and say something that could be evidence. Record it.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that.”

I also hoped it wouldn’t happen, but with Jeon Juseok, it felt like he would contact me or seek me out again at any time. I felt it this time. That guy won’t let me go easily even if I’ve cleared the debt. Because he finds it fun to torment me.

“But maybe…”

However, there was one thing that guy was overlooking.

“Can I curse at Jeon Juseok?”

I no longer had a reason to avoid him.

To my question, Gi Seoin burst into a small laugh and replied.

“Moderately.”

“What level is ‘moderately’?”

“Try saying things that sound fine to others but are insulting when Jeon Juseok hears them.”

“So you mean I should insult him indirectly instead of using harsh curses.”

Using profanity would actually be easier; this was a difficult task for me, since I lacked verbal eloquence.

“Does the lawyer also teach how to speak insultingly without using profanity?”

“If the client wants.”

For some reason, Gi Seoin looked more amused than I was. I also felt quite lighthearted, even though one might expect me to be anxious ahead of a lawsuit.

“Actually, never mind. You’re good at everything, Gi Seoin, but I don’t think you’d be good at cursing.”

“I might not be good at cursing, but I know how to win.”

“What’s that?”

“You just need to know the opponent’s complex.”

“Aha…”

What would be Jeon Juseok’s complex?

The guy was born into a wealthy family and grew up without lacking anything; he also graduated from university and was above average height. I hate to admit it, but his appearance wasn’t on the ugly side either.

If there was a flaw, it was his personality, but I didn’t think the guy himself would think his own personality was bad.

“Complex, complex… I don’t know.”

“I could tell, though.”

“How do you know?”

“We met last time.”

“The time we had a meal?”

Gi Seoin nodded.

Is it possible to know someone’s complex just from having one meal together?

Then again, to Gi Seoin, who was born sharp and has met all sorts of human groups as a lawyer, the simple and ignorant Jeon Juseok might be a very easy human to read.

I leaned my upper body toward him and whispered.

“What is the complex you saw in that hyung?”

Then, Gi Seoin also pressed his upper body toward me and whispered in my ear.

Hmm, indeed.

After hearing his words, I nodded.

No matter how much of an enemy someone is, it couldn’t be pleasant to bring up another person’s complex. But if it’s Jeon Juseok… isn’t he the type that people would click their tongues and point fingers at even if he wasn’t an enemy? I felt that it would be okay for a guy like him to experience it at least once. Why, isn’t there a saying called “poetic justice”?