Vol 1 Chapter 15

Suddenly I was dazzled. I raised my curled up shrimp-like body from the bed. The sunlight shattered by the curtain was dimly illuminating my face.

As usual, there was money left by CEO Jang on the bedside table. Today, in addition to the cash, there were also three cigarette packs and a zippo lighter. I rose, wrapping the sheet around my bare upper body, and reached for them.

At first, I tasted it to find out why people are so eager to smoke such things, but by the last pack I gradually came to enjoy the bitter aftertaste going down my throat.

With the smell of cigarettes on me, I wrapped myself in clothes and went down to the convenience store. Standing in front of the ATM machine, I transferred money to the account my uncle had sent.

I had no appetite. Behind the convenience store clerk I’d never seen before, rows of cigarettes caught my eye. What brand did CEO Jang smoke? I scanned the display with my eyes. Then I spotted the brand he liked to smoke. As expected, it was expensive.

Instead, I told the part-timer the name of a cigarette brand I’d heard of a few times, holding out a 5,000 won bill.

“One Moebius, please.”

The part-timer carefully scrutinized my face, hidden by the hood. For some reason, it felt piercing, so I averted his gaze here and there. It felt like he would surely notice the marks CEO Jang had left all over my body.

If it had been the regular clerk, he would have recognized my face right away since I used to come for cigarette errands from time to time. But this newbie part-timer, unfamiliar with how things worked here, soon asked to see my ID, as I looked suspicious no matter how he looked at me.

“Sorry, but could I check your ID for a moment?”

Of course, there was no ID. The fake ID was given by CEO Jang to buy cigarettes, and mine… I had disposed of it long ago. Feeling no need to buy it, I tried to get cash back from the part-timer. That’s when a woman intervened from behind.

“One Moebius and one Marlboro, please.”

Lee Hyewon cut in front of me, then handed me the bill the part-timer gave her and handed him her card. After paying for the two packs, Lee Hyewon abruptly handed me the pack with “Moebius” written on it in English. I said it was fine several times, but Lee Hyewon said “This one has a bitter aftertaste, not so good,” and went straight into the smoking room.

Sitting with her legs crossed on a chair in the smoking room, Lee Hyewon rummaged through her bag and soon asked me,

“Do you happen to have a lighter?”

“……”

I took CEO Jang’s zippo lighter out of my pocket and handed it to Lee Hyewon. Lee Hyewon fiddled with the zippo lighter, clumsily flicking it on and off. It seemed to be a type of lighter she had never handled before.

I took the lighter from her and flipped open the lid sharply like CEO Jang used to, igniting it with a whooshing sound as the flame sprang up fiercely.

I peeled off the cellophane from the cigarette packet and put it in my mouth. As I lit the cigarette and deeply inhaled the filter, Lee Hyewon, who had been watching me, abruptly asked a question.

“You didn’t used to smoke, did you?”

“…”

“I learned it after coming here too.”

Lee Hyewon smiled as she tapped off the ashes. Her youthful face smiling while smoking a cigarette looked faintly bitter for a moment. I quietly put the filter in my mouth.

***

I tossed and turned in bed until late. Curled up in a corner of the bed like dust piled in a nook, I suddenly recalled the pungent aftertaste of the cigarette. I took the zippo lighter CEO Jang had given me and mindlessly flicked the wheel with my nail to light it.

I was hungry. More than thinking about food, I wanted to fill my empty stomach with the pungent smoke of cigarettes.

I grabbed some cash and headed to the convenience store. The convenience store clerk seemed to have changed completely, with an unfamiliar man guarding the front counter. I showed him my employee ID.

“…This doesn’t have a photo or resident registration number.”

This time it was rejected because there was no photo attached.

“…..”

With no choice, I took back the employee ID and sat down at a table with a bread snack, when Lee Hyewon entered the convenience store.

I would run into Lee Hyewon like this from time to time. My range of activity was limited to just going between the hotel and convenience store, but Lee Hyewon frequently came and went from the convenience store, which was one of those two places. I desperately wanted to move somewhere else, but unfortunately this was the only convenience store for the entire golf course.

Whenever she spotted me, Lee Hyewon would cheerfully come over and strike up a conversation. She said she had moved to Seoul from the countryside to attend university, but ran short on tuition so ended up here. Even putting a gloomy meal in front of me, Hyewon would keep her mouth moving as if she hadn’t spoken to anyone else all day long.

Today was no exception, as Lee Hyewon pretended to know me. Lee Hyewon shook the same brand of bread snack in her hand at me.

“This is my first time trying this, it’s sweet and seems delicious.”

“…Yea.”

After responding indifferently, I put the bread snack in my mouth, clearly showing no interest in this conversation. Unfortunately, she remained oblivious.

“These days my schedule at the office is so packed, it feels like I’m going around the halls every day.”

The woman let out an “ah” sound as if remembering something, then lowered her voice.

“Yesterday I went around the halls with someone I often see on the news.”

It was a common occurrence at this golf course. Only the top few pro golfers in Korea could have their names on this golf course’s membership list. As a result, this place was a crossroads where famous figures from politics, business, government, and culture gathered.

The woman covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled to herself.

“That person had an awful swing.”

Without even adding a simple word of acknowledgment, I just silently chewed on the bread which tasted like paper today for some reason.

“But why aren’t you on the schedule these days?”

“……”

“You only seem to be booked by CEO Jang.”

At the mention of CEO Jang from the woman’s mouth, my fingertips twitched for a moment. The woman mumbled with her mouth full of bread. I shot a sidelong glance her way. I couldn’t help but tense up, not knowing what she might say next.

“Isn’t he a bit scary?”

A bit scary? Lee Hyewon was completely clueless. CEO Jang wasn’t just a bit scary. He was the kind of guy who would grab anyone who rubbed him the wrong way by the collar and toss them out the window without batting an eye.

Lee Hyewon glanced around. Noticing no one else was nearby, the woman continued in a low voice.

“I went in to clean President Kim’s room, but CEO Jang was there too. That was the first time I saw him up close.”

I set down the bread snack I had been eating on the table. I even stopped chewing the food in my mouth. It was dreadful to hear CEO Jang’s stories while having food in my mouth. It made me feel nauseous.

“What do they call eyes like that…the third eye?”

Lee Hyewon muttered to herself.

“It was just…eerie.”

“….”

“So, President Kim’s gaze was also quite unpleasant and off-putting.”

Lee Hyewon rapidly rolled her eyes. As she spoke, the woman kept glancing around nervously. She probably wanted to grab someone and tell them. I had felt the same way – wishing someone would understand just how scary CEO Jang was, the things he did to me every night while holding me down.

“His eyes really made my skin crawl… Of course, he didn’t look my way or anything. But still…”

“Excuse me.”

“……”

“Sorry, but I’m uncomfortable with this.”

“Ah…”

Lee Hyewon let out a soft exclamation, then immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

She swept up the bread snack and plastic wrapper into the trash can, and left. I felt the woman’s gaze lingering on my back as she departed.

The staff at this golf course had already formed their own cliques. These people tended to be quite exclusive, never easily accepting newcomers. So that woman had probably approached me, who was alone, for that reason. Lonely people have a knack for quickly recognizing others like themselves.

I wished the school season would come soon so that woman could return to where she was from. She really shouldn’t get attached to this place at all.

***

I asked the employee at the front desk if I could get an employee ID with my photo on it. The employee told me I’d have to inquire at the office for that.

I trudged up the stairs towards the office. As I was about to grab and pull the office door handle, the door suddenly swung open inwards. Lee Jinseok was coming out through that door. Seeing me after a long time, Jinseok greeted me warmly.

“I was worried when customer Park Jinkyung said you got slugged in the face. Glad to see you’ve recovered.”

Jinseok expressed his concern that way, implying he was worried the ‘product’ might get damaged. He grinned broadly and casually asked,

“What brings you here?”

Unexpectedly running into him made me feel an inexplicable unease wetting the soles of my feet. I answered vaguely, “Oh, just here to get something.”

“Get something?”

Jinseok tilted his head and asked what it was. I didn’t really want to tell him. But trying to hide it would only make me look more suspicious. So I averted my gaze and said,

“I lost my ID, so…”

“Ah, your ID.”

Jinseok repeated my words in a flat tone.

“I asked at the front desk if I could get an employee ID with my photo, but they told me to ask the office.”

“Why go through all that trouble?”

He smiled with an inscrutable expression. His smooth forehead glistened.

“You could just ask CEO Jang to arrange one.”

“…What?”

That damn CEO Jang again. Why am I hearing those three syllables so often today? Just as I was feeling uneasy, Jinseok added,

“He could get you a nice one made, no problem.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

My face went pale as I stared at him. Jinseok chuckled.

“Anyone with a bit of an eye could tell Seo Suwon’s ID was made by an amateur, you know?”

His tone was casual but he sounded quite confident. I couldn’t even deny it. If he wanted to check, it would be obvious right away.

Ever since I saw Jinseok coming out of the office, I had a strange feeling of unease. I tried my best to hide any signs of anxiety and act natural. But I must not have been able to conceal my shaky, unfocused gaze.

I wished he would quickly move away from the door. Or maybe I should just leave instead.

“……”

Was my ID really that obvious of a fake? I had to pay that maker an extra 10,000 won over the asking price because he bragged about being an experienced hand. As a delayed feeling of anger welled up, I clenched my cheek muscles tightly.

“If it’s too difficult to ask, I could take care of getting one for you?”

“…Oh.”

“I have a friend who does decent work.”

I couldn’t come up with a response and just stammered. It felt like the ground I was standing on was sinking down.

The fact was, I did need an official resident registration ID. It was bound to come in handy anywhere I went. But if asked why I was using a forged ID, I had no excuse to give.

The perceptive Jinseok seemed to read my mind accurately.

“Worried I’ll press you on why you have a forged ID?”

Jinseok shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s actually more rare here for people to use their real names, you know.”

I kept a wary eye on him, but Jinseok recited his words in that trademark rambling tone, though not lightly:

“The customers are the only ones concerned about revealing their real identities.”

Then he lowered his voice, enunciating each syllable as he added,

“Have you ever seen anyone use their real name at a brothel?”

I looked him squarely in the eye. Jinseok smiled again, his face muscles relaxing smoothly. As always, his expression was inscrutable. He was just like a fox. A nine-tailed fox, to be precise. He muttered quietly,

“…So.”

“…Hmm.”

“So I’ll ask you to take care of it.”

Jinseok opened his eyes a bit wider at my words, as if surprised, then patted my shoulder a couple times.

“Okay then. I’ll give you the account number, so send the money there.”

Jinseok brushed past me and left. I watched his back as he strode away with his long legs swinging.

To be precise, it wasn’t that I trusted him. I didn’t trust anyone here. I had simply concluded that what he said sounded convincing.

I pronounced the word he had uttered to myself again. Brothel. Yes, this sordid, indecent place was indeed a brothel.

And two days later, I got in touch with the person Jinseok had introduced. I called the number he had scribbled down and told him the name and address to put on the ID.

– The name is Seo Suwon, age is…

The guy repeated my words to himself, murmuring. I could faintly hear the sound of a pen against the receiver, like he was writing it down somewhere. He soon told me it would take about two days. I asked him over the receiver how much I should send for the cost. The guy said Jinseok had already paid. Then he said he would pass the completed ID to Jinseok. I hung up.

I frowned slightly, deep in thought.

“……”

Jinseok paid for it on my behalf? Why would he do that? There’s no such thing as a favor without an expected return. Instead of feeling uneasy, I thought it was only right that I properly compensate him.

I hastily put my clothes back on and headed to the lounge, with his compensation in my pocket.

Jinseok was standing to the side of the hall, conversing with some customers who had come to see him. As always, he was skillfully leading the conversation with a handsome demeanor. With his talent for charming words that captivated people’s souls, he was deservedly called the top guy around here.

I stared at Jinseok in a daze until he finally broke away from the group and started walking in the opposite direction. That’s when I snapped out of it. I picked up my pace to follow behind him. I needed to stop Jinseok, but I didn’t know quite how to address him. I hesitated before calling out,

“…Excuse me, um…”

The vague form of address didn’t seem to register that someone was calling him. After faltering for a while, I called out to Jinseok louder than before,

“Excuse me.”

Only then did Jinseok turn towards me.

“Oh, Seo Suwon.”

The surprised Jinseok opened his eyes a bit wider. He seemed a little startled by my sudden appearance behind him. I started blurting out words like an excuse.

“Sorry, I didn’t know how to address you properly.”

“You could just call me ‘hyung’ like the other guys do.”

He smiled lightly and smoothly continued the conversation.

“Did you contact him?”

“…Ah, yes. Thanks to you.”

After awkwardly rubbing the back of my neck, I haltingly brought up the main point.

“I heard you paid for it on my behalf.”

“Ah ah.”

Jinseok shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big deal.

“How much was it anyway?”

“No, even so, I think it’s right that I properly compensate you.”

I held out the envelope in front of him. Jinseok glanced at the envelope and flashed a slightly enigmatic smile. To him it must have been mere pocket change. He could take it or leave it. But to me, it would remain a debt of gratitude.

“It’s really okay.”

Just as he was saying that, he suddenly furrowed his brow, creasing the smooth line of his forehead. His gaze, which had been fixed on me, shifted upwards past my head to the floor above. A strange light flickered across his face for a brief moment as he seemed to focus on something.

Jinseok flashed that polite smile again and nodded behind me in a slight bow. He leaned his head towards me and whispered in my ear,

“It’s really okay, so just make sure to pass good things about me.”

He patted my shoulder, then quickly turned and went on his way. As I watched his slender back, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze and whipped my head around. I caught sight of where Jinseok’s gaze had landed.

Upon spotting someone, I unconsciously took a step back. I hurriedly but quietly hid the envelope I was holding behind my back.

CEO Jang was sitting under the parasol set up in the cafeteria, watching me. Kim Miran, who had been moving her lips across from him, made a puzzled expression and then followed his gaze towards me. Upon seeing me, Kim Miran lightly waved her hand in my direction. I quickly bent forward in a bow and then slipped away from the area.