Vol 2 Ch 10

Once the rain started, it showed no signs of stopping. The downpour only grew heavier, like it was punishing the earth.

The chilly air flowing through the hallway made my body shiver. The man clinging to me stopped biting my neck and pressed his forehead against my cheek. His breathing was rough, almost like the dr*g was taking hold of him.

The man stumbled a bit, losing his balance. I quickly supported him. It was difficult to hold up someone about 10 cm taller than me with my whole body. I glanced at him and cautiously called out.

“…CEO Jang.”

There was no response from CEO Jang, who was completely overtaken by the dr*g. I managed to drag him out of the hallway, almost carrying him on my shoulder. As we stepped outside, rain poured down on me. During the whole ride across the field on the cart, he rested his head on my shoulder, breathing faintly. I had to fight the urge to push him off the cart several times, but I couldn’t leave him like this—if I did, even he would be found drowned by morning. So, I showed mercy.

It was a struggle, but I finally got him to the room. I tossed him onto the bed, and his heavy body hit the mattress with a thud. I wiped the sweat dripping down my chin with the back of my hand. I was drenched in both rain and sweat. Once I confirmed he was asleep, I stood up to leave, but something grabbed my wrist from behind.

I was pulled down, pinned under his arm. I was so startled I couldn’t even scream, just quietly held my breath.

…Did he wake up?

Thunder crashed, splitting the sky. In the sudden flash of light, I saw his face. He was deeply asleep, very deeply asleep.

“…”

I twisted and wriggled under him, trying to get free without making noise. But it was useless. CEO Jang, much bigger than me, had gone limp, and moving him off me was a challenge. Being soaked and still feeling the pain from the wound he’d left in me only made it harder.

By the time dawn light cast a shadow over his dark face, I had completely given up, lying limp under him. Any more movement might wake him up. Soon, sleep overcame me.

But that didn’t last long. I was jolted awake, terrified, by the subtle movements from the man, barely noticeable unless you were hyper-alert.

“Why don’t you just get up already? Stop pretending to sleep.”

Even at his words, I kept my eyes shut, gripping the sheets tightly. I was so desperate, my eyelids were trembling. Despite my effort, his gaze from the back of my head never left. CEO Jang had no intention of letting me off.

Reluctantly, I slowly sat up. The sheets slid off my body with a faint sound. When I realized my clothes were completely off, I quickly curled up. I had no memory of undressing myself, so there was only one explanation. I looked over my shoulder with a stiff expression.

CEO Jang, who had clearly been the one to undress me, stood by the window, calmly buttoning up his black shirt, as usual. The expensive, glossy fabric clung to his broad neck, then concealed his firm chest, tightly-knit abs, and the solid but lean muscles of his torso. I swallowed nervously. His body was intimidating no matter how many times I saw it.

He smirked and pushed my cheek with the back of his hand.

“Where do you think you’re looking?”

The moment he shoved me, I lost my balance and fell to the side. The sheet bunched around my thighs slipped off, exposing the inside of my thigh to him. He clicked his tongue as he eyed the bruised area.

“Looks like you’ll have a bruise.”

“This is nothing.”

“Is that so?”

Uncharacteristically, he smiled with his eyes. I instinctively recoiled as a chilling sensation crept down my spine. Without hesitation, he dug through the sheets and reached for the inside of my thigh, gripping the soft skin firmly before letting go.

My heart pounded. The warmth spread from where he had touched, and it was certain a bruise would form there. As he stared at the red mark, a satisfied smile spread across his face. I cursed under my breath. Crazy bastard. CEO Jang rummaged through my clothes like a grave robber, eventually pulling out a black wallet from my pants. He held the black leather wallet in his hand, running his fingers over the part where teeth marks were clearly visible.

“At least your teeth have healed.”

There was something ambiguous in his tone, like he was either proud or mocking me. Based on his usual behavior, there was no chance it was the former.

He opened the wallet and stuffed some bills inside, as if he didn’t care. Just as he was about to close it, he frowned. He opened it again and pulled out a business card from the inside. His expression hardened as he asked.

“Who gave this to you?”

I answered with a strained voice.

“…Your employee.”

His eyebrows shot up sharply.

“My subordinate approached you?”

His tone carried a clear sense of “How dare they?” His brow furrowed, and his lips tightened coldly. He looked displeased, and I wasn’t stupid enough to miss that. I fiddled with the sheet in my lap, wondering what to say to calm him down, even a little.

“He said it’s a reputable company.”

With a loud snap, he closed the wallet and tossed it onto the nightstand.

“I’m a man who lives without the need for laws.”

He gave a mocking laugh, like he’d made a joke, and I had no choice but to laugh along pathetically. I couldn’t bear to imagine what a lawless world would be like with him in it—it’d be worse than hell.

Dressed head-to-toe in black, CEO Jang slicked his hand over his smooth forehead and buttoned his jacket. He even fastened his tie clip as always, completing his perfect look.

I wondered how long he would be gone. Did he have to come back at all? Asking when he’d return felt too obvious, so I cautiously posed a question to gauge his timing.

“…Are you going somewhere?”

He adjusted his clothes and looked at me through the mirror. I lowered my eyes, waiting for his reply like a verdict.

“Are you asking about my destination?”

“…”

“Or are you finally asking when I’ll get out of here?”

He raised a perfect eyebrow. If I answered the latter, I felt like he’d strangle me. Hiding my body deeper under the sheets, I stammered a reply.

“I was asking where you were going.”

I emphasized the first part. While fastening the cufflinks on his sleeves, which hid his prominent wrist bones, he shot me a cold glare. His voice was just as cold when he spoke.

“Do I need to tell Seo Suwon about even that?”

Leaving only those ice-cold words behind, he exited the room without hesitation. The door creaked before slamming shut with a cruel sound.

Soon, the sound of his footsteps echoed down the hallway. I had been blankly staring at the edge of the bed in a disheveled state, but slowly shifted my gaze toward the door.

The man was gone. My face hardened immediately. I forced the corners of my eyes down as much as I could, clenched my lips tightly, which I had been slightly parting to look foolish.

I crawled across the bed on my knees toward the safe. With practiced hands, I unlocked the safe. I took out the bundles of cash trapped inside the dark square, hiding them in my chest. I sat with my back to the camera and counted the bills. The once crisp bills were now wrinkled and limp, smudged by my hands.

“…”

The amount matched what I had already calculated in my head. If I added the money the man gave me today, roughly…

Escape wasn’t far off.

Escape. Just thinking of that one word made my heart start pounding in my chest. It almost felt like I needed to go to the bathroom. I hadn’t even drunk any water since last night, but I wanted to clutch the toilet and dry heave. I felt like if I gagged hard enough and spat up stomach acid, my throbbing red heart would be floating in the toilet water.

Why was I so anxious? Why was I so nervous? I crouched down, grabbing my head. The man, hiding his broad back in a black suit behind the cold metal door, came to mind.

What kind of face did he have as he left this room? 

Just like his dark pupils that always gave off an eerie feeling, and his ever-present black suit, his identity, his inner thoughts—all of it was shrouded in darkness.

Another scream echoed in my head. ‘It’s not me!’

My mind was a jumbled mess.

***

Carefully glancing around, I stepped into the empty phone booth. Maybe because I had so much to hide, I kept feeling like someone was watching me. I quickly turned my head to make sure no one was around.

Only after doing that several times did I finally insert a few coins and pick up the receiver. I pressed the numbers one by one with my thumb. My finger hovered for a long time over the last number. After a long moment of hesitation, I pressed it, resigned.

The dial tone began to ring. A brief moment stretched out like taffy. I swallowed nervously, desperately hoping the other person would answer soon.

The signal that had been blaring like a siren in my head stopped. Soon, my uncle’s voice hit my eardrums.

– Why haven’t you been in touch!?

My uncle snapped.

“I’m sorry. Uncle, I have something to tell you…”

– Good timing. Listen to me for a second.

My uncle coughed, clearing his throat, and then started rambling incoherently. I was about to get straight to the point, my mouth open, but I closed it like a deflated balloon. I had to steel myself several times before making this call. But all that resolve was immediately undone by my uncle’s voice spilling through the receiver.

– There’s this little runt who’s been hanging around lately. I don’t know what he’s up to, but he’s throwing money around like it’s nothing. He keeps calling me ‘hyung’ and following me around…

This isn’t the time to waste on this nonsense. My leg began trembling uncontrollably with anxiety. I started picking at the dry skin on my lower lip.

People passing by glanced at me, one by one. Standing alone in this phone booth, face half-covered, probably looked suspicious.

– Well, anyway, a few drinks with him, and I can pocket some extra cash.

I pulled my hood further over my face. Then, I kicked at the ground with the toe of my shoe. Loose dirt scattered and flipped over. I scraped at the ground like I was digging a grave for a coffin, then stomped on the pile of dirt with the sole of my shoe, pressing it flat again. As I focused all my attention on this pointless act, my uncle’s voice jolted me back to reality.

-…Won-ah.

My real name, heard for the first time in a long while. I froze, like I had malfunctioned. There were only two reasons my uncle ever called me by my name: he had a favor to ask, or…

Before he could say it again, I blurted out in fear.

“…Yes, what is it?”

– If I’m going back to the game, I need some seed money. I’ll double it for you, so send it over.

“Uncle.”

…You bastard.

“That money.”

I banged my forehead against the glass of the phone booth as I muttered. Words that were half sigh escaped through my lips.

“Do you even know where that money came from?”

– I’m telling you, I’m winning!

He had no idea what kind of filthy business I was involved in. He was huffing like a fool, someone who wouldn’t bat an eye even if he found out.

– If this goes well, your mom will be able to live comfortably without any worries.

My hand, gripping the phone, trembled. I was so angry, I felt a chill in my body, and my vision blurred with dizziness.

– Stop complaining and just send the money. The place is a mess without me. They’re begging for me to come back.

Click. The phone call ended. I banged my forehead loudly against the glass of the phone booth. Without even saying what I had originally called for, the call was over just like that.

“…You bastard.”

Do you even know where that money came from? And to think you’re going to gamble with it… I was sick of gambling. Sick to the point of shuddering. My eyes burned with tears.

I tried to calm myself by taking quick, deep breaths. My chest heaved uncontrollably. I didn’t want to hand that money over to my uncle again, but there was no other option.

I picked up the phone again to call my uncle but froze. That bastard’s voice echoed in my head again.

‘It’s not me!’

It felt like he had cast some sort of curse on me.

I put the receiver down as if I were hypnotized and walked into the convenience store. I stood in front of the ATM, as I always did. After sorting the bills, I fed them into the slot, and the machine counted them quickly.

A prompt appeared asking me to enter the sender’s name. There were only six spaces for the name. I deliberately split the deposit into three separate transfers.

For the first, I typed a sentence requesting something.

For the second, I typed a location.

For the third, I filled the space with a combination of numbers and letters.

Soon, a message popped up on the screen. Transfer complete. Clutching my now-empty wallet tightly in my hand, I stepped outside.

I slowly looked around again.

Now, everything looked different. The few people I could see seemed entirely uninterested in me. Just moments ago, it had felt like their eyes and ears were all exaggeratedly focused on me, but that scene had disappeared completely. It had all been nothing more than paranoia, a product of having too much to hide.

“…”

I headed toward the hotel. Thump, thump. My heart started pounding in my chest again. I hoped this inexplicable sense of unease was nothing more than needless worry.