You Don't Know Rin
"Why hasn't she come back yet?"
Rin had gone out with that bastard, and quite some time had passed. She must be really pissed off. We'd fought like that a few times before. Every time, Rin's hurt feelings would melt away within an hour. But today, it was dragging on longer than usual. She'll be back soon, I thought, waiting as the clock ticked toward quitting time.
"Uh, I'm heading out first."
"Sure, good work."
I exchanged brief goodbyes with the staff and clocked out right on time. Then I set off to find Rin immediately. Places she liked. The gym she frequented, the boxing gym she hit to blow off steam, the kendo dojo where she trained body and mind...
Where the hell did you go... Rin...?
She wasn't at any of them. Right, it's dinnertime—she must've gone to eat! So I checked her regular spots. The pork stir-fry joint run by that grandma with the magic touch. The soup place she fell for after one bite. Even the famous extra-large pork cutlet shop. I scoured everywhere she might go, but no Rin.
-The phone's off...
Her phone was still shut down. Maybe she went home? I thought, heading back myself. But then, unexpectedly, I spotted her at a fancy Western restaurant that screamed money.
She and that C-rank bastard were coming out.
"Hah..."
His behavior was ridiculous, but relief washed over me. Taking Rin to a place like that? I'd done the same when I first met her.
"Uh... sorry, I'm not really into Western food."
Rin had stiffened up looking at the menu outside. Taking her somewhere she doesn't like? Seeing him tank his own approval rating brought relief... Right? Why? Why was Rin's face so bright? She'd clearly said it wasn't her thing... Her expression, fresh off dinner by the looks of it, was way too cheerful.
"Ah—! That was delicious!"
"I'll treat you again anytime, just say the word."
Park Kiyong smoothly locking in a next date. Turn him down! Against my hopes...
"Next time, it's on me! We had that promise too!"
Rin accepted casually. Shocking on multiple levels. Whether I was stunned or not, they moved on.
I have to follow... Tailing them wouldn't let me do much, but I stuck to their heels anyway. They kept walking without stopping, ending up at a coin karaoke joint.
Rin going to karaoke? Another surprise spot. I'd never seen or heard her sing, so I'd assumed she hated it.
I was wrong about that. Yeah, that was my prejudice.
Maybe some ballads?
In the room next door. I waited eagerly to hear what she'd sing. The intro from the adjacent room leaked out.
Idol song? A girl group's track. Totally mismatched with Rin. And she was belting it out well. To sing like that, she had to know the lyrics. Meaning... she'd been listening to it regularly. A cute, bubbly tune. Today, the Rin in my head started crumbling.
"Whew—"
She was still in the coin karaoke, but I stepped outside. Let out a big sigh. Cold air filled my lungs, and I looked up at the sky.
"I didn't know Rin at all..."
I'd thought I knew her inside out. That was arrogance. I'll start learning her all over again from now! I'd apologize for this morning's mess. Share a drink, have a real talk. It wasn't too late. This was my chance. Turn crisis into opportunity, right? I wasn't giving up. Persistence was my strength. I'd even quit smoking for her. I could overcome this too.
"Ah... did I overdo it? My throat hurts."
"That's 'cause you kept picking high notes."
Their voices drifted from the karaoke stairs—Rin and Park Kiyong. I ducked out of sight quick.
Thump—! My heart dropped. For a split second, our eyes met—Park Kiyong's. But he showed no reaction.
"Wanna grab a drink?"
Park Kiyong suggested, looking at her. I prayed she'd say no... but
"Sure!"
As expected, Rin—who loved booze—wouldn't turn it down. Park Kiyong buying drinks at the convenience store. Where they gonna drink? I figured the terrace, but they headed elsewhere. I trailed to an officetel. First time here, but it looked familiar. Park Kiyong opened a door like it was his. Rin followed naturally, like she'd been a few times.
Park Kiyong's place. The apartment from my background check on him.
Hah, fuck... no way? It can't be... Ominous images flooded my mind. I shoved them down and rang the bell.
Ding-dong—! Ding-dong-ding-dong-ding-dong—!
I jabbed it irritably to summon him. Had to yank her out before she drank.
"Just leave it at the door."
Not Park Kiyong—Rin's voice.
"It's me. Hyeok."
Click—! Door opened, eyes met.
"Hyeok? What are you doing here?"
"That's my line. What're you doing at some random guy's place this late?"
Sharp tone slipped out unbidden. Blame the bad vibes. My edge made hers prickly too.
"Whatever I do here, what's it to you?"
"Top hero's gotta manage her image. C'mon."
Best I could pull was sidekick status. Grabbed her wrist to drag her out. Old Rin would've played along. But now...
"No."
She stood like a boulder.
"What's the commotion?"
Park Kiyong emerged, overhearing. Body damp, just in panties.
"You fucking—!"
I lost it, swung. Thwack—! Easily blocked. Not by him.
"What were you thinking?"
Rin blocked it.
"You're just disappointing me more. Go home."
Her face twisted.
"Rin, I'll talk to Kang Hyeok and send him off."
That fake nice-guy act.
"You wash up too. You sweated a ton today. Change into those clothes I bought earlier."
Saying it right in front of me. Pure provocation. Wanted to punch, but it'd get blocked. Didn't wanna disappoint her more.
"I'll just change and head out, so wait outside."
Bam—! Door slammed. Couldn't drag her out after all. Waited minutes outside; Park Kiyong approached.
"After tailing us all day... whaddya think?"
Unexpected words from him. That psycho knew from the start—let me follow on purpose.
I'd clocked the tail from the jump.
Sensitive to stares. Got tons of jealous looks since school days. Not 'cause I was hot... And as an adult, meeting clients meant honing that awareness. Choi Rin thought Kang Hyeok's gaze was like any civilian's. Naive mistake for someone always drawing eyes. No hostility, so I let it slide. Things were heating up with Rin; didn't wanna splash cold water. Kept coming, his face a riot. Watching his solid beliefs shatter. Thought he'd bolt midway, but he tailed to my door. So I called him out to break his spirit.
"You knew?"
"Duh. Hero who can't spot a tail? Amateur hour."
"Why let me?"
Kang Hyeok gritted through it.
"To make you quit."
"What?"
His pupils blew wide.
"Rin's sides you saw today... new, huh?"
Silence from him.
"Years together, and you never really got her."
He opened to retort, then clammed up.
"I figured her out in days—what you missed."
So that's the limit of your "love."
"You don't know Choi Rin."
He clenched his fist hard.
"Fine, prejudice on my part. But I'll fix it going forward."
Oh, holding it together?
"Starting fresh with Rin. From square one."
He didn't know. Him and Rin couldn't reset. In her head, he was already the nagging coworker. Solo vows mean jack if she's not on board.
"Yeah, good luck with that."
"..."
No comeback to my jab. Boring. Spirit properly crushed.
"Send Rin home now. Scandal'd be a pain."
"Who're you to say?"
"Her sidekick."
Pfft—! Laughed in his face.
"Sidekick polices her private life? Scandal hits, so what?"
Just date openly—no issue.
Perfect clapback left him speechless.
"Oh, and..."
Whispered just for him.
"Choi Rin's crashing here tonight."
Instant collar grab. Swung... but
"Gahk—!"
Sword-summoned body boost; his fist bled instead.
"Mercy's over. Swing again..."
Holy Sword to his throat.
"You know."
"..."
Thud—! He crumpled. Left him behind, back to my sweet home where Rin waited.
"Aaaargh—!"
His wail lightened my steps.