Chapter 158: Managing Building Security
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 158: Managing Building Security
Kim I-wol returned carrying two bottles of soju.
“What are you doing?”
Choi Je-ho found it impossible to read Kim I-wol’s mind.
“Are you going to drink with him and pick a fight?”
“I’m not that tactless.”
I-wol remained perfectly composed. There was an air of leisure even in the way he gripped the necks of the bottles and gave them a gentle shake.
However, that dignified aura didn't last long.
I-wol suddenly started chugging straight from the bottle. Startled, Choi Je-ho lunged forward and grabbed I-wol’s shoulder.
“Hey!”
Pffft!
I-wol immediately spat it all out onto the ground. To be precise, into the corner of a secluded alley next to the convenience store.
“Are you okay? You crazy bastard, why would you drink—”
“I did it on purpose, so shut up. You’re making me look even more pathetic right now.”
Perhaps because he’d spat it out poorly, alcohol was dripping down his chin. I-wol wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
Then, he poured some soju into his palms and rubbed it into his sleeves and collar.
“Have you lost it? What are you doing?”
“Transforming into someone who looks like trouble if you get involved with them.”
The remaining soju was splashed onto the hems of I-wol’s pants.
Apparently feeling it wasn't enough, I-wol picked up the second bottle.
“You’re pouring more?”
“It doesn't smell pungent enough yet.”
I-wol pulled down his mask, turned his head back, and let out a long breath. Haaa.
“Yeah, still not enough.”
“Tell me what you’re planning. That way…”
I can get some on me too.
Choi Je-ho flinched at the sudden thought. This was coming from someone who had firmly vowed never to touch a drop of alcohol in his life.
“You just stay here.”
“What?”
“You said he’s here for money. To a man like that, a celebrity son is just a walking ATM. It’s better if you don’t run into him at all.”
Je-ho couldn't argue with that. Leaving the demoralized Je-ho behind, I-wol once again pressed the bottle to his throat. He didn't actually drink it, as Je-ho had feared; he merely held it in his mouth for a moment before spitting it out.
“So, wait somewhere out of sight. I’ll go see your sister.”
Je-ho wondered if I-wol could really do anything. After all, I-wol was the same age as him.
But before he could snap back, I-wol had already disappeared into the alleyway.
Wait, did I give him the exact address?
Choi Je-ho hurriedly chased after him.
Ugh, the smell of booze.
With every step I-wol took, the stench of alcohol radiated from his body.
It smelled like stale cigarettes, too. It had been worth gargling with the soju over the cigarette butts scattered on the ground.
[Mental Pillar Jeong Seong-bin]
[Hyung, just as you asked, I told the sister through the younger brother to take their father to the park!]
His vision was narrowed by the mask and hat, but checking the message was no problem.
After running a bit further, he saw a patch of greenery too crude to be called a park.
Inside the empty park, where not a soul was passing by, a confrontation was taking place.
“How can a bitch with a job have no money?!”
“Do you think food and a roof are free? At least I spend my money on basic necessities. What do you spend yours on that you’re always broke, Dad?”
Unlike the woman, who tried to keep her voice down despite being a bit away from the residential area, the man was busy bellowing at the top of his lungs.
It was obvious. He was exploiting the sister’s desire to avoid a scene at her home to extort what he wanted.
I stood at the entrance of the park and quietly steadied my breathing.
Then, I untied one of my shoelaces and pulled my hat down low.
I can do this.
How many "difficult" customers had I dealt with in my time?
How many drunks had I cleaned up after?
Besides, Kim I-wol, you’re an elite who’s even taken lessons for this. You even have field experience.
I double-checked the target’s location.
Then, I started walking toward the man. I staggered and swayed as if I might collapse onto the pavement at any second.
Choi Je-ho’s father didn't even glance my way as he continued to intimidate the sister. He acted like someone who had long grown accustomed to ignoring the eyes of others.
I cautiously approached the man from behind.
And then, I slammed into his shoulder.
To be precise, I only grazed him while making it look like a heavy collision.
“What the—?!”
“Gah!”
As the man spun around irritably, I timed my movement to collapse onto the ground, sitting hard. Both of their gazes snapped to me.
Now was the time.
“Hey, old man! Don’t you look where you’re going?!”
“What?”
Fight fire with fire.
Drive out a drunkard with a drunkard.
Of course, I was going to be the much trashier drunkard.
“You’re the one who ran into me, and now you’re raising your voice—”
“Can’t you see you knocked me down?! I think my leg is broken! How are you going to compensate me for this?!”
My conscience pricked at me for playing the victim for the first time in my life. However, I did my best to wail, clutching my leg and rolling around.
I pointed a finger at Choi Je-ho’s sister and shouted.
“Hey, you! What are you just standing there for? Call the police! The police!”
“What do you think you’re doing, you young punk?”
“What does it matter if I’m young or old when you broke my leg?! I’m taking this to the full extent of the law!”
“You think I haven't seen scammers like you before?”
“I’m telling you my leg is broken! Is it any of your business whether I’m a scammer or not?!”
Unfortunately, there is a regrettable tendency in this country to be more lenient the more someone acts like a nuisance. Even Choi Je-ho’s father, who had been relentlessly hounding his daughter, hesitated to touch me, seeing that I was an even bigger mess.
I stood up and brushed off my pants, making it obvious that my leg wasn't actually broken. At the same time, I made a point of standing with my weight on one leg, putting on a pathetic display of "acting" injured.
“Look, old man. If you don’t want to be eating prison food, let’s settle this for five million won. Then I’ll let it slide.”
“This guy is a total fraud!”
“A fraud? I’m trying to end this nicely, and you’re kicking away your luck? Who in the world scams people by breaking their own leg? If you don’t like it, you want to just go to the slammer?”
Je-ho had said it. This man would do anything to avoid ending up in a holding cell.
When I stepped right up to his face, he flinched. Looking down at him, I lowered my voice.
“I’ve rotted away in this neighborhood for twenty years. I know everyone who lives here. You think if you pull this crap and run, I’m just going to let it go the next time I see you?”
I reeked of alcohol, and I completely towered over him. Every condition was perfect.
“Y-You little shit—”
“You keep cursing at me, but if you don’t like it, let’s do it by the law! Hey! Call the police! Hurry!”
The man’s eyes wavered. I could practically hear the gears turning in his head.
At this rate, any second now…
“Dammit!”
Just as I predicted, the man shoved past me and bolted in the opposite direction.
He really was beyond redemption. How could he run away and leave his own daughter with a guy he thought was a violent scammer?
I wished my prediction had been wrong this time. A bitter taste filled my mouth.
“Hello, Noona.”
I finally greeted the sister. She told me that even after hearing my voice, she wasn't sure if I was really Kim I-wol.
“You looked so much like a local thug… Oh my! What am I saying to someone I just met!”
“No, it’s fine. Please, speak comfortably!”
I say much worse things to your brother. Feel free to criticize me as much as you like.
I hadn't even mentioned his name, but Choi Je-ho popped out from the alleyway right in front of us. I told him to wait. He really never listens.
Je-ho ran over breathlessly and checked on both his sister and me.
“Are you guys okay? I was watching, but that man didn't hit you, did he?”
“He didn't. You said he doesn't usually get physical.”
Despite my words, the tension didn't leave Je-ho’s face.
“Why did you bring I-wol here in the middle of the night? It’s not like that man making a scene is anything new.”
“He followed me on his own. And you know he keeps acting out if you keep putting up with him. This is the first time he’s come all the way to your house…”
Je-ho sighed instead of finishing his sentence.
His heart must be heavy. I knew that feeling all too well.
Watching us stand in silence, the sister gave my arm a playful, gentle swat.
“Still, I don't think he’ll be back for a while. I-wol chased him off for good.”
“By pretending to be a scammer?”
“Could you add the word ‘acting’ at the end of that?”
Je-ho took off his hat and ruffled his hair in frustration.
Then, putting the hat back on, he said, “So that’s why you were splashing soju all over yourself.”
The moment he finished speaking, his sister’s palm flew against his arm. The force was noticeably different from when she’d swatted me.
“I! Told! You! To! Speak! Nicely! How many times!”
“Ow, why are you hitting me?!”
A dull thwack sounded with every word she spoke. It seemed she intended to hit him once for every syllable. Even while being pummeled, Je-ho couldn't win a single argument against her.
“I-wol, you must have a hard time. He’s the same age as you, but he’s so immature, isn't he?”
“Not at all. Je-ho has been very reliable lately.”
“Je-ho?”
Je-ho couldn't even last through a brief polite exchange before taking issue with my affectionate use of his name.
What did he expect? Did he want me to call him "Troublemaker Choi Je-ho" in front of his sister?
As we engaged in a silent power struggle with our eyes, the sister let out a mysterious smile.
“Why are you laughing?” Je-ho grumbled at her.
“It’s just interesting. To see the day come where you actually have a friend.”
“Who says he’s my friend?”
“Are you really going to talk like that to a member who came all this way for you? Do you want to die?”
He was scolded harshly for his grumbling. Just watching it made me feel refreshed.
By the time we said our goodbyes to the sister, it was nearly dawn.
While I brushed the dirt off my clothes, the sister pressed some taxi fare into Je-ho’s hand.
“Take a taxi back, and all of you eat something delicious tomorrow. This is all the cash I have on me right now.”
“You don’t have to. You think I don’t even have taxi fare?”
“I’m giving this to I-wol for his hard work. It’s not for you, so don’t get any ideas.”
Je-ho fell silent at his sister’s rebuke.
It was just like my sister and me in the past.
‘What’s this?’
‘A hoodie. It was on sale, so I picked one up.’
‘I have plenty of clothes.’
‘Bullshit. You wear that same black sweatshirt every single day.’
I used to habitually ask why she bought such things.
It wasn't just then. Every time she bought me something, I said "it's fine" more often than "thank you." I felt bad for making her spend money.
I didn't realize back then that it was her way of looking out for me.
I realized too late that it came from a place of worry—that she cherished her younger brother so much that she thought of him whenever she saw something nice. I only understood it after the person who looked after me was gone.
Looking at Je-ho and his sister, I made a mental note.
The next time I saw my sister, I would ask Min Ju-gyeong for advice and buy a gift that a working woman her age would like.
We’d eat her favorite food, and if there was something she wanted, I’d buy that too. And when we parted, I’d make sure she went home in a premium taxi.
In the end, Je-ho couldn't win against his sister. And so, we returned to the street with an amount of pocket money that was far too generous for just a taxi ride.
When I opened the taxi app, the late-night surcharges were sky-high.
I should probably go separately, right?
It was fine on the way here, but now I reeked of alcohol. That very smell that Choi Je-ho loathed.
If we took the same taxi to the dorm in this state, there was no telling what Je-ho might do in his fury. He’d probably shove me onto the floor mat, open all four windows, and hold his nose the whole way. Then, he’d kick me the moment we got out.
Fortunately, catching a taxi wasn't difficult. I called out to him as he lingered nearby.
“I just caught one. You take this one.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll catch the next one.”
At my words, Je-ho asked, “Why?”
“What do you mean why? You want to ride together?”
I grabbed the collar of my shirt and gave it a light shake, releasing a burst of alcohol scent like a broken laundry capsule. Je-ho grimaced and spoke.
“…Just get in. Why waste money?”
“If this were just a matter of personal preference, I would have asked for your opinion.”
But family history and trauma are different. I wanted to make sure he didn't have to deal with those things if possible.
I tried to enter a new destination, but the phone was snatched from my hand. It was Je-ho.
“Forget it. Let’s go in one.”
“Huh?”
“I won’t die from smelling a little booze. Let’s just go.”
The phone was returned to me with the app closed. In the distance, I saw a taxi with a familiar license plate.
Je-ho, who had been walking toward the headlights, came to a sudden halt.
“I wondered why you suddenly said you were going to act.”
“You mean me?”
“I think you might actually have a talent for it.”
He waved at the taxi. It was time to go back to the dorm.