Back Alley (1)
1. The second visitor was Nayae. In her hands was what looked like her own herbal tea and a box of hangover remedies, probably brought as a thank-you and apology gift.
“Teacher, I'm really sorry about last night. I don't usually act like that...”
Her voice trailed off meekly. Nayae kept her eyes downcast, as if she had no face to show, fidgeting awkwardly. Seeing the woman with whom he'd spent such a heated night now fully clothed made her naked form flicker teasingly beneath her outfit in his mind. He'd etched the shape of her fine breasts, wrapped now in bra and sweater, and the neat, hairless form of her lower lips into his memory like a camera snapshot.
“No, it's fine. I was the same way at twenty. How's your body feeling?”
“I'm okay, but teacher, I bought this for you to drink.”
Nayae hesitantly placed the hangover drink on the table, fidgeting like a guilty criminal. Her naturally slightly downturned eyes, which gave her a gentle impression, now looked utterly pitiful. Having eaten a meal on top of it all and then caused such a scene, she felt deeply ashamed. Since entering the room, she hadn't met his eyes even once—when her gaze finally brushed his clothes, she startled like a frightened animal.
“You didn't go home last night, did you?”
“Ah, no, it's fine. There's a bed here, and I turned on the heater to sleep.”
“Oh no, really... You could've just slept at my place.”
Confirming yet another sin on her tab, Nayae stamped her feet in distress. She looked on the verge of tears, so Yuchan decided to soothe her for now. She didn't know it, but she'd already paid the price in full—and she would continue to do so.
“How could I sleep alone at a female student's place while living solo? It happens sometimes, so don't worry about it. I'll gladly take this, though. My head was hurting anyway—perfect timing.”
“That's a relief at least. Oh! I already have some.”
“It's fine. Having an extra one will make it even better.”
He pulled a hangover remedy from the box and placed it in her protesting hand. As sunlight touched her hair, giving it a faint reddish tint, he ruffled it gently and stroked her head. Nayae hesitated at first, but her expression soon softened into a hazy daze, accepting his touch. Her half-closed eyelashes trembled faintly. The ambiguous silence hung in the air, so Yuchan withdrew his hand readily.
Had he gone too far? As he pulled away, Nayae smoothed her tousled hair with both hands, like a squirrel grooming its fur. Her face had flushed so easily from just that, which mildly puzzled him.
“W-well... I'll go study now! Thank you!”
Apparently, the situation felt uncomfortable for her right now. She'd been glancing furtively toward the door and clock, so he let her go without holding her back. Bowing a deep ninety degrees, Nayae scurried out of the counseling room.
2. After Nayae left, Yuchan checked the internet. Searching Google for “Ilsan missing persons cases” brought up a few recent mentions, as expected. These days, social media and online news were faster than traditional outlets. Half of them lacked credibility and needed filtering, but in this apathetic country, calling people blind to missing persons cases wasn't an exaggeration.
Even for women and minors, responses were often delayed, ending in unsolved cases or bodies found. For adult men, there was even a manual directing no investigation for missing adults. Yuchan had benefited from that plenty. Still, rumors had spread steadily among people, with notable mentions between January and February this year. Internet articles about mass disappearances near Ilsan. Rumors in mom cafes claiming twelve men and five women had already vanished, and personal blogs with fairly coherent deductions.
“I've only killed one person.”
It had only been to clean up loose ends from an annoying incident. If he'd known other cases would overlap so coincidentally, he'd have taken different measures. He muttered absently and glanced around. No one was passing by the door to overhear.
Even to Yuchan, the frequency and focused coverage seemed suspicious. Korea had many missing persons annually, but seventeen adults vanishing in such a short time from a localized area was abnormal. A concentrated investigation might come. It reeked too foul to dismiss as coincidence. Better to hold off on dumping trash for a while. He didn't want any suspicious movements caught in a later probe.
Thanks to his diligence, only about thirty percent remained, and the trickiest parts—body hair and head hair—were neatly handled. The rest could be salted and stored in the fridge. Yuchan ordered a blender and large kimchi container from an online mall, then stepped out of the counseling room.
Looking around the academy, he saw students dedicated to their studies on this peaceful weekend. For students tired of self-studying at their desks, the academy provided reading room tables in the hallways. They could study without worrying about their own noise and get some fresh air, so weekends filled the corridors with students.
“Teacher, is it okay if I come for counseling soon?”
“Of course, anytime. Monday morning?”
“Yes. Anyway, it's Sunday, so I can't focus at all.”
A male student spotted Yuchan, removed his earphones from an online lecture, and approached. Shaggy hair, acne-ridden. A third-year repeater who'd abandoned self-care for studies. Kang Ju-hyuk, was it? Yuchan flashed his usual friendly smile and subtly scanned the fixed seats in the study room beyond the glass.
No bag at Yujin's spot. Since Ju-hyuk was close to her, he asked.
“Ju-hyuk, Yujin didn't come to the academy today?”
“Who knows? Probably skipped because she hates studying. Otherwise, she'd end up a third-year like me.”
He scratched his cheek, deflecting, but clearly hiding something. Yuchan wished he'd just tell the truth instead of mumbling evasively and darting his eyes.
“Any guess where she might be? She was supposed to come for counseling today, but she hasn't shown her face.”
“I really don't know.”
“Then where does she usually run off to after bolting from the academy? I'm on your side, so I'd like to handle it quietly if possible. I have to go out shopping anyway.”
Subtly conveying he wasn't there to scold, Ju-hyuk pondered briefly before answering.
“Um... probably the PC bang in the next building. If you see her, don't say I told you.”
“Of course. Study hard. See you Monday.”
“Man... lucky. I want to live freely under the warm Sunday sun too. Gotta succeed this time for real.”
Yuchan patted Ju-hyuk's shoulder as he replaced his earphones and headed to the elevator. Even in expensive academies where parents pushed their kids, some like Ju-hyuk or Nayae dove in earnestly, while others like Yujin cared only for play. She'd skipped consecutively since yesterday. With no study motivation and her mother—the sole guardian—leaving her be, there was no need to drag Yujin back. But as a student under his special care, he should check what was up.
3. “Argh, what the hell~ They killed our healers and still winning!”
The PC bang next door buzzed with weekend crowds. Still, finding Yujin was easy. She was engrossed in her game, headset on, yelling in frustration. Lost in her own world, she ignored the stares. The counter clerk seemed torn about warning her.
Approaching unnoticed, Yuchan removed her headset as she queued for a new game.
“Ah, damn! Watch it!”
Thinking another customer had yanked the cord, she whipped around irritably—then her eyes widened. She hastily pulled up her hood, stared ahead, and sat frozen. Her legs trembled visibly. Caught off guard by his sudden appearance.
“Yujin. Even if it's an academy, shouldn't you uphold your duties as a student?”
“Ah~ Teacher. I couldn't come 'cause I'm sick. *Cough cough!*”
“No lying. Come on out.”
He pulled off her hood as she stared fixedly at the monitor, butchering her fake act, and dragged over an empty chair beside her.
“Nooo! I didn't wash my hair or do makeup!”
Yujin canceled her queue and turned her head away from him, refusing to show her face. He lifted the ends of her hair slightly and sniffed. The fresh scent of a young girl tickled his nose. She whipped her head back, letting the strands slip from his fingers.
“Why sniff my hair again? Teacher, can you give me five minutes alone?”
“What's the big deal? You don't even wear heavy makeup usually.”
“Still embarrassing, okay?”
Yujin grumbled petulantly.
“It's fine.”
“I'm not fine.”
Even barefaced, Yujin had no flaws—she was already the talk of countless male students at the academy, with three confessions under her belt. She could've debuted as an idol's visual right away, yet Korean conventions wasted such talent on “university first.” A boon for Yuchan, though. Her innocent teenage reactions amused him, so he stepped away briefly.
Well over ten minutes later, Yujin emerged at the PC bang entrance. To Yuchan, only her lips looked more vivid, but her attitude brimmed with newfound confidence. Her showboating was cute.
“You came to catch me, right? Let's go. I won't resist.”
She held out her wrists together like awaiting handcuffs, her expression solemnly grave, like a condemned prisoner humbly awaiting the executioner's duty.
“A dutiful teacher might, but I'm not a teacher—I'm a psychological counselor.”
“Huh?”
“A counselor's view on a client calls for appropriate leniency over excessive suppression.”
“Yay!”
Her baffled expression bloomed into joy. Did she hate studying that much? Losing interest in rote problem-solving like a machine was understandable.
“Then can I play one more round? Just two wins for a promotion.”
As she poised to bolt back, Yuchan lightly gripped her wrists, halting her. They were so slender, one hand encircled both easily.
“Hold on.”
Her bare skin peeked from the hoodie sleeve, touching his. The excited fidgeting calmed instantly—or seemed to. She was deeply rattled, her pulse surging palpably through her clothes.
“I'll head home like this too, so wait a sec? I'll bring the car around.”
“Y-yes! Okay.”
She startled at his casual words, as if fixated on his touch. It was a girlish reaction unseen at the academy, piquing his interest. Releasing her, she fiddled idly with the hoodie drawstrings.
He picked her up at the first-floor entrance.
“Teacher's car. First time riding.”
Thrilled, Yujin hopped into the passenger seat, bouncing on her butt to buckle up. Him personally fetching her and letting her ride in his car made her feel specially treated, boosting her mood. Yuchan had orchestrated it knowing she'd react that way, of course.
“How'd you know I was at the PC bang? Text me.”
“No matter where you run, it's still in my palm—so ask my permission next time instead of sneaking off. I'll handle it with the director.”
“For real? Ah~ You're close with the director, teacher.”
“Not particularly.”
Chatting idly, Yuchan smoothly turned the corner.