Geum Seong-muk's Memories - 2
Seong-muk had decided to put an end to the group bullying targeting Seo Ye-bin.
He started by visiting several classes.
The first targets he chose were the boyfriends of Kim Ju-ae's close associates, presumed to be the ringleaders in this mess.
"Is Shin Ho-jin here? Call him out for a sec."
"Hey~ Kim Jin-hyeok, come out if you're around?"
One by one, Seong-muk called them out.
Once he'd lured them to a secluded spot under the pretense of something important...
Thwack!
Thud!
"Guhk…!"
"Urk, cough…!!"
He beat them mercilessly.
Then he launched into a thorough round of re-education.
"Alright, repeat after me. One."
"Your girlfriend!"
Slap!
"Two."
"You gotta manage her well…!"
Crack!
Every word was met with a fierce slap across the cheek.
By the time he was done, the cheeks of the two bound guys were beet red.
"Okay, let me ask again. You're the ones who hit on Seo Ye-bin, right? Your girlfriends put you up to it?"
Seong-muk exhaled cigarette smoke right into their faces as he questioned them. They put on pitiful expressions and begged him.
"I-I don't know anything…!"
"Yeah, how would we know what our girlfriends are up to?"
"Ha, you fucking bastards."
Seong-muk spat out his cigarette and slicked back his hair.
Clang!
"Eek…!!"
He kicked over a nearby bucket, startling the two bound students. Seong-muk glared at them with genuine anger.
"Kids, you know I'm an orphan, right? No mom, no dad."
"…!"
"Keep bullshitting me, and turning you two into cripples and sending you to juvie? Piece of cake. I've got nothing to lose anyway—total dead-end life."
The two students trembled violently.
They looked into his half-crazed eyes and knew for sure.
'This guy's for real…!'
"Last chance. Spill, or live with a disability forever?"
"W-We confess…!!"
Just like that, Seong-muk secured the list of witnesses and participants. Next, he went after Kim Ju-ae's close friends.
These were the girls who'd led the secret bullying of Seo Ye-bin and gotten fancy meals and gifts as rewards.
"You're Ho-jin's girlfriend, right? I'm a friend of his. Got something to say—mind coming with?"
Of course, since it was Seong-muk's golden sun pace approaching them, they were wary at first. But after he'd beaten the boys multiple times, he got them to send texts like "It's fine, come along," luring them out.
One by one, he gathered them.
Seong-muk propped his feet up on the café table and said,
"You girls bullied Seo Ye-bin, didn't you?"
"…………!?"
The girls jumped in shock.
But they quickly composed themselves and denied it.
"What're you talking about? No way."
"Ridiculous. Got proof?"
Seong-muk let out a hollow laugh.
He scattered the evidence he'd collected on the table and dropped a bombshell on them.
"The chairman's furious. Says to drag in the ringleaders right now."
He'd introduced himself as Yujin Group's bodyguard, secretly assigned to look after Ye-bin. The girls fell into instant panic.
"Ch-Chairman…?"
"Lies! No way!"
The ringleaders desperately denied it.
Seong-muk delivered the finishing blow.
He pulled out a recording of an old man's voice.
[Chairman, Miss Ye-bin at school...]
[What?! Our Ye-bin!!]
Bang!
[Drag those bitches here right now…!!]
[Yes, sir. What should we do after we bring them?]
[What do you mean? Dunk 'em in the sea and turn 'em into fish food…!]
[Understood. Your orders shall be carried out.]
The girls began to tremble.
Seong-muk drove the wedge in deeper.
"Oh, girls. Your parents got life insurance, right?"
"I-I don't know. Why…?"
Seong-muk narrowed his eyes at them and spoke in a chilling tone.
"Why? So they get a fat payout when you die. Nice chunk of change—500 million won each or so. Not bad for a fresh start, huh?"
"Waaah, Mom…!"
"Sorry, sorry, so sorry…."
Tears burst from the girls.
Completely swept up in Seong-muk's pace, they spilled everything—how Kim Ju-ae had orchestrated it all, and what they'd done.
'Suckers. Tsk tsk.'
Of course, Seong-muk wasn't any bodyguard, and the Yujin Group chairman knew nothing about this.
The recording? Just a favor from a nursing home grandpa who'd done some theater back in the day, in exchange for a bottle of makgeolli.
Whatever the case, the atmosphere at school shifted dramatically thanks to Seong-muk's actions.
Rumors spread like wildfire:
'Don't touch Seo Ye-bin if you wanna live!'
The one who felt it most viscerally was Ye-bin herself.
After a few days off, she returned to school and immediately sensed it. The oppressive stares were gone.
"Morning, Ye-bin!"
"We were worried when you didn't show. Hope you got some good rest?"
"………???"
Question marks popped up in Ye-bin's eyes.
Could the vibe change this much in just a few days? Unable to hold back her curiosity, she went straight to find Geum Seong-muk.
"…Hey, Geum Seong-muk. Talk."
"Sure, follow me."
Hands in pockets, whistling as he led the way. They headed to the rooftop. Seong-muk tossed her something casually.
"Here."
"This a USB…?"
"Evidence. Proves that bitch Kim Ju-ae orchestrated the whole thing."
"Wait, how did you…?"
"Curious? You'll get hurt. No more business? I'm out."
"Hey, wait…!"
Seong-muk said his piece and bolted.
She tried to grab him, but he was already gone.
"What the hell…."
She stared blankly at the USB in her hand.
After getting it, things progressed smoothly.
"Ye-bin, I was wrong…."
"…It must've been tough, huh?"
A few girls tearfully begged forgiveness. Ye-bin smiled sweetly.
"Oh? What happened between us?"
"Ye-bin…!"
"I don't remember. Let's get along from now on, okay?"
"Yeah, thank you…!!"
She cleanly forgave the passive participants who'd just gone with the flow. With their numbers on her side, it was enough to swing public opinion back.
But the active ones? No mercy.
Bloody revenge began.
With the main culprits clear and public opinion in the toilet, she could now wield her family's power without hesitation.
Kim Ju-ae and the main offenders all got expelled. Their parents groveled at Yujin Group, and the girls were forcibly transferred out of town.
Peace was finally restored.
Ye-bin could hardly believe it.
All this, resolved just because Seong-muk stepped in.
"Whoa, glad it worked out!"
Hwang Tae-gang beamed with joy.
Seong-muk stood silently behind him, arms crossed.
"Ah, gotta hit the bathroom…!"
Tae-gang, who chugged a liter of water at a time, dashed off frequently. Once he left, only Seong-muk and Ye-bin remained.
"………."
"………."
Silence flowed again.
But it didn't last long this time.
"Hey, Geum Seong-muk."
"What?"
"Why'd you help me?"
"'Cause you're Tae-gang's friend."
"Liar."
"………."
Ye-bin turned serious.
She instinctively knew he was lying. And she sensed some hidden desire behind it. Her guard, which had nearly softened, shot back up.
'Thought he might be different, but same old story.'
Countless guys had approached her for her chaebol background. Her most hated type.
Still, he'd helped her for real. She figured she owed him something.
"Sigh, congrats anyway. You owe me now?"
"What?"
"Need help with your parents' business or a job? I can talk to Dad or Grandpa…."
"Talking shit again. No wonder you're a loner."
"Wh-What…!!"
Ye-bin jumped in shock.
No one had ever spat such an insult to her face. Who would, knowing her background?
But Seong-muk didn't back down.
He immediately exposed his own vulnerabilities.
"Parents' business? First off, shouldn't you ask if I even have parents?"
"Uh, uh…?"
"Job? Pass. I'm gonna make it big as a pro baseball player, no doubt."
Seong-muk grinned, revealing his ambitions.
Stunned for a moment, Ye-bin bowed her head.
"Sorry. I didn't know."
"Whatever. You seem pretty beat up yourself. Bujeon High's full of rich kids, so maybe you didn't think someone like me existed."
Bujeon High was packed with kids from well-off families, but Seong-muk was exceptionally broke among them.
Tuition was steep, but sports scholarships and low-income aid barely covered it.
Ye-bin had never imagined such a case and assumed he was at least middle-class.
'…Still, gotta clear this up.'
Sorry was sorry.
But Ye-bin had to get to the bottom of things. She asked Seong-muk directly.
"So, why'd you help?"
"Told you, Tae-gang's friend…."
"Liar."
"……Ugh."
Seong-muk scratched his head like it was a headache.
He sighed deeply and spoke.
"'Cause you're hot. Happy?"
"……What??"
"You're fucking gorgeous, so I helped."
"Uh…."
Ye-bin short-circuited.
She knew she was pretty, of course.
But most guys who'd said that wanted her background, and she'd grown used to it.
So this pure compliment hit like a truck. After that, their relationship didn't change on the surface—
"Yo, hey."
"………!!"
But when Seong-muk greeted her first at school, she'd flinch and look away.
One such day, the three of them—led by Hwang Tae-gang—ended up together again.
"Ah, thirsty. Gonna grab a drink real quick?"
Tae-gang bolted to the vending machine.
Leaving Ye-bin and Seong-muk alone.
This time, Ye-bin spoke first.
"Hey, Geum Seong-muk."
"Yeah, what?"
"Why haven't you confessed to me?"
"………?"
Seong-muk furrowed his brow.
What the hell? That was his face.
"Why would I confess to you?"
"Ugh, seriously…!"
Ye-bin shot up, pissed, and pointed at him accusingly.
"You said I was pretty! Fucking pretty!"
"Yeah, I did. So?"
"You owe me a favor anyway. Man up! Wall slam or something…!"
"Hm…."
Seong-muk eyed the fuming Ye-bin with narrowed eyes. He hit her with a critical blow in one short line.
"Didn't you say you hate punks like me?"
"Ugh…!"
Ye-bin got struck by karma.
She hung her head.
"…Yeah, I did."
"See? I'm out."
Seong-muk stood and turned.
But Ye-bin grabbed his sleeve.
"…What?"
"Sorry. I misjudged you."
"………!"
"…You're not a punk. And I don't hate you."
Ye-bin looked up at him with wet-puppy eyes. Seong-muk, who'd thought her cold and haughty, burst out laughing at this unexpected side.
"Pfft, hahaha…!"
"Why're you laughing!"
"You're cute as hell. Anyway, if you're saying that much…."
He pulled paper and pen from his pocket, scribbled something, and placed it on her hand.
"Tomorrow, 5 PM. Meet me there."
"…Huh?"
"Date. Let's go on a date."
"………!!"
Ye-bin jolted at "date."
She shyly started to nod—
"Heading out first? Later!"
Seong-muk bolted.
She was dumbfounded.
"Ugh, so annoying, Geum Seong-muk…!"
Her words said one thing, but her body was honest. She spent the night picking tomorrow's outfit, woke early for perfect makeup.
First date ever.
Ye-bin headed out with pounding excitement.
But at the spot, she panicked.
"What're you wearing…?"
"This?"
Seong-muk in a rider jacket.
Straddling a motorcycle.
Vroom!!
He revved it, roaring to life. He tossed her a spare helmet.
"What else? Let's ride and feel the wind."
"Ha…."
Ye-bin was floored.
She got pissed.
"A date, you said. I spent three hours getting ready…!"
Helmet on, and her carefully styled hair would be ruined. All that effort to look pretty for him, and it's a bike ride?!
But Seong-muk was firm.
Two choices only.
"Ride behind, or go home?"
"You asshole…!"
Words aside, home wasn't an option. Ye-bin sighed heavily and hopped on back.
"Better be fun."
"Yes ma'am, let's roll!"
"…Kyaa!!"
Helmet barely on, Seong-muk sped off.
Ye-bin clung tight, fearing for her life.
Vrooom!!
The bike tore forward intensely.
Ye-bin just buried her face in his back, shaking.
Then, suddenly—
"Seo Ye-bin, look to the side! Side!"
"Side…?"
Ye-bin mustered courage and turned.
Her face lit up.
"Wooow…."
The crisp Busan sea stretched out before them.
Nothing like viewing it bored from a Maybach backseat.
The raw wind whipping her body, salty sea air, his broad, solid back.
It all combined into an unforgettable scene for Ye-bin.
They arrived at Oryukdo Sunrise Park.
Ye-bin finally ditched the helmet.
"Pah…!"
"Good job. Must've been stuffy for a first-timer."
"Worst. My hair's wrecked…."
"Big deal. Still pretty."
"……!"
Ye-bin whipped her head away.
Didn't want him seeing her blush.
"Time's about right. Follow me."
Seong-muk led.
Ye-bin followed.
Soon, awe escaped her.
"Waaah…!"
Sunset from a cliff.
A beauty she'd never seen.
"Not bad, right?"
"Yeah… the view's amazing…."
Seong-muk shrugged, handing her thermos coffee. Ye-bin sipped gratefully.
"………."
"………."
A strange silence followed.
Not awkward like before.
Tense, aware of each other as man and woman.
Seong-muk broke it first.
"Wanted to show you this view."
"…Me? Why?"
"Means that to me. Something to share with someone I like…."
Ye-bin's heart raced wildly.
She played it cool.
"Hmph, so…?"
"Date me, Seo Ye-bin."
"………!"
His bold words flushed her. Unmatched intensity. All she could do—
"…Yeah, okay."
Quiet nod.
Seong-muk smirked.
Thus, official couple.
Dating Ye-bin meant hitting unfamiliar spots.
"Damn, we gotta take this…?"
"Who was it that promised no complaints this date?"
"Tch, fine. Just take it."
Click!
Four-shot photo booth.
He griped, but secretly loved capturing their happy moment.
Dating Ye-bin changed Seong-muk.
Especially in baseball club.
"Wh-What?! Geum Seong-muk, laziest in Busan, doing voluntary training? Sun rises in the west…?"
"Fuck off, punk. Move your fat ass."
Seong-muk waved off shocked Hwang Tae-gang. He was trying to be a man worthy of Ye-bin.
One day after school, dating in the neighborhood. Sudden rain from clear skies.
"Kyaa, rain outta nowhere…!?"
"Weird, no forecast."
They ran, soaked.
Kept laughing anyway.
"Haha, first time getting drenched…!!"
"Figures, rich girl…!"
Drenched through.
Seong-muk figured warm her up first, took her home.
"Achoo! Cold…."
"Hold on, grabbing something to wear."
He ducked inside to fetch clothes. But Ye-bin grabbed his arm.
"Wanna shower with hot water. Can I come in?"
"Hell no. Guy lives alone—too risky…!"
"…It's fine."
"What?"
"Fine, dummy."
"…………."
Creeak!
Thud!
Seong-muk's door opened and shut.
Ye-bin didn't emerge for a long while.
Not till sunrise next day.
"Awake?"
"Yeah, been up awhile."
They opened eyes in the same bed.
Ye-bin pinched and glared at Seong-muk.
"…Men. Said just holding hands."
"Your fault mostly, honestly."
"Here we go. List 'em."
"One: trusted a guy too much. Two."
"……?"
"Too pretty. Shattered my iron will."
Ye-bin burst into giggles.
"Ha…!"
But snapped back, shaking head sternly.
"Think that'll work? No dice, dummy…!"
"Yes, miss. You're always right."
Seong-muk chuckled.
They locked eyes, talking distant futures.
"We'll be this happy forever, right?"
"Duh."
"…Seong-muk, when do you wanna get married?"
"Dunno. Soon as I'm sure, ASAP. Why, wanna marry me?"
"Yeah."
"………!"
Seong-muk's shocked face.
Never expected straight yes.
Ye-bin pounced on his dumb expression.
"Oho, Geum Seong-muk. Dying of happiness?"
"What? When did I…."
He averted eyes, scratching head.
Their gazes met again.
Happier than ever.
Just seeing each other's face felt like owning the world. They wished this moment eternal.
"Love you, Seo Ye-bin."
"…Love you too, Seong-muk."
They entwined again.
Deep kiss, sinking further into bed.
They didn't know then.
Bzzz!
Ye-bin's phone kept ringing.
"Father" flashed dozens of times.
Their seemingly perfect bliss.
Storm clouds were gathering.