A Record Player Belongs in Water
"So, you're saying a broke-ass car-poor fucker like you is gonna hit the circuit once a month? That's the bullshit you're spouting?"
Kim Ji-hyun asked Han Dae-jin right in the middle of her lecture.
"No.... I mean, I gotta do actual practice too...."
"You dumb fucking idiot. Do you even know how much it costs to run the circuit once? For a piece of shit Avante N like yours, you're looking at least a hundred bucks a pop. You make that much fucking money?"
"Ah.... no...."
Han Dae-jin trailed off in response to Kim Ji-hyun's barrage.
"Then shut your mouth about that crap and pay attention to this lecture. Follow the course I'm setting up for you. I can't take you to the circuit every month, but I've got something way more fun in the works."
With that, Kim Ji-hyun yelled at Han Dae-jin on the sim racing screen, telling him to floor it through turns 4 and 5 at the Yeongam Circuit for his first time.
It was the infamous ultra-high-speed corner section in Korean racing history.
"Listen up, you little shit! Front-wheel-drive cars like yours—if you don't brake here, all the weight shifts forward and you spin out! Brake and keep going!"
Han Dae-jin barely made it through turns 4 and 5 on the sim before flying off into the safe zone with a sigh. Kim Ji-hyun smacked him upside the head again.
That night, back at his Osan officetel, Han Dae-jin couldn't sleep a wink, clueless about what Kim Ji-hyun had in mind. It was too late to ask anyway—she was probably out cold.
In the meantime, he scrolled through Yoon Ha-rin's Stargram. Amid bikini pics, there was a photo of her in a race suit announcing an autocross event. It looked like a recycled shot from her super young days, probably her twenties.
"She was a racer, huh...."
Han Dae-jin stared at the photo until his interest fizzled, then shut off his phone and crashed.
The next day at work, Han Dae-jin greeted Kim Ji-ho, filled his tumbler with coffee, and chugged it. Kim Ji-ho told him to fix a half-done document from yesterday and show it to her later.
"Got it."
"'Got it'? You little Jap fuck?"
Kim Ji-ho laughed as she flicked his forehead playfully.
"But seriously, what's your deal with that lawyer? She only reps big corps or chaebols.... And her racing results suck."
Min Hee-yeon, the HR head sitting nearby, chimed in.
"Huh? Oh, she's my mentor and vice leader of my car club."
Han Dae-jin brushed it off. No way was he admitting he'd gotten schooled and sucked off by her—Kim Ji-ho would've smashed his skull with a stamp pad.
"For real?"
Kim Ji-ho asked suspiciously.
"Yeah."
"Then why's your location popping up in Gangnam late at night all the time?"
Han Dae-jin sighed at Kim Ji-ho's question.
"That's 'cause she's pulling overtime and then giving me racing lessons, so it runs late."
He pleaded a bit, but Kim Ji-ho eyed him even more suspiciously.
She grabbed his hair, dragged him to the bathroom, locked them in a stall, yanked down his pants, and went straight to work with a blowjob, getting him hard in her mouth.
"Whoa, what the fuck?"
Han Dae-jin whisper-yelled in shock, trying to stop her sudden move.
But Kim Ji-ho didn't quit, and he ended up blowing his load right there in the morning.
She savored the cum before swallowing it.
"Why so little? You fucking her?"
Kim Ji-ho whispered irritably.
"No way, crazy?"
Still suspicious, she pulled up his pants and left the bathroom first. A team leader from another department walked in, yelped in surprise at her.
Back at his desk, Han Dae-jin realized leaving location sharing on had probably done him in. Kim Ji-ho glared daggers and tossed him more docs to fix. Min Hee-yeon side-eyed him with a wink.
At lunch, Min Hee-yeon, Kim Ji-ho, and Han Dae-jin headed out to a Chinese place for jjajangmyeon.
Then Kim Ji-hyun called Han Dae-jin's phone. Awkward as hell. He picked up and said he'd call back later, but...
"Aang, oppa~ Now or never~"
Kim Ji-hyun teased, and Kim Ji-ho heard it, chucking her spoon at him.
"Fuck, sis, she's right here...."
"Just messing around."
"She just nailed me in the forehead with a spoon. You owe me."
"Handle that yourself. Hey, you ever thought about autocross?"
"Autocross?"
"Yeah. Higher speeds than gymkhana, less brutal course. Perfect for a circuit newbie like you."
Han Dae-jin handed Kim Ji-ho a fresh spoon while listening to Kim Ji-hyun explain. Once she wrapped up, he said he'd decide soon and hung up.
But Kim Ji-ho snatched the phone.
Kim Ji-hyun hung up, and Kim Ji-ho went nuclear, smashing Han Dae-jin's head with his own phone repeatedly.
He couldn't even blame anyone.
On the walk back, Kim Ji-ho pinned him down and screamed her lungs out.
"Don't see that bitch. Quit racing! Sell that noisy-ass car!"
She yanked his ear, and Han Dae-jin stayed silent.
"Dae-jin, but she's right—you gotta choose. No matter how much you hang with a stuck-up lawyer like that, our class difference means it won't work out."
Min Hee-yeon added from the side.
Kim Ji-ho, still fuming, slapped his cheek hard.
"You shitty bastard. You fuck. What'd you do with her? Did she pay you to eat her out?"
"Quit that crap, seriously."
"Why can't you tell me? Did you run to her 'cause I popped out a kid? Her pussy taste better?"
"Enough...."
Han Dae-jin endured the headache and her onslaught.
"Ji-ho, let's grab drinks tonight and talk."
Min Hee-yeon dragged Kim Ji-ho inside first, leaving Han Dae-jin to straggle back.
That evening, home with his shattered-screen phone, Han Dae-jin messaged Kim Ji-hyun. She cracked up at the pic he sent from another camera.
Han Dae-jin just laughed.
Meanwhile, Kim Ji-ho drowned her sorrows in soju at a street stall, getting comforted by Min Hee-yeon, who was also buzzed and flushed.
"Fuck.... I'm cheating, but I love that bastard so much! Fuck!"
"Ji-ho, still—sort out the legal shit first. This limbo just makes it harder for you and Dae-jin."
Min Hee-yeon laid out the practical talk amid Kim Ji-ho's yelling.
"Unnie, you ever gonna marry?"
"Nah, don't wanna. Crave freedom more."
"God.... What possessed me to marry so young.... I feel so fucked over."
"It was best for you then. Do what's best now."
Kim Ji-ho broke down crying, and Min Hee-yeon stroked her hair soothingly.
They finished the booze (left the car at the office), grabbed a cab, and headed to Han Dae-jin's place.
He was shocked by the surprise visit but let them in. They set up a drinking session in his room, forced him to sit, and started pounding shots.
"You trash fuck. What'd you do? Jerk off? Who'd you think of?"
Kim Ji-ho slurred drunkenly, and Han Dae-jin had nothing to say.