People Say: A Record-Breaker Belongs in the Water (2)
“This fucker, isn't he gonna get sued before he even hits autocross?”
Kim Ji-hyun spoke from behind Han Dae-jin, who was deep into practicing with the autocross course file he'd just received. Having listened to his story moments ago, she secretly felt like he was really grinding hard.
“No way...”
“No way my ass. You fucked a married woman, then banged someone with a boyfriend... Aigoo, fuck, have I ever seen a thief like you.”
Han Dae-jin made a bitter face at Kim Ji-hyun's words.
“But if you hadn't said that back then, it probably wouldn't have gone that far.”
“What, pretty pussy surgery? Pussy quality? Yeah, okay, I went too far too, but that girl's a total menhera.”
Han Dae-jin had a hard time responding to Kim Ji-hyun. He was going crazy wondering if the HR head had actually started using birth control since that day. And she wants a kid with me first? What the hell is her deal...?
“By the way, that HR head? What's her name?”
“Min Hee-yeon.”
“Min Hee-yeon's something else too. She straight-up asked you to knock her up? Scary shit. Remember what I said at first? I told you fucking her would make your life hell. You'd be in deep shit. Gotta look before you leap.”
Han Dae-jin sighed as he practiced threading the steering wheel between the cones.
When break time hit, he chugged water, sweat pouring harder than usual, body wiped out. Kim Ji-hyun watched him quietly.
“Looks like it's time for you to make a choice.”
“Huh?”
“Kim Ji-ho. And Min Hee-yeon too. Pick one or clean house with both.”
“Ah...”
“I saw it earlier—that corner needed a deeper dive than usual, and you fucked it up.”
“Did I...?”
“It's obvious to me. So sort your shit before the race, kid. Personally, I think restarting with a married mom is a bad call.”
“Huh?”
“We've got friendship as buds and love as lovers so far, but reality's a bitch. Ex-hubby’s kid. You got the balls to step up as stepdad? You don't. Can't even handle two pussies right now—how you gonna raise some other dude's spawn?”
Han Dae-jin bowed his head silently at Kim Ji-hyun's words.
“Honestly... no.”
“Then cut Kim Ji-ho loose. And that company's gonna be hell for you now. Two bitches fighting over you in the same department? Good luck. I'll hook you up with a headhunter—switch jobs.”
Han Dae-jin sighed, downed the rest of his water, crushed the bottle one-handed, and slid back into the seat. Kim Ji-hyun hopped in beside him and kept coaching.
Han Dae-jin pulled out of the building's parking lot with the classroom and cruised quietly through Gangnam streets. That's when Min Hee-yeon's call came in, and he picked up.
“Where are you?”
“Gangnam. Heading back from the lesson now.”
“Still at it, huh.”
Han Dae-jin flinched at Min Hee-yeon's loaded tone.
“Uh... anything up...?”
“Can't I just call?”
“No, it's fine.”
“That's what makes you so clueless. People can just check in sometimes.”
Han Dae-jin swallowed hard.
“Come to my place. Let's talk for a bit.”
Han Dae-jin rerouted the nav. At Min Hee-yeon's place, she bounded out in comfy clothes and hopped into the passenger seat. She fiddled with the nav, directing them to a nearby park.
At the park, Min Hee-yeon and Han Dae-jin walked until they sat on a bench. Then Kim Ji-hyun called Han Dae-jin's phone.
“Yeah.”
“Where you at? You're not in Osan—you're in Yongin, you fucker?”
Han Dae-jin hesitated, then admitted he was with Min Hee-yeon.
“You doing it?”
“Nah... too beat today.”
“Fine then.”
“Hey, noona.”
“What.”
“You got any thoughts?”
“Thoughts? On what? You? Fuck, my feelings for you are like a Rubik's cube—I can't figure 'em out.”
“Really...?”
“Good time for it. Don't fuck up—go home.”
Kim Ji-hyun hung up. Min Hee-yeon, who'd overheard, smirked oddly.
“Closer than I thought, you two?”
“Yeah. Riding together builds that bond.”
“That deepens it that much?”
“Dunno, but it works.”
Min Hee-yeon nodded.
“I've been thinking about work these past few days.”
“Yeah.”
“I've watched you a long time, and the kid thing? Half-serious. But before we go deeper than fuckbuddies, we gotta clean some shit up.”
“Like what...?”
“Can you end it with Ji-ho?”
Han Dae-jin bowed his head. From early coworker friends to affair partners, to Kim Ji-ho begging for remarriage... it felt too cruel.
“That's...”
“I get it. She helped me too. But you two are legally fucked. Keep going, and it'll tank your careers and reps. Rumors are already flying at work.”
“Ah...”
“Dae-jin. Min Hee-yeon here asking: be rational, make the smart call.”
Han Dae-jin bowed his head and went quiet. Min Hee-yeon stroked his hair, wrapped her hand around his neck.
“Dae-jin... would you raise someone else's kid, or ours?”
She whispered in his ear. He sighed deeply.
“Just a bit more time.”
“Okay.”
Min Hee-yeon kissed him, stood. They headed back to the car. He dropped her off and drove home, engulfed in his life's worst crisis.
Days later, in Kim Ji-hyun's next session, Han Dae-jin attacked the autocross line with fiercer aggression, like he'd decided something. Kim Ji-hyun pondered his bold lines. Then he clipped a few cones in sim— she smacked his head, saw scabbed wounds, and freaked.
“Hey! Stop. Get out.”
She pulled him to the sofa, laid his head on her thigh, parted his hair.
“That gangster bitch do this?”
“Huh? What...?”
“Your head's got fucking scars, kid—what the hell?”
She snapped a pic on her phone. Han Dae-jin looked shocked.
“Oh... that time...”
He recalled Kim Ji-ho smashing his head with her phone till the screen cracked.
Kim Ji-hyun was horrified.
“Psycho bitch. You still seeing her?”
“Don't even talk at work.”
“Weird cunt. No apology?”
“Probably embarrassed.”
“Aigoo... what kinda man gets beat by bitches and dragged around? How long you gonna live like this?”
Han Dae-jin stared at her, stunned.
“What about you, noona?”
“I want you to man the fuck up. Aigoo, fuck—won't even take what's offered.”
She grabbed a cola from the fridge, handed it over.
On the drive home, Han Dae-jin called Kim Ji-ho. She picked up after ages.
“Why?”
“Come out for a sec. Need to talk.”
Sleepy Kim Ji-ho, dry Han Dae-jin.
“What about?”
“Us.”
“Okay.”
At the meetup near her place, Kim Ji-ho showed in sweats. Han Dae-jin drove to the quiet Hwaseong coast. They parked near Gungpyeong Port beach, silent.
“What'd you wanna talk about?”
Kim Ji-ho pulled her vape, puffed quietly.
“Ji-ho. Us.”
“Yeah.”
“Remarriage—let's rethink.”
“Why? 'Cause I did that, you flipping?”
“No. You've done so much for me, I gave back—but this is the limit. Sort legally, then I...”
Before he finished, Kim Ji-ho kissed him desperately.
“No. You're mine.”
“I'm me.”
“No. You're gonna be my husband. Something with Hee-yeon unnie?”
“No. Swear.”
“Don't lie! Your eyes are lying... Be honest. I won't get mad. Please?”
“For real. Nothing.”
Han Dae-jin denied. Kim Ji-ho teared up.
“Car... now Hee-yeon unnie... that lawyer too... You're too greedy. Can't I make you happy? Please? I'm so hurt. Why can't I be enough?!”
She begged, screamed. Han Dae-jin hung his head, tears silent. Kim Ji-ho sobbed. They cried for a long time.