Threat (7)
I lost, boss. You win.
—dukeVladimir(39.6)
I heard the broker only received the down payment as well.
—dukeVladimir(39.6)
He knew everything. Still, the bluff had worked. The moment I asked if he wanted to fight, he folded. Because I’m a pathetic bastard. The thought of going up against those Russian alpha males. Sure, we might start with fists, but it would end with bullets one hundred percent of the time.
We sat back down at the negotiating table.
Our Russian bear didn’t waste time. He laid it out clean. And the price was surprisingly good.
That worked for me. But I had a feeling there was more coming. And sure enough, he attached another condition.
The ball was in my court now. I had to respond. But this condition required Ali’s consent.
Even at the very end, Ali was still clinging to me.
In the middle of the night, I closed a deal worth over fifty billion won and leaned back in my chair, stretching.
Knock knock.
I straightened up and called out.
“Come in.”
“Chairman, I brought some fruit. You haven’t been back long, so please don’t overwork yourself. Get some rest.”
Our Madame Lee. I had decided to call her Madame from now on. The title felt natural, and she carried the presence of a true madame.
“Thank you.”
She had brought apples, pears, and peaches. The tension that had built up inside me finally released, and I was suddenly starving. They tasted incredible. I let out a long sigh, stood up from the chair with the intention of resting, and the moment I rose, a call came in on Eunsu’s phone.
The caller was a junior from the law department.
“Hello?”
“Hello. This is the Heukseok District Station of the Dongjak Police Station. Is this Choi Eunsu?”
The word “police” instantly put me on edge. Prosecutor Seo must have given me some serious trauma. I hid my panic as best I could and answered.
“Yes, what’s this regarding?”
“Ah, it seems you’re the boyfriend of the owner of this phone. Your girlfriend drank quite a lot, so we’re looking after her right now.”
She had mentioned something about a law department MT earlier. Looks like she passed out from drinking. For a second I considered just leaving her there, but since I knew her face, it didn’t feel right. I headed out to pick her up.
“Ah, yes. I’ll come get her right away.”
I grabbed some light clothes and went down to the first floor. Madame and her daughter were watching TV in the living room. When I came down, they both turned around in surprise. I told them I’d be stepping out for a bit, and they simply said to be careful.
It was nice that they didn’t ask where I was going or what was happening, but having people in the house still felt awkward. Coming back from the Philippines today and having someone welcome me home was comforting, but the awkwardness was something I’d have to get used to.
I drove to the Heukseok-dong station. The area in front of it looked like a half-assed night market. I could even hear strange political slogans, and people were arguing about who was right and who was wrong. Typical law students—even when they fought, they argued using specific articles and clauses.
I went inside and looked for my junior from the law department. When I couldn’t find her, I asked the officer at the desk. He pointed toward the inner sofa. There she was, sprawled out like a ragdoll.
“Hey, wake up.”
I walked over and shook her. She wouldn’t budge, so I lifted her face and sat her upright. The moment I did, she collapsed against me. Fuck. The smell of alcohol.
“Ji-eun, get a hold of yourself.”
“Oppa… you came?”
Her pronunciation was completely slurred. This wasn’t going to work. I hoisted her onto my back, carried her outside, and put her in the car. I had actually been planning to leave her there, but the police officer insisted I take her. When I told him I was just a senior from her school and couldn’t take responsibility, he gave me a strange look and told me again to take her, asking if I couldn’t see the situation.
I got her in the car, but now I had no idea where to go. She hadn’t given me her address and had already passed out again. After thinking for a while, something suddenly occurred to me. There was an empty studio apartment nearby that I used to stay in. The one in Noryangjin.
I drove to the Noryangjin studio. Since I had canceled the lease abruptly, there was still time left on the contract, and all the furniture was still there. It would be comfortable enough for one night.
I parked in the lot, pulled Ji-eun out of the car, and carried her on my back again.
“Oppa?”
I felt like I had walked straight into the final scene of a melodramatic morning drama. Why the hell was Miju here?
“Oh… Miju.”
My voice trembled.
“Who is that?”
“Ah… just a junior I know.”
“I think she likes you, oppa.”
The junior on my back started spewing nonsense. The moment Miju heard it, she turned around and ran off. It sounded like she was crying. I tried to set Ji-eun down, but she wrapped her arms around my neck and wouldn’t let go.
“Oppa, don’t go.”
I pried her hands off with force and chased after Miju. I ran along the main road for about five minutes, but she was nowhere to be seen. I called her, but although it rang, she didn’t pick up. I kept calling until it said the phone was turned off.
This wasn’t right. I wanted to clear up the misunderstanding, but I felt suffocated. Suddenly angry at the law department junior, I turned back toward the studio, but she had already disappeared. What a ridiculous coincidence. If I hadn’t received that call from the police station. If I hadn’t brought her to the studio. If that junior hadn’t said that stupid shit. None of this would have happened.
Full of self-blame, I returned home. When I walked in, Madame Lee was cleaning up.
“You’re back?”
For no reason at all, I felt irritated at her gentle greeting. She didn’t even know what was in my heart. Haa… What could this person possibly have done wrong?
“Yes, I’m back.”
I took a deep breath inwardly and tried to head up to the third floor.
“Would you like some tea? I’ll keep you company.”
??
Before I knew it, I was naturally having tea time with Madame Lee. I could have refused, but I didn’t. Something told me she might understand how I felt. Or maybe I just wanted to vent my frustration to anyone.
I sat blankly at the dining table. Madame soon returned with two teacups and a kettle.
“It’s chamomile.”
“Thank you.”
I lifted the cup and took a sip. The aroma was soft and pleasant.
“Do you know one of the rules a housekeeper must follow when entering this house?”
??
“Do not interfere with any aspect of the chairman’s personal life.”
“There are many others.”
“Keep your eyes, ears, and mouth shut at all times.”
“Obey the chairman’s orders without question.”
“Then why are you speaking to me?”
“Because two years ago, I saw myself in you, so I asked you to sit.”
She began to speak calmly about her own past.
“Back then, everything felt suffocating. Even breathing wasn’t something I could do as I wished.”
“My child was sick and needed a donor. Even if we found one, we didn’t have money for the surgery.”
“The money I earned from odd jobs barely covered the hospital bills.”
“I’ve done everything you can imagine. I even sold my body.”
“Now it’s your turn. Tell me what happened.”
As if possessed, I told her everything that had happened that day. When I described the image of Miju turning and running away, I even raised my voice.
“Shouldn’t she at least listen to my explanation?”
“That’s what you think. Chairman, you’re looking at the world too simply.”
She struck me right in the solar plexus without changing her expression. It was strange. The more I poured out my words, the more my anger melted away. The suffocating feeling in my chest eased considerably.
“Have you ever seen the world bend to your will?”
A brief silence fell. She was right. The world never worked the way you wanted.
“It’s gotten quite late. Go upstairs and rest.”
“And write her a letter. Sincerity has a way of getting through.”
“You still like her, don’t you?”
At those words, I went up to the third floor and wrote a long letter. Filled with apology.
Miju, this is the first time I’ve written you a letter like this.
The day we first met on the Noryangjin overpass is still burned into my mind like a photograph. That day, I met the fate of my life. It was such a shame that we couldn’t be together. Still, I lived hoping for the next connection. I prayed to the goddess of fate that we would meet again someday.
I learned that the goddess of fate really does exist the next time we met, and I was grateful for that destiny and connection. When you said you’d give me your number, it felt like I had the whole world. Our first date was awkward but happy. Our first trip and the memories from Cancun are something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.
— (Omitted) —
I understand that what you saw in front of the studio was enough to cause a misunderstanding. At first I was flustered too. After you ran off, I felt frustrated that you wouldn’t listen to me or give me a chance to explain. But when I put myself in your shoes, I think I understand why you reacted that way. I’m sorry.
That friend is a junior from school. We met while taking a liberal arts class together. Today was the law department MT, and it seems she drank too much. I was at home when the Dongjak Police Station called and told me to come pick her up. Since I knew her, I couldn’t just refuse. If I had known it would cause this kind of misunderstanding, I wouldn’t have gone and I wouldn’t have answered the phone.
I’m sorry for making you misunderstand. And I love you.
— Your loving boyfriend