The Price of a False Promise
The following evening, Park Jihun sat at his desk a little earlier than usual. On one side of his dual monitor, the Ocean broadcast management window was open, while the other displayed his fan café. Beneath the notice he’d posted the day before about taking a break, there were quite a few comments.
Park Jihun moved his mouse and hovered the cursor over the "Start Broadcast" button. Click.
PerpetualJobSeeker's broadcast has started.
Not long after the screen turned on, the chat began to move rapidly.
Park Jihun scanned the chat, saw the question about the Silver Button, and said, “I’ve already applied for the Silver Button. I’ll post a review video once I receive it.”
The chat reacted immediately.
Park Jihun pulled the microphone slightly closer and said, “Alright, let’s go as usual today.”
Park Jihun said calmly while looking at the chat, “We’re sticking to the same rules as before. No proxy applications. And even if you send a lot of donations, the order won’t change.”
That was when it happened. A familiar chill ran down his spine. Beyond the chat that had been flowing normally just a moment ago, people’s energies began to tangle and become visible.
Park Jihun said briefly, “Quiet.”
The speed of the chat slowed down noticeably. A few still joked around, but the long-time viewers knew. From the moment that tone appeared, the atmosphere of the broadcast changed. Park Jihun opened the roulette window. “Today, we’re doing roulette. Apply.”
As soon as he said that, the chat moved again. This time, it wasn't idle chatter. The word [Apply] began to pile up rapidly.
Park Jihun watched the flood of applications and pulled up the roulette window. The nicknames piled up one by one. “Applications closed.” He placed his hand over the roulette button. “First one.” Click.
The rapidly spinning roulette gradually slowed down. Ding. The arrow stopped.
[Mocabun]
Park Jihun confirmed the nickname and said, “Mocabun. Get on Discord.”
A moment later, the Discord connection sound rang out. “Ah, hello.” It was a woman’s voice. There was a hint of nervousness in it. Park Jihun asked, “What are you curious about?”
Mocabun hesitated for a moment before answering. “My husband has been acting a bit strange lately.”
Mocabun continued cautiously. “It feels like he’s hiding something.”
“What?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m anxious.”
Park Jihun didn’t answer and stared at the screen. Mocabun added hurriedly, “I’m not suspecting him of anything weird. It’s just... he’s different from usual.”
Park Jihun asked, “How is he different?”
“Delivery notifications come, but nothing arrives at the house. When I ask, he just says he had them sent to the office.”
“Anything else?”
“Whenever I get close, he quickly turns off his phone screen. He’s not usually like that.” Mocabun hesitated for a moment before adding, “And every weekend, he says he’s going out for a bit and disappears for two or three hours.”
Park Jihun stared at the monitor without a word. At that moment, a short scene flashed by. Delivery boxes piled up under an office desk. A small lantern and two folding chairs. And a reservation history on a phone screen. [Glamping 1-night reservation complete].
Soon after, another scene overlapped. Two chairs placed side-by-side in front of a small fire pit. Warm lighting. A winter forest visible through the window. The man was holding his phone, staring at the reservation screen for a long time. Park Jihun saw only that much and opened his mouth.
“It’s not an affair.”
Mocabun gasped. “Pardon?”
“It’s not a money issue, either.”
“...Then what is it?”
“It’s nothing illegal.”
Park Jihun looked at the screen again. This time, an old photo appeared. A slightly younger man and woman were sitting in front of a small fire pit. The meat was burnt from clumsy grilling. Still, the two were laughing. The screen changed. The man was looking at that photo and then checked the reservation screen again. The date was next Saturday.
Park Jihun asked, “The day you first went on a trip together. Next Saturday, right?”
Mocabun asked in a surprised voice, “How do you know that?”
“Your husband remembered that day.”
Mocabun couldn’t answer for a while. The chat also slowed down briefly.
Mocabun asked cautiously, “What is he preparing?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Can’t you tell me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“See for yourself.” Park Jihun added briefly, “It’s not something you’ll dislike.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
A soft sigh of relief could be heard over Discord. Her breathing was much lighter than before. “I understand. Then... I’ll wait.”
“That’s all you have to do.”
Mocabun hesitated for a moment and said, “But it’s amazing.”
“What is?”
“I feel like I only mentioned it in passing...”
Park Jihun looked at the old photo on the screen one more time. “I guess your husband didn’t.”
After the consultation with Mocabun ended, the atmosphere in the chat became much softer. Then, a new comment appeared.
Park Jihun paused. LazyAfternoon. It was a nickname he had seen on the fan café yesterday. [I’m traveling to Cambodia tomorrow!] He also remembered the comment left under it—that an older brother he knew said he’d be able to breathe easy if he just worked there for a few months. At the time, he hadn’t seen anything because the broadcast wasn’t on. But now, it was different.
Park Jihun’s gaze slowly sank. A short scene flashed by. A passport gripped tightly by a menacing man. A phone that wouldn’t turn on. A bag dropped on the floor. A man being dragged away while his wrists were held. And a steel door locking from the outside.
Park Jihun opened his mouth. “LazyAfternoon. Get on Discord.”
The chat stopped.
LazyAfternoon typed belatedly.
Park Jihun said briefly, “Get on Discord.”
“No. It’s not a plane problem.” Park Jihun’s voice sank low. “Get on quickly.”
A moment later, the Discord connection sound rang out. “Uh... hello.” It was a young man’s voice. In the background, a train announcement could be heard faintly. Park Jihun asked, “Where are you right now?”
“Airport Railroad. I’m on my way to Incheon Airport.”
“Are you alone?”
“For now. I’m supposed to meet a close senior at the airport.”
“You said that senior was helping you find a job.”
LazyAfternoon paused for a moment. “Uh... yes.” His voice grew a little smaller. “Actually, I did think it was a bit strange, too.”
LazyAfternoon continued, “I’ve been running out of money lately, and I haven’t been able to find a job. I went to a few construction sites, but I just ended up getting hurt.” He forced a laugh and continued, “That brother said I’d be able to breathe easy if I just endured it there for a few months. Since they provide housing and meals... I just thought I’d give it a try.”
Park Jihun cut him off. “That’s not a job.”
Park Jihun continued, “As soon as you arrive in Cambodia, they’ll take your passport.”
“My passport?”
“They’ll take your phone, too.”
“...”
“After that, even if you want to leave, you won’t be able to.”
The other side of the Discord went quiet. Only the faint sound of the train remained.
LazyAfternoon said in a trembling voice, “I understand. I won’t go.”
Park Jihun nodded. “That’s the right choice.”
“I should just turn back as soon as I get off, right?”
The moment he said that, the announcement became clearer. [This station is Incheon Airport Terminal 2, Incheon Airport Terminal 2 Station. The doors will open on your...]
Park Jihun said immediately, “Don’t go through the ticket gate.”
The train gradually slowed down. A moment later, the doors opened, and the sound of people’s footsteps and suitcase wheels rushed in all at once. LazyAfternoon said cautiously, “I’m off.”
Then, the sound of a phone vibrating was heard. Vrrr-vrrr.
“The brother is calling me.”
“Don’t answer.”
“Yes. I have to text him that I can’t go...”
As soon as the vibration stopped, a message notification sound was heard. Ding. LazyAfternoon gasped. “He’s asking where I am... telling me to come quickly.”
And a moment later, a strange man’s voice cut in over the Discord. “Hey, over here.”
LazyAfternoon said, holding his breath. “It’s the brother. It looks like he came to the station.”
The man’s voice got closer. “Why are you so late? We don’t have much time. Let’s go quickly.”
LazyAfternoon couldn’t answer.
“What are you doing?” The man urged him again. There was irritation mixed in his voice. “Are you on the phone?”
“Ah, no...”
“Forget it.” After a short silence, the man opened his mouth. “Give me your phone.”