The Choice of Salvation
It was strange. Not only had she gotten drunk off just two or three glasses of wine, but she had blacked out completely. Since Park Taein had never drunk enough to lose his memory before, he found it even more suspicious. And of all times, it had happened right when he was reviewing critical documents on the Pavard Family. He hadn't even been able to tell Sua what he needed to say.
Taein regained consciousness around the time the predawn light faded and the sun began to rise. The moment he came to, he frantically dialed Sua's number, praying she would answer.
“Ha.”
A breath laced with anxiety and unease burst from Taein's lips. Fortunately, Sua picked up and said she would come to him right away. But even though she had promised to arrive soon, quite some time passed without her appearing at their meeting place. Taein kept his eyes sharply open, constantly scanning his surroundings. Tension gnawed at his mind. His heart pounded so violently he could feel it all the way up in his throat. He wondered if Tezman might have detained her. He wanted to call her immediately, but he held himself back.
He had decided it was best not to provoke Tezman's temper if he wanted to tell Sua the truth and return to Korea with her. The other man was a mafia boss. If he felt like it, he could make Taein disappear without a trace.
As Taein fidgeted restlessly with his phone, a car entered his line of sight. It was the kind of vehicle only chairmen or extremely wealthy people rode in. He remembered it after seeing it only once before. It was the same car Sua had arrived in last time.
The car glided to a smooth stop. Taein instinctively stepped forward, but his feet hesitated. The man who emerged from the driver's seat headed toward the rear door. It was the same man who had driven Sua yesterday.
Taein's gaze naturally shifted to the back seat. Through the open door, he saw two neatly extended legs touch the ground.
“Sua!”
Without even seeing her face, Taein called out her name with certainty. Sua lifted her head in surprise.
“...Taein?”
Taein quickly moved in front of her and grabbed her hand, pulling her along.
“Let's go.”
“Ah, wait… Please drive safely!”
Sua turned to the man who had brought her and bowed politely.
“I will wait here. Take your time with your business.”
“You really don't have to…”
“I will wait.”
At the man's firm response, Sua nodded in understanding.
“All right.”
Sua turned back toward Taein. His hardened face and anxious eyes betrayed his unease.
“Taein.”
“Let's go somewhere first. Somewhere quiet.”
Although he had said a quiet place, being completely alone with her would actually be dangerous. It would be better to go somewhere crowded, where they could get help if anything happened. A place with many people, yet quiet enough for the two of them to talk privately.
Taein's gaze, which had been rapidly scanning the area, stopped. A long line of people stretched along the street. They were waiting in front of the café said to be the most famous in Rome. And across from it stood a small café. Unlike the crowded one opposite, this place had so few customers that they could sit far apart without issue.
It was perfect. For having a serious conversation with Sua.
“This way.”
Perhaps because he felt he needed to speak quickly, Taein unconsciously grabbed Sua's hand. He didn't even realize it. The only thought in his mind was that he had to properly tell her who Tezman really was. It was only after they entered the café that he noticed he was still holding her hand.
“Ah, sorry.”
While Taein hastily let go, Sua looked as if she didn't understand what there was to apologize for. It was as good as confirmation. From the very beginning, Sua had never once seen Taein as a man. He wasn't even a friend. He was family, having grown up together under Sister Agnes.
“It seemed like I dragged you here suddenly.”
It was the safest thing he could say after carefully choosing his words. Taein turned his gaze away so Sua wouldn't ask any more questions and selected the table farthest from the other customers.
“First, let's order something to drink. What would you like?”
“Ah, coffee is fine for me. A warm one, please.”
“Got it.”
There was no need to rush. After all, Tezman and Sua were currently separated. No matter how powerful the mafia was, they wouldn't try to snatch her away in front of a crowd of people right across the street.
They would probably try to talk her out of it. His goal was to leave this place with Sua before that could happen. As quickly and discreetly as possible.
When Taein returned to the table with two cups of coffee, he carefully set one down in front of himself and the other in front of her. As Sua reached for her cup, drawn by the fragrant aroma, Taein spoke.
“You should break up with that man.”
Break up? The abrupt words made Sua's hand freeze in midair, still holding her coffee.
“What…”
“Tezman von Pavard. I thought the name sounded familiar…”
A dark shadow fell across Taein's eyes.
“The Pavard Family. A traditional mafia organization that controls Europe. The boss is Michele von Pavard. And,”
Taein knew about the Pavard Family. It felt as if someone had grabbed Sua's heart and dragged it to the floor. With her breath caught in her throat, she stared at Taein sitting across from her.
“One of the boss's sons is named Tezman von Pavard.”
Sua's eyes flickered like candlelight trembling in the wind, threatening to go out at any moment.
“The man you said you liked. He's a mafia boss. A murderer who does all kinds of filthy things.”
Sua's face turned deathly pale. Seeing her expression, Taein assumed she was simply shocked by the truth she hadn't known.
“It's natural to be surprised. He must have hidden it from you. That he's part of the mafia. So break up with him right now and come with me…”
“...Taein.”
“No, if I suddenly tell you to break up, he might notice. So tell him you're meeting me again tomorrow, pack your passport and only the important things, and…!”
“Taein.”
Sua called his name with a hardened face. Taein, who had been pouring out words, stopped and stared at her. Her expression was strangely detached to simply be called frozen in shock.
No way.
“Sua… you…”
“I already know.”
You know? Goosebumps rose along Taein's spine as he looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“I know… that Tezman is in the mafia.”
“Han Sua!!”
At his agitated tone, the eyes of the other customers turned toward them. The two remained silent, staring at each other. As if they had never raised their voices, their firmly closed lips made the gazes of the people inside the café return to their original places.
Taein couldn't believe it. No, it was only natural that he couldn't. To think that Sua had accepted Tezman even after learning he was mafia. The emotion surging up made Taein clench his fists tightly. He forced himself to think calmly once more. It didn't make sense for her, who had devoutly dreamed of becoming a nun, to embrace a man whose evil was so clear. Unless the innocent Sua, who knew nothing of the world after her long life in the convent, had been seduced by him.
“Sua, listen carefully. It seems you don't fully understand…”
He had to tell her. That she was being deceived right now. Taein continued urgently, but Sua's firm words drained all the strength from him.
“I know.”
“...What exactly do you know?”
“Because Tezman confessed everything to me.”
Facing Taein, who frowned in confusion, Sua continued calmly.
“That he's in the mafia, that he's killed people, that what he does is dangerous work. All of it.”
Taein couldn't hide his shock. That she had chosen to stay by the side of a man who not only committed crimes but had even taken lives.
“You know all that… and you're still staying with him?”
“Yes. Because I chose to.”
“Han Sua.”
“Do you think I'm crazy? Yes. At first, I thought so too,”
She must have been out of her mind. Because when he had begged her to save him, she had willingly decided to fall into corruption with him. That was how deeply Tezman's presence had taken root in Sua's heart.
“He's a murderer! A mafia boss who does every kind of evil deed! Come to your senses, Sua. You're just momentarily shaken right now. You've been away from home for so long, feeling lonely, so you're just shaken for a moment!”
Despair mixed into his scolding voice.
“If you make a choice like this, God will…”
Sua looked straight at Taein, whose body trembled with rage, and her eyes showed no wavering.
“I will fall into hell.”
Words she would never have dared imagine in her days as a nun poured from Sua's lips.
“Even so, when I see Tezman, who says more desperately than anyone that I am his savior and begs me to stay by his side…”
No matter how cruel a mafia boss he was, it was Sua herself who had let him into her heart. She had already chosen a life of corruption with him.
“I thought it would be good if I could truly become that person's salvation.”
Even though she knew she was betraying God and committing sin, she couldn't help it.
“Even if I fall into hell, as long as I'm with Tezman, it's okay.”
Taein simply stared at her with his mouth agape. Seeing Sua choose him even while accepting betrayal of God and corruption left him utterly speechless. There was nothing more he could say.
It was Sua who had chosen him despite knowing everything. The only one writhing in agony was him. Not her. A wretched sense of defeat and despair swept over Taein.
“I…! What have I been doing all this time? I was able to endure it all because you dreamed of becoming a nun.”
Taking advantage of his confusion, the feelings he had desperately suppressed all this time burst out uncontrollably.
“I never showed it. I was afraid it would get in the way. I could endure it just by being able to watch over you from the side. But if you're going to be taken by a bastard like that…”
He had to stop. Even though he knew better, the emotions that had burst forth kept pouring out. As if begging her to notice him.
“Choose me, Han Sua.”