Chapter 22: Retribution (3)
"…"
This was bad.
Lee Ji-yeon was scanning the room with wide eyes, clearly assessing the situation. Her hair and makeup were neater than usual, suggesting she'd come straight from her schedule. Not answering her call after it ended was already strike one—but her showing up at my place meant something had seriously pissed her off.
And then she walks in to find us drinking. Not alone, but with Hyeon Ha-yeon. Three strikes. You're out.
I had no idea how she'd react, but making excuses right away felt dangerous. The best play was to play it as natural as possible and slip through this somehow…
"What the hell are you doing?"
"…"
She'd already sized things up and gone on the offensive. Classic pattern: asking what we were up to. Lee Ji-yeon had laid a trap—tell the truth, and her rage might turn on me. Dodge with a lame excuse, and I'd eat shit for lying. Hesitate too long, and timeout.
Sweat poured down my back from the tension.
"…Did you call? Must've missed it drinking. Sorry…"
"…"
Smooth alibi, plus a preemptive apology. Solid response, I thought. Lee Ji-yeon quietly slipped off her shoes and stepped inside.
"…"
"…You worked hard today too. I'll clean this up quick."
She headed toward Hyeon Ha-yeon, gazing quietly at the girl passed out gracefully and the half-cleared table. We hadn't done anything illicit, so there was nothing incriminating in sight. Still, anxiety gnawed at me—I snuck glances at her while clearing the scattered bottles.
If Ha-yeon wakes up, she'll vouch for me, right? I made a bit more noise on purpose while cleaning, but the dead-drunk girl didn't stir.
Lee Ji-yeon just stood there watching her the whole time. If she'd say something—anything—I could deflect. But her silent stare made it impossible to speak first.
"Um… tough day, right? Wanna grab a drink? It's been a while."
"…"
I tried to sound calm, but my words tumbled out stuttered. Cold sweat beaded on my skin. She let out a small scoff and sat down wordlessly.
With her seated, I had to hustle—pour drinks, whatever. Sitting next to her felt like begging for an ambush. I quickly set up the table, but sadly, only soju was left. Snacks were just crackers—pretty sparse.
I placed the bottles down and sat across from her.
"…Sorry, no proper snacks…"
"Sit here."
She patted the spot beside her and poured herself a glass. Sitting there? Who knew what she'd do. And Hyeon Ha-yeon was sleeping right next to us. If she woke up and saw us side by side…
Thud!
The sharp clink of her glass hitting the table echoed. A clear sit your ass down vibe. I glanced at Ha-yeon—still out cold. No luck. I slid into the seat beside her, picked up my glass, and reached for the soju bottle.
Lee Ji-yeon snatched it away like I'd lost the right. She filled a water glass to the brim with soju and slammed it in front of me.
"…"
"…What'd you do today?"
Her tone screamed brief me. Ramble vaguely here, and I'd look guilty… but Kim Cho-in in front of Lee Ji-yeon was still a scrub.
"…Ha-yeon wanted a day off for once, so I took her out…"
She listened to my hesitant babble, then downed her glass in one go.
"…On a date, huh?"
I jumped at her words, denying it reflexively.
"What? No way! It was just… mmph!"
"Smack…"
Sudden grip on my nape, lips crashing into mine. Her long tongue invaded roughly, scouring every corner like an inspection. Bitter alcohol hit my taste buds.
"Guh… haaah… hah…"
"…No kiss, then?"
I gasped for air after the abrupt assault. The air tasted sweet.
"Uhg…"
She looped an arm around my neck, seized my chin, forcing my mouth open. I grabbed her hand to pull away, but drunk strength made her immovable. She yanked me into her embrace and shoved my glass to my lips, pouring cold soju down my throat.
"Koff… st-stop…"
"…"
Her blank expression watched my desperate struggles—no anger visible, but maybe my imagination, her eyes looked a little red. Seeing my mouth full, she pinched my nose and lips shut.
Survival instinct kicked in; I gulped it down bit by bit. The room filled with loud swallows.
Only after the gulps stopped did she release me.
"Kek… urk…"
My nose and mouth reeked of booze. I desperately ignored the burn and breathed deep.
"Urp!"
Not over. She grabbed me again, lips approaching—but I clamped my mouth shut in rebellion. She bit my lip, sharp pain blooming.
"Open up."
Her sweet whisper coaxed, but I turned away. Enraged by my resistance, she gripped my jaw hard, forcing it open.
"Urk… slurp… smack…"
She devoured my mouth like she wanted to eat me alive. I was helpless as her hands roamed, breaths mingling in a frenzy that lasted until my tongue cramped. Finally satisfied, she pulled back.
Heavy pants filled the room. Booze rising in my gut made my vision swim, but I clearly saw what dangled from her hand: the lock necklace from Ha-yeon.
"…I'll handle this."
"Th-that's…"
"Not a date, but you bought her a couple's necklace?"
"…"
Her sharp jab silenced me. How'd she know? She'd tracked it already. Stay quiet here, and it looked like an admission. But my dazed mind couldn't muster a reply. Her cold voice stabbed my chest.
"I said you'd die if I caught you cheating, right?"
"…N-no, she just wanted a day off…"
Lame excuses only fueled her fury.
"Where'd you go? A room café? You… knew exactly where that was, didn't you?"
"Even the spot we used to hit? With her?"
I wanted to say we weren't dating, but no guts for the fallout. Who knew what rage-blinded Ji-yeon might do.
She'd slipped something into my wallet from the table and handed it back.
"Lose this, and you die. I die."
A peek: strawberry-flavored vitamins.
"Think I won't notice if you skip? Try it. I'll kill everyone."
Madness gleamed in her eyes—she meant it. Flashes of past-life women with that same crazed stare overlapped with Ji-yeon. My bitten lip throbbed.
"O-okay… won't happen again…"
Past mes dying in agony or wailing endlessly surfaced. Terror won; I folded.
She shot up, dragging me to the bedroom.
Click.
"Wh-why lock the door?"
"Want it open? Fine by me."
"No! Sorry, sorry…"
I babbled nonsense in my drunken haze, not even sure what for. I knew her intent, but Ha-yeon slept across the room. To sate her wrath before she woke? Dawn was my only hope for release.
Undoing her blouse buttons, she eyed me standing frozen.
"Gonna keep it on?"
No choice but to obey, praying Ha-yeon stayed asleep.
*
"…You're up?"
"…Eek! Oppa, I passed out?!"
I sipped coffee, watching her yawn hugely. Hyeon Ha-yeon freaked, apologizing nonstop for not realizing she'd crashed.
"…It's fine. But shouldn't you call home soon?"
"Oh shit!!"
She squealed, fumbling her phone. I calmed her—I'd texted her family last night, no worries.
"Oppa… really sorry…"
"Nah. Rest up—lesson this afternoon, don't miss it."
"Got it! See you later, oppa!"
She bounced out with a bright grin. Then, the bedroom door creaked open behind me.
"Ha, oppa?"
"…"
Lee Ji-yeon—supposedly asleep—had overheard. She snorted, jerking her head for me to come back inside.
I sighed deeply. The doomed soldier marching into battle anyway?
Downed a glass of cold water and trudged in.
*
After a fierce "battle" with Lee Ji-yeon, I dragged myself to work. No schedule for her, so she crashed to rest. Couldn't force her out—left her be and headed in.
"Cho-in, Ga-eun was looking for you?"
"…Really?"
An office worker grabbed me passing by with the news. No messages on my phone, so I figured it wasn't urgent. Baek Ga-eun should be in acting lessons now—no interrupting. Set an alarm and dove into work.
Lately, desk duties piled up from Ha-yeon and Ga-eun stuff—more computer time than ever.
♪~♫~♪~♫
Mid-report on them, the alarm pinged. Acting lesson ending soon—headed to the practice room.
Through the window: trainer chatting with Baek Ga-eun. Knocked lightly; trainer opened warmly.
"Lesson over?"
"Just wrapped~ Something up?"
"Nah, not important."
"Cool, talk it out. I'm off."
"Thanks for your work."
After waving off the trainer, Baek Ga-eun spoke up.
"Long time no see?"
"…Two days."
She beamed—trainer had praised her big-time.
"If he approves, you could shoot tomorrow."
"Aw… but what's that?"
She pointed to her neck.
"Here, it's red…"
Exact spot Lee Ji-yeon marked.
"M-mosquito bite, probably."
"…It's only June?"
"…My place is warm…"
"…"
She eyed my flimsy excuse oddly. Quick topic pivot.
"Heard you were looking for me."
"Yeah, got a message."
"What is it?"
"…My grandfather wants to meet you."
"…Pardon?"
Baekil Group Chairman Baek Man-sik wanted to see me.
…Why the hell?