Suspicion (5)
Anyone who's ever raised a dog has held a leash at some point. A leash is actually a terrifying tool. To tame a beast, you tie a rope tightly around its vital spot—the neck—and train it. The beast wants to move as it pleases, but if it bucks wildly, the rope chokes off its breath. After repeating that suffocation several times, the beast finally starts watching its master's cues. Ironically, beasts even adapt to that and begin rebelling against their owner. Even though the master holds the rope that can strangle them, they snap and bite. Sometimes they're abandoned or the leash is removed, but usually, it's a violent hierarchy reset that breaks the beast. Only then does it become a pet, basking in its master's affection.
On the hurried drive back to Hyeon Ha-yeon's house with her in tow, the radio I'd turned on to feign calm blared nonstop. Anxiety gnawed at me—what if the police caught us? What if they called from that nearby restaurant where we'd eaten? Every patrol car on the roadside made me flinch. But heading to her place in the evening, we saw plenty of cop cars, yet none stopped us. After a long drive, we finally arrived at Hyeon Ha-yeon's home. She just trembled faintly, staring at her feet. No sign of getting out.
While I pondered what comforting words to offer, Hyeon Ha-yeon spoke first.
"…Oppa, I, I…"
"…"
I waited silently as she stammered it out with effort. Tears welled up in her eyes, shimmering.
"…Can't you just hug me once?"
A single tear streamed down from her big eyes staring at me. Her lips, bitten tight to hold back sobs, turned pale. Even her upturned eyes sagged at the corners, showing how shaken she was.
If I'd just paid off that guy… If I'd stood up strong enough to fend off those thugs… If I'd kept reassuring her it was fine on the way back… If she'd comforted me instead, saying she was grateful I was okay… Would she be crying like this?
Hyeon Ha-yeon, who lost her father young, was now the family breadwinner holding things together. The uncertainty of how long she could keep that peaceful home had finally burst out in anxiety over her success.
Thinking back, she'd always come to me for advice whenever something happened, leaning on me more than I realized. And here I'd been the anxious one—how panicked must she have felt?
I reached out, pulling her into my arms, and whispered.
"…Thanks for helping me today."
"Sniff… O-Oppa… I'm sorry for messing up too…"
"No, punks like that only learn after a beating…"
"Hng…"
After sobbing for a while, Hyeon Ha-yeon seemed embarrassed by my tight embrace and gently pushed away, hiding her face.
"Oppa, your clothes are getting dirty…"
"…"
Only then did I let her go. Her tears had soaked my shoulder damp. Even that slightly messy look came off as pitiful—she really was cut out to be an entertainer. Peeking through her fingers, Hyeon Ha-yeon said cautiously.
"…I'll head up now."
"…Yeah, rest well today. Sorry to say it again, but really, thank you."
"…Me too. …See you tomorrow."
Watching her dash inside after hopping out quick, that terrifying Hyeon Ha-yeon from before seemed like a dark alley illusion. I hadn't seen the scene clearly, but maybe that couple just hit the ground and was fine? No way she'd charge in murderously over a punch I didn't even take.
Confirming she'd gone in, I started the car and headed home.
Exhausted, I crashed without even dreaming of the goddess and woke to morning. Had to go to work anyway. Praying nothing happened to Hyeon Ha-yeon, I got ready. Both she and Baek Ga-eun had only lessons today—no special schedules. Lately, the mental strain had been heavy; I needed at least one peaceful day to keep from cracking. I prayed desperately for it.
At the office, I met Hyeon Ha-yeon, who'd arrived a bit early, and asked if she was okay. She said it was nothing, that she'd calmed down a lot. Not as bright as usual, but considering how scary it must've been, she looked remarkably steady after facing those thugs. Relieved, I sent her off, then met Baek Ga-eun when she arrived.
Planning to cheer her on and send her off, but her stiff expression and "I have something to discuss" made me follow curiously. We sat in a corner of the meeting room, and she pulled a small envelope from her bag, sliding it to me.
"…What's this?"
"…See for yourself."
Her grim face avoided my eyes—odd. What could be so serious she'd show me like this? Glancing inside, I saw several photos. Looking at Baek Ga-eun, she still dodged my gaze. I pulled them out, flipping through one by one.
The first was dim, hard to make out at a glance—some standoff. The second clarified it: a man and woman, one woman punching a man opposite.
Blood drained from my body. Trembling slightly, I checked the next—clearer now. A black-haired woman covering a brown-haired woman's mouth. Yesterday's incident.
My mouth went dry, throat burning. I'd checked everywhere for CCTV in that rush, saw nothing. But these had clear CCTV angles, edited too—the later ones blatantly showed Hyeon Ha-yeon and me.
Flipping through, they were printed CCTV stills. The last batch: flash-bright shots of the couple bloodied on the ground. Police tape around suggested cops took them.
How did Baek Ga-eun get these…?
"…I couldn't believe it either, but no matter how I looked, it seemed like you and Ha-yeon, so I brought them."
"…Tell me it's not true."
My naive hope of modern society letting it slide was shattered. These were snapped right after dropping Hyeon Ha-yeon off. My heart sank. If the police nabbed us like this… it was over.
"…H-Honestly, Manager?"
Unable to deny, shaking, I watched Baek Ga-eun sigh deeply before speaking carefully.
"…Grandfather gave them to me and said handle it myself."
"…The investigation's already closed and swept under."
"…Pardon?"
Her words baffled a normie like me. How could they end a police probe? Even for a mega-conglom like Baekil Group…
Baek Ga-eun pulled a small USB from her bag.
"I have the original investigation files."
"…This depends on what you do, Manager."
Blackmail. She was blackmailing me into some deal. But what she'd demand was up to her. My head spun. Lee Ji-yeon already had my leash—now Baek Ga-eun too? Which tune to dance to? I'd thought the Demon King different, but essence over personality: she wanted me in her palm, shaking.
"…Let's make a deal."
"…What kind?"
Eyes darting, deep in thought, she proposed cautiously.
"…Let's drop formal speech between us."
"…Huh?"
Mid-dread of signing some pact, her absurd offer hit.
"…I heard you're casual with Ha-yeon these days…"
She knew from somewhere that Hyeon Ha-yeon and I went casual alone.
"…Let me call you oppa too, and drop formal with me."
"…Even in front of others?"
Her light demand deflated my terror. Tough in another way, but beats a contract.
"…That's really all you want?"
"How could I be harsh to a teammate?"
Baek Ga-eun wasn't the Demon King. Definitely an angel. Her natural white hair proved it.
Forcing calm, I replied.
"…If that's enough, sure."
She grinned; complex feelings hit seeing her eyes on me. Stroking the photos showily, she said.
"…You're lucky anyway, Manager."
"…Yeah."
She tore one viciously: us facing the couple. Shredded to confetti. Satisfied, she set the scraps down, handed me the USB with originals.
"Oh, can I call you oppa now?"
"…"
"…Yeah?"
"…Sure."
Her blooming smile overlapped with the Demon King I'd glimpsed once. Thank God she was on my side. A good girl like her ended it here; if Lee Ji-yeon had this power, I'd be locked down as her house husband by now, society be damned.
That made dropping formal with Baek Ga-eun feel light. Folks knowing my personality might gawk, but better than shock over our incident by a hundredfold.
Taking the USB and photos from Baek Ga-eun, pondering disposal, I left the meeting room.
"Oppa, lesson time—heading up."
"…Yeah, good luck today."
"You relax and work easy now, oppa."
"…Thanks."
Seeing her off, I fretted where to stash the envelope in my pocket and returned to my desk.