Between Love and Stalking
Obsession is not love. Love is devotion for the sake of the other person. Trying to control someone to suit your own desires or monitoring their every move is nothing more than greed. Throughout history, there have been countless cases where obsession was mistaken for love. In the Joseon era, a servant killed a noblewoman from a commoner's household with whom he had been having an affair when she was about to get married. Fortunately, a secret royal inspector solved the case like the famous detective Kindaichi or the manga character Ko X.
"True love is sacrifice." Suk Ho-pil delivered his final argument in the rape professor's trial, claiming innocence. The judges, who had been sitting with bored expressions, watched his eloquence with the feeling that they had finally encountered an interesting fellow after a long time. The presiding judge spoke up.
"Our trial isn't being broadcast like in America. I wonder what kind of show you're putting on. It was good to have someone as lively as the rumors suggested."
The female associate judges sitting on either side of him stared blankly at Ho-pil, who was quite handsome. "Um... Your Honor, then the verdict..."
"This isn't a movie or drama. I've reviewed the submitted evidence well, and I'll deliver the verdict in two weeks."
And he did not bang the gavel. The professor wondered what was going on. Wearing a prison uniform, he had to return to the detention center. "Counselor, the evidence is clear, so why not deliver the verdict today?"
"That's how trials work in our country. Still, if you're found not guilty, you'll receive criminal compensation calculated at 100,000 won per day for each day you've been detained."
"Criminal compensation isn't the issue right now. I need to file a reinstatement lawsuit."
"Don't worry. Just trust me."
The corrections officers seemed to have caught on that an acquittal wasn't far off, so they didn't handcuff him on the way back to the detention center like they had when he was brought out. "This is unreasonable," Han Seo-rin grumbled as she accompanied him.
"What is? It's standard procedure. Besides, we barely got the professor off by submitting evidence right before the verdict. If he'd handed the case to me from the first trial, he would've been out long ago."
That was true. The professor was currently in the appeals trial. If Suk Ho-pil hadn't rescued him this time, he would have remained a convicted felon forever. "Still, it's fortunate that the four-trial system is in place."
"The legal market has become a red ocean, so the National Assembly members, most of whom are from legal backgrounds, finally put their heads together."
"You have a very cynical view of the world."
"You know the word 'cynical'? That's unlike an Ewha woman. I heard your reading comprehension was lacking."
"Plenty of people in their forties don't know the word 'cynical' either. It's annoying how people categorize others by generation."
"Sorry, sorry."
Come to think of it, maybe age was the issue. There were forty-somethings who accepted their age and kept their mouths shut, and there were twenty-somethings with excellent reading comprehension. Generalizations were never good. They were nothing but prejudice.
"Anyway, that's beside the point. Let's hurry up and take on the next case."
"I heard the professor is entrusting us with his divorce case."
"Right. There's no reason to turn down a lucrative case just because we're sex crime specialists."
Taking on whatever came their way was the trend in the legal profession. "By the way, how is Jeup-serin's case progressing?"
"How else? You and Jeup-serin need to go to the police station first. Go give the complainant's statement."
###
"Hello, I'm Inspector Yeom Su-bin from Seoul Haengbok Police Station."
The young-looking woman was an elite who had just graduated from the police academy and been assigned to the field. "Does an inspector handle cases like this on the front lines?"
"Of course."
Han Seo-rin observed the atmosphere of the Investigation Team 14. Everyone seemed uncomfortable with her presence. It was obvious that the rookie elite officer was participating in the investigation for experience. The older-looking team leader was probably the same rank as Yeom Su-bin, who had graduated from the police academy. "I've reviewed the complaint. It looks like it will be indicted."
"Ah! Thank you for saying that."
"However, I also questioned the accused..."
Yeom Su-bin bombarded them with various questions. The other side's wealthy troublemaker claimed they had been in a relationship and submitted evidence that he had spent nearly a billion won on her. However, Jeup-serin and Han Seo-rin firmly explained that it had only been a business relationship, with services provided through Zero Two dances, Kkogain dances, and various reactions. "He claims they've already had sexual relations four times."
"Do you have evidence?"
"I've submitted the messenger conversations where they discussed their impressions after having sex."
"Even so, she didn't consent when she was raped."
"Understood."
Even giving a complainant's statement, appearing at the police station was exhausting for ordinary people. We should all live our lives without ever having to go to a police station—whether filing a complaint, being complained against, becoming a perpetrator, or becoming a victim. It was suffering that could be avoided.
"What if he stalks me?"
"Why are you worried about that?"
"That bastard... even though he's married, he knows my home address."
"Has he called you too?"
"Yes."
"Then keep records from now on. Repeatedly calling against someone's will is stalking."
"Is that so?"
"Of course. This actually works out well. We can also file a stalking complaint and get a hefty settlement."
Han Seo-rin was excited. When she returned from the police station and reported this, Suk Ho-pil shot her down. "Abusing the law to run a settlement business could constitute extortion."
"So what? What do you want me to do about it?"
"Don't you feel sorry for the other guy?"
Suk Ho-pil looked angry. "The pitiful one is Do Je-ni (BJ Jeup-serin)."
Suk Ho-pil stared at Han Seo-rin in silence. "You're right. The client is king."
Shit, already bending my principles for money.
He recalled Jeup-serin dancing Zero Two while sitting on top of him after their Itaewon date. Like a siren, all the men who approached her ended up shipwrecked. He might not be an exception either.
Am I marked? If I'd answered that marriage was difficult that day, I would've been sued too.
A chill ran down his spine. Han Seo-rin was worried that BJ Jeup-serin might be stalked by the troublemaker female teacher, but he himself felt as though he was being stalked by BJ Jeup-serin (real name Do Je-ni). She sent him Cocoa Messenger talks every day as if she were his girlfriend, asking when he was coming over for dinner. It was becoming increasingly burdensome.
"Then I'll be on my way."
"A new case came in. It's a school violence case. Get the details from Manager Park Tae-gi."
"Huh? Park Tae-gi is a manager?"
"Yeah. Born in '94, he's thirty this year (2024). Thirty is the right age for a manager position."
"But if he's a manager, he should have subordinates, but there aren't any."
"That's how it is in Seocho-dong. They just give you the title when you've been around long enough."
"I see."
"From now on, call him Manager Park."
"Yes! Managing Partner."
It was embarrassing, but he had to go along with it. At securities firms and asset management companies in Yeouido or Gwanghwamun, titles like managing director and director were common. Whether there or here, they were all small companies, so title inflation was accepted as natural.
"Shall I calculate once?"
Suk Ho-pil took an abacus out of his drawer. Using his experience from attending an abacus academy as a child, he calculated on the abacus and drew up a balance sheet in his notebook. "Counselor, may I come in?"
Just as he finished the balance sheet, Manager Park Tae-gi knocked and asked. "Yeah, come in."
"What are you doing?"
"Do I have to tell you what I'm doing? What's the matter?"
"You're quite aggressive."
"Stop with the unnecessary talk and just discuss work. I'm feeling sensitive right now."
"Are you an 'Egennam'?"
"Yeah."
"Whew, Jeup-serin is here to see you. But I told her to wait since you don't meet without an appointment."
"Good job. You're competent, Manager Park."
"Yes, shall I show her to the conference room?"
"No. Tell her to go back."
"What?"
Park Tae-gi's eyes widened. He couldn't close his gaping mouth. "Why?"
"No, no... Aren't you two seeing each other?"
"We need to separate work and personal matters. A lawyer can't meet clients whenever..."
"Hey, Oppa."
At that moment, Jeup-serin, who had been standing outside the door, burst in with a smile. She had heard the entire conversation between Ho-pil and Tae-gi from outside. Law Firm Sukphil, located on the second floor above the bean sprout hangover soup restaurant, had an office of at most 30 pyeong. Three rooms with windows were used by lawyers. One was vacant and being used as a conference room while they tried to rent it out. The central space had two desks for administrative staff. Even here, there was still only one employee: Park Tae-gi.
"How did you find me, honey?"
Honey? Tae-gi doubted his ears. As if he didn't want to get involved in this, he backed away and left the room. "I missed you."
She had visited wearing a black thief hat and a black mask. A black denim jacket, black skinny jeans that particularly accentuated her hips and thighs, and a white short-sleeved T-shirt with a U-shaped luxury logo that revealed her cleavage. Her beauty, which she couldn't hide even if she wanted to, was bur·den·some. "Then you should've told me to come."
"It's been a while since we've seen each other. Why didn't you come see me?"
"I was busy. Proving the rape professor's innocence, taking on a school violence case..."
"Still, you knew I had to go to the police station today, honey."
She looked like she was about to cry. "You worked hard. Let's go eat some tofu."
"Why tofu?"
"You went to the police station. It's to mean live cleanly..."
"That's what people eat when they get out of prison."
"Oh. Is that so? Eat it in advance... Haha, just kidding."
Her wide-open eyes were unusual. Her eyes with visible whites and her physiognomy suggested she would devour men. How do I shake her off?
Suk Ho-pil draped his arm around her shoulder as they left, feeling at a loss.