Power & Sex, and... 58

0105 ------------------------------------------------------

The young men—one driving, the other in the passenger seat—were incredibly polite and well-mannered, with soft, innocent faces. No one seeing them for the first time would ever guess they were the type to throw punches.

The road to Gwangju was quiet after passing Jinju. Rolling down the window let in a cool breeze that cleared the head, fresh and invigorating like country air.

"How's business these days?"

They'd been too nervous to talk to me, keeping their mouths shut like padlocks from Busan all the way to Jinju. To lighten the mood, I spoke first.

"We wouldn't know. Big Bro handles everything."

The driver answered right away.

"Does Cheol-rak treat you well?"

"Yes, sir! He takes great care of us!"

They chimed in unison, booming like they'd rehearsed.

"Know any good spots for dinner in Gwangju?"

"Everything's delicious in Gwangju. Hell, any place run by Jeolla folks tastes amazing."

He had a point. Jeolla cuisine was legendary nationwide. To survive in the food ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠business there, you'd need serious skills to satisfy those picky palates. Even I, who wasn't much of a foodie, always noticed the difference ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whenever I passed through on trips from Busan.

We stopped at the Suncheon rest area. I grabbed coffees from the vending machine by the bathrooms and headed back to the car. The two of them burst out like it was a race, rushing over.

"You should've just told us, sir."

"What's the big deal? Here, have one each. I'm a country bumpkin—vending machine coffee's my jam."

"An honor, Assemblyman!"

They bellowed their thanks over 400-won coffees. Lucky the rest area was empty; on the Gyeongbu Expressway, it'd have drawn stares and embarrassment. Anyway, they took the cups politely, stepped back a good distance, and even turned their heads away to sip.

"Hold up a sec."

I called them over, and they sprinted back.

"Easy there. It's not urgent—you'll spill your coffee."

It was surreal watching them run with cups in hand for something so casual. Like fresh recruits in the army, stiff with discipline. They dashed up, snapped to attention, and waited for my word.

"First time meeting you two today, right?"

"Yes, sir! Well, we saw you at the last election."

"Oh, you were there? Sorry, I don't remember."

"No problem at all!"

"Look, for the time being, treat me casual while you're with me. I'm not from your world, you know? Get what I mean?"

They looked flustered. Probably Do Cheol-rak had drilled them hard. I had to explain.

"It makes me uncomfortable. I don't know your scene well, so when you shout like that, I jump every time."

"But Big Bro said to serve you properly..."

"Just tagging along with me is plenty. Treat me like a buddy older brother for the week. Cool?"

They exchanged uneasy glances. No way they'd budge without a push. I drove it home.

"If you keep it up, I can't ride with you guys."

The driver, apparently the senior, finally spoke.

"If that's your order, Assemblyman, we'll obey."

Orders? This wasn't the army. But at least no more shouting choruses. I lit a cigarette and pondered the week ahead. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I knew zilch about Jeolla specifics, so no real plans.

We hit Gwangju city limits, and my stomach growled.

"You two hungry?"

"We're fine."

"Nah, I'm starving. Let's grab dinner somewhere decent—late, but whatever."

The passenger guy made a call, then told the driver to head to Chungjang-ro.

"Assemblyman, cheap place okay?"

"You know a spot?"

"Yeah. Big Bro's senior runs a snack bar."

"Cheol-rak's?"

"Yep. Real close to him."

"Then that's our spot."

Ten minutes later, we were on familiar Chungjang-ro. Off the main drag into an alley, a small snack bar appeared. Late for business hours, but it was packed, kitchen buzzing.

"Big Bro! How've you been?"

They bellowed toward the kitchen again. A scrawny guy—hard to picture as a fighter—poked through the curtain.

"You're here."

"Yes, Big Bro!"

"Who's this?"

"Big Bro's Big Bro! Park Maru Assemblyman, the one our boss serves."

"Ah! Nice to meet you. I'm Im Hwang-seok."

Up close, he looked way past ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fifty, not forties as I'd guessed for Cheol-rak's senior. We exchanged greetings and sat. Im shooed out the remaining customers and locked up.

"We just wanted dinner. No need to close shop."

"Closing time anyway. Sit tight—I'll show off my skills."

He vanished into the kitchen. A pretty young guy came out to clear tables—built like he'd trained hard, probably local muscle.

Savory smells wafted out, not your typical snack bar fare. Im wielded a curved pan over roaring flames.

Soon, the young guy ferried out dishes. Jeolla portions were famously huge, but two tables jammed with food mountains? Barely room for chopsticks.

"Assemblyman, dig in."

"You're older, boss. You first."

"Aigoo, no."

I gave in to his stubbornness and picked up my chopsticks. He followed, then told the guys, "Eat up." Only then did they start. Hungry as they must've been to stay that bulked, they waited for his say-so. Made me wonder if tough guys should teach modern manners.

"Handsome kid skipping dinner?"

"Clearing the kitchen now."

"Your junior, Im boss?"

"Nah. My son."

"Ah. Feed him first."

Im called him over. The kid bowed to me, then sat gingerly at Im's nod.

"Your son's jacked."

"Enough to protect himself."

"How old?"

"Twenty-seven. Home after no job yet."

"What'd he study?"

Before Im answered, the kid spoke.

"Assemblyman. Graduated Seoul City Uni Law. Im Bae-gwon."

"Kid, don't butt in when adults talk."

Im scowled and scolded. The son bowed his head. Good-looking and proper—piqued my interest.

"Law school? Bar exam?"

"Gave up on the bar."

"Corporate job then?"

"Yeah. Failed a few interviews. Prepping for next year."

Job-hunting retaker, but confident voice, fit body—reliable type. Jeong-ah had quit, leaving my secretary spot open. If he was interested... I floated it carefully to Im.