#70
Meanwhile, it became 6 o’clock. Idam’s expression became solemn, as if facing a final boss. But… why? Even after 10 minutes, 20 minutes, and 30 minutes passed, there was no sign of the father. As a result, Taemin and Idam ended up making small talk.
“You said you liked seasoned chicken last time, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
“I found out that there are quite a few chicken brands, and the taste differs subtly.”
“Oh, that’s right. Some places are too sweet, and some are too sour. So I have strong likes and dislikes.”
“Then, which place was it that you enjoyed eating last time?”
“It’s not a famous brand. But chicken enthusiasts seem to like it. So that place…”
Just as Idam was about to give an in-depth lecture on seasoned chicken, Taemin’s phone rang. Idam’s words were naturally cut off. Taemin made a gesture asking for a moment and answered the phone.
“Father. Why aren’t you here yet?”
Idam became even more tense at the sound of Taemin’s call.
“What? You can’t come today? Yes… Yes… I understand.”
He hung up the phone, looking perplexed. His face was full of complex emotions.
“What’s wrong?”
“Father says he suddenly has something to do today.”
“What?”
It felt like all the tension that had been built up was draining away like the tide. It was also disappointing. Taemin scratched his cheek as if he hadn’t expected this either.
“We can’t help it. Let’s just have dinner by ourselves and go.”
“Ah… okay.”
The huge wall they had to overcome had been postponed. It was both a relief and a letdown.
* * *
After finishing their meal, Idam left the Korean restaurant with Taemin. After walking a bit, a sandy beach and the sea spread out before them. The sun had set and it was getting dark, but the unique fishy smell of the sea and the sound of waves pleasantly caressed their ears.
“Wow. It’s really wide.”
Idam exclaimed, looking at the sea. But Taemin stared intently at Idam rather than the sea, and then took his hand. Idam grasped it as if responding to his gesture. Perhaps because they had been holding hands often lately, it wasn’t awkward anymore, and instead felt hot and good. The sea breeze was quite chilly, which made it feel even warmer.
“Shall we look around a bit before going back?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
Idam nodded at Taemin’s suggestion. Since they had come this far, it would be a shame to just go back. The two began to walk properly on the sandy beach.
“The sea is so beautiful even at night.”
It was especially a full moon tonight. So the reflection of the moon on the calm sea felt dreamlike, as if they had entered another world.
“Do you like the sea, Idam?”
“Yes. Looking at it makes me feel good. It’s healing too.”
“I feel the same way. That’s why when I’m tired from work or feeling down, I often spend time alone on an island.”
Island…
Idam was reminded once again of the fact that Taemin owned an island, which was mentioned at the gathering with Taemin’s friends last time.
“The name of that island is Jihwado.”
“Ah…”
It was the first time Idam had heard the name of the island he had only heard about.
“The sea there is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen in my life.”
He had praised it like this last time too. What kind of place could it be? Idam’s curiosity grew even more like a balloon.
“I’m curious.”
At Idam’s voice, Taemin’s eyes gradually narrowed mischievously.
“Are you really curious?”
“Yes!”
Idam even nodded his head. He was hoping that this time Taemin would really show him pictures.
“Then, shall we go to Jihwado right now?”
“R-Right now?”
“Yes, right now.”
At Taemin’s firm answer, Idam was dumbfounded, wondering what he was hearing. Moreover, he had said that island was in a tropical region. So it wasn’t a distance that could be traveled as easily as going from Seoul to Incheon. As a result, his crazy proposal felt unrealistic.
“Isn’t it far?”
“It’s not extremely far.”
“Where exactly is it?”
“Near Hawaii.”
“Hawaii?”
Idam was even more shocked. He carefully continued, unable to believe it.
“You’re… you’re joking, right?”
“Of course not.”
Taemin answered nonchalantly, looking as if he was ready to leave Korea at any moment. There was even a strange sense of mania. Gradually, cold sweat began to form on Idam’s forehead.
“But… I don’t have a passport!”
Idam had never had the opportunity to ride an airplane before. He almost got to fly when his middle school trip was to Jeju Island, but he had to give up due to his pheromone disorder. There were other opportunities, but he had to give up because he couldn’t overcome the wall of poverty. He hadn’t even been able to go to domestic places that didn’t require a passport because of poverty, let alone overseas destinations that required one.
“I know.”
Taemin answered calmly. In fact, it was natural. He had already figured out all of Idam’s personal information. As a result, Idam’s expression became even more incredulous.
“Then, I can’t ride an airplane, can I?”
“No, you can.”
Taemin’s assertive appearance seemed reckless. At this moment, he felt like a broken bulldozer. Just as Taemin was about to continue speaking, showing signs of further persuasion, his phone started ringing. He checked the screen.
“I’ll take this call for a moment.”
“Okay…”
Taemin, having asked for understanding, started the call. It seemed to be a work-related call. Although the conversation was temporarily on hold, Idam’s heart, which had suddenly found itself about to leave Korea, didn’t calm down. He couldn’t believe this situation.
“We’ve prepared everything for that matter.”
Taemin’s call was longer than expected. Idam felt bored and his throat was dry for no reason. Just then, he saw a convenience store across the street. Idam took out his phone, opened the memo function, typed that he would quickly go to the convenience store, and showed the screen to Taemin. Taemin, who was deeply engrossed in his call, nodded as if he understood.
* * *
Arriving at the convenience store, Idam chose a bottle of water and went to the counter. The part-time worker was a man wearing glasses, who stared at Idam for a moment. Idam touched his cheek, wondering if there was something on his face. After a brief moment, the man focused on the transaction.
Leaving the convenience store, Idam quickly opened the water bottle and gulped it down. His throat, which had felt cloudy for a moment, seemed to clear up.
Idam’s gaze turned towards the sea. And he could see Taemin on the sandy beach, still on the phone. Come to think of it, he was always busy. He often worked overtime and frequently came to work on weekends. It seemed like he was overflowing with work, so Idam couldn’t understand why he was suggesting going to an island.
Still, he was curious since Taemin said the sea there was so beautiful. But to go there, they would need to pack. Moreover, shouldn’t Taemin arrange his work so that there wouldn’t be any problems if he was absent? It seemed too reckless right now.
Idam decided to try to persuade Taemin to think about it more and decide later. As he was about to return to the sandy beach, he suddenly realized that the area around the convenience store was very deserted. There was no one around except the person at the convenience store counter.
Feeling a chill, Idam finished drinking the rest of the water. Then, after throwing it in the recycling bin, he was about to go to Taemin.
But he felt a shadow following behind him. Perplexed, Idam turned around. At that moment, a man wearing glasses approached with a cloth and covered Idam’s mouth.
“Mmph!”
Startled, Idam let out a muffled cry. He struggled to escape from the man, but the overwhelming strength made it impossible to break free. Soon, the man dragged Idam into an alley.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
Idam groaned. He tried to escape from the man somehow, but it was futile. Instead, pheromones were leaking from his body. However, the man seemed unfazed, perhaps being a beta. As they emerged from the alley, a car came into view.
Soon, another man got out of the car and opened the back door. Idam struggled not to get into the car, but it was useless. Pushed by the strength of the man with glasses, he was shoved inside as if being sucked in.
“Hah…”
Eventually, the man with glasses also settled in the back seat. As he did so, his face came into view. It was the convenience store part-timer who had rung up Idam’s water earlier. Soon after, the man took out a rope from the console box and tied Idam’s arms and ankles. Meanwhile, the other man sat in the driver’s seat, and the car started.
“W-Who are you people?”
Idam’s whole body trembled at the abduction, as if he had been doused with cold water. The man with glasses then took off the glasses he was wearing. Only then did Idam realize that the face was somehow familiar.
“It’s me. Han Jongcheol.”
“What? H-How… you.”
“Ahn Juhan lost contact, you see.”
Han Jongcheol was a beta who had been close friends with Ahn Juhan during the time Idam was staying at the orphanage.
* * *
“Why isn’t he coming back?”
Taemin tilted his head after finishing the call. Idam, who had said he would quickly go to the convenience store, was nowhere to be seen. Growing anxious, Taemin walked along the path Idam had taken. The scent of Idam’s pheromones lingered faintly at the tip of his nose, like footprints. It was strange because Idam usually didn’t release his pheromones when not alone with him.
Feeling something was off, Taemin called Idam’s phone. But he only heard the connection tone and no answer.
“What’s going on…?”
Taemin frowned and called several more times, but it was useless. His eyes gradually sharpened.
“He couldn’t have run away again, could he?”
Taemin made an ominous guess and hurried towards the convenience store. But the convenience store was locked, and no one was visible at the counter. Taemin took out his phone again and opened an app. A map appeared, and a red circle was blinking on it. This was a location tracking app installed on Idam’s phone.
Idam had attempted to escape five times so far. So this app was recently installed in case the same thing might happen again. The red circle was moving fast, as if escaping by car.
Taemin felt an intense sense of betrayal. He had said he would treat him kindly now, and even took in Jang Hayun whom he wanted to kill, but he didn’t expect to be backstabbed like this.
He immediately entered the parking lot of the Korean restaurant where he had dined with Idam earlier. Normally, he would call a driver to move, but he didn’t have time for that now. Taemin quickly sat in the driver’s seat, started the engine, and drove off at high speed. It was a terrifying speed that could be mistaken for a racing car.
Taemin, now extremely sharp, twisted his lips and muttered ominously.
“If I catch him this time, I’ll imprison him right away… on that island.”
