#106
The sedan arrived at the airport parking lot. Seeing the runway he had encountered a month ago, Idam felt nostalgic. He wondered if he was really leaving this island now.
Once back in Korea, he needed to meet Hayun first. He must be worried since their important conversation was cut off when Taemin broke his phone.
“Yes, that’s right. Dad’s going back to Korea now.”
Im Hoyoung, who had finished parking, was on a phone call. Judging by the conversation, it seemed to be his daughter. His voice was dripping with honey.
Suddenly, Idam remembered his pregnancy and touched his stomach. It felt flat due to the lack of fat. Even thinking about it again, he couldn’t believe a new life was growing inside. Although Im Hoyoung was certain about his pregnancy, Idam tried not to think about it prematurely, considering there might be a slight chance it wasn’t true.
For now, he needed to focus on returning to Korea. Idam, with determination in his eyes, looked at Im Hoyoung’s phone. His round eyes became meaningful.
“Well then, shall we go in now?”
Im Hoyoung was about to put his phone in his pocket after finishing the call.
“Ah, um… Could I borrow your phone?”
“This? Sure.”
“Yes… I’d like to make a call.”
It would take 7 hours to reach Korea from here. He wanted to ease Hayun’s anxiety before that. Im Hoyoung seemed to hesitate for a moment but then handed over the phone.
“The plane will be taking off soon, so you won’t be able to talk for long.”
“I understand.”
Idam hurriedly dialed Hayun’s number. Meanwhile, Im Hoyoung got out of the car first. After a few rings, Hayun’s voice was heard.
[Hello?]
“It’s me, Hayun.”
[Idam! Where are you? What happened? Are you hurt?]
“No, I’m fine. I’m okay. What about you? How are you?”
He asked this question in case Taemin had done something to Hayun.
[I’m fine too. Where are you now?]
“I’m about to go to Korea.”
[What? You’re coming to Korea? Is Ji Taemin letting you go?]
“No, I escaped.”
[Gasp, then how are you coming?]
“Somehow an opportunity came up. Hayun, I think you should leave that apartment too.”
He felt Taemin might extend his reach to Hayun now that he had escaped.
[Don’t worry. I’ve left that house. I’m not going to work either…]
“Really?”
[I didn’t want to stay in the space that bastard Ji Taemin provided any longer.]
“Then where are you now?”
[I’ve rented a room and I’m staying there. So can you contact me at this number now?]
“I borrowed this phone, so that’s not possible. I’ll contact you when I arrive in Korea.”
[Where are you coming? I’ll come to pick you up.]
“I’ll let you know when I arrive.”
He was vague about the location, even though he would likely arrive at the same Daehan International Airport he had departed from, just to be safe. Although he had somehow ended up following Im Hoyoung, he couldn’t trust him 100% because he didn’t know the fundamental reason why he was helping him now.
For now, he had confirmed that Hayun was safe and had escaped from Taemin’s shadow, so the immediate crisis was averted. Just in case, he deleted the call record with Hayun from Im Hoyoung’s phone. Before getting out of the car, he put on his hood, worried someone might recognize him.
They headed to the airfield. Idam returned the phone to Im Hoyoung, who was standing at the entrance. He was about to leave this closed island. As he thought about boarding the private jet, he felt anxious.
“But it seems you were originally planning to go to Korea alone. Is it okay for me to board with you? Won’t the crew be suspicious?”
“Don’t worry. This is Taemin’s private island, and there are often situations where family, acquaintances, or employees board suddenly due to unexpected circumstances. To prepare for this, up to one companion is allowed without any special procedures, so it’s not complicated. It’s the same when we arrive in Korea. Besides, technically, you’re an employee too, Yeo Idam. So there’s no problem.”
“I see…”
He was right, Idam was an employee. He had signed a contract and received money. But why did this fact feel so bitter?
* * *
“Interesting. Ha.”
Taemin’s eyes became sharp and fierce as he checked the tablet. He then threw the tablet on the floor. The screen cracked instantly, ending its life. At the same time, the living room froze like the Siberian plains.
“Secretary Kang, what time is Im Hoyoung’s flight?”
“T-Today… at 4 PM, sir.”
The time was already approaching 5 PM.
“He must have already boarded. Ha…”
Taemin let out a deep sigh and grabbed his hair.
“Should we arrange to prevent him from leaving the airport gate?”
At Secretary Kang’s suggestion, Taemin’s lips curved slyly.
“No, there’s no need for that. It would just cause gossip among the airport staff and be troublesome. Well, I need to go to Korea anyway, so let’s depart right away.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare immediately.”
Secretary Kang left the living room with a frozen face. Taemin also got up from the sofa and chuckled like a madman.
“Who would have thought the day would come when I’d have to go catch my runaway wife.”
* * *
Under the setting sun, green trees spread out. Tall buildings. The evening streets of Seoul unfolded, with no palm trees or sea in sight. Feeling a sense of how times had changed, Idam looked at Im Hoyoung beside him.
In the end, he had set foot on Korean soil with him like this. But he had been anxious throughout the flight. He wondered if Im Hoyoung had some other plot. He was suspicious, thinking Taemin might suddenly appear on this plane. As a result, he had been on edge.
But Im Hoyoung also looked anxious, as if being chased by debt collectors, and nothing happened.
The more he thought about it, the more puzzled he was about why he was helping him like this. So he decided to remain tense until the very last moment.
“Wow…”
Even though it was evening, the airport was crowded, perhaps because it was the weekend. Moreover, perhaps because he had heard about his pregnancy, he couldn’t help but notice a toddler walking. He shook his head, realizing he didn’t have the luxury to think about such things now. First, he needed to contact Hayun and decide on a meeting place. He thought he should use a public phone with the money he had brought from the villa. Therefore, it was time to part ways with Im Hoyoung.
“Doctor, I’ll be going now. Thank you for all your help today.”
Idam politely put his hands together. Im Hoyoung’s eyebrows twitched.
“Where are you planning to go now? I can take you there.”
“No, it’s okay.”
He had received enough help from him up to this point. Any more would be burdensome.
“I’ll definitely repay you someday. Thank you so much.”
After unilaterally saying goodbye, Idam quickly ran away from Im Hoyoung.
“I guess I don’t need to help anymore.”
Im Hoyoung scratched his cheek as he watched Idam’s slender back disappear. Rickdi had only told him to bring Idam to Korea, without any more specific instructions. He judged that he had done enough, considering he had risked his life.
He was about to turn around when he felt his phone vibrate. Im Hoyoung reflexively picked up the phone, thinking it might be his daughter again, but his body froze. It was because Ji Taemin’s name was displayed.
Feeling a chill down his spine, he was unsure whether to answer the call or not. In the meantime, the call ended. He felt uneasy about calling back and couldn’t think of what to say. He decided to make the call later and headed to the parking lot. At that moment, a shadow fell across Im Hoyoung’s back.
* * *
“Ah, there it is.”
Idam approached the public phone inside the airport with a relieved expression. Having used it before, he skillfully dialed Hayun’s number and made the call.
[Is this Idam?]
“It’s me, Hayun. I’m in Korea now.”
[Thank goodness. Where are you now?]
“Daehan International Airport.”
[I’ll come right now. There’s a fountain at Meeting Plaza 1. Wait there. It’ll take about 20 minutes.]
“Ah, okay.”
Idam nodded and hung up. Thinking that he would soon see Hayun, he felt relieved and energized.
* * *
Idam, who had left the airport, arrived at the place Hayun had told him about. True to its name as the Meeting Plaza, there were many people around the magnificent fountain. Idam sat on a bench, feeling at ease.
Growl.
Perhaps because the tension had eased, he felt hungry. Although meals were provided on the plane, he hadn’t touched them due to nervousness. He thought he should fill his stomach first when he met Hayun. Just then, two women with suitcases sat next to Idam.
“Wow, wasn’t that man just now really handsome?”
“I thought he was a celebrity.”
“His blue eyes made him look even more mysterious.”
“But the men with him looked really fierce…”
“Are they gangsters?”
Idam flinched for a moment. He felt strange, thinking that the person they were referring to might be Taemin. Suddenly, he wondered how Taemin was doing now. He would have certainly noticed that Idam had disappeared.
But unless he noticed that Im Hoyoung had taken Idam, he would continue searching the island. So he couldn’t be in Korea already. Also, judging from Im Hoyoung’s attitude, it didn’t seem like he had joined hands with Taemin.
It’s okay. It’ll be fine.
As Idam was trying to calm himself, he sensed a strong rose scent. Not an ordinary flower, but a fragrance that seemed to deeply hold the dawn of night.
Idam’s heart sank. He covered his face with both hands and quickly looked around. At that moment, a shadow fell across his back. Broad shoulders stood out.
No way…
Feeling dizzy, Idam got up from the bench and ran. He ran out of the Meeting Plaza, pushing through people frantically. That scent, that silhouette. It seemed like Taemin. Running like a car with broken brakes, Idam stopped as he collided with someone walking ahead.
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
Idam apologized, flustered.
“No, are you alright?”
The other person was a man carrying a toolbox. Judging by the airport logo on his work clothes, he seemed to be an employee.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“That’s good then.”
Soon after, the man left, seeming to be in a hurry. Idam felt relieved for a moment but then tensed up again and looked around. He saw people going about their business. The rose scent he had felt earlier was no longer detectable, and he couldn’t see Taemin or anyone suspicious in a suit.
“Ha…”
Was it just his imagination? He wondered if he was too fixated on Taemin right now. Shaking his head quickly, Idam was about to head back to the Meeting Plaza.
A long shadow fell across his back. Two arms wrapped around his waist. The rose scent he thought was his imagination felt as if it was piercing his lungs.
And then…
“I came to return your ring.”
Taemin’s voice was heard vividly in his ear.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
