97.
Checking the time, it was already approaching midnight. Haseo walked slowly toward his goshiwon, trying to organize his thoughts. His mind was cluttered with various considerations.
That’s when he noticed a tall man standing at the end of the alley. A man in a familiar black suit, his face backlit by the street lamp looked familiar.
“…Mujin-ssi?”
As he called out the name, Choi Mujin slowly approached Haseo.
“What brings you out so late at night?”
When he asked calmly, Choi Mujin, who had been staring intently at Haseo’s face, spoke up.
“You’re just getting back now?”
“Yes, I stopped by the convenience store for a bit.”
Even as he answered normally, Haseo thought of the paper in his pocket. He wanted to ask Choi Mujin right away. Did he know about what would happen on the day his grandmother died? And was it possibly you, Choi Mujin, who orchestrated it?
Choi Mujin’s eyes scanned Haseo’s hands after his response.
“I had a can of beer. You already know that, don’t you?”
Haseo didn’t think Choi Mujin would leave him completely free. He must have assigned at least one person to follow him. Choi Mujin didn’t deny what Haseo said.
“It’s dangerous, so don’t stay out too late.”
What kind of danger was Choi Mujin referring to? Was it concern about random crimes that could unfortunately occur? Or worry about possible retaliation caused by him? There was no way to know immediately.
“I’ll try.”
Haseo chose a noncommittal answer.
“But you still haven’t answered my question.”
“There’s no particular reason. I just suddenly wanted to see you.”
Surprised by the unexpected words, Haseo opened his eyes wide.
“I’ll walk you to your goshiwon.”
The remaining distance wasn’t even 100 meters, but Haseo still walked alongside Choi Mujin.
“You smell like alcohol.”
“I’ve been drinking too.”
“Did you pour down more hard liquor? What about food?”
“Not really.”
“Come on, when you drink something that strong, you should at least have something in your stomach.”
Despite the nagging, Choi Mujin seemed pleased by it.
“You’re right. I should have eaten something. I skipped dinner too.”
Sharing personal details Haseo didn’t know, he extended the time for the scolding. To be behaving so childishly at his age.
Given the short distance, they quickly arrived at the goshiwon.
“Go on up.”
Choi Mujin watched Haseo enter the building before turning around. While climbing to the second floor, Haseo observed him through a small window. The composed expression he had been trying to maintain had long since crumbled.
A deep sigh escaped from Haseo’s lips without him realizing it. It seemed he would need to call Jeong Heejun tomorrow. After Chairman Jang’s fall from power, Jeong Heejun had also distanced himself somewhat. Thanks to that, Baek Sira, Chairman Jang’s wife, didn’t bother him either.
At one point, Haseo had worried about Jeong Heejun because of this. But fortunately, Ryu Jiyeon from Toho Construction seemed to be helping him well. And despite saying it was troublesome, Jeong Heejun didn’t reject her kindness.
Compared to Ryu Jiyeon’s feelings, Jeong Heejun’s seemed shallow, but Haseo wasn’t in a position to interfere. He must have his own thoughts. After all, the weight of feelings differs for everyone.
Even though they were aware of their mutual affection, Haseo and Choi Mujin were maintaining an ambiguous relationship. In the meantime, Choi Mujin’s distant figure disappeared. Only after seeing this did Haseo continue up the stairs.
The next day, Haseo contacted Jeong Heejun during his lunch break.
— Yes, Haseo. Is something wrong?
Even as he was living peacefully after returning to Korea, Jeong Heejun’s greetings always started like this. He still considered Choi Mujin an untrustworthy person and wished for Haseo to break free from him.
“I have something to ask you. Could we meet?”
— Meet up?
“Yes, is it difficult?”
— No, I’ve gotten used to the work I’m learning now, so I can make time. Is it urgent?
“Hmm… a little? Could we meet at the convenience store this evening?”
Jeong Heejun had visited the convenience store where Haseo worked once before.
— The same place as last time? I’ll come at the right time.
“Thanks.”
— No need for thanks. That’s what friends are for.
What exactly did friendship mean to Jeong Heejun? Sometimes it felt like his definition was in a different category than Haseo’s. He had helped with an overseas escape just because they were childhood friends. If Haseo were in the same situation, he wasn’t sure he could help to that extent. But he wanted to match Jeong Heejun’s commitment as much as possible.
After all, Haseo didn’t have many precious people left now.
— I’ll bring some food too!
“Great, you know I like sushi, right?”
— Of course I do. See you in the evening then.
Jeong Heejun ended the call with a bright voice. He would probably rush over right after work. And indeed, around 8 PM, Jeong Heejun arrived at the convenience store.
“Sorry I’m late! Have you eaten?”
“Didn’t you say you were bringing dinner?”
“But I’m still late.”
“It’s fine. I usually eat dinner around this time anyway.”
Saying that, Haseo helped Jeong Heejun come behind the counter. The convenience store owner had said it was okay for friends to visit as long as customers were attended to and work was done properly.
‘He’s a good person.’
The problem was that his friend had brought an enormous sushi bento.
“…Why is this bento so large?”
“You’re too skinny. That’s why I deliberately bought a lot. You have to eat it all!”
“You’re not my mom.”
“Want me to be your mom?”
“No, that’s okay.”
Haseo frowned as he picked up the bento. This wasn’t something to eat behind the counter.
“Go to the storage room in the back to eat. There’s a table there.”
“What about the store?”
“I’m an expert at convenience stores, you know. I’ve worked part-time at every convenience store brand in the country.”
“It’s fine. Let’s just take portions to eat here.”
“Ah, that’s an option too?”
“Anyway…”
Shaking his head, Haseo paid for a disposable plate and opened it. Sushi was always delicious no matter when you ate it. As they ate one by one, their stomachs filled quickly. Jeong Heejun must not have had dinner either, as he ate enthusiastically. After clearing away the empty containers, the real conversation began.
“Heejun.”
“Yes?”
“This might be a sensitive question.”
“Why are you setting things up so carefully before asking?”
“Do you know how Chairman Jang, your father, is doing these days?”
“That person?”
Jeong Heejun slightly furrowed his brow at the unwelcome question.
“Why, did something happen?”
Haseo took out the paper he had been keeping in his pocket and handed it to Jeong Heejun. Jeong Heejun’s eyes quickly scanned the contents written on the paper.
“I received this.”
“Who gave it to you?”
“I don’t know. I was drinking beer at a convenience store near my goshiwon, and someone handed it to me and left.”
“So you think this person was sent by Chairman Jang? Well, he is the type who would do such a thing.”
He wasn’t the kind of person who would quietly spend his retirement just because he was kicked out of the company. He would either desperately try to get back into the company or seek revenge on whoever caused his downfall. That was the father Jeong Heejun knew, Chairman Jang. And he hadn’t been idle all this time either.
“I understand what you’re curious about. You want to know if anyone besides Chairman Jang was involved in what happened back then. Like Director Choi, perhaps?”
Haseo gave a bitter expression at Jeong Heejun’s words.
“Part of me wants to trust him. But…”
After experiencing so much because of Choi Mujin, he couldn’t fully trust him.
“Okay, I understand. But is it safe for you to meet with me?”
Jeong Heejun also seemed to guess that Choi Mujin would have assigned someone to follow Haseo.
“I thought this would be safer than talking on the phone.”
“Hmm.”
The trust really was at rock bottom. Normally, it wouldn’t be easy to talk like this about someone you cared for. Jeong Heejun gritted his teeth as he thought about Choi Mujin.
‘What a piece of trash.’
How long did he intend to manipulate Haseo?
“I’ll take this paper with me. And I’ll try to probe around that guy’s circles.”
Although he wasn’t heavily involved in Isaac Finance’s affairs now, he still maintained contact with some of the connections Chairman Jang had left behind. They had been cooperative with Jeong Heejun, probably looking for a way to survive after Chairman Jang’s fall.
They seemed to be hoping that he might arrange a small position for them at Toho Construction. Despite having profited a lot in the past, they still had lingering attachments. But that was precisely why Jeong Heejun could use them.
“Don’t do it if it’s dangerous.”
“Don’t worry. If it gets dangerous, I’ll pull out on my own. Don’t you trust me?”
“I do trust you. But I’m saying this because it could be dangerous.”
“But you called me knowing that. Doesn’t that mean you have that much faith in me?”
At Jeong Heejun’s words, Haseo made a strange expression. He seemed to regret it and also looked surprised.
“I’m sorry.”
Hearing the trembling voice, Jeong Heejun patted Haseo’s head.
“It’s okay, really. By the way, I used to be shorter than you before. Now it’s the opposite.”
“…I’m not that short, you know?”
“Oh, so you’re at least 180 cm tall?”
Haseo’s eyes, which had been trembling wistfully, suddenly turned fierce.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
