# Chapter 13
“This situation feels random and awkward, doesn’t it?”
“……”
I wanted to ask why she was questioning something she already knew, but I didn’t have the courage to challenge her. I simply remained silent and listened to what she had to say.
“I can’t explain in detail, but to use an analogy, Heerim is like a large truck with broken brakes racing through a flower garden.”
It was a comparison I couldn’t comprehend at all.
“But I think Jaeo can be Heerim’s brakes.”
“Me? Is that a good thing?”
“Well, it’s good for Heerim.”
Being the brakes for a large truck? Her cryptic words were making me feel increasingly confused and uncomfortable.
“So, Jaeo. How about becoming a full-time employee instead of just working part-time?”
“Full-time… employee?”
I unconsciously responded with obvious reluctance. For someone like me who had been bouncing between part-time jobs with no insurance benefits, the term “full-time employee” sounded like a dream position. But that only applied to proper companies, and as someone who was planning to quit this job in three months, it was absolutely out of the question.
“The working hours will be five hours, just like now. I’ll match your salary to whatever you want. How much are you making now? 50,000 won per hour? I could double that.”
“……”
“What do you think? Isn’t it appealing?”
It was as easy as swallowing rice cake. Plus, a wage of over 50,000 won per hour? Anyone who wasn’t a fool would accept such conditions. But I couldn’t answer hastily.
The part about Heerim being a large truck with broken brakes racing through a flower garden, and me potentially being his brakes, kept bothering me.
Before responding to the Director’s offer, I needed to clarify this point.
“This role as his brakes… what exactly does that mean?”
***
The chicken that had just been delivered was steaming on the folding table. Jaeyeon, who had been allowed to skip night study today as a reward for helping catch a pervert, poured cola into our cups.
“Oppa, I heard you sprained your ankle this afternoon. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I think the muscle from where I was injured before just got shocked for a moment.”
“But you know, that sea squirt man? They say his right ankle bone broke completely from the fall.”
“Really…?”
“Anyway, thanks to you, we caught that bastard. I got caught trying to climb over the school fence today and got scolded like crazy, but when I told them we caught a pervert, even the teachers seemed relieved.”
“That’s good.”
Jaeyeon, looking slightly flushed, recounted the day’s events. Hearing that the pervert’s ankle bone had completely broken made my heart twinge for some reason.
“By the way, you said you work at a neighborhood patrol? Or something like that?”
“Ah… well, something similar.”
Though what I did was completely different from neighborhood patrol work, the company name did include the word ‘Peace’, so let’s go with that.
“So the person who came with you today also works there, right?”
“Yeah.”
“That person was really pretty. At first, I thought they were an idol and was completely shocked. You should get closer to them. So I can see them more often too.”
“Why would you need to see my coworker often?”
“Even if I can’t see them often, you never know. What if you leave important documents at home and I have to bring them to you? Then I could briefly say hello and feast my eyes.”
“What do you mean ‘feast your eyes’? You’re always looking at idols instead of studying.”
“Why do you always talk about studying? Did you forget? I’m a scholarship student. Would I be one if I was bad at studying?”
“I know you’re good. I’m just saying it out of concern.”
My mouth felt oddly dry, so I took a sip of cola. Whether it was because of the fizzy carbonation, my stomach felt unsettled. Though Jaeyeon probably meant it lightly, my sister should never meet Heerim again.
“But you know what? I don’t know why, but that person we saw today seemed familiar somehow. Where have I seen them before?”
“What?”
Jaeyeon said this while wiping her greasy fingers on her gym uniform pants. Given Heerim’s appearance, which was rare to see in real life, it seemed unlikely that she would find him familiar.
“Maybe they look like an idol you like?”
“No, the idol I like has a nerdy face. That person is more handsome. Ah, thinking about it again, they were really good-looking. What was their name again? Hee… Heewon?”
Jaeyeon continued talking about Heerim while tearing into a chicken leg. The more interest my sister showed in Heerim, the more uncomfortable I felt. I was acutely aware that I was working at a suspicious place I couldn’t properly explain to my sister.
“Here. You can have both drumsticks.”
“What? Why? Aren’t you eating them, Oppa?”
“No, I’ve lost my appetite. I’m just going to go to bed.”
When I handed my share of chicken legs to Jaeyeon, her eyes widened.
“Really? You’re really not eating? I get both drumsticks? No taking it back later?”
“Yeah. You eat them all.”
Instead of worrying about her older brother’s lack of appetite, Jaeyeon looked absolutely delighted to get both chicken legs. I gave a faint, bitter smile and went into my room.
“Phew.”
What was now my room had originally been a storage closet, a cramped space of about two pyeong, with just an old mattress. I lay down there and sighed. A heavy fatigue pressed down on my entire body.
Squeak—
I thought I would fall asleep immediately, but every time I tossed and turned, the sound from the mattress made me uncomfortable. The springs must have broken at some point, causing this noise. Usually my easygoing nature allowed me to ignore it, but today the creaking sound kept irritating me. It was probably because of all the stress I’d experienced today.
I lay down at attention, trying not to make the springs squeak, and stared at the ceiling. It would be nice to fall asleep like this, but the Director’s words from earlier kept echoing in my ears.
“Well, it’s nothing too difficult.”
When I asked about my role as brakes, the Director smiled brightly. Her usually sensitive and sharp face smiling gave me chills down my spine.
“Just do what you did today when Heerim seems strange.”
“Excuse me?”
“You need to make physical contact, and the best is mucous membrane contact. Well, you’ve already done it today, so it should be fine, right?”
“What are you…”
“A kiss.”
“……”
“In other words, you need to kiss Heerim.”
I blinked slowly, digesting what the Director had just said.
What does this mean? Am I being sexually harassed right now?
Beyond bewilderment, I began to feel increasingly offended. Even though I might have been blind to money and ended up working part-time at this haphazard, ragtag company, that didn’t mean I deserved to be mocked like this. I might not be noble enough to preserve my dignity in the face of money, but I wasn’t lightweight enough to be swayed by such unreasonable abuse of power.
If they had at least given me a proper explanation, I might have considered it. But I couldn’t accept being told to kiss Heerim without knowing why. I didn’t want to be used like a game piece in their world that only they understood.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
I firmly refused.
“I’m sorry, but today will be my last day.”
“What? No, Jaeo. Wait, just wait.”
The Director grabbed me as I tried to get up. A look of embarrassment crossed her face.
“I’m sorry. I misspoke. You had every right to be upset.”
The Director, who had been speaking informally to me since I started working part-time, apologized while brushing her hair back. As I was about to leave the office, I looked at her with an expression that didn’t hide my displeasure. The Director bit her lip firmly and continued.
“I’m sorry I can’t give you a detailed explanation. Can’t you just stay by Heerim’s side? Jaeo, I’m asking you sincerely.”
“……”
“He’s really a pitiful child.”
The Director, who had always seemed cold, rigid, and intimidating, was now pleading with me pathetically.
I looked at Heerim, who was still unconscious in the corner of the office. Peacefully asleep, Heerim looked like Sleeping Beauty from a fairy tale. You know, the one where a princess falls under a witch’s curse and sleeps, but eventually gets a happy ending.
But the Director spoke as if there would be no happy ending for Heerim.
“Please help Heerim live.”
The Director grabbed me again. It wasn’t a request, but a plea.
Suddenly, I remembered Heerim’s coldly frozen face on the overpass stairs earlier. That authoritative and chilling atmosphere, completely devoid of his usual brightness, showed that he had a dual nature. The interest and favor he showed me couldn’t feel pleasant when I knew he was hiding his true self. In the midst of all this, how could they expect me to accept being asked to help Heerim through such absurd actions?
But I became a little curious. Why did Heerim need me? What kind of story did he have? What was he hiding inside?
“I’ll… think about it and let you know what I decide before coming to work tomorrow.”
Having retreated one step, I bowed to the Director and left the office. Kim Jeongmun, who was near the door, said, “See you tomorrow,” but I couldn’t respond to his greeting.
Time was already approaching 9 PM. I needed to contact the Director before it got too late, but I still hadn’t made up my mind. Considering the money, it made sense to continue working there, but the more curious I became about Heerim and the Earth Peace Research Institute, the more scared I felt.
Should I get any more involved with these people?
I didn’t want to embark on a reckless adventure.
♬♪—
I had been contemplating for a while, phone in hand, about what to say to the Director. Suddenly, the phone rang.
I checked the name on the screen and flinched. It wasn’t a call I couldn’t answer, but it wasn’t one I wanted to answer either.
“Hello.”
After debating whether to answer, I picked up just before the ringing stopped. There was a moment of hesitant breathing on the other end, followed by a young voice coming through the speaker.
“Jaeo hyung… can we meet now?”
It was Heerim.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
