100.
Haseo quietly inhaled. But somehow, breathing wasn’t easy. His chest heaved as tears rolled down his cheeks.
“If you had said those words earlier.”
A low, trembling voice escaped between Haseo’s lips.
“If you had.”
He wouldn’t have suffered this much. Haseo, with tears streaming down, spoke incoherently.
“It was so, so painful. It felt like I was the only one who had feelings, and my heart ached. There were times I just wanted to disappear.”
The more he spoke, the more past wounds surfaced, making him even more sorrowful. Haseo now sat down completely and sobbed. Even though he knew he shouldn’t be doing this while working, he simply couldn’t control his emotions.
In Choi Mujin’s eyes, as he watched Haseo, there was regret, guilt, and despair from not being able to approach him hastily. Even through tears that blurred his vision, Haseo could clearly feel Mujin’s emotions. To think he could have been like this all along.
“Haseo.”
“Why, why only now? Why?”
“Haseo.”
“It’s too, too late.”
“So you’ve come to hate me?”
How could he say such aggravating words even in a situation like this? Haseo wiped his tears with the back of his hand and said:
“I must be crazy too. Despite being hurt so much. Why can’t I hate you more?”
Haseo crawled over to Choi Mujin and embraced him.
“I’ll forgive you this once.”
“Really?”
“But promise me one thing. Don’t make me suffer again this time. If you do, I’ll find someone else!”
“That’s problematic.”
Choi Mujin carefully wiped Haseo’s eyes with his sleeve. Then he embraced him and gently stroked his back.
“I get very jealous.”
“Then just don’t do anything wrong.”
“That’s true. I’ll do better now. I’ll treat you better.”
“Don’t forget those words.”
“Never.”
“Good.”
Haseo clutched Mujin’s clothes and sniffled. After that, he staggered to his feet and held onto the counter to stand.
“Let’s end our conversation here for now. We’ll talk more when we have time later.”
“What?”
Choi Mujin looked at Haseo with a surprised expression at the sudden statement.
“My part-time job isn’t over yet.”
Sniffling, Haseo grabbed some tissues from behind the counter and wiped his tears. His eyes hurt from being swollen from crying so much, but he couldn’t neglect his job because of it. Fortunately, no customers had come during his emotional outburst.
“Part-time job.”
“Don’t tell me to quit.”
“Then.”
“Don’t tell me to come home either. I haven’t completely forgiven you yet.”
“Didn’t you just say you forgave me?”
“Only halfway. I’ll decide the rest based on your actions.”
“Then I better do well.”
Haseo nodded.
“Very well.”
As he said this, the convenience store door chimed. A woman who had just entered the store looked at the two standing there and showed a surprised expression.
“Oh. Is… is the store open?”
“Yes.”
Haseo gave Choi Mujin a few pats to drive him out of the store. After that, he stood at the counter to welcome the customer.
“Welcome.”
The customer looked uncomfortable but stood at the counter with her purchases: a few snacks and a pack of cigarettes. As Haseo skillfully scanned the barcodes as usual, she asked in a small voice:
“Do you need me to call 112 (emergency services)?”
She seemed concerned, having seen his face a few times before.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Hmm. Alright.”
And so Haseo sent the customer on her way. Meanwhile, Choi Mujin stood quietly outside the convenience store. It looked like he would stay there until Haseo’s shift ended. So Haseo rang up a drink, went outside, and handed it to Mujin.
“Why are you still here?”
“I want to walk you back to your gosiwon when you’re done.”
“Then sit and wait.”
It might be difficult to wait for the remainder of his shift, but now Haseo had decided to accept what Mujin offered. If he continued to see his efforts, perhaps one day he could forgive him completely.
Haseo went back into the convenience store.
Several days passed. It seemed like normal daily life had returned, but there were changes. First, the person Choi Mujin had assigned to watch over Haseo revealed themselves.
“Hello. We’ve met before, right? I’m Seo Miso. I will be providing security for Lee Haseo 24 hours a day for the time being.”
“Just you, Seo Miso-ssi?”
“No. That would be impossible alone. I have a team. It won’t always be me; someone else will come in the afternoon.”
“Who would that be?”
“Security Team Leader Park Dongsu will come.”
So he was the security team leader. But is it okay for such a person to be assigned to protect just one person like me?
‘It seems like it would be.’
The people who had been protecting Haseo were either Park Dongsu or Seo Miso. Sometimes there were unnamed men as well, but it would be more comfortable with familiar faces. Choi Mujin must have assigned them thoughtfully.
In the past, Haseo might have declined due to the burden. But Haseo had already experienced a real threat and learned that it came from Chairman Jang’s people. In this situation, refusing security would be foolish stubbornness.
“Then I’m in your care.”
“Not at all. The pleasure is mine. Lee Haseo-nim should just live normally. We’ll try to provide security as naturally as possible!”
And so Seo Miso began stamping her attendance card at the cafe where Haseo worked.
“Wow, we’ve got a new regular.”
The manager smiled happily seeing Seo Miso visit consistently. She came every day and ordered a variety of items each time, which must have been satisfying.
“Is it okay for her to eat so many sweet things?”
“Well, I’m sure she regulates her intake appropriately.”
It didn’t seem like it. But it wasn’t his place to pretend to know her and tell her to order moderately. Haseo decided to pretend not to know Seo Miso.
* * *
Jeong Heejun looked at his phone and let out a deep sigh.
“It feels like I’ve only done good things for others.”
Still, it was fortunate that Haseo seemed to be doing much better. After replying to a recent message, Jeong Heejun turned off his phone. Just then, a familiar face approached from the other side.
“Heejun-ssi!”
It was Ryu Jiyeon. She usually preferred to wear elegant dresses, but today was different. She wore jeans and a simple t-shirt. Dressed like that, she looked like a college student her age.
“Jiyeon-ssi.”
“Come on, I told you to call me by my name comfortably.”
“But you haven’t changed how you address me either, Jiyeon-ssi.”
At Heejun’s words, Jiyeon gently placed her hand on her cheek.
“That’s true. But it’s about time we changed how we address each other.”
“Then you go first.”
“Mmm.”
Jiyeon let out a murmur, then immediately adopted a firm expression as if she had made a decision.
“H-Heejun oppa?”
“Yes, Jiyeon.”
Satisfied with the changed form of address, Jiyeon smiled.
“That’s nice. Shall we get going now? I’ve already made reservations at a restaurant for lunch!”
“I said I would do it.”
“No way. You always do it. Today, we’re going where I want to go!”
Seeing her walking briskly while saying this, a smile appeared on Jeong Heejun’s face too. Initially, they had met out of necessity, but now their relationship was evolving into something different. The chairman of Toho Construction seemed displeased with this, but he didn’t forcibly separate them. After all, he was particularly fond of his daughter.
“If we walk for about five minutes, we’ll see the restaurant. Over there!”
Jeong Heejun followed where Jiyeon led. Despite it being a weekday afternoon, there were quite a few people. Most were wearing suits, suggesting there was a large company nearby. As they walked, suddenly a man staggered and bumped into him.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
The man in strangely disheveled clothes bowed his head briefly and then ran away. And as he realized what had happened, a scream came from beside him.
“Heejun-ssi!”
She had just resolved to call him ‘oppa’, but suddenly the form of address reverted. Jeong Heejun opened his mouth to tease her, but then collapsed on the spot. Belatedly, a burning pain began to be felt in his side. Looking down to see what it was, he saw a knife embedded there.
In the moment of shock as he blinked, he saw Jiyeon quickly pulling out her phone. She urgently called 119 (emergency services) and explained the situation and location. Then she changed the call to speaker mode and carefully checked Heejun’s condition.
Passersby also approached in shock.
“The blood, the blood won’t stop! Please help!”
Jeong Heejun gritted his teeth.
“I’m fine.”
“How are you fine! Quickly, quickly, someone!”
Jiyeon’s usually composed face was now covered in tears. Soon after, the familiar sound of an ambulance was heard from a distance. Luckily, the fire station wasn’t far away. So Jeong Heejun was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Fortunately, the knife had missed his internal organs. However, he had lost a lot of blood, and after having the wound sutured, he needed to rest, so hospitalization was decided.
“Who, who would dare!”
Ryu Jiyeon’s expression was fierce as she looked at Jeong Heejun lying in bed. Now that the situation had been stabilized, anger seemed to be surging belatedly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
