Boundless Love – Chapter 56

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56.

It seemed that Jeong Heejun knew something about this situation too. Should he feel ashamed to show this side of himself to a once-close friend, or… Haseo swallowed the sigh that was about to escape. As he was thinking of what to say, Heejun spoke first.

“Haseo, if you’re being held against your will, tell me. I’ll help you.”

How? How could Jeong Heejun help Lee Haseo? Haseo glanced briefly at Choi Mujin. The longer the conversation went on, the more tense Mujin’s body became. He felt they needed to resolve this quickly and leave.

“Heejun.”

How long had it been since he’d called his friend’s name?

“I’m fine. I think I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that.”

Haseo spoke while trying his best to maintain a gentle expression.

“So don’t worry.”

Let’s each go our separate ways. Me on my path, you on yours. If they interfered with each other, they would both end up unhappy. That was all the consideration Haseo could offer his friend.

“Is the conversation over?”

At Mujin’s words, Haseo nodded.

“Yes.”

He wasn’t sure if they would meet again, but ending things this way was right for now.

“Then we’ll go home.”

For a moment, Haseo felt something touch his head and then fall away.

‘What was that?’

As he was about to turn his head, he heard Heejun’s voice.

“Lee Haseo.”

Did he still have something to say? Haseo just wanted this suffocating situation to end quickly.

“If that’s how you feel, I can’t help it. But if you ever change your mind, contact me. I’ll write down my number for you.”

Then he quickly wrote a number on a receipt he pulled from his pocket and handed it over.

“I can help you.”

Heejun’s determination was solid as he said this. But sometimes there were things that couldn’t be done by will alone. Haseo looked at Heejun with sad eyes. If they were just passing ships, he hoped his situation wouldn’t hurt Heejun.

Just then, a woman came running from a distance. She appeared to be in her 30s or 40s, and as soon as she arrived, she slapped Heejun on the back.

“Hey! What are you doing there? Hurry up! Didn’t I tell you to follow me closely?”

Then she raised her head, noticed Choi Mujin, and flinched in surprise. She quickly looked back and forth between Mujin and Heejun, then bowed her head deeply.

“I’m sorry. I’ll take him away immediately!”

And she began dragging Heejun away.

“Haseo! Don’t throw away the number!”

Even as he was being dragged away, Heejun firmly urged Haseo. The sudden wind that passed by was so strong that it left a deep impression in Haseo’s memory. This too would become a memory when it passed.

“Lee Haseo.”

Haseo placed the receipt Heejun had given him on Mujin’s outstretched hand. Mujin stared at it momentarily, then crushed it in his fist and threw it away.

“You shouldn’t litter on the street.”

There was a trash can nearby, yet he threw it anywhere. Mujin laughed aloud at Haseo’s words. Due to their proximity, Haseo could feel the vibration.

“Haha, you’re right. One shouldn’t throw trash just anywhere.”

Mujin promised Haseo he would be more careful in the future.

“Let’s go back.”

Haseo briefly looked in the direction where Heejun had disappeared.

“Yes, let’s go back.”

Back to the villa where there was nothing. Haseo moved to allow himself to be imprisoned according to Mujin’s wishes.

* * *

Seo Miso dragged Heejun a considerable distance before finally exhaling a sigh of relief.

“Are you crazy? I always said you had your guts hanging outside, but this? No one else to pick a fight with, so you’re confronting Director Choi!”

“I wasn’t picking a fight.”

“Then what was it? Why was Director Choi glaring at you like he wanted to kill you?”

“I was just greeting a friend.”

“A friend?”

“The person Director Choi was holding.”

“Ah? Ahhh.”

Seo Miso rolled her eyes. In fact, she knew who Choi Mujin was keeping close. Being someone who worked under Mujin, she regularly received important information. Of course she knew about the person Mujin had been keeping recently.

‘Seems like a mistress.’

From what she heard, it started with being a housekeeper. Judging from how things were going, it looked like they would become lovers. Miso didn’t believe Choi Mujin was capable of loving anyone.

“So that person is your friend?”

“Yes, an elementary school classmate.”

Oh my, of all relationships? Seo Miso, who had been assigned to train Heejun by Kim Chunbong, quickly sized up his personality. Heejun had a temperament more suited to being a police officer than a gangster. He was righteous, didn’t hesitate to express his opinions, and was straightforward. But what did that matter? His father was a gang leader. The good thing was that he showed some flexibility.

‘That makes it easier.’

It wasn’t like she hadn’t dragged people down before. Miso was slowly guiding Heejun to the bottom. And as she did, her initial impression of him was gradually changing.

‘He’s at least at the level of a bribe-taking cop now.’

Miso felt proud of her teaching.

“I think my friend is being unreasonably held by Director Choi.”

“Oh no, that’s not right. From what I know, Director Choi is helping your friend.”

Whether that help was wanted or not was another question, but anyway. Miso wanted to avoid Heejun fighting with Mujin.

“You know, I heard he’s even paying hospital bills for his family. And look, if he really hated it, would he be eating with him? They were both in front of the restaurant. Just leave it alone. You shouldn’t meddle in other people’s love affairs.”

“…Love affair?”

Oh, did she say something wrong? Men dating men wasn’t that common.

“Um, surely, my friend, you don’t hate homosexuals?”

To be precise, Choi Mujin could go for women or men. She wasn’t sure about the man with him, but since they were together, they must be gay.

“No, I don’t. I have no prejudice.”

“That’s good then. Now, let’s get back to work. We need to finish quickly and go back down.”

“Yes.”

Heejun complied readily. For the son of Chairman Jang, he followed instructions well and worked hard, which was really nice. If someone like him became the boss, work would be easier. Miso thought this and smiled sweetly.

Inside, his pitch-black heart was boiling.

‘Love affair?’

These days, is forcibly holding someone captive over debt also called a love affair? Can that be called love? The fact that Haseo could sleep with men wasn’t important information to Heejun. What was more important was that the partner was Choi Mujin.

‘I want to help him.’

Heejun still had very little at his disposal. Fearing they wouldn’t be able to contact each other again, he had given Haseo his number, but belatedly realized he had made a mistake. He should have given it to him secretly.

Even if Haseo called for help, there wasn’t much he could do, but he still felt regret. Based on what Miso had said, he could guess Haseo’s situation to some extent, but he wanted to know more details. Still, he was nearing the end of the training period he had been told about when he first started learning the job.

He had performed well even at disgusting tasks, so his father must have changed his opinion of him. Heejun grimaced when Miso wasn’t looking. How terrible these gangsters were. Even though they weren’t strong themselves, they didn’t hesitate to mock those weaker than them. Plus, they occasionally engaged in illegal activities, so despite being with them, he couldn’t grow attached.

Yet Heejun didn’t run away. Revenge for his mother’s ruined life and concern for Haseo kept him there. Haseo wasn’t someone who should live like this. He deserved to live ordinarily and happily in a bright world. Heejun would do anything for him.

‘After all, I was once saved by Haseo too.’

When his mother passed away, leaving behind only a mountain of debt, Heejun’s life was practically over. His life was already ruined, so if there was anything he could do for Haseo, he should do it. As he was thinking this, his phone suddenly rang.

“A call? Answer it.”

Miso waved her hand as if to say it was fine. Usually, phones weren’t given to new trainees, but Heejun was an exception.

“Hello?”

— “Hello, this is Secretary Ahn.”

“Hello.”

— “Are you still in Seoul?”

“Yes, I was just about to head back down.”

— “Then please wait a moment. Chairman Jang would like to meet with you. Is Seo Miso there with you? Could I speak with her briefly?”

Heejun explained the situation to Miso and handed over the phone.

“Yes, this is Seo Miso.”

Miso answered the phone with a voice sweeter than usual.

“Ah, yes. Yes. I see. Then we’ll move there immediately. No, I should be the one thanking you. Yes, thank you.”