Chapter 102
Even after the car had completely disappeared, Si-yul remained standing in place. His mind was in chaos, trying to process what had just happened. Only the pain was vivid. His cheek was burning, and his split lip stung. When he wiped his philtrum with his hand, dried reddish-brown blood stuck to his skin.
He had been dragged away by the men, met Hyun-se’s family, and then…
As he slowly recollected, he opened the envelope in his hand. They were all checks. The numbers printed were substantial. One million, ten million, hundred million… One billion. There were five checks in total.
50 million won.
This huge sum, which would take years of hard work to earn, was the price for the violence inflicted on him. It was also the price for never seeing Hyun-se again. The curse-like threat that they would destroy every place he set foot if he met Hyun-se echoed in his ears.
“…”
Si-yul hadn’t cried when he was slapped or kicked in the stomach. Only when he was left alone did his dry eyes slowly well up. A sniffling sound escaped him.
The envelope in his hand crumpled suddenly. Si-yul raised that hand to rub under his nose. Though he hadn’t blinked, the tears that had gathered grew larger and rolled down his cheeks, falling in drops.
He could endure the violence. He could bear the criticism and denigration. He might even have been able to get past the threats. All of those combined were weaker than just one thing. The words forbidding him from seeing Hyun-se, even by chance, were the final dagger that cut off Si-yul’s breath.
The next day, Si-yul fell seriously ill. He didn’t want to take a day off if he could help it, but he couldn’t move a finger. Si-yul barely managed to contact the store and spent the entire day lying in bed.
It took several days for his body to gradually recover. Scabs formed on his wounds, and the greenish bruises between his side and stomach had subsided considerably.
He decided to pretend he hadn’t heard the offer to move into the officetel. They had broken up. Now it wasn’t just for that reason. He could no longer meet Hyun-se. Originally, he hadn’t planned to see that face again, but if chance allowed, if Hyun-se were to give him a wedding invitation, he had thought to use that opportunity to see him just one more time.
But now all that was water under the bridge. The person who had inflicted violence on him had the power to crush him. Just looking at the envelope he had been given and the amount inside was proof enough. Who in the world would give such a large sum as compensation? Even if he reported it to the police and demanded settlement money, he wouldn’t receive that much.
Above all, he doubted whether the police would intervene. Bitterly, Si-yul understood the logic of power. He wasn’t an innocent hothouse flower. Though not old, he had lived a life experiencing far more hardships than protection, from the orphanage until now. He knew just by looking at the high walls of the mansion that someone of the CEO’s status was far beyond his ability to dream of revenge or reporting.
More than anything, Si-yul was worried about Kwon Yuwon. He didn’t care if he himself died. But if the blade was aimed at those around him, it was a different story. Yuwon’s life was already eventful enough. He didn’t want to add to his burdens.
He just had to give up Hyun-se.
Just that one thing.
A bitter smile crept onto his lips. He covered his face with both hands, pretending to rub it.
He had walked out of that house on his own and loudly told Hyun-se with his own mouth that they should never see each other again. Wasn’t that enough? What more did they want him to do? He was trying hard to fold away his feelings, but were his efforts just useless struggles? Were his lingering attachments so clearly visible to others?
“I’m going out for a bit.”
Taking advantage of a lull in customers at the meat restaurant, Si-yul got up from his seat. Everyone seemed too sprawled out to care where he was going.
Si-yul went out to the alley through the back door. There was no one in the dark, narrow street. He took out the cigarettes he had bought at the convenience store before work. Whether by coincidence or intentionally, it was the same brand Hyun-se smoked. He calmly unwrapped the package and put one in his mouth.
It was the first time he had smoked since learning from Tae-joo. The gesture of turning the lighter’s flint was very awkward. After sparking it three or four times, he finally managed to light the end of the cigarette.
He tried to inhale deeply and exhale slowly like Hyun-se, but ended up coughing violently. It was just like when he first put a cigarette in his mouth. Back then, he had vowed never to smoke again, but not now.
Wiping away the tears that had formed, he put the cigarette held between his fingers back in his mouth. Since he wouldn’t be able to see him anymore, he wanted to at least get used to this scent.
He took out his phone. Entering the call log, there were several missed calls from a familiar name. Si-yul stared silently at that name.
“…”
He slowly stroked over it with his finger. He had deleted all the photos he had taken. All that remained now were just this number and the name left in the contacts. If he erased even this, it felt like the slender chance of meeting Hyun-se would completely disappear from the world.
Still.
There was no other way. He had to block and delete it.
“…Just after I finish this.”
Surely the time it takes to smoke one cigarette would be okay? Si-yul stared at that name as if trying to burn it into his eyes. Not that a call would come in just from doing that.
The gray ash grew long on the unsmoked end of the cigarette. The time it took for one cigarette to burn down felt cruelly short. Steeling himself that he had to delete it now, he raised his finger over the screen.
At that moment, the screen changed and the phone vibrated. It was a call. Seeing the “Woo” that appeared, Si-yul flinched greatly and dropped the cigarette he was holding. He frantically grasped the phone with both hands. When he opened his eyes wide to look, it wasn’t Hyun-se, but Tae-joo.
Si-yul’s stiff shoulders slumped. What had he been hoping for? Hiding his look of disappointment, he pressed the answer button. A cheerful voice called out “Si-yul hyung!” from the other end.
He had been suddenly dragged away and beaten, so normally he should have felt his teeth on edge just seeing anyone with the Woo surname, but Si-yul was rather glad to hear from Tae-joo. Because he could see at least a shadow of Hyun-se.
“Have you been well, hyung? Do you have a moment to talk now?”
“Yes, if it’s just for a moment.”
He opened the back door and checked for any signs of activity inside the restaurant. Perhaps because it was before dinner time, it was still quiet.
“Hyung, I… Do you want to meet once before I go abroad to study?”
“Ah.”
He really couldn’t go now, even if he might have before. He had to cut off everything related to Hyun-se. He bit his lip, then Si-yul struggled to speak.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been quite busy lately, so it’s hard to find time.”
Silence came through the receiver. Si-yul tapped the cigarette ash off with his fingertip and threw it into the empty can used as an ashtray.
“I know you have two jobs, hyung. But it’s not just that, the bar staff are coming too.”
“The bar staff?”
“Yes. Like the company dinner we had before. Just casually having a drink like that.”
Meeting Tae-joo alone would be burdensome, but if it was with the bar staff, it might be okay. But Si-yul soon shook his head, steeling his resolve. Since he had decided to cut ties, it would be better to clearly end things with the bar staff as well.
“I don’t think…”
“It’s really hard to coordinate everyone’s schedules. You’re busy these days too, hyung, and so is everyone else.”
“…”
“Hyung, can’t you please make some time? Hye-na said she wants to see you too.”
Tae-joo cut in before Si-yul could finish a sentence. The last words stirred Si-yul’s sense of guilt. Even before he was dragged to Hyun-se’s family home, he had rarely properly answered the occasional calls, saying he was too busy. He had suddenly disappeared, so it was understandable if they felt hurt.
Si-yul also missed the bar staff from time to time. Looking back, they were the kindest and most caring people he had encountered in all his workplaces so far.
If it was just seeing their faces briefly, wouldn’t that be okay?
“…When is it?”
Si-yul asked hesitantly. Tae-joo, who had sounded dejected, brightened up and raised his voice.
“They said they’d close the bar early and come! I’ll text you the place and time.”
“Okay, then.”
“Alright. See you then, hyung.”
As soon as the call ended, a text message arrived. Si-yul repeatedly memorized the address and time written in the message and lowered his phone. At the same time, the back door opened and an employee poked their head out.
“Si-yul, customers are here. Come in quickly.”
“Okay. I’ll be right there.”
Before going in, Si-yul unconsciously fiddled with his ear. As if to prove they were relatives, Tae-joo’s voice had some similarities to Hyun-se’s.
It seemed like a low bass resonated under the cheerful voice. Si-yul shook his head quickly. But once it had surfaced, that voice gently wet his ears like the sound of waves in a seashell.
