#49
Yeoul, who had come out of the hospital, ran vigorously. He arrived at the cafe where Shin Taeon was. Since he had come out a little early today, he had time to spare.
“Phew……”
Relieved, Yeoul opened the door. Perhaps because of their repeated meetings, the cafe owner had naturally sent out other customers and left the cafe empty.
The owner’s face at the counter showed no awkwardness as he greeted Yeoul. Yeoul also politely greeted him back, then approached the table where he always sat and sat down on the chair. Then he bit his molars. He hoped for a definitive conclusion today.
If Shin Taeon said anything else, he absolutely wouldn’t let it slide. Yeoul looked around with poison-soaked eyes. He was looking for something to strike him with just in case.
He saw an ashtray. Following that, a vase and the corners of frames hanging on the wall came into view. If it came to it, he had no choice but to use those to beat him up. Then the door opened and rough breathing could be heard. Yeoul turned around. Shin Taeon was just entering.
“Oh? You came early today?”
Shin Taeon approached wearing a gray suit and sat down. Today too, he had a cigarette in his mouth, and smoke was rising. Yeoul felt like coughing, but held it in tightly.
“You must have had time to go out today.”
“Yes….”
“Haha……”
Shin Taeon grinned and laughed. At his languid appearance, Yeoul’s eyes became even sharper.
“As a result, what happened with the code?”
“Ha…. fuck.”
Shin Taeon’s eyes hardened in an instant. Soon, despite there being an ashtray right there, he stubbed his cigarette butt on the table. Because of that, the smoke felt even thicker. At that acrid smell, Yeoul coughed violently. His anger flared up once more. He briefly imagined smashing Shin Taeon’s head with the ashtray, but barely calmed his rising emotions and swallowed them.
This won’t do. Let’s calm down…….
“To conclude, those numbers weren’t the code.”
“What?”
Yeoul felt like the thread of hope he had been holding was burning away.
“Ah, it wasn’t the code?”
“Right. I knew this would happen. The numbers seemed like some kind of anniversary.”
“That can’t be……”
He had thought it looked like a date. But he thought it was a code composed in that format. It was too shocking that it really wasn’t, so his body froze.
“Are you sure you don’t have the wrong information?”
“No. Fuck. Eun Sajun, that fucking snake bastard.”
Spitting out curses, he furrowed his brow deeply. At the same time, he picked up the ashtray and struck the table. A bang sounded violently, but Yeoul just watched his violence with cool eyes.
“It seems like that bastard doesn’t have the code.”
“What?”
Then what was he supposed to do?
“Then what about Yeojin? I risked my life to find out the code as the CEO ordered!”
“……”
If Shin Taeon changed his words here, Yeoul was also ready to strike immediately, instinctively reaching for the ashtray.
“Can’t be helped.”
Shin Taeon put his hand into the inner pocket of the rider jacket he was wearing and took out a knife. It was in a black leather case and seemed to be about 15cm long. The blade tip was shaped like a hook, making it feel somewhat unusual.
“What is this?”
Yeoul tensed, wondering if he was going to stab him.
“Kill Eun Sajun with this.”
“What?”
At his command, Yeoul’s heart dropped.
“What, what do you mean…… How could I do such a thing……”
“You’re currently closest to that bastard.”
“……”
“Seeing as Eun Sajun seems to trust you quite a bit, give it a try.”
“Ah….. even so……”
Until now, Yeoul had never shown his aggression in front of Shin Taeon. So he was confused about why he was giving such a command.
“Do it well.”
“Haa…… I can’t do such a thing.”
Yeoul was so bewildered that his voice cracked. It was a voice that seemed almost tearful.
“If you refuse or fail, I’ll mess up Geum Yeojin.”
“……”
It was his clear threat. In confusion, not knowing what to do, his eyes shook anxiously.
He had been constantly worried about his true nature being revealed to Eun Sajun. But now to kill him…… Moreover, he was a special forces veteran. Though he was currently bedridden.
Come to think of it, wasn’t now actually an opportunity to subdue him?
“I’ll give you a week.”
“……”
“Finish him off.”
Shin Taeon commanded as if handing down some grave punishment.
“If you kill that bastard and come back, I’ll liberate both your debt and Geum Yeojin.”
“……”
Yeoul looked at the knife before his eyes.
“After you kill him, contact me. I’ll come pick you up.”
Shin Taeon put the knife he was holding back in its case and offered it to Yeoul.
“I believe you can do it.”
Yeoul’s large eyes shook endlessly as if facing waves.
“I’m busy, so I have to go now.”
Shin Taeon got up with irresponsible movements and left the cafe. Yeoul gripped that knife with difficulty. It felt like even his heart was being carved out. In a way, it was no different from Shin Taeon giving him an opportunity, but his large eyes moistly trembled.
* * *
“Phew.”
Shin Taeon, who came out of the cafe, threw the cigarette he had in his mouth on the ground and stomped on it with his shoe. It was like trampling on Eun Sajun. His eyes were as sharp as blades.
Soon he headed to a sedan in a nearby parking lot. When he opened the back door, Geum Yeojin was sitting in the back seat. Shin Taeon glared at Geum Yeojin and sat down next to him.
“Why are you following along? Aren’t you staying at the hospital?”
“I wanted to see Geum Yeoul’s face.”
Though Yeojin was always in the hospital room, today too he had come to Shin Taeon’s office. And when he said he would go meet Yeoul, he had tagged along.
“Did you see him?”
“I saw him secretly. But why did you give such a command while giving Geum Yeoul a knife?”
Shin Taeon swept up his bangs.
“Just. Because I wanted to torment him.”
“Torment?”
“With Geum Yeoul’s naive personality, I know well he can’t even touch a hair on Eun Sajun’s head. I just wanted to see him clinging to me.”
“……”
Yeojin’s complexion darkened for a moment. He seemed about to say something to Shin Taeon, his lips moving slightly, but soon closed his mouth as if keeping silent.
“Geum Yeoul will cling to me soon. It’s fucking amusing.”
Shin Taeon, who knew nothing, smiled wickedly. Yeojin shook his head slightly toward such Shin Taeon. In fact, he had not leaked a word about Yeoul’s anger disorder to Shin Taeon.
As if hoping for Shin Taeon’s downfall.
* * *
“Haa……”
Yeoul didn’t know how he had entered the hospital room or with what state of mind. He was just dazed. And he stared at the knife Shin Taeon had given him. It truly had a cold and fierce appearance.
Soon he turned his head to look at Eun Sajun. He was in the same state as when he had left earlier. He seemed to be sleeping deeply. Yeoul gently stroked Eun Sajun’s head while holding his heart that felt like it would break. The sweat-soaked hair moistly wrapped around his hand.
“What should I do……?”
His solar plexus hurt as if it would tear. But if he didn’t finish off Eun Sajun, Yeojin would be in danger.
This won’t do…… This is troublesome…….
It felt like standing on the most cruel single-log bridge in the world. His insides burned black.
Yeoul got up from his seat with a heavy heart and approached Eun Sajun closely. Seeing him sleep while elegantly showing off his long eyelashes made his heart feel like it would break even more. He was someone who had saved him…… How could he plunge a knife into his chest? No matter how he thought about it this way and that, it was impossible.
“Haa……”
Yeoul approached the window as if determined and was about to throw the knife Shin Taeon had given him outside.
“Baby, you’re here?”
Eun Sajun’s languid voice was heard. Startled, Yeoul looked there. He was looking at him with drowsy eyes.
“Huk!”
Surprised, Yeoul first quickly placed the knife on the floor and kicked it under the bed. The knife rolled and slipped under the bed. Then he approached Eun Sajun as if nothing had happened.
“Are you awake?”
“What were you doing with the window open?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Yeoul shook his head, worried the knife might be discovered. Eun Sajun tilted his head.
“Did something bad happen?”
“What?”
“Your eyes are red.”
Huk. Yeoul hurriedly rubbed his eyelids.
“No, it’s nothing. By the way, how’s your fever?”
“It got better.”
“But…… what did you throw under the bed just now?”
“What?”
Yeoul’s body stiffened. Had he seen the knife?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
