#05
“Huk huk.”
Yeoul ran like crazy. The socks he was wearing got wet and became a mess, and the winter wind made his skin sting and hurt, but he was filled with an obsession to escape from Eun Sajun’s space.
Entering an alley, Yeoul pushed his body as far into a corner as possible and leaned his back against the wall.
“Haa… haa…”
Having run a considerable distance, he was quite out of breath. After catching his breath for a moment, he took out his phone and called his uncle.
[Yeoul? Are you safe? What happened!]
His uncle’s voice was filled with worry, as if he had been concerned about Yeoul all night.
“Yes, I’m safe. And I brought the ring with me.”
Yeoul felt around in his pants pocket as if checking the ring once more.
[Wow! You succeeded. What a relief. Where are you now?]
“I’m in an alley near Eun Sajun’s house.”
[Perfect. I’m at Yeongdeungpo Station right now. I’ll come to you.]
“It’s nearby anyway. I’ll come to you.”
Yeoul, who wanted to meet his uncle as soon as possible, left the alley again. The amount of falling snow was increasing and it was cold, but perhaps because of the satisfaction of being freed from a night that felt like a month, he didn’t feel cold at all. Now that he thought he was free from the debt trap as well as Shin Taeon’s violence, he was truly happy.
As Yeoul walked with light steps, he felt a sensation piercing the back of his head. It felt like someone was watching him. Could it be that Eun Sajun had followed him? Fear rising, Yeoul hurriedly looked back. But there was no one there.
“What… is it just my imagination…?”
Yeoul left the alley he had been walking through again. At that moment, a black sedan appeared before his eyes. It had an appearance that was incompatible with such a secluded alley. So it felt like forcing mismatched puzzle pieces together, but he thought nothing of it and left the sedan behind.
* * *
Arriving at Yeongdeungpo Station, Yeoul looked around here and there searching for his uncle. Even though it was a weekday afternoon, perhaps because it was vacation season, there were quite a few families with young students as well as groups that looked like college students.
“Yeoul! Over here!”
At the sound of someone calling him, Yeoul looked in that direction. He could see his uncle sticking his hand out the car window and waving. Yeoul quickly approached, opened the car door, and sat in the passenger seat.
“Huk! Yeoul. What’s this state you’re in? Aren’t you cold?”
Faced with Yeoul’s condition, his uncle was very flustered and turned up the heater.
“Where are your shoes? Your coat?”
“Ah, I was in such a hurry to leave that I didn’t have the presence of mind to gather my things.”
“You’ve had a hard time.”
His uncle looked at Yeoul pitifully and continued speaking.
“Where’s that ring?”
“It’s here.”
Yeoul took the ring out of his pants pocket. The ring sparkled brilliantly as if it held light within it. His uncle quickly grasped the ring. His face lit up like a miner who had unearthed a long-awaited gem.
“You really worked hard, Yeoul.”
Uncle gently stroked Yeoul’s brown hair. Yeoul felt the same way as his uncle, so a smile appeared on his lips.
“There are my slippers in the trunk, so wear those later.”
“Yes. I understand.”
“So you ran away?”
“Yes…”
“You didn’t leave behind anything that could expose your identity, did you?”
“No. I didn’t take my wallet and I brought my phone.”
Since he had infiltrated in place of Yeojin from the beginning, he hadn’t brought his wallet with his ID. Instead, he had brought cash as emergency money, but it was money that might as well not exist.
“Phew… that’s a relief.”
Uncle furrowed his brow as if feeling dizzy, then patted his chest.
“By the way, how’s Yeojin? His condition didn’t get worse again or anything, did it?”
“Don’t worry. He’s better than yesterday. Let’s go to the hospital first.”
“Yes.”
Yeoul felt relieved. Fortunately, things had worked out more smoothly than expected. Since it was a fake identity anyway, he would never have to face Eun Sajun again.
* * *
“Yeojin! Are you okay?”
Entering the hospital room, Yeoul faced Yeojin who was on the bed. Both his legs were in casts, but his complexion looked much better than they had worried.
“Yeah. My legs are a bit numb, but I’m okay.”
“Yeojin! Yeoul finally did it!”
Uncle smiled broadly and placed the ring Yeoul had found on the bed table.
“Wow!”
Yeojin’s eyes widened as he sat up abruptly.
“It’s real. What a relief.”
Within Yeojin’s admiration, there also existed a bleak shadow. However, Yeoul couldn’t read that sensation and bashfully touched the back of his head.
“I was lucky.”
“Lucky or not, it’s a relief. Did you make a pregnancy contract with Eun Sajun by any chance?”
“No. I escaped from that house while writing the contract, so I didn’t.”
“What? You ran away?”
“Yeah…”
Yeoul carefully nodded. At the same time, Yeojin’s complexion became cloudy and he began biting his thumbnail. It was behavior that came out when he was anxious. So Yeoul felt even more intimidated, thinking he had made a mistake.
“Did I act too rashly?”
It was an action he took because he absolutely couldn’t stay any longer since it was right before signing, but he was afraid he had caused great damage instead.
He didn’t know earlier because the situation was urgent, but thinking about it now, even if the name was fake, didn’t they submit photos when interviewing for housekeeper positions? If they tracked him down with that face, it would be troublesome.
“No, no. You did well. Our purpose was the ring, and since we never mentioned such a pregnancy contract before, there’s no need to write a contract. Also, since you entered with a fake identity and the resume we have now doesn’t have a photo, there won’t be any way to track you down.”
“What? There’s no photo?”
“Yeah.”
“But you interviewed. Wouldn’t they think it strange if there’s no photo?”
“After the interview, I switched it with a resume without a photo before leaving. Even though I used a fake identity, I didn’t want my face to be exposed.”
“But they might have requested a photo saying it was missing.”
“In that case, I was going to make various excuses not to give a photo. Either way, our faces aren’t in their possession.”
“Ah…”
Yeoul felt his worries dissolve and was relieved. Also, since he hadn’t taken any photos there, it was expected that there wouldn’t be any major problems. Even if there were CCTVs, they wouldn’t show faces clearly.
“But what’s Shin Taeon’s relationship with Eun Sajun? They seem to know each other well.”
“Well, I heard they were in the same unit before, but I don’t know the details either.”
“Huh? Unit?”
“They said both of them were special forces.”
“What?”
Yeoul’s pupils dilated. It was the first time he was hearing this fact. At the same time, Eun Sajun’s broad shoulders and imposing upper body flickered before his eyes. He had thought it was a body different from ordinary people, and hearing he was a special forces soldier, it was fully understandable.
“But why would soldiers run companies among civilians and be loan sharks?”
“I don’t know that much. I only learned this because Shin Taeon mentioned it in passing. And I don’t want to know deeply either. As long as I can escape that bastard, I don’t care about anything.”
Yeojin wrinkled his brow as if he was sick of it.
“By the way, you found the ring quickly. I thought it would take a few days. Wasn’t that house really big? How did you search it?”
“Actually, Eun Sajun gave me this ring.”
“What?”
“Yeoul, really?”
Uncle and Yeojin’s mouths fell open. Yeoul awkwardly nodded.
“How exactly did you receive it?”
“He just gave it to me when I said it was pretty.”
At Yeoul’s answer, Yeojin’s eyes became even more dumbfounded.
“Huh, that easily? From Shin Taeon’s tone, it seemed like an item with a story…”
“It has a story?”
It didn’t seem that way at all, so he was puzzled. Uncle also tilted his head as if finding it strange.
“Yeah. He didn’t say in detail, but that was the feeling. Well… it’s fortunate for us in the end. I need to meet Shin Taeon right away.”
Uncle quickly picked up his phone and went into the break room. Since the door wasn’t soundproof, the conversation could be heard blatantly.
“Hmm.”
Yeojin looked Yeoul up and down from head to toe. He was like a sculptor facing an important work.
“How did Eun Sajun act kindly toward you?”
“Huh?”
“That person is famous for having a difficult personality. I had a hard time dealing with him too because he was so rude.”
“What? I didn’t feel that at all.”
Though he felt he wasn’t normal, he had even nursed him and called a personal doctor. In that respect, he seemed like a kind person.
Moreover, for some reason, Yeojin’s face was becoming increasingly cloudy. Had his condition worsened again? Yeoul was worried.
“Why, is something wrong with your body?”
“No. I’m fine.”
Yeojin’s complexion, which had been gloomy for a moment, had returned. Soon the break room door opened and uncle came out. His face was glowing as if flowers had bloomed.
“Shin Taeon. We agreed to meet now. When I said we found the ring, he told me to come to the office right away.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yeah, I’ll wrap things up well and come back, so wait. Let’s have a party today!”
“Let’s do it next time when Yeojin fully recovers.”
Since he had just woken up yesterday and was barely stabilizing, resting came first now.
“That’s right. Got it. Then wait, okay?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
Soon uncle left. Yeojin’s gaze began scanning Yeoul’s face again. It was somehow sharp like a blade. Bewildered, Yeoul rubbed his cheek.
“Is there something on my face?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Yeojin turned his head and stared out the window. Snow continued to fall heavily.
“When I’m discharged this time, let’s go to the ossuary together.”
“Huh?”
“We need to tell our parents that we paid off the debt.”
“Right. It’s been a long time since we paid our respects.”
They hadn’t been able to visit because he had been working any job he could get his hands on.
Actually, to Yeoul, his parents were like wounds to him. During their lifetime, his parents liked Yeojin, who was an extremely dominant omega, more than him and gave him special treatment. That was natural too.
Extremely dominant omegas had smoother pregnancy and childbirth compared to other traits, and their second generation would manifest as extremely dominant traits without exception. Therefore, no matter how low their origins, successful businessmen, celebrities, and even people in politics wanted them.
In contrast, extremely recessive omegas like Yeoul were infertile. They didn’t have heat cycles and pregnancy itself was impossible.
Therefore, when extremely dominant and extremely recessive siblings existed in one household, the extremely recessive naturally sacrificed themselves to protect the extremely dominant traits. A representative example was that Yeojin entered university while Yeoul earned money for Yeojin’s tuition and living expenses.
This strange sacrifice was also an evil custom that had continued since the Joseon Dynasty. In those times, extremely recessive individuals devoted their entire lives to extremely dominant blood relatives, and sometimes even met death in their place. This was because the family’s survival and prestige were more important than the individual.
Perhaps all of this was providence ordained by nature. From childhood, Yeoul had a strong altruistic feeling that he needed to protect Yeojin instinctively.
Perhaps even if Yeojin hadn’t been injured, Yeoul would have eventually been the one to infiltrate Eun Sajun’s house.
Because Yeojin couldn’t be put in danger. Because dangerous work was always his share.
* * *
A week had passed.
Yeoul tilted his head and looked at his phone. This was because his uncle hadn’t been reachable for several days.
“Strange…”
Right after meeting Shin Taeon last time, uncle had called.
[Yeoul. The debt has all been forgiven now.]
‘Really?’
[Yeah yeah!]
‘Then come to the hospital quickly. Let’s eat something delicious today.’
[Well… Yeoul, my friend Jongpal’s parents passed away, so I’m heading down to Busan now.]
‘What? Really?’
[Yeah. So I’ll come back up in a few days.]
‘Yes. I understand…’
Uncle, who had finished the call like that, had been completely out of contact.
However, whether the talk with Shin Taeon had gone well, now there were no threatening calls or even trivial phone calls.
“Uncle still hasn’t contacted you?”
Yeojin, who was lying on the bed, looked at Yeoul worriedly.
“Yeah…”
“Maybe something really happened.”
“I think we should file a missing person report.”
“Let’s wait one more day and then decide. That friend Jongpal has been friends with uncle for 30 years. He might be too busy comforting him to think straight.”
Yeoul nodded at Yeojin’s opinion. He could understand since he had also experienced his parents’ death.
“Got it. Ah!”
Yeoul’s eyes widened and he hurriedly looked at the wall clock. It was a little past 11 AM.
“It’s time to go to my part-time job now.”
“Right. You said you were starting a new part-time job today.”
“Yeah. See you in the evening.”
Yeoul gathered his coat and put it on, then came out of the hospital room. He passed through the corridor, took the elevator down, and reached the lobby. Perhaps because it was visiting hours, it was bustling with people.
Then.
“Oh? Geum Haneul-ssi?”
At the familiar voice, Yeoul’s body froze. When he turned his head, Eun Sajun was right in front of him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
