My Bloody Valentine - 10

| Chapter 10

As Han descended to his room on the underground 3rd floor, his breath became increasingly labored.

“Are you okay, Hana? Your breathing sounds weird.”

“Haa… haa… I’m… fine.”

Upon entering the room, Han took out an inhaler from his bag and brought it to his mouth. It was medication that eased the spasms in his bronchi, expanding the narrowed airways. Fortunately, Han’s wheezing gradually subsided. Jeong watched him with a concerned expression.

“Isn’t that something people with lung diseases use?”

While still struggling to catch his breath, Han chuckled at Jeong’s innocent question.

“I have asthma. It’s not severe, though.”

Nodding as if understanding, Jeong suddenly spoke hurriedly, as if something had just come to mind.

“Oh, by the way, is your back okay? I should have asked about that first. Should I tell Jina Unni?”

“No, it’s okay. It’s just a bruise, nothing much.”

“A bruise? Not on your face, but at the back. Didn’t it tear? Don’t you need some ointment?”

“…!”

Han’s face turned pale as he imagined something in response to Jeong’s words. Once again, he was on the verge of hyperventilating.

“W-what do you mean? Why, why would it tear there?”

“Huh? Didn’t you and Jang Isa… um, didn’t you two…?”

“No, it’s not… that was just… um…”

Trying to come up with an excuse, Han pursed his lips, then just shook his head. It was equally embarrassing to think about having to perform oral sex on that man.

“It wasn’t? You just went along with it?”

“….”

“If that’s the case, that’s fortunate. I was wondering why I never heard anything about Jang Isa touching anyone, so I was curious.”

Jeong stared at Han for a while, then, after receiving the manager’s instruction to go upstairs for the setup, reluctantly moved away as if disappointed.

In Han’s messed-up face, the traces of the past two days could be covered with makeup, but the swelling couldn’t be helped. Thanks to his disheveled appearance, Han was able to take a break for two days.

In the store, meals were provided at predetermined times, three times a day.

Tables were placed in front of the kitchen where appetizers were prepared. Like a Korean buffet, rice, soup, and side dishes were put in large containers. When brought over, Cheongsongpa’s members, waiters, and other Tacenda people ate together without discrimination. The scene looked like a cafeteria in a school.

To avoid bumping into Taesin, Han moved secretly and swiftly, like filming a spy movie, to confirm that he was not there before quickly consuming his meal. In doing so, he even choked once, and Jeong had to pat his back to help him.

On the third day of Han hiding in his room, his face, which had been swollen, returned to its original state, with only a few bruises of purple and yellow remaining.

Even though there were still traces of bruises, Han sighed with relief. At that moment, an unfamiliar woman visited him.

Holding a makeup bag in her hand, she abruptly sat Han down and began applying concealer to his face. The large bruises that had occupied his face soon disappeared without a trace.

With her hair touched and wearing pants and a rented shirt together with Jeong, Han was soon brought upstairs to the underground 2nd floor like a calf being led to the slaughterhouse.

Passing through the corridor, when he came out alone, he saw men standing in a row, waiting to greet arriving guests. It seemed they were there to leave more eye-catching marks on the customers who entered.

Standing at the end of the procession of men warmly greeting the women entering the entrance, Han bowed his head slightly to the customers who seemed like they might cry at any moment.

Some customers came on their own, and some drunken ones were brought to the establishment in a high-end car. There were even top-tier customers who came in a car with a driver. Like the short-haired woman coming down the stairs.

Just as the woman entered, Han’s gaze, which had been solely focused on avoiding Taesin, trembled at the sight of her. He had completely forgotten about her due to his preoccupation with avoiding Taesin.

Sun Woo-hee’s gaze, scanning the players who came out to welcome them with a haughty look, finally landed on the small man standing at the end. His already petite frame seemed even smaller, hunched over as it was.

“You! You bastard!”

Approaching with large strides, Sun Woo-hee grabbed Han’s cheek as if pinching it. Even though it was covered by makeup, she accurately held the bruised area, causing Han to let out a muffled scream.

“What? Aah? You’re in trouble.”

She wrapped her arm around Han’s neck as if putting him in a headlock. From her emanated the scent of expensive perfume and strong liquor.

“Manager Lim, tie him up for me today.”

Tie him up? Han didn’t understand the meaning, but the tone felt ominous. Struggling, he sent desperate signals towards the passing Sun Woo-hee with his flailing arms.

“Yes, Unnie. Thank you. You can go to the room for a private session. Manager Jo, please guide her.”

The ever-indifferent Gina’s face now displayed a capitalist smile.

Once inside the room, Han collapsed onto the sofa. Sun Woo-hee, with a fierce expression, looked down at Han, who was half-lying on the sofa, using one elbow to support himself.

“Why did you vomit back then?”

“I-I was scared.”

There were guys who occasionally came up with concepts. In their self-introduction, some would say, “I came because we ran out of rice,” or “I came to raise my younger sibling’s college tuition.” Such statements had become commonplace, and many guys displayed stress-inducing behavior to stimulate the dominant desires of stressed women.

But this guy seemed genuine. Few could express the sound of teeth hitting each other so naturally. Sun Woo-hee burst into laughter, realizing that Han’s trembling wasn’t an act.

“Are you by any chance a virgin?”

“Why… Why do they keep asking that question here?”

“Should I take care of you?”

With a mischievous expression, she threw the question at Han. His cheeks shook violently, as if the meaning behind the words had caused an earthquake.

“Why, why are you asking? I-I don’t really talk to women much….”

It seemed like the words “Please save me” were omitted after that. Sun Woo-hee’s eyes, filled with mischief, intensified.

“Who said you have to talk? Let’s do something else.”

“Even if we try, it won’t be fun for you. I’m small, and…”

“Even if you’re small, you’re probably bigger than my finger.”

“That’s… true…”

“Even fingers can be used for self-pleasure, so it should be okay.”

“Please, spare me!”

Sun Woo-hee burst into laughter, watching Han squirm under her mocking gaze.

Soon, she gestured toward the waiter who had brought her usual snacks. He brought a platter with fruits and cheese, as well as a bucket filled with ice.

Wiping away a tear that had formed in her eye, Sun Woo-hee patted the table towards Han.

“What are you doing? Set the table.”

“…Set the table?”

“Yeah. Did you think you’d be treated well by customers just by being a bit handsome?”

Although she said that, Sun Woo-hee started setting the table herself, beginning with pulling the bucket filled with ice towards them, using her own hands.

“Place a bucket in front of each customer like this. Two On the Rock glasses for each. This area is for drinking, and this one is for tea. Two in front of me, and two in front of you. Single glasses for the straights. Got it?”

“Oh… Yes.”

Han nodded with a serious expression, much like a student sitting at the front of a classroom. Sun Woo-hee smiled, raising one corner of her lips and laughing again. Han felt a gradual decrease in the fear he had towards her.

While she didn’t undress or behave provocatively, she continued to gaze at Han, occasionally touching his forehead, cheek, or chin, and even patting his head.

Han occasionally missed the timing to pour the drinks, and she would mockingly remark as she poured her own drink, “Am I pouring a drink or what?”

“Oh, yes.”

Han nodded with a grave expression, feeling a sense of duty like a student diligently following the instructions of a teacher. Sun Woo-hee smiled, lifting one corner of her lips again, amused by Han’s response. Han sensed a slight reduction in the fear he felt towards her.

Internally, he compared her to the foul-mouthed grandmother who ran a noodle shop he sometimes visited. She seemed like the type who would generously pour the broth until it overflowed, saying, “Damn kids, eat a lot…take care.”

“What are you doing, you son of a bitch? Pour the damn drink.”

“Oh, yes.”

Han apologized, and she continued, “You should speak up and have some basic manners. Aren’t you lacking in that?”

“Oh… Yes. Um… How did you first come here?”

“My husband died in an accident with a girl upstairs. I came to see what kind of girl she was.”

“Then, do you also have a lover here?”

“Am I crazy? Do you think I’m the same kind of person as that jerk?”

Suddenly, Han realized that he had been having a lot of conversations with women since he came here a few days ago. Even if he combined everything he had done in his lifetime, it would not be half of what he had done in the past few days.

The realization struck him as somewhat humorous, and Han chuckled softly, his eyes lowered. Sun Woo-hee took advantage of this moment to down another glass of alcohol.

“But when you came last time, why didn’t you let me go?”

“Your damn face doesn’t look like it’s worth much, but I was curious about how you’d pour drinks.”

“…”

“Why? Is your pride hurt?”

“…”

“Is it hurt? Hehe.”

“Please don’t laugh.”

“Are you pissed off?”

“Sorry…”

She chuckled and emptied another glass. This time, Han was able to refill her glass at an appropriate moment. As she became more intoxicated, she looked at Han with blurred eyes and said,

“Don’t make me black. Anyway, I probably can’t make someone like me black, but…”

“What does ‘make someone black’ mean?”

“There’s something like that.”

With a face that looked lonely, Sun Woo-hee touched Han’s cheek with her finger as if trying to shake off distracting thoughts, then pointed to the karaoke machine.

“The atmosphere is getting dull. Sing a song.”

After hesitating for a moment, Han approached the karaoke machine and entered the number of a ballad he liked and knew by heart. It was a song he often sang at the coin karaoke when he felt stressed.

Due to his weak vocal cords, there were occasional pitch issues. It wasn’t a skill that could be called good, even with kind words.

“Ha… My ears are rotting… I really can’t sing. Enough of singing, play a bright song and try dancing.”

Originally, the repertoire played to liven up the atmosphere in the bar was determined under the pretext of ‘school songs.’ However, Han, who had no knowledge of this world, played a song by his favorite male idol group.

From the time he had drunk about half of his drink, he wanted to improve Sun Woo-hee’s somewhat gloomy mood.

A fast-paced song played, and Han energetically moved his skinny arms and legs. Deep sighs escaped from Sun Woo-hee’s lips as she watched him.

“What are you good at? Can’t even flirt, can’t sing, can’t dance, can’t drink.”

“Sorry…”

Still, Sun Woo-hee didn’t kick Han out, and she didn’t call another player. They only called the band in the middle to hear a song from the band singer.

Usually, she would leave around six in the morning, but this time, she stayed until the end of business hours. Thanks to receiving all the tables for Part 1 and Part 2, Han occupied a considerable number of tables alone.

When they left the shop, the driver was waiting with the car door open. Sun Woo-hee got into a famous sedan, well-known even to Han, who didn’t know much about cars.

She took out a one million won bill from her wallet and handed it to Han.

“You’re talentless. You know that, right?”

“Yes…”

“Well, if you have a conscience, you’ll know too. If you have debts, pay them off quickly and clear up your mess.”

“Thank you. Goodbye.”

As Han bowed to the departing sedan, he turned around, and for a moment, he froze like ice.

Near the entrance, Taesin and Jina were smoking.

Jina had an interesting smile on her face, as if she had witnessed an amusing scene. Taesin, with an unreadable expression, stared at Han with an intense gaze.