My Bloody Valentine - 105

Chapter 105

‘I wish I could be kidnapped just one more time.’

For a brief moment, the thought that flashed through Han’s mind shocked him. It felt like cold water had been splashed on him, and his mind snapped to attention.

Where he was about to go was far, far away. Even if he suddenly wanted to see him, it would be impossible, because it was a place so distant.

Was this really the right way to leave, with such feelings?

From the time when he hid in the orphanage closet, giggling, to the day he lost him, feeling the crushing sadness, the days of reunion and despair, and the brief moments when they both felt their hearts were the same.

All those memories flashed through Han’s mind like a parade. When he remembered the deep eyes of the man who used to look at each of his features—his eyes, nose, and lips—Han longed for him desperately.

“I miss you…”

Without realizing it, a sigh escaped Han’s lips, and he drifted into his thoughts, following So-young and Seung-a.

As they stood in the perfume section, a scent brushed Han’s nose, and he froze.

“Uh…?”

It couldn’t be him here, yet the scent was strangely similar to Taeshin’s. Han looked toward So-young and Seung-a, who were smelling perfumes to give to their casting manager.

Han gazed at the black perfume bottle So-young was holding, with a face as if about to cry. It was a perfume he had seen in Taeshin’s closet.

With his head tilted slightly down, Han’s jaw tightened. The tears welling in his eyes could fall at any moment.

“I miss you…”

That scent was similar to Taeshin’s, but it wasn’t his real scent. The fragrance that filled Han’s lungs when he was embraced by him, that scent—Han could hardly bear the longing for it.

Meanwhile, So-young and Seung-a moved to another store. Han, following them with robotic steps, suddenly stopped. It was as if he had realized something.

Whether Taeshin had abandoned him or not, the truth was that Han still couldn’t let go of him.

He didn’t even have time to persuade So-young. Once he became aware of his feelings, he felt that he had to see him right away.

Han began to step backward, as if retreating from a perfect blueprint of a rosy future. His quiet steps went unnoticed by anyone. Gradually, the two women’s figures disappeared from Han’s sight.

When Han tried to exit through a door leading outside, an airport employee stopped him. Everything about the airport, from immigration to the procedures, was new to him, and he became flustered.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t go from the duty-free area to the general area.”

“Excuse me? I can’t go out?”

“Yes, you’ve already passed immigration. If you want to leave again, you’ll have to cancel your exit.”

“…”

Han’s eyes wavered for a moment. If he went to the U.S., he would probably live a peaceful, leisurely life, something he had never experienced before. So-young would make sure he enjoyed the best of everything, trying to compensate for the past years.

But what Han truly wanted was right here. A place full of people living outside the law. A paradise of the night, filled with money, indulgence, and filthy desires, teeming like maggots. In his arms, where the smell of bl00d never stopped.

He knew it was an absurd decision, but in front of longing, logic lost its power.

His wavering gaze soon became firm, as if he had made up his mind.

Han canceled his exit and came back out. Without even thinking about it, his feet led him toward Taeshin’s subordinate, who was standing near the gate, talking on the phone.

“Yes. There were some reporters, but there wasn’t much of a disturbance. I confirmed that they entered the immigration area safely. The flight is at 4:50. Yes, understood.”

After hanging up, the man walked toward the parking lot. From the report, it seemed like the “kidnapping” Han secretly hoped for wasn’t going to happen. It was probably just one of the bodyguards Taeshin had assigned.

Could someone go that far to protect someone they didn’t genuinely care about?

Han’s steps began to quicken with conviction.

Then, a thought crossed his mind. Just like the first time he was taken by him, when Taeshin didn’t consider his will, didn’t he have the right to ignore Taeshin’s will now? Isn’t that fair? Shouldn’t he be able to do something for himself for once?

The indecisiveness and weakness that the convenience store owner had often scolded him for seemed to disappear in this moment.

Now, Han was nearly running. When he reached the area where taxis were lined up, his phone, which he had kept in his pocket, rang. As expected, it was So-young calling. Han answered the phone with a slightly breathless voice.

“Hello?”

— Han? Where are you?

“…Sorry. I don’t think I can go to the U.S.”

There was a brief silence on the other end.

“…I just can’t end things like this.”

— ….

As Han spoke, he was once again certain.

He liked Taeshin. If that weren’t the case, there was no way he would be so filled with thoughts of him every day.

— Han… When love ends, it may feel like life itself ends, but it doesn’t… It’ll be great if you come with me. You’ll be happy. I’ll give you everything I couldn’t before.

“I’m sorry. Right now… I think I need to see his face. So… I’ll stay here, Mom.”

— …!

It was the first time Han had called her “Mom.” So-young, who was left speechless, remained silent for a moment before asking with a voice full of muffled sobs.

— …Can I call you every day?

“Yes.”

— Video calls too…?

“Yes.”

— …Okay. That’s enough.

After hanging up, Han immediately got into a taxi.

“Where to?”

Han told the driver the destination, then sat by the window, staring out at the passing scenery. Things he hadn’t noticed on the way in now became visible. The sculptural beauty of the bridge stretched between the land and the shimmering sea spray.

His heart beat faster, and he felt overwhelmed with emotion. The crooked handwriting in the letter Taeshin had left him appeared before his eyes, then faded away.

“Don’t go anywhere, wait for me. I’ll come for you,” the letter had said. Han clenched his hands into fists as they rested on his lap, repeating in his mind.

“Don’t go anywhere, wait for me. I’m coming to you now.”

❖ ❖ ❖

As soon as Han saw the familiar silver building in the distance, he jumped out of the car and started running.

Toward the “paradise of the night” where “things better left unsaid” happened countless times—Tacenda.

Each time he ran, water splashed from the puddles on the sidewalks, and he was thankful that the rain that had fallen during the day had stopped just in time.

When he finally reached the hotel building, Han crouched down, resting his knees and taking deep breaths.

The heart was beating so fast it seemed like it would jump out of his chest, and his breathing was unstable. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had run like this.

It was an area with many subway stations and office buildings, so the streets were crowded with people. Han walked against the flow of office workers heading home, giving off the scent of relief, heading toward the entrance of the hotel.

Passing through the lobby and reaching the 15th floor, Han’s steps toward his room were very familiar. However, his heart was far from the same as before.

Soon, Han stood in front of the teal-colored door. It was a door that had always felt like the entrance to a tiger’s den.

Han calmly took a deep breath again and raised his hand to knock, but somehow his hand returned to its original position.

After realizing his feelings, he had boldly rushed here like a character from a drama, but standing in front of the door, fear suddenly gripped him.

It’s okay. Don’t waver.

Han repeated words of encouragement to himself and recalled Taeshin’s face. Then, he took one more deep breath.

Once again, Han’s expression shone with determination. His fingers, tensed with strength, pressed the doorbell.

Ding-dong.

However, no response came from inside, no matter how long he waited. Even when he pressed it again after a while, it was the same.

The tension he had felt seemed to disappear, and his stiff shoulders drooped. He felt strangely deflated.

Han leaned against Taeshin’s room door and sat on the carpeted floor.

It felt like it was the first time he had run like this since the day he had escaped from Tacenda. Han massaged his sore thigh muscles with his hands as he waited for Taeshin. But after a long time, there was still no sign of Taeshin, not even an ant passing by.

Han sank into thought. He couldn’t just spend the night in the hallway, so wouldn’t it be better to wait inside?

Suddenly, something came to his mind. He remembered that, due to security reasons, two other people had the access cards to Taeshin’s room: Nam Junho and Kim Myungseop.

Making up his mind, Han turned around and walked toward Tacenda. Soft jazz music, a bit unfamiliar in the mostly semi-classical environment of Tacenda, played faintly.

As soon as he passed the entrance, Han’s feet came to a sudden stop, as if the brakes had been applied.

Behind the counter where there should have been someone else, another woman was sitting. Han couldn’t forget her face—the woman who had gotten out of the car with Taeshin. She was unforgettable, not the type of woman who could be easily forgotten.

She, too, seemed to recognize Han, her sharp eyeliner widening in surprise. Han glanced around and asked,

“Who are you? Where is Manager Im Jina…?”

With an amused look, the woman crossed her arms and squinted at Han.

“I’m the manager here. What’s the matter?”

“…!”

Han’s pupils trembled slightly.

“That’s impossible… So where is Manager Im Jina?”

“She left to prepare for another business and resigned.”

“…!”

Tacenda without Jina. It felt awkward, like something unspoken was lingering.

Han tried to understand the situation for a moment, but then realized he had more urgent matters at hand.

“Oh, do you know where Kim Myungseop is? He’s about this tall, with this build, and has tattoos up to here…”

Han gestured and described Myungseop with his hands. The woman, watching him like he was a cute child, smiled smoothly and answered.

“If it’s him, he’s in the office. He should be eating right now.”

Before Han could thank her, he turned around and ran down the hallway. He knocked on the office door, and a deep, rough voice from inside answered.

“Yes.”

When he opened the door, only Myungseop and another staff member, whom Han had seen only a few times, were there. They seemed to be about to have a late dinner, with a box of sushi placed on the table between them and chopsticks in their hands.

Myungseop, who had picked up a sushi piece with a shiny piece of salmon on top, dropped it when he saw Han appear at the door.

“What are you doing here…?”

Myungseop looked at his wristwatch and Han’s face alternately, unable to understand how someone who should be on a flight to LA right now was standing in front of him.

To Myungseop’s confusion, Han immediately asked,

“Do you know where Jang Taeshin is?”

“Jang Director went to the shareholders’ meeting today…”

Myungseop’s words were followed by the unspoken question, “Then why are you here?”

Han’s eyes shone with determination again as he spoke.

“I have a favor to ask.”

Han closed the door behind him. Myungseop swallowed nervously, feeling that it wouldn’t be an easy favor, even though he hadn’t eaten the first piece of sushi yet.