My Bloody Valentine - 119

Chapter 119

“Left the hotel at 10:30, arrived at actress Shin So-young’s house in Hannam-dong around 11:00. Stayed for about five hours.”

Receiving reports from Myungseop, who was in charge of Han’s markings, had become part of Taeshin’s daily routine on his way home.

“Why does he keep going there?”

“It seems that when a house is unoccupied, it quickly becomes noticeable. It looks like he’s going there to take care of the house.”

“Why bother? He could hire someone.”

“He opens the door for service employees, like housekeepers or gardeners, who come once a week. He also organizes the packages that have arrived.”

“…..”

Taeshin still had a dissatisfied look on his face. He didn’t like Han talking or even showing his face to anyone other than himself. Myungseop, standing by Han’s side, added an explanation in his defense.

“He must be bored.”

“Why? He could just wait for me.”

“…..”

Thinking that it wouldn’t be easy to reason with him, Myungseop decided to remain silent.

“What’s that guy again?”

Noticing something outside, Taeshin slowly stood up from his relaxed position, leaning against the backrest. Myungseop followed Taeshin’s gaze and saw a man with a large paper bag near the hotel entrance, pacing around like a dog about to relieve itself.

“That’s Choi Haejun… It looks like he’s come to find Lee Han.”

“…..”

Taeshin narrowed his brows and made a call, instructing one of his subordinates inside the hotel.

“There’s a guy named Choi Haejun in front of the lobby. He’s wearing a brown jacket and gray pants. Grab him and bring him to the workshop.”

He ended the call and spoke to the driver.

“To the workshop.”

“Ugh… Please, please spare me…”

With a blindfold on and his hands tied behind his back, Haejun was kneeling on the cement floor. Taeshin sat on a folding chair, a few steps away.

“I don’t know who you are, but I don’t have any money… All I have is debt…”

“Choi Haejun.”

Haejun shivered at the chillingly low voice that called his name.

“Do you know why you’ve been brought here?”

“I-I don’t know… Really… I don’t know…”

“You gambled, didn’t you?”

“No! No! I used to, but since I became disabled, I haven’t even bought a lottery ticket! I swear! Please believe me…”

“Take off his blindfold.”

At the command to remove the blindfold, Haejun trembled as if he were trying to resist.

“No, please! Don’t! Please, spare me…”

Myungseop approached and removed the blindfold, but Haejun still tightly squeezed his eyes shut.

“I didn’t see anything! I didn’t see your face! You don’t have to kill me! I’m not even worth killing! Ugh…”

Taeshin let out a slight laugh.

“You’re pathetic. Open your eyes.”

Tears streamed from Haejun’s tightly shut eyes, and he shook his head vigorously.

Myungseop, who had silently approached from behind, grabbed Haejun’s hair and yanked his head up. Haejun gasped, expelling the air in his lungs, and opened his eyes. He then directly locked eyes with the man sitting before him.

“….!”

He recognized him instantly. The owner of the establishment where Han worked. It was someone whose appearance was hard to forget after seeing them once. Haejun’s mind grew rapidly chaotic.

“Eh…?”

“Why were you loitering in front of my hotel?”

“Well, I… I was trying to meet Han…”

Taeshin motioned for him to continue.

“I-I received a late call from actress Shin So-young… She told me Han hadn’t gone to the U.S…”

“What does that have to do with you?”

“I wanted to return something… and also pay back some of the debt I owe, little by little…”

“Return something?”

“The paper bag I was holding earlier…”

Before Taeshin even gave a command, Myungseop brought the paper bag and handed it to Taeshin. Taeshin’s eyes widened as he looked at the contents.

Inside the canvas bag was a picture of a child climbing a tree. The tree, with its familiar shape, was loaded with ripe persimmons.

“…Han drew this.”

“…I see.”

Taeshin’s expression softened, and Haejun could feel it. Seizing the moment, Haejun cautiously asked.

“Then… why did you bring me here?”

“It’s nothing serious. Since it’s hard to quit gambling, I thought I’d help you make up your mind… by taking one more finger.”

“AAHH! Please, please spare me!”

Haejun began to sob uncontrollably.

“That kid is kind, so it seems like he forgave you right away.”

Han was weak. He even forgave that gambler, and even me, a piece of trash like myself.

“That’s why someone like me needs to be by his side.”

In this way, Taeshin justified his presence beside Han.

“How shocked must he have been? Someone he trusted stabbing him in the back like that.”

Taeshin tapped his thigh with his long fingers, showing signs of deep thought.

“I can’t do it. It would be troublesome if I get on his bad side. But… if it’s someone else, it’s fine.”

Understanding what Taeshin meant, Myungseop stepped forward toward Haejun. He gently helped him to his feet. Haejun’s face turned pale. Myungseop lifted the tie Haejun was wearing, put it in his mouth, and said,

“Keep holding it in your mouth. If you mess up, you’ll lose all your teeth.”

A dull thud echoed through the workshop.

❖ ❖ ❖

On the way back to the hotel, Taeshin received a call.

• Sir, the woman you asked me to look into.

“That woman?”

• The one who helped Lee Han escape from Club Jade.

“Oh, why about her?”

She was the woman who Han had asked to help, without begging or pleading.

• She’s dead.

“What?”

• Apparently, she overdosed on some low-grade drugs she bought.

“…I understand. Don’t tell Han.”

• Yes. Understood.

After hanging up, Taeshin frowned in annoyance. He had planned to help the woman and introduce her to Han. He thought Han would smile when he saw her. He didn’t understand why, but Han had been so happy when he helped Yujung.

But now, it seemed like he would never see that smile.

“Damn… Why did she have to die?”

Taeshin muttered to himself, realizing again that he hadn’t changed. He was still living in the abyss of depravity and wickedness.

What if Han decides to leave because he can’t stand a man like me doing dirty work? But now, it’s too late to turn back. This is who I am.

Taeshin’s long fingers rhythmically tapped his thigh, revealing his inner restlessness.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind. Like that gambler, what if he cut off one or two fingers? Would Han stay out of pity, feeling sorry for him, because he’s become a cripple?

If that would make Han stay, even if it was just out of sympathy or pity, Taeshin would beg for it.

A cold breeze brushed against him as he got out of the car. It wasn’t just the wind—it was a strange, unfamiliar feeling that sent a chill down his spine.

Anxiety.

A sudden, irrational fear swept over him, the fear that Han might leave him without warning. What if someone had kidnapped him again? No, what if Han left on his own? Did he have the right to keep him?

“Ah…”

This was the price of my sins. I will now live with the fear of losing Han forever.

As this realization struck him like lightning, he stood frozen in the middle of the living room. The sound of water splashing echoed in his ears. It came from the bathroom attached to the living room, the one he usually used.

Taeshin rushed toward the bathroom and burst through the door. He saw a small back with dry shoulders and headphones, reflected above the lavender-colored water in the tub.

Taeshin quickly walked over to the tub, dipped his arms into the water, and pulled Han’s body out.

With a splash, the headphones Han was wearing fell into the overflowing water and landed on the floor.

“Uh? Taeshin? Why so suddenly… Ugh…”

Taeshin’s suit became soaked. Surprised, Han tried to push him away. Was something wrong outside? More than being startled, concern filled his mind.

“Your clothes will get wet, let me go for a sec…”

“I love you.”

“…!”

Taeshin pulled Han’s slender body into his arms and buried his face in his neck. The scent of Han’s skin, faint under his ear, felt especially warm and soft today.

“Don’t go… don’t go anywhere.”

Han, with wide eyes after suddenly being held, raised his arms and pulled Taeshin closer, hugging his back.

Taeshin, burying his forehead in Han’s shoulder, spoke as if spitting out a thorn from his throat.

“I love you…”

“…”

“So… don’t go.”

Han gently stroked Taeshin’s back, trying to calm him, and spoke soothingly.

“Okay… I won’t go.”

Taeshin, who had pulled away from their embrace, looked at Han’s face. The face of the person who was his life’s purpose and his only wish reflected in his eyes.

Taeshin lowered his head and hurriedly kissed him. In the rushed kiss, their teeth clashed, and their lips were bitten. Taeshin’s breath became heavier as he pressed his lips deeply against Han’s.

Taeshin tangled his fingers in Han’s wet hair, holding him firmly, and pushed his tongue inside. There was no calmness in Taeshin. He was completely losing himself in his desire.

He just wanted to have him, and have him again.