My Bloody Valentine - 29

As the end of the season approached, most of the trees in the garden had shed their leaves, leaving bare branches. However, the peculiar rocks and twisted branches, combined, created a serene scene reminiscent of an ink painting.

A chestnut flew into Taesin’s face as he gazed at the full-length glass window that occupied one side of the wall, like a frame.

“Are you listening to me, you punk?”

Only then did Taesin turn his head. This place was the meditation room in Chairman Geonseong Gil’s mansion, where he often spent leisurely time sipping tea or alcohol.

The chairman, whose face still had a faint pallor, had finished about a month of hospitalization and was discharged last week, returning to his mansion.

“What kind of talk did they have when I wasn’t around?”

“They were quite excited, talking about ‘Consigliere’ and ‘Shateigashira.'”

Consigliere is a term used in the Mafia, and Shateigashira is a term used in the Yakuza, but they have similar meanings. It refers to someone who should take on the role of the boss when the boss is dead or absent.

“O Seongjin must have been in a frenzy.”

“He was the calmest.”

“When does that guy openly go wild? Fine. So, while these guys are looking around, what have you been up to?”

“I’ve been watching.”

Baek Chairman, who had been looking at Taesin with a somewhat pathetic expression for a moment, clicked his tongue as if mocking.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to go out to the company this week? I hope Lee Cheolseung sent you out a bit.”

“Lee Cheolseung, the head of business?”

“Yeah. He said he’s opening an arcade. What kind of word is ‘arcade’ without any foundation? An arcade.”

The total amount of money going back and forth in an adult arcade in a day reached the tens of billions of won. As much money flowed, it became an area where gangsters familiar with the smell of money often jumped in.

But for Baek Chairman, who was trying to leave the shadows of the dark world and come out into the light, it was something he could no longer accept.

“Why don’t you do it yourself? It would be better than being fired by that useless son.”

“When did I ever ask for your opinion?”

“… I’ll go out tomorrow.”

“Ah. That’s better.”

Only then did Chairman Baek nod his head satisfactorily.

Although he often threw questions in the form of asking for opinions, looking into them always revealed that they were just notifications. Even when he handed over the director position, he had already prepared everything and even printed business cards before asking, ‘Will you do it?’

Baek Chairman’s affection for Taesin, whom he had been observing for a long time since he was a child, was quite deep. Knowing it quite well, Taesin didn’t come and demand a place for himself first. Except for an obsession with ‘money,’ he seemed to want nothing else. Sometimes, he didn’t seem to value his own life much.

Due to the nature of his work, fights were frequent, and there were many threats of murder, but Taesin never felt fear as if he were a guy with a loose screw. Chairman Bae, who liked Taesin’s unresponsive and mineral-like personality, found it quite pleasing.

During the conversation, a servant brought wine and snacks and set them on the table. Vintage wine worth millions per bottle was poured into the glasses of the two men.

If it were someone else, they would have said, ‘Chairman! How long has it been since you were discharged? Let’s have a drink!’ and would have made a fuss, but Taesin was looking at the red liquid in his wine glass with an expressionless face, as if it was diluted blood.

“It’s a gift, and it’s very famous. Try it.”

Gripping the slender waist of the glass, as if it could break at any moment, Taesin took a sip of the liquid in his mouth and immediately put the glass down. Watching this, Chairman Bae’s lips curled up with an amused smile.

“Why? Doesn’t it taste good?”

“No.”

“To be honest, neither do I. I have no taste. Whiskey suits my palate more. How about you?”

“Yes.”

Chairman Baek unknowingly sought common ground with Taesin.

He had not regained consciousness for over a fortnight after a cerebral stroke and had been hospitalized for nearly a month. Due to unhealthy habits, his blood vessels had narrowed and clogged. Doctors warned him that if left untreated, another such incident could occur, and it might even lead to death.

Perhaps his end was not far off. He had no intention of quitting smoking or giving up the greasy steaks that caused blood to ooze. He thought, If a tiger is hungry, let it tear up the grass. It would be better to starve and die.

Death didn’t frighten him, but the regret of not leaving behind any descendants took root. At that moment, Jang Taesin came to mind. If his wife were still alive, and they had a son together, wouldn’t the child be around the age of seven, he thought suddenly.

“Taesin.”

“Yes?”

“Before I die, I want to register you in my family registry.”

Taesin tilted his head as if to ask what he meant.

“I mean, I want to adopt you as my son.”

“But I’m not seven; I’m twenty-seven. Isn’t it a bit late to be adopted?”

“It comes with the condition of entering as a beneficiary; I’ll give you all my shares.”

“It’s not money, and I’m not interested.”

“That’s money, you idiot. It’s something more valuable than money!”

“Then give it to me in cash.”

“Haha, really… How much will satisfy your greed? Where does your desire for money end?”

“…”

Taesin couldn’t understand why he was so obsessed with money.

He didn’t dream of becoming a billionaire. Things like money could be earned as needed, and he already had enough. Strangely, Taesin always felt like he was in poverty. It was as if he were suffering from a disease where eating didn’t fill his stomach.

“Tsk tsk, even if it’s broken, it’s sturdy.”

“Then throw it away.”

Chairman Baek raised his fist as if to crush Taesin but held back. He knew Taesin always suffered from severe headaches.

“We’re going to send the gang members out one by one. Then we’ll bring in a capable CEO from outside. You’ll keep sitting in the director’s seat, just watching him, so he doesn’t ruin the company with his nonsense. You’re good at that, right?”

“…”

Even after saying all that, when no acceptance came, Chairman Baek took out his trump card.

“Yongdu-pha two-toed toad. Did you kill it?”

Taesin looked at Chairman Baek as if trying to understand the truth behind the question. Sometimes, even Chairman Baek felt a chill in Taesin’s gaze that could make him flinch.

“The bastards had figured it all out. Who do you think covered it up?”

“Are you threatening me now?”

“Huh, can’t you see? It’s a saying to repay a favor, you punk! A favor!”

“Either way.”

Taesin turned his head again and looked out the window he had been watching earlier. At that moment, a small white bird descended like snow and perched on a twisted branch. Chairman Bae, who turned his gaze in the same direction, also spotted the bird.

“It seems winter is coming. Considering the arrival of the snowy owl.”

“Snowy owl?”

“The beautiful bird you’re looking at. It’s a winter migratory bird called the snowy owl with a white head. It’s a rare species, but you seem to be quite lucky to see it.”

“…”

The small bird, appearing fragile and ready to shatter with a slight squeeze, reminded Taesin of something familiar. Taesin stood up abruptly.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“Why are you leaving already? Did you hide a lover in the room or something?”

“…”

“Is it true?”

Ignoring Chairman Bae’s question, Taesin bowed and left.

It had been a week since he fled his room like escaping from hell, barefoot. The memory of the time when he used informal language and bantered with me came to mind.

I wonder if he’s gotten a bit better.

❖ ❖ ❖

Tears poured down uncontrollably as he looked at the letter in his hand. Despite hunger and cold, it was the only item that reminded him of the happy times when they were content with each other’s presence.

But now, it was damaged, a fleeting memory that only he cherished.

“Why are you crying…”

Lifting his head at the familiar voice, Han stood at the door, seemingly having entered without notice. Whenever there was a gap, Yujung would find his way to Han’s room.

“Just…”

“Haah… No. Keep crying. I want to cry too. Let’s cry together.”

Yujung, a non-smoker, had a lighter on hand in case guests requested it. Taking the lighter from Yujung, Han put the precious letter that he had kept for over a decade into the empty wastebasket and set it ablaze. The paper quickly turned into ash, emitting a smoky gray.

“What is that?”

“…My childhood.”

Soon, the acrid smoke filled the room. Sitting side by side, the two watched as Han’s childhood seemed to turn to ashes. Yujung, leaning on Han’s shoulder, comforted him in silence.

Beep, beep.

Having burned only a piece of paper, a high-quality fire alarm began to sound, detecting the smoke. It was ironic. In the Sweet Room, where Jang Taesin could smoke freely without causing any disturbance, a mere item-related incident triggered a discrimination.

Shortly after, the makeshift sprinkler installed in each room began to sprinkle a shower of water over their heads.

“It’s refreshing.”

“Yeah.”

However, the two sat motionless, letting the rain fall on them. They even exchanged words praising the charm of their picturesque state.

Just as the sprinklers stopped, the door creaked open.

Standing at the wide-open door was Jang Taesin. His disheveled hair, as if he had run, fell in strands across his forehead.

Tae-sin’s gaze swept over Han and Yujung, who were sitting side by side in the middle of the room.

With an indifferent tone, Han spoke while meeting Taesin’s gaze.

“No fire. Get out.”

Tae-sin, surprised by Han’s attitude, widened his eyes as if pouring out disbelief.

“…”

Tae-sin’s well-defined jawline tensed, and without a word, he approached, stepping on the wet floor with bare feet. He grabbed Han’s forearm, and without hesitation, pulled him outside.