My Bloody Valentine - 3

Chapter 3

“Unnie, over here.”

“Yeah, you did well.”

Returning after seeing off some customers, No Jae-gu sat at the counter and handed a wad of cash to Jina. No Jae-gu, the main manager overseeing the entire establishment, is known for his thick bones and imposing presence.

“Did you bring those sisters here?”

“Yes.”

Jina deftly counted the money she received, then handed two 100,000 won checks to Jae-gu. Ten percent of the remaining money goes to Jina, and the rest becomes the shop’s earnings.

Seeing the checks and bills stuck between Jae-gu’s jeans zipper, Jina smirked.

“What do you plan to do with all that money?”

“My mother is sick.”

Jina’s nose flared as she twisted her head in disbelief.

“What, are you even planning to build a construction site for me?”

Jae-gu merely chuckled. He had never misused the shop’s funds and abided by the industry’s three prohibitions: cohabitation, collusion, and extravagance.

With his witty remarks and gentle playfulness, he was particularly adept at bringing in customers who were initially hesitant. There was no one better than him at setting the mood.

On Jae-gu’s back, the name of the shop was engraved in burgundy letters on a black background.

Club Tacenda.

‘Tacenda’ is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘things better left unsaid.’ This place seems to have a lot of unsaid things going on, making the name quite suitable.

Open for two years, Tacenda occupies the first and second basement floors of the 4-star Lime Business Hotel and is categorized as an entertainment establishment of the first kind.

The first basement floor is mostly occupied by male customers, while the second basement floor caters to female customers. However, as the early hours approach, the boundaries between the floors become as thin as tissue paper.

So, without bothering to divide the types, it can be seen as a place where people with some money and a bit of a lascivious streak, regardless of the gender of the customers and staff, gather.

While putting money into the POS terminal, Jina suddenly remembered something and let out a small sigh.

“I have to go see the new kid who came.”

One of Junho’s underlings had brought in a dusty, shabby-looking boy who seemed to have been picked up from the street. Junho threw him into the nearby employee waiting room and said this:

“Taesin hyung told me to bring him here, but… I’m not sure. Assess his condition and do what you think is best. Whether to train him or send him off.”

Considering he hadn’t been taken to the hospital to sell his organs, he seemed to have a decent appearance.

Should I go take a look? I don’t like excessively aggressive people.

Jina lifted her body, which had been crumpled against the counter. Standing tall, thanks to having received some modeling offers in her younger days, she easily surpassed 180 centimeters in height with 10-centimeter heels.

Her slim figure in a black dress walked out of the counter and into the corridor. Her smoothly painted red manicured hand gently tapped her back.

Perhaps because it had been a long time since she switched places, her shoulders and waist were sore and stiff from sitting for so long. Yes, she was now thirty-three years old.

In the waiting room, there were four women. Two of them were playing cards, one was busy looking at herself in the mirror, and another was engrossed in a mobile game.

Next to them on the long sofa lay a man in a loose hoodie and jeans. However, it seemed that nobody in the room paid any attention to his presence.

“Hey, do you see Hongdan? He’s 36, aged 41. Bring 40,000 won. If you don’t have 1,000 won bills, give me 50,000 won. We have plenty of 1,000 won bills here. If you don’t have 1,000 won bills, I’ll give you change.”

“Oh, unnie! Are you really taking all that without any discount? You should at least give a discount of 40,000 won!”

“Yeah, there’s no such thing.”

“Unnie!”

“40,000 won.”

Amid the sound of cards clashing, Han’s consciousness, which had been submerged in Suma, gradually awakened upon hearing the voices of the women echoing in the waiting room.

“40,000 won.”

“You’re not giving a lighter, are you?”

“Oh, yes. 500 won for a lighter. What color would you like?”

“What? 500 won? Why are you charging for a lighter?”

“…Huh?”

“You should give it as a service! I bought a single beer.”

Annoying 40,000 won. Damn 40,000 won.

He had truly experienced a nightmare that felt incredibly realistic. From having strange customers at the convenience store to going to the Han River alone, getting kidnapped on the way home, finding hair on the cement floor of the place he was held captive, no… someone’s hair.

“…!”

When he thought of himself kicking and stepping on someone’s forehead buried in the cement, his remaining drowsiness completely disappeared.

His whole body shivered, still sore, and the faint scent of cement lingered. This wasn’t a dream.

With his mind fully awake but her eyes still closed, Han began to assess the situation he was in. He heard the voices of the women clashing while playing cards.

“By the way, did you hear about Paradise? They said the manager over there, the guy, was acting all arrogant, saying that they’d soon surpass Tacenda’s sales, and he got caught trying to sell fake liquor to a big customer and is in deep trouble.”

“Really? Are we okay?”

“We send Jang-i’s guys to collect the money. They say Jang-i never cheated anyone out of their money.”

“Well, that’s true, but… even if you think about it, is that our money? It’s all the managers’ money.”

To encourage cash payments instead of card payments, the shop sometimes extends credit for drinks.

In most cases, the probability of non-payment is close to 80%, but since the owner of this shop, Jang Tae-sin, who is a substantial owner, is none other than a major player in the loan shark industry, the probability is probably much higher.

“Still, if the managers’ pockets are full, we might get a few extra pennies as a bonus.”

While pretending to sleep, he wanted to eavesdrop on the conversation to find out where he was, but Han couldn’t interpret a single sentence from their conversation.

During this time, the topic of conversation among these women had changed to the neighboring person.

“Why is he staying like that for so long?”

“Maybe he’s taking drugs.”

“Hmm… I don’t think he’s sleeping right now, unnie.”

Han’s palm began to sweat profusely.

“Unnie, want to bet with me? Is he sleeping or not?”

“How much?”

“Ten beans.”

“Okay.”

With that, the room fell strangely silent.

What is it? Did they just leave?

After about 5 minutes, Han cautiously opened one eye just a sliver.

With his vision still blurry, he found a woman’s face right in front of him. The woman had heavy makeup and a wide smile on her red lips.

“Ughhh!”

Han suddenly jumped up, screaming and running away. The woman who had seen her reaction burst into laughter.

“Hahaha, unnie, I won. See, this guy wasn’t sleeping, right?”

Even the woman who had been doing her hair at the dressing table burst into laughter. Han felt deeply humiliated as he bit his lip and awkwardly sat up.

However, it seemed like that was the extent of their interest in him. The woman who had pushed her face close to Han’s now returned to the place where the cards were laid out, receiving a 100,000 won bill from the woman sitting across from her.

While Han sat quietly in the corner, observing the situation, the room’s door opened, and Jae-gu entered.

Although there was a separate waiting room for male staff, Jae-gu visited this place every day. There was only one reason for it.

“Jae-gu, why are you here again? Don’t you have your own waiting room?”

“No Jae-gu! You came to see Jeong again, right? What’s your problem? She’s not here.”

“Oh, man, why did you teach her my real name? Don’t call me by my real name, call me Nine!”

Jae-gu insisted, snapping at them to use his stage name. The two women playing cards laughed at his reaction.

“Well, it should suit you.”

“But why ‘Nine’? Is it because you’re ‘Gu’?”

“Why, you… damn!”

“Giggle, giggle.”

Han always found it embarrassing and difficult to talk to women, but he was intrigued by this man who seemed to be anything but ordinary, chatting comfortably with these not-so-timid women. He gazed at him in a daze and, through the mirror, their eyes met.

Startled, he quickly lowered his head, but Jae-gu spoke to him.

“What’s wrong?”

Han, whose confidence had waned, averted his eyes. Then, belatedly, a cheeky reply came.

“Young man, why are you using informal language? It’s rude.”

The response came immediately.

“What did you say? You little brat.”

Han clenched his fist tightly.

“Y-You… are you just going to insult me?”

“Ugh, can’t hear you.”

“Um… Uh…”

Unable to provide a logical rebuttal, Han could no longer argue back. He had lost, a complete defeat for Han.

Dejected, Han clenched the fabric of his skirt with his hands on his knees. Meanwhile, Jae-gu resumed his conversation with the women.

“Oh, Jae-gu, by any chance, did Mr. Jang come out today?”

“Yeah, he seemed to have come to settle the accounts. He was so busy today. Should I put some makeup under my eyes, highlighting a bit of a decadent look…?”

The woman who had been applying mascara several times dropped it on the table nervously and sighed.

“Ugh, there’s no man like Mr. Jang. Is every guy who comes here in such a state every time?”

“True… Jae-gu, about Mr. Jang, does he have someone he’s meeting?”

“Enough, how would I know that? Let’s leave Mr. Jang alone as a public treasure.”

The word ‘Mr. Jang’ found its way to the ladies’ lips, even though Han had no idea who that was, it sounded like ‘Doctor Jang’ to him.

Jae-gu nodded meaningfully and joined in on the conversation.

“Yeah, let’s leave Mr. Jang alone. It’s better for you ladies too.”

“What? Why?”

“Ugh… I’ve seen two of the best dicks in my life. One was the guy who used to live next door to me, a football player, and the other one is Mr. Jang’s.”

Jae-gu’s words made the women’s eyes light up.

“Ladies, be thankful that Mr. Jang doesn’t mess with you. If you don’t want to end up in a wheelchair.”

“Oh my! How did you see it?”

“How did I see it? I saw it while taking a leak in the bathroom. And damn, I thought I saw it wrong, so I rubbed my eyes and looked again. I have no idea how he carries that thing around.”

“Did Mr. Jang decorate his…?”

“No, it’s natural.”

“Kyah!”

As if fans who had heard an anecdote about an idol, the women cheered with excitement. In the midst of their joyful reactions, the door to the waiting room opened.

Han, who had been sitting alone in the corner with an air of defeat, turned his watchful eyes toward the unfamiliar person who had just entered.