My Bloody Valentine - 38

“Taesin…”

I woke up from a short sleep, consciousness returning. It was around that time that I emerged from reminiscence. My mind, which had been as deeply buried as under water, gradually cleared up.

Why did I dream of my childhood?

Even though I knew that Jang Taesin was no longer the same Taesin I knew, there was still confusion lingering in my subconscious.

But now I had to admit it. The person who hurt me like this was definitely not the Taesin who once didn’t know what to do even if a small thorn pricked my hand.

Han glanced around quietly. Events that unfolded in his familiar space poured into his mind without reservation.

Seeing no signs of anyone around, he seemed to be alone. As soon as he realized this, Han quickly got up.

For a moment, he felt dizzy as if his vision was spinning. His back was stiff, and sitting up made the lower part of his body ache as if it might collapse.

Although he felt like lying down again, getting out of here was the priority. Han struggled to move his body and searched for his upper garment.

Under the messy table seemed to have been cleaned by someone. And no matter how much he searched, he couldn’t find the T-shirt and hoodie I was wearing.

Han opened the closet on one side of the hallway connecting the living room and bedroom. Similar suits hung densely in the upper compartment, and the same white shirts hung tightly in the lower compartment. It seemed like no one would notice if one was missing.

Han took out one of the shirts. Taesin’s shirts were ridiculously large for Han. But as long as it covered his body, it didn’t matter what it was. With the appearance of a child wearing his dad’s clothes, Han hurriedly left Taesin’s room.

His staggering steps were like those of a drunkard. Han barely managed to take the elevator down to the third basement floor.

As he walked towards his own room, Han’s semen, which he had scattered deep inside, trickled down his thigh and ankles, passing through the slightly open entrance. There was a tremendous amount of it.

The feeling of the hot liquid flowing down and gradually cooling was so dreadful that it sent shivers down his spine. Han’s lips involuntarily clenched tightly.

“Han…”

Was she worried about me? Joy stood in front of the door. At this moment, she didn’t feel welcoming.

Just pretend not to know… so we can act like it never happened.

“Are you okay?”

“I just want to rest a bit.”

“…”

“Sorry, Joy.”

Han walked past Joy, who wore an affectionate smile despite the traces of our affair, and went straight to his room. Then, he added another line to the third circle out of twenty drawn on the wall and collapsed as if he were falling asleep.

Even after the door was closed, Joy stood in front of Han’s room instead of going back to her own.

Even when she was in college and liked to decorate, she didn’t like putting on nail polish because it felt stuffy, but since coming here, her nails were always covered with sparkling gel nail polish.

Her smooth gel-manicured hand quietly touched the door of Han’s room, as if trying to eavesdrop.

“Ah…”

The conversation she had just had with Jae-gu and me swirled in Joy’s mind like a whirlwind.

“Who develops feelings in such a ridiculous situation like this?”

“Sister, even flowers bloom in ruins.”

In the ruins, that flower was delicately blooming inside Joy’s heart.

After a while, Joy turned back and returned to her suite instead of her own room. Then she headed to the office located in the deepest part of the first basement floor. Knocking on the door, she heard a response from inside.

Nam Junho was sitting at the desk, and across from him, leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette, was a man. Joy lightly nodded at Jun and stood in front of Junho’s desk.

While Jang Taesin was the representative of Taesinda, the actual management was done by Nam Junho. He was a person with a unique background, having both college and organizational experiences simultaneously, and he also had an accountant certificate.

Rumors had it that Im Jina and Jang Taesin had been taking care of him so he could finish his studies, but whether that was true or not remained unknown because there was nobody who knew their story properly.

However, whether it was just a rumor or not, they often seemed to have their own wavelength, like animals communicating on a certain frequency. They understood each other without having to speak, as if knowing what the other wanted to say.

Nam Junho, who had been staring at the monitor, glanced at the newly arrived Yujung.

“What’s going on?”

Yujung turned her head slightly to look at Jina. Jina gestured for her not to worry, and Yujung looked back at Nam Junho and spoke again.

“I was wondering if you could tell me how much money I have left to pay.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I want to get out of this damn place as soon as possible.”

People who sincerely mistake confessions made on Valentine’s Day. People who need emotional dumpsters. People who buy and sell others like objects. And even their own situations, where they can’t escape from that place. All of it sickened Yujung.

“Have you two been taking some kind of medication lately? Or did some virus spread on the third basement floor? Why are the kids going crazy together?”

“…”

Not only Junho but also Jina was looking at Yujung with a renewed interest. It was the first time Yujung, who had always been calm and rational, showed signs of agitation.

“About five million is left. You paid a lot.”

“…”

Five million…

Yujung quietly mulled over it in her mind.

“I’ll try to hustle more in the future.”

“Why the sudden change?”

“…”

Instead of answering Junho’s question, Yujung turned straight to Jina.

“Director, I want to go out for a moment.”

“Sure. When?”

“If possible, now.”

“I’ll cover for you. Go ahead.”

Kim Myungseop was the member of the organization Yujung felt most comfortable with. Yujung bowed slightly and left.

Yujung left behind the organization member assigned to monitor her and headed to an outlet where she had been with Han before. Then, she went into a casual brand store and chose a men’s padded jacket. The salesperson, who seemed a bit chubby, asked her.

“Are you buying it as a gift for your boyfriend? He’ll love it.”

“No, he’s just a friend…”

Yujung, who was somehow embarrassed, felt like she had returned to her ordinary days before she started this job.

Han was someone who didn’t fit in with this environment at all. Despite living here for several months, he didn’t blend into the atmosphere of Taesinda like oil floating on water.

Maybe that’s why. When he was with Han, he felt like an ordinary university student or a regular office worker. He became the kind of person who simply wanted to love someone normally and dreamt of building a family with someone.

“Wait. Can you pull over for a moment?”

On the way back, Yujung, who had been staring blankly at the passing scenery outside the window, asked Myungseop. What she discovered was Han’s studio.

“Excuse me.”

The male part-time worker, who had a tired expression from being immersed in his routine, noticed Yujung and widened his eyes.

“I don’t know much about art… So I’m not sure what I need.”

With the help of a part-time worker, Yujung wandered around the art studio carrying a basket, starting to collect drawing tools.

Since she didn’t know what Han wanted to draw, she bought acrylic paints that could be used for various purposes. She also picked up items with unfamiliar names like sketchbooks, small canvases, and things like gesso and varnish.

Trying to make a proper setup, she ended up leaving the art studio with large plastic bags in both hands.

When Yujung returned, she spread out what she had bought in front of Han’s door. She hung the paper bag containing the padded jacket on the doorknob. She recalled Han’s face, which had looked melancholy but had tried to smile affectionately.

Why do I feel like if I save you, I might be saved too?

Yujung wanted to protect Han’s smile. Even if it seemed hypocritical or selfish satisfaction, she had no other choice.

Han slept for a full day and half. He woke up feeling groggy and slightly dizzy, probably from sleeping too long.

Feeling a slight fever running through his body, he got up from his seat. The dry winter air made his throat dry, causing him to cough. With each cough, dull pain spread from his back to his waist and thighs.

“Ugh…”

It was difficult to distinguish whether this pain was from the seasonal flu he suffered every season or from his relationship with her. He groaned involuntarily from the dull pain.

He sluggishly made his way to the bathroom, washed up, and felt a little clearer when he came out. Then he remembered ignoring Yujung’s worry and bringing in the things she had bought. Han got up from his seat with a small sigh.

It was around 7 PM, a time when Taesinda would be preparing for the start of business, but Yujung, who usually started work later than others, would still be in her room.

As soon as he opened the door, he noticed the bag full of art supplies and the paper bag hanging on the doorknob. Since only Yujung knew that he once learned to draw, she must have bought them for him, probably to cheer him up.

With a somewhat heavy expression, Han looked down at the items and brought them into his room. Then he immediately knocked on Yujung’s door. But her door was firmly locked. It seemed she had already left for work early for some reason. Maybe she was waiting in the lobby. He came upstairs to the first basement floor thinking that might be the case.

Han faced his lethargic reflection in the shining elevator doors and felt a deep sense of guilt. When was the last time he thought about quickly repaying his debt and helping Yujung repay hers? He realized that he wasn’t even trying to escape from here, immersed in his own pity.

As the elevator doors opened, a world of indulgence unfolded before him. Waiters in well-groomed uniforms were bustling around the hallway, preparing the basic settings for all cleaned rooms.

Han decided to give up looking for Yujung and turned around. He usually stood at the counter sending out business messages to customers and making reservations at this time.

She, who always looked glamorous with her makeup and hair done at the salon, was sitting at the counter today, staring at the computer. Her dress, flowing around her slim body, was her battle uniform.

“Um… Director.”

Han cautiously spoke up. Since he didn’t seem to have talent as a player, he wanted to work as a waiter, or if that wasn’t possible, he would like to work in the kitchen.

“What’s got into everyone to make them work so diligently? Are they scared?”

“…Excuse me?”

Han didn’t know that Yujung had been taking reservations full time from early in the day.

“No, we can’t just put anyone in the kitchen. It’s a place with fire and knives, so you need a lot of discipline.”

“Ah…”

“Being a waiter isn’t bad. If you’re a bit observant, you can make quite a bit of money. Wanna give it a try?”

As soon as Han nodded, someone behind him gestured towards him. It was a man in a waiter uniform with a nametag reading ‘Nick’ on his chest.

“Min Gyu. Take him and show him the ropes…”

Before the person could finish his sentence, he couldn’t continue. It seemed like he saw a slight twitch on her usually smooth face. Han’s head instinctively turned to follow where her gaze was going.

About six men were coming down from the elevator. Looking at their black suits and intimidating expressions, anyone could easily guess their profession.

The first to enter was a man in his mid to late forties.

Han felt a shiver run down his arm again. The man was smiling, but his eyes were not.