My Bloody Valentine - 54

The staff cafeteria was unusually rowdy today. The tables, usually half-empty, were packed to the point it was hard to find an open seat.

Most were burly men in black suits, which made the cafeteria feel even more cramped.

Han filled his plate with a modest portion of rice and side dishes. After looking around, he finally spotted an empty spot in the corner and signaled Woo-sin.

“It’s a bit strange. Why do we have so many big guys at the bar lately?” Woo-sin whispered to Han as he sat across from him. Han nodded in agreement after surveying the area. The number of guards, which used to be just six or seven at most, had more than tripled.

The table next to them with unfamiliar men was lively. Upon closer look, there were soju bottles on their table. It seemed they were drinking along with their meal. Though calling it “with the meal” may have been an understatement given the number of empty bottles.

It was essentially daytime since business kicked off at 7 pm here, yet these men were already heavily intoxicated.

Then one of the men, with bleary eyes, scanned the room and spotted Han.

“Hey, isn’t that the kid…”

“Who?”

“The one who got it on with Director Jang last time.”

Han dropped the metal chopsticks with a clang. Pretending not to hear their loud conversation, Woo-sin calmly placed a new set of chopsticks in front of Han.

“Ah, were you at the worksite that time?”

“Yeah. Damn, they were going at it in the car for three hours straight. I thought he was killing someone.”

“Really? Who was it? Let me see his face.”

Han’s head drooped down. Woo-sin set down his spoon and asked, “You want to go out and get something instead? My treat.”

“…It’s okay.”

The men stared at Han’s bowed face with an unabashed gaze, like watching animals at the zoo.

“I may not know, but he must be a tight one. Director Jang was panting and thrashing about like a strung-out horse. The car was about to be trashed.”

“Tight one” refers to a tightly woven fishing net that traps fish so they cannot escape, used here as crude slang for an incredibly tight orifice that sucks in a man’s penis.

“Hey! Lift your head up. Let me see your face!”

Han pretended not to hear the men’s vulgar comments. The rice on his plate felt as coarse as sand granules.

“He does have an unusual look for a guy.”

“Yeah, he kind of reminds me of someone.”

“Who?”

“Ah, who was it? Some celebrity, but I can’t recall…”

Having become the men’s target of ridicule was utterly pitiful and miserable for Han. Eventually, he stood up.

“Woo-sin, I’ll head out first. Take your time eating.”

“You’re leaving just like that?”

He didn’t have anything else to do anyway, so skipping one meal wasn’t a big deal. Instead of answering, Han gave a pitiful smile and hurried out of the cafeteria.

Soon, as he was walking down the maze-like hallway, he sensed someone following behind him.

From the irregular footsteps on the carpet, it was easy to tell the person trailing him was one of the intoxicated men from earlier.

Not wanting to reveal where his room was, Han turned in a different direction. He didn’t think one of the guards would try anything uncalled for, but an uneasy feeling rushed his steps.

That’s when an outstretched hand grabbed Han’s arm from behind, and he felt himself being dragged somewhere, as if being sucked in.

The place he was turned towards had a door leading to the emergency stairwell. He didn’t even want to imagine what might happen if he was dragged out there.

Han struggled violently.

“Let, let go! Aah!”

“You’re pretty quick on the uptake, kid. How about I try out that tight hole of yours?”

“No! Let go! Let me go!”

Han resisted with all his might, but there was no overcoming the difference in strength.

The man’s hook-like hand gripped Han’s wrist and dragged him along. The man opened the emergency stairwell door and stepped outside first. Just as he was about to pull Han out too,

Woo-sin, who appeared from somewhere, grabbed the open door and slammed it shut forcefully. The man’s forearm was caught in the doorway.

“Argh!”

With a bang, the area above the man’s wrist was caught in the door. It sounded like bones were crunchingly breaking.

Finally, Han’s hand was freed. With an expressionless face, Woo-sin gripped the man’s twitching hand that stuck out and yanked it inwards. Then with his other hand, he opened the door and slammed it shut again.

This time, the man’s elbow area was crushed against the door. Another sickening crunch was heard.

“Aaaargh!”

The man outside let out a death cry. As soon as Woo-sin opened the door a crack, the man’s hand shot out, and Woo-sin closed it again. Then with a click, he locked the door.

Turning to Han, Woo-sin asked, “You okay?”

Tears brimmed in Han’s terrified eyes.

“Th…thank you…”

But worry for Woo-sin took precedence over gratitude.

“What if…he tries to get revenge later on…”

“It’s fine. He didn’t see my face anyway. And did you hear those bones breaking? He’ll be in the hospital for two months at least.”

Since Woo-sin was inside, it was unlikely the man saw his face. Han finally heaved a sigh of relief, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Without a word, Woo-sin took Han to the first-floor convenience store.

It was evening so the streets were busy. Only surrounded by many passersby did Han feel at ease, sipping the warm yujacha Woo-sin handed him.

Even then, he was too shaken by his near traumatic experience to feel unsettled by Woo-sin’s cool demeanor as he relentlessly crushed the man’s arm.

What made Han start doubting Woo-sin was a seemingly trivial matter.

By chance, they ran into waiter Mingyu who came to buy cigarettes. Han overheard Woo-sin exchanging greetings and some work-related talk. Looking towards the parking lot, Woo-sin shook his head in seeming annoyance. A notorious customer’s car who made waiters run errands was entering the lot.

“Ah, it’s the Director from Yongseong Construction again.”

“Seriously? How the hell did you spot that?”

“4744. Just went in.”

Employees often memorized regulars’ car models and plates. Mingyu glanced towards the underground entrance, amazed.

“You can see that from here?”

“What can I say, I’ve got eagle eyes. 2.0 vision in both eyes since elementary school. Impressive, right?”

“Wow, are you descended from Mongols or something?”

Han stared intently at Woo-sin conversing with Mingyu. Only after parting with Mingyu did Woo-sin notice Han’s gaze, nonchalantly raising his eyebrows as he approached.

“Han? Why are you looking at me like that? Am I just that good-looking? Do I look even better as your lifesaver?”

“You…what was that?”

“Hm?”

“Why did you buy contact lens solution if your eyes are that good?”

“Huh? Contact lens solution?”

Woo-sin blinked his widely opened eyes a few times as if confused, then let out an “Ah” as if remembering something he had forgotten.

“That? My roommate asked me to get some.”

“You said you live in a goshiwon. Do those have roommates?”

“…”

“What’s the name of the goshiwon you live in?”

“…”

Woo-sin stared at Han for a moment, opening and closing his mouth a few times as if about to make an excuse, but ended up letting out a resigned chuckle instead. Swear words slipped out from between his bitter laugh.

“Haha, shit.”

“…!”

Han instinctively stood up from his seat, the chair scraping against the paving blocks with a screech. Woo-sin, who he had been close with for months, suddenly felt like a complete stranger.

“Hey, Han. Han? Just listen to me for a bit.”

Han slowly backed away a few steps.

“Haha, why are you acting like this? Hey, think about it. I just saved you, didn’t I?”

“…”

“Would I have saved you if I was some weirdo?”

“…”

There was a sense of desperation in Woo-sin’s voice as he made excuses and awkwardly scratched the back of his head, like someone backed into a corner. Han felt he could no longer endure the tension.

Turning around, Han broke into a run back inside the building.

“Ah, why are you running away again?”

He heard Woo-sin’s faint voice and footsteps quickly following behind him. Han inwardly lamented having to flee for the second time that day as he raced down the hallway.

Why did Woo-sin lie? Jeong had repeatedly warned that Woo-sin was fishy. Having blended into Tacenda faster than anyone, Woo-sin must now know the inner workings quite well. What were Woo-sin’s true intentions?

In the distance, Han spotted Jina walking, perhaps coming from Junho’s office. Han felt the need to tell her about his suspicions regarding Woo-sin’s identity.

Just as he raised his hand to call out to her, a large palm clamped over Han’s mouth from behind. His body was dragged sideways into a room.