My Bloody Valentine - 9

| Chapter 9

Jang Taesin.

It wasn’t an extremely common name, but it couldn’t be considered terribly unique either. However, it felt like fate’s cruel joke that this particular man had that name.

Why out of all the many names did he have to be Jang Taesin? That fearsome man.

As Han pondered this thought, something flashed into his mind.

“My bag…! Where’s my bag?”

“You mean that tattered eco-bag?”

“Where is it? My bag.”

“I threw it away, kid. Who would want that raggedy thing anyway…”

Soon, a man in a black suit, who had received instructions from Jina, brought Han’s eco-bag.

The canvas bag with a picture of Dokdo on it was a promotional gift from a convenience store when purchased with a specific card, but Han had picked it up and started using it, rejecting it as a gift. It was one of the items Han liked because it was the right size and sturdy.

“You’re late. I’ll show you to your place.”

Saying so, Jina gestured towards the man who handed over the bag instead. Han clutched the bag tightly like a treasure and followed the man.

On the basement’s third floor, there were several doors lining a narrow corridor.

Although the facilities, such as the carpet on the floor, wallpaper, and lighting, were almost new, there were signs of efforts to economize space. It was a stark contrast to the spacious and glamorous interior of the floor above.

“There, Room 301. Just go to the last room on the right. There’s someone guarding it, so don’t even think about running away. Well, even if you do, you’ll be caught in no time.”

The man, firmly forewarning, pointed to the door Han’s heavy steps were heading towards.

With a deep sigh, Han opened the door to Room 301, which would be his prison. As he looked inside, a bitter laugh escaped him.

“Ha…”

It was ironic that the room, which would be his prison, was larger and better than the single room he used to live in.

The room had an attached bathroom, a bed, a small wardrobe, a vanity with a TV placed on it, and even a small refrigerator and air conditioner…

The only evidence of the identity of this place, which was somewhat similar to a motel, was the calculation marks on the wall, which seemed to be written by someone who had stayed here before. It appeared to be traces of deducted money from the debt, judging by the dots after each three digits.

Had the previous tenant, who seemed to have left a debt of about tens of millions of won, paid off all the money and left free? Or…

Suddenly, Han recalled a strand of hair buried in the cement and shook his head to dispel the frightening scene from his mind.

Sitting cautiously on the bed like a borrowed cat in someone else’s house, Han looked into his bag. His phone and ID were missing, but everything else was intact. Even the little cash in his wallet remained.

The most important item in the bag was tucked deep inside the wallet.

As he confirmed that the yellowed paper, folded twice, was still there as if indicating the passage of time, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Sometimes, unhappy people find solace in seeing others even more unhappy than themselves. During the nearly two years he lived with Ha Jun, Han didn’t feel lonely.

Ha Jun was divorced by his wife, fired from his job, and lost all his money in illegal gambling until he became penniless.

Ha Jun, who graduated from a prestigious art history department and was once a successful art dealer at one of Korea’s most famous art galleries, became a beggar, scratching the floor of his room. There were times when Han comforted himself, thinking that he might be better off seeing someone like Ha Jun.

A hundred and seventy million won might be the price, perhaps even more than that. It was a considerable amount compared to his mistake.

“Haah…”

Deep within his chest, Han resigned himself with a long sigh bursting out. As always, there seemed to be no choice given except resignation.

The bathroom, also serving as a toilet, was extremely small, and after taking a shower, it was a place where one would end up splashing water everywhere, including on the washbasin and toilet. The thought of using it in the future made Han feel uneasy. He cleaned every nook and cranny with the provided brush and detergent, then ran hot water over everything.

After finishing cleaning and showering, Han reluctantly put on the clothes he had been wearing. Then, he collapsed onto the bed as if fainting, and soon drifted off to sleep. Or perhaps, it felt more like he had passed out.

Knock, knock.

The repeated knocking gradually awakened Han from his slumber.

“Ugh…”

His whole body ached as if trampled by an elephant. Especially, his shoulders, which had been tied behind his back, felt stiff as if they were about to break, and swallowing saliva became difficult.

Struggling almost like crawling, Han got off the bed and opened the door. There stood Yujung, whom he had briefly encountered in the early hours of the morning. Despite not having makeup on her face and wearing a baseball cap with a T-shirt and jeans, Yujung looked beautiful, like a member of an idol group singing Han’s favorite songs.

“Eek!”

As soon as Yujung saw Han, she widened her eyes and took a deep breath.

“Why?”

“Haven’t you looked in the mirror?”

Yujung pointed to the mirror on one side of the wall. Han, still groggy from not fully waking up, went to the mirror and swallowed a gasp at his own appearance. Despite only receiving a couple of slaps on the cheeks, his face looked extraordinary. As if someone had dropped him from a high place, starting from his face.

“Well, can’t help it. Wear this.”

She forcefully put the navy baseball cap that I was wearing on Han’s head. Then, with a bright smile, she said,

“Jina unnie gave me her card. Let’s go shopping.”

And she started dragging Han along without a word. Han followed Yujung and climbed into the backseat of a sedan parked in front of the store building. A man in a black suit was sitting in the driver’s seat.

Without stating the destination, the car started, and after about 20 minutes, they arrived at a huge outlet mall. Han, who had no idea why he had come here, followed Yujung around as she dragged him from place to place. She helped Han shop for everything from his usual clothes to casual wear, pajamas, and underwear.

“For shirts, just pick some from the rental section, but for pants, you should buy two or three pairs with a nice fit.”

Excitedly, Yujung looked at T-shirts and jeans laid out on the table, and Han followed her around in a daze. After choosing all the clothes, they bought shoes, and finally went to the cosmetics counter to buy basic skincare products. Of course, throughout all this, a man in a black suit followed them closely, keeping an eye on them.

Shopping ended only when their paper bags were full in their four hands. Feeling hungry, the two sat down at the food court in the basement. It was only then that Han, feeling relieved, asked.

“But why are you buying me all this?”

“You’re also twenty-eight, aren’t you? Relax. And this isn’t me buying it for you. It’s what Manager Im is adding to your debt, right?”

“…!”

“Your expenses are all clearly recorded on Manager Im’s phone, you know? That sister doesn’t care about money. Starting from Manager Jang, even Manager Junho… All the managers at our store are like that. Unusually so. Like they’ve gone mad because they can’t make enough money.”

“…?”

Han immediately wanted to refund everything. He thought it would be enough to bring the necessities from home, but he doubted the man in the black suit would allow him to visit his house.

Remembering the discomfort of putting on the clothes he had worn after showering early in the morning, Han let out a resigned sigh. Moreover, it was almost funny how, overnight, a debt of one hundred and seventy million won didn’t feel that significant anymore.

With a sore throat and aching throat, Han ordered udon, while Jung ordered omurice. As they ate, they talked a lot.

Yujung said she lives in the room next to Han’s, in room 302. People who owe money in the billions are said to live in the underground prison-like accommodations, and Yujung ended up here five years ago due to her immense debt, she said. When I cautiously asked about the reason, Jung replied as if it were nothing.

“My dad sold me. For twenty billion.”

“…!”

In a way, it was quite a common story. Stories of debt collectors inundating the entire house with red stickers and wooden blocks… Her father’s company went bankrupt, leaving her house buried in debt, and instead of repaying the debt, her father handed over his twenty-three-year-old daughter to the debt collectors.

Unable to turn away from her crying father, who knelt before her, saying she was all he had left, Jung was soon sold to a hostess bar. And when Jang Taesin, who was thriving at the time, took over the establishment, he brought her and her debt with him.

She spoke of the shocking reason for her debt as calmly as discussing the morning menu. Seeing Han’s gaping mouth, she smiled proudly, as if she had successfully made the audience laugh with her comedy.

“But he tried to restart a different business and failed again, then committed suicide. He had no children left to sell. If that was the case, he should’ve just died from the beginning. Then he could have given up the inheritance.”

Sometimes, telling stories of despair with an indifferent expression felt sadder than a cheerful melody. Seeing Han’s eyes moistening, Jung chuckled lightly.

“You, Han, are quite kind-hearted. Now I understand why you came to Tasenda. Who did you give the guarantee letter to?”

“…Someone similar.”

“I thought so.”

As the two continued their endless conversation, they discovered an interesting fact.

Jung’s “Jeong” is written with the meaning of “giving affection,” and Han’s “Han” is written with the meaning of “having a lot.” But it was the opposite. A man with a lot of affection and a woman with a lot of Han quickly became friends.

While the underground second floor started business well past midnight, the underground first floor began operating at 7 p.m.

Since it took time to set up hair, makeup, and rentals, they returned to the store around six o’clock. The employees were busy cleaning every nook and cranny, and the managers were having a meeting.

Because there were often cases of customers running away without paying, the establishment was designed with a complicated layout. Jung lightly linked her arm with Han’s to guide him since he didn’t know the way well.

Jung seemed unfazed, but everything was new to Han. Conversing with the opposite sex for so long, and even this kind of physical contact.

“This way.”

“Uh, okay…”

Feeling awkward and embarrassed, Han’s ears turned slightly red. As he kept his head down and walked, a pair of glossy shoes with a gleaming shine entered his field of vision.

Unconsciously lifting his head, Han glanced at the face of the man in a navy-colored suit that fit snugly. His face, which had been flushed moments ago, quickly drained of color.

He couldn’t think of any name other than Jang Taesin; he was a man whose appearance suited that name well. In the bright light, things that couldn’t be seen yesterday were now visible.

The wide corridor felt cramped due to his towering height, seeming to easily surpass 190cm, and broad shoulders that appeared even wider compared to his large stature.

His appearance, whether divine or demonic, was equally confusing even in bright places. Beneath that seemingly decadent yet enchanting appearance lurked hell, making him all the more cruel and terrifying.

From the way he cast his eyes down and stood, even in the smallest details, arrogance and intimidation emanated.

“Hello, sir,” Jung greeted with a sharp tone tinged with a hint of resentment. It was her own expression of anger towards yesterday’s incident of bringing Han here to chew out.

Yet, Taesin’s gaze remained fixed solely on Han’s face.

His dark, tar-like irises swept over Han’s face, which was disheveled and bruised beneath the baseball cap, before slipping away like a snake, reaching out with his arm intertwined with Yujung’s.

Han’s breath began to quicken as if starved of oxygen. The man had become Han’s trauma in just one day.

His body began to tremble as memories of the nightmarish previous night flooded back. Sensing it through the touch of their arms, Jung quickly pulled Han away.

“Let’s go quickly, Han.”

“Han.” The slight crease on Taesin’s forehead was barely noticeable at Jung’s words.

Whether intentionally or not, Yujung pulled Han’s arm and passed by Taesin’s side. Tension hung in the air, like strands of hair being tightly pulled from the scalp, as if exposing oneself to a predator’s gaze.