Payback

Before I even read a few chapters, I realized that the screenplay was just the plot of the book. In fact, I was worried about when I would finish reading this thick book. It must be boring because it’s long, I thought. However, the moment I turned the first chapter, all the worries I had before reading disappeared. 

The main character’s monologue began dryly, and the morning began normally. I already knew what would happen next through the screenplay, but I was rather looking forward to it. Indeed, soon the main character went outside listening to his dad’s favorite pop song as a routine and got caught up in the first case.

Unknowingly, I forgot the passage of time because I was immersed in the main character who was caught up in various incidents. However, my reading speed was really slow, so when I sensed something and looked up, I realized that I had only read a few dozen pages in an hour.

“Is it interesting?”

Who knew when the madman had come, he was now sitting next to me and staring at me like before, making me look up from the book. I felt embarrassed for nothing, perhaps due to the fact that I showed someone I was focused on something, so I answered bluntly. 

“It’s still the beginning so I don’t know.”

Then he tilted his head to the side and unhesitatingly said.

“You, are you doing this on purpose because you’re shy?”

What? I stared at him sharply, wondering what nonsense, and he curled his lips as if in a good mood again.

“There’s no use glaring at me like that. Whatever your reaction is, it’s fun. If someone else had done it, I would have wanted to beat them.”

“It’s better that way. Then I will beat you too.”

He let out a small laugh and curved his eyes.

“Fuck, I’m getting horny.” 

With the whispered profanity, the desire was really revealed in his eyes. As I stared blankly in defense, he added as if to reassure me.

“I will not. Sleep is more urgent now.”

Then he pointed to the book with his eyes like he was asking if I would continue reading. The answer that should have come out at this time should have been that if there was nothing more to see, I would go. But the words were swallowed.

“I will read some more.” 

When I deliberately gave a cold answer, he suddenly laid his upper body toward me like it was all well. At that moment, surprised, I raised my hand holding the book, and in the meantime, he laid down with his head on my thigh.

“What are you doing?”

The action was absurd, so all I could do was ask what he was doing while holding the book in the air. All I had to do was take the guy’s head off. I mean, I really intended to do that the next moment, but the guy with his eyes closed was already letting out his half-asleep voice.

“I’m sleepy.” 

Then he crossed his arms over his chest and began to breathe evenly. He closed his eyelids so tightly that I wondered if he had really fallen asleep, and soon naturally relaxed his body. I muttered while looking at him, who was asleep without taking off his glasses.

“I’ll push you to the floor.”

But despite my warning, his chest just raised and lowered as he breathed. Rather, it was so defenseless that the mind to attack him disappeared. Even so, I’m a lap pillow for this crazy prick. Had I finally gone mad after dealing with this bastard? I was stunned, but in the end I couldn’t push him away and turned my eyes to the book in my hand. Strangely, the letters didn’t come in well, and my gaze went to his sleeping face. “Get it together,” I muttered and forced my eyes to the book.

*** 

It wasn’t long before I fell into the book again. A strange noise started to get on my nerves. A whisper? A sound so small that it could be mistaken for the sound of the wind flowing in from the outside. I put the book down and focused on where the noise was coming from, and soon found the source.

It was a really small sound that I had to strain to hear, but when I realized it was a human voice, I closed the book completely. It was clear that someone was at the door. I knew that Alice’s boss was on the side of the madman, but I was still wary. Who was trying to spy here? I was about to stand up, but I stopped. There was still someone sleeping on my lap.

It occurred to me for a moment that I should just ignore the sound, since moving would wake him up. At that laughable thought, I sighed. Damn, who cares if this bastard woke up or not. I quietly looked down at him, then carefully supported his head with my hand and raised myself up. He didn’t wake up when I put his head on the couch.

Then I heard the sound that had bothered me again. Realizing my original purpose, I quietly walked to the door and put my ear to the crack. Through the narrow gap, I could hear a faint but distinct voice. It was a voice that raised and lowered right behind the door. 

‘No doubt. There must be something going on inside. Baekwon today was different from usual. My senses are unmistakable.’

That was the boss. Then someone gave a small reply.

‘I thought he was the same.’

Of course he was the manager. However, the boss insisted. 

‘No, something is different. Can’t fool my eyes. He might have become 300 won.’

Fuck. I barely held back the curse that was about to come out of my mouth without even realizing it. The voice of the boss, who said 300 won, was full of expectations. And the manager stopped the boss as if he knew what 300 won meant.

‘Then should we look? You could be misunderstood as a pervert.’

‘I’m a family member, so I’ll look in because I’m worried. What’s the misunderstanding?’ 

‘Then you’ll be misunderstood as a perverted family member.’

‘Hey! What per…’

The boss, who had been exclaiming, soon lowered his voice.

‘Ahem. I can’t hear anything now. It’s okay to peek for now.’ 

‘There’s no one as abnormal as you.’

‘I know. And hey, manager. Don’t you sometimes speak harshly to me?’

When the president spoke as if he was sad, the manager replied in a more sad voice.

‘Boss, where in the world is there anyone who understands you as much as I do…’ 

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

The words after “where” sounded clearer and more vivid. Right in front of me when I opened the door.

“Ktfgf lr… bwu!”

The boss and manager, who were squatting side by side in front of the door, fell on their butts backwards in shock. Even if the boss was a strange person, the manager was an unexpected person so I focused on him. Shouldn’t you be not doing that? For the first time, the manager had a puzzled look on his face, as if he had noticed the meaning in my gaze. But, as always, he got up with a robotic smile and casually made an excuse.

“P kjr ibbxlcu ja atf ifcuat bo atf vbbg ogjwf obg jc lcafglbg gfqjlg. Prc’a atja gluta, ybrr?” 

“Hmmm, yes. I was looking at the door frim for interirepair.”

Ktf wjcjufg’r cjaegji ilfr cjaegjiis aegcfv lcab oealilas vef ab atf ybrr’r oewyilcu. P mbeivc’a rajcv la jcswbgf, rb P bqfcfv ws wbeat.

“Gb sbe tjnf jcsatlcu ab rjs?”

As I was standing with the door half open, the boss pulled his head out and looked behind me. However, since the madman was lying on a sofa with high armrests, he must have been invisible to the boss. He looked inside again with surprised eyes and asked. 

“Did Jay go somewhere?”

“No.”

I shook my head and pointed at the sofa behind me with my chin.

“He’s sleeping there.” 

“…”

Suddenly, the boss stiffened as if in shock, so I thought I had said something wrong and said it again.

“He is sleeping on the sofa.”

“H- he’s sleeping? He- here?” 

Is there a rule saying you can’t sleep here? As I wondered, I heard the boss’s trembling voice.

“Ah, I- I see. Hmmm. So he’s sl-, sleeping. Jay doesn’t normally sleep anywhere, but h- he is sleeping here.”

What did he mean he didn’t sleep anywhere? He even slept on the company rooftop bench. What I was trying to say couldn’t come out of my mouth. The boss’s trembling voice sounded like he was crying. Now why was doing that? His reaction was rather emotional. I didn’t understand. I could do nothing but watch. Finally, when his eyes went red, he cleared his throat again and turned around.

“Hmmm, ah, Jay seems to be more comfortable in this place now. Hmmm.” 

It looked like he was trying to hide his face by twisting his body, but I vaguely noticed that he was doing that because he was happy. Moreover, the manager congratulated the boss with a happy expression.

“I’m glad, boss. I think the director is opening up his heart to the boss like he did when he was young.”

“W- What is there to be glad about! I- I don’t care. O- Opening up or whatever, hhmmm…”

He said so, but soon he started to cry, and started talking again about his dust allergy. But before he disappeared, he didn’t forget to give the manager a small order. If I had heard it right, it would have been something like this. 

‘Manager, pass the rice cake.’

So the boss left to fix his dust allergy, and the manager left the room to pass rice cakes. Then I turned around and saw the madman sitting on the sofa. He was answering a call with his phone up to his ear. However, after saying just one word, “Fine,” without saying anything, the call ended quickly. He turned his eyes to me, slightly frowning, as if he had just woken up.

“Why are you there?”

Instead of answering, I closed the door and asked. 

“What is your relationship with the boss?”

The madman looked at me for a while and answered easily.

“Uncle.”

Uncle? However, the president said that he was a ‘former’ relative… 

“Then is the boss also a Han?”

The original name of the madman was Han, so according to my understanding, the boss had to be a Han too. But the answer I heard was,

“No.”

When I stared at him with eyes that implied I didn’t understand, he turned his shoulders as if they were stiff and explained lightly. 

“He was originally supposed to be a Han, but he wasn’t, and I was a Han, but I changed to Yoon.”

I didn’t understand more and more. As if it showed on my face, the madman got up from his seat and twisted his lips.

“It’s nothing. It means that both of us were kicked out of the Han family. More importantly, I have an appointment.”

“What appointment ?” 

“Song Myungshin and Chairman Kim.”

I lowered my eyes and looked at the phone he was still holding in his hand. Was the phone call for that purpose?

“I heard that Song Myungshin will leave the country three days later for a photo shoot and will not return until four days later. I made an appointment for the next day.”

That’s a week later. I was counting the days in my head when I heard his voice. 

“I told you in advance, don’t be surprised.”

What? I looked at him as he approached the desk. He looked at the monitor and gave an answer mixed with laughter.

“I’m thinking of losing the first round.”

*** 

Two days later in the morning, the news of Cha Jungwoo again covered the whole country. A press conference was held immediately after being investigated by the police. The company break room in the morning was filled with news spreading through TV. After yesterday’s interview was broadcasted live, news and entertainment information continued to cover it, so few people paid attention to the scene recapitulated in the morning entertainment information program.

However, since I rarely watched TV, I focused on the screen showing the manager’s image at first glance. Cha Jung-woo was pale but stared straight into the camera. He barely looked down the entire time he was talking, as if he was determined to face his mistakes rather than being seen as confident. In a calm voice he apologized for his mistake.

His eyes staring at the camera turned a little red, and he looked like he was about to burst into tears, but his voice continued unwaveringly. “I’m sorry, I admit my mistake”. His apology was superimposed by the manager writing those words on a piece of paper by himself.

The manager wrote down very detailed things, for example, you shouldn’t lean your elbows on the table, don’t cover your face with glasses, always look straight ahead and lower your eyes only for a moment before you say sorry, etc. When asked if he needed to do that, he nodded. 

‘Of course. If you’re not sincerely apologizing, you should at least fake it perfectly.’

Then he added bitterly. Still, there would definitely be people who would notice that it’s not the truth. A reporter on the screen asked in a scathing way. Why did he do that when he knew it was wrong? Curiously, it was the same as the expected reporter’s question written by the manager. Below that, the manager diligently wrote the answer.

‘Stare at the reporter, pause for a few seconds, lower your gaze once, and then answer.’

“I was scared. I thought the most spectacular thing of my life just faded away. I kept having nightmares because I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to do well in the difficult military life there, and the anxiety that I would be forgotten by people after a two-year hiatus never left. It’s a fear that everyone bears, but at the time, selfishly, I was the only one who thought of it.” 

‘Put emphasis on the word selfish to make it feel that you are being treated terribly. For this part to remain in the impression, the next words should be calm and clear of agitation.’

“So when I heard that I could really avoid the army, I was shaken. I knew in my head that this shouldn’t be the case, but on the other hand, the excuse that I’m not the only one who uses this expedient grew bigger and bigger. In the end, I gave in to the temptation and now I regret it. No, I realized how stupid I was.”

He perfectly executed the script and instructions made by his manager. I admired the look on his face that anyone would recognize the regret and anguish he felt. However, what really impressed me was the reporter’s next question.

“I heard that it was your former manager who exposed your corruption on the Internet, is it true? If so, how does it feel to be betrayed?” 

“The answer to the first question is not true. So, I have no answer to the next question.”

“But, he has already fled to a foreign country…”

“Don’t make assumptions without knowing. I still believe in him, and I think I have reason to be convinced of it. Please, do not write speculative articles about my former manager. He did nothing wrong to me.”

A clear voice proved his trust in the former manager. I swallowed the laughter that was about to explode. He had belief in him enough to swing a golf club. Right, you didn’t take the top spot without some acting skills. After the brief press conference scene on TV, the screen went over to the studio. There were words about Cha Jungwoo’s apology, but most of the topics were of the past 10 months about Cha Jungwoo giving back to society as an apology. It seemed like this was a bigger issue than Cha Jungwoo’s apology because it was an enormous amount of money, close to 2 billion. 

“The Internet is already in a frenzy. There are people who say it’s all acting and cursing him.”

Hansoo, who had arrived a little while ago, stared at the TV while taking off his bag from the side.

“Still, I think the atmosphere has reversed. Cha Jungwoo’s excuse was a story that all men could relate to, and most of them were relieved because he was willing to give such a large amount of money. Besides, the news broke at night that Cha Jungwoo had put up his house to raise money. There is even sympathy, and now it’s an atmosphere where everyone really believes that he is reflecting.”

Then, Hansoo grinned, saying, ‘As expected, our manager is the best.’ The reason we sat leisurely in the quiet lounge early in the morning and watched TV was because we were newcomers with little work, but also because we were waiting for someone. I received a text message late last night. 

― I contacted Hyungseok saying that I want to join him. I heard that Song Yoohan will come to work tomorrow morning and we’ll meet him.

The break room was visible right after turning around the elevator lobby. So there were times when the music in the break room spread even to the quiet lobby. I turned up the volume on the TV with the remote control I got while buying a cup of coffee. News of Cha Jungwoo came out whenever you turn on the TV, so if you were standing in the elevator, you would definitely hear it. So I’ve been watching the same interview scene several times since morning, but I never got tired of it. It’s because I was waiting for a fish to bite the bait and appear.

“Oh right. Yesterday, I found a picture that is perfect for what you asked for. So I already edited it with Photoshop.”

Hansoo spoke as if he just remembered, and his lips twitched in laughter. 

“It’s an overseas photo, but I took out something really funny and made it absurd. I also put background music on it, so it’s a total joke.”

“Did you post it on the Internet?”

He nodded.

“Last night. I’ve already posted it in one place, but everyone’s reaction was good, so I’m sure a lot of people reposted it. I checked, and it was also posted on the community that Song Yoohan visited every day. Looking at the number of views, it will be on the list of best soon. Oh, let me show you. This one.” 

At the same time, Hansoo took out his cell phone and showed the saved photo. An expensive sports car that occupied two spaces by itself in a crowded parking lot. It is the same model as Myungshin’s car. And in the very next picture, it is night and all the cars have pulled out, but only the sports car is there. A more expensive car blocked right in front. A speech bubble was attached to the expensive car.

‘Try pushing me and go, you fucker.’

“But will this work?”

As I was looking at the photo, Hansoo tilted his head as if he didn’t understand. 

“To spread rumors about the car that Myungshin hyung rides by making it as ridiculous as possible. Well, for me, it’s fine if Myungshin hyung gets upset even a little, but Taemin…”

His words trailed off, but I could guess what he was trying to say. Isn’t such a small revenge not enough? Of course not enough. It was the same with the TV where I turned the volume up. Bait to inflate his vanity, just as Myungshin heard the sound of the TV and entered the break room. Myungshin, who was walking into the break room with his eyes fixed on the TV, stopped in the middle. When he noticed me looking at him, his brows furrowed for an instant, but his face soon hardened. I deliberately lifted the remote in front of him and turned the volume up.

“… I was able to hear an honest apology at this press conference, and it is said that the apology method that Mr. Cha Jungwoo came up with was good, not a showy style of self-reflection. According to sources, Cha Jungwoo put the house up for sale to keep his promise to return all profits to society because he suffered a huge loss when the stock price fell. There are voices shouting about whether they are trying to cover it up with money, but there are more opinions that sympathize with Cha Jungwoo’s explanation. Perhaps that’s why there are reports that the advertising companies that were trying to claim damages from Cha Jungwoo may continue the contract.”

And a sudden silence. The screen was still playing on the muted TV, but no one was watching. There were only a few people in the break room. They also didn’t particularly care if their voices disappeared, as they were the only ones who were talking quietly or lying on their stomachs for lack of sleep. Except for one person. 

“Yeah, you going crazy wanting to brag about that little thing?”

Myungshin took a few more steps towards me and spat out. I deliberately didn’t get up from my seat and looked up at him as he got closer.

“Well, you must be envious because the only thing you can brag about is a fucking car.”

“What?” 

He looked down at me with a puzzled face.

“What nonsense are you talking about now? Like a fucking car? That’s a car you can’t buy even if I sell it to you. Tell me what you know, you bastard.”

He reacted as expected to the topic of the car. I was amused and shrugged.

“Even if you sell that car, I would never buy, you fucking punk.” 

Myungshin looked at me like I was crazy. In the end, he laughed, as if he didn’t think it was worth responding to.

“Haha, I’m going crazy. You want to pick a fight with my car, but you still don’t know where I stand? I can crush a trainee like you, like squashing a fly at once.”

“Then do it.”

“Yes, I will. You won’t be able to set your feet on this field soon…” 

“Do it right now.”

I cut off his words and lifted my chin.

“You said you could do it at once? Do it now. As you said, if you are in a great position, you can squash a trainee like me with just one phone call.”

Instead of answering, Myungshin glared at me with his teeth clenched. On the contrary, I laughed. 

“As expected, you are in a position where you couldn’t even make a single phone call.”

“… How funny. Keep talking. That way I can laugh even louder at your fall later.”

He still spoke with a firm jaw with his teeth clenched, but did not yield to my provocation.

“Tell me again. I can listen to you more while you’re here.” 

If he doesn’t fall for light words anymore, you have to increase the intensity.

“You’re as cocky as your car. Of course I will stick around longer.”

“Haha, you?”

I nodded and answered lightly. 

“Because my sponsor will make it that way.”

Myungshin stopped breathing and stiffened for a moment. Maybe it just came to mind. That I also have a sponsor. It’s still unbelievable, though.

“Besides, my sponsor said he would give me anything I wanted even if I didn’t play the role of a pimp. So I’m thinking of giving it a shot. I want you to crush me like an insect.”

Trying to contain his anger, he bit his lower lip and seethed. 

“If he listens to your everything, you asked him to keep you as a trainee?”

“That’s right. That’s what I asked. I’ll rise with my skills, so don’t interfere by hurting my pride. But it’s not really hurting my pride to crush you.”

“You’ve only improved on your lies. If you got such a great sponsor, rumors would already be circulating. He must be an old man who doesn’t care much.”

The rough voice sounded pleasant to me. Yes, get caught in it. Be wary of me and be competitive. 

“Then find out for yourself.”

“… What?”

“I’m going to go to Alice this evening.”

Myungshin’s eyes narrowed at the word “Alice”. He must be thinking about the people who come and go to Alice. And then he licked his lips. I guess among the people he could be wary of, there was no one he thought of as my sponsor. And my name was not Lee Baekwon to him anyway. 

“Sure. I’ll do whatever you want. And keep fooling around so fearlessly even after your great sponsor is revealed. Until you get a good beating, no-”

He burst out laughing as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“I can do that right away. The guy who tried to stick with you before is waiting with his neck-… !”

Myungshin suddenly stopped talking and stepped back in surprise. As I was wondering what was wrong, a question popped out of him. 

“Who are you?”

Realizing that his gaze was stuck between me and Hansoo, I was startled as he turned his head away.

“Ah!”

Hansoo was even more surprised. Someone was sitting on a chair between us, as if he had suddenly risen from the ground. It was the new road manager. What was this man? Surely no one was there a while ago? I was looking towards the entrance, so I didn’t even see him coming in from there. How did he sit here without any sign? I was so shocked that I could understand Hansoo’s expression as if he was seeing a ghost. However, even when the three of us looked at him with stunned eyes, he asked us with a grimace on his face. 

“When do you have breakfast?”

“… We eat when we want.”

When I answered on behalf of Hansoo, who was still unable to open his mouth, he raised his hand in slow motion and scratched his gray hair.

“I heard that the company buys you food.” 

There was another chilly silence. Thanks to this, Myungshin, as if at a loss for words, turned around and disappeared, leaving short words.

“Oh, fuck. Annoying as a group.”

I heard Hansoo’s question as he finally came to his senses while watching Myungshin’s back disappearing into the distance.

“Oh, I was really startled, mister. When the hell did you come?” 

Then, I heard a muttering, “Since a while ago.” A while ago? I just realized it while thinking. There was someone who had been sleeping on the table since I came here early in the morning. So what time did you come in? I watched him in disbelief and noticed that he was younger than I thought. About half of his head was mixed with gray hair, so I guessed he was in his late 40s, but looking closer, he looked like he was in his early 40s. It doesn’t change that he was still an old man with a blank expression. Besides, he was timid, and his voice sounded like a mumble, so I had to strain to listen.

“What do you mean a while ago? You didn’t have to come so early today. We don’t have any schedule other than filming a paper commercial this afternoon.”

I heard the answer as I nodded slightly.

“But my work pays me on an hourly basis.” 

“…”

“…”

I missed my manager for the first time.