Stranger

“Why, why?”

“I think I’m going to move.”

“Ah, seriously? My god. Then you might quit first before me?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, Jiho.”

Seo Jihee made a crying sound. I was amazed to see her making a long face—that I’m an existence someone might feel sad about.

“Have you told the boss?”

“I haven’t.”

“Hah… I see. It’s good to tell him in advance if you’re really going to quit. Tell me if you don’t think you can do it. I’ll back you up.”

I nodded. When… it seemed as if everything suddenly turned in an unwanted direction, I felt helpless. If I did nothing and only locked myself in Yeon Woojeong’s house, wouldn’t I never meet that man again? My mood suddenly hit the ground. This wasn’t something new. But I couldn’t do anything if I was engrossed in the fact that I was in a bad mood.

I worked. I moved more than usual. I purposely talked to Seo Jihee, and I listened to the words she poured out.

I got restless as the time to get off work drew near. I took out my phone after checking the time a few times.

[Whenwillyougethometoday]

Clashing thoughts, wanting Yeon Woojeong to come late and to come faster, crashed inside my head. My feelings jumped around while I waited for the answer. Even though everything would be okay, I knew it wouldn’t be like that. After I met Yeon Woojeong, I realized that misfortune wasn’t the only thing for me, but it was my habit to be despondent.

[I will likely get off work at 10.]

[But I’m thinking of working out first.]

[Will you welcome me with lips again if I come home after showering?]

I laughed even in this kind of situation. It was amazing that he could talk about that day like this. Yeon Woojeong was a strange person in many ways.

I missed him. I wanted to kiss him, and I wanted to talk warmly and gently like him. But if I suddenly talked like that, he might think it was strange…

[Justdoyourwork]

[Eatyourdinner]

I should be nicer to him once this ends and we move to the new house. I want to make him feel everything I feel.

It was 7 o’clock. I said farewell to Seo Jihee and walked out of the convenience store. I didn’t head straight to the officetel, but to the bus stop. I checked the route, but it seemed like I had to change buses because there weren’t any that headed straight from here. 

While I waited for the bus, I searched the neighborhood name on the internet. The neighborhood painted red on the map was spacious. However, it was not that big after excluding parks, apartment complexes, and schools. I enlarged the part where it says ‘Cheongdam-dong Street’.

If it’s there. If it’s not there.

I got on the bus recklessly without deciding anything and thinking properly. I wasn’t particularly upset or angry, but awkwardly fidgety. Is this anxiety? What is this feeling called? It was very familiar, but I wasn’t sure exactly what state I was in.

After changing buses, I got off at the destination. It was an unfamiliar neighborhood, but it didn’t look particularly different from other neighborhoods. I walked forward after checking the direction on the map. I thought I could just find a place lined with shops like karaoke rooms and pubs, but I only saw luxurious-looking restaurants and cafés.

Is it not here? I walked deeper. I didn’t know the destination, so I had to walk blindly.

The night street was quiet and uncrowded. I had no idea whether I had walked into such a street, or whether this was originally such a neighborhood. I didn’t doubt my memory. I didn’t know the exact address, but it was right in Cheongdam-dong.

I thought I could find it quickly when I looked at the map, but it was foolish of me. When I actually walked, there were many alleys and the neighborhood was big.

I walked, paying close attention to signs I wouldn’t normally look at. Even though it was not too late, several heavily drunk people were standing on the side of the road. One of them sat on the street and made a scene. I turned away, heading to my destination.

Restaurants, karaoke, pubs, bars, and clubs. There were a lot of places I walked past, but there wasn’t the name I looked for. I wasted an hour in the street like that.

I stopped walking after checking the time. Ridiculous, stupid, and pathetic. I should have worked at a place that gave me even just tens of thousands of won rather than wasting time on the street like this. If I cancel my appointment to go to the art gallery on Friday, and after working all day on Saturday and Sunday, I tell the convenience store about my situation and work all day next week…

What should I tell Yeon Woojeong? If I could just go through this week well, then ask the man to give me a bit more time…

It felt like I was pushed down by something massive. When the endless despair came, I felt like I was so small, less than dust.

A car moved past me. It was a sports car.

5 million. Just because of 5 million… Because a man who lived more than 50 years doesn’t even have 5 million…

I walked after brushing my hair up roughly. It seemed like I had to go back for today. I must be out of my mind. How could I have come this far because of nonsense said by someone I didn’t even know 2 years ago? With every step I took, it felt as if my feet were sinking deeper and deeper. It felt like I had no place to go back, even though I had it. I wanted to end the breath of the man who eventually tried to destroy my last shelter. 

Moving the heavy steps, I heaved a long sigh. It was when I suddenly turned my head while exhaling repeatedly to get rid of the boiling heat at the tip of my stomach. A sophisticated and concise sign caught my eye.

[J

Bar B1F]

Found it.

My heart leaped. I found it. However, I couldn’t easily move my steps.

Although it looked normal outside, it might be a weird place. With that in mind, I had to decide whether to enter or not. Besides, if I went in thoughtlessly, it would be ridiculous if there was no Han Juhyeok. 

Should I just go back? I didn’t know which one was the bad choice. Everything was the worst way until I knew the result, and even after knowing the result, it didn’t seem like it would change.

Time moved, and I stood foolishly, unable to make the choice. Then, someone walked up from the basement. The man who came out through the entrance was Han Juhyeok, who hadn’t changed except for his calm hair color.

He, wearing a uniform, rummaged through his pocket and then took out a cigarette and lighter. The act of holding a cigarette in his mouth, lighting it, and blowing smoke seemed frivolous. Han Juhyeok’s head, spitting after sucking the cigarette a few times, suddenly turned this way.

Our eyes met. The narrow eyes looking here indifferently soon opened wide.

“Oh? You?”

He came this way with a shaky step. I didn’t expect him to be still working here. Of course, I also didn’t think that I would meet this kind of bastard again.

“Hey, you… What was it, your name?”

“Kim Jiho.”

“Aha, that’s right. That was your name. That’s right. I can’t believe I met you here. Well, hello dude. Erm, but were you always this tall?”

It was strange that he welcomed me even though we weren’t friends. He wasn’t a normal guy in many ways.

“Anywho, what are you doing here? Are you waiting for someone?”

I quietly stared at the normal-looking face. We can’t figure out people just by their appearances. My mouth couldn’t open up. It felt unrealistic to have to come all the way here and say this. Eventually, it was something I had to say, however.

“You said you made a million just by tips. Is that true?”

I thought he would be surprised or laugh. Even I thought it was ridiculous for the one who didn’t even pretend to listen back then to come this far and ask now. However, Han Juhyeok only blinked with a serious face and said,

“Yeah. That’s true. How much do you need?”

“Two million.”

“Urgent?”

Han Juhyeok rolled his eyes when I nodded.

“I’m asking this to make sure, the position you want is server, right?”

“Yeah. I won’t do anything weird.”

When I spoke firmly to cut off the strange suggestion in advance, he laughed. Han Juhyeok then creased his forehead.

“But it’s a rare case to get tips like that here. Truthfully, I bluffed a bit. Well, you know? Such a thing was important back then.”

It was a bluff? When I crumpled my face because I was exhausted in an instant, Han Juhyeok raised both hands.

“Hey, calm down. You can make it. But it’s up to the odds. There should be a rich bastard, and he has to be in a good mood to give tips. Well, like that…”

“…”

“But… There’s a place with higher odds. I don’t know about the tips, but it’s a place where rich bastards visit for sure.”

“Where is it?”

“It’s in this neighborhood as well. Thaaat way. My boss runs it, and I heard there’s a party on Saturday… Well, something like that. It’s three hundred thousand a day.”

“Three hundred thousand?”

“Yeah. 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.”

“I can’t do that. I have to go back before 12.”

“Are you Cinderella?”

Han Juhyeok talked nonsense and laughed. If the pay was three hundred thousand a day, it meant thirty thousand per hour. Why is the pay so high? As I gave him a doubtful look, he shrugged.