LUST - 1

Na-yeon hurriedly packed her bag and headed to school. The winter semester was coming to an end. Today was the last class, and since there was only an afternoon class, she thought she could leave a little leisurely, but the repairman was at the motel all morning fixing the door. After the men came a few days ago, she felt like her soul had left her body.

The winter break was also coming to an end. This winter semester was the last one. Although Na-yeon had never taken a leave of absence despite being busy, she was short of credits for graduation. Her father’s hospitalization forced her to reduce her course load, making the winter semester unavoidable.

She went to school during the day and visited the hospital in the evening, so a year passed quickly. Last month, her father, who was on the brink of death, finally passed away. Still, Na-yeon’s busy daily life remained unchanged. She was still busy.

The winter semester was mostly filled with men. Men who had returned from the military and hurriedly jumped back into their studies, so most of them were dark-skinned returning students who had served in the army.

Her goal was a university diploma. Her late mother had repeatedly told her to get a university diploma no matter what. She had said that a university diploma would be necessary if her parents died and the motel closed down.

Her mother, who suffered from back pain and frequently visited the pharmacy, always had a habit of saying, “It would be so nice if our daughter could open a decent pharmacy and be called a pharmacist.” Without hesitation, Na-yeon went to pharmacy school. Her parents were her whole world. She wanted to do anything for them if she could. There was no other option for her.

Her parents desperately sent Na-yeon to university and helped her in every way possible, despite their limited means. Her mother sent Na-yeon to school as if she knew she wouldn’t live much longer. She knew that the motel wouldn’t last long either. They couldn’t live there forever.

Her mother wanted Na-yeon to leave the place and get a room in a better location someday. When her father was alive, they had to endure in case he needed a place to stay after being discharged from the hospital, but her father had passed away. Not anymore.

She was graduating soon anyway.

Sitting in the library, her eyelids kept closing. A text message came to her phone, which she was holding.

“Na-yeon, are you still at the library? I’m on my way there now. The group members are waiting.”

It was a text from Sang-yoon, who was taking the same class. Since they had decided to have a simple meal to celebrate the end of the semester, he sent a message to make sure she wasn’t late.

“I’m leaving now, senior.”

She closed her book and left the reading room. She saw a man walking from a distance. Sang-yoon took out his wallet and opened the automatic door with his student ID.

“Na-yeon, the others are saying to hurry. Do you have time?”

“Yes. Dinner is fine.”

“It’s been a while since we had dinner together.”

The two headed to a restaurant near the school where the group members were gathered. Since they had spent the winter semester together, she couldn’t refuse their invitation to have a final meal.

The group members were just four dark-skinned men who had returned from the military. Instead of a simple dinner, it was a lamb tripe restaurant. Of course, drinks were included. They planned to have meat and drinks for the first round and then go for a second round.

She should have realized it sooner. She usually refused dinner invitations with the excuse of being busy, but she came because it was a “final meal,” and now she couldn’t say no. Na-yeon sighed. She wondered why the older the class year, the more tricks they seemed to have.

The tripe on the grill was already being cooked to a golden brown. Sang-yoon took care of Na-yeon, who was sitting next to him.

“Now that the winter semester is over, we called you for dinner because we were sad to see it end like this. Especially Na-yeon, you’re graduating soon, aren’t you?”

“It’s been a while, and Na-yeon is already graduating. The pharmacist exam is in a few days, right? Next week? Well, our Na-yeon has nothing to worry about.”

Usually, the national pharmacist exam is prepared for before graduation, and it has a high pass rate, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous. Na-yeon just smiled awkwardly at her senior’s words of praise.

“We were busy after returning from the military, what have you been doing?”

The man, who was resting his chin on his hand, smiled, revealing his teeth. The chair screeched as he pulled it closer. His smiling face was excited. His gaze was blatantly directed at her cleavage, not what someone would do when happy to see her after a long time.

Na-yeon realized that one of her blouse buttons was undone because of the man’s gaze. When she fastened her coat, he smacked his lips in disappointment. He was a senior who had confessed to Na-yeon when she transferred to pharmacy school, but she had turned him down.

“Just studying and stuff. I was busy.”

“Even though you were busy, you’re graduating earlier than most people in your class.”

He was right.

Na-yeon was graduating earlier than her peers. She wanted to fulfill her parents’ wish of becoming a respectable pharmacist as soon as possible.

Her parents’ wish was her goal while they were alive. That’s why she kept going to school even when her father was hospitalized. The small motel where she had lived with her father, who had a leg disability, until he was hospitalized was the foundation that allowed him to make a living, and for Na-yeon, it was a shackle she couldn’t escape.

The phone in her pocket vibrated. As Na-yeon fumbled in her pocket, she met eyes with Sang-yoon, who was kindly pouring her a cola. She smiled awkwardly.

It was an unknown international number. International number. That man had gone to America. It couldn’t be. It wouldn’t be. Her heart pounded, holding the phone tightly, a mix of denial and hope.

“Na-yeon, we’re going for a second round after this. You’re coming, right? It’s been a while.”

“I’ll be right back, I need to take this call.”

Na-yeon left the tripe restaurant, leaving the chattering seniors behind. The rain that had stopped in the morning started pouring again. The sound of car wheels splashing through puddles scattered like noise. She pressed the call button and answered the phone.

“Hello?”

The other person was silent.

• …….

Rough breathing was heard. The sound of splashing water grew louder with each passing car. She knew it wasn’t him, that he was already gone, but she wondered why she had answered the phone, what lingering feelings she had left.

“......”

The other person didn’t say anything, so she couldn’t be sure, but she had a vague feeling it was him. That’s why she couldn’t say anything either. She couldn’t easily open her mouth. For a long time, she just held the phone and listened to the rain. After a while, she took the phone away from her ear and looked at the screen. The disconnected call no longer sent any signals.

Immediately, another call came in. It was Mi-ju.

“Yes, unnie.”

• Hey, you should have changed it sooner. The door looks great. How much did it cost? You don’t have money. That old door was so worn out, I was honestly worried.

Mi-ju’s chattering was faintly heard through the rain. Even though she always smiled carelessly, Mi-ju often hit the nail on the head.

“You forget a person with another person, you idiot. You’ll never forget that Ha Tae-min guy if you keep holding on to him like that. Do you want that? Don’t keep measuring and calculating everything, just start. Starting is the most important thing. You forget a person with another person, love with love. Think simply.”

Na-yeon didn’t deny Mi-ju’s words. She agreed with Mi-ju. But after being hurt by love, the next love was difficult. You just have to start, and then it’s easy, but she didn’t know why her heart wouldn’t readily go there.

“......”

The other person didn’t say anything, so she couldn’t be sure, but she had a vague feeling it was him. That’s why she couldn’t say anything either. She couldn’t easily open her mouth. For a long time, she just held the phone and listened to the rain. After a while, she took the phone away from her ear and looked at the screen. The disconnected call no longer sent any signals.

Immediately, another call came in. It was Mi-ju.

“Yes, unnie.”

• Hey, you should have changed it sooner. The door looks great. How much did it cost? You don’t have money. That old door was so worn out, I was honestly worried.

Mi-ju’s chattering was faintly heard through the rain. Even though she always smiled carelessly, Mi-ju often hit the nail on the head.

“You forget a person with another person, you idiot. You’ll never forget that Ha Tae-min guy if you keep holding on to him like that. Do you want that? Don’t keep measuring and calculating everything, just start. Starting is the most important thing. You forget a person with another person, love with love. Think simply.”

Na-yeon didn’t deny Mi-ju’s words. She agreed with Mi-ju. But after being hurt by love, the next love was difficult. You just have to start, and then it’s easy, but she didn’t know why her heart wouldn’t readily go there.

Is it because she thought he was her last love? Her heart ached as if she had just gone through her last breakup for about a year. And it took another full year to adjust to that feeling. Now, she was finally starting to forget him.

They say love leaves scars when it leaves, even if you don’t know it when it comes. It seemed she couldn’t escape the scars left by that love either.

Why did she answer this international call from an unknown caller? It was foolish lingering affection. She didn’t want to admit it, but she had to acknowledge the fact that she was holding the phone.

The rain was pouring down harder.

• If we had a little more money, we could have redone the wallpaper too, right, Na-yeon? Anyway, the door looks great.

Come to think of it, it rained the day that man first appeared too. The man who suddenly barged in, broke the door, and threw money as if discarding it. She had heard of gangsters breaking things, but she had never heard of them paying for the damage. She didn’t know what had happened that night, even though she was there.

Na-yeon suddenly let out a hollow laugh.

As she was listening to Mi-ju’s chattering, the door of the lamb tripe restaurant opened behind her.

“Na-yeon, what are you doing?”

Sang-yoon came out of the restaurant. When he found her standing in the drizzling rain, he quickly opened his umbrella.

“Ah, unnie. I’ll see you later. I’ll hang up.”

Sang-yoon, who had brought her bag, which she had left behind, gently pulled Na-yeon under the umbrella.

“They’re too talkative, aren’t they? I don’t know if they came to eat or drink.”

Na-yeon clicked her tongue as if to let him hear. Sang-yoon hesitated to speak first, looking around.

“Go in first, you must be tired. If you accommodate them all, you’ll be up all night.”

He handed her the bag he had brought. Na-yeon bowed her head and took the bag. The raindrops, which had become a little thicker than before, showed no sign of stopping, as if they would fall all night.

“It’s raining a lot. Can you go home alone?”

“Yeah, it’s raining a lot.”

The rain was heavier, and the damp weather made her feel uncomfortable.

“Should I take you home? The alley leading to your house looked quite dangerous before.”

“I can go alone. Don’t bother going out of your way for me, just go back in.”

“Don’t do that, let’s go together. You don’t have an umbrella anyway. I’ll take you to your door.”

Even though she waved her hand, saying it was okay, Sang-yoon grabbed her, telling her not to refuse.

“My house is in that direction too. Let’s go together since it’s on the way. We only have one umbrella.”

She heard the sound of raindrops falling on the umbrella. A smile spread across Sang-yoon’s face along with the quiet sound of rain. He insisted on taking the lead, saying it was dangerous to walk alone at night in the rain. Na-yeon ended up following him.

The sound of two pairs of footsteps echoed quietly as they walked down the alley. Sang-yoon’s shoulder was wet as he insisted on holding the umbrella for her, saying it was okay to get wet. She didn’t want to cause any trouble. She saw the motel sign flashing in the rain. They arrived in front of the motel, stepping through a puddle that had formed.

“Understand them, they’re just returning students. I don’t have anything to say either.”

“It’s okay. We won’t see each other after graduation anyway.”

“But you’re not even offering me a cup of coffee after coming all this way?”

Sang-yoon smiled lightly and tapped the umbrella he was holding.

“Ah... but it’s not exactly a good place for coffee.”

It was awkward to offer tea in the small motel room. It was her home where she had lived with her parents all her life and a place for business, but to others, it was just a motel room.

She knew what people thought of motel rooms. She didn’t try to hide it, but it was hard to reveal it easily. As she was being cautious, Sang-yoon smiled as if it didn’t matter.

When she just blinked in embarrassment, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“Is it a bit rude at night? Then give me one next time.”

“It’s not that, but the room isn’t that big... and I don’t have anything to offer. Would you like to come in for a moment?”

All she had in the room was an apple Mi-ju had bought and instant coffee, so it was a rather shabby offering. But he was a senior from her department who had taken several classes with her.

“Is there a special place for coffee? You don’t have to if it’s difficult for you. Buy me one at school instead. We can talk over coffee. Yeah, that sounds better. Then we can see each other again.”

“Excuse me?”

Sang-yoon, smiling brightly, waved his hand and gestured for Na-yeon to go inside. Only when she stepped under the eaves to avoid the rain did he take a step back. Sang-yoon seemed to be in a good mood.

“Then go in.”

“Yes, please go carefully.”

“Okay.”

Sang-yoon, waving his hand, walked further down the alley and occasionally turned back. When their eyes met, he waved again. Sang-yoon’s back disappeared as he shouted from a distance to go inside.

Although she had an umbrella, half of her shoulder that had been rained on felt damp. Na-yeon silently stared at the end of the alley where Sang-yoon had disappeared.

“I’m out of my mind...”

Sighing, she opened the motel’s glass door. She roughly picked up the fallen trash and turned around, but then heard a heavy footstep. She turned back. She felt like something had passed by. Was it an illusion?

Na-yeon walked down the hallway to the last room, her door. As soon as she turned the key and opened the door, Na-yeon was met with a chilling aura.

“Be quiet.”

A man, holding a knife to her neck, whispered softly. What was this, a robbery?

She tried to control her trembling hands and not show any signs of surprise. But the face of the man holding the knife was familiar. Buzz-cut hair, the big guy who had dragged CEO Sung out by the hair like a bundle and thrown him away.

How did he get into this room? She realized it was a foolish question as soon as she thought it. These people could open a door in a matter of seconds. Opening this door would be nothing for them.

“Don’t scare her. I told you not to be so crude.”

Only then did Na-yeon realize that she could hear the sound of running water from the bathroom. A man was washing his hands at the sink. It was that man. The man who had thrown the checks at her. The water filling the sink and draining away was blood. Definitely.

Cold sweat ran down her back. She had never known that cold sweat could flow so quickly.

“Damn it, are you coming in or not?”

The buzz-cut man spat out curses. He looked like he was about to slap her across the face.

“Why, why are you doing this... I’ll give you all the money.”

“If you don’t want to die, shut up and come in quietly, huh?”

The buzz-cut man finally raised his hand. Na-yeon closed her eyes tightly, but then a familiar voice broke through.

“Don’t bother her, Sung-shik.”

“Yes, boss.”

The man gestured with his chin for her to come inside without saying another word and threatened her again with the knife. Outside, only the sound of pouring rain could be heard, as if no one would care about Na-yeon’s situation.

Na-yeon walked into the room, stiff as a board.

“You’re late?”

The man standing in front of the sink was wet with sweat or rain, she couldn’t tell. Had there been a fight in this rain? The man, who had washed his hands that were still stained with blood, slowly swept his hair back. A blood-stained bandage was placed on the sink. Judging by the fact that he hadn’t taken off his shirt, it looked like a bandage wrapped around his palm, but she couldn’t tell for sure.

“If you have any other thoughts, you know what will happen, right?”

The buzz-cut man didn’t miss a chance to threaten her.

She knew it wasn’t an empty threat. She remembered how roughly he had treated CEO Sung. He didn’t care that they were guests in the motel. He was the kind of person who would grab anything within reach and throw it around. She hadn’t seen CEO Sung since that day. A chilling premonition made her close her eyes tightly. Had he been buried alive? It wouldn’t seem strange if he had.

The buzz-cut man hissed through his nose. From his forehead to the back of his head, there were clear scars that had healed. He was a person who had gone through countless such incidents. He would have protected the man he called boss with all his might.

The man dried his hands roughly with a towel and came out of the bathroom. Seeing him from the front, it was definitely the man who had been smoking in front of the motel door that day. He was wearing a black shirt then, not a white one like now. Sharp jawline, tall height, and languidly folded eyes. There was a little blood on the man’s broad shoulders.

“Don’t be scared. We just need to find someone.”

The man stated his purpose in a very gentle voice. It was the same as before. The same voice he had when he first met her.

“Someone?”

“Yeah. An ugly guy. Haven’t you seen him on the way? Or do you know where he might be hiding?”

What kind of standard was “ugly guy”? How was she supposed to answer if he put it that way?

“Could you be a little more specific...”

“He has a hole in his wrist. He’d be bleeding.”

The man, who spoke those chilling words without batting an eye, swept back his rain-soaked hair and slightly furrowed one eye.

“Why doesn’t this neighborhood have a single CCTV?”

As the man said, this neighborhood had few CCTVs, which was why many criminals and debtors hid here.

“If he’s hiding, there’s the inn a little further down, our motel... or houses or empty shops. There are some nicer motels, but you have to go a little further.”

But why was that man injured? Had he been involved in something like he was with CEO Sung last time? She was scared, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

“We should be able to find him if we lie in wait, boss. We’ve confirmed through our guys that he’s hiding in this neighborhood. Sung-hoon is keeping a close eye on the inn, so don’t worry. All our guys are outside this alley anyway. He won’t be able to go far with a knife wound.”

“Are you sure it’s that bastard?”

“Yes, boss. It’s definitely him. A guy sent by the Seokdo gang. He’s famous for his knife skills.”

The buzz-cut man said, folding the knife he had held against Na-yeon.

Na-yeon felt like the blood in her veins was drying up.

“Boss, I’ll keep watch here, so don’t worry too much.”

“You being here is what worries me the most.”

When the man fumbled in his back pocket, the buzz-cut man standing at the door noticed like a ghost, handed the man a cigarette, and politely lit it.

Na-yeon looked at the shirt stained with blood like paint.

“Are you okay? You seem to be bleeding a lot.”

Although there was a lot of blood, his eyes fixed on her didn’t look like those of a sick person.

“Why, do I look like I’m dying?”

Behind the smiling man, the buzz-cut man drew a line.

“It’s not the boss’s blood, so don’t think nonsense and stay still.”

Then... Na-yeon, who instinctively asked back, quickly understood what he meant and closed her mouth. The situation that brought this man here was somehow drawn like a picture. Looking quietly at the man’s hand, she went into the room and rummaged through the drawers. The buzz-cut man, standing guard at the door, glared as if she was up to something. Na-yeon, flinching, rummaged through the drawers and took out a first aid kit.

As she hesitated, taking out bandages and ointment, the man threw away the towel and roughly took the bandages, wrapping them around his hand. He seemed quite used to it.

“Um...”

“What.”

Na-yeon, who was staring quietly at his feet as he wrapped the bandages with a half-frown, muttered timidly.

“Shoes.”

“What?”

“This is my room.”

She looked down at the floor, stained with the muddy footprints of the man’s wet shoes. Seeing Na-yeon’s words, the man looked down at the floor and then at her. The man, who smiled as if he was dumbfounded, threw away the bandages he was wrapping and sat on the chair. It was a small metal chair bought to match the one-person desk that couldn’t even be called a dining table. When the man sat down, the chair creaked and made noise.

“You, come here.”

“Yes?”

Was he going to hit her? She couldn’t bring herself to approach, but then the buzz-cut man’s voice, sharp as a blade, returned from the door.

“How dare you argue with the boss’s words, huh?”

Na-yeon approached him hesitantly. She felt the man’s eyes turn towards her back.

“You fixed the door.”

The man smiled, seemingly satisfied with the newly installed door.

“Ah, the door cost.”

Na-yeon took out the bills she had hidden deep in the drawer. It was money left over after fixing the door completely. Of course. She politely handed over the money left over after fixing the door. The man, blowing out cigarette smoke and looking down at the wad of money Na-yeon offered, had lost interest in the trembling amount.

“I told you to buy snacks. Why.”

“...It’s the money left after buying snacks.”

“Room fee.”

“I don’t have change. Just take it.”

“You seem to be making a decent living?”

“Even if I’m not making a decent living, it’s not my money. And this much money...”

“How much is the usual room rate?”

“Why... it’s 50,000 won per day, and hourly rates for short stays...”

“Put me on the long-term guest list. Prepayment.”

That’s absurd. With this money, it’s hard to even estimate how many years’ worth it is. He looked like he owned several luxurious buildings as easily as chewing gum.

It was evident from his clothes. Even though his shoulders and back were soaked from the rain, the shirt he was wearing was clearly from a very expensive brand. A limited edition or something like that. If they caught that man, she wouldn’t have to stay in this run-down motel anymore. Is he really crazy?

“Do you sleep on the floor?”

The man, looking down at the floor that had nothing to see, suddenly asked.

“There are many motels with beds if you go out of this alley. You should go there...”

Even though she told him to leave if he didn’t like it, the man ordered without batting an eye.

“Spread the blanket.”

“Yes?”

“What are you doing? Spread the guest’s blanket. I can’t sit on the bare floor.”

If she didn’t do what the man said, the buzz-cut man might kill her. Swallowing hard, Na-yeon spread her blanket and made space. Even though she spread the blanket as ordered, the man, who had finished his cigarette, had a frightening expression.

Na-yeon blinked, stopping as she dusted the edge of the pillow with her hand.

“Sung-shik, don’t say anything to the big boss. Don’t worry him unnecessarily.”

“Yes, boss. Those Seokdo gang bastards definitely waited for the big boss’s birthday on purpose. They knew you’d be attending the big boss’s birthday gathering at K Hotel, so they waited for today and secretly sent people. They separated our guys and tried to run down the car you were in. Those bastards.”

The chair, barely supporting the man, looked like it would break at any moment. The man’s eyes, filled with murderous intent, slightly distorted. The man’s hair, still damp, swayed dangerously. A chilling feeling ran down Na-yeon’s spine.

That’s when it happened. Knock, knock, a knock sounded. Buzz-cut, Sung-shik, whose shoulders were tense, instinctively pulled out a knife towards the door.

“Na-yeon, it’s me. Mi-ju.”

Mi-ju’s voice came from outside the door.

“Are you in?”

“He’s a guest staying at our motel.”

Na-yeon whispered quietly to Sung-shik, who was glaring at her. Sung-shik gestured for her to take care of it. Otherwise, he might slit her throat with that knife. With him, it was entirely possible.

“We’ll withdraw as soon as we catch that bastard, so cooperate until then. Quietly send him back without anyone noticing.”

So, if they don’t catch him, they’re not leaving here?

Na-yeon nodded like a lamb about to be sacrificed, then opened the door and stuck her head out.

“Mi-ju unnie.”

“You were here?”

Mi-ju was standing there with a takeout cup carrier with a famous coffee shop logo.

“What’s this?”

“I was standing here just now, and some guy...”

“Guy?”

“He told me to give you this coffee, saying you weren’t answering your phone. By the way, who is he? He looked decent.”

Coffee?

“You came all this way and didn’t even give me a cup of coffee?”

“Ah... but it’s not exactly a good place for coffee.”

Sang-yoon, maybe. Her phone was on vibrate, and she was in no state to answer.

“What, you came all this way together and didn’t even... you know... and just sent him back? Seriously, Song Na-yeon.”

Na-yeon was conscious of Sung-shik, who was standing behind her, ready to twist her neck at any moment. She slowly opened the door slightly, stepped out, and faced Mi-ju. She swallowed nervously. The scene of Sung-shik tearing CEO Sung’s hair and brutally assaulting him kept flashing in her mind. Her mouth was dry.

“No. He’s just a senior from my department who took classes with me.”

“Girl, what senior in the world would buy coffee for a junior they don’t even like at this late hour? You’re trying to fool someone else.”

“Unnie, can we talk later? I’m too tired and want to rest.”

She wasn’t usually the nervous type, but she had experienced so many nerve-wracking things in the past few days that her hair stood on end.

“Are you very tired? Okay, then rest. You look pale.”

Mi-ju opened the door and went into the next room. The door opened behind her.

“What are you doing? Come in quickly.”

She was pulled inside as if her neck was being grabbed. Sung-shik stood there, glaring.

Was this man going to stand like this all night? The man who actually looked dangerous was calmly lying down, smoking.

Na-yeon looked down at the carrier with warm coffee. Was she in a state to drink coffee now? She had been trying to rest her tired body when these gangsters barged into her room, and now she was going to be up all night. She offered the coffee to Sung-shik, who looked like he was about to burst into flames.

“Would you like some coffee? While waiting for the person you’re looking for, at least this...”

“Are you kidding me? Do you think this is a joke? Do you know who our boss is? The next chairman of Jaemun. Do you know who you’re with right now and dare to joke like that...”

“Sung-shik, stop scaring her and sit down. She’s scared of you. I told you, you look crude.”

Sung-shik bowed his head at the man’s joke, or rather, not-so-funny remark, as he blew out cigarette smoke.

“No, sir. I can’t rest until we catch that bastard. How dare they look down on us? How dare they touch the boss’s hand, damn it.”

The man’s hand was wrapped messily in bandages. He was smoking with a hand like that. It was clear she had gotten involved with a seriously crazy guy.

Na-yeon placed the coffee carrier on the table and tore open a new bandage. Then, she approached the man lying on the floor and took his cigarette-holding hand. The man’s sharp eyes immediately turned to her.

“If you wrap it so roughly, the wound will get infected. I’m not a pharmacist yet, but I’m a pharmacy student, so you can trust me with this much treatment. And our motel doesn’t accept injured people. ...Usually.”

Her hands were trembling, but she spoke quite boldly. A long time ago, there were cases of criminals hiding in the inns around here, and bodies had to be disposed of. Strictly speaking, she shouldn’t accept criminals, but if she said that, her throat would definitely be slit here.

“Woah, principles...”

The man, who was raising his upper body, suddenly laughed. Chuckling, he threw his head back and laughed, and cigarette ash fell on the front of his shirt. He didn’t seem to care about the ash and laughed, touching his eye.

“Bullshit. You accept guys like CEO Sung as guests, and you won’t accept who?”

After speaking so boldly, she was speechless at the counterattack.

“...Why CEO Sung? What did he do wrong? Is he okay?”

The man sat up halfway. He groaned slightly as he raised his body, as if he had been hit with a bat.

“That’s none of your business.”

Na-yeon glanced at Sung-shik, who was still glaring at her. She wished he would at least sit down, but he was guarding the door so tightly that she couldn’t be more uncomfortable.

“Why, are you sad to lose a regular customer?”

Na-yeon shook her head, took the man’s palm, and unwrapped the bandage. The wound was more severe than she thought. It looked like it needed stitches. Judging by the shape, it seemed like he had gripped a knife tightly.

It was a surprisingly soft hand for someone in a gang. It was a soft and warm hand that didn’t seem like it had ever held a knife properly, so it was hard to believe that he had grabbed a flying knife with one hand. Well, he must have that much courage to be the next chairman or whatever.

Na-yeon quickly applied more ointment and neatly wrapped the bandage.

The man casually reached out and stubbed out his cigarette on Na-yeon’s household account book. Only her excessively loud breathing could be heard in the small motel room.

He said he was the next Jaemun chairman earlier. Jaemun... you don’t mean Jaemun Construction, do you?

Of course, she knew. Unlike this neighborhood, which was crowded with ordinary people, the opposite side, only a short distance away, was a neighborhood where expensive buildings lined up, and at the same time, land prices skyrocketed, making it a hot topic as prime land in Seoul.

Jaemun Construction was the company that built buildings, hotels, and officetels in that neighborhood, developing the entire area. It was also famous as a wealthy company. She seemed to have seen a news article recently that the next successor had been decided, and it seemed that this person was that person. She was too busy making a living to read more than a line in a news article, but she had heard that much.

“Na-yeon, not bad.”

The man spoke her name out loud as if savoring it. Na-yeon, who had been focused on wrapping the bandage in silence for a while, raised her head at the sudden voice.

“How did you know my name?”

“What’s so great about your name that you’re so surprised? Do you think I did a background check on you?”

It was a sharp answer that made her embarrassed to have asked. She closed her mouth, having nothing to say.

“Mi-ju unnie was calling your name and regretting that you sent him back without even... you know... But, you know.”

The man, who had been speaking casually with chuckles, suddenly lowered his voice seriously. Na-yeon could only blink at the heavy tone.

“What do you believe in to grab a man’s hand like this?”

Na-yeon, who had been staring blankly at the man, realized that she was holding his hand tightly. Startled, she let go of his hand as if throwing it away. Pain was visible in the man’s slightly distorted eyes.

“You bitch! How dare you touch our boss’s hand.”

“Oh... I’m sorry.”

The man kept laughing, finding something so funny and enjoyable. At Sung-shik’s urging, Na-yeon straightened her back. She remembered the sharp, blue-tinged blade.

“Come closer.”

“Yes?”

“Is it your hobby to ask twice? Come closer.”

She was already close enough, but how much closer did he want her to be? Na-yeon shuffled closer on her knees.

“More.”

It was a command like a threat. The man waited patiently until she sat right next to his side. She was worried about Sung-shik, who was standing guard, telling her he wouldn’t let her get away with any funny business, but it seemed that listening to this man in front of her was the best way to keep her life.

He raised his hand. Knowing he might hit her, she instinctively raised her hand to cover her face. His hand wrapped around Na-yeon’s wrist and pulled it down. His pulling force brought her face closer.

The man’s face, which she saw much closer than before, was more handsome than she thought. His sharp, straight nose and his piercing eyes, and incongruously, his strangely languid eyes were directed at her.

“Why...?”

“Have you seen me before?”

“When you came here a few days ago...”

“Other than that.”

“I don’t think so.”

If she had seen such a handsome man before, she couldn’t have forgotten. Na-yeon answered firmly, then struggled to pull her captured wrist away and sat back.

“Okay, if not.”

“...Maybe you have a girlfriend who resembles me among the ones you’ve dated.”

“Well, maybe.”

The man’s lips curled up as he chuckled. A subtly gentle smile, a somehow dangerous atmosphere.

“Until... until you hear from that person, why don’t you... get some sleep? I’ll stand guard with that person.”

Had she been intimidated by the atmosphere? Crazy words came out without going through her brain.

“You want me to let you stand guard and get killed overnight?”

The man still had a cruel smile.

“What a waste to send the coffee away like that.”

Coffee? Was he talking about Sang-yoon?

“Then can I go?”

“No.”

Why ask if he was going to say no? Na-yeon quietly pushed the first aid kit aside.

The man took another cigarette from the pack Sung-shik had left behind and smiled. Na-yeon, who was staring blankly at the lit cigarette, came to her senses at the man’s next words.

“You two seem to be quite close?”

The man took the condom box on the household account book and turned it back and forth. The scattered cigarette smoke fell on the condom box. There was a rattling sound as some of the contents were empty. Her face turned red at the “For Big Ones” written in large letters on the box.

The man’s low laughter made her even more embarrassed.

“You’ve used a lot.”

Her face flushed. It was a condom Mi-ju had bought for her. “This is a condom with a delay function. Be sure to use it before the expiration date,” she had said, leaving it behind. She had urged her to use it quickly, saying that breakups were originally forgotten with a new person. It was originally a full box, but Mi-ju had taken a few in a hurry a while ago. That’s why there were only a few left.

“You study well, and you’re big. That’s good.”

Na-yeon snatched the condom from the man’s hand.

“Give it to me.”

Na-yeon, not knowing where to look, put the condom box back in its place.

The man, with a cigarette in his mouth, blatantly tilted his head and stared at her. Just being stared at made her cheeks feel flushed. Let’s not be conscious, let’s not be conscious.

“You said you were curious about what happened to CEO Sung.”

“Yes?”

“He didn’t fulfill a contract that he even stamped with his seal. Business is based on trust, you know. If you don’t fulfill a contract, it’s natural to pay the price, isn’t it?”

So that’s why he had been hiding in the motel for a while. Na-yeon had seen CEO Sung’s hair turn white from running his business. Recently, there had been signs that his company was in trouble, but...

“I’m tired. Let’s get some sleep. You said it’s your room.”

“Ah, no. I’m not really sleepy.”

How could she lie down with a man who was talking about cutting off her head?

The man, with his arms folded in front of his chest, soon lay down and closed his eyes. Na-yeon, unable to go anywhere, sat in the small room and hugged her knees. Outside the window, the rain was still pouring. Would the person who ran away really come this way? How could that man be so sure? If he really went into a house and hid, he wouldn’t be able to find him. But Na-yeon was in no position to worry about anyone else.

She was quietly listening to the sound of rain. Lightning flashed, followed by thunder. Na-yeon hugged her knees tightly. She was more afraid of the thunder that seemed to tear the sky apart than the man in front of her.

She had a trauma. On a night of thunder and lightning, she received a call that her mother had died in a car accident. Her father was in the hospital. She left the house alone, barefoot, and walked in the rain. The day her brother stopped coming home was also a night of thunder that seemed to hit her ears. It was a good thing for Na-yeon, but it was something she couldn’t tell her father.

Na-yeon unconsciously moved closer to the man lying down. Na-yeon, who had buried her face between her knees, raised her head at the sound of his languid breathing.

“Unexpected. You’re not afraid of knives.”

The man, with only a hint of laughter, was staring at her. Na-yeon could only breathe irregularly.

“Boss.”

Sung-shik, who was on the phone with someone, quietly called the man.

“He’s coming this way.”

It was news that the person they were looking for was approaching.

Na-yeon vaguely guessed that the end of the stakeout would be the death of someone.

“He’s coming knowingly.”

The man murmured. Sung-shik, not hearing the man’s words, continued the call, listening to the outside situation.

“Those kinds of bastards only follow their own tails. They smell blood like ghosts.”

Na-yeon got goosebumps at the man’s words. So, this man was actually using her as bait, disguised as a stakeout. To kill that man. The man slowly raised his upper body. Na-yeon looked up at the man getting up.

“Lock the door well when I go out.”

That didn’t seem like something this person should say. But Na-yeon nodded. If she said anything, her neck would be cut off too.

“Cat got your tongue? Answer me.”

“Yes, I will.”

The man handed Na-yeon a business card. Na-yeon, who had been staring blankly at him, took it.

“What’s this?”

“A lifeline.”

“Yes?”

“Contact me when you need it. Once. No more than that.”

“Will you help me if I contact you?”

“We’ll see.”

At the man’s smile, Na-yeon gripped the business card tightly. Sung-shik opened the door that he had been keeping tightly locked.

The man, before leaving the room, said to Na-yeon.

“Oh, and this room is my room.”

He was truly an unpredictable man. A madman. Na-yeon muttered words she couldn’t dare to say out loud.

After the man left, Na-yeon immediately locked the door as she was told. Only then did she look down at the business card.

Jaemun Construction Managing Director. Cha Yeon-seok.

The next chairman, already designated as the successor.

The next chairman is younger than I thought. But a madman. Na-yeon muttered, looking at the bed sheet where he had left.