—Right. That’s why I called. Explain the situation and bring him to the hotel. You know it’s Rudan, right? When you get there, people from the Embassy and Information Department will be waiting.
“By myself? But I don’t speak Russian.”
—Fortunately, he can speak English. And even if we dispatch someone now, they’ll be late anyway. There’s no choice.
Still, to meet a VN one-on-one without any mental preparation. My head became distant at this sudden disaster.
“Hazard pay alone won’t be nearly enough.”
—Yeah, yeah. I’ll do whatever you ask, so just don’t make any mistakes. The plane has arrived, right?
“Yes.”
—Do well.
The Department Head ended the call only after repeatedly urging me. A sigh came out. I knew there was no other way. But wasn’t this too much? Resenting God, I quickly set priorities for what I needed to do and moved. I took out A4 paper from my briefcase and wrote ‘WELCOME. Ilija Mihajlovic Rasanin’ on it. Then I took out the documents with a copy of the VIP’s passport, looked at the photo, and diligently crafted words in my head on how to explain the situation.
First, I should inform him that the Embassy staff had an accident, and just say I was supposed to guide him to his accommodation. He won’t eat me just because he’s upset. Once I get him in the car, taking him to the hotel will be quick…
As I was running various simulations in my head, the moment I recalled what car I’d come in, I froze.
“How can I be this unlucky…”
This time, a sigh of true despair leaked out. Expecting the VN would ride in a car from the Russian Embassy, I’d driven the most shabby of the official vehicles. It was a Sonata that had been out for over 20 years. Thinking about putting the VIP in that, beyond being embarrassed, my head became distant.
I was wavering about what to do when, with good timing, among the people pouring out through the opened gate, one man caught my eye.
A tall man.
The moment I saw the face of the man wearing a dark gray suit and black coat, I swallowed my breath.
His white face contrasting with the black coat was handsome as if carved from marble. It wasn’t just that he was good-looking, but a face that brought to mind words like nobility and elegance. His indifferent expression as if uninterested in his surroundings and his light movements that didn’t match his large build captivated my gaze.
So there are people like that in the world.
I was truly and purely surprised, so much so that I didn’t even think it was strange to be admiring a man. The atmosphere emanating from his perfectly balanced body was special. Somewhere dangerous and threatening…
Then suddenly a premonition flashed through my head. With a just-in-case feeling, I rummaged through the documents I was holding. The black-and-white photocopied passport photo received by fax, not very clear, came into view. The photo and the man’s appearance resembled each other. No, the real person was about 100 million times more handsome and more powerful than the photo. I wanted to strangle whoever took this photo.
Calming my surprised heart, I slowly raised my head. My eyes met the man’s. With light purple eyes that suited his blonde hair, he alternately looked at my face and the welcome note I was holding, then strode straight toward me.
Are you really that VIP?
The closer he came, the more I could physically feel that the man was not only handsome but possessed an aura that overwhelmed people. It was natural since he was a high-ranking vampire. My body trembled. Not because I was scared. I had to put this man in a paint-peeled Sonata? Hiding my desire to cry, I showed him a smile.
“Welcome to Korea. Rashanin-ssi.”
I greeted him as naturally as possible. Then Rashanin also showed a wonderful smile. For a moment, it felt like the surroundings brightened. I was so tense that I momentarily forgot and stared blankly.
“Did you come to meet me?”
“Yes.”
I came to my senses at the pleasant mid-low voice. This wasn’t the time to be spellbound looking at a handsome face.
“I know there should be three people coming to meet me. Where are the others?”
“There were accidents.”
“Accidents?”
“The Embassy staff had a traffic accident, and the Bureau agent is in surgery. So there’s only me here. I’ll guide you to the hotel.”
“You have bad luck.”
“Thank you for thinking so.”
Because of Rashanin speaking in a pitying tone, I answered thank you while tasting complicated feelings. It was fortunate that he understood without being difficult, but somehow I felt humiliated.
Rashanin, who met my gaze, looked at me for a while then smiled faintly.
“Lead the way. I’ll follow.”
“Do you have any other luggage? Or companions?”
I was puzzled that he wasn’t even carrying a light bag. Not a single piece of luggage coming from Russia.
“No luggage or companions.”
“If you’re staying for a long period…”
“I sent it ahead, so it’s fine.”
“Ah, I see. Then please come this way.”
As I tried to take a step ahead, I suddenly recalled the paint-peeled Sonata. I needed a solution before dying of embarrassment.
*
In front of the departure area, taxis were lined up. The thought occurred to me that the problem would be solved at once if we took a taxi instead of the embarrassing Sonata. However, the man with the long name Ilya Mikhalovich Rashanin threw a tackle.
“Why a taxi?”
“To escort you comfortably.”
“What about the car Lee Unhyuk-ssi came in?”
I hesitated for a moment at Rashanin’s question that hit the mark. Looking at the man with a very curious face, I debated whether to lie and say I came by taxi or tell the truth.
“It’s not suitable for Rashanin-ssi to ride in.”
“Not suitable? Why?”
“Well…”
I couldn’t say I couldn’t put someone like a handsome god from Greek and Roman mythology in a paint-peeled car. Unable to reveal the truth, I trailed off, and the man asked persistently.
“Does the car not run? Or is it a one-seater?”
“Neither.”
“Then why are you trying to do something troublesome? If we use a taxi, you’ll have to come back again to get the car, won’t you? It’ll cost double in time and money.”
Rashanin spoke as if he really didn’t understand. Unable to tell the truth even if my mouth was torn, I laughed as if it were nothing.
“It will be more comfortable to take a taxi.”
“Guide me.”
“Pardon?”
“If you’re beating around the bush that much, I’m curious what kind of car it is. Lead the way.”
“…!”
I was left speechless by the man who smiled as if it would be really fun, crinkling the corners of his eyes. He was persistent, unlike his appearance.
“What are you doing instead of leading the way?”
“Rashanin-ssi?”
“Is it this way?”
Rashanin strode toward the parking lot, not caring about the rain. I followed behind him, cursing inwardly.
“I think I understand why you didn’t want to show it.”
That was Rashanin’s first words upon seeing the paint-peeled Sonata. My face burned hot. I didn’t die of embarrassment, but I was definitely ashamed. That’s why I said let’s take a taxi. I barely held back the sigh that was about to come out.
“Since it’s raining, quickly taking a taxi would be…”
“I’ll ride this.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s true the car is old, but it being unsuitable for me to ride is just your standard.”
How smoothly he spoke with that sly smile. Looking like a prince on a white horse, saying it didn’t matter to ride this thing. I was dumbfounded but couldn’t say no. I had no choice but to nod and open the back door of the paint-peeled Sonata. At least it was fortunate that the inside of the car wasn’t messy.
Rashanin casually got into the worn-out back seat.
I swallowed yet another sigh and got in the car. Things were going wrong in a strange way.
*
Having lived for over 30 years, I knew I wasn’t a lucky person. I grew up suffering all kinds of abuse from my stepmother, and in my second year of high school, I was even taken to the police station after being framed as a thief because of my half-sibling. Two years ago, my father passed away, and I didn’t receive a single penny of inheritance. And I lost the money I invested in my classmate’s business and ended up with hundreds of millions in debt, and during that time I broke up with my girlfriend.
Living was so hard it was shitty, and there were several times I wanted to die. Still, this was the first time I wanted to die from embarrassment.
Taking Rashanin in the paint-peeled Sonata wasn’t that bad. The problem happened next. The windshield fogged up because of the rain, so I turned on the heater, and the old car couldn’t withstand it and broke down.
MCs casually dropping the most horrific lore: