Hong Kong
“I’m leaving late on the night of the 22nd, so keep that in mind. Don’t schedule anything until the 24th. Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Go on.”
When Kang Siwon bowed silently, Ju Xiang twisted his lips and smacked him hard on the head.
“You’ve got no fucking manners, just shutting your mouth tight and bowing, Kang Siwon.”
“……”
“What are you staring at? Get lost.”
Kang Siwon got out of the car without opening his mouth to the end. There had never been a time when his greetings were properly received anyway, so he didn’t want to bother bowing.
He walked briskly, wanting to quickly escape the parking lot. On the other hand, he wondered why they were staying in Hong Kong for three days instead of two. For a visa run, staying just one day would suffice. He’d suddenly ended up spending three days together with Ju Xiang.
“Ugh.”
Kang Siwon grimaced and soon shook his head. At times like this, he had to think positively. After all, being able to do even a visa run was something.
Until just a few years ago, Koreans apparently couldn’t stay in Macau for more than 120 days a year. If he had been deployed to Sovereign back then, he would have inevitably become an illegal resident. It was a great fortune that the law had changed.
However, no matter how positively he tried to think, spending three days together with Ju Xiang was something he couldn’t do. Kang Siwon got on the elevator in a gloomy mood.
* * *
When he opened the front door and entered, he saw a pair of shoes. It seemed Ray Jun had come home. When he headed to the living room, Ray Jun was indeed sitting on the sofa.
“You’re back, Xie Wei?”
“Yeah.”
Just as he was about to pass by him and head to the bedroom, Ray Jun called out to Kang Siwon.
“Oh, Xie Wei.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to Hong Kong next week. About 3 nights and 4 days. I won’t be coming to the dorm, so just so you know.”
Kang Siwon’s mouth fell open slightly. He was also going to Hong Kong next week, so it was quite a coincidence that Ray Jun was too.
“When?”
“From the 21st to the 24th.”
“That overlaps. I’m going to Hong Kong too. From the 22nd to the 24th.”
“Really?”
Ray Jun also looked a little surprised. Soon he pulled up the corners of his mouth into a grin.
“That’s too bad, Xie Wei. It was a golden opportunity to enjoy freedom without me.”
“I wouldn’t call it freedom.”
“You don’t need to pretend otherwise. You’d have the bedroom to yourself, and only have to cook for one person. How nice.”
“Yeah, it is a bit disappointing.”
“What? You’d prefer it if I wasn’t here? That’s too much!”
Ray Jun pretended to cry. He had no idea what tune he was supposed to dance to. When Kang Siwon responded by ignoring him, Ray Jun wiped away his fake tears and asked.
“So, Xie Wei. Why are you going to Hong Kong? Restaurant hopping?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded at the excuse Ray Jun had thrown his way. However, he couldn’t help but hesitate at the next question.
“Who are you going with?”
“……Just by myself.”
Somehow it felt like he shouldn’t say he was going with Ju Xiang. But to make up a story about going with another friend—Ray Jun clearly knew he didn’t have such connections. If asked what friend, it would become more troublesome, so it was better to lie and say he was going alone.
Fortunately, Ray Jun nodded readily.
“Ah, I see.”
“Why are you going?”
This time Kang Siwon asked. Not so much out of curiosity, but because it seemed natural to ask back given the flow of conversation.
“I have people I need to meet.”
“Ah.”
He figured Ray Jun must be meeting friends. Ray Jun had such an extensive network. He surely knew many people in Hong Kong too.
“If things work out, we might even run into each other?”
“Yeah.”
Kang Siwon hoped such misfortune wouldn’t occur. Since he’d said he was going to Hong Kong alone, it would be troublesome if he got caught being with Ju Xiang.
“Let’s say hi if we happen to run into each other. You can’t ignore me, Xie Wei.”
“Obviously.”
Though he answered that way, Kang Siwon made a resolution. He’d have to be vigilant of his surroundings and avoid Ray Jun well.
* * *
As scheduled, the day to depart for Hong Kong approached.
Late at night, Kang Siwon got into a taxi with Ju Xiang. The destination was Taipa Ferry Terminal.
The ferry Ju Xiang had booked was scheduled to depart around 11 PM on the 22nd. Even without asking, he could guess why this time slot was chosen. Surely because few people traveled at this hour.
As expected, the ferry was quiet. Kang Siwon sat in a corner window seat and leaned his head against the window.
Outside the window, the black sea was undulating. There was no reason for the ocean’s mass to be different just because it was nighttime, yet it felt heavier than during the day.
The distinctive salty smell made him feel like he might get seasick. Kang Siwon closed his eyes and fell asleep just like that.
He opened his eyes again because someone was roughly shaking his shoulder.
“Wake up.”
Kang Siwon, who had snapped awake, looked around. Passengers were gathering their luggage and standing up. It seemed they had arrived in Hong Kong.
Kang Siwon also stood up, pulling his hood down deep. After getting off the ferry, he headed to the immigration checkpoint with Ju Xiang.
“Passport.”
The immigration officer demanded gruffly. Ju Xiang handed Kang Siwon his passport, and Kang Siwon passed it to the immigration officer. The weary-faced officer allowed them through without any particular questions.
“Phew.”
He exhaled in relief at having officially stepped on Hong Kong soil. Though it was a short and easy journey of about an hour, it was also an important schedule. Now he could let go of the worry about becoming an illegal resident. At least for three months.
“Give me the passport back.”
“Yes.”
“We’re going to the hotel.”
Ju Xiang headed to the taxi stand. Kang Siwon followed him onto a taxi.
“Rosedale Hotel.”
Only after hearing Ju Xiang tell the driver did he learn the destination. Since he hadn’t been given any information other than that they were going to Hong Kong, Kang Siwon didn’t even know which hotel they were staying at. Since they’d come to Hong Kong for a visa run anyway, it didn’t matter where they stayed for one night.
Since it was past midnight, the roads were quiet. The taxi quickly arrived at the Rosedale Hotel. The two people who got out of the taxi entered the lobby.
“Check-in.”
While Ju Xiang was checking in, Kang Siwon looked around the lobby. It was well-organized but showed signs of being somewhat outdated. Probably a 4-star, maybe even a 3-star hotel.
In fact, in Hong Kong where there were so many old buildings, this was decent enough. It was just that his standards seemed to have risen while working at Sovereign Resort. He sent himself a sneer—a guy with no money developing high-class tastes.
“Ah, I’m tired.”
Ju Xiang, who had received the room key, came over with a big yawn. Kang Siwon silently pressed the elevator button. The door opened, and Ju Xiang got on first.
“Are you going to wash?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going straight to sleep. You should sleep too. The sound of water is noisy.”
“I’m sticky with sweat though.”
“Fucker, it’s only April, what sweat are you talking about? Acting like a little girl.”
Regardless of whether Ju Xiang grumbled, as soon as Kang Siwon entered the room, he opened the bathroom door defiantly and went inside. He took off his clothes and stood under the showerhead, and warm water poured down. Even if it was a somewhat old hotel, he liked the plumbing at least.
“……”
When he came out after washing, Ju Xiang was sprawled on the bed. He’d said the water sound was noisy, yet he was sleeping soundly, even snoring. Kang Siwon, frowning as he looked down at him, soon lay down on his own bed.
He pulled the blanket up to the top of his head like putting up a protective barrier. The blanket was a bit damp, but it felt cozy as if he had his own space. Kang Siwon closed his eyes, grateful that he could use a different bed from Ju Xiang.
* * *
Early in the morning, Kang Siwon woke from light sleep.
Perhaps because his sleeping place had changed, his body felt stiff all over. Ju Xiang also grimaced and stretched.
“Ugh, fuck. I’m so tired I can’t stand it.”
“……”
“Get up. We’re eating breakfast.”
“I’m fine.”
“Fuck, you think I’m taking you to fill your stomach? What bullshit are you planning to do alone in the room!”
At Ju Xiang’s scolding, Kang Siwon silently prepared to go out. Being openly monitored wasn’t particularly pleasant, but he consoled himself that at least he’d be able to have a meal thanks to it.
The two headed to a cha chaan teng in the building right next to the hotel. Since it was peak breakfast time, it was crowded with people. Table-sharing was standard at cha chaan tengs, so Kang Siwon ended up sitting squeezed in with strangers. The space was a bit cramped and uncomfortable, but this was better than sitting alone with Ju Xiang.
“Scrambled eggs.”
“I’ll have egg toast and coffee. Oh, and milk pudding too.”
When Kang Siwon finished ordering, Ju Xiang sneered.
“Did you come to eat?”
“I did come to eat though?”
Of course you come to a restaurant to eat, not to starve. Even though he didn’t say the rest, Ju Xiang glared. He thought he’d curse, but unexpectedly, he threw out an out-of-the-blue question.
“How are you going to live from now on?”
“I’ll live like I am now. Doing what I’m told.”
“No, man. How are you going to live after two and a half years?”
Two and a half years from now would be when the deadline promised with the Baeksa Faction ended. In fact, Kang Siwon was half-believing, half-doubting the condition that they’d eliminate his debt. Still, seeing that he was asking this, it seemed they didn’t plan to completely renege after everything was over.
“I think I’ll live like before.”
An ordinary life building a career as a chef, earning money, and saving it bit by bit. By then he’d have no debt, so he’d be able to breathe. It was still a dream like a mirage, but it was also a future he desperately wanted to achieve.
“You want to live miserably like before?”
“I didn’t live that miserably.”
“Fuck, such pretense. So what would you do if an opportunity to make a lot of money came along?”
