Why didn’t I think of that? Besides, I already knew there was a possibility Jiwoo might do drugs. It was so unfamiliar that I couldn’t make that connection at all.
And because it happened to be in a soy sauce container, I could only think of it as something to eat.
“Drugs… crazy.”
I bolted upright. I’d turned off all the lights to sleep, so only the phone light was shining brightly.
“It’s not like it’s been determined to be drugs. It’s just a possibility. And drugs aren’t something you can get that easily…”
No, if hyungnim is really a chaebol, wouldn’t getting it be a piece of cake? But still, surely he wouldn’t… He wouldn’t carelessly send something illegal like that by delivery without any explanation.
“…Right?”
It was a problem even if it really was drugs. Then hyungnim is telling me to use drugs on Jiwoo to continue the relationship. Just possessing drugs is illegal.
“I guess the 100 million won wasn’t for nothing.”
I muttered in dismay and flopped back down. Staring blankly at the dark ceiling, I felt a meaningless sense of betrayal.
Hyungnim and I weren’t that close to begin with. He was just someone I happened to get to know who introduced me well to high-paying short-term part-time jobs.
We didn’t talk about serious or personal things with each other, and to keep getting work, I just humored hyungnim and acted respectfully. I continued this relationship to benefit myself too, so there was no need to feel disappointed now.
“No, but even so, isn’t drugs a bit too much?”
There should be moderation—how could he send drugs by delivery?
“Ha.”
It might not be drugs, so let’s not judge hastily. And even if it is drugs, I received 100 million won, so…
“……”
But even for 100 million won, drugs are really not okay, right? Shouldn’t I report this to the police? If Jiwoo loses it somewhere and they trace the source and I’m there, won’t I become a criminal too?
No matter how broke and struggling I am, I’ve never stolen even once, but drugs. Drugs…
I searched on my phone again. Just in case it might come up this way.
Drug G.
If this didn’t work, I was going to search with Drug B. Those two alphabet letters seemed like what I heard. But I was spared that effort.
GHB appeared at the top of the search results.
A chain-form organic substance with carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, one of the narcotics (psychotropic drugs).
I didn’t know what this meant just from this, but helpfully the description even included the name it’s called domestically.
Mulppong.
“Crazy…”
Mulppong was a name even I, ignorant about drugs, had heard before. This is a date rape drug.
“He’s really not in his right mind.”
He sent me this? By delivery? And just left it in front of the door?
Suddenly my heart started pounding like crazy. I should’ve known from when he randomly deposited 100 million won. There’s no such thing as easy work that pays a lot of money in this world!
Ah, fuck. I couldn’t even grasp what kind of absurd situation I’d gotten tangled up in. Shouldn’t I really report this to the police even now? I received the money, but still, I had absolutely no intention of becoming a criminal.
If I go to prison, what happens to Seogong?
If you turn yourself in before getting caught, don’t they give you leniency? Just before I almost decided to go to the police station, hyungnim’s voice struck my mind like lightning.
‘Your cousin had surgery recently, right? Was it Heo Seogong? If you’re short on hospital bills, say so anytime. I can provide that much as employee benefits.’
“Aaaah.”
That really was a threat! And if hyungnim is really a chaebol, he definitely has tons of loopholes to escape through. No matter how much I report it, isn’t it obvious only I’ll be fucked?
The end for ordinary citizens who take on chaebols is always bad! Plus, it’s not just me who’ll suffer—problems might even arise for Seogong, who has nothing to do with this.
No matter how much I racked my brain, there didn’t seem to be a way to get out midway. The safest way to escape from this quagmire was for me to find out Jiwoo’s secret as soon as possible.
“……”
That’s right, isn’t it? He won’t keep making me do difficult things using this job as leverage, will he? I had an ominous feeling, but even so, there was nothing I could do.
I had no choice but to trust hyungnim’s conscience. Though I don’t know how generous a person who carelessly sends drugs to someone else’s house would be.
Let’s just sleep for now. After sleeping and waking up, let’s think again. With a clearer, more normal mind.
But I couldn’t sleep a wink. Not the next day, nor the day after that.
In a state of sleep deprivation and nervous exhaustion, I worked part-time while feeling sickly, and eventually ended up catching a cold and body aches.
—A cold and body aches? Did you take medicine?
Jiwoo worried about me several times a day by phone. No, was this actually worry?
—Then when can we meet? I don’t mind catching your cold, so can’t we meet just for a bit? I’ll come to your house.
I didn’t know if he was worrying about me or not, but at least he seemed desperate. But that was strange in its own way too. To be this desperate from not seeing each other for just a few days? It’s not like waiting for a lover who went to the military.
I was already having a nervous breakdown because of that family’s people, and if I saw Jiwoo’s face now, I might faint from stress. I had things to do and couldn’t avoid him forever, but still, I wanted to escape reality at least until my cold got better.
“Today seems impossible, I’ll contact you tomorrow.”
—Tomorrow?
“After I wake up… Cough, cough!”
—What time tomor—
“Kack! Urgh! Cough, cough! Kack!”
When I coughed violently like someone about to die the day after tomorrow, even the clueless Jiwoo didn’t ask more and finally hung up.
With a lighter heart, I ate porridge and medicine, and texted with Seogong for a long time. I didn’t say I was sick since he’d worry, just had light chatter about what to do when he gets discharged, where to go, etc.
Still, talking with Seogong made my throbbing head and upset stomach settle down a bit. Stress was definitely the root of all illness.
Then I dozed off. Whether because of the medicine or texting with Seogong, I didn’t know, but it was a deep sleep for the first time in a long while.
Thud thud thud.
But an unpleasant noise started coming to my ears. The peaceful moment shattered like breaking glass, and I gradually came to my senses.
Half-asleep, I slowly sat up. Outside the blanket was cold enough to give me goosebumps. Did I not turn on the boiler? Why is it so cold? I hunched my shoulders and habitually checked the clock on the wall.
12:10.
Thud thud.
“……”
Why does this situation feel so familiar? Surely Jiwoo didn’t come now, right? But if not Jiwoo, there was no one else who would knock on my front door at this hour.
Thud thud thud.
“Yes.”
Should I pretend not to know and go back to sleep? But because it was late at night and too cold, I got out of the blanket. If I don’t go out, won’t he just keep knocking there?
“Who is it?”
I expected to hear Jiwoo’s voice, but there was no answer. I cleared my throat and said again,
“Who is it?”
No answer again.
Thud thud.
Instead, as if answering, he just knocked on the door. What, it’s not Jiwoo?
“I’m asking who you are.”
Thud thud.
“……”
Wh-what the fuck. Is it a ghost? I suddenly got goosebumps and became wide awake. Is this a dream? I hastily pinched my cheek and looked around.
I don’t believe in ghosts, but thinking about someone suddenly knocking on the door past midnight in a house where I’m alone made my spine tingle.
That’s when I heard signs of presence beyond the front door. I didn’t know exactly what sound it was, but I couldn’t keep facing off like this, so I tensed up and unlocked the door. Anyway, hearing signs of presence means it’s not a ghost.
And as soon as I slowly opened the door, I came face to face with Jiwoo.
“……”
“……”
He stood there upright like some jangseung with a face full of spite.
“What are you doing there…”
No, not upright—staggering.
“What are you doing?”
Looking at Jiwoo tilting to the side, I jumped outside barefoot without time to think anything else. Then I grabbed his shoulder and was shocked.
Right now, Jiwoo couldn’t control his body properly. It felt like supporting a person with no strength in their body, completely limp. Fortunately he didn’t collapse, but he was heavy enough to make me groan.
“Why are you like this? Did you drink?”
Every time his breath touched me up close, the smell of alcohol vibrated. And his hand I was holding was so cold it was amazing this wasn’t frozen pollack.
“Ugh, is this human crazy, really? Just what… Ugh.”
I barely dragged the unconscious Jiwoo inside the house. Then I straightened my back as I let his heavy body collapse on the living room floor.
“…Uh…”
“Yes?”
Jiwoo, curled up tightly, sniffled and muttered something. I couldn’t understand anything, so I bent down and put my ear to his pale lips.
“What?”
“I’m cold…”
The last faint voice like a sigh tickled my eardrum.
