Ring ring ring- Ring ring ring-
“Why isn’t he answering…”
I trembled anxiously under the blanket in a room with no lights on. It was already the fifth call, but hyungnim wasn’t answering. Since it was a weekday afternoon, there was a high probability he was working, but I kept having anxious thoughts.
Did I get caught up in something strange? That made sense. 100 million won. A whole 100 million. Did I really lose my mind? It’s not a small amount—what was I thinking, accepting 100 million won just like that?
The truth I’d learned from doing various jobs since childhood was that no matter what it is, there’s a reason when they pay a lot of money. Easy jobs that pay well don’t exist in this world.
“Really crazy… Hah… If only the credit card company hadn’t called with collection notices that day…”
I was irritably banging my forehead against the pillow and muttering when the call connection tone suddenly ended.
-Hello.
“Hello? Hyungnim?”
-What’s the occasion? You’re calling first.
I bolted upright.
“Hello, hyungnim. I’m sorry for contacting you when you’re busy.”
-It’s fine. I’m not busy.
Then why did you only answer now? Do you know how much my heart shriveled up while calling you five times?
“I called because I’m curious about something.”
-Curious? About Lee Jiwoo?
I’d already finished assessing hyungnim’s cousin. No, even if there was something I didn’t know, I didn’t want to know more.
“It’s not that. If I happen to, just hypothetically, fail this job, what would happen?”
-Why are you already curious about that? You haven’t even started yet.
“Haha… Right. But I feel like I should know.”
Sorry, but I’ve already failed… And not just failed, but spectacularly failed. I punched his jaw as soon as we met and ran away without looking back.
-Hmm… I haven’t thought that deeply about it.
“……”
Why the hell did this person give me that huge sum of money? Is he like a guardian angel sent from heaven to pity me? Then maybe if I worked hard, he’d appreciate the effort and not hold me accountable?
I swallowed nervously with a glimmer of hope, but hyungnim didn’t give me a refreshing answer.
-For now, don’t think about that and just try as far as you can.
“Ah…”
What should I do? Should I tell him I already met him and failed spectacularly? But what if he asks me to return the 100 million won I received since I already failed? I’ve already spent almost all of it, so even if I wanted to return it, I can’t anymore.
-If you find out even the smallest thing, contact me.
“……”
Then I suddenly realized. This person has no expectations of me whatsoever. Should I say he doesn’t even seem interested in whether I’ll succeed or fail?
How can this be when he invested 100 million won? Or is he so rich that 100 million won is nothing? Cold sweat started forming at the back of my neck.
You know how it is in dramas and movies. So if you think of this as war, the cannon fodder you put at the very front…
I had an ominous feeling that I was in that kind of position. External personnel who aren’t included in the military strength, whether they live or die.
“That black list… So I need to find a document related to hyungnim’s closest associates?”
-Mm. It might not be a document… Anyway, something like that should work. If there are other secrets, that’s good too.
“What kind of secrets?”
It’s probably not just that the guy isn’t in his right mind. As I started asking questions anxiously, I suddenly heard a light laugh from the other side of the phone.
-Seoun-ah.
“Yes?”
-Shouldn’t you normally check that kind of thing before receiving the money?
“……”
My hair stood on end at the voice that was no different from usual.
-I just thought you were so moved that you’d really risk your life and do your best regardless of what the job was.
I needed to say something, but my mouth wouldn’t open. Of course. What could I say? I was the one who acted like a blockhead without thinking of the consequences.
-Anyway, I don’t know what the secret is either. If I knew, I wouldn’t have asked you to find out what it is.
“Mm, yes… That’s right.”
-Don’t push yourself too hard, and make not getting your identity exposed your top priority. It’ll take some time to get close anyway, so don’t think about it impatiently.
“……”
It’s all wrong. My identity seems to have been exposed already, and the chance to get close flew away. I was pondering whether to tell hyungnim the truth when I heard his voice turn slightly cold.
-Just don’t betray me.
“That will absolutely never happen.”
-I really hope so. That way I won’t be sad for trusting you and paying in advance.
I still didn’t know what was what and things were still uneasy, but I decided not to think too deeply. Even stray cats in the neighborhood don’t hiss at people who share canned tuna when they’re hungry. Moreover, I’m a human being, the crown of creation—I can’t have less loyalty than a stray cat.
I’d already received the money and I’d already spent it. So there’s no place to retreat. I need to think of it as a cliff behind me and stay sharp.
-Don’t contact me from now on either. Like I said, he’s quite perceptive.
“Then what do I do when I absolutely have to contact you? And can I use my real name? Should we make code names? Just in case.”
After I spoke, I realized code names were meaningless since I’d already exchanged names with Lee Jiwoo. But still, wouldn’t it be good to have some other designation?
However, hyungnim’s thoughts were different from mine.
-It’s better not to do it than to do it half-assedly. Don’t lie either. Especially about personal information. The reason I bothered to give you this job was because you don’t have to fabricate anything.
Hyungnim might have wanted someone who had no connection to him whatsoever. Someone with no connection but whom he could moderately trust. Not a spy or any other special profession, just an ordinary common citizen.
-I’ll contact you when the time comes, so don’t call from now on. Delete my number too. Just buy a new phone.
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
-Oh, and Seoun-ah.
“Yes, hyungnim.”
-Your cousin had surgery recently, right? Was it Heo Seogong? If you’re short on hospital bills, tell me anytime. I can provide at least that much as employee benefits.
At those words, I unconsciously covered my mouth with my hand. Meeting a boss who cares about benefits like this was really hard in life. But did I mention Seogong-i’s name? I think I mentioned having a cousin in the hospital… How did he know about the surgery?
“Yes, thank you for your concern.”
-Alright, hang in there. Fighting.
The call ended like that, and I took the phone away from my ear.
“……”
And I just stared blankly at the screen cracked like a spiderweb.
…Did I just get threatened?
I didn’t have even a speck of intention to betray him anyway, but my head became complicated. No matter how much I searched my memory, I’d only mentioned that my cousin was in the hospital.
“……”
All sorts of thoughts came to mind, but I pulled myself together. There were no other options left for me anyway, no matter how much I thought about it with a headache.
I received the money, and I do what I have to do.
“For today it’s late, so starting tomorrow.”
I planned to go back early tomorrow morning to the place where I’d met Lee Jiwoo. First, when I meet him, I’ll get down on my knees and apologize right away. If I can’t meet him…
“……”
Ah, no. Don’t think ominous thoughts.
I washed up and went to bed early. Since only bad thoughts came when I was awake, it was much better to sleep quickly.
But was it because my mind was anxious? I ended up dreaming about Lee Jiwoo. It was a horrible dream where Lee Jiwoo ignored me and I clung to his pant leg crying, begging him to spare me.
“Hah…”
I got ready to go out with a haggard face from sleeping poorly. Let me stop by to see Seogong-i for a bit, then go meet Lee Jiwoo.
Oh, I need to change my phone too. I’d used it for so long that the battery drained quickly and the screen was all cracked and tattered, so the timing was good.
In front of the entrance, I put on my sneakers in a half-asleep state and went outside.
“Ugh, cold… Why is it so cold again today…”
It was completely spring until yesterday, but today it was cold enough for my breath to show. They say the world is in chaos because of abnormal climate—at this rate, I wonder if the Earth is really going to be destroyed.
I passed through the narrow yard with cement finish broken in places and opened the gate. Then I had to go down two steep steps and walk down another steep downhill road. That’s how I’d get to the main street…
“……”
But I had no choice but to freeze in place after stepping on the gate threshold. Someone was sitting on the stairs. I heard sound effects like “byorong” and “pisyuk” as if they were playing a game on their phone, and I saw a back wearing a soft-looking white knit.
Then the pink head turned and looked up at me.
“Hi?”
Lee Jiwoo greeted me indifferently with an expressionless face.
