Chapter 17
Hyungoh opened his drowsy eyes to the noise ringing in his head. The golden light glowing from the edge of the ceiling made him feel even hazier. What dream was I just having? Hyungoh wiggled his fingers under the feather-light blanket. His fingers collided with some damp clothing.
“The night view is quite pleasing.”
A familiar voice came from not too far away. Hyungoh moved his head to look at the man’s back. He was a man who looked exceptionally good in a black suit. At a glance he seemed thin, but looking closely at his well-fitted shirt, his lean muscles were nicely defined.
Hyungoh blinked. The reddish-brown hair was familiar.
“Herick…?”
Herick, who’d been fiddling with a broken pair of sunglasses, turned around. Hyungoh’s mind was still hazy. It seemed like Herick had appeared in his dream, but not with such a sturdy build. Hyungoh, who’d been absently admiring Seoul’s colorful, twinkling night view beyond Herick, stopped short.
Herick in Seoul?
“Herick…!”
“I apologize for the mistake my subordinate made earlier. I clearly told him to handle you gently.”
Hyungoh hurriedly raised his upper body. That’s right. I was trying to escape and got caught by Herick. Hyungoh tried to calm his heart, which felt like it might tear through his flesh and bone and burst out.
“What, what are you planning to do now?”
“What do you think? We’re going to America together.”
We welcome you. Herick spread his arms wide. Unlike Herick, who was grinning, Hyungoh’s expression was as desperate as someone who’d received a terminal diagnosis. So it’s finally happened. His tumultuous past life as a hacker flashed before his eyes like a slideshow, suddenly tinted with a nostalgic pink hue.
“Herick, I really can’t do this.”
“Can’t do what?”
“You know. I… I…”
Hyungoh exhaled breathlessly. The pain he’d tried so hard to forget all this time became a giant centipede, beginning to crawl inside his body.
You said you wouldn’t run away!
Michael’s angry scream echoed. Hyungoh covered his ears with trembling hands. It’s cold. His hands and feet felt like they were freezing. He felt like he was moving further away from the warmly glowing sky, being sucked into the dark, chilly ground.
“I can’t handle it.”
Herick, who’d been watching Hyungoh pull the blanket over himself with a strange expression, sat gently on the bed.
“Look at me, Choi.”
Herick lifted Hyungoh’s chin with a careful touch.
“That was a mistake. Both Michael’s and mine.”
“…”
“Listen. Even if you were protected by the Korean government, we could’ve taken you without caring about such things. But we didn’t, right? Michael has had eleven years of reflection. For you.”
Of course, there were some troublesome power struggles in between that made that time longer than expected. Herick added casually.
“Anyway, what’s important is that we need you.”
“‘We’ means…”
“The Gostin Family. The entire family needs you.”
Including me, of course. Herick grinned. Hyungoh raised his head, discovered Herick’s seemingly lecherous smile, and flinched.
“Herick… your personality seems to have changed.”
Didn’t you dislike me before? Hyungoh looked at Herick with cautious eyes.
“When it comes to personality changes, I don’t think anyone can beat you.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“See? You’re stuttering again.”
When did you become such a coward? Herick pulled Hyungoh’s cheek. Though your appearance is the same, how fascinating. Hyungoh uncomfortably pulled his face back. In response, Herick pulled his cheek once more with a mischievous smile.
“Please stop…”
“Herick, everything’s ready.”
A man with a deep voice interrupted Hyungoh as he knocked and spoke. Herick nodded to himself and stood up from the bed.
“Time to go. Get up.”
Herick extended his hand to Hyungoh.
“I don’t have my passport.”
“Don’t worry, I have it.”
“…How did you know where my house was?”
“Not hard to figure out.”
Come on. Herick wiggled his fingers impatiently. Herick… please. When Hyungoh pleaded, Herick shrugged.
“I told you, Choi. I want to remain a gentleman while in Korea.”
I don’t want to put you in the trunk with my own hands. After hesitating momentarily at the chilling words, Hyungoh obediently got up from the bed. Herick stroked Hyungoh’s stiff shoulder, saying it was a joke, but Hyungoh could vaguely sense from Herick’s artificial smile that those words were certainly not a joke.
Yes. I never had a choice to begin with.
In fact, Hyungoh knew very well how enormous and powerful the mafia organization Michael belonged to was. The Gostin Family. It was a name he’d heard countless times during his hacker days. Perhaps because there were more black hats than white hats around him. Most of them worked for criminal organizations, so he couldn’t help hearing about it whether he wanted to or not.
That’s why Hyungoh was no longer confident he could escape. How long could I evade Michael, who has such a terrifying backing? In comparison, I have no backing left.
When he opened the door, a man with bruises all over his face appeared. It was the man who’d struck Hyungoh’s head hours ago. Startled, Hyungoh looked at Herick, who pretended not to notice as he casually tossed the broken sunglasses into a trash bin.
“Have the car ready.”
Herick ordered the man. The now-docile man nodded and immediately moved. Oh, right. Herick smiled slyly at Hyungoh as if remembering something.
“Aren’t you curious how much Michael has changed?”
Hyungoh kept his mouth shut. Honestly, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t curious at all. Herick, who’d been quietly observing the subtle changes in Hyungoh’s expression, whispered playfully.
“You can look forward to it. It’s beyond anything you could imagine.”
***
Hyungoh stood still at the airport, which evoked childhood memories. Not much seemed to have changed from eleven years ago. No, there was one thing different. Hyungoh looked around with a complicated expression. Large men were gathered around Herick, who was walking beside him.
“Choi, are you still feeling unwell?”
Herick asked. You didn’t eat much on the plane either. Hyungoh let out a hollow laugh at his words. His first time in first class, with glances from people around him. Flight attendants’ eyes constantly darted between Hyungoh, who was slouched among burly foreigners, perhaps curious about him or simply interested in the handsome Herick.
If it had only been the flight attendants’ gazes, he wouldn’t have minded much. The problem was the stares from the men Herick had brought. They peeked around about every thirty minutes, pretending to go to the bathroom while actually trying to get a glimpse of Hyungoh, probably because Herick was treating him well.
Even at a glance, Herick was an object of fear to his subordinates. He created an atmosphere of terror with his distinctive artificial smile even for minor mistakes. No wonder they’re curious when someone like that treats me well. Hyungoh lowered his eyes as if resigned.
Time really has passed. Hyungoh, who’d just gotten into a car with Herick, stole a glance at Herick’s profile. They’d first met at the hospital, hadn’t they? Back then, his sunken eyes had seemed possessed, as if he’d lost his mind, but now there was no trace of that.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing…”
Herick asked with an eye-smile, resting his chin on his hand. Trailing off and evading the question, Hyungoh noticed the familiar airport exit beyond Herick. It was the place where he’d first met Theo. Memories came flooding back, and Hyungoh was momentarily lost in reminiscence. I almost lost my luggage carrier then, I think.
“Is Theo doing well?”
At Hyungoh’s question, Herick smiled uncomfortably. The man driving glared at Hyungoh through the rearview mirror. Hyungoh shrank at the chilled atmosphere. Huh, what’s this? This isn’t the reaction I expected.
“I’ll tell you later.”
Hyungoh nodded. Did something happen to Theo? No, Herick and Theo were close friends. That’s why I just asked. He had an ominous feeling. Surely nothing so bad had happened that Theo’s name couldn’t even be mentioned?
Hyungoh remained silent in the uncomfortable air. Herick also didn’t bother to speak.
“We’ve arrived, Choi.”
Thinking Hyungoh was asleep as he’d closed his eyes to relieve tension, Herick gently stroked his head to wake him. As Hyungoh tried to open his eyes, someone abruptly opened the car door and covered his eyes with a blindfold.
“What, what is this!”
“Haha, calm down. It’s meant to be a surprise.”
This is more fun, isn’t it? Herick helped support Hyungoh out of the car. I don’t particularly want to be surprised. Herick firmly held Hyungoh’s hands as he tried to remove the blindfold, and strode forward.
Why so forceful? Herick held both of Hyungoh’s hands tightly in one of his own, leading him like a dog on a leash. Without his eyesight, all his other senses became heightened. Listening to his own breath growing rough with anxiety, Hyungoh followed Herick but nearly tripped on stairs. Herick easily caught him in his arms.
“You should be careful.”
There was a lot of laughter in Herick’s voice. Irritated, Hyungoh tried to remove the blindfold, but Herick grabbed his hands again, saying they were almost there.
“There, we’ve finally arrived.”
“Where are we?”
“In front of Michael’s room.”
Hyungoh swallowed hard. A chill ran through him, causing goosebumps. To think Michael is this close. His hands trembled involuntarily. He didn’t want to tremble, but his body wouldn’t listen.
After knocking two or three times with no response, Herick flung the door open.
“…What’s this, why are you sharpening knives again?”
Knives?
Hyungoh turned pale and grabbed Herick’s hand. Listening carefully, he could indeed hear eerie metallic sounds echoing through the room, just as Herick had said.
At that moment, with a sharp sound cutting through the air, a knife embedded itself in the wall right next to Herick. Herick grimaced.
“I told you not to come in without permission.”
“You wouldn’t act that way if you knew who I’ve brought.”
Herick pulled Hyungoh toward himself. Hyungoh, who’d been standing awkwardly with his waist bent, staggered.
“…”
“Haha. Your expression is quite worth seeing, Michael.”
It was quiet. Why no answer? Hyungoh, who was looking around while holding Herick’s hand even more tightly, was suddenly embraced by someone who appeared out of nowhere.
“You, get out.”
“Wait…!”
Before Herick could finish, the door slammed shut. What the… Hyungoh stiffened and looked down at his waist, which he couldn’t see. Someone was hugging him tightly from behind, almost crushing him.
“Choi.”
“Mi-Michael?”
“…”
The person turned Hyungoh around abruptly and forcibly lifted his chin for a kiss.
“No, wa-wait…”
With his waist bent backward, unable to find his balance, Hyungoh reflexively put his arms around the person’s neck. The person exhaled a sticky sigh and buried his face in Hyungoh’s nape. Wait, I said. His face flushed hot. Somehow, he feels much taller. Just how much have you grown? Hyungoh hurriedly removed the blindfold.
“…Michael?”
Pale yellow hair, skin like white jade, and dark blue eyes.
The warmth of the night sky transmitted through the large window that dominated the room. Hyungoh silently looked at Michael, who’d grown so much. He couldn’t take his eyes off him. The more he looked, the hazier his mind felt.
Just like when he’d first met Michael.
Michael smiled brightly. For some reason, his heart fluttered at Michael’s eye-smile. Michael, who was happily looking back at Hyungoh as he stared with his mouth open, slowly loosened his tie.
“Welcome to heaven, Choi.”
