# Chapter 32
“Taeho, where are you going?”
Kwak Junhee stopped me with that question, looking at me quizzically. I opened my mouth expressionlessly as if it were nothing.
“I’m just going to the bathroom.”
I passed by Kwak Junhee, who nodded in acknowledgment, checked on Moon Seoheon and Yoon Taean who were sitting at a table that had been cleared completely, and then turned around. I’m not some thug, and there was no need to drag those guys along just because I felt uneasy.
Thinking that nothing would happen and that I’d return safely, I entered the bathroom and barely managed to hold back a curse that was about to escape my lips. Son Gyucheon was standing in the middle corner with his followers, who had entered at some unknown time, engaging in thuggish behavior.
“But… but…”
“But nothing, why don’t you hand it over quickly?”
Ko Kyungsu was surrounded by Son Gyucheon and his followers, hesitating with a face even paler than before. Seeing their behavior—clearly a group ganging up on one person—people who had been using the bathroom glanced over, quickly washed their hands, and hurried out. Feeling someone enter behind me and then leave again, I stepped forward.
“You… you could just participate yourself. I… I worked really hard to get this…”
“Then you can just participate again. I’m telling you my stomach really doesn’t feel good today.”
What bullshit. I looked at Son Gyucheon in disbelief as he threatened Ko Kyungsu with an obvious lie. Ko Kyungsu was completely intimidated and looked like he was about to cry, but he was still trying to express his opinion.
“I… if I mess up this monthly evaluation, I’m in big trouble. That’s why I can’t give it to you.”
“Oh, come on! Then can’t you just do well on the test?!”
As he raised his hand as if to hit Ko Kyungsu, I quickly approached through the crowd of boys.
The guy, who hadn’t paid attention to anyone entering, seemed to sense my presence approaching and hesitated with his raised hand. Son Gyucheon turned his head, saw me, and slightly furrowed his brow.
“Yoon Taeho…?”
He looked at me and immediately glanced around, scanning behind me. Even though he could see I was alone, he seemed to be checking if anyone was with me. Soon realizing I was alone, Son Gyucheon’s lips curved up crookedly.
“Haha, looks like you’ve finished enjoying the banquet.”
My expression hardened at Son Gyucheon’s sneering words. I glanced briefly at Ko Kyungsu and met his eyes, which were a mixture of surprise and relief. I tried to act casual as I asked.
“What’s going on?”
Though I could more or less understand the situation, I spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, hoping they would stop. Son Gyucheon seemed to sense my intentions, snickering as he turned fully toward me.
“Nothing much. Why are you butting in? When I called you last time, you were spouting nonsense about wanting to live quietly.”
“…Then can I take Ko Kyungsu with me?”
“What?”
Ignoring Son Gyucheon, who raised his eyebrows and looked at me in disbelief, I grabbed Ko Kyungsu’s arm and pulled him toward me. Son Gyucheon, who had been staring blankly at what I was doing, chuckled and gave a signal to someone with his eyes.
Immediately, his followers blocked our way forward. I looked at Ko Kyungsu, who was whimpering, once, and then turned my head toward Son Gyucheon, who gave me a vile smile.
“Hey, what’s your deal, really?”
Son Gyucheon laughed softly as if he found the situation amusing, then looked me up and down with an expression of disbelief. My face slightly frowned in displeasure, and Son Gyucheon, who had been studying me intently, spoke.
“You don’t seem any different, but somehow you feel changed.”
“…”
“Looking at your gloomy face, which is the same as usual, you’re definitely Yoon Taeho, but something feels a liiittle different.”
My face is only gloomy because I’m looking at your ugly mug. I waved my arm at the guys surrounding us, gesturing for them to move aside, but they didn’t budge an inch.
It seems I won’t be able to get through this quietly after all. Letting out a deep sigh, I released Ko Kyungsu’s arm. Seeing his eyes well up again as he flinched, I raised my hand reassuringly.
“You wanted this, right?”
I took out one of the exemption tickets I had stuffed deep in my pocket and showed it to Son Gyucheon. His eyes flashed for a moment.
“Ooh, what’s this? You succeeded too?!”
Son Gyucheon, who had looked surprised, soon clicked his tongue, saying there was no way.
“Don’t tell me Moon Seoheon gave it to you? He’s such an idiot. Not even knowing that you asked me for a favor…”
I momentarily looked outside with a contorted expression. How can this bastard speak so recklessly without any fear?
Though I’d only been here for a few days, I’d already realized that Moon Seoheon wasn’t as weak as I’d thought. He didn’t seem like someone who would be easily beaten by others. However, I knew he often received threats because of his position as a sponsor, so I found Son Gyucheon both pathetic and irritating for potentially causing unnecessary trouble.
Of course, if he gets caught and taught a lesson, that would be fine by me.
“Hey, I’ll give you this, so just let us go. Don’t start a fight.”
Despite my annoyance, I spoke calmly, expressing with my whole body that I just wanted to pass by quietly, worried that if we fought, I might not even get a chance to land a few punches before getting beaten up. Son Gyucheon’s eyes widened, and suddenly he burst out laughing. What the hell, has he gone crazy?
“Haha, alright. If you’re giving it to me… I’ll gladly take it.”
Son Gyucheon snatched the exemption ticket I was holding out and shoved it into his pocket. Snickering unpleasantly, he hit my shoulder hard as if patting it, and added:
“Unlike last time, you’re being so obedient, I like it. Do better next time. Answer my calls too.”
I was about to say something to Son Gyucheon, who still wasn’t taking my words seriously, when—
“These fucking bastards, really…”
Son Gyucheon and his followers, who were about to leave, froze in place. I was so startled that I felt my heart drop to my feet. The person walking steadily through the entrance, who had heard who knows how much or from where, was glaring at us with a fierce expression.
He was dragging someone by the collar. The person, whose face was a mess as if he’d been hit, looked at Son Gyucheon before hanging his head low. Though I didn’t recognize him, he seemed to be an acquaintance of Son Gyucheon’s. Soon, the newcomer released the person he had been dragging as if throwing him away.
“…”
Who could speak first in this situation? Ko Kyungsu, who was trembling even more than when he had been alone with Son Gyucheon, looked at me worriedly. Feeling my entire body tense up, I released Ko Kyungsu’s arm that I had been holding.
“No, why… are you… kuhak!”
Byeon Seungha approached Son Gyucheon, who had been muttering in bewilderment, and promptly grabbed his throat. A cold and violent impact sound echoed, and Son Gyucheon was slammed against the wall. Byeon Seungha, who had effortlessly pushed back a teenage boy with a substantial build, seemed to apply more force, and Son Gyucheon’s face immediately turned alternately red and blue.
“Huk! Kup, hu!”
Son Gyucheon, who was struggling to breathe, rolled his eyes toward his acquaintances.
“If anyone here moves even a little, know that you’ll all die.”
At Byeon Seungha’s menacing voice, which he had uttered in a low tone, everyone stood still as if by agreement. No one made even the sound of breathing, and silence enveloped the surroundings. In the bathroom filled with excessive tension, only Byeon Seungha could speak.
“I’ll get straight to the point, so just nod if I’m right. The drink you gave to Moon Seoheon on Thursday—was that your doing?”
Byeon Seungha, still gripping Son Gyucheon’s neck with one hand, coldly spat out the words with an expression that suggested he was suppressing his anger. Hearing those words, Son Gyucheon opened and closed his mouth painfully, with an expression that showed he didn’t understand.
“Kuk, what the fu—kuk!”
“I said just nod.”
Byeon Seungha, who had struck Son Gyucheon’s side with his other hand, spoke expressionlessly. Ugh, shit. That must really hurt. Byeon Seungha glanced at me as I involuntarily swallowed dry saliva. Unlike before, he showed no expression, but the flickering flames in his eyes revealed how angry he was.
My mind went blank, and all I could do was move my lips without making a sound. Byeon Seungha, who had been glaring at me for a moment, turned his head back to Son Gyucheon. Feeling his gaze, Son Gyucheon quickly shook his head.
“When I roughed up those Low Class bastards, they said it was given by someone from Middle Class. What kind of × would do such a thing besides you?”
Son Gyucheon grabbed Byeon Seungha’s arm and scratched it frantically, as if feeling wronged. However, the arm gripping his neck remained firm without shaking, as if unaffected. Instead, the sleeve of the shirt he was wearing stretched tightly as his arm flexed with force.
“It really… huk, wasn’t me!”
Son Gyucheon, who had managed to shout with all his might during a momentary release of pressure, contorted his face, muttering that it was true. Byeon Seungha remained quiet for a moment and then released Son Gyucheon’s neck. As if his blocked breath had been cleared, Son Gyucheon hurriedly gulped in air.
“Fine, if you can’t speak honestly, I’ll just ask someone else.”
Muttering as if to himself, Byeon Seungha turned around and looked at me. He approached me, who was completely frozen and unable to do anything, and mercilessly grabbed my collar.
“Kuk!”
My head was pulled back sharply, and my eyes closed instinctively. I expected a punch to come flying, but when there was no pain, I cautiously opened my eyes. Byeon Seungha was staring right at me from just inches away. As my body began to tremble slightly, the strength of his grip on my collar intensified.
As I grabbed his arm because I couldn’t breathe, Ko Kyungsu next to me started to call my name but stopped.
“What did you ask Son Gyucheon to do?”
Fuck, that’s something even I don’t know well. Besides, I don’t know what happened on Thursday, so I tried to wrack my brain for what that day was like, but nothing came to mind.
Byeon Seungha let out a low laugh, as if he couldn’t believe my silence.
“You said you weren’t acquainted… Just casually lying away. This, now that’s one fucking funny bastard.”
