PHUW 105

They begged the boss, saying they also had something to get back from that bastard thug. People always united in front of someone who had run off with their money. This time was no different. For whatever reason, even without knowing his face, the boss of Gwanrim Motors said that if Ahn Haeri contacted him, he would let them know right away. The same went the other way around.

As expected, what was meant to happen happened. The very next day the boss called. For some reason, when he shouted at Ahn Haeri over the phone, Haeri immediately paid the repair bill in full. He said to come tomorrow or the day after to pick up the motorcycle, and if they had business, they could come and wait for him there.

When they asked if he could just give them Ahn Haeri’s phone number so they would not have to go through the trouble, he recoiled, saying debtors must not exchange phone numbers. He said he had been through this before, giving out the number of a thug who had run off after not paying, only to be sued for violating the Personal Information Protection Act and dragged through trouble. Although the cases had ended with suspension of indictment or a ruling of no suspicion, he said just receiving calls from the police or prosecution was stressful enough, so he could not directly give them the number. Not only that, sometimes the thug would hold a grudge and file endless complaints with the district office about illegal parking, which became a real headache. He complained that he had been hit with fines. So if they wanted to resolve things, they should come like regular customers of the motorcycle repair shop and meet him by chance. It was clear he had been harassed by insolent thugs.

‘Damn young brats, fuck.’

Why go all the way to Seoul. There was also the option of contacting Detective Park and getting the kid’s phone number through Gwanrim Motors. When they called, Detective Park said he would call Gwanrim Motors, but at the same time he clicked his tongue, saying the kid had something he wanted to ask.

‘Amnesia?’

At Detective Park’s words, they wondered if they had heard wrong. On the detective’s call, the manager of Gwanrim Motors became even more guarded. He treated it like voice phishing. He said if they wanted the phone number, they should send an official document. Even in the best case it would take days.

‘Because of voice phishing bastards, there’s nothing they can do by phone, he says.’

At Ducheol’s explanation, the hyung clicked his tongue.

‘Ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. What is this, some trash drama, talking about amnesia.’

‘If he forgot, what do we do? Won’t we lose a hundred million?’

The stupid dongsaeng asked.

‘We have to meet him first and ask. His memory might come back.’

‘But Hyeonsan people are camped out there. What if we mess with him and something happens?’

‘What’s wrong with asking about the whereabouts of stolen goods. It’s theft, so it puts him at a disadvantage.’

The three of them put their heads together and decided it was best to wait in front of Gwanrim Motors for the kid. Since they had also heard through Detective Park that Mr. Jang had been badly bitten by a fierce dog, they prepared protective gear just in case. But things did not go smoothly.

When they finally spotted Ahn Haeri, he was indeed alone with the dog without any Hyeonsan employees. But that dog, which they had been told was like a calf, had such a terrifying look that just seeing it made their legs go weak. As soon as they pulled up and got out of the car, the damn dog barked first. It was hard even to start a conversation, so wearing protective gear, Lee Ducheol shoved the dog aside, yanked the leash from Haeri’s hand, and hooked it around a bollard in sight.

‘Hey, Mr. Ahn Haeri. We just want to talk… huh?’

They had only meant to talk. But the dongsaeng suddenly picked up Ahn Haeri and shoved him into the car.

‘What are you doing! Get in now!’

They thought he was crazy. But it was already done. Seeing the dongsaeng gesturing from the passenger seat, Ducheol hurriedly climbed in and slid the door shut.

‘Fuck! Who are you people! Aaagh! Hyung! Hyung! Help me! Aaaagh! Gom-ah! Jeong Mok-hyung!’

The brat went completely wild.

‘Cover his mouth, cover his mouth! Someone’s there!’

The hyung shouted from the driver’s seat. Ducheol clamped his hand over the kid’s mouth. He pressed his whole body against the thrashing frame and looked around. Just then he spotted duct tape. He bound the struggling kid and subdued him.

‘But why the hell is there duct tape in the car.’

‘I brought it just in case.’

The one in the passenger seat gave a thumbs up. This was a kidnapping. And the target was the brat the vice chairman of Hyeonsan kept by his side. Even if it went well, they would have to keep their heads down and business quiet for a while.

This was how the hyung, who had only meant to have a friendly talk, ended up as a deranged kidnapper. The jar had already been smashed. Whether it had been full of water or soybean paste, it was ruined all the same.

“Fuck. Seriously.”

After catching his breath, Lee Ducheol tore the tape from Ahn Haeri’s mouth for the moment.

“Who are you?”

At first the brat had screamed his lungs out, but this time he asked calmly. It was a relief that at least he had some sense.

“We’re people connected to Mr. Jang, the one whose foot that bastard of yours smashed.”

“You know this is kidnapping, right?”

The snot-nosed kid opened his eyes insolently wide and talked back without fail.

“No, we didn’t mean to kidnap you.”

“You shoved me into a car out of nowhere while dressed in protective gear, bound my limbs, and gagged me, and you say it’s not kidnapping?”

They instantly understood why the motorcycle shop boss had hesitated so much.

“We just wanted to talk, but we never had the chance to meet. Just now too, because of the dog, we were so scared that this guy here grabbed you without thinking. Hey bastard, apologize.”

Ducheol smacked the back of the passenger seat guy’s head again. The guy, who had no sense at all, glared and muttered an insincere apology.

“We don’t intend to kidnap you. We just want to talk and then let you go right away.”

“……”

Ahn Haeri did not ask if they meant it. He was quick-witted. His pale face was drenched in cold sweat. Even they, suddenly turned kidnappers, had pounding hearts. How terrified must the one who had been kidnapped be. Because of their stupid companions, both sides were being disgraced against their intentions, which made it oddly pitiful.

“I hit my head and have amnesia.”

A clever kid.

“We know.”

“Even if you ask, I don’t have anything I can answer.”

“We know that. But really, you don’t remember anything at all?”

“Yes.”

They had expected this. But Ducheol had another plan. First he needed to catch his breath.

“You’re not lying?”

“I’m not.”

“Then how did you come to look for the motorcycle?”

“……”

Ahn Haeri shut his mouth. He must have something coming back to him, otherwise why would he be going around searching bit by bit.

“Let’s talk, just us. Do you think we want to become criminals? Mr. Jang, he’s someone raising his son alone. And right now the kid is really sick. The hospital bills cost a fortune.”

“Really? He looked fine to me, just fat and bloated.”

The guy in the passenger seat spoke out of turn again. Better to die than suffer like this. Fuck.

“Some people gain more weight when stressed. And does that guy even look human to you? He’s an animal.”

The hyung stepped in, signaling with his eyes for the passenger to shut his mouth. The passenger twisted his lips but kept quiet.

“Student. We want to end this without trouble if possible.”

“Seems like trouble already started.”

“Exactly. For us, even if we rot in prison for a few years, that’s it. But you, what if you end up dead like this?”

“……”

The other rolled his eyes, as if he had a lot to say. They gave him plenty of time to figure out the situation. At last Ahn Haeri spoke calmly.

“Let me make one phone call. I don’t have my phone.”

“Yeah. We checked earlier, looked like you didn’t have one.”

Ducheol nodded and pulled out his own phone.

“I don’t even have a password. Only people with lots to hide set those. So you can make as many calls as you want. Unlimited calls, too. But the student has to cooperate with me, otherwise why would I lend you my phone?”

“If it’s money you want, my hyung will give you as much as you want.”

Ducheol had seen too many bluffers tossing out empty promises to believe that. Mr. Jang was the same. Big words, then he ended up in the ICU.

“Of course I’d like to get money. But would you hand it over just like that? Before that, let me ask you one thing.”

Ducheol opened his photo album. Then he pulled up the pictures he had gotten from the fat pig.

“Do you recognize this?”

He shoved the phone in front of An Haeri’s nose. Haeri’s eyes widened. It looked like if someone tapped the back of his head now, his eyeballs would pop out.

“This… that’s me.”

“Right. It’s you. And this one?”

“Show me properly.”

The kid, who had been trying to lean away as far as possible, suddenly straightened up. He looked ready to bury his nose in the screen. Sitting beside him, Ducheol showed him the photos one by one. Mixed among pictures of Haeri himself were hundreds of shots of food, scenery, bars. Among them were studio-like portraits where he posed like a model.

“These clothes.”

“What, you remember something?”

“These are what I was wearing when I had the accident.”

He said that after looking at one of the portrait shots.

“Good. Good. Any other memories?”

“I’m not sure. But what is it I’m supposed to know?”

“What I want to know is about the box of manicure supplies you took.”

At that, Ahn Haeri furrowed his brow.

“Why would I have a box of manicure supplies?”