RB 6

He spoke without any greeting.

“You lived in a place like this.”

“Why did you come here?”

“You must have had enough time to think.”

“……”

For some reason he started to feel angry. Now even that person was coming to find him. Eunho rubbed his face and he moved his feet again.

“Go back. I will not do that job.”

“Why not?”

“Do I have to give you a reason too? I just don’t want to do it.”

His voice was harsher than usual. He had already decided to refuse Haegang’s proposal long ago. More than anything, Eunho was worn out in body and mind.

Yeorok did not answer. Instead he straightened his back from the railing. His jet black suit had no wrinkles, but as if it was a habit, he adjusted his clothes that were already tidy.

Then he glanced at the watch on his wrist and said,

“Even if you refuse, you should at least serve me a cup of tea. I waited for a long time.”

“……”

He was lost for words.

The other man did not even look that desperate, but in front of such a polite request, his heart softened. Eunho’s nature was never sharp like a blade. On top of that, the lunch boxes he had received until now weighed on his mind.

“My house is shabby…”

“It is better than talking outside.”

Eunho nodded reluctantly and he pulled a key from the back pocket of his pants. The doorknob was stiff today. Rattle, rattle, the rattling noise of the door was loud.

“Ha, damn it, why is this… not opening.”

He had to turn the key while pulling the door, but the misaligned lock often gave him trouble like this. The more he tried to open it, the more sweat rolled down his forehead. It was nothing but shameful that he was struggling like this in front of his own door.

“Wait a moment.”

Yeorok could not watch any longer and he stepped in. When he forcefully pulled, the door opened so easily it was ridiculous.

Creak, with the sound of rusty hinges, silence followed for a short while.

“P-please come in.”

Eunho belatedly played the host and went in first. He rubbed his heels on the floor and took off his worn sneakers. His socks were mid length, the fabric was fuzzy but they stayed white because he washed them with bleach water.

It was only a small single room, but he swept and wiped it often so there was no dust. Eunho washed his hands at the sink and he hurried to search the cupboard. There was no way he had drinks or tea bags. He had no choice but to take the cleanest looking mug, he filled it with lukewarm water.

“…Drink this.”

Yeorok looked down at the cup placed in front of him. It only had plain water, but he did not laugh and he did not sigh. He only said thank you and he wrapped his hands around the mug.

Eunho kept an awkward distance. Neither of them sat, so they just stood in the middle of the room facing each other. He could not bring himself to tell him to sit. Somehow he felt he must not.

“I heard.”

The low voice broke the uncomfortable silence. Yeorok spoke while looking at the mug.

“They said you can no longer work.”

“How did you… did you investigate me?”

“Yes.”

His tone was too natural. Eunho blinked in disbelief.

Yeorok slowly raised his head. His eyes looked over Eunho’s blank face, then slid down along his neck. Faint bluish marks were visible on the skin above the t-shirt.

As Yeorok’s eyes held the signs of assault, Eunho instinctively covered the spot with his palm.

“I heard bad people also come to you. Do you have debt?”

Eunho nodded. Since he had already done a background check, there was no point in hiding it.

“How much?”

“Twenty… million won.”

“Only twenty million.” Eunho bit his lips. His embarrassed gaze stayed stuck on the yellowed linoleum floor.

Yeorok looked down at the top of his bowed head and said,

“Shall I pay it back for you?”

Eunho felt empty and he rubbed his neck for no reason. The man’s voice had no malice. Maybe for Choi Yeorok, twenty million won was nothing but pocket money.

His gaze that had been wandering on the floor cautiously rose and landed on Choi Yeorok’s face. He had been watching Eunho from the start, so their eyes met easily.

The black pupils, impossible to read, looked like a trap. A tempting trap waiting with bait for him to step in.

The help he offered looked sweet, but Eunho couldn’t put it in his mouth. It was no different from a poisoned apple.

Anyway, it was the same that he was on the verge of death either way, so what difference would it make. But Eunho knew his place well. He knew with his ability he could never satisfy the man in front of him. Even if he needed money, he at least had the sense to distinguish between what he should do and what he should never do.

“No. You don’t have to.”

“……”

“I am sorry. I will refuse your proposal, sir.”

Yeorok silently put his empty hand into his pants pocket. He leaned against the wall and stared at Eunho. His expression hardly changed, but he somehow looked angry.

“Can I ask the reason?”

“I don’t want to get involved. It is also something I can’t handle…”

Eunho took a deep breath until his chest rose and fell. He had not done anything wrong, but his hands folded together on their own. But he wanted to make his intention clear.

“To be honest, it looks dangerous.”

“……”

“I really do need money. It is true I am suffering to the point of death because of the loan sharks… The compensation you promised is an amount I could never dream of even if I worked all my life… But if the reward is that big, does it not mean the job is that dangerous?”

“……”

“I don’t want to take part in anything dangerous.”

Yeorok stayed silent for a long time, lost in thought.

Sim Eunho was much smarter than he had expected. Usually, when people are dirt poor, they throw themselves into water or fire as long as there is money. But Sim Eunho carefully checked where he would set his foot.

That made him want him even more. Because he was not stupid, because he was quick to catch on. It was better than someone greedy and careless. At least by his standards, Eunho passed.

The problem was how to break that stubbornness. He thought if he targeted him when he was in trouble and coaxed him enough, he would give in, but instead it was Yeorok who started to grow impatient. Ridiculous.

“It will not be easy. Like you said, big rewards always come with risk.”

“……”

“But I promise I will support you from behind. I can be sure you will gain more. At the very least, your life will be better than it is now.”

“No, my thoughts haven’t changed. I am really sorry.”

Eunho bowed.

In front of such a strong refusal, Yeorok bit the inside of his lip. He could not drag him by force either… He exhaled.

“This puts me in a difficult position. I really need you, Sim Eunho-ssi.”

“I will not forget the help you gave me until now. I am also sorry for bringing you trouble.”

“This is the first time in my life I have to ask someone for help.”

Eunho slowly lifted his head.

It looked true. He did not know much about Choi Yeorok, but at the very least he could not imagine him bowing his head in front of others. Even seeing a lofty, beautiful, dignified man standing in a moldy room like this was hard to believe.

Their lives were different. Eunho begged and pleaded as part of his daily life, while the other man never did. It pained him that he had pushed such a man into frustration.

Who was he? Nothing but a bastard living off another man’s support, shutting his mouth ungratefully. How dare he pity him?

“If it is something else, if there is another way I can help, then give me the job.”

“There is nothing to ask but that you become my nephew.”

“…That is not possible.”

“What must I give you for you to accept?”

Eunho shook his head.

Such stubbornness, Yeorok laughed. He smiled, but he was seething in anger.

“What can I do? I don’t give up easily.”

“……”

“I am as stubborn as you, Sim Eunho-ssi.”

Eunho had nothing to say. He only rubbed his interlocked fingers. He wished the man would just leave. Even though it was his own house, he could not bring himself to throw him out.

Yeorok straightened his upper body that had been leaning to the side and he pulled his hand out of his pocket. He exhaled another long breath. He never looked people in the eyes, so there was no way to persuade him. Sim Eunho, who had shut his heart tight, was no different from a stubborn old man.

Forcing people was not his style, so for now the only choice was to step back. Yeorok set down the mug and he pulled his wallet out of the pocket of his jacket.

“Call me if you change your mind.”

A neat business card slipped into Eunho’s palm.

While he stared blankly at it, Yeorok put on his shoes and opened the rusty door. The door shut with a loud noise.

The tiny single room smelled of a good fragrance that did not match it. He had only stayed for a short while, but Choi Yeorok had left his mark before leaving.

“…What kind of business card is this?”

Now alone, Eunho turned the card over and over. The paper felt smooth like silk. It was different in texture from the card he had once received from Chief Hong Namyeong.

[Choi Yeorok, Chairman of Haegang Foundation]

Even the engraved letters shimmered with a blue gloss. Even a piece of paper made him feel the difference in class. But Eunho crumpled the card without regret and threw it into the trash.

He didn’t want to keep Choi Yeorok’s offer in his head any longer. Instead, he would sit in his room and worry about his own life.

The small single room was always dark, perfect for sinking into gloomy thoughts.