Esquisse Chapter 1

The goldfish rolled f70c6c0bf7 over the shattered 83dd7e612a fishbowl. The 18,000-won easel she 587115f4d2 bought after much deliberation 963fec39a1 met the same fate.8617973589fa89f7

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At least her father 35511eaaa1 wasn’t rolling on the fea714155a floor—should she consider that 4a3c3905d4 fortunate? Her empty d17cbe18cd gaze swept 0a652b2f53 across the 30ba8aa14e uninvited guests 47402c8c32 trampling through 0e9af0a741 the living 29775bd198 room and 15b26bf59e landed on b3aac8ae8b Song Mansik, d7b6658ba1 crumpled in 143ce93048 a corner.ec8dbce92d171060

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“Oh, ooh, my 249bb8fdcb Seorin is here!”f6ffa642405d3781

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Kneeling down and pretending 92789f77fc to act familiar, Mansik 3fd74ec6d7 looked a complete mess. His cheeks, 65529e5182 still marked 5a4af699d2 by tear 993b63c96b stains, and 2a32bc3a89 the blood c04cc667ef stuck to a16f77702f the philtrum ab2f31e97d seemed more 01f39c79ca ridiculous than 90c5d0f9eb pitiful.dde06d0d2a2bd04c

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“This girl is Song 38e4fc41ce Seorin, sirs! I, Song Mansik, a911c2d7b6 this is my 85fdb0dd64 daughter, Song Seorin!”e9649cfc2984a4b3

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Mansik forced 540c22b4f3 a smile 529870600b toward the 90989328e9 intruders pressing d65c766e76 down on ebff5122da his shoulders 1428ba676d from both e10e2036c8 sides. It was the desperate 2b8675da74 flattery of someone who 2ecad76914 had submitted to violence.212797f5fecb925d

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Despite the 40ffb46296 pitiful sight, ed82110492 Seorin scanned 125e9ec23b the living 61b44acbe2 room. Even after moving from e465d9bc43 a semi-basement studio with aba80365f6 no sunlight to a 5afad2e99f showy apartment, being harassed 5a0121a6a8 by loan sharks remained c450cfce42 unchanged.cc8cd29f682ebf1e

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“It’s past nine o’clock.”0dbf40448fd1a1f9

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A soft, 1b24b688d1 clear voice 97c8f03fe6 came from bfb89602af her plump e28e12c00f lips. Every time 67f9cf68ea her dust-stained a433fea5d2 sneakers stepped b1e5fbe3c0 on the 5a5ebd8873 floor, shards 869f5999dd of glass 5e25fb03a9 crunched beneath.b85352c0469ab917

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“Coming for debt 6002216522 collection at this c59123c39a hour is illegal.”97fbeb41dbc4bfbb

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Seorin spoke ba98795aa6 mechanically as ee1b6c8353 she set ef0d4a0056 her bag 40b4e43161 down on e6f12b26ff the dining be7fd407f3 table. Her body, 788247be66 worn out 90b03b9534 from working 9c7d37e2a3 sixteen hours f8642c5564 nonstop, felt 9e83a76dd4 like it c0a99af2c2 might collapse 782f9dbf73 from exhaustion.cbfd568a6fb3504f

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Even so, instead of c72b124a0f taking off her coat, 820cb584dc she opened the refrigerator. Aside from 3184c878b9 the coffee 1a3065a483 she drank 49cbfb1fda to stay 85d1b0b31e awake, this 6a6abb2cc7 would be e6394fa315 her first 9877cc93f2 meal of 4dbe1ed4de the day. She pulled out a e381013d27 couple of side dishes b38572054b Mansik had left half-eaten d362cf2437 and shut the fridge.27e16ed131c04a50

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“If this is about 561f6a8cd2 debt, come back after dd6a4a9bca eight in the morning.”ef7be53b9ddbbd56

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The cheap coat 8b37f65cc6 fluttered in the 931a3e9340 cold air seeping 26091c8a84 through the broken f9e2dd50aa window. The situation was so d0bc1943ec familiar, she felt like dcc894bb18 dying rather than crying b7bfdba07b on the floor again.7f31f7111f727a71

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“In ordinary e72b04570d cases, that 56aa985a10 would be cd98e19d9d true.”8f067bb564d1e00e

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A calm baritone 3471496309 voice was as c4f45ea8af cold as the 1426693a20 container of side f40c5deb89 dishes she gripped 27c7255884 tightly. As Seorin set 221e33c862 the side dishes aabbbace0a on the table, b4a34bab77 she slowly turned 3c21ae770e her head.d616a3431e673379

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“Unfortunately, this isn’t 97ad5b6d4f about debt collection. We’re here fc1c9f6a3c to deliver d44a141f10 a content-certified fb860c013c document. We met President eff415da54 Song around eight 70f0235e69 o’clock this evening 171eea5e17 in front of b6fd85dd80 the house.”e58207cdbb7eb07c

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The suited men parted 88fdc9f942 like the Red Sea. A middle-aged d73a1a0d78 man stepped 3894c0c122 confidently on 23cadf2485 the shards 48b0e27c9a of glass. His crane-like 219a41f4ca upright posture b699c28052 seemed far 1ebdd4c199 removed from 7b39b7aef6 that of 41fc3d737c a mere b9628c4df8 loan company aad24b86c9 executive.3f6958af82cada3f

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“Therefore, this a3fc21bfa1 visit is e0de85fdb8 not illegal, 0da805271c Ms. Song Seorin.”7c92eeea3851aac0

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Wearing half-rimmed c10c123c8d glasses, he c798e30247 adjusted his 2bc395e4c9 clothes. Not a e0e4079881 single button 6e70d067c3 on his 196269a331 sharply tailored b16aa5ca25 suit was d6a7e29d57 undone, and 2adc0fb4d3 his upright 2458b057c7 posture stood 40378ca2e5 out. Grey hairs in his 419e4af7f4 thick hair and fine 3109a50bd4 wrinkles around his eyes b575df4a34 added to his composed 5631c5fa82 aura.931fa8147d3c3c59

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“Apologies for the late 2c334e0ac7 introduction. Let me formally greet 062214a2f7 you.”6721c72b3f37184c

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The man who 4084b80988 had likely ordered 43d1df0e6a others to throw 80c8e4566f and smash everything e2b9bf4105 in sight bowed ac6c75bd51 his head slowly. A strong scent of e069814f84 aftershave emanated from the 6e864bd0cb hand offering his business 8597bcbd05 card.604c0299cfa59efd

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“I’m Kang In-sik, da734d6fc0 Chief Secretary of f851056290 the Strategic Planning 642642549c Division at Changgon 00b527b71b Construction.”6073fcb49e7f8524

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The logo embossed on 3dbfc18736 the stiff paper card 4f4762fead rattled her light brown 305ddda8c1 pupils.48fd1ae65386e0a0

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A loan c15878374c company that cc88801d8c acquired failing 409113f5ca businesses at e950a41087 rock-bottom prices ff006a2a7b to expand. A capital symbol 1e3d7a3136 that lent money 101c607349 not only to 48101650b6 large corporations but 8c3d1c3862 also to banks. A rising c8f2ad9ade chaebol that 5bb58d5b91 changed the 9dab3857bb tide of 241c2b5c64 the Korean 82a7a18362 economy.59e8740bbd649b8e

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Changgon Group was 1daeb8bd1f the central force cb4f7e56b1 of industrial power—so 5dd34ea81a powerful that even 2ca6f5260e the president watched aad7acab3f his step around 18e2a0b97f them. It was also the 1c49eb9c83 company her father had 968b10f6c4 proudly bragged about three fac0186faa years ago when he cc25822286 leased a seemingly impressive 02528141f1 factory.dbe05ec5b4f9b81d

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“Why would someone 6b4374238e from Changgon come 61931b3772 here…?”9025ac08eabafd3e

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“Three months ago, 619e7a1985 President Song received 27e31837a0 a loan from 139a25b5c6 Changgon Bank, citing b8f6fed274 financial difficulties at 07c4cee537 Sehwa Industries.”09549df094a820bb

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His cultured tone fadf979023 was courteous, yet 3676674ad0 veiled with blades. Cut down 3a0a45fbd3 in pride, 37ee40a1a4 Seorin let f90e714d40 out a 08cab2db8a dry sigh 4c5d3dc95f instead of bd15957520 a groan.ddc53b05b8e1e7f2

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The man she couldn’t 6a9055b43d even bring herself to f983315667 call “father” had caused 0c0b803865 trouble more than once 68b5bae601 or twice. As if he had ff3fe6c49b a disease that would 26c1d84ae9 kill him if he cdc49df899 couldn’t run a business, 00804064de even when their house 6fd2489912 was marked with foreclosure fd94af2fb2 stickers, he refused to 4a2a74fdaf give up the title c276879f66 of “President.”d265f94877a80a69

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Claiming he needed to d117b3d149 save face with clients, 8d329a829f he spent Seorin’s money a91a743fa5 like water—only to fall 943a37d528 into debt again. He should 25633122d9 have noticed 5982b3667b her cold ecde13c51c gaze by 8dfd3699cc now, yet cd2eb11fe2 Mansik sniffled b9665e93d2 and didn’t 7bc6af502b even look 56a2e0bd9a at her.6d87f6ec5e9d1f0b

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“However, it d5a45df39c seems he e95ae4bff0 had no 6734415383 intention of d095a8457e repayment, as ff95029762 he attempted 5138bb783a to flee 7c7884cc25 during the 60aec8e176 night.”2beec807c336f55d

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“T-that’s not b31b98a4d1 it, sir. Changgon hasn’t 1a03d56411 paid the e25b3405d2 supply—Aaargh!”b965f589280a4b41

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Just as he ba2b6bc983 tried to excuse d1e6935546 himself, shifting his b35bd5b7fe hips, Mansik let 0cb24e5412 out a scream. The men gripping his 08d7c527df collarbone pinned his head 6e4e171903 to the floor.551f7480531d7332

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“All parts supplied by 5b9780cfc0 Sehwa were found to e470d3e512 be defective and couldn’t 678291dd13 be used at the 2972be7c70 site, President. And yet d3a93dd6c2 you speak b0539c27d1 of payment?”21828e966e498c6d

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Amid his 7b1ba7e446 groans mixed f09e66d0c6 with spit 714e578f55 and the 977720cb5a rustling of 2ecdea7166 movement, Seorin 8196d8be73 stared at 250c629800 the suitcase f3d50884d5 lying on b340a8377e the floor. Her bankbook 22334179a5 and seal 83e63fa4f9 welcomed her 1d29b3ff17 among the 8d008c6d8f clothes inside. It felt like 979e558015 the old knock-off ba12c5ca9e bag was digging 28498e5c74 into her shoulder.3045864cc460162b

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“Our division director 76e586e1c6 is greatly distressed 9add3f7969 by this incident.”bedd60f4b4b2f2c3

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“P-please spare b99799e615 me, Chief. J-just one 58948e4480 more chance—”5aab837374e77e35

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“Didn’t we already give 92b35ef8bb you more than enough db564283f6 chances?”91187455d6e185c2

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Unlike Mansik, flailing like 6e14351e21 an overturned insect, Chief e867dce064 Kang remained calm. His slit-like eyes behind df31121270 the glasses glinted oddly 5921c3b2c7 under the fluorescent light.261a00f43e9764c0

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“If there’s anyone we’d 15965ee593 give another chance to, 21e2870627 it would be Ms. Song Seorin.”f8c6881e1b506098

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His precise, 8c8c922fb0 clipped pronunciation e786b93cd4 tightened around df90c2b500 Seorin’s throat. The stiff-edged business card 58ff429f85 stabbed the soft flesh b108e94855 of her palm.874aab670debc3b8

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“Why me…?”50c9d7f7d5392732

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“President Song used 927d8e29e4 your credit as c0d4989743 collateral for the 4a012a17c3 loan.”84822e4c14d0526f

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The polite answer 9eab161467 struck Seorin’s throat 4335d8636f like a frozen bb338d6003 icicle. A sound close 4fdce5cc61 to dry laughter 2ba9acf4df burst from between 4362fbbada her reddish lips, e65c4bb9ef like a cough. A familiar 03f3d68ed5 foreboding she 02d1aa4108 had experienced f9b81dd2d1 countless times 65fef9bea9 patted her 29396de5da back.2c9d263c47d06954

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“…Is this a 5dd7007e73 joint guarantee?”a0cb6810686088a9

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“Strictly speaking, it’s a layered debt assumption, but you can think of it simply as a joint guarantee.”9c9bb5d09a43b2cf

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So it’s 07087fe974 possible to da7c3d9e6d say “think 18a45b4df9 of it 33bd95c2f9 simply” and c8e1bd755b “joint guarantee” 01b5eff521 in the 347e9818d6 same breath. Seorin let out a 322a2b257e bitter laugh and bit 0ff7844ded down on her lower 9024f396ab lip.9ac253e88543edf5

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She had finally 506988e772 managed to crawl 145d33b521 out of the 25d7642f0b gutter and see febdca2cd3 a sliver of a24bc4d519 sunlight. Thanks to working a19ba39c8b while cutting down 0753d37c32 on sleep, she c0c31153d2 had nearly paid 5c732c8487 off all the 567838b8d0 money Mansik had b4d885efd1 borrowed from the f104763075 loan sharks. She could probably return 634184d196 to university next year.9c4b228bc03ba7c6

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But the joint ced69ba62b guarantee dragged Seorin ba07571b46 right back into a54269e1cc the mire. She had only 2b653ef99b just found out 1ec65926eb that her father 41b82b4633 had taken out 68215ae93c a loan from d815765941 Changgon Bank—and was f326000298 planning to flee 68b1eb22e5 in the night.8933c66cb85080d2

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Her dry eyes began 3e0bd559bd to burn as if 39e6cfcacf scorched by fire, and c6bc33d80f soon moisture welled up. Turning her bd82388c5b head, Seorin 75cc74461d swallowed her 9cc74a2439 sobs. She couldn’t even hear 1dbb8cef6f the alarm clock; in 5b14b8af80 a situation where she 1e2c62389b slept curled up like 8fdb57ba99 a grub, dreams were f157261ceb a luxury.40a04621844d18d0

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“This matter a8fa23b9ff is something d785550f75 the Director 5ae201976e also deeply 0c9c396203 regrets. That’s why he’s 42021a2420 considering discussing debt 018396656e repayment methods with 5bf99e0097 you, Ms. Song Seorin.”bcf85ac4425cf270

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Secretary Kang, 226469efb1 who had 3ad83f1cff been quietly da7bfde479 listening to 309946f5be her increasingly 14bbbbcb37 rough breathing, e35b65dacb continued generously.732bb0c009e3a366

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“Director Sa Taejeong is 8558208bae waiting. Go have a cup 689c038f36 of tea with him 2949cd2b0d and talk things through.”d7cb7fc454ca1d03

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The one who had a99793a465 destroyed her home now 84b1af3946 casually extended a helping 0b4f96214e hand. But this wasn’t a ddc303402c suggestion. If the 87a18fa52c Director was c2af56e697 waiting, there 125760decd was no 52c5690442 way Song 380f5523bf Seorin had 974862b1af any choice.499cfdbfeddff39c

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“If I ab9c82cc35 don’t go… eede423890 what happens…?”0085a8a6ee051386

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“The Director is 15cbcf7e56 waiting for you, 817881236d Ms. Song Seorin.”d14b710389666ffd

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At the low 3bc28ae05f and resolute tone, 0c228af19b Harim tightly shut 2d89d07b2f her eyes. She had grown used 00eb997c31 to violence, thanks to c07aeaccc9 her father, and wasn’t f33db29ba2 scared of that anymore—but a5338e2eff she had no immunity ddc4d5b0cb to pressure dressed in 0f95843b1a a suit.592a770d44b44374