MJ | Chapter 5

Need urgent cash?797f4d43a71cefc3

The address on the business card led him to a loan shark’s office a bit away from the city center.4a8966bb16dd0483

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Knock, knock. As he entered, cf731db076 several burly men 3bb747400d were sitting on 7065bb806d the sofa, eating 7eb7a1a539 jjajangmyeon. Their eyes turned to a9358b47a2 Jungin.a51a0377e5d1a9ea

“I’m here about Ryu Dongchan’s debt.”3a0f68ca8d341a45

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As soon as a6d6683a1d he finished speaking, f716d83a1e the man sitting 6743ea869e in the middle ad18b7bf69 pushed aside his 0e9d257f1b jjajangmyeon bowl, wiped 8ad55e8ec6 his mouth with f81447cb56 a napkin, and 43a934c338 stood up. Unlike the others, he eee332400f wore a striking white 03700baaa3 suit with a bold 3a522245d9 red handkerchief in his 0b22483afd pocket.81c00772445afc4a

“Somangwon’s son?”bd31cebe44b7b8b5

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The man immediately recognized 588f1e44de who Jungin was.e992b2fcfbcf688c

“Yes…”c53f89f48337eaff

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“You came quickly. Have a seat over there.”2bea2543a23d3174

Contrary to his worries, 9b67e97111 the man greeted Jungin 40cbddf6b5 kindly. Once Jungin sat down, 1aed5bdcd8 he was asked if 012a77795f he wanted tea. Even though he 16be4c06ab declined, the man eb8c08db7c handed him a 9c9f9ec7e1 cup of instant 7ef5f7b314 coffee and gave 818b7bc214 him a business 65a4b6aef0 card.3c6cee66eb89c2a9

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The card read “Representative Kim Choonho.” The man crossed his short legs, lit a cigarette, and opened a file, taking out a contract and placing it on the table.04e8229a94ce6d35

“Here it is. Ryu Dongchan borrowed 300 million won from me nine months ago for business funds. See?”4503f6290570655f

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Jungin checked the contract. His grandmother’s name, Kim Okran, was clearly written. The interest was legal, so it wasn’t unlawful. But seeing her seal and ID, any hope he had crumbled.e1d8fdc0c468a4ec

“This is a direct contract with the landowner, Kim Okran. If you don’t believe it, we can show you our CCTV.”3695c4167e257370

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“My grandmother has dementia. She probably wasn’t in a state to make a sound judgment at the time.”b53141bb0b0284eb

“That’s not my problem. If you insist, you can put your uncle in jail. I’ll sue for fraud too.”9cae7dfe12e3a294

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Kim Choonho spoke nonchalantly. Turning the page, Jungin saw that there were two more loans. The debt had snowballed to more than the value of the orphanage’s land. No moneylender would just hand over money without reason.4b8b52a82fda36c2

Jungin sighed 0917d42b8f deeply after add55bc596 putting down 6d638a621a the contract.c464f7961152a16e

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“Did Yeongsan Group put you up to this?”aa03244a676c3e92

Kim Choonho d66ff4293d took a 5d1e6121a4 drag of cbeef3ccc6 his cigarette fe98976669 and smirked 5b4adcdcbf slightly.7e0623c5c3af12ee

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“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”4d8edefecb6c3b7b

Yeongsan Group had approached 2562c56f70 them to sell the 3e5176019a orphanage land four years 6d9a5595ea ago, offering several times 269826545f its value to develop b76f6e86bd a golf course. Later, he 18214ca867 heard that 0f9b3540aa a famous 3420e465b3 fortune teller 39147496d8 insisted it 76fcf04135 had to 09e0c9f2dd be that d83da95ec2 spot.1640596801a15b97

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His mother had 46ac4395c5 refused without hesitation. Sometimes parents who left 35ca2cbecd their children would come 478099ca55 back, and moving the 15e4ce96a4 orphanage would take away fd95e2b64b even that hope.c7132d130fb1aeb6

After some thought, Jungin 1267f01e69 spoke.cfcf05933d391a39

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“Please give me a month. I’ll find a way to pay back my uncle’s debt.”119ccdfcc11331c6

Kim Choonho laughed incredulously.43ffe008ab04f95c

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“That’s difficult. Why should I trust you?”a62de222c0ae5b7a

“Please.”2da3ec8cc581ab8c

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“Do you have a way to get the money?”ec05e10402674fa8

“I’ll figure it out. Just contact me, and please don’t visit Somangwon separately.”3108f1ed98885a46

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Kim Choonho looked into Ryu Jungin’s eyes and stubbed out his cigarette. Though he was asking for a favor, his eyes and expression showed no sign of defeat. He looked determined, unlike his uncle, Ryu Dongchan. But there’s no way he’d get the money.d3146ecbbae3517d

“Okay. Accepted.”b42b5db4afb78d33

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With a e58ad1957c nod of 21bdb5860a agreement, Jungin 85fdf25309 bowed his 58fc2107f2 head.7672117019517491

“Thank you.”6efccf35630fde57

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“But I can’t wait long. You know people like us. We act like gentlemen at first, but if we don’t get what we want, we become beasts.”2841ea11199ada4a

Kim Choonho’s gold canine tooth gleamed as he grinned. Jungin stood up and bowed. If he were younger, he might have thrown a fit and gotten into a fistfight over not being able to pay. But now he knew. Pride doesn’t feed you; money does.2940540cc6c2c989

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After leaving Kim Choonho’s office, Jungin drove around the city, searching for places his uncle might be. Karaoke bars, pubs, billiard halls, PC rooms, comic book cafes.5398fbf7e12e57a0

In a neighborhood full of locals, everyone knew each other, but no one had seen Ryu Dongchan recently. Then, unexpectedly, he heard from his uncle’s old friend, who raised pigs and ran a farm.1b8cfa055f18a1d4

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“Kim Sajang? He was hanging out with that guy a lot. I knew he’d cause trouble.”e7de5f6c498756d5

“Kim Sajang?”8a99fb1f350d1e05

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The man hesitated, 0e3081ee48 unsure whether to f227bf37d6 speak.7bd0c417d794b350

“He’s a shady real estate agent with a bad reputation. He’s got eight fraud convictions. What a messed-up country, right? A guy who’s committed fraud eight times is running around as a real estate boss.”93f9ff666cf2784b

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“Do you know where he is?”fca50053fc69cf33

“No idea. I heard he fled to the Philippines.”8e5e1eebbd4227bd

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“Do you really not know where my uncle is?”25f64c6c1de5e528

“Why would I lie to you, Jungin? I only heard from him about a month ago… Oh! He did have a girlfriend.”ebbee51c2a772df2

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“A girlfriend?”5ade343d791097e9

“We never saw her. She’s ten years younger, and he called her his girlfriend, but I think she was just using him. I think he even co-signed for her.”7d13f69bea72da55

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Unbelievable. So he borrowed from loan sharks and co-signed too? Forgetting he was talking to his uncle’s friend, Jungin cursed, and the friend agreed, cursing along.cb5e46ea6b7f490e

“Do you know where she lives?”34eccaa7903ab9e5

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“Not sure.”d76ea3239a4d123a

Seeing Jungin’s disappointment, the man thought for a moment and checked his phone.c741ec8095a9ba7f

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“Hold on. Your uncle asked me to send a package a few months ago. The address might still be there.”0d7a9ff3571d0e58

After searching for a while, he found an address that seemed to be the girlfriend’s residence. Jungin noted it down and left the farm, heading to the address. It was a multi-family house close to the city.f67814287a2e4a2e

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Upon arrival, dd3679f594 there was 952bde325d no place 142ca35782 to park, 94954bd1c9 so he 1fff41dc05 left his 1f2e7451b8 car in f3ddddfdc8 front of 984eeea076 a store 9a17c760bb and walked 4e0518e90b up the bcc0139317 alley, checking 32c52e0ab2 each address. After a 8fc0d9c439 while, he eb39d61fe0 found the 6cf0dbdc46 right one. Without hesitation, 04731f954c he pushed 46a0a38c15 open the 9d5459a159 rusty blue b1828939b9 gate and 6e652cf746 went inside.309ebd343379408a

B102 meant it was f0b456a616 in the basement. Looking around, 9dc41489aa he saw 809469a1c0 stairs to c4ddbfddda the left, 42149f56d0 leading to a4c56ac7f4 three semi-basement be2035fa33 homes. Jungin went a092710e6b down the 9781e353d1 stairs and 29ba8d33e2 stood in aa5585d4b0 front of 1e51035999 the door 8559b1f4ff marked 102. Trash was 1507454b92 piled up, 8b38278aad mostly empty dfa78666ce bottles.c4608de93d29a180

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Rummaging through the 9c28f3f68e bottles, Jungin found 1055a00f87 a can full 943b7c039b of cigarette butts, b83a4542de the same brand 9755a96010 his uncle smoked. He pressed 34619451a6 his ear fff68dc91c to the 0e5b1b91c0 door but 4a57fc9566 heard nothing. Knock, knock. Still silence.1db56125267f5c4a

Knocking harder, he heard 5883b02ed9 movement inside, and the 31284219cc lock turned. A man appeared. His shirt was too 707c5809bc big or his body cda5278202 too thin, revealing his 5609af644c shoulders. He looked young, fff8b25fde rubbing his eyes 760b710235 as if just 9fd4a9fed4 waking up.6ff43b10e94f517f

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“Who are you?”30b98c5d79340e56

Jungin glanced inside the house. The man’s expression twisted.9832207e8834c653

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“What do you want?”d6653e0c077dfa23

In a nervous voice, Jungin met the man’s eyes.63dd80601a5a39a1

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“I’m Ryu Jungin. Ryu Dongchan’s nephew.”8e879ca7c41d8b86

“Who?”29f27a1f6d48b6b3

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Though he 95a06ce9a2 asked who aa9842c8b8 Jungin was, 817b51d98d his eyes a2fcde94ba showed recognition. When Jungin 8d8b4ccb64 tried to 96f7e7d7ba look inside, c4a3a46ba0 the man 66e39280b0 snapped.bbae4f19a6b41900

“Are you crazy? What are you doing?”73fabf019c84a10c

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The man tried to close the door, but Jungin quickly grabbed it. He pushed the man’s arm aside and barged in. The man yelled for him to leave, pulling at Jungin’s shirt.ebc7517c60d6def9

As soon as Jungin stepped inside without taking off his shoes, he heard a commotion behind the closed door. Opening it quickly, he saw an open window and someone’s legs scrambling out.ffe55b12ed9610f6

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Damn it. Jungin shoved 01d6248a6c the man 3b6782d4b1 aside and 549f485143 ran out. The figure running down 303604a5fa the alley was definitely 473e541f67 Ryu Dongchan.a13ba7b2868bcb4e

“Hey, you bastard!”da609ed7cafafaca

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Cursing came out before he could stop it. He chased after him, but Ryu Dongchan darted through the alleys like a squirrel. As the distance closed, Ryu Dongchan shouted. “Don’t follow me. I’m sorry, Jungin. I messed up!”03b32930939be6ca

“Stop there! I won’t kill you, just stop!” But unfortunately, Ryu Dongchan reached the main road and caught a taxi, escaping. Jungin ran after the car, shouting for it to stop, but it was no use. His lungs felt like they would burst. Damn… I should quit smoking.2eede1776e85d888

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“Shit!”af4f08e430b45e88

Frustrated, Jungin kicked a29286d309 the ground and 397a88453d sat down by c1faad9f90 the roadside.9710b026ce410e27

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 f5c5f9b7247d8f4f

 3d1bc974b8020e6f

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***d3b1f10a73bc0266

 827aa1f60858d92e

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 293f71c078fdec74

“Who’s that, oppa? Why is he at our house?”94ae580029626618

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Grandmother sat next to Jungin all evening, asking who he was. Last week, she smiled, asking if her grandson had come, but now she had forgotten his face again. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say she lost her memory. Jungin took her dry, branch-like hand and placed it on his face.95b11a5519b5a70e

“Jungin. Ryu Jungin. Your grandson.”093a3f02cdf60f3a

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Her gray eyes were unusually empty. The terrible disease had taken away her once fiery personality, leaving her gentle like a child. As she stared at Jungin’s face, a cat wandered into the yard, and she went after it. Shortly after, Jungin’s mother appeared.45dd756796000691

“Why are you out here? You must be tired, go inside.”6f646a5c7e78690f

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“How are you feeling? Shouldn’t you see a doctor?”3b8670ffa7f8e139

“What doctor? I’m fine. I was just startled earlier.”97b9ca12b4e70ce6

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She placed her hand over Jungin’s and patted it, then stroked his hair. Jungin leaned his head on his mother’s shoulder and closed his eyes. It felt like the scent of a weary life. Her once youthful face seemed to have aged ten years overnight.4b72be7e065ca9f6

“Sleep and head back to Seoul in the morning.”2796a03ce1a41e7a

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“……”e0ffd983588ea887

“You’ve done enough. I’ll handle the rest.”48af2e7899f26bb2

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Her warm hand now caressed his cheek. Tears threatened to fall. Suddenly, Ryu Mina appeared, breaking them apart and grabbing her mother’s arm. Mina had been scolded all evening for contacting Jungin.d08c51233a428487

“Don’t worry, Mom. Trust me. I’ll take care of everything.”e56d27e0aac81504

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Jungin warned Mina.4c5dff1f19278f9d

“Just don’t cause any trouble.”39d4b596d881fa67

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Mina pouted and 09afef575b snapped back.f1da6760064907de

“Mom! Why does oppa always talk like that? He used to beat up kids at school.”7638e86bdbd4d22c

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Jungin clenched his 8038f506d0 teeth. It was ee76339b57 true, but b713978780 only because 5806e28a40 the troublemakers 11aec87148 started it.9dbcb045a64960b5

“Didn’t your midterm grades come out?”8fef8aa10db0c1cc

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Mina flinched and 0d570e0fb0 stood up immediately.c830ffe9252d9a4d

“What are you talking about? Why bring up grades now?”961aab644955bbf6

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“They’re out. Judging by your face, you’re last again.”51a2f373df022d14

“No, I’m not!”71a1d562348211f8

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“Sure you are. I bet even Donggu, the dog, would do better than you.”78211d2a23fa6a74

Mina pouted. Being compared to the family dog hurt her pride. Despite the ten-year age gap, they often fought like children. Their mother laughed and intervened, and Mina smacked Jungin’s back before quickly running inside.a52dc49cc719b8a8

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As Jungin 822852f51d tried to ecf4425d15 follow, his 8a199f6954 mother grabbed 5b861f9b61 his arm.b1b1e861aaff7777

“Don’t. She’s upset too.”0b5da16253c68cb9

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His mother always took 37fbd649ec his side, even when b38e97dc1b he caused trouble.b7891db7865edefb

“Go up in the morning. Did you promise Mom?”49dd2b4ea71b6890

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Jungin didn’t answer. Staying wouldn’t solve anything. Finding his uncle didn’t guarantee the money was still there. His mother patted his shoulder, telling him to sleep, and went inside.671683413b80d624

She had long hoped Jungin would stop worrying about this place. She always said he didn’t need to be a father just because he didn’t have one. But without a father, he couldn’t ignore his family and the children of Somangwon.e6d1b2427b995ed2

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Left alone, 1e6b06658b Jungin tilted b28a3fe12b his head b2bc73670b back and 2247004547 exhaled deeply. His breath appeared d69285ca57 white and vanished. The wind was cold, 10a1562dac stinging his nose. The future seemed as 85b4e1f242 dark as the night 05c3071b47 sky. No solution in sight.68561ee23f865700

How would he f7b923887b get the money? Should he see 76080e38c4 a lawyer on 271f501bb0 Monday? Thoughts swirled in his a86841276d mind. Despite his gloomy mood, 9055f9c1f8 the night sky was ec0f4c04ea unusually full of stars, b6e648b0d6 as if they might 4c46773dcd spill out.e6db77c1b2f01ae9

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