NTFT | Volume 1.15

“First time seeing you dressed up?”

“You would think. It is not really my style of fashion.”

Even my reflection in the mirror seemed strange. It had been so long since I had seen myself properly dressed. No matter how much I shopped for luxury goods and indulged in luxury, I mostly spent my time at home broadcasting.

“Your hair seems a bit long… How about a haircut?”

My hair had indeed gotten quite messy. I had not properly cut it in a while, and it naturally grew back every time I reverted to my original form.

“Forget it. I find dealing with hair annoying.”

I curtly responded and stood with him in the penthouse’s private elevator. As his fingerprint was recognized, the elevator doors opened and we got on. Three maids stood side by side, bidding us farewell.

“Have a good trip.”

The maid in the centre caught my eye. After finishing his greeting, he lifted his head and muttered something with his lips.

‘This sucker.’

When I sensed exactly what was being said, a chill ran down my spine, and then I noticed the master’s shoulders shaking beside me.

“You… You…”

“Mi Hong, how are you going to survive in this cruel world being so naive? Huh? Did not I tell you that guy is a hustler? Our cutie, it is nice to see you get mad.”

“This… crazy fuck…?”

“And that guy just followed my words because he wanted to tease you. Did not know you would get this mad. But it was fun to watch, though.”

“Fuck… You… Did not you dislike that fucker?”

“Dislike? Not really? Well, I am not interested in your kind, and that guy’s not your type either. Plus, he’s a bottom.”

“…These fuckers?”

“It was just a joke. And it was funny when he did that to your forehead, but that guy is something else. I did not know he would really go through with it.”

It felt like I was the only sane one among these lunatics. The irritation was peaking, and the master casually draped an arm over my shoulder as we waited for the elevator to reach its destination.

“Why the sudden outing? I thought I could not go out?”

“That’s right. You cannot just go out wherever.”

“But why?”

“For a date.”

“What?”

“If we go on a date, you might call me by my name.”

“What? All this just to get me to call your name?”

“That’s right. And names are pretty important, sweetie.”

He flashed a charming smile, the kind that made even his face seem more appealing.

“I sent everyone away because it is a special date. Today, it is just you and me.”

He removed his arm from my shoulder and walked ahead to the parked car. I paused, frowning at the sight of his fancy foreign car.

“A date? I am not interested in that sort of thing.”

I had never been one for dates, given all the lust-driven actions I had partaken in. I had no desire for relationships, and my life had never really meshed with the concept of love.

What even is a date?

Why should I go on a date with you? I have absolutely no desire to do that with you.

“Hey, where should I go?”

Someone walked into the parking lot. It had to be another tenant of the building. He strode with long legs toward his car and unlocked it.

“Opportunities always come.”

The master was foolish. He should never have allowed an outing. I swiftly ran to the unlocked car and dove in. The car’s owner screamed in surprise.

“A, a robber?!”

“No. Not a robber. A fugitive.”

“Huh?!”

“Shut up and get in. Real robbers might come.”

“Uh, uh?!”

The good-looking guy in the passenger seat did not quite catch on quickly. I hurriedly pushed him into the passenger seat, snatched the car keys, and started the engine without even buckling up, then sped away. The noisy sound of the wheels turning could be heard.

“Ha, bye bye, you bastard.”

I saw his face in the rear-view mirror. He was already getting into the vehicle and following.

“Yeah, if you let me go just like that, you’re the sucker.”

My heart raced. Yes. This kind of escape and thrill was the main genre and mood of my life. Did he think I would be easily caught, the fool?

“Uh, excuse me… am I, am I being kidnapped…?”

The guy in the passenger seat was gripping the safety belt, tears welling up in his eyes. Seeing his face made me smirk.

“Kidnapped?”

“Yes, yes… I, I… There’s cash in my wallet…”

His trembling hands opened his wallet to check the cash. This guy had more money than I thought, had not he? Nowadays, people usually only carry cards. So, is he a tenant of the building the master lived in?

“I do not want to lose my life like this… I still want to live a dissolute life… And… I have to become a decent doctor as my grandfather wished.”

“A doctor?”

Living a dissolute life but also becoming a decent doctor? This guy was unusual too.

“Hey, stop talking nonsense. I have no intention of kidnapping you, and actually, I am the one who has been kidnapped and escaping.”

“Huh?”

“So, just cooperate and stop talking.”

With a grin, I recklessly sped the vehicle. It did not seem like the chase from behind would be easy,

Did they really think I would go down without a fight?

It had been a while since I drove, but my skills had not rusted at all. Maybe it was because of my history with getaways. I zipped dangerously through the streets like a stunt driver, successfully shaking him off.

As I kept driving, it soon became dark outside.

“Just driving and we’ve ended up here…”

I noticed a road sign. It was pointing towards Gangwon Province. It seemed I had made my way here while weaving through various parts of Seoul.

“That persistent bastard. Finally shook him off.”

He was as relentless as a viper, almost catching up several times. But the congested and accident-prone roads of Seoul worked to my advantage, allowing me to pull ahead while he could not keep up.

I pushed the car to its limits and put quite some distance between us.

“Is, is it all over now?”

“Ah. Yeah! You did well. How’s your stomach feeling?”

“No, I feel like I am dying.”

“You wimp.”

Somehow, during our desperate escape, I had developed a strange camaraderie with the guy in the passenger seat. He seemed quite scared, but he spoke well and did not seem terrified of the situation itself. It seemed like as long as he was alive, that was enough, and from halfway through, he even started actively cheering me on.

Of course, he was so carsick he retched a few times.

“I have never been in a chase like this in my life. I have only seen this stuff in movies, but it is actually possible.”

He seemed a bit better and started chattering next to me.

“I know a place around here. If we go a bit further, there’s a beautiful pension by the sea. Wanna go there?”

“A pension? Why there?”

“Then, where do you want to go?”

Right. I had not thought of that.

I had been driving aimlessly without a destination. Suddenly a trip to a pension in Gangwon Province with a guy I just met today? Is not that a bit much? Right after escaping from being kidnapped and confined?

“Logically, a pension does not make sense. It is not like we are on a holiday, right?”

“Hmm, that’s true. But it is really nice there. And maybe if we are at a place like that, they will not expect us to be there, so they will not find us?”

What a bizarre argument. He was whining out of fear during our escape, and now he is excitedly jabbering nonstop.

“How about the mountains instead of the sea? There’s a really secluded place I know, only known to a few, and not well-marked. I stumbled upon it once. It is really nice? The air is great. Wanna go there?”

His eyes sparkled with eagerness as he seemed to be rushing for a positive response. I replied nonchalantly, wondering what this situation was turning into.

“Aren’t you scared of this situation? You were kidnapped from the parking lot by someone you do not know and chased, were not you?”

“Hmm… That was a bit scary, but you are not actually going to kidnap me, right? And now we have escaped the situation, have not we? If we think that person will catch us, we can just report it, right?”

That made sense. Reporting it would indeed simplify things. But would that work against that guy? And I was not too keen on involving the police.

“There are various complications in this situation, so it is not as easy as you say. You say you want to become a doctor, why are you so nonchalant about everything?”

“What does becoming a doctor have to do with this? Medical knowledge and this situation are unrelated.”

Look at him, not backing down a bit. Initially stuttering with fear, now he talks like it is no big deal.

“If you keep driving like this, we will run out of gas soon. So make a decision quickly, will you?”

“Ah… gas.”

Right, the fuel was indeed running low. We needed a destination, as I could not go home and needed a place to lay low and gather some resources.

“Hey. What is your name?”

“My name?”

“Yeah.”

“What is yours?”

“Ha, I asked you first.”

Always something with this guy. Cannot he just give me his name without making a fuss?

“If you want to ask for a name, you should introduce yourself first. Do not you know manners?”

“Fuck, do you think I am in a position to be polite after carjacking and fleeing? Huh?”

“Wow, now you are cursing? You have successfully escaped with my car and you have the nerve? Do you even have money for gas?”

“What?”

“Tsk, tsk, I feel sorry for you. And there’s a gas station up ahead.”

The brightly lit gas station appeared on the dark road. We pulled over and filled the tank to the brim. Of course, he paid for the gas, and I did not say anything, feeling utterly ridiculous.

How did I end up like this, virtually penniless?

“Alright, let’s go. The car’s fueled up, and we should eat too. I will pay.”

I did not respond to his suggestion and simply looked for a place to eat. What is the point in arguing when I am down to nothing? I had to make use of his generous wallet for now.

“Sir. We will eat over there…”

“Who is ‘sir’? I am not old. Do I look like a ‘sir’ to you? I have a name. Mi Hong.”

Right, pride does not feed you. What is in a name? Just give it if it keeps you from being called ‘sir’. How am I old looking? I am not about to let my Gumiho pride be bruised over something like that. Being picked on for my looks was something I could not stand.

“Oh, your name is Mi Hong? That is unusual. What is your last name?”

“I do not like being called by my full name. Just know the first name. What is yours?”

“Me? Hmm, you were curious about my name too, huh?”

“Hey. I told you, I am not a ‘sir’. I gave you my name, why still call me ‘sir’?”

“Ah, so should I call you hyung? Mi Hong hyung?”

“Whatever.”

“Alright. Mi Hong hyung! I am Euijong! Lee Euijong! Just call me Euijong.”

He cheerfully revealed his name as his curly hair bobbed along. He had a somewhat fluffy, puppy-like vibe.

“Alright, Euijong, where should we eat?”

“Over there! They have delicious cockle bibimbap.”

Well, cockles it is. Not exactly the time for enjoying cockle bibimbap, but filling the stomach was the priority. Plus, he was paying. Maybe it is not so bad being out and about; everywhere I go, I manage to eat well. It is almost like I eat better now than when I was alone.