TAF Ch 22

He’d considered calling the police dozens of times, but if the police could solve this, these people wouldn’t be loan sharks in the first place.

Yeonwoo was exhausted. Since his mother’s call yesterday, he hadn’t eaten properly and had been running between banks and real estate agencies.

He’d learned the company hounding his father was notorious. They weren’t a legitimate financial institution, of course, but were infamous in online coin, stock, and gambling communities for their brutal and illegal debt collection practices.

Even if his mother was hiding at his aunt’s, they’d find her. It was only a matter of time before they came after him.

He didn’t need to experience it to know their methods wouldn’t be pleasant.

Even if he found his runaway father, there was no way he could repay ten billion won. It would ultimately fall back on his mother and him…

He’d used the cash he’d saved for emergencies to make a payment, but with no clear solution in sight, he felt lost.

✧✧✧

Between selling his car, consulting with banks, and working at the cafe, he barely had time to breathe. On top of that, after closing the cafe, Yeonwoo looked for any part-time work he could squeeze in.

He’d barely slept since his mother’s call and was in a daze. Even if he went home early, he couldn’t relax, feeling constantly uneasy.

“Are you still open?”

Yeonwoo, closing the cafe alone, looked up at the unexpected customer and shook his head.

“I’m sorry, we’re closed for the day.”

“Oh, okay…”

“Have a good night.”

After seeing the customer out, he returned to the sink and continued washing the disassembled espresso machine. He thought of Chahyun, who hadn’t shown up again today.

He wondered if something had happened to him with this prolonged absence.

Then he chided himself for such pointless thoughts.

Perhaps this was Chahyun’s way of breaking up. Becoming complete strangers from the moment he decided to leave, without any closure or goodbyes.

Yeonwoo stared at Chahyun’s usual spot, now empty, before finally leaving the building.

Living in the studio apartment, he realized how much he needed.

He was short on clothes. Not just clothes, but toiletries, supplements, shoes, his laptop, and books—everything was at the apartment he shared with Chahyun.

When he’d decided to leave the apartment, he hadn’t cared about his belongings, but now the situation was different. Every penny counted.

Even if he sold the studio apartment and moved into a small one-room, he would still need these things. He couldn’t afford to buy everything new, down to the smallest items. He was at the point where he needed to retrieve even a single pair of socks from that apartment.

Finally, Yeonwoo called Chahyun.

—The number you have dialed is not in service…

Only the ringing tone answered, followed by the automated message.

It was incredibly awkward to initiate contact after he’d made such a fuss about breaking up.

After the failed call, Yeonwoo wrote and deleted several text messages.

[I need to get my stuff from the apartment, can I stop by?]

[Let me know when’s good for you.]

He almost sent it as is, but added cautiously,

[Are you sick by any chance? If you’re okay, please text me back. I’ll wait.]

“He didn’t block me, did he?” Yeonwoo grew suspicious, staring at his silent phone. He usually got instant replies to his texts. Now, several minutes had passed with no response.

“Oh, whatever. He’ll reply.” He sighed and tossed his phone onto the bed.

✧✧✧

The next morning, Yeonwoo tried contacting Chahyun again, but he didn’t answer.

In the end, without permission, Yeonwoo headed to their shared apartment early in the morning. He was scheduled for the afternoon shift at the cafe, so he planned to retrieve his belongings and bring them back to his studio apartment before work.

Yeonwoo stood at the apartment entrance with several empty bags and boxes, pressing the doorbell.

“Baek Chahyun. It’s me.”

There was no response.

“I’m here to get my things. I called and texted you.”

It seemed like no one was home. After waiting for a few minutes, Yeonwoo entered the apartment using the passcode.

He’d worried Chahyun might have changed it, but thankfully, it was the same. Chahyun’s shoes weren’t in the shoe rack, so he must not have come home. Or maybe he’d already left for work.

The empty apartment was unchanged. This familiarity allowed him to easily bring in the boxes and bags and start packing.

“He hasn’t come home…?” But the lack of any signs of life was unsettling. The refrigerator, usually stocked with side dishes, was empty. The trash can was also empty. But all their belongings were still there…

If he wasn’t staying here at all, where did he go? Back to his parents’ house? Or did he get a new place?

Puzzled, Yeonwoo continued packing diligently. He didn’t need furniture or large items, so gathering his belongings was quick.

About an hour passed. Yeonwoo looked around the quiet living room, now empty of his things.

It felt strange. This was where he and Chahyun had always eaten, watched TV, talked, and slept together. Now, as if those times had never existed, only a chill remained. As if it were no longer their space.

Only now did the reality of their separation sink in. Suppressing a surge of emotion, Yeonwoo quickly turned away. He felt if he stayed here any longer, he would regret his decision to break up with Chahyun.

He fled the apartment and caught a taxi. Back at his studio, he was unloading his belongings from the elevator when he noticed the silhouette of a man in a suit in the hallway. The man was standing right in front of Yeonwoo’s door.

Yeonwoo ran towards him, forgetting his luggage.

“Baek Chahyun! Where have you been…? Huh?”

He’d assumed it was Chahyun, but it was a stranger. As he got closer, the man’s face and build were clearly different. There were even two men. He hadn’t seen the second one because he’d been standing behind a stack of delivery boxes by the neighbor’s door.

“Are you Mr. Hong Yeonwoo?”

“Who are you?”

The man, who was smoking, grinned at Yeonwoo and cracked his neck.

“Who do you think? We’re debt collectors.”

“…”

These were the people his mother had mentioned. He’d braced himself for their arrival, but now that they were here, he didn’t know what to do.

Yeonwoo swallowed hard, speechless. He instinctively stepped back as they were too close, and the man advanced slowly, like a predator cornering its prey. He seemed used to this reaction.

“You need to pay up. Your parents are way past the deadline.”

“…I know. I transferred part of the interest yesterday.”

“So? It’s not even close to what we’re owed. Do you even know how many billions your father borrowed from us?” The man pressed him, his words slurring around the cigarette in his mouth. Yeonwoo’s gaze shifted from his face to his arm, covered in floral tattoos.

Swallowing again, Yeonwoo nodded, trying to maintain a neutral expression.

“Please give me a little more time. I didn’t borrow the money. It’s a debt incurred by my father, whom I don’t even see.”

Yeonwoo calmly explained the situation, hoping to reason with them.

“Realistically, ten billion won isn’t going to magically appear. I’ve listed my studio apartment for sale, and I’ll pay you when I have the money. Considering the circumstances, please give me some leeway…”

“Oh? Mr. Hong, are you an Omega?” The skinny man who had been standing behind the boxes suddenly stepped forward, staring intently at Yeonwoo. He could easily tell the man was an Alpha from his uncontrolled pheromones.

“I didn’t hear that Kim Sunyoung’s only son was so pretty.”

“Ah, he’s an Omega?”

“Damn, he’s beautiful. You could pay off your debt in no time just by selling your hole a few times. If you don’t have the money, just say the word. We can find you a job right away.”

“…Don’t be rude. I don’t have the money right now, so please leave.” Yeonwoo spoke calmly, swallowing his nervousness.

“You’re bragging about not having money? What makes you so confident?”

“Must be his face.”

The men chuckled, looking at Yeonwoo.