TTS Vol 2 Ch 10.4

Taeri spent a long time washing her face in the 6th-floor restroom, rinsing away her tears. 

Splash, splash. 

She scrubbed at her face roughly.

With wet hands, she gripped the sink, raised her head, and stared at her reflection in the mirror, water dripping like tears. She recalled the image of her father before her eyes.

The meeting with her father hadn’t lasted long. Even as he was led away by the correctional officers, Kang Sangbum kept his eyes fixed on Taeri, looking back repeatedly as if he were leaving a child alone by a riverbank.

Taeri, I’ll see you again. Let’s meet again. Come visit me with your mother. I’ll be waiting. Just hold on a little longer. I’ll be back soon.

Her father seemed to have regained his dignity, and she could now visit him in prison.

In many ways, Park Chigyeong was truly a person to be grateful for.

Taeri returned to Prosecutor Park Chigyeong’s office to thank him. The clerks and secretaries glanced at her, then quickly looked away.

When she entered the private room, Park Chigyeong was clearing the table. Taeri rolled up her sleeves to help, but he held up a hand, stopping her. “It’s fine.”

Lowering her hand, Taeri clasped her hands respectfully and spoke sincerely.

“Thank you, Prosecutor. For letting me see my father. Honestly, I hadn’t expected it. I never thought I’d actually see him here.”

Park Chigyeong silently continued clearing the table. Feeling awkward at his lack of response, Taeri fidgeted. Finally, his tightly shut lips soon responded with a lukewarm, “You’re welcome.”

“I’ll be going now. See you at home later.”

Even as she said it, she found it funny. That she could so casually say “see you at home,” referring to the house she had been so reluctant to enter.

As she turned to leave and reached for the doorknob, Park Chigyeong’s voice, still as a winter lake, stopped her.

“Did you enjoy seeing your father?”

Taeri turned around and readily replied, “Yes.” 

Park Chigyeong made a humming sound and straightened up.

“I suddenly feel guilty.”

“Why would you feel guilty towards me, Prosecutor?”

“Well… let’s just say it’s disillusionment with the broken judicial system. Let’s leave it at that.”

Park Chigyeong walked towards her, mimicking a prosecutor proclaiming justice.

“What are you doing tonight? Shall we have dinner?”

“…Just the two of us?”

“Then should I call everyone from the office to join us?”

“I… I have plans tonight.”

“With whom?”

She knew he would make a fuss if she mentioned Yijoon, so she simply said “a friend.” She didn’t understand why she had to lie, but she did anyway.

Park Chigyeong looked at her calmly and, surprisingly, didn’t press any further. “I see,” he replied easily, then reached into his back pocket. He took out his wallet, pulled out a black rectangular card, and handed it to her.

“Buy yourself and your friend something nice to eat.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I said, buy something nice to eat.”

“Why are you giving me your card, Prosecutor? Is this… hush money?”

Park Chigyeong laughed loudly at her words, loud enough to startle the people outside. “You’re quite the talker, aren’t you?” he muttered and sighed, but he didn’t seem to be displeased at all.

“Do you even have money, now that you’re not working?”

“I have enough to buy a meal with a friend.”

“Right. I’m sure you do.”

“I really do.”

Actually, her finances were tight. She was getting by on what little money she had left, thanks to the free room and board at Park Chigyeong’s house.

She didn’t have much pride left to protect in front of him, but not accepting this card was the last line she could draw. She knew it wouldn’t last long, though.

“My arm hurts. Just think of it as a gift from a close oppa.”

“But I really do have money…”

“Yeah, I know. You have money.”

He took a step closer, his tone almost threatening, and looked down at her. Taeri looked up at him.

“And I want to buy it for you.”

He leaned closer, as if about to kiss her, and the scent of his cologne made her head spin.

She felt his hand move lower, brushing against her pants. 

Is he going to take off my pants and spread my legs right here in exchange for the card?

He was certainly capable of it…

She looked up at him, fear in her eyes, but he simply slipped the card into her jeans pocket and stepped back.

“Use it freely from now on. There’s no limit. Let me know if you need cash.”

He turned his back to her and continued clearing the table, ignoring her silence. Taeri’s cheeks were a little flushed as she looked at Park Chigyeong, and her breath was hot.

It wasn’t just because she just received a limitless credit card.

* * *

She had dwaeji gukbap¹ with Yijoon. He wanted to treat her to something nicer, but Taeri insisted. Having eaten so much healthy food at Park Chigyeong’s house, she was craving something with stronger flavors.

They, especially Gong Yunseon, usually ate salads or Korean dishes centered around vegetables. She wondered if that was how she maintained her youthful figure despite being middle-aged.

She thought about how hard work was necessary for good results, regardless of whether you were rich or poor.

After the gukbap, they moved to another place for soju. Excited to be drinking again after a long time, she quickly downed three glasses. Yijoon smiled gently, seeing her scrunch up her nose.

“I think this is the first time we’ve had drinks together like this.”

“You’re right, oppa.”

They didn’t talk much after that. Taeri stared blankly into space, as if she were alone on a deserted island amidst the noisy surroundings. Yijoon, watching her, nervously scratched at his water glass with his fingernail, hesitating to start a conversation.

“Taeri, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”

“Yes, oppa.”

“About the prosecutor who’s helping with your father’s case. Is he really a prosecutor?”

“What do you mean, ‘is he really a prosecutor’?”

“I felt it before too, but there’s something strange about the atmosphere between you two. Specifically, the way he looks at you… Be honest with me, Taeri. Did you borrow money from him or something?”

“It’s not like that.”

“It just doesn’t make sense. He’s supposed to be helping with your father’s case, but why did you ask me for help back then? You can be honest with me, Taeri. Who is he?”

“I told you, he’s helping me!”

Her sharp voice startled her. Am I drunk? Taeri massaged her temples and closed her eyes.

“I’m sorry, oppa. I appreciate you looking out for me. But he really is helping me. He’s a kind… person…”

“Alright. I’m sorry then.”

As her voice faded like a dying ember, Yijoon forced a smile, his expression strained.

* * *

Around 3:30 a.m., when everyone was sound asleep.

The taxi carrying Taeri slid to a stop in front of Park Chigyeong’s mansion. She had declined Yijoon’s offer to take her all the way home. He looked hurt by her repeated refusals, but it was for his own good.

She hadn’t done anything particularly significant with Yijoon, nor had they talked much, but somehow, it had gotten late.

Perhaps she had been subconsciously delaying her return to this house.

When Yijoon asked her what her relationship with that man was, Taeri actually wanted to ask him something in return.

Actually, oppa, he’s not just anyone. He’s… the person I hate the most in the world right now. Sometimes, I think about strangling him in his sleep…

But when I don’t see him, I wonder where he is. I wish he’d get hit by a passing car and die, but when he comes home late, I worry. He’s disgusting, and I hate him so much, and every conversation with him makes me feel absolutely terrible…

But I also… I want to know what he’s thinking, what kind of person he is. I want to have a deep conversation with him. What kind of relationship is this, oppa?

“……”

Taeri stood unsteadily in front of the gate, staring up at the imposing iron gate. Lacking the courage to open it and walk in, she headed around to the back of the mansion. Mrs. Shin had told her about a hidden entrance.

She entered the code and slipped inside.

Having drunk more than she realized, she had to stop several times to catch her breath as she tiptoed up the stairs.

Damn stairs. Why are there so many stairs in this house? 

She grumbled inwardly, climbed the remaining steps, and finally reached the basement level.

Maybe that’s why Gong Yunseon is in such good shape, from climbing these stairs every day.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, but a faint smile tugged at her lips as he giggled to herself. 

Haa, she exhaled and was about to continue up the next flight of stairs when she saw a faint light coming from the study.

She wondered if Park Chigyeong was still awake. She then thought about his daily routine.

He seemed to go to bed only after everyone else in the family had gone to sleep, yet he was always the first one up in the morning.

He went to work early, came home late, and worked weekends as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It seemed his only day off was Sunday, and even then, he would either go for a run along the Han River or spend the rest of his day working in his study, except for meals. After finishing work, he would shut himself in his bedroom, probably to catch up on sleep.

What on earth does that man find joy in life? Did he become successful because he lived like that, or did he live like that to become successful?

As she started to think more about Park Chigyeong, she told herself she wouldn’t see him tonight.

If she were to see him at this late hour… if he tried to take advantage of her again… she felt like she might yield more easily and willingly than usual.