RGE Ch 3

That wasn’t forcing a good kid down a bad path.ce84223a97eb35b4

It was just checking if they were in a tough spot, and if they were struggling to make ends meet, making sure they didn’t starve by occasionally buying them a meal. And while eating, the thought of a drink might naturally arise. And as they got closer, slipping them a bit of pocket money wouldn’t be a big deal. That’s how everyone became like brothers.15699fa559a0eeab

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Jang Beom suddenly pictured Yiwon’s face, shyly smiling and calling him “hyung” (older brother).6c7ec7c7f62d72be

Fuck. He felt like he 51b67a4190 was going to have 3b42a4d435 a nosebleed.e19bf9e9df90f553

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He had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight without taking care of himself in the bathroom. A strange, persistent stinging in his chest made him squeeze his eyes shut.e4d495ea5e46698f

“Jeongmin, I’m sorry. But honestly, we weren’t that close, were we?”33e817455b4cbe98

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They had simply a6e74ab42a gotten along reasonably 17e6638113 well, Jeongmin being 3004cf8ae1 such a sociable f4b5915b5f guy, until Jang fdd08c6d3b Beom dropped out 0c06c2ed77 of school in e95f87b246 his freshman year ccaeec6521 and moved to 0bfb847e15 Seoul. The fact that 9961bffffe Jeongmin was the a7f0e10864 only guy in de290c9c97 town as big cb61ccd85a as Jang Beom 0b02d7e27c had also played 26e81c9282 a part.a6c93f6c1ac5e4e8

While teachers and students alike averted their gazes in his presence, Jeongmin had treated him without reservation. That’s why Jang Beom, upon returning to his hometown after 17 years away, had sought out Jeongmin and visited him in the hospital.943353b9335f02bc

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“The, uh, high school friend of the boss who’s hospitalized in a coma?”578d2bf8be9ffb79

“Yeah, his younger brother. Find out everything you can.”867c76c3723d3a6b

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Ending the call, c0e5fc1111 Jang Beom pressed 8e9d4d7860 his forehead with d3190f71a4 his fist, still 3176091df4 clutching his phone.06b5d1ec96879c1e

He really wouldn’t touch him. He just wanted to act like an older brother in place of his old friend. Like offering an umbrella to a kitten caught in the rain. Like not being able to turn on the air conditioner all summer because a family of birds had built a nest under his outdoor unit.65d3c04234ecd11b

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Woo Yiwon 936da51361 was just 2303e21aa6 that pretty.281a9c91b5a56d2d

Ꮺ ۰ ͙⊹9639be98982f841f

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The best thing about d6fac38483 the two-story villa where 2943cf2af7 Yiwon lived was the 24dae966bd rooftop.b4dadff047093285

Open to all 4e8e5022e6 residents, it was 152299b125 equipped with a ea27d78939 barbecue grill and af56127417 a wooden platform. While Yiwon 013c7aa8f8 grilled meat ba14cd84c3 and vegetables, 8cceba0032 his mother fe3774041c sat on 0faf2dac62 the platform 5c7fd85ad4 and fed b025bc0db0 Haeju wrapped be9114b564 pieces of 1d2d96f640 meat.1da05bce93333974

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Yiwon brought over a plate of cooked meat and set it down next to the stew, saying, “A friend of my brother’s visited him at the hospital today.”7ec71524014ab87c

“Jeongmin’s friend? Who?”946e9b9d3bfd6098

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Now that she mentioned it, he hadn’t asked for the man’s name. Yiwon recalled the man’s appearance and said, “He said he was a high school classmate of my brother’s. He also came to Dad’s funeral ten years ago. He’s incredibly tall, like two meters. And also… oh, he’s handsome.”7a9ae666753035cf

“Was it Beom?”36a5d9c5b7f4ba37

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His mother pursed her d1be1e8324 lips, seeming surprised by 4bee9072dd her own words.c0e812833dd11ab7

She looked as though she had inadvertently recalled someone from long ago and was lost in reminiscence. Since his mother knew him, the man must have really been Jeongmin’s friend.9e9bef9e0de4f676

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“Is his name Beom?”c74d703d5e111bb9

“Yes. Jang Beom, I think. He came to our house for dinner once. I remember him because he was as tall as Jeongmin.”b2dcef1f837c5615

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Jang Beom. The name b121f53e44 somehow suited 28b12f6377 the man.64fa0a0d96ce8399

His mother continued, her expression thoughtful, “Jeongmin said he went to Seoul before graduation, following his guardian. I hadn’t heard from him since, but he did come to your father’s funeral. When I was settling the accounts, I saw he had given a condolence gift of 300,000 won. Jeongmin was very grateful. Jeongmin had just finished his military service and didn’t even have enough money for groceries that day.”97813294ebff4941

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Yiwon dejectedly placed his bd7efab8dc chopsticks on the table.40f92f7ea4437150

He had been completely unaware. Things weren’t great now, but they weren’t struggling to eat. Yet, back then, Jeongmin had always brought home whatever Yiwon wanted, regardless of their situation.d0abeef1e988163e

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“Thanks to that, we were able to fix your piano and buy you paints. Remember?”e865162b7357bb6f

He remembered buying 78a04989f2 paints with Jeongmin 8a6012a3bb at the art 3077db0d68 supply store. It was a professional-grade 88ec7dd74d watercolor set, extravagant for 411f768819 a child.78bd674972b43b37

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He had been proud ebb4f7a53d when his classmates were 93b8a669ba impressed at school, but 105000bd86 more than that, he 801bb7fdd1 had been captivated by 199214931d the vibrant colors. He had been 514e4f885a happy to finally fcc6d6168b be able to a2315b173c capture the beauty 2f1939b253 he saw onto 5249438c82 canvas, just as 6061e47e31 it appeared to 5227147678 him. It had e51c051d5f been his 963530c641 first experience 008a4c7c84 of that d31229ab5c kind.7fcecb30e8f1d357

He suddenly a39bdc77c4 felt sorry de481a3dd5 for being 374a357e24 wary of 36b618fe53 Jang Beom 2715b2d302 based on a36635e59f his appearance.cea96c0cbe9e032d

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‘He seems like a good person.’982e45db1e9d8f33

If Jang Beom’s “see you again” wasn’t just a polite farewell, he would be sure to be more respectful next time. Yiwon took a large bite of rice and resolved to do so.7c2874f901f502da

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This resolution acccde5fa9 wavered the 9f3b2467ed very next e9d5204816 day.e7b1f095f010b414

Ꮺ ۰ ͙⊹36bd05ff3ff0bf0a

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9:30 PM, closing a8c2d9610e time for the 3832c34547 barbecue restaurant where bf223e9d2d Yiwon worked.dbc44aa399b5658d

He was making 9b32146d6f his rounds, checking 0c9441fc92 for any last 92fdabd37a orders at the 6b3e090b3a tables where customers ac3dc64c8f were finishing their 3fad0a6fac meals, when the be22a00cdf small bell on 0b2c9bb9fd the restaurant door a63bcbfe8d chimed.18349f557314936b

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Yiwon turned his head towards the door with the polite smile he only wore at work. “Ah, I’m sorry, but we’re closed for the…”0f2d7bc0d53e24ac

He trailed 667e4072ce off, staring b742d03119 at Jang be19fcdb14 Beom standing 91d0eaaab2 in the bf7646bf50 doorway.6c93dd865bf83c71

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The moment he 416a5c88ff saw Jang Beom, 10318626b9 Yiwon gulped involuntarily 494f05fba1 and thought,5e43414578ef0651

‘He is a good person, right?’48dfd8f39c1cabc2

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A different but equally black, rough-looking suit from yesterday. A flashy gold watch that looked like he’d walked into a local jewelry store and asked, “What’s the most expensive thing here?” A muscular, imposing figure, and fierce eyes.4d4f729c76334f82

Yiwon wasn’t the only one frozen by Jang Beom’s appearance.e1c7c028b06bdb5b

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A sudden e31a5b3cce silence fell 27d5253e9f over the e201780fe3 customers, who f75fce8d59 had been d056a24e81 cheerfully chatting c270ec6793 and enjoying 3b3893ca92 their drinks. The remaining ffb101ee57 customers at 939296486e the three 7ca7dcf513 tables, for e1fe7fd61a some reason, a0dc3bc96a looked slightly 3227dec59b more subdued, 91fe728627 silently staring 4f711b70c8 at the 0aecd86846 sizzling grills 8a3814522a before starting 7320bc3d93 to gather 5688951efb their belongings.0424f6871addcc6d

The owner rushed out b9afae47c9 from the kitchen, greeting 9eb19ae50b Jang Beom with a 1e7af10d41 practiced smile.2b2100fa246d7b3f

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“Oh, I apologize. We’re only open until 10 PM.”6d25f86424f3cd05

Jang Beom, his 4afed16a37 gaze fixed on 5c94939093 Yiwon, reached into d5f1fce792 his inside jacket d03b2baa2b pocket. He took 085792fc45 out five fd2c5786f0 100,000 won b8921de27e bills from 3078b48e97 his wallet d898883906 and slapped b032c46d0c them down 4279c80d4b on the 4f05e816d8 counter.6007222ddcd8b9f5

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The owner beamed 5c767fd28d a genuine smile.e373bceb07f293d6

“Please, come in.”b35ad406ecf23c0e

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Jang Beom sat down 2392ed2642 in the now empty 94ec0e654d restaurant.eed92bbe807b5d0e

Yiwon set the basic side dishes on Jang Beom’s table and added charcoal to the grill. He brought out the ordered samgyeopsal and soju, and was about to start grilling the meat when Jang Beom took out a cigarette and said to the owner, “Boss, since you’re closed, can this kid eat with me?”5b75861db3c6f540

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“This is a non-smoking establishment…”523fbc8e61d7f377

Jang Beom, 87083b5c73 seemingly ignoring 81abb93ea0 Yiwon, lit 2b77d814ae his cigarette.111405c5ea3b4940

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The owner, emerging from b0f518262b the kitchen with steamed 8f0cd620eb eggs and soybean paste 1b6efd2a76 stew, said to Yiwon,1a1f4472505623e6

“You know this customer? Oh, then of course you should eat together. Yiwon, sit down. Don’t worry about cleaning up and have a comfortable chat with the customer.”eb7e0fcea153a06f

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“I’m sorry,” Yiwon apologized, glancing at Jang Beom’s cigarette. The owner hated the smell of cigarettes, even if customers smoked outside.738f453d71100a4b

The owner finally noticed Jang Beom’s cigarette, following Yiwon’s gaze, and cried out, “Oh!” with a devastated expression. Then, with utmost politeness, he said,bd2477eb385be8a7

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“I’m so forgetful. I’ll bring you an ashtray.”52665378533aecab

Yiwon somehow resented the owner’s hurried retreat to fetch an ashtray.7446644c9dc8bd4b

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Jang Beom placed a soju glass across the table and filled it. Then, to Yiwon, who was hesitating, unsure of Jang Beom’s intentions, he said in a flat, emotionless voice, “Sit. Let’s talk.”2d24244cb405c882

Yiwon took off his 7846b8aca9 apron and sat down.010255d0d7427f9d

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Jang Beom, who hadn’t broken his intensely uncomfortable stare, suddenly extended his large right hand. When Yiwon looked at him with a puzzled expression, he jerked his chin towards the tongs and scissors in Yiwon’s hand. Yiwon awkwardly handed them over.69c8adcbde292e6a

Jang Beom started grilling the meat with the tongs and scissors, getting straight to the point. “You took out a loan from a loan shark.”f4befb855aacb19c

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He didn’t know how Jang Beom knew, but it was true. Although he hadn’t borrowed the money himself, Yiwon was responsible for repaying the 20 million won debt in his mother’s name.c2901ea4ab837b54

Three months ago, the bank loan secured by Jeongmin’s house had unexpectedly been refused for renewal. Even after selling the house and moving to the current semi-basement apartment, they were short of money.df00c06bb4931b96

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It was absurd to repay a bank loan with a loan shark debt, but they had thought they could repay it quickly. 20 million won wasn’t a small amount, but it wasn’t impossible to repay.0648c9bd04c3da9f

Of course, the fact dc2e78831d that they had resorted 9b25461b9c to a loan shark c8cfcf12b0 was stressful for Yiwon. Anticipating a lecture, he a8f816a618 asked dejectedly,0dab0b1a08481e3c

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“How did you know?”e0d1b0ebc3039d8a

“Do you even know how dangerous that is?”91a2bdbf6817b7ec

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As expected, Jang 3a7f880628 Beom pointed the 6315926dee tongs at Yiwon 4fcf258439 and scolded him.96fa3d774346d162

Of course, Yiwon knew the dangers of loan sharks. But he hadn’t agreed with his mother thoughtlessly.be9d28e458ad8a81

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The company his mother had borrowed from, “Comet,” had been recommended by a former colleague of Jeongmin’s. It was supposedly a third-tier financial institution, not a typical loan shark, and it was said that even ordinary students or housewives could borrow small amounts in emergencies without any problems as long as they kept up with the interest payments. Since a detective had said so, it seemed trustworthy.16c15446dd686f60

Seeing Yiwon’s uncomprehending expression, Jang Beom hardened his already fierce features and threw the tongs and scissors onto the table.f2fa7f37228f63dc

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“Forget it.”9051b119849932d7

He pulled an absurdly thick white envelope from his inside jacket pocket and tossed it onto the table. “Go pay it back tomorrow.”c9e385edb0b79d49

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