TE Ch 04

Hongju turned his gaze towards Mookyeong. His hair was pushed back, revealing a neat forehead, but he didn’t look particularly old. He seemed older than Hongju, but much younger than Koo Bbing or Manager Yang. In fact, he seemed to be around the same age as Choi Gun, who was in his early thirties.

“…Can’t you tell just by looking? That I got hit?”

It was a question he’d mulled over for a long time before finally asking. He’d carefully chosen his words, trying to avoid any hint of cursing or annoyance. As Mookyeong was about to answer, his lips curving upwards, a harsh voice cut through the air.

“Hey, Hongju! If you’re here, bring some beer!”

Manager Yang was signaling, his head peeking out from one of the rooms. Scraaaape. A chair was dragged roughly across the cement floor. Hongju stacked several cans of beer onto a tray. Even as he did, Mookyeong’s gaze followed him persistently. Was it his first time seeing someone who’d been beaten up? Why was he staring so intensely? Hongju, carrying the tray, entered the hallway, paused momentarily, and looked back. Mookyeong was still sitting in the same spot, his chin propped on his hand.

“…..”

Well, I guess he doesn’t seem like a thug, and a well-off, normal person like him probably hasn’t had many chances to see a battered face like this. Hongju withdrew his gaze and continued walking.

The gambling house was even noisier than usual today. Hongju placed the banknotes in the drawer and checked outside. Snow was still falling heavily, obscuring everything in sight. When he had arrived for work, it was deep enough to reach his ankles; it must have piled up even higher by now. This meant that many people would be stuck here gambling for the next few days.

“So that’s why it’s so loud.”

He glanced around and sniffled. He had barely put down the tray when he was summoned again. Hongju served without a moment’s rest. He cleaned up the vomit of a gambler who’d had too much to drink, and swept and mopped the floor that had been messed up from a fight. Only after being called around for a long time did he finally get a chance to catch his breath.

“Ha.”

Because Manager Yang had joined a game and taken a seat, Mookyeong had been occupying the heater all day. The noisy rooms and the chaotic hallway. At the end of it, Mookyeong and Hongju sat side by side, a completely incongruous picture. Awkwardly, he was just tapping his stiff knee when a thug placed a canned coffee in front of each of them on the table.

“Koo Bbing said to have one each.”

With those words, the thug, holding a cigarette, went downstairs. Mookyeong, unbuttoning his coat and rummaging through the pocket of his suit jacket, took out a handkerchief. Hongju, who had just been holding and fidgeting with the can, watched his actions out of the corner of his eye. He meticulously wiped the rim of the can with the handkerchief before opening it. It took only a moment to empty the can, which was less than a handspan wide. After crushing the empty can with one hand, he casually tossed it into the trash can below. There was no wasted movement in his actions.

“Aren’t you going to drink?”

“…No. Do you want it?”

“No, thanks.”

The hand that had offered the can returned to its place. Hongju stared at the dusty rim of the can and rubbed it. It was the first time he realized that the part where his lips touched was so dirty. He should clean it. Although, he never put anything in his mouth while he was at the gambling house anyway. Still, thanks to Mookyeong, he learned something new.

“Do you know how to do this sort of thing?”

Hongju looked up at the sudden question. Mookyeong gestured with his chin towards the new, still-wrapped decks of cards.

“I just learned by watching others, so I’m not very good. Are you a player by any chance?”

Mookyeong again slid his hand into his inner suit pocket. This time, a cigarette came out.

“I don’t do such vulgar things. I just came because I caught a whiff of money.”

A white filter was placed between his slightly parted lips. His grin sent a shiver down Hongju’s spine. Hongju rubbed his exposed neck with his palm.

“Mind if I smoke?”

“…..”

He knew Mookyeong was deliberately asking because of what happened yesterday. Hongju nodded slightly and turned his gaze towards the noisy hallway. Even so, his entire attention was focused on the man sitting right next to him. When Mookyeong moved, their elbows touched and separated. The feel of the expensive coat brushing against his cheap padding was incredibly soft. The sensation was so unbearably foreign that he curled his reddened fingertips into a fist.

“Uncle, here. New cards and two bottles of ssanghwatang.”

The woman, peeking her head out, threw a few bills tucked between her fingers onto the floor. She could just hand them over later, why does she have to be so annoying? Hongju, chewing on his chapped lips, stood up. Mookyeong slipped one of the new decks of cards into Hongju’s pocket.

“…Thank you.”

Mookyeong simply exhaled smoke without a word. Hongju, carrying the drinks, crossed the hallway. He picked up the ten-thousand-won bills scattered on the floor and entered the room. There were familiar faces at the table. Manager Yang was there, as well as someone Hongju had persistently chased to collect the principal not long ago.

“Oh dear, who didn’t pay back the money they borrowed to buy Hongju some snacks? It’s just a few pennies, why’d they have to make a mess of our kid?”

“Right? If they paid on time, our Hongju’s face wouldn’t be smashed in.”

Manager Yang cackled as he pulled his chips towards him. He had quite a pile stacked in his arms. His one remaining right eye gleamed with greed.

“Honey, is he a player?”

It was the woman who had thrown the money on the floor earlier. She slowly scanned Hongju up and down. Then, a man with a familiar face tapped Hongju on the butt. The sticky touch was felt clearly through his deflated padding. Hongju’s hand, which had been unwrapping the cards, paused momentarily.

“Nah, he just collects debts. He doesn’t look it, but he’s damn persistent, this motherfucker.”

The man, wearing a large ring, flicked Hongju’s cheek. He was no different, beating him up for not being able to repay a few measly pennies. Irritation surged, but he had to endure it. His wounds hadn’t even healed yet, and there was no room for more.

“Oh? Anyway, let me shuffle the cards too. You guys are hogging all the fun.”

Every time Manager Yang laughed, the gold tooth on his canine flashed.

“Yeah, yeah. Give the new cards to our madam, Hongju.”

As he handed over the cards, her long nails brushed against Hongju’s dry fingers. She expertly sorted the cards, laid them on the floor, and shuffled them with both hands. The color of her nails and the backs of the cards looked similar.

“Shall we raise the stakes, everyone? Ten per point?”

“Madam, your bag must have been heavy, huh? Then we should make it easier for you to go home with empty hands.”

“It’s expensive, so the leather is a bit heavy.”

The woman didn’t back down from Manager Yang’s sarcasm. He didn’t want to get involved in the conversation and tried to quietly leave the room, but this time the woman spoke directly to Hongju.

“Do you want to play a round?”

Tak, tak, the sound of her shuffling was incredibly fast and natural.

“No, we’re short-staffed.”

“Oooh.”

He was about to turn and leave, but the woman extended her hand holding the cards towards Hongju.

“Then have the pretty boy cut the deck for me. Let me win some money, okay?”

Hongju took the neatly arranged cards with his cold hands. He didn’t even apply any force, but the cards slid smoothly on their own.

“…..”

Hongju recalled how the woman had shuffled the cards. She must have mixed in a rigged card while doing so. He was momentarily conflicted. If he asked, ‘What did you do to the cards?’ this place would quickly turn into a battleground. Manager Yang, who was obsessed with money, was also involved. But he didn’t want to get involved in any more trouble. It didn’t matter to Hongju who won the money, and he had no interest in it. He simply let the cards slide and placed about half of them on the table. He met the woman’s beautifully double-lidded eyes.

“Thank you.”

The lips, painted with crimson lipstick, slid up smoothly. Hongju bowed his head slightly and left the room. It was likely that the woman would rake in all the money from that round. After being completely cleaned out, one or two of them might come again to borrow some tails¹. He couldn’t make Mookyeong do that, so it would be his job again. He let out a small sigh as he crossed the hallway. Just as Hongju passed one of the rooms, Koo Bbing popped out. He gestured with his chin towards the room he had just exited.

“Empty that trash can over there.”

He slid his hand under Hongju’s padding, which covered halfway down his thighs, and squeezed his ass hard. The feeling of four fingers touching him was unpleasant. Hongju immediately frowned and took a step to the side.

“Your touch gets better every day, huh?”

Hearing the unpleasant snickering from behind, Hongju covered his right ear. Finally, some quiet. After emptying the trash can and washing his hands, he returned to his seat. Mookyeong was still sitting there with his legs crossed, looking at his phone. What a leisurely human being.

“Where did Koo Bbing go again?”

“I don’t know.”

Some people were so busy that they were breaking out in a sweat, running around. While some had the luxury of sitting idly, warming themselves by the heater. If you can’t help, at least pay attention to people coming and going. Hongju glared at Mookyeong out of the corner of his eye. He was dressed neatly as he had been yesterday, but today he wasn’t wearing his leather gloves. His fingers, with their thick bones and knuckles, looked neat as if they had been manicured, but surprisingly rough.

“You want to kill Madam Koo, don’t you?”

“What?”

He had been staring at his phone the whole time, what was he suddenly talking about? Hongju scrunched up his eyes. Mookyeong reached out, a lingering smile on his face. At the sudden movement of the hand towards him, Hongju squeezed his eyes shut. He expected to be grabbed violently like yesterday, but the fingertips that touched his bruised eyelid were incredibly warm and soft.

“Your eyes are saying it all.”

At the low voice, Hongju slowly opened his eyes. His eyelashes fluttered. Mookyeong had a calm expression, as if he could see right through Hongju’s soul.

“…..”

Honestly, he lived with that thought every day. He had tried to escape, struggled and said he wanted to die, and even tried to kill Koo Bbing with a knife. He didn’t want to live like this because of a debt he had never even touched. But all he got in return was brutal violence. He was beaten to the brink of death, and when he regained consciousness, the violence would start again. That’s when he lost hearing in one ear. After being beaten so often, he naturally realized that Koo Bbing didn’t actually intend to kill him. After 15 years of this, all that remained was resignation. He didn’t know how many more decades he would have to live like this, but all he wanted was to escape this damn gambling house.

“…They said you’re a boss; don’t you have to go to your company?”

Hongju changed the subject, avoiding the answer. He couldn’t bring himself to say ‘no.’

“I’m not a boss.”

He thought he had said he wasn’t a boss yesterday, too. Looking at his hands, it seemed like he had gone through some hardship, too. Hongju’s gaze scanned Mookyeong, seemingly indifferent.

“Then… are you a gangster?”

Haha. Mookyeong burst into laughter as soon as the words left his mouth. Seen this way, his face was completely different from those who had hollow eyes, watching the comings and goings of the gambling tables. He was big and looked intimidating, but he had the kind of face that people would likely give a second glance.

“Do I look like a gangster?”

Mookyeong muttered, stroking his chin. Hongju’s gaze lingered on his unblemished cheek and neat fingertips.

“I don’t do such vulgar things.”

He snapped back to his senses at the low voice. How long had he been staring so blankly? Hongju quickly averted his gaze and pulled his chair closer, sitting upright. Screeech. The chair legs dragged on the cement floor, leaving a white line. This time, Mookyeong leaned his elbows on the table and tilted his upper body towards Hongju. As his large body drew closer, Hongju instinctively moved to the other side.

“You think I’m a swindler, don’t you?”

Even though he smoked so much, there was no stale smell. Instead, a pleasant scent, out of place in the gambling house, emanated from him.

“No.”

“Yes, you do. I can see it all over your face.”

Hongju’s eyelids, which had been stubbornly staring at the end of the hallway, trembled slightly. Even amidst the noise, the sound of his low laughter was clear.

“Gamblers can tell just by looking into someone’s eyes.”

“…..”

He said he didn’t gamble because it was vulgar, so what was he talking about, knowing gamblers? It also felt unpleasant to hear such a thing from a swindler. Hongju remained silent until the end. He thought it would be better if he was constantly called for errands instead of this.