Gutter Chapter 14.1

Yeonjo wanted to live like a human being. He had wished for it ever since he lost his family at the age of six. A life where he had a home to return to, where someone welcomed him, where he received a regular monthly salary, and where someone was there for him in times of sorrow or joy.

Since he turned six, there hadn’t been a moment when he wasn’t desperate, yet whenever he came to his senses, he found himself precariously standing at the edge of a cliff, having overcome the worst.

At this point, he wondered if it was even possible for him to live an ordinary life like others.

Nevertheless, Yeonjo wanted to try living like a human being.

To do that, he had to escape from here. An instinct deeply embedded somewhere in his unconscious screamed at him. He couldn’t continue to live in this insane state. That wasn’t living like a human.

Escape. That was the conclusion he had reached after much deliberation.

Yeonjo got out of bed after confirming that Boss Gu had left for work in the morning. His head felt hot and hazy, as if filled with steam. A low-grade fever had persisted for several days, making his body ache all over.

After drinking a glass of warm water, Yeonjo fell into deep thought. How could he bypass the security and get out of here? The house was locked 24/7, including the front door and windows. Moreover, Boss Gu’s men were camped out in front of the villa. Even if he were lucky enough to get out of the house, he would be caught and brought back.

There wasn’t even a crack in the only open balcony. Of course, he could climb onto the railing and jump down, but that would be nothing short of suicide. Even if he managed to jump down somehow, the men stationed right below would inevitably notice him.

It’s not even a prison, yet there’s no loophole. Yeonjo became despondent. Could he really take even a single step outside from this place on his own?

As he sat alone in the quiet place, a familiar anxiety began to stealthily stir. Yeonjo ran to the living room as if having a seizure, turned on the TV, and raised the volume. As he heard human voices, his anxious symptoms gradually subsided.

As time went by, Yeonjo found his situation increasingly unbearable to simply give up. He found it difficult to endure relying on such a dangerous man, Boss Gu’s deepening obsession with him day by day, his own indecisiveness in feeling hatred and sometimes pity for him, and his own increasingly extreme, seizure-like frantic episodes.

Taking a deep breath, Yeonjo headed towards Boss Gu’s study as if he had made up his mind. There might be a key to unlock the house there.

However, the study door, which had been open before, was locked.

“…….”

It felt like he had hit a wall from the very beginning. Yeonjo sighed and turned the doorknob several more times. He needed to properly search Boss Gu’s belongings to find a way out of here.

It was almost time for the housekeeper to arrive. Once she arrived, Yeonjo would have to stay in bed all day until she left in the late afternoon to avoid suspicion.

Fiddling with the locked doorknob, Yeonjo went to the bedroom closet, just in case. He started searching every pocket of Boss Gu’s clothes inside.

“I found it…!”

Yeonjo found a key in a trouser pocket. It didn’t seem like the front door key, but it looked like a room key.

He took it and went to the study, inserted the key, and turned it. The doorknob turned without resistance, and the door opened.

Without hesitation, Yeonjo entered Boss Gu’s study, a place he had been before. New safes had been added. There were also more documents placed on the bookshelves.

It would be difficult to open the safes right away since he didn’t know the combination, and even if he looked at the documents, they wouldn’t help him leave the house.

Driven by the pressure to do something to escape, Yeonjo decided to search the desk drawers he had glanced through before. He opened each drawer one by one and checked the contents more thoroughly than before.

But nothing had changed since then. Perhaps this was a place Boss Gu rarely touched. He didn’t think he would hide an unlock key or anything like that in his study in the first place.

Reaching that thought, he felt his energy drain. What should he do now? Even if he wanted to escape, he couldn’t even open the front door. Since he couldn’t subdue Boss Gu and leave, should he watch for an opportunity when the housekeeper came and went?

What if he ended up trapped here for the rest of his life?

Just the thought of it was horrifying. Yeonjo ignored his throbbing headache and began searching the study again. This time, instead of the desk, he examined each bookshelf one by one.

Documents, documents, and more documents. He flipped through each stack of paper, hoping for something, anything, to appear.

After looking through the documents on the bookshelves for a while, he found a thick file, different from the others, which only had paper clipped together. It was tucked away so deeply inside the dense stack of documents that he wouldn’t have found it if he hadn’t checked them one by one.

Since it was almost time for the housekeeper to arrive, Yeonjo quickly opened the file.

Although it didn’t contain an unlock key to get out of the house, it did contain something Yeonjo needed.

Photos of his grandmother and himself. Photos that weren’t among the keepsakes he had received.

“Ha….”

The photo taken at the photo studio, which he thought he had lost, and the polaroid he received from a market customer.

The reason Boss Gu hadn’t returned these to him was all too clear. It was to use them against him as leverage when needed, just like he had done with his grandmother’s keepsakes.

“You bastard. You really… are the scum of the earth.”

Yeonjo cursed him. He didn’t even feel betrayed anymore. He was disgusted by the way he meticulously collected and exploited people’s flaws and weaknesses. At the same time, his endless obsession with him felt hopeless.

In addition to the photos, the file contained Yeonjo’s cell phone, which he had taken away one day and hadn’t returned.

He turned on the power, and the screen lit up. Perhaps because his heart was pounding excessively, he no longer felt a headache. Yeonjo checked the accumulated messages and call logs.

Most were casual greetings from acquaintances and spam messages. While he hadn’t gained anything significant, the screen blinked, warning him of low battery. He had no choice but to turn it off again, but then a notification popped up saying he had received an email.

Looking at the sender, it was President Im of the riding stable. And it was an email that had arrived yesterday. Since the inbox required a password he had set, Boss Gu probably hadn’t checked it.

Accessing his inbox and quickly reading through the contents, Yeonjo stood frozen in place for a while.

Beginning with a long greeting expressing genuine concern for Yeonjo’s well-being, the main content was an offer to work at his acquaintance’s newly opened resort riding stable. A detailed explanation of the overall business outline, salary, and living space followed. The email ended with a request to contact him if he had time.

Yeonjo read the email several times, almost memorizing it. Although he already knew the contents from Joowon, he couldn’t help but feel relieved. Perhaps he would finally have a place to settle down and work stably.

His heart swelled with that single strand of possibility. At the same time, Yeonjo felt a more desperate urge to escape from this place.

A few minutes later, Yeonjo left the room after returning it to its original state. He went back to the bedroom and put the key back in the trouser pocket where it had been. Whether it was the aftermath of the violence or simply a fever, his vision would occasionally blur. Yeonjo scrutinized the area several times, his eyes wide open, to ensure he hadn’t left any trace.

Although he hadn’t found a way to get out, he had made an unexpected gain. He now knew where his grandmother’s photos were, and he had also secured a place to work after escaping.

Hearing the housekeeper enter, Yeonjo lay in bed and made up his mind.

I have to get out of here.

🚬

Once he had made up his mind, a plausible escape plan came to him after a few days. The only day Yeonjo could go out was when he went to the hospital for a lung checkup and to get medication.

Perhaps he could pester Boss Gu to let him go to the supermarket one more time, but exceptional outings weren’t something Yeonjo was used to. Besides, Boss Gu would want to accompany him, so it was more likely to succeed if he went to the hospital, whose layout he knew well, and lost him there to escape.

Yeonjo devised a very simple plan: pretend to go to the restroom and escape through the emergency staircase next to it. The university hospital had a similar structure on each floor, with the restrooms and emergency staircases located at the very end of the hallway.

The problem was the location of the pulmonology department where Yeonjo received treatment. Pulmonology was on the 3rd floor, but unusually, only the 3rd floor of the hospital had restrooms in the middle of the hallway. It was impossible to pretend to go to the restroom from the middle of the hallway and slip away to the end of the hallway without Boss Gu noticing. The route was too long.

In the end, he concluded that he had to go to a department on a different floor for treatment somehow. Frowning and fiddling with his lips habitually, Yeonjo raised his head at the stinging sensation that spread across his jaw. His swollen face was reflected on the TV screen.

Although it had subsided compared to before, bruises and swelling remained.

Wouldn’t injuries like these be enough reason to visit the surgery department?

Yeonjo ran to the bathroom to check his face. Greenish bruises and a split lip. If he exaggerated the pain a bit, it might work.

When he said he was in pain and needed to go to the hospital, Boss Gu probably wouldn’t stop him, but what if, by any chance, he failed to escape? If he failed…. Yeonjo imagined the worst-case scenario.

Just the thought of being caught by him sent shivers down his spine. Right now, with his limbs intact, he could think about running away, but if he were caught and brought back with a broken leg, he might never have another chance to escape.

Yeonjo stared intently at his reflection in the mirror, his face stiff with tension. His eyes were dark and lifeless, like those of a sick person. A gloomy man with dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep and a face full of traces of violence.

Looking at his pathetic appearance, his determination to leave this place became clearer.

Yeonjo wanted to escape from those days, that boy, and that day, which constantly held him back. So that he would never be entangled with them again.

I don’t want to live like this. So, I have to escape. And if, by any chance, I’m caught by him again… I’ll take my own life.

🚬

Gu, the former market owner, had been coming home late at night and sleeping in the living room for several days now. Today was no different. He arrived well past midnight, showered, and briefly entered the bedroom to get a change of clothes.

Yeonjo had been awake since the moment he entered the house, so he lay in bed, holding his breath, listening to the sounds of the closet door opening and clothes rustling.

As if he had found his clothes, his quiet footsteps headed towards the door. Yeonjo, who was about to ask him to let him go to the hospital tomorrow, pulled back the covers and spoke first for the first time in a while.

“Sleep here.”

Boss Gu’s movements stopped abruptly.

“You’re awake?”

“Yes.”

“Go back to sleep.”

“I said, sleep here.”

“If I lie down next to you, you’ll tremble all night.”

“That was because I wasn’t feeling well. I’m fine now.”

He seemed unconvinced. Yeonjo came up with a more plausible excuse.

“I’m scared to sleep alone.”

It was also true. While his presence also bothered him, making him wake up throughout the night, he was particularly afraid of having nightmares without him. Because even after waking up from a dream, he couldn’t tell if it was reality or a dream.

“If you don’t want to, you can go sleep outside.”

Yeonjo added belatedly, as he didn’t intend to force him to sleep there.

After standing still for a few seconds, Boss Gu climbed onto the bed. As he lay down next to him, Yeonjo’s hand gripping the sheet tightened. His body stiffened involuntarily, despite his efforts not to. The sudden stinging sensation in his bruised face made Yeonjo wince slightly.

Since he was facing Yeonjo, their eyes met for a moment. Even in the dim room lit by only a single dim lamp, his eyes were exceptionally clear.

After a few seconds, Yeonjo’s heart rate rapidly increased. While trying to maintain a calm expression as if he wasn’t afraid, Yeonjo couldn’t bring himself to maintain eye contact.

“Look at me.”

Boss Gu spoke as soon as he lowered his gaze.

“Why….”

Their eyes met again.

“Why do you always avoid my eyes? Do you hate looking at me that much?”

“When did I ever.”

He denied it nonchalantly, but it was always Yeonjo who looked away first when their eyes met. Back then, and even now. Strangely, it was difficult for him to hold his gaze for long.

“You did.”

“…What’s the point of looking?”

Should he have not asked him to sleep here? Yeonjo wanted to turn over and lie down, uncomfortable with the conversation.

He became belatedly worried about what would happen if he got angry at his weak reply. Thump, thump, thump. His heart beat louder and harder with fear.

Should he apologize? Should he elaborate a bit more? No, perhaps he hadn’t wanted such an excuse-like answer in the first place. Or perhaps….

“How did your lungs get damaged?”

His low voice silenced Yeonjo’s racing thoughts. It was an unexpected question, making it difficult to fabricate a lie on the spot.

“They were just… congenitally weak.”

He had no intention of telling him the truth. I tried to go back to that day and see you again, but I couldn’t because of the fire. Just like the burns on your back and hands, I became like this because of the fire that day. He couldn’t bring himself to say those words in front of Boss Gu. Nothing would change anyway. He was still Cha Yeonjo, the one who abandoned Rags that day. The truth Yeonjo held wouldn’t bring comfort to either of them.

“Were they?”

Boss Gu trailed off as if trying to recall.

“I don’t remember seeing you cough back then.”

“…Maybe you don’t remember because you were young.”

“Maybe.”

Fortunately, he seemed to believe him. Yeonjo felt relieved inwardly.

Perhaps lost in thought, his gaze remained fixed on Yeonjo. His attention was entirely focused on him, on his eyes, nose, and mouth. To the point where it was hard to pretend not to notice.

Yeonjo fidgeted with his hand gripping the sheet and closed his eyes. As time passed, his agitated heart gradually calmed down. His anxiety lessened considerably.

“Your face.”

“…….”

“Can I touch it?”

As if reading his calmed inner thoughts, he asked softly.

Yeonjo nodded slightly. Then, his large hand gently cupped Yeonjo’s swollen face.

His bare hands, without gloves, were as warm as ever. The warmth of his touch spread across his face. For a moment, a sharp pain shot through Yeonjo’s chest, and he let out a faint moan.

“It hurts.”

At his involuntary murmur, Boss Gu pulled his hand back in surprise.

“It hurts?”

He seemed unusually flustered.

“Where does it hurt?”

“…….”

“Your face? Or your lungs again?”

Yeonjo stared at his hand, lost in midair. After a brief pause, Yeonjo spoke.

“My face keeps hurting. The wound inside my mouth seems to be getting infected, and the bleeding won’t stop. I took painkillers, but they don’t seem to be working anymore.”

“Is it unbearable?”

“Not that much…. It just hurts.”

Yeonjo exaggerated and whined. He was about to ask him to let him go to the hospital tomorrow, when Boss Gu spoke first.

“We need to go to the hospital.”

Deep wrinkles creased his brow, visible even in the dim room. He looked uncomfortable, as if he were having trouble breathing.

“I’ll have Jeongpil take you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Boss Gu readily agreed to the outing. After a brief pause, he spoke again.

“And then let’s go for a walk in the evening. If you’re feeling up to it.”

“Okay.”

At Yeonjo’s agreement, the wrinkles on Boss Gu’s brow finally began to smooth out.

The warmth still lingered on the cheek he had caressed. His intense gaze remained fixed on Yeonjo’s face.

Unable to bear Boss Gu’s presence, Yeonjo once again averted his gaze first and closed his eyes. He didn’t speak any further. Finally, the conversation ended, and silence enveloped them.

Yeonjo was certain. It’s better for us to be apart. Otherwise, everything about you wouldn’t be this consistently uncomfortable.

The next morning. Having finished his shower, Boss Gu stood in front of the closet with only a towel wrapped around him to get dressed. Because they had shared a bed and blanket the previous night, Yeonjo had also woken up at his waking time.

Boss Gu might have slept well, but Yeonjo hadn’t slept a wink. He had spent the night pondering how to shake off his men at the hospital, and morning arrived before he could find an answer.

In truth, he was still unsure if he could actually escape. Even if he went to the hospital today, he might return home without putting his plan into action. Even if he managed to escape somehow, the most likely outcome was being caught and dragged back.

Unlike his certainty last night, he now felt somewhat powerless. Looking at Boss Gu’s bare back, he wondered if it was even possible to escape from such a formidable man.

“Oh.”

Yeonjo, who had been sitting dejectedly on the bed, was startled by the clothes Boss Gu was taking out. Of all the clothes, he had picked up the trousers containing the study key.

A few days ago, when he had sneaked into the study, he hadn’t been feeling well and, in his disoriented state, had failed to take his grandmother’s photos and his cell phone. He needed to go back in and retrieve them before going to the hospital today, so the key’s location absolutely couldn’t change.

In his panic, Yeonjo simply snatched the trousers from Boss Gu.

“What?”

“Don’t wear these.”

And all he could manage was such nonsense.

Facing Boss Gu, who was looking down at him suspiciously, Yeonjo wished he could take back what he had just said.

“Wear these.”

Yeonjo feigned a natural tone as he took out another pair of trousers.

“What’s the difference?”

“These suit you better.”

“Whatever.”

He chuckled dismissively and took the trousers without another word. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to find it suspicious.

“Aren’t you wearing a shirt today?”

Yeonjo lingered casually as he watched Boss Gu rummage through the drawers, leaving the neatly ironed shirts hanging in the closet. He was anxious that he might put on the trousers he had picked up initially again.

“I’m going to wear a turtleneck.”

“It’s in the first drawer.”

Before Boss Gu could bend down, Yeonjo opened the drawer and took out a turtleneck. Since he didn’t take it and instead leaned in, Yeonjo understood his intention and slipped the shirt over his head.

“Did you get the direction right this time?”

“Yeah.”

Gruffly replying and putting his arms through the sleeves himself, Boss Gu stared at Yeonjo for a moment.

“I’m going.”

“What time will you be back?”

“Late. Don’t wait up.”

“Okay.”

At his words telling him not to wait, his momentarily calm heart began to race again.

Like a dying ember catching fire, his wavering resolve turned into certainty once more. Yeonjo had no intention of waiting for him today. He was going to leave this house.

“Jeongpil will be here soon to take you to the hospital.”

He gently placed his smooth, gloved hand on Yeonjo’s swollen cheek and stroked it.

Boss Gu soon grabbed his jacket and left, leaving Yeonjo alone again.

His heart was still pounding so fast that he felt dizzy.

“Seriously. At a time as crucial as this, it’s ridiculous that I have to chauffeur this guy to the hospital.”

“Still, Hong Gi-hyuk has been acting strange lately, so it doesn’t hurt to be careful. The director is already on edge because of that, so let’s finish quickly and get back.”

“He’s not a kid who can’t walk. Why are three of us stuck at the hospital? What a waste of time.”

The men waiting in front of the examination room each voiced their complaints. As they said, Boss Gu, unable to come to the hospital himself, had sent three of his men instead.

Thanks to this, Yeonjo, who had been moving vigilantly since morning, sat in a chair with a pale face, lost in worry.

He hadn’t slept a wink, and his physical condition was terrible. As soon as Boss Gu had left for work in the morning, he had packed the small bag he bought at the supermarket with the necessary items as planned, but he had no confidence in shaking off three men.

The negative thoughts he had been suppressing came flooding back. Even if he managed to escape, he wouldn’t be able to settle down anywhere with this weak body. President Im, who had promised him a job, would also be troubled if he found out that Yeonjo was half out of his mind.

But what if he didn’t escape? Yeonjo asked himself. He had decided not to go back to that house ever again. He didn’t want to end up like Joowon.

Anywhere would be better than that house. If he didn’t hear human voices, he became anxious and had difficulty breathing. Only by compulsively finding things to do and killing time could he somewhat alleviate his anxiety.

He felt like a crazy person, even to himself, in the past few days. And the symptoms would only worsen with time. Whatever the end might be, Yeonjo wanted to stop here.

“…So, it’s important to apply the medicine consistently, and from what I see now…, excuse me. Hello?”

“…….”

“Are you feeling very unwell?”

“Yes?”

Yeonjo snapped out of his thoughts at the doctor’s call. It seemed like the doctor had been sitting in front of him, explaining something at length, but he hadn’t heard a word.

“Um, your hand….”

The puzzled doctor’s gaze shifted to Yeonjo’s trembling hand. Yeonjo clenched his fist and stood up.

“Are you alright? If you’re not feeling well, you need to tell me your symptoms in detail….”

“No, I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep last night.”

Leaving the bewildered doctor behind, Yeonjo walked unsteadily towards the examination room door.

“If you’re done, I’ll be going now.”

Without waiting for a reply, Yeonjo abruptly opened the door.

After he finished getting his face examined at the surgery department, the waiting men led the way down to the parking lot.

“Can I use the restroom first?”

Yeonjo asked cautiously, stopping as he followed them. His heart was racing so fast that it was difficult to maintain a calm expression, even when he was standing still.

“Where is it?”

“Over there… at the end of the hallway.”

“Damn it, it’s so far. What a hassle.”

The man who appeared to be the most senior among them nodded, telling him to hurry up and go. Of course, he had no intention of letting him go alone, so he followed Yeonjo, who was leading the way.

Yeonjo glanced back anxiously. There were three men in total. Their language and behavior were rough, and their attire was clearly that of gangsters, causing people around them to glance and subtly keep their distance. Even with a rough plan, the prospect of escaping while evading all of them was bleak.

Standing in front of the restroom, Yeonjo clearly saw the emergency staircase right next to it.

“Will you wait here?”

“Why would I follow you inside to watch a guy pee? Hurry up and come back.”

“It’s not… pee.”

“Shit then? Damn it.”

As Yeonjo entered the restroom, the man behind him yelled vulgarly, telling him to finish quickly. It was fortunate that they didn’t follow him inside the restroom, but the problem was that he had to walk a few steps from the restroom to the emergency staircase.

Even though the distance was short, if they saw him walking out, his escape would fail right then and there. It was a situation where it would be stranger if they didn’t notice him, with three guards present.

Yeonjo entered the restroom. He hid in a stall as if fleeing, took out the new inhaler he had been prescribed a few days ago, shook it, and inhaled deeply. His labored breathing finally began to calm down.

Yeonjo pressed his forehead against the wall and hesitated.

Should he really try? Were there any chances of success? If he was caught… then he really….

Last time, he had threatened to break his leg, but no one knew where his anger would be directed this time.

“Sigh…. Let’s just do it.”

There was no time to hesitate now. Yeonjo put on the mask and hat he had secretly brought in his pocket and discarded his outer clothes on the restroom floor. This alone made his attire look completely different from when he entered.

Now, all he had to do was decide when to leave. No matter how you looked at it, it was overly simplistic and reckless. But this was Yeonjo’s only chance to escape from his limited environment.

If you’re going, you have to go now, Cha Yeonjo.

Yeonjo muttered to himself. Although slight shortness of breath returned due to nervousness, he resolutely opened the stall door.

He made eye contact with a patient who happened to be using the facilities. The patient glanced at Yeonjo, with his hat pulled low and mask on, then looked away.

Yeonjo walked stiffly to the mirror above the sink. He felt easily intimidated by even meaningless glances, as if everyone was watching him.

“Hey, why isn’t the madam coming out?”

Just then, the gruff voice of one of the men echoed from right outside the restroom. Yeonjo’s ears perked up, and he looked around in a panic. He hadn’t thought much time had passed. Had he taken too long? What if they suddenly came in?

“Should I go check?”

As Yeonjo had anticipated, the man sounded like he was about to enter the restroom. There was a brief silence, as if he was considering it. During that time, several patients entered the restroom.

“Hey, you go in and check.”

“Yes, sir.”

Before Yeonjo could make up his mind to leave, the man’s order was given. Yeonjo’s mind went blank.

Wait. He’s coming in now? At this rate, they’ll run into each other head-on. What should he do?

Yeonjo’s hand gripping the sink turned white. Should he push past them and run while they were momentarily distracted? Or should he go back into the stall, pick up his outer clothes as if nothing had happened, and return home with them?

The conflict that arose in just a few seconds tightened Yeonjo’s chest.

“Excuse me, could you please make way for the wheelchair? My father has difficulty walking.”

Just as he was about to give up, thinking it might be better to resign himself to his fate, an unfamiliar voice came from outside the restroom.

“Did anyone stop you from passing? Go ahead.”

“How is the wheelchair supposed to pass when three of you are blocking the way in front of the restroom?”

“So now, are you telling us to get lost because it’s cramped and inconvenient?”

A patient and their guardian, who were visiting the hospital, were asking the men standing at the door to move. Due to the men’s arrogant behavior, the conversation quickly escalated into an argument. Thanks to this, the man who was about to check on Yeonjo seemed to be stalled for a moment.

This was his chance.

Yeonjo clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He spotted two patients who had finished using the facilities heading for the door and naturally blended in right behind them.

There was no time to reassess the situation and calculate. The patient in front opened the door, and Yeonjo followed, keeping his back straight.

“Oh, why are there so many people here….”

The patient who was leaving muttered in surprise as the restroom entrance became crowded. Completely outside, Yeonjo lowered his head upon seeing the men loitering around.

The men, who had been confronting the patient in the wheelchair, briefly glanced at Yeonjo.

His stomach churned violently. Yeonjo froze, rooted to the spot. But it was only for a moment.

Barely concealing his trembling legs, Yeonjo steeled himself.

Don’t act strangely. He was wearing a hat and a mask, so they probably wouldn’t recognize him immediately.

“Excuse me, please make way. Why are you all fighting here?”

“Huh, why are there so many people in the hospital restroom? Does everyone come to the hospital to pee?”

The man clicked his tongue in annoyance, looking people up and down.

“Gasp….”

Yeonjo inhaled and exhaled a small, shaky breath. Even though he had looked directly at him, he hadn’t recognized him.

As soon as he realized this, a surge of courage propelled Yeonjo towards the door leading to the emergency staircase. He could hear the men casually chatting behind him, just a few steps away.

“Hey, don’t cause a scene and just move. Is this a brothel? It’s a hospital, you idiot.”

“Yes, sir. But is the madam still inside? Must be really desperate for a shit.”

“I guess so. His face was pale earlier. Hehehe.”

“I told you to go check.”

“Oh, right. I’ll go now.”

Thump, thump, thump, thump. His heart pounded as if it would burst.

Yeonjo opened the emergency exit door with trembling hands. Creak. The eerie sound of rusty hinges scraping echoed.

And then, slam. The door closed safely. From that moment, Yeonjo began to run at full speed without looking back.

Two steps, three steps, five steps at a time. He skipped down the stairs as fast as he could.

He was worried that he might tumble down, as his pace was much faster than his usual walking speed, but instinct overpowered fear.

Reaching the first floor in an instant, Yeonjo continued running without pause towards the back door of the hospital. Not the door connected to the parking lot, nor the main entrance, but literally a small back door. And if he ran straight out this back door, he would reach the bustling downtown area.

Every step he took was on familiar ground. His frequent visits to the hospital had paid off.

“Gasp, pant, gasp.”

His lungs felt like they were bursting. The taste of blood rose in his throat. He hadn’t run in so long, and the strain on his lung capacity caused a searing pain in his chest.

Even though his vision swam and he felt like he might collapse at any moment, Yeonjo gritted his teeth and kept running.

Even after putting some distance between himself and the hospital, Yeonjo didn’t stop and ducked into a narrow alley. He bought a navy blue coat from one of the many shops lined up there. In case the men had seen him escaping from the hospital building from above and remembered what he was wearing.

Wearing the new coat, Yeonjo started walking aimlessly again. He didn’t actually have a destination in mind. Going back to the house he used to live in with his grandmother would be suicidal, and contacting President Im directly was also risky. Besides, the riding stable within the resort, run by President Im’s acquaintance, wouldn’t open for a few more weeks.

Contacting acquaintances he casually kept in touch with was also impossible. Boss Gu would likely already know them. Ultimately, the destination of his desperate flight was undecided.

Yeonjo walked endlessly, utterly isolated even in the outside world. Yet, he couldn’t easily leave the bustling downtown area. Deciding he needed to take some form of transportation, Yeonjo looked around.

He spotted a sign indicating a nearby express bus terminal and entered without a second thought, buying a ticket.

Boarding the earliest departing bus, Yeonjo scanned the people around him with wary eyes. They were all looking at their phones, listening to music, or closing their eyes. Only Yeonjo, drenched in sweat, felt a silent threat in this place.

The thought that Boss Gu and his men might barge in at any moment, shattering this moment of tranquility, kept him on edge.

Yeonjo glanced around with bloodshot eyes, waiting impatiently for the bus to depart. Fortunately, the driver soon sat down, and the engine started.

Leaving the terminal parking lot, the bus quickly entered the expressway. After some time, when the bus had completely left Seoul, the tension seemed to release, and his legs, which he had pushed to their limits, began to throb belatedly.

Wiping the sweat from his temples, Yeonjo leaned back comfortably against the seat. Although his nerves had relaxed, he remained alert throughout the journey on the expressway. Despite his all-out sprint, he felt no fatigue at all.

A heightened state of awareness persisted, so intense that even the scent of dust in the dry air that brushed past his nose and every syllable of the bus announcements were deeply etched in his mind.

About two hours after leaving Seoul, the bus stopped at a rather old terminal.

The sign displayed the name of a town he had never heard of before. He had to go one more stop to reach the destination printed on his ticket, but the anxiety of sitting in one place for too long compelled Yeonjo to get off.

After getting off at the shabby terminal, Yeonjo walked aimlessly again. But unlike before, his legs felt stiff, and pain shot through them with each step.

Right, I can’t walk for long. I won’t be able to run anymore today either. The aftereffects of his escape were finally catching up to him, making his muscles ache all over. It was almost a miracle that he had managed to escape from the hospital so quickly.

Having no other choice, Yeonjo left the terminal and sat at the first bus stop he saw. Perhaps because it was outside the city, he had to wait more than 30 minutes for the next bus.

During that time, Yeonjo’s anxiety reached its peak as he was tormented by the illusion of Boss Gu closing in on him from some unseen place, but he couldn’t walk any further. After a long 30-minute wait, he finally boarded the bus.

The bus, with few passengers, traveled along a quiet road and turned onto a winding, secluded path.

Seeing the vast plains and the densely forested mountains behind them, instead of the glittering city lights, gradually eased his anxiety.

Did I really escape? Did I really get away from Gu Mun-cheon and that house? Or am I dreaming?

The scenery before Yeonjo’s eyes was more tranquil than ever, making it hard to believe that just a few hours ago, he had been under the watchful eyes of Boss Gu’s men at the hospital. Everything was strangely calm, to the point where he wondered if even this was a trap set by Boss Gu.

“Final stop.”

Yeonjo, who had been lost in thought, was startled back to reality by the bus driver’s announcement.

“Yes?”

“This is the final stop.”

“Oh, already?”

Flustered, Yeonjo stood up.

“Yes. Unfortunately, we’ve already arrived.”

The bus driver smiled kindly and opened the back door. Yeonjo finally took a closer look outside the window.

It was, of course, an unfamiliar place. It was deserted, with no cars or people in sight. All he could see were bare mountains in the distance, stripped of their leaves, and brown fields. There were a few scattered buildings, but not many.

Just how far had he come? Even for the countryside, he wondered if there would be a place for him to rest in such a place.

“I’ve never seen your face before. Did you perhaps fall asleep and miss your stop? There’s a bus stop a little further down that goes in the opposite direction.”

“Oh.”

“Shall I take you there?”

The driver asked, eyeing Yeonjo curiously as he hesitated to get off the bus.

“No, thank you.”

“It’s quite a walk….”

As he was about to step out through the open back door, the driver’s voice stopped him. Already exhausted from running, Yeonjo wavered at the mention of the distance to the opposite bus stop.

“How far is it?”

“About a 20-minute walk, right?”

“…Alright.”

His legs were sore, but 20 minutes was a manageable distance. He could always sit and rest along the way if he got tired.

“Young man, you sound so listless, like you’re about to pass out. Are you sure you’re alright? If you go down that road and turn into the side alley, there’s a teahouse. If you’re not feeling well, you can at least get something to drink there.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“Take care.”

After the bus left and he confirmed he was alone on the road, Yeonjo took off the mask he had been wearing for hours. He finally felt some relief from the stuffiness. He kept his hat on, pulling it down further, just in case.

“My legs hurt….”

Yeonjo muttered to himself, carefully surveying his surroundings. It was the countryside, with no tall buildings in sight. There were houses and villas, but they weren’t densely packed like in the city. They were spaced far apart, requiring several minutes of walking between them.

There might be more options if he went towards the more populated area, but judging by the scenery before him, it seemed like he would need a car or bicycle even to go to a small supermarket.

Now what? A sense of emptiness washed over him as such a frivolous thought crossed his mind.

He had escaped with the determination to die, as he felt he would go insane if he stayed in that house any longer, but he didn’t have anywhere else to go. He had little money and no purpose. Even after escaping, all Yeonjo could do was wander.

Boss Gu would be searching for him relentlessly. He had said he would break his legs… he had to avoid getting caught.

Yeonjo glanced at his already frail legs and rose onto his tiptoes, stretching. Then he looked up again.

A two-lane road with no passing cars. Fields in the distance. Dry air, a rusty bicycle leaning against a utility pole, and a cultivator came into view.

It was peaceful and quiet, yet Yeonjo felt like he was sailing on a small boat in the vast ocean. The tranquil scenery seemed distant, like an unknown world.

‘If you go down that road and turn into the side alley, there’s a teahouse. If you’re not feeling well, you can at least get something to drink there.’

While pondering how and where to go, Yeonjo recalled the bus driver’s casual remark.

Should he go? He had to walk for 20 minutes to get to the bus stop, so it didn’t seem like a bad idea to rest and have some coffee beforehand.

Having rationalized it that way, his feet were already headed towards the alley the driver had mentioned.

Fortunately, he spotted the teahouse after walking for only a few minutes. It was on the second floor of an old commercial building, with the cheesy, paint-chipped sign reading “Happiness Teahouse.”

Would there even be customers in a place like this? Wondering, but with no other options in sight, Yeonjo climbed the stairs with a dubious expression.

He pushed the glass door, and a cheerful chime rang out.

“Welcome… Whoa.”

As soon as he carefully stepped inside, Yeonjo made eye contact with a high school girl wearing a uniform and applying lip tint. The student, with her hair down, slightly longer than a bob, widened her eyes and stared at Yeonjo’s face with an almost embarrassing intensity.

“Hey, you girl! A customer has arrived, and ‘whoa’ is all you can say? You can’t even bring the menu!”

A few seconds later, a shrill voice echoed from the kitchen.

“Mom! I was going to! Stop nagging!”

The student yelled back with an irritated expression, then picked up the menu folded on the counter and approached Yeonjo. She smiled brightly, as if she had never yelled.

“Welcome! Please have a seat wherever you’re comfortable!”

“Okay.”

Yeonjo, who had been standing awkwardly, sat at a table by the window. The student’s eyes sparkled as she handed him the menu.

The laminated menu listed a variety of teas. Yeonjo’s eyes darted back and forth.

“One coffee, please.”

As if waiting for those words, the student rattled off a series of questions.

“Coffee? What kind of coffee? Instant? Iced coffee? We also have an espresso machine, so we can make Americano.”

Feeling strangely pressured to order an Americano, Yeonjo nodded instinctively.

“Then a hot Americano, please.”

“Okay, please wait a moment. Hehe.”

As the student walked away with the menu, he muttered excitedly, “I knew you’d order this, oppa.”

“Lee Yeonsu. Stop with the useless chatter and just take the order.”

A booming voice followed from the kitchen.

Yeonsu? Yeonjo raised his head at the familiar name. It seemed to be the name of the student who had just taken his order. It was an ordinary name, but it struck him particularly because it was the same as his deceased younger brother’s.

“Mom! Americano! One order of bitter coffee!”

Lee Yeonsu shouted, and a middle-aged woman, presumably the owner of the teahouse, emerged from the kitchen. She had tightly permed hair and was wearing a floral blouse and rubber gloves, as if she had been washing dishes.

She glanced at Yeonjo sitting by the window and abruptly pointed at Lee Yeonsu.

“You go study now. Do your homework, homework.”

“Mom, do you even know how to make Americano? I’m the only one who can.”

“Then make the coffee quickly and go do your homework.”

“Oppa, please wait a moment! I’ll make it quickly and bring it to you.”

“Don’t call him ‘oppa.’ How disrespectful to a customer!”

Yeonjo, who had been sitting quietly, felt awkward at the owner’s firm rebuke. Lee Yeonsu had gone to make the coffee, and it was quiet again.

Yeonjo finally had the chance to look around the teahouse properly.

The plush dark brown sofas had white covers on each backrest. The plain square tables were also covered with white tablecloths.

The space was quite spacious, and the floor was partially covered with chipped wooden tiles. Pictures of various people, presumably customers, were plastered on the walls, showing the traces of time.

The large floral wallpaper was yellowed with age, but overall, it was clean for an old teahouse.

Yeonjo turned his gaze from the interior to the window. Fields, a clear sky, mountains, and a few scattered houses. Just as he had seen from the bus, it was an ordinary rural landscape.

The occasional chirping of birds, instead of the familiar sounds of cars, felt refreshing.

“Here’s your Americano. Enjoy.”

Lee Yeonsu gently placed a coffee cup with a colorful pattern on the table. A teaspoon and sugar cubes accompanied the cup.

“Thank you.”

“Tell me how it tastes after you try it.”

“…The taste?”

“Lee Yeonsu. Stop talking nonsense and do your homework. Huh?”

“Oh, really! I get it!”

The owner appeared out of nowhere and smacked Lee Yeonsu on the back. Embarrassed at being scolded in front of a customer, Lee Yeonsu pouted and quickly disappeared into a room in the corner of the teahouse.

When the owner returned to the kitchen, the Happiness Teahouse regained its tranquility. Yeonjo took a sip of the steaming coffee.

Fortunately, his restless mood began to settle. His feet still felt stiff, but not uncomfortably so.

At some point, a cultivator rumbled past outside. A little later, a pack of dogs began to cross the alley. Seeing them running with bones in their mouths, he found it both absurd and cute, and he chuckled.

Everything he saw was incredibly peaceful. It felt much safer than the countryside where Boss Gu had dragged him before. Perhaps influenced by the atmosphere, he even entertained the naive thought that Boss Gu might not be able to find him if he hid here for a while.

However, he wondered if there would be any jobs in a place like this. He would probably have to work in the fields, but a weakling like him would surely collapse before half a day was over.

He would have to move to another place eventually. He felt a pang of regret, thinking he had been too reckless in taking a random bus.

Lost in thought, Yeonjo was startled back to reality by the chime of the bell on the glass door.

“Owner, we’re here.”

“Damn it. Is it because it’s hot today? I’m sweating like a pig. I’m gonna die before I even get paid.”

“My back is soaked. Damn, they said it would be winter, but why is it so hot?”

A group of workers, presumably from the nearby fields, wearing wide-brimmed straw hats, rushed in. Wearing work clothes and arm sleeves, they fanned themselves, complaining about the heat and asking for iced coffee.

“There’s a child in the back, so watch your language. No cursing in my shop.”

The owner warned them curtly as she took their orders. As if used to her attitude, the workers playfully protested, saying she was too strict.

“I’m gonna have fried rice today.”

“Make me some ramen, noona.”

“Fried rice for me too.”

“Don’t you have that spicy pork rice bowl you made last time?”

Those dishes weren’t on the menu Yeonjo had received, but the owner was writing down each order. It seemed she accommodated regular customers’ requests whenever possible.

The teahouse, which wasn’t small, quickly filled up and became noisy. Yeonjo was the only one sitting alone.

Feeling the unspoken pressure to leave, Yeonjo reluctantly reached into his pocket for money.

A steaming cup of fresh coffee was placed on his table. He looked up to see Lee Yeonsu standing before him with a tray.

“I didn’t order more coffee.”

“Refill service. Don’t you know about it?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, they do this at Seoul hotels, don’t they…?”

He grinned playfully. His eyes were full of curiosity. As Yeonjo was wondering how to respond, the owner yelled from behind.

“Is he crazy? What hotels! This is a countryside teahouse, not a hotel!”

“Hey, noona. Leave the kid alone. He’s helping out at the teahouse after school. Isn’t that commendable?”

“That Lee Yeonsu, if it’s a halfway decent-looking man, his eyes light up…!”

Just as the owner, fuming at her son’s outlandish free service, approached, the teahouse phone rang at a perfect moment. She warned Lee Yeonsu that they would talk later and went back to answer the phone.

Lee Yeonsu grinned and settled down at Yeonjo’s table.

“Oppa, by any chance, do you need a part-time job?”

“Suddenly… what part-time job?”

“We’re looking for a part-timer at our teahouse. Look. Didn’t you see it?”

Lee Yeonsu pointed to a piece of paper hanging on the wall that read “Help Wanted (Short-term)” in marker.

Yeonjo was taken aback by Lee Yeonsu’s naturalness in asking him, a complete stranger, if he was interested in a part-time job.

As if reading his thoughts, Lee Yeonsu rested his chin on the table and rolled his eyes.

“Well, I’m just asking. The shop is small, but we need help, and we have a spare room.”

“Ah….”

“I’m just throwing it out there, just in case. My mom works too hard.”

As if sensing that the owner would hang up the phone soon, Lee Yeonsu picked up the tray and stood up.

“Anyway, let me know if you’re interested.”

“Oh, um. I’ll pay now.”

“Card? Oh, it’s cash. We take cards, you know?”

“I’ll pay in cash.”

When Yeonjo answered with a slight smile, Lee Yeonsu beamed back. Perhaps because he was young, his emotions were clearly displayed on his face.

“Change… one moment. Huh? Why did you give me so much?”

“I had two cups.”

“Oh, come on, that was a service. And you barely touched the second cup.”

“I still drank some, so I’ll pay. It was good. Thank you.”

Lee Yeonsu, who had brought a large wallet, put the bills Yeonjo gave him inside.

“Oppa, you came from Seoul, right?”

“…Do I look like it?”

“Even the dog carrying bones down the street would think so.”

“Haha.”

“Too bad. It would be nice if you worked at our teahouse.”

Lee Yeonsu made a disappointed face as he handed back the change. Yeonjo felt awkward, unsure how to react to his disappointment, as they had only met today.

Looking at the name “Lee Yeonsu” written on the name tag of his uniform, Yeonjo wondered how old he was. A high school freshman? Sophomore? He wondered if his brother, Yeonsu, would have been this cheerfully carefree if he were alive.

“Here’s your change. Anyway! If you ever need a part-time job, come by. Have a nice day!”

Yeonjo took the change, bowed his head, and said goodbye. The teahouse tables were now filled with locals and workers, and it was noisy. The savory aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, making his mouth water.

As he walked towards the exit, Yeonjo’s eyes fell on the paper stuck to the wall again.

—Help Wanted (Short-term)

His hand on the doorknob paused.

‘Well, I’m just asking. The shop is small, but we need help, and we have a spare room.’

A spare room.

Yeonjo turned around, and Lee Yeonsu was looking at him curiously.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, yes? Do you want the part-time job?”

Lee Yeonsu ran over, a bright smile on his face, his bangs fluttering.

Yeonjo licked his dry lips and nodded. He felt somewhat embarrassed as the situation unfolded according to Lee Yeonsu’s absurd wish.

“Could I work for a few weeks, for now?”

🚬

‘We can’t pay Seoul wages here.’

The owner, after leading Yeonjo to the most secluded table in the teahouse, started the conversation with those words. Yeonjo nodded, as money wasn’t his only reason for wanting to work.

What Yeonjo needed right now was a place to stay and catch his breath for a while.

‘That’s okay.’

‘Are you really sure? Coming here out of the blue and readily agreeing to work. What did that Lee Yeonsu say to you…. You don’t have any ulterior motives towards our Yeonsu, do you, student?’

Perhaps she found it plausible that a stranger visiting a teahouse in a rural village would suddenly decide to work there, the owner’s eyes sharpened.

‘No.’

‘Really?’

‘…I’m over 30. I’m not that unscrupulous.’

‘What? 30? You don’t look that old.’

The owner scrutinized Yeonjo’s face with an almost uncomfortable intensity. Yeonjo coughed awkwardly and lowered his head.

‘How did you get those bruises on your face?’

After a brief silence, the owner spoke again.

‘I was hit.’

‘By whom?’

‘…….’

‘I’m sorry, but we can’t work with someone we can’t trust….’

‘That’s ridiculous, Mom! Since when did we start checking every little detail and acting all picky?’

Lee Yeonsu, who was supposed to be studying in the small room attached to the teahouse, suddenly interrupted. He seemed to have overheard their conversation.

‘You girl, be quiet! Don’t interrupt when adults are talking.’

‘The village headman hires all those foreign workers in the fields without even asking their names. Why are you being so picky now?’

‘Aren’t you going back in?’

‘Ow! Ow! Why are you hitting me!’

Unable to withstand the owner’s fierce momentum, Lee Yeonsu retreated. Having successfully driven her son away, the owner sat back down in front of Yeonjo and cleared her throat.

‘Ahem, well… I didn’t intend to pry. You don’t seem like it, but just in case, you’re not a murderer or anything, are you?’

‘Absolutely not.’

‘What’s your name?’

‘Cha Minwoo.’

Yeonjo blurted out the first name that came to mind. He had been worried she might ask for his ID, but fortunately, she didn’t.

The owner said that since she wasn’t even paying minimum wage, it was difficult to be picky about hiring people, and she simply told him not to cause any trouble while he was here.

‘…So I can start working tomorrow, right?’

‘If you’re okay with these conditions, then yes. You said you needed a room, right? It’s a tiny container room, are you sure? Even if it’s free, it’s so shabby I’m almost embarrassed to show it to you.’

As long as it wasn’t a cave in the mountains, anything was fine. The owner looked at Yeonjo strangely as he agreed without even checking the room, but she told him to follow her and led him outside.

After a fairly long walk in one direction, they reached a small container house at the end of the road. It had been installed by the village for workers to rest during the farming season, but since it was winter and there weren’t many people around, it wasn’t being used.

The inside was reasonably clean. There was an electric blanket, and a small kitchen and bathroom. Except for the fact that it was in the middle of nowhere and might be scary at night, it was satisfactory. He wasn’t in a position to be picky about his sleeping arrangements anyway.

After telling him to come to work by 9 a.m. tomorrow, the owner left, and Yeonjo was suddenly left alone in an unfamiliar town, in an unfamiliar room.

It was amazing that he had been driven here like this and had managed to secure a room, even if it was just short-term. He couldn’t explain it other than sheer luck.

Without time to revel in his relief, Yeonjo started cleaning the container. It was small, and he had barely any belongings, so after wiping the floor and tidying up the few scattered household items, the room was quickly clean.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t eaten anything since morning, and he was hungry. However, perhaps due to the extreme tension from escaping, as soon as he lay down, he was overcome with drowsiness. He didn’t even have the energy to turn off the lights. It was understandable, since he hadn’t slept at all since last night.

Was it okay to just lie down like this? Boss Gu would be chasing him by now. He might even try to kill him if he was caught. Yeonjo tried to fight off his rapidly fading consciousness, reminding himself of how dangerous his current situation was.

But it had been an incredibly exhausting day. This place was far from Seoul, and even Boss Gu wouldn’t be able to find him in this remote rural village immediately. Rationalizing that he would be safe for the time being, his uneasy feelings subsided somewhat.

Yeonjo eventually succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.

Thus, the first day of his successful escape came to an end.