April 10, 2006
As dawn broke, the clock struck 1 a.m. Slurp. Gamamusa sipped his coffee. After sending Ko A-young home, he was meeting Jung Min-ju at a café open late. Finishing his drink, he leaned toward her. “…This place stays open till dawn. Order something.” Jung Min-ju scowled. “…Not interested. Just tell me why you’re here.” Gamamusa nodded, setting down his cup and clearing his throat.
“…Ahem. I called you here because I wanted to see you. Ever since I learned about you, I really didn’t like you.” Jung Min-ju tilted her head. “…I don’t get it. Since when do you know me to make this fuss?” Gamamusa shrugged. “…Around 2004, I got to know you. I even know what happened back then. You don’t know me, though.” He flashed a cryptic smile. Jung Min-ju frowned. “…What nonsense? You defected to South Korea in 2005. Got your dates mixed up?” Gamamusa chuckled, resting his head on one hand. “…Well, yeah, I was still in North Korea then. But I remember what happened between you and Song Jae-seob.”
Jung Min-ju flinched, her shoulders trembling. “…What are you talking about? What do you know…!” Gamamusa nodded. “Knew you’d react like that. I even remember the date. May 8, 2004, right?” Jung Min-ju froze, clenching her fists. “…Did Ko A-young tell you? That crazy thief?” Gamamusa sighed. “…Not exactly. I just know a lot about you.” He glanced at the café counter. “…You worked here five hours a day, didn’t you? Your dad’s business went bankrupt, and times were tough. That was… seventh grade, maybe? And the one who became your friend then… was Ko A-young, right?” Jung Min-ju gritted her teeth. “…Are you a stalker? How do you know all this?”
…
May 8, 2004
“…Yawn… it’s already morning.” Jung Min-ju checked her phone. It was almost 8 a.m., May 8—her birthday. Being a Saturday, she was excited. She couldn’t wait to meet her friend Ko A-young. Jung Min-ju texted her on KakaoTalk. “A-young, hey! Where should we hang out today? Amusement park? Café? You pick, you’re good at planning.” Soon, Ko A-young replied. “Yo, sleep well? Let’s meet at the amusement park.” They met there, and Jung Min-ju grabbed Ko A-young’s hand. They rode a roller coaster and then the Viking ride for lunch.
“…Ah, that was refreshing. I had so much fun today. Thanks, A-young.” At a café, they bought a cake and lit candles. Jung Min-ju blew them out. “…Phew… hehe… time to make a wish…” She closed her eyes, clasping her hands. Ko A-young watched with a smile. Jingle. Some delinquents walked in. Ko A-young, spotting them, ducked her head in fear. Jung Min-ju opened her eyes, clapping. “Yay… wish made…” Thud! A delinquent grabbed Jung Min-ju’s head, smashing her face into the cake. The group burst into laughter. Jung Min-ju, dazed, looked back. “…Jae-seob?” She trembled in fear. Song Jae-seob grinned menacingly. “…Yo, what are you losers doing here? Wanna die?” He picked up a fork from the plate and held it to her throat. “Didn’t I tell you to show up on weekends? Today’s collection day. Forgot?” He tossed the fork aside. “No money for me, but you’ve got cash for this crap?”
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
…
February 5, 2030
“…So, you’re getting out now, Jae-seob? Got it. Yeah, I heard Gamamusa helped with your release.” Baek Hyung-jin was on the phone with Song Jae-seob, recently released from prison. Jang Cheol-dae, sitting on a nearby bench, glanced at him. “Alright, talk later.” Baek Hyung-jin hung up, and Jang Cheol-dae turned to him. “…You close with Song Jae-seob?” Baek Hyung-jin nodded. “…When I got to juvenile detention in 2014, he’d already been there eight years. Said he’d be out in two.” He looked at Jang Cheol-dae. “…Ever meet people like that? Grown adults with the mind of a kid? Jae-seob hyung was like that. Even as an adult in juvie, and after release, he kept getting into trouble, in and out of prison… a real troublemaker.”
Jang Cheol-dae handed Baek Hyung-jin a cigarette, and they smoked while gazing at the Moscow River. “…You said you got out of the military, right? Because you got Russian citizenship?” Baek Hyung-jin nodded. “…Had to leave mid-service to finish this job. Still, getting a draft exemption after juvie felt like the Defense Ministry went easy on me. Though I bet you pulled some strings as a military judge.” Jang Cheol-dae smirked. “…You think I really pulled strings? I stepped down as a military judge. I’m a civilian like you now.” Baek Hyung-jin was stunned. “…Then who’s the judge? Not Lee Byeong-su, the military prosecutor, right?” Jang Cheol-dae said nothing. As Baek Hyung-jin lowered his head, Jang Cheol-dae stubbed out his cigarette on the bench.
“…Don’t get too chummy with Song Jae-seob.” Baek Hyung-jin was startled by the sudden remark. “…Why? Gamamusa approved it.” Jang Cheol-dae shrugged. “…Gamamusa’s already operated on that guy’s brain multiple times to change him. Without those surgeries, he wouldn’t have changed at all.” He looked at Baek Hyung-jin. “…Plus, Song Jae-seob’s situation is a secret from Ko A-young. You think this’ll last?” Baek Hyung-jin bowed his head. “…Can’t help it. I forgave Kim Dae-hyun, but I don’t know how A-young will react…” Silence fell. Jang Cheol-dae lit another cigarette and started smoking.
https://m.novel.naver.com/challenge/detail?novelId=1180586&volumeNo=59#nafullscreen
