Kang Taeyun vanished, leaving only me and his secretary at the studio apartment.
Although Dr. Hong had administered painkillers and an IV drip, insisting I needed a full night of treatment, I expressed my firm desire to return home as soon as the drip was finished.
At first, the secretary refused, but as I remained stubborn, he eventually relented and drove me safely back to my house.
Night had fallen.
Realizing I hadn’t eaten a single thing, I pulled out a cup of ramen and poured in the hot water.
I placed a pair of chopsticks on top of the lid to keep it closed, took out some kimchi, and moved to sit down.
Twitch.
Even with the painkillers and the IV, my body hadn’t fully recovered from the toll Moon Dowon had taken on it.
I had to go to the closet, grab a soft blanket, and fold it several times over the chair to create a cushion.
“…Ah. This is seriously exhausting.”
I tapped my lower back lightly and let out a deep sigh. Just two more days and I’d be a free man.
Telling myself to hold on just a bit longer, I tore the lid of the ramen to make a small funnel and stirred the noodles.
I blew on the steaming noodles, placed them in the paper lid, and inhaled them.
Perhaps it was because I had exerted so much energy with Moon Dowon outdoors, but the ramen tasted like heaven.
“This is delicious.”
I wasn’t usually one to enjoy instant ramen, but with my appetite today, I felt like I could easily finish two or three cups. I emptied the noodles in an instant and drank the warm broth, feeling refreshed.
An evening with no visitors.
I loved this peace.
When I had returned home after spending two nights with Kang Taeyun, both Yoo Joohwan and Moon Dowon were there, so I half-expected Yoo Joohwan to be waiting this time too.
However, Yoo Joohwan didn’t call, text, or visit, almost as if he were intentionally avoiding me.
“…Usually, when it’s this quiet, something is about to happen.”
Deciding that noise was actually better than this suspense, I cleared the table and took a quick shower.
Time alone was precious.
I dried my hair roughly and pulled out the business card Moon Dowon had given me.
This was the most crucial element of my escape.
“Don’t shake. Keep it together.”
Taking a deep breath in and out, I dialed the number on the card.
The phone didn’t ring long before the person on the other end picked up as if they had been waiting.
“Hello? Are you by any chance looking for workers?”
It might have seemed out of the blue, but moving companies were usually short-handed.
Fortunately, the company welcomed me warmly and told me to come by tomorrow morning to discuss the details.
I felt relieved that I had solved the biggest hurdle without any issues.
“Great.”
Now all that was left was to pack my essential belongings.
I pulled out a backpack and first tucked in the cash Moon Dowon had given me.
In case I lost the bag, I divided the money into different spots and packed some basic necessities, clothes, and underwear.
I considered fleeing abroad with this money, but I doubted that would stop those three from chasing me.
Of all things, why did it have to be three of them…?
A sigh escaped me, but for now, I needed to find a place where communication was cut off and tracking would be difficult.
As I pondered, I realized that Buddha’s Birthday was approaching.
Coincidentally, the day of my escape would be crowded with people attending the lantern festival.
Everything was falling into place perfectly.
As my mind grew lighter, a smile spread across my lips.
“Now all that’s left is to lose those three….”
I figured I could just move according to the situation.
With this much planning, I should be able to escape them.
Since Kim Seunghyun was going to play the biggest role, anyway.
With a joyful heart, I ran toward the bed to lie down when the prosthetic model sitting on the headboard caught my eye.
“…I still can’t get used to looking at that.”
I marveled at how realistically it was made, my eyes wide with curiosity.
I stared at it, wondering if my own part really looked like that, and then shifted my gaze to Yoo Joohwan’s model.
He had given them to me as “gifts,” but I had never looked at them seriously until now.
Recalling the sensation of touching the real thing made my face flush.
Since I had been with Kang Taeyun and Moon Dowon, Yoo Joohwan was the only one left, but it looked like we would reach our breakup without getting to that.
“Forget it. Why do I care? We’ll be strangers soon.”
I rolled over and closed my eyes tightly, trying to suppress the heat rising in my body.
As soon as dawn broke, I hurried into my outdoor clothes.
Due to the nature of moving companies, they started early and wanted to do the interview quickly.
I also needed to finish the job before the three of them arrived, so I agreed to the early appointment.
I quickly called a taxi via an app and headed to the company office.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
After confirming the automatic payment text, I got out of the taxi and headed toward the company.
I checked the clock on my phone; it was only 6:50 AM.
I looked around, unable to find the entrance, when I spotted some moving company employees.
I approached one carefully and asked for directions.
“I’d like to see the boss. Where should I go?”
“A new face? Are you here for an interview?”
“Yes.”
“Most people don’t show up when an interview is set for this time. You’re diligent. The office is that way, go on in.”
Setting the interview at this hour was likely the boss’s way of testing my work ethic.
Since this was a relationship that would end after today’s interview, I just gave an awkward smile, thanked him, and headed to the office.
On the front of an old building, white tape forming the word “OFFICE” was messily stuck to the door.
I opened the weathered iron door to find a man who appeared to be the boss sitting inside.
“Hello. I’m Kim Seohan. I called yesterday.”
Since Moon Dowon had hired this company, I couldn’t use the name Seo Siho. I tried to hide as much as possible and gave a professional smile.
“Ah, Mr. Kim Seohan. Welcome. Come, have a seat.”
The boss welcomed me comfortably and pointed to a chair.
Once I sat down, he handed me a paper cup of instant mix coffee.
“You said you could come early, and you really did. Have you done this work before?”
“No. It’s my first time.”
“It’ll be tough if it’s your first time. Moving furniture isn’t easy.”
“I can work hard. It’s okay if the pay is low.”
It was important to give him the impression that I could definitely do it.
That way, I could get the uniform and the hat.
For that purpose, I had to finish the interview and get what I needed before meeting the three of them.
Fortunately, the boss was satisfied and told me to start next week, handing me a uniform and a hat.
Since these were the items I desperately needed, I hugged them to my chest as if they were precious, making the boss let out a hearty laugh.
“Did you want to work that badly? Reminds me of when I first started learning the trade. Let’s do well together.”
“Yes. Thank you. I’ll be going now.”
“Alright. See you next Monday. Let me know in advance if you can’t make it for some reason.”
He said that, but the boss seemed certain I would show up.
I felt bad that I wouldn’t be able to meet his expectations, but I glanced at the uniform in the paper bag and quickly called a taxi to return home.
Fortunately, none of the three had visited yet.
“I guess it’s expected, since it’s not even 8:00 AM….”
I muttered to myself and hid the uniform deep away.
Soon the sun would be fully up, and it was important to act as if nothing was wrong.
Since this was a moment I had waited for so long, I changed into comfortable clothes and sat on the edge of the bed.
“I can’t believe I’m saying goodbye to this house too….”
It was a rental I had barely secured by scraping together what little money I had.
Now, the interior would be remodeled under Moon Dowon’s ownership.
I scanned the room with a tinge of regret and blinked blankly.
Now that I was actually about to leave, I felt a bit sentimental.
The many things that had happened in this house flashed through my mind like a kaleidoscope, leaving me lost in thought.
“I’m actually going to miss it…. After wanting to leave so badly.”
I was just realizing how scary “attachment” could be when the door was suddenly thrown open with a knock.
It was Yoo Joohwan.
“You’re up early? What are you doing just sitting there?”
“Nothing. Just because. Why are you here?”
“What do you mean why? I came because I was worried. I heard you had quite an ordeal at the park yesterday.”
Yoo Joohwan, wearing a beige t-shirt and cotton shorts, waved a paper bag. It was porridge.
“I bought this thinking you might not have eaten anything because you were in pain. Aren’t I the sweetest? Where else would you find a boyfriend as considerate as me? I’m even personally bringing food to someone who got poked by another guy.”
