A day later, the packet was waiting for In Ho- sitting directly in the middle of his small coffee table. He sneered at the envelope, bland and heavy looking. For a moment he debated dumping it in the trash. It's presence was only one in a long line of power moves by Jeong. Your home is not safe, the envelope taunted in Jeong's voice. I can reach you, any time, anywhere I wish.
Why was he doing this again?
In Ha.
He felt his shoulders sag. Pulling out his phone, he swiped through his short list of contacts until he reached hers. It rang and rang before clicking over to announce that her voicemail box was full.
In Ho glanced down at the packet again. Then shook his head. No. Shower first and something to eat. Then he would deal with it.
Later, in his pajamas with a towel slung over his shoulder, In Ho opened the envelope. He tilted it up and let the mass of papers slide out onto the table. On the very top was a picture, obviously blown up from a cell phone. Jeong smiling warmly with his arm wrapped around the neck of an uncomfortable looking girl. The noodle shop princess, Hong Seol, he presumed. In Ho studied her face. She looked like she wanted to be anywhere but taking that photo. She looked like Jeong was holding her hostage. It was difficult to tell if she was pretty, with her awkward expression. Her hair was a mass of waves.
"Dog fur," In Ho muttered under his breath, frowning at the picture. What was this? What had this girl- awkward, and small, and poor- done to attract Jeong's interest?
In Ho felt a sudden stab of pity for the little mouse with the crazy hair. She probably had no idea what she had gotten herself into.
Setting the picture aside, he glanced at the other papers. Her address- located in a bad neighborhood on the other side of the University campus from his. A copy of her class schedule. A map of the university. A flyer for a noodle shop in an outlying suburb. Her parent's shop, In Ho assumed. There was even a page with his cover story. He would pose as her cousin, newly arrived from Busan to study. . . music.
In Ho felt his heart stutter. He pushed away from the table abruptly, sending it scraping across the linoleum. Papers scattered. His heart started back up again, pumping madly.
"That bastard," He whispered, pressing a hand against the pain in his chest. It felt like someone was cutting him in half, "That bastard," He repeated, closing his eyes.
Seven million won a month, he reminded himself. He could be out of debt in a year.
He rubbed at his chest, wiped a hand across his eyes.
It wouldn't be forever. Jeong thought he was using In Ho but In Ho would use him. He'd keep Jeong's shameful little noodle princess safe and in exchange Jeong would give him the keys to free In Ho from his prison. Then he'd leave Seoul and never look back.
Setting his jaw, In Ho reached out with a shaking hand and gathered up the papers.
The next few days passed in a blur as In Ho readied himself for his new . . . job. Included in the packet had been a small stack of cash with a note paperclipped to it. 'Look like a college student', the note said. In Ho assumed that meant, 'Look like a buttoned down nerd, like Jeong but he had no intention of changing his style. Taking the money, he bought two new pairs of sneakers (cool ones), a backpack like he'd seen college students carrying, a notebook, some pens, a new jacket (his was fraying at the sleeve), a couple of new shirts, a new set of earbuds, and a book.
The book was chosen with special care. He had wandered around the University bookstore for ages until he found the section for music majors. Then it had taken more time than he liked to admit to get ahold of himself and actually look at what was offered. Eventually, he found a book on the basics of musical composition and took it to the checkout. A good choice, he thought, feeling the weight of it in his backpack. He looked like a serious student now. Maybe, he should get some glasses. . . . He dismissed the idea. No point in covering up his handsome face.
On Wednesday, he made his way to the University. Jeung was waiting for him, lurking at the main doors of the business school. When his eyes fell on In Ho, he gave a quick jerk of his head and turned. Setting his jaw, In Ho followed. They met on the grass.
"You're late," Jeung snarled.
"This place is huge," In Ho protested, "I tried two other entrances before I found-"
"Your clothes are all wrong," He continued as though the other man hadn't spoken. Glancing over In Ho's shoulder, Jeung's face changed from stony to friendly. Pushing past In Ho, he jogged up the path toward a girl.
Hong Seol, In Ho identified her. She was pretty, he noticed, unlike her terrible picture. Not overtly feminine like In Ha but with a definite style. Jeung was smiling at her and speaking softly. Her chin was raised stubbornly and she shook her head 'No', once and then twice. As Jeung continued to speak her chin fell and then her shoulders. Eventually, she gave a single, resigned nod.
Glancing back, Jeung caught In Ho's eye, "Come here." He called and gave a quick beckoning gesture like In Ho was a servant. Or a dog.
Gritting his teeth, In Ho crossed the grass, refusing to move faster than a walk. When he finally arrived, Jeung's face was a stiff mask.
The girl with the wild hair gave him an uncertain look, "What's your name?" She asked.
Jeung frowned, "You don't need to know-"
"Baek In Ho." He bowed his head briefly and she colored. He could see her fighting the urge to bow back.
"In Ho will watch over you while I'm gone."
She bit her lip like she was about to argue but instead frowned down at her shoes.
"Give us a minute," Jeung dismissed the other young man.
In Ho felt the muscles in his jaw clench. He couldn't wait for Jeung and his chaebol manners to be half way across the world. Settling at a nearby picnic table, he slid his ear buds into place and turned the music up. He pretended to study the prop text book while he watched the two of them from under his eyelashes.
Jeung towered over the girl, leaning toward her like she was a flower he wanted to smell. Or pluck. In Ho could see Jeung's lips moving but all he heard was the pop song filling his ears. His gaze moved to the girl. She looked- uncomfortable. Miserable, even.
In Ho studied the couple intently. Was she like him? Another hostage to Jeung's capricious will?
Jeung put his arms around her and the girl stiffened. In Ho felt his hand clench into a fist.
The couple stood awkwardly for a moment and then her eyes fell closed. She looked. . . sad. Before she pulled away. She put on a bright smile that didn't reach her eyes and nodded to Jeung. She began to back away. Jeung reached out but she dodged his hand. Her mouth moved in what looked like well wishes. Empty goodbyes. Then she turned, moving rapidly across the quad. Jeung watched her go, his face unreadable.
In Ho's eyes moved back and forth, from girl to boy and the growing distance between them. He watched until the awkward girl was almost out of sight.
Remembering his duty suddenly, In Ho scooped up the book and hurried after her.