Healer - Chapter 21.3

Before he knew it, the hair came down below his eyebrows and covered the lids of the eyes. While he was with Cha Yiseok, his regular life was all messed up. The time had come for him to redefine the rules he had lost. He left the dormitory to go to a hairdresser that he had not been to before.

He barely let go of Morphine trying to catch up. Morphine was the snitch type. He remembered what the eunuchs were talking about, and confessed to Kang Giha and avoided all of them. A snitch and underling. It was a fantastic combination. Yaba’s philosophy was to make friends with people who did not feel guilty about abandoning them at any time.

He managed to get Morphine off, but this time two thugs stuck together. They did not back down because it was Kang Giha’s order. As Yaba walked through the winding alleys, he skillfully outran them. He made an excuse of going to the hairdresser, but he also had to stop by the chemical store. It was because he couldn’t control himself earlier and he poured poison for Cocaine into the water purifier.

He only walked to isolated alleys, fearing that the thugs would catch up with him. At that moment, the phone, which had been stunned in his pants, hummed. The heartbeat rapidly swelled. He picked up his cell phone and checked the number. However, his shoulders drooped at the number he saw for the first time in his life. Instead of tucking it into his pants, he stared at the vibrating cell phone. He couldn’t stop thinking that this persistent person might be Cha Yiseok. He might be using a different number…

Yaba carefully picked up the phone and took in a breath.

“…”

The other side didn’t say anything.

“Speak.”

This time it was quiet. Indeed it was not him. Just as he was just about to hang up, he suddenly heard words without a head or a tail.

― Looks like you picked up in case…

Yaba was speechless for a moment. It was definitely Cha Myunghwan’s voice.

“What?”

― You don’t even say you were wrong, how do you still lift up your head? I’ve managed to stop my father who keeps saying he won’t let you guys go.

“We’re done talking about that, ask Yiseok for the rest.”

— Even if you die, you still won’t say you did something wrong.

Yaba wondered. Rather than why he called at this hour,

“How did you get my phone number? Are you a stalker?”

― You still can’t distinguish heaven and earth, do you think I can’t figure out a single piece of information about you? Where you live, your family, I can dig up everything and send them to the otherworld without even a mouse or a bird knowing.

“Do find that out. I’m also looking for the lost me. So, why did you call?”

— Of course, I wanted to get an apology. Don’t make me say it twice now. Come in front of me right now and get on your knees and beg!

He never even apologized to Cocaine. It wasn’t just selfishness, it was an important irony in life. From the moment you admit you made a mistake, you really become a sinner.

“No. I don’t like having a knife in my throat. Are you done? I’m hanging up.”

— You dare to hang up! I’m not going to let you go.

“Listen to Cocaine’s songs and get well soon. It’s the best greeting I can give you. Then I’m hanging up.”

— Fine.

Cha Myunghwan hurriedly spoke. Yaba imagined his sharp, shriveled face. A long sigh was heard, followed by a lower voice.

— I’d rather not accept an apology. It’s absurd to ask someone like you to reflect.

Yaba wrinkled his eyebrows. Cha Myunghwan said.

― You seem to have misunderstood what I’m saying, but I’m saying that I forgive you.

“You’re the one who doesn’t understand. I said I don’t need forgiveness.”

― Oh, never mind, let’s sing a song for now.

His hairs stood up at the greasy voice. It seemed that the miracle of poison was still going on. Or maybe it was his time to go and his mind was wandering.

“Why do I have to sing to you? Now that you don’t have much time, you want some mental torture?”

― Don’t talk so much and sing the song first. Oh, no, I’ll send you a car now, so come to the villa. No, before that, sing a song first.

“Have your cancer cells spread to your brain? Wake up. I am not Cocaine.”

— Who doesn’t know that? There’s nothing to say about each other. Fine. How much? 10 million won per song?

“I’ll give you that money, so scram.”

— What in the world do you believe in that you’re acting up? I’ll have to enumerate how much I’m holding out right now so that you know that your life is in my hands!

“You’re the one who’s wrong. I don’t know about others but those kind of threats don’t work on me.”

— It sounds like you’re not afraid to die. When things like that happen to you, you beg for your life.

“I can’t die again. Because I am already dead.”

What came back was silence. After a while he groaned.

— Fine. Whatever. I know I sound pathetic and annoying when I say this, but it’s because I’m going crazy if I don’t listen to your song right now.

It was Yaba who was silent this time. Even though everything was revealed, now Cha Myunghwan wasn’t doing what he should be doing to a scammer. Not Cocaine’s song, but Yaba’s song… It was a really strange feeling. When he bit his lip, blood quickly came out. As he sucked the blood from his split flesh, Yaba came to his senses. He was trying to bury him alive without even a mouse or a bird knowing about it. He almost fell for the sweet words. Yaba said with a firm expression on his face.

“Who do you think is gullible? If you call again, know that I’ll report it to the police.”

He hung up the phone mercilessly. He immediately shoved the noisy cell phone into his pants. As he took a step forward to continue the purpose of going out, the cold wind scratched the back of his neck. Again. He had been feeling this way all day. The eeriness of someone watching.

Yaba only looked forward and shifted his eyes around. Alley corners, house roofs, water tanks… There was no sign of movement, even if he quickly scanned the radius of his gaze. He walked slowly, ignoring the constant crying of the phone. As soon as he turned the corner of the alley, he ran until he could hear the wind. He went into any house and pressed himself to the door. Ha… ha…! He took a deep breath and shook his head.

Had Cha Myunghwan already sent a killer? Or was it from Cha Yiseok’s side? Cha Myunghwan, who was sluggish, couldn’t move anymore, so Yaba’s mind was inclined to the latter. Perhaps at this time, Cocaine was also struggling in Yangpyeong Lake with stones hanging from his feet.

When his racing heart calmed down, he stuck his head out the door. The narrow alley was littered with rubbish and stones. A bullet might fly out of nowhere and get stuck in his forehead. A passerby might stick a knife in the boat and slowly disappear. He guessed he should stop going out. Yaba stuck his butt on the cement floor. A check stuck in the groin announced its existence. He took the medicine case out of his back pocket and put one in his mouth. There was a water tap in front of him, but it would be filled with all kinds of drugs and germs that were harmful to the body. He removed his hand from the faucet and swallowed the medicine.

When the medicinal energy turns around, it becomes a little more aggressive. He’d better go back to the accommodation then. Yaba put his chin on his knees, pulled out his cell phone and entered the list of phone numbers. He stopped at the first number, which was Cha Yiseok’s. A bug crawled over the stolen number. The scrotum, which had been emptied for a while, was filled with ‘necrophilia and the inside story of this fraud’, and it quickly became reassuring. Cha Yiseok was adept, so he would lightly ridicule the clumsy intimidation. This time of patience was also rewarded only when it was carefully conceived and implemented.

Suddenly, the growing number of insects covered the screen in black. As he brushed off the bugs and fiddled with the cool number, his fingerprints were left. Yaba stared blankly at the cracked cement floor and the shabby scenery of the yard. The last light of sunset reflected off the water, making his eyes shiver. Suddenly, his throat tightened.

***

― He’s been sitting there for 20 minutes.

Cha Yiseok’s hand, who was digging through a cigarette in his pocket, slowed down.

“Why?”

― Suddenly, he ran into a house. I guess he noticed something… However, it’s usually extremely rare to notice anyone watching from this distance. Unless they’re megalomaniacs or overly sensitive people.

The man added.

― And he was on the phone with someone a while ago. I couldn’t hear the content because of the distance. I can wiretap it, so let me know if you need it.

Cha Yiseok pulled out a cigarette and asked,

“Was there anyone wandering around the area, or was there anyone he’s in contact with?”

― Except for going out for a while, he stayed at the dormitory all the time. He didn’t talk to anyone and was just dazed all day.

A certain emotion twisted his heart heavily. Cha Yiseok gripped the lighter so that the veins on the back of his hand stood out.

“How does he look now?”

― Because of the distance, the detailed facial expressions…

He lit the tip of the cigarette and sucked it deep into his lungs. It’s not intense, but he planned to quench his thirst with this cannabis scent for the time being. Smoke from the guts spread through the air.

“Keep an eye on him.”

Cha Yiseok finished the call and sat down at his desk. Chairman Cha was quiet. Too quiet. Cha Myunghwan trusted him, but he’s an old man who wouldn’t just let things be. At the table a few steps away, Han Sungjae hung his arm on the armrest of the sofa.

“The person who put on Yabawi? Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“Until Taeryung falls into my hands, there are many variables. I was terrorized, you and the Brains betrayed, Kang Giha dug a hole in my stomach with a stupid thing, and Cha Myunghwan survived. Now that includes Cocaine and Yaba. Cocaine is a rational guy, but I can’t let him be completely. And Yaba even more.”

Sungjae stuck out his tongue and spread his arms out.

“I should be sad that my betrayal was included in your plan, but I’m sad that it’s not like that.”

Han Sungjae asked with curious eyes.

“Then why did you only attach people to Yabawi? Cocaine also knows the truth.”

“It’s hard to know where Yaba is going.”

“Give him some money. Money is what transcends race and time, isn’t it a miracle cure for those kids?”

“Yaba is a guy who completely goes against race and time. He can be rather provocative.”

He didn’t have the skills of hiding his hand and being calculative, but emotions come crashing down from time to time. He has the destructive power to engulf the opponent as well.

“Do you know why I like Cocaine? Such a rational person lets you know that he will not cross the line. But Yaba is completely different. Just being with that type of person lowers your judgment.”

Sometimes he was like a materialistic person, but at other times he was like a child. He was a guy that pleases the eye but messes with his head. When Chairman Cha was excited to reveal the fake Cocaine, he was negotiating Yaba with the boss of Paradiso.

‘Don’t do what you want to me. I told you before. I don’t talk to anyone. I don’t know what I’m going to say to Cha Myunghwan if I get upset. I’m not afraid of anything. I…’

It remains to be seen whether the threat was at a level that could be considered cute or not. He has been targeted by Chairman Cha, and he may contact Yaba separately there. Monitoring was also necessary.

“You just have to send him away cleanly, like what you usually do. Apparently they have no family or ID card? Then, wouldn’t it be like a piece of cake even if he disappeared?”

“Be careful. It’s not like only people who don’t have an ID can disappear.”

Cha Yiseok put a fishy smile on his lips. Han Sungjae looked closely at Cha Yiseok’s face and raised one eyebrow.

“Are you monitoring Yabawi by putting someone on him? Or are you protecting him?”

Cha Yiseok turned his head and looked down at the city in the window. The city struggled because it could not handle the mass of saturated desires.

“Both.”

Cha Yiseok brushed his waxed hair back. The messy hair quickly regained its shape. Cha Yiseok lightly unwrapped the bandages on his hands. It wasn’t a calculated action. Yaba’s expression, holding the first aid kit, made him do that. No one has ever made him come this far. It’s been a while since he lost his cool. He couldn’t let his guard down until Taeryung completely fell into this hand.

“It will probably be quiet for a while. Because I patted the heartbroken cat a little.”

Somewhere in the dark, a dark deep sea-like sound echoed in his ears. And the tinnitus that tore the eardrums came. Cha Yiseok habitually moistened his parched lips with his tongue. The tips of his fingers wrapped in cigarette smoke twitched slightly.