Payback - Chapter 26

Was it because I didn’t have much relations with women? While the madman went out together to see off CEO Kim, the remaining ‘nephew and niece’ ignored each other as we sat on the sofa. There was an awkward silence, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t interested in women, and my mind was busy thinking about what clues I had missed that was making me feel insecure.

However, whenever something strange like this was revealed, there was an obstacle that stood in the way. The madman’s last name was Han. This alone could not have made him Director Yoon. And if you fit the situation into this fact, it made sense, but it was still strange. The only solution left was to see the real Director Yoon with my own eyes…

“How did you seduce him?”

Hearing the arrogant voice, I lifted my gaze from the table. The woman crossed her legs and arms, watching my face intently.

“Even though you’re handsome, I don’t think it’s to the extent of making that person fall deeply. How did you seduce him?”

The impatience in her questions made me remember the first time our gazes met. She looked at me with unpleasant eyes. It wasn’t because she was displeased to see men kissing each other. She was annoyed towards her competitor. I just stared back silently, and she smirked.

“What, a trade secret? Seeing you being called to places like this means that you are also working here or trying to become a celebrity. Can’t you tell me since we’re in the same situation?”

“Curious?”

She nodded several times and pushed her upper body forward.

“I am really curious. Men and women all rushed at him by all means, but I’ve never heard of him grabbing someone like that. But what on earth did you do…”

“With money.”

“… What?”

“I said I seduced him with money.”

She blinked her eyes in silence for a moment, her mouth half-opened.

“H-how, with money?”

She replied, stuttering as she didn’t understand.

“I threw 200 won and he fell for it.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the madman came into the room, he called on me as if to confirm my words.

“Hey, Lee Baekwon.”

Astonishment appeared in the woman’s eyes at my name. What did I say? That guy will fall for 200 won. Then an unexpected question came up.

“Why are you here?”

“The boss told me to come.”

“Why?”

Instead of answering, I recalled the president and grumbled. He sent me here without the madman calling for me. It was obvious what he was trying to do. He kept saying he would set the two of us up. And came up with an excuse…

“What did he say?”

“He said you… can’t drink alcohol, and for me to drink in your stead.”

Whether he was speechless or because I had hit the nail on the head, the guy just smiled and looked at me for a while.

“So do you drink well?”

“Mhm.”

It wasn’t something to hide so I answered right away, but he put on an ominous smile.

“Alright. Remember it well.”

Should I not have said that? I was starting to regret it, but he continued.

“Aren’t you going to say thank you to me by the way?”

“Why do I have to say thank you?”

“You didn’t get caught.”

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But in that situation, the madman appeared. Maybe I was incredibly lucky. Still, I didn’t want to say thank you. Because the opponent was the madman. As if he knew how I was feeling, he twisted his lip happily.

“Don’t say it doesn’t matter if you get caught. I know that you still want to save that opportunity. You want to get to know the other person a little bit more, prepare, and then let them know. That way, it’s even more fun.”

“Right. You know well.”

When I replied dryly, the guy smirked.

“Same for me. I want to save it up some more. Although it won’t last long.”

… What? I mumbled, but instead of answering, he asked again.

“So the words ‘thank you’?”

“…”

“If you don’t like to say it, you can repay it with your body.”

“If you don’t mind getting punched.”

A smirk hung from the corner of his lips as if something was funny.

“Ah, right. You’re very shy. Don’t worry. I will lead.”

Did I really have to hit him with my fists so I didn’t have to hear that word ‘shy’? Swallowing anger inwardly, I remembered the forgotten existence in the room and looked back. Her mouth, which was open from the conversation between me and her a while ago, still couldn’t be shut. However, as my gaze turned back to the madman, she quickly straightened her expression and forced a smile.

“You two seem to be very close.”

“It’s natural to be close with your nephew, right?”

“…”

“Do you have anything left to say?”

If not, get out. The madman’s annoyed voice conveyed his inner intentions. However, the woman did not want to miss this opportunity, so she got up from her seat and moved to his side. She sat close to him without leaving a gap so that her exposed, fair thighs touched him.

“I also want to say thank you for today’s work. With my body as much as possible.”

She glanced at me, pressed her chest forward and stroked his thigh. Perhaps because the madman stared at her without a reaction, she gained courage and boldly grabbed his hand and raised it over her own chest.

“I am also very shy. Ha… will you touch me?”

A sexy sigh flowed from her, and a dry answer was heard.

“Why? Do your hands not work?”

The woman’s breathing stopped as if cold water had been poured all over her. As she remained still, holding the madman’s hand with an expression saying ‘Did I hear it wrong?’, he pulled out his hand and confirmed it.

“Or are you a fool and don’t know how to move your hands? Go out and practice in the mirror. What are you doing, not going out?”

At the last cold command, the woman jumped and left. Bang! I couldn’t take my eyes off the door as the sound of the door closing resounded, but a heavy weight came up on my shoulder.

“Don’t be afraid. Just follow my lead.”

Before I could turn my head to the whisper in my ear, his arms around my shoulders pulled me closer. His other hand was already groping my chest.

What, does this mean I’m the fool?

———

I thought I was an idiot. I was forcibly kissed in the name of expressing my gratitude, so I forgot what I had been meaning to ask when I met up with the madman. I left the office earlier than usual and started to reread the script I had read from the front. What I wanted to ask him was about the director of the film. Even though it was mixed with other works, he definitely showed interest in this director, so I thought I would know more. This screenplay was his last film.

“Oh? Taemin, did you come early?”

When I lifted my head, the manager sat in front of me with a bright face that I had not seen in a few days.

A conference room with only tables and chairs that could seat only 4 or 5 people was now used as a workplace. It was minimal space given to the manager who was in charge of only one trainee. If there was someone else who needed it, I had to vacate it right away, but here he taught me to practice script-reading every day and used the laptop to show me the materials necessary for acting. He always came before me. I guess I was in a good mood today because I came ahead of time and was watching the scenario.

“Are you reading something interesting?”

When I showed him the title, he tilted his head and said, ‘This is the first time I’ve heard of this title!’ Then, he took the initiative and praised the day we had practiced and chatted about this and that. It seemed that his cheery mood had subsided over the past few days, probably because of Hansoo, but today it was back to normal. But I could feel the awkwardness in it. As if he was trying to force himself to act as usual.

He didn’t talk about it, but I knew that he kept waiting for calls and left voicemails to Hansoo several times a day. So I was a little hesitant if I could bring up Hansoo now. I wonder if it was just that I was expecting too much.

Wouldn’t it be better for me to just ask the madman and solve it on my own? For this reason, I only listened to the manager’s chatter, but while he was talking, he suddenly stopped. I looked over and noticed that he looked down at the desk. The cell phone was in his hand, hanging over his lap, and he couldn’t take his eyes off the text he had just received.

“Did Hansoo send it?”

“Huh? ah…”

The manager was startled and raised his head, making a bitter smile.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been calling him for the past few days, but he hasn’t answered. But… he just said that he was sorry.”

He lowered his head again and looked at the text. I knew that if you work hard and go through hard times, you become good at one thing; keeping your real feelings inside. For some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off the manager who blankly looked at the letters saying sorry.

“Manager.”

He lifted his eyes helplessly, and I spoke the name of the director who wrote the screenplay. When asked if he knew him, the manager thoughtlessly nodded his head.

“Yes. I know PD Jung.”

PD? When I asked if he was a film director, the manager explained.

“He was originally a drama producer. But maybe it was his dream to become a film director, so he quit the company and went over to movies. When he was a drama producer, he made a lot of popular works, so I’ve seen him often. To be precise, I went over every day to ask for just one role. But what about PD Jung?”

“Can you go back and ask one more time?”

“Hm? Do you want to be in PD Jung’s movie?”

Instead of answering, I opened up a part of the screenplay and handed it to him.

“There’s an interesting role.”

He read aloud the description of the character I pointed to.

“An actor who cannot act when the camera is on due to panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder…”

Unable to read any more, he remained silent, and after a while he widened his eyes.

“Hey, this…”

“It’s a supporting role that doesn’t appear very often. So it’s worth a try, isn’t it? Because we can just use reality as it is. It might become better if he acts while being conscious that he can’t act in front of a camera. Real camera phobia. Of course, before that, the director has to show interest.”

“…”

“Can we try it out?”

As if he had stopped breathing, he suddenly exhaled and whispered.

“…I can bring him. The director, I can bring him at any cost. But Hansoo…”

He cut off his words dryly.

“I’ll convince Hansoo.”

How? Instead of answering the questioning eyes, I remembered the day I met Hansoo.

– Even if a fool like me had divine luck, I no longer want to do this anymore. Or do you want me to get revenge like you?

His luck is found, so he’s halfway there. There’s half left. How will that guy react? When he hears about luck and chance that came to him. Although it’s by no means a pleasant coincidence to me.

Habits that have been accustomed to the body for a long time are not easily changed. No matter how late I went to sleep, my eyes would open at 6 in the morning. The body automatically wakes up, but it doesn’t happen easily every time. There is a temptation to lie down a little longer and close your eyes again. A desire to maintain this state whispers to the dazed mind, you can lie down a little longer. Even if it’s a day late, it won’t be a problem. Sweet words turn into strings and tie me to bed.

Cutting them off and getting up is several times more difficult. However, you can always win small fights. And a feeling follows naturally. You bastard, do you want to feel comfortable just because you’re still alive? Come to your senses, stand on your feet and taste self-hatred. I wake up completely when the goosebumps that I’m alive spread throughout my body. As expected, this is also a feeling that I’ve gotten used to.

As I headed to the bathroom, I was soon filled with other thoughts. It had been 3 days since the manager went down to the provinces to bring PD Jung. Would he be contacted by today? It meant that I had to move now. Logistics to convince Hansoo must be in the right place today.

———

On the fourth floor of the building is a large office used by managers and company officials. Desks put close together, computers always switched on, phones ringing nonstop, printers and copiers working with a beeping sound. It was no different from a regular office, but more than half of the seats were always empty. Most of the vacancies were for managers of dozens of people.

They stopped by once a day, even late at night or early in the morning, to report on the celebrity’s schedule or progress. That was why the lights stayed on 24/7. Like my manager, if one went to the countryside for a few days, he would replace the in-person report with a phone call, but this time it was different. At 07:20 in the morning, I went to the office at the same time today as yesterday to report on behalf of the manager.

On one side of the almost empty office, the night attendant looked at me with tired eyes and nodded in annoyance. I immediately turned my gaze to the monitor I was looking at, but the emotion I saw yesterday remained in his eyes. There was only one trainee and one inactive celebrity, so what kind of report are you making? Besides, this early in the morning? I could tell even if it didn’t come out of his mouth, the tired gaze I had seen when I said that I had come on behalf of the manager. Because my manager had the same reaction when I said that I would publish a report instead.

‘Hm? I don’t really do the reports in the first place?’

He even tried to stop me. However, I had to do it. Sitting in the manager’s seat with the oldest computer in the corner, I said, ‘Nothing special. It’ll take less than a minute to write and send “No schedule.” Of course, what I will do after that is my main purpose.

When I turned my eyes, the person in charge was sitting with his buttocks out as if he was lying on a chair, concentrating on the monitor. I pushed the chair silently, got up, and moved to the seat I found yesterday. Memos cluttered here and there on partitions and desks, and schedules filled with calendars. I got down on my knees in front of the desk opposite to my manager, which was filled with dust. Occasionally looking at the person in charge, I turned on the computer and found the information I wanted.

[Song Yoohan’s schedule on x month x day]

I looked at the detailed daily routine, such as a health club, a hairdresser, a meeting at a broadcasting station, and a meal at XX, and found something suitable at the bottom.

‘Outdoor filming of dramas at XX Art Museum from 5pm’

———

Knowing that college classes weren’t like high school students all day long, I didn’t know if I would be able to meet Hansoo if I recklessly visited him. However, if I called ahead of time, Hansoo would avoid me on purpose, so there was a higher chance that I would not be able to meet him. So, I was prepared to wait for hours and headed to the office I went to last time, but I found that I didn’t have to wait even a minute.

10 am. There might be no one because of class. I gave up halfway and opened the door, but there was only one person there. A man crouching down like an infant on a narrow two-seater sofa. Recognizing that Hansoo’s face was half buried in the sofa, I moved forward. He seemed to have blacked out that he didn’t even move when I approached him with a sound. As I stood in front of him, a faint smell of alcohol came up. No matter what I did, he wouldn’t wake up. I raised my feet at the same time as I thought.

Slam! Squeak!

When I hit the sofa with my feet, it vibrated loudly and the sofa was pushed across the floor. Hansoo’s body twitched at the sudden shaking, and immediately opened his eyes with a smile.

“… Ah, what…”

Slam!! Squeak~

“Argh!”

After the second time, the guy was startled and jumped up to his feet.

“W-what, who… huh?”

His head was pressed on one side, his face was puffy, and his eyes were unfocused. In a silly appearance, he froze.

“Why are you here…”

He had just woken up and his mouth didn’t work so his pronunciation was unclear. I looked down at him and lifted my feet again. But before the third kick, Hansoo jumped up from his seat.

“What are you doing?!”

Hansoo staggered for a moment as he stood up hastily, then shouted loudly. I looked at him completely standing up and got to the point.

“Let’s talk.”

“Then why don’t you just do it, why are you kicking a sofa…”

Slam! Clatter clang~

The empty sofa fell backwards with a loud noise as I kicked it. Seeing Hansoo stiffen, I spoke once more.

“Let’s talk.”

Then he looked at me with serious eyes.

“… About what?”

“6 o’clock at XX Art Museum.”

I just told him the time and place and when I turned around, he called me in a hurry.

“What are you talking about? I have nothing to say and I do not want to go.”

Looking at his frown, I slowly looked around the inside of the office.

“It was a different university, but I stayed in a place like this for a few days. I sat down at school to find someone, and destroyed everything inside and made a fuss. So the students started coming at me. I broke one of the bones to set an example, but no one reported it to the police. I had the address book of that guy and the other students.”

“…”

“If I do it again now, there is nothing I can’t do.”

He opened his eyes wide in shock and I told him one more time.

“6 o’clock at XX Art Museum.”