LM 3

For a while, Kwon Yuwon took charge of deliveries. If Siyul tried to do it even for a moment out of frustration, Kwon Yuwon would jump up as if he’d been burned and stop him. He told Siyul not to move an inch until that manager’s interest completely faded.

Just when Siyul was feeling embarrassed about living as a freeloader and thinking of finding another part-time job, work finally came to him. No one had ordered it.

“This really sucks. I don’t even want to be an Alpha. I wish I could just live as a Beta.” 

Kwon Yuwon grumbled as he stuffed five jelly-type suppressants into his mouth all at once. This happened once every two months, sometimes once every three months.

When his so-called heat came, Kwon Yuwon would have a low-grade fever for 3-4 days and groan all night. One night, he even stormed out of the room saying he couldn’t stand it anymore. He returned within an hour, shoulders slumped, muttering that he might as well bite his tongue and end it all.

“We can’t even cancel this order.”

“I’ll go.” 

Siyul raised his hand. Kwon Yuwon, lying facing the wall, turned his head. His eyes, blurred from the fever, were full of doubt. Siyul straightened his back like a job applicant, wearing a trustworthy smile.

“No way.”

Even with a smile so wide it hurt his cheeks, the answer was firm. Si-yul looked disheartened for a moment, but quickly recovered and faced Kwon Yu-won.

“I can do it. It’s not complicated. Just deliver and come back.”

“Still, no. You got caught last time just trying to deliver, remember?”

Siyul rolled his eyes for a moment. Actually, he had been caught up in the club atmosphere that time, stayed to watch people and had a drink after finishing the job. Who knew beer with a lemon slice could be so sweet and delicious?

“That was two weeks ago. That owner will have completely forgotten me by now. And this place isn’t even that club.”

Pretending that the incident never happened, Siyul earnestly tried to convince Yuwon that he could do it. At first, Yuwon covered himself with the blanket and pretended not to listen, but when Siyul started rubbing against him like a dog or cat, begging, he reluctantly peeked out from under the covers. He seemed to want to handle it himself somehow, but contrary to his will, his body couldn’t move an inch from the bed.

“Fine. then just deliver it and come right back. Don’t go anywhere else, don’t do anything else.”

“Leave it to me.” 

Siyul thumped his chest with his fist, saying to trust him. Even though he had agreed, Kwon Yu-won wasn’t completely happy about it. He watched Siyul cheerfully go to wash up as if he were a child left by the water’s edge, then muttered “whatever” and crawled back under the covers.

“He’s an adult now, he won’t mess up the same way again. Besides, it’s not even the same place…”

There were so many clubs around. Listening to the humming and sound of water from the bathroom, Kwon Yu-won muttered to himself. He was trying to reassure himself, but the unease still lingered.

***

How long had it been since he’d gone out?

Siyul couldn’t hide his excitement. After being cooped up in a small room, only going to the nearby convenience store and back, it felt like being released from a prison without bars. He couldn’t help but feel excited. The joy bubbling up from deep inside nearly made him break into a dance in the middle of the street.

Instead of dancing, Siyul hummed a tune as he flipped up his hood. He also put on round, gold-rimmed glasses without prescription and covered half his face with a black mask, just in case. After combing his messy bangs with his fingers, he stood in front of the club. It was a completely different place from before, with a different sign and location.

As soon as he finished washing up, Siyul had checked his fortune for the day. His luck index was high at 87%, with the lucky place being a club, the lucky item being alcohol, and the lucky color purple. That’s why he wore a hoodie with a purple tint.

He planned to play a little if it seemed okay, intending to leave soon after finishing the job. Yuwon’s nagging to come back right after work rang in his ears, but Siyul didn’t want to waste this rare taste of freedom. Even so, Siyul wasn’t the type to drink heavily and dance wildly. Being timid, he would at most nod his head slightly to the beat from a corner.

After waiting in a long line, Siyul finally entered the club. Being late Friday night, it was packed with people. His sparkling eyes darted around, taking in the thumping bass music that synced with his heartbeat, the swaying bodies, and the dazzling lights that matched the heightened atmosphere.

Yuwon’s warnings, lingering in his mind, evaporated like an ice cube on hot asphalt the moment he stepped into the club. Walking as if entranced, Siyul suddenly stopped, shaking his shoulders. He slapped his cheeks twice, telling himself to snap out of it, and turned in the opposite direction.

Even if he was going to have fun, he should finish the job first. He was no longer an amateur. A professional should act professionally.

His destination was the bar. Siyul checked the bartender’s name tag and sat nearby. After serving a drink to someone opposite, the bartender turned to Siyul.

“One-way to Santorini, please,” Siyul raised his hand, ordering confidently like a regular. In reality, no such drink existed on the menu or anywhere else. It was just a pre-arranged code phrase for today’s client.

The bartender, without showing any surprise, naturally responded “Yes” and handed Siyul a beer with a slice of lime. Siyul pulled out a bill with a small salt packet tucked inside from his wallet and placed it on the table, sliding it toward the bartender.

That was it. In fact, even a child could do this job. At first, he was cautious, worried about getting caught and going to jail, but after a few times, his courage grew, and he handled it skillfully without much fear.

Of course, there could be life-threatening situations like last time, but that would only happen if luck took a nosedive. The chances were less than being struck by lightning.

The bartender finished his business and turned away. Siyul grinned and took a swig of beer. Although it was the same drink, the taste of beer here was vastly different from what he’d buy at a convenience store.

With the job done, Siyul sipped his beer and looked around. Yuwon wouldn’t complain about him having a bit of fun. Ready to sweet-talk his way out of any nagging, Siyul hopped down from the high stool.

After moving away from the bar, he turned his coat inside out. The inconspicuous black coat instantly changed to a shiny navy blue. He also took off his mask, put it in his pocket, and casually swept his hair back over his forehead.

Just as he was about to move to a better spot, trusting in his excellent fortune for the day, a hand landed firmly on his shoulder. Startled, he turned around. The first thing he saw was a firm chest wrapped in a suit. With the shirt stretched so tight, Siyul wondered if the buttons might pop off as he slowly tilted his head back.

“Hey.”

The club’s flashing lights cast shadows over the man’s brow, nose, and cheekbones. It was a face he wanted to forget but couldn’t erase from his memory. The man who had left him in awe and terror at the same time now had his grip on Siyul.

“You.”

Siyul gasped. Why was this guy here? Sure, the world was small, but South Korea was far too big for such a coincidental reunion at the same place and time. If this was fate, it was a cruel joke by the gods; if it was intentional, someone had wickedly planned it. Siyul’s heart pounded louder than the music.

“I think we’ve met before.”

Siyul cursed internally. The man’s keen eye for recognizing him immediately in this packed place was impressive. There was still hope though. Hadn’t he worn glasses and a hood? If only he’d kept the mask on too, he would have been safe. That was regrettable.

Am I really going to die?

Siyul started to shake his head but stopped himself. No. As the old saying goes, if you keep your wits about you, you can survive even being caught by a tiger. Siyul quickly composed himself, hiding his true feelings.

“No, I’m seeing you for the first time.”

He started with a brazen denial. The man didn’t smile. He looked down at Siyul with an unreadable expression. Siyul tugged at the sides of his hoodie, hoping to at least cover half his face.

“What did I say I’d do if I saw you again?”

How the man’s voice could pierce through Siyul’s eardrums so sharply in this noisy environment was a mystery. Gripping Siyul’s nape to prevent escape, the man tilted his head slightly. Despite being an inappropriate gesture for someone in a suit with such a massive build, it didn’t feel out of place.

“That’s not me.”

Siyul denied again, slightly pushing up his round glasses. Cold sweat ran down his back. His forehead and temples were also damp with sweat, causing his hair to stick.

However, as soon as the words left his mouth, they sounded strange. Didn’t it imply that he had met the man before? Siyul hastily added, “I mean, this is our first meeting.”

He desperately hoped the man would buy it. His imagination ran wild as he pictured the man following through with the threat he’d issued before. He’d be put in a drum, cement poured over him, and it would roll off some dock, splashing into the sea.

If he’d known this would happen, he should have left a will. He already felt a warmth under his eyes, as if tears were about to form. He bit his lip to hold them back.

“First meeting my ass.”

The man swore and snorted. There was no way such a clumsy lie would work. Once caught, he should have come up with a different excuse.