TIN 1

There were things that come to mind when I close my eyes. The scorching sun, the shimmering ripples that seem to break, the sound of crashing waves, and the pungent smell of seawater mixed with humid air. The events of that day when ordinary things were suddenly turned upside down for me.

‘…What is this?’

I remember the moment when a beam of light seeped into the pitch-black darkness. My shoulders, crammed into a narrow box, ached, but the space was too tight for even a small groan to escape. My body, curled up for what felt like an eternity, could barely manage to lift its head.

‘A person… No, a doll?’

The question that fell next to my head was drowned out by the pounding of my heart. The fear of having been discovered made it impossible to even think that the incoming air was refreshing. The fear that overwhelmed me was so much greater than the sensation of being squeezed into a round shape that I almost felt like crying.

‘Is it really a doll?’

Contrary to my feelings, the child’s distinctive young voice kept asking me something. I don’t know whether it was curiosity, interest, or just talking to themselve, but I just looked up at the box with trembling eyes.

‘You’re a person, right?’

“…”

The other person was younger than I had thought, with sharp eyes for someone so young. It was difficult to tell if the child was a boy or a girl just by the face, as the child’s appearance was an unusually beautiful one. The golden eyes that shimmered like the sunset over the sea had a charm that boldly veiled even the child’s innocence.

‘Great. I’m bored, so let’s play together.’

Did the child pulled me by the arm then? Or did I step out of the box on my own?

There is no need to dwell on the memories that would only extend further, or the occasional reminiscences that would grow more extensive. The reality had no time for daydreaming, and the present was ruthlessly fierce to reminisce about the past. If a memory comes to mind when I close my eyes, it is bound to disappear when I open them.

The voice that called me, the face that smiled at me,

And my own…

“Bada!”

“…”

I flinched, furrowing my brow. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw a woman who also had a deep frown on her face. She placed a bottle of liquor on a mobile tray and moved the cigarette in her mouth.

“Are you listening to me? A VVIP guest is coming soon.”

Lingling, who was watching the counter, frowned deeply, as if she was fed up with my vacant expression. The slight twitch at the corners of her mouth indicated that her patience was wearing thin. Knowing that she tended to get upset easily at times like this, I could only pretend to be interested and ask her back.

“Who’s the VVIP?”

“I don’t know that either. I just overheard the boss talking on the phone.”

Lingling shrugged as if to ask why I was asking her that, even though she was the one who brought it up first. She naturally lit a cigarette using the matches on the counter, and her subsequent voice sounded rather ominous.

“They’re coming to buy a person.”

“Really?”

It wasn’t really surprising. I had often encountered VIPs coming to buy people while working here. Of course, there weren’t many VVIPs among them, but the fact that they were high-ranking individuals didn’t change.

“The boss was groveling a lot, saying they’ll prepare some pretty merchandise. Judging from how flustered they are on the phone, it seems like a really important person.”

“I see, I guess they must be.”

To be honest, I didn’t really care, so even as I responded, I couldn’t hide the bored expression on my face. Lingling sighed deeply, as if she had expected that, and looked straight at me.

“So, you’d better be careful. You know the boss is always on the lookout for a chance to sell you off.”

Whenever she spoke, a hazy smoke came out from between her bright red painted lips. Judging from the sweet scent mixed in with the smoke, it seemed to be more than just a cigarette. Since this wasn’t the first or second time, I just slightly held my breath and looked down at the tray.

“Be careful, huh… So what is this?”

Lingling worries a lot. I know it’s for my own good, but sometimes it gets excessive, so I have no choice but to change the subject.

“It’s the whiskey the guest ordered. Take it to Room 3.”

The items on the tray were liquors that cost millions of won under the table. Seeing the ‘4HAE’ mark on the label, it was clear that it was a product imported from overseas by the Four Sea Group. It was a product exclusively provided to select customers, and orders were only possible in Rooms 1 to 5, VIP-only rooms.

And among them, Room 3 was obvious as to who had ordered it.

“Can’t I get Teo to do it?”

“Of course not. You want to see him getting slapped?”

“Well, not the slapping part…”

“You know that person likes you. They didn’t order the liquor, they ordered you.”

Lingling spoke as if it was obvious, but the expression on her face showed that she was quite unpleasant saying this. On closer look, there was a hint of guilt in her eyes, but I pretended not to notice as I grabbed the tray’s handle. As annoying as Theo was, I didn’t want him getting slapped instead of me.

No, maybe he would even enjoy that.

“Wait, darling.”

Just as I was about to move, Lingling reached out to me. Her bright red painted nails were to cover the blackened fingertips from her past work in the coal mines. Lingling, who straightened my name tag with her calloused fingers, lightly tapped my chest and gave me a faint smile.

“See, you’re so pretty. No wonder people are after you. Sometimes, I can’t believe you’re a Beta.”

“You’re the pretty one.”

Responding in a monotonous tone, Lingling covered her mouth, saying “Oh my.” It was so shameless of her to act coy when she wasn’t at all shy. Lingling gently squeezed my forearm and let out a coquettish laugh.

“Be careful on your way.”

I didn’t bother to respond to her affectionate farewell. I just lightly pushed her hand away, signaling her not to worry. The smell of cigarettes, once sweet, now felt bitter on the tip of my nose.

Dragging the tray, I crossed the hallway. With each step, the wall murals of waves seemed to sway like the real thing. The chandelier in the streamlined ceiling glittered with a sky-like light, all of which I was told was created to symbolize the dazzling sea.

The country that was once surrounded by the sea has now become a fantasy that can only be encountered in the media. Long ago, the sea began to dry up due to an unidentified climate change. In the name of protecting the remaining sea, a massive closure of the sea was carried out, and all coastal areas, including fishermen, were strictly prohibited from access.

With the artificial blockage of the waterway, the number of people who could enjoy the limited resources also decreased. Prices skyrocketed, and the gradually widening wealth gap eventually reached an irreversible level. Just when air and rail transport reached their limits, things went from bad to worse as drinking water began to dry up, turning water into a symbol of wealth.

It was inevitable. In the first place, all of this was just a ploy by the greedy former administration to monopolize power by turning a crisis into an opportunity. Wasn’t the foolish method of closing the sea hardly a fundamental solution? Of course, they didn’t know that the end of greed is ruin.

As time passed, the progression of the abnormal climate stopped, but the closed sea has not returned until now. What has changed is that the Four Sea Group has firmly established itself at the top of South Korea, following a certain incident. To cross the sea, their permission was required, and all the goods entering the country were stamped with the ‘4HAE’ mark. In a world where money can solve anything, even the law governing the country has become just a facade.

And this place, ‘Oceans’, is a place that embodies the longing of the common people for the sea. The origin of all things, the warehouse of all resources, now monopolized by the few, but once enjoyed by all.

At Oceans, they handle all kinds of goods that can be sold by people to people. The high-ranking customers who know the real sea may sneer at the sea-themed design, but paradoxically, they end up getting what they need at Oceans. Be it alcohol, drugs, and even people.

While the Four Sea Group officially imports goods, Oceans procures goods through all kinds of illegal channels. Smuggled drugs, banned cigarettes, or even jewelry close to stolen goods.

The high-priced goods brought in this way are mostly traded with the upper class, but the occasional defective products are also sold to the common people. Even if the quality was a bit lower, there were those who desperately wanted it, so there were rarely cases of the goods being discarded. Of course, it was funny that drugs and prostitution made up a large part of the inventory.

The reason Oceans, disguised as a bar, could continue this distribution was partly due to the tacit consent of the Four Sea Group. While the Four Sea Group ruthlessly suppresses other distributors, they turn a blind eye to Oceans for some reason. Rumor had it that a large corporation backed Oceans, but the only visible ones are the gang managing the store.

Well, it didn’t matter anyway. Whether it was the leisure of a monopolistic company, charity for the common folk, or a massive cartel unknown to us, knowing the affairs of the wealthy wouldn’t change anything.

In this era, survival and life itself meant selling goods if you had them, and selling yourself if you didn’t. That’s why I had been working here as a server for a year now.

To call it serving is generous. Eventually, there would come a time when I’d have to sell my body too.