Hyunjin
I lie in bed with my pillow pressed firmly over my head, trying to ignore the shrill melody of the alarm clock, assaulting my tired eardrums and burrowing into every sleepy cell and irritated nerve in an attempt to activate my sleepy brain.
Bloody morning.
Five minutes ago, I put the damn alarm clock away, hoping to fall back asleep ,before it woke me up again with it's annoying tone, but it's already started ringing again. I chose that tune for a reason - it's the only one guaranteed, to get me out of bed in the morning, even if I turn the alarm off first.
I sit up and my brain kicks into overdrive. I realise, that I have no memory of what happened last night. I vaguely remember the blurry progression of the evening. All I know is this - Alcohol played a part. Lots of alcohol and lots of drugs.
„Can't you turn that damn thing off?" an exasperated male voice asks from behind me. I frowned and turned my head to face the source of the noise. Clearly, I hadn't spent last night alone. There he is, lying face down, with his arms folded under his head and the covers pulled down at his sides. A large tattoo of a stylised Asian dragon covers his back. Who the fuck is that?
„No, and I'd appreciate it, if you'd get out of here,'"I say, huffing as I turn away. But I do as he asks and reach for the phone anyway. It's getting on my own nerves. I turn the damn thing off and toss it back onto the bedside table with a thud. I rip the black sheet off and stand up, stretching my stiff back. Gradually, I hear every vertebra in my spine crunch. Naked, I head for the bathroom, completely ignoring the shocked look on his face. He's probably misunderstood me - these meaningless one-nigh stands are really starting to wearing me down.
„The door is over there," I say, pointing indifferently at it, to make sure he gets the hint. I hope he won't still be here, when I get back. I climb into the shower and let a stream of cold water wash over me — guaranteed to wake me up and maybe kick-start my brain — and I start to recall the events of last night.
„You're such an asshole! And don't call me again!" I hear his angry voice over the soud of the falling drops of water on my head. This is followed by the door slamming, as he leaves my bedroom. He's just another desperate bar whore anyway. These guys will sleep with anyone for a few dollars.
As I showered, fragments of memories slowly returned to me. I had spent the whole night in one of my bars, getting high on the merchandise, tha we had just launched. Cyanex - It's a light blue powder that stimulates your senses. Despite your body being on fire and your pulse racing, you feel a cold sensation. The main effect? You lose the sensation of pain, which is why Cyanex spread so quickly, especially among gangs holding illegal street fights. However, most addicts take the drug mainly because, as the effects slowly wear off, it makes you feel, as if the world around you is a distorted reflection of reality. I've tried my own product myself, and I know it'll be a hit.
I turn off the shower, wrap a towel around my waist, and finished my morning hygiene routine.
... ༺༻ ...
I walk down the elegant glass stairs, to the lower part of my luxury home, which is situated at the highest point in Seoul. The house is extremely spacious, which suits me as I like to have plenty of room to breathe. The top floor comprises just my bedroom and two modern guest rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom. One floor down is a huge living room with breathtaking views of Seoul. My private study and spacious kitchen are also located here, and I head straight there for a fresh cup of coffee.
„Boss?" My first sip of coffee is interrupted, by the deep voice of one of my security guards. I'm sitting cross-legged on the kitchen counter, my bottom on the cold marble, looking down at him from my height of 195 centimetres. Kang Hanil pauses, mid-step, wondering if it's a good time to bother me. I beckon him over with two fingers — he has permission.
„You have a meeting with Mr Choi in his office in an hour, but before that, there's a situation involving Mr Jo, that you need to deal with." Mr Jo, the thorn in my side. The treacherous rat.
'What about him? Does he want another loan?' Hanil swallowed, which didn't bode well for the information he was about to give me. „Tell me what the fuck is going on!" I growled at him through pursed lips. I've had a terrible fucking morning, and not even a cup of delicious, hot coffee is going to make me feel any better.
„It's about the money you lent him for his daughter's treatment," he says, pausing to choose his words carefully. I put my half-finished coffee cup down on the kitchen counter, stand up straight and put my hand in my trouser pocket.
„How would I just say..., he didn't use them for his daughter's treatment." Well, well, well, Mr Jo. Where did you drown my money, you dirty rat? I rub my chin with my hand.
„Get the car ready. We're going to visit an old friend," I tell him coldly, passing him on my way out of the kitchen. I pause, then turn on my heel to face him, staring at him intently.
„And what about the whore, who snuck out of here this morning?" I think about the young prostitute — or whoever she is — whom I rudely threw out of my bed, without mercy this morning.
„We took care of him." I don't care, what 'taken care of' means. As long as I never see his face again. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out to see that it's someone whose call I'm glad to receive.
„Hyunjin? I need a favour." Her voice always makes me smile, but despite how much I love hearing it, I can't bring myself to smile this time. I can hear the urgency in her voice, and a little voice at the back of my mind tells me, that something is wrong.
„What's wrong, Sunhee?" I hold my breath, worried about the terrible news my sister is about to tell me.
„I need to babysit Sophie on Saturday afternoon. Could you come over for a minute?" Relieved, that it's nothing serious, I loudly let out all the air in my lungs.
„You know I love looking after my niece. You can count on me!" I tell my sister, assuring her, that she doesn't need to worry about finding someone else to look after Sophie. Sophie is the only child I can tolerate in my personal space. Maybe it's because she's my blood relative.
For the next two minutes, I am bombarded with praise for being the best brother, she could ever have ask for. To be honest, it boosts my ego.
My sister knows, who I became after our father died, because it was his dying wish. He didn't want his business or his name to die with him. I used to be Mr Yoon's well-behaved, decent son. Then, my father slowly began to initiate me into what would one day become my legacy.
If she knew, how consumed my life had been, by filth, drugs and despair, and how many men I'd slept with, she surely wouldn't think I was the best brother in the world. In fact, she'd never let me near Sofia again, let alone babysit her.
...༺༻ ...
Janil, Hanil's younger brother, is standing at the front door, quietly informing the other two members of my personal security detail, who are waiting outside the house, about my departure. Taeju and Jiwook. They are experienced, cool and loyal to the core. Just like Janil and Hanil.
Without saying a word, I walk out of the front door and join them in the black, bulletproof car that has been prepared for us on the road outside the house. Janil and Hanil will ride in the other car behind us, as we make our way to Mr Jo.
We're heading to the darkest, most rundown part of Seoul. It's the place where the city lights don't shine and crime and despair go hand in hand. Where the smell of death and rubbish has become part of the air.
... ༺༻ ...
BLOOD DEBT (피의 빚)