Boundless Love

1.

Choi Mujin stood in an empty lot away from the store, gazing at the dimly glowing sign. As the night grew late, people wandering the streets disappeared, and the sign’s light went out. Only then did he sigh, crushing his cigarette into a portable ashtray.

The owner of the stone bowl restaurant was Seo Jaewoo, a man who had once been Choi Mujin’s first love.

“First love at this age.”

He’d done all sorts of things in his life, but having such thoughts now felt creepy to him. Still, the truth hadn’t changed. Choi Mujin liked Seo Jaewoo, who was naive but kind and capable. No, he still liked him. But that’s exactly why it had become harder to approach him. He didn’t want to make the person he loved cry.

‘Does someone like me actually have pure feelings?’

It gave him goosebumps, but he couldn’t think of another word to describe this emotion. The breath that escaped between his parted lips froze white as it rose to the sky.

Even during this time, time continued to flow, and before he knew it, winter had arrived.

“Director.”

Park Dongsu, who had been waiting quietly behind him, called out to Choi Mujin. He glanced at the store with its lights out, then turned around and got into the waiting car. Park Dongsu sat in the driver’s seat without saying a word and drove toward their usual destination.

After dwelling on pure feelings, now it was time to forget them. After arriving at the location, Mujin got out of the car and looked at a black door with no sign. Though it appeared to be an ordinary building on the outside, underneath lurked various things that made people with money and power sink into pleasure. That’s why there were many who entrusted their bodies to it and forgot their troubles.

Choi Mujin stood beside the car and took out another cigarette. Though it was a place he frequented, somehow today he didn’t feel like going. Coming all this way and now having second thoughts. Smirking, he was lighting his cigarette when a young man on a kickboard zoomed past him.

A quick glance revealed brown, curly hair that reminded him strongly of someone he knew. There’s no way Seo Jaewoo would be around here at this hour. Choi Mujin’s gaze followed the kickboard as it moved further away. He gestured to Park Dongsu, who was about to get out of the car, and said:

“Follow that kickboard.”

“Excuse me? The kickboard?”

Park Dongsu’s gaze turned toward the kickboard, which had already grown quite small in the distance. But his thoughts were brief and his actions quick. He got back in the car, picked up Choi Mujin, and followed the kickboard. Since the car was much faster than the kickboard, they had to follow slowly, and soon they arrived at an unfamiliar alley.

“The car can’t go any further from here.”

Fortunately, this seemed to be the kickboard’s destination as well. As they entered a dark alley without streetlights, several shops came into view. The young man on the kickboard slipped into one of them.

Looking up at the sign, it read “Eldorado” in cursive. The legendary island of gold. It was a grand name, but the shop itself was small. Watching the door from a distance, he could see people coming and going occasionally, but not a single woman among them.

‘I can guess what kind of establishment this is.’

Before becoming a director at Isaac Finance, he had managed shops for a time. After all, Choi Mujin wasn’t born as “Director Choi of Isaac Finance.” Rather, he was a man who’d been born in the slums and climbed his way up from being a gangster, a man who had nothing. In that process, he’d seen his share of gay bars.

Choi Mujin unbuttoned his jacket and loosened his tie. Being large and imposing, he knew this would draw less attention. In that state, he opened the door to find stairs leading underground right in front.

Following those down and opening another door, a bell rang, and everyone inside turned to look at Choi Mujin. About half just checked his face and quickly looked away, but the other half couldn’t take their eyes off him.

Choi Mujin immediately approached and took a seat.

“Welcome. I haven’t seen you here before, though.”

A warm-looking man resembling a raccoon asked with a smile.

“Ah, I heard rumors and came to check it out.”

Saying that while ordering a suitable drink, the raccoon-like man just shrugged his shoulders without saying anything more. Choi Mujin sat leisurely in his chair and slowly scanned the interior. People who nervously lowered their heads when his gaze fell on them, or those who winked seductively, were not the ones he was looking for. After some time had passed:

A young man emerged from behind the bar.

“Master!”

This was the person Choi Mujin had been looking for. He thoroughly examined the young man who stood next to the raccoon-like man. The brown, curly hair resembled Seo Jaewoo’s, but looking at his features, he could tell it was a different person.

His eyes drooped downward at the corners, and his impression was so gentle it somehow reminded one of a puppy. Not a purebred, but a countryside mutt. But aren’t countryside dogs cuter anyway? It’s a matter of preference, but that’s how Mujin felt.

Plus, since he resembled Seo Jaewoo, Mujin couldn’t easily look away. Without realizing it, he was staring so intently that the young man, who had his back turned, seemed to feel his gaze. The young man turned his head, discovered Choi Mujin, and opened his eyes wide in surprise.

Choi Mujin downed the rest of his drink in one go and beckoned to the young man.

“The same again.”

At those words, the young man made a troubled expression and whispered to the raccoon-like man beside him. The raccoon then served the drink instead. After drinking that one down in one go as well and looking at the young man demandingly, he finally moved.

“Welcome.”

As he set down the glass and greeted him with a smile, it reminded Mujin of past events. It was like the time when Seo Jaewoo, intending to annoy Choi Mujin, made doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) every day. When Mujin would furrow his brow at the sight of it, Seo Jaewoo would secretly smile—exactly like that face.

“Thank you for the warm welcome.”

Usually, Choi Mujin had an arrogant and violent disposition, but not in all places. Sometimes he too wanted to relieve his body’s heat, and for that purpose, he occasionally pretended to be affectionate.

“Are you an employee here?”

“Yes, precisely since three days ago. So I’m still quite clumsy in many ways.”

The answer was longer than the question warranted. Just as he thought the young man resembled a countryside dog, his friendliness seemed similar as well. Starting with that, the two began exchanging small talk. Beginning with discussions about alcohol, they eventually asked about names.

“I’m Jung Hae-in. It’s the name my father gave me. And you, sir?”

“I’m Choi Mujin.”

Even though he gave his real name, Hae-in showed no particular reaction. He seemed unaware of this industry. Well, it was natural for ordinary people not to know the name of a director of a gang-related company.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-two.”

“Is that your Korean age?”

“No. That would make me even younger.”

From the looks of it, he had become an adult just a year ago. As soon as he heard the age, Choi Mujin stroked his chin and swallowed his words. He had thought he looked young, but he was younger than expected. If there was any consolation, it was the fact that he wasn’t a minor.

“You’re quite young.”

“Say I’m youthful. And that’s not something you should be saying, sir. You’re young too.”

“Me? I’m over thirty.”

“That’s still young. Don’t you know that officially you’re considered a youth until 38?”

At Hae-in’s words, Choi Mujin laughed softly. The raccoon-like man, who had initially been giving suspicious glances, was now too busy with increased customers to look their way. Taking advantage of that moment, Choi Mujin lightly tapped the back of a fair hand placed neatly on the bar with his index finger.

“I’m curious about something.”

“What are you curious about?”

“When does your shift end?”

At those softly whispered words, Hae-in, who had been momentarily blank, flinched. His eyes, with lighter pigmentation than others, rolled around before he whispered back:

“Why are you curious about when I finish work?”

“Why do you think?”

“Is this seduction?”

“Does it feel like seduction?”

At Choi Mujin’s question, Hae-in rubbed his reddening cheeks with his hand.

“Yes.”

“Then will you accept the seduction?”

Hae-in looked at the raccoon-like man with a troubled expression, then turned his gaze back to Choi Mujin. After making a pained sound for a moment, he then set his expression firmly. He seemed to have made some great decision.

“I’ll accept it.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re handsome.”

The answer that came immediately was clear.

“Good. So when does your shift end?”

“2 AM. And then it takes another 30 minutes to close up.”

Even as he said this, he looked nervous. His thoughts were clearly visible on his face, which was amusing in its own way.

“I can wait that long.”

“Alright.”

Hae-in answered with a prim smile. Afterward, Choi Mujin, who had been continuously ordering more drinks, went ahead and ordered a bottle and more side dishes. He typically preferred eating side dishes lightly, so they diminished at a slower rate compared to the alcohol. But then fruit dishes were additionally placed before him.

“I didn’t order these.”

“You ordered expensive drinks, so the master told me to provide these extras.”

Saying that, he glanced at the raccoon-like man, who was still busy with other customers. Judging by his demeanor, it didn’t seem like something the raccoon had agreed to. It seemed Hae-in had provided them out of guilt because Choi Mujin had been waiting for so long.

NOTES: 

뚝배기 (ttukbaegi) – Stone bowl, a traditional Korean earthenware pot used for serving and cooking food. 

청국장 (cheonggukjang) – A type of Korean fermented soybean paste stew, mentioned in a memory.