Boundless Love

5.

Haseo struggled desperately and wildly. He pinched and scratched any flesh he could reach, but even while hissing in pain, the man wouldn’t let him go. The commotion caught the attention of several passersby, but no help came. This was because the big man said:

“He’s my younger brother who got into serious trouble. I’m taking him home, so please don’t worry about it.”

With such intimidating appearance, when the man spoke this way, no one dared approach.

“Police! Please call the police!”

Thinking prison might be better at this point, Haseo shouted this, but nothing changed. Eventually, he was shoved into a parked car. When he finally managed to sit up and look around, he noticed the strange interior.

The windows were tinted black, and the inside door handles wouldn’t pull. Additionally, there was a transparent panel between the front and back seats that wouldn’t break no matter how much he pounded on it. Upon realizing this, Haseo’s heart sank.

“Excuse me.”

Knowing that resistance was futile, Haseo decided to change tactics. Speaking in a subdued voice, one of the people in the front seat turned around. He looked similar to the person who had dragged Haseo here.

“May I ask why you’re taking me?”

He was prepared for no answer.

“Someone is looking for you.”

“Who’s looking for me?”

“You’ll find out when we get there.”

The man turned back to face the front. Although Haseo couldn’t get more information, he had a suspicion about who it might be. The owner of the watch that could be sold for at least 100 million won even secondhand! Someone would need that kind of wealth to employ people like these.

‘I was too greedy.’

I shouldn’t have done it. It was too late for regrets now. Only one option remained. Either try to escape quickly when they let him out after the car stopped, or use his last resort.

* * *

To start with the conclusion, the escape attempt failed. Everyone moved so quickly that he was picked up like a sack of rice before his feet even touched the ground.

“I-I can walk by myself.”

Mustering his courage, he said this, but it had no effect.

“This will be more comfortable for you.”

As if being carried like a rice sack could be comfortable! He had much to say but couldn’t. At least his eyes weren’t covered, so he could look around. It was an impressively luxurious place he’d never seen before. It looked like an apartment complex with neatly maintained internal roads, and security guards were visible everywhere, all surprisingly young.

Usually apartment security guards were mostly older people. Additionally, they all carried something like batons at their waists. The apartment itself looked different from any he’d seen before, and even entering wasn’t normal.

Even the elevator only worked after a card was tapped.

‘God, mercy.’

Living in such a place must be why someone would wear such an expensive watch. The elevator stopped at the highest floor. Only then did the man finally put Haseo down. Standing on trembling legs, he had more opportunity to look around.

‘Can this even be called an apartment?’

In fact, it was known as a penthouse, but Haseo wouldn’t know that. The man tapped a card again at the only door.

Beep.

As the door opened with an electronic sound, the man gestured to Haseo. The slightly opened door felt like the entrance to hell for Haseo. But what could he do after being dragged all the way here? Haseo followed the man inside like a cow being led to slaughter.

‘The living room is dozens of times bigger than my room.’

Looking around in a daze, he finally noticed Choi Mujin sitting leisurely on a black sofa. He was looking at Haseo with unreadable eyes, and it was impossible to tell if this was a good or bad sign. But one thing was certain.

Haseo scraped together what little courage he had, approached him, and immediately prostrated himself.

“I’m sorry! I truly regret it! If you give me one more chance, I’ll make it up to you somehow! Please forgive me!”

Yes, this was Haseo’s ultimate plan. Beg for forgiveness unconditionally. Say he was wrong. Stirring sympathy in the process would be even better. Haseo didn’t think his days living with his grandmother were unfortunate, but when others heard about it, they immediately showed sympathy. He hated that, but sometimes it was necessary.

To continue living with his grandmother for a long time, that is.

His small, pale face was covered in tears. His light brown eyes, with less pigmentation than most people’s, glistened with tears. The shoulders shaking with sobs had a way of stirring people’s hearts. Plus, the way he repeatedly begged forgiveness with his small hands was pitiable.

“I-I didn’t really mean to do it.”

He lost his parents at a young age and lived with his grandmother, but life was very difficult. When he saw the expensive item, he lost his mind and stole it. He would pay it back somehow, so please forgive him. The story was extraordinarily tragic, but Choi Mujin remained calm.

Having stayed in this field, he knew that people without sad stories were rare. Among them were people with circumstances even worse than Haseo’s. Choi Mujin was one of them. Measuring whether one’s misfortune was more painful than another’s was meaningless, so he wasn’t trying to judge based on that.

He had already received a full report about him. What Choi Mujin was interested in right now wasn’t his misfortune but his real name. The name he confidently introduced as Hae-in wasn’t originally his.

Lee Haseo.

That was the name of the young man begging before him. Now that he heard it, it seemed to suit him better. It just felt right.

‘He also lied about his age.’

He said he was 22, but he was actually 24. It wasn’t much older, but it seems he wanted to appear younger.

Choi Mujin looked at Haseo, who was still squeezing out tears, and thought. He wanted to observe this impertinent young man who resembled Seo Jaewoo’s appearance more.

“So how will you pay it back?”

Even in this situation, he never mentioned returning the watch. But Choi Mujin already knew how Haseo had disposed of the watch.

“…I’ll pay back a little each month.”

“How much is ‘a little’?”

Haseo’s eyes rolled around. He knew he was someone who occasionally stole from people he slept with, but he still didn’t seem mature enough. The way he tried to act cunning reminded Choi Mujin of a countryside dog.

“50.”

“50,000 won? That’s it?”

“T-then 55?”

Choi Mujin snorted.

“I’m not particularly interested in money.”

At that, Haseo made a stupid expression.

“Then what?”

What’s most suitable for keeping someone close and observing them?

“Can you do household chores?”

“Household chores like cooking, laundry, cleaning?”

“Yes.”

“I can do them as well as most people.”

“Good. Then I’ll hire you as a housekeeper.”

“What?”

“Let’s see, the salary will be 5 million won per month. You can come in the morning and go back in the evening, but you need to prepare all three meals properly.”

Hearing the salary amount, Haseo’s eyes widened. He quickly raised his hand and shouted:

“I’ll do it!”

How long would it take to earn enough to pay back the watch by struggling to earn money elsewhere? It was better to work as a housekeeper at Choi Mujin’s house, even without knowing his intentions. And so, Haseo inadvertently got a job as a housekeeper.

* * *

AAAAAHHHHH!

A ghostly scream echoed, and Haseo jumped out of bed in shock. He had set the alarm sound to ensure he would wake up and not oversleep, but it nearly gave him a heart attack.

“Next time, I should use a different sound.”

Yesterday, Haseo was quietly transported home by Choi Mujin’s man, Park Dongsu.

‘They already know my home address too.’

That thought gave him chills. But he couldn’t run away either, so he resolved to be strong. First, he washed his face, which was swollen from crying so much, with cold water and took a quick shower.

In Haseo’s home, pulling the old door immediately revealed a tiled kitchen, and in one corner was a water hose. That was the only means of washing oneself. Since he didn’t turn on the boiler to save money, the water was always cold.

Shivering, he washed and put on the cleanest clothes he had. When he went outside at the appointed time, Park Dongsu was waiting for him.

“Please get in.”

Though he said he could go alone, Park Dongsu wouldn’t listen.

‘Well, at least I’m saving on transportation costs.’

Today’s car looked different from yesterday’s. The windows weren’t darkly tinted, and testing the door, he found it could be opened from inside. While riding in it, a question came to mind, and he asked Park Dongsu:

“By the way, what does Choi Mujin-ssi do?”

He had some rough idea but asked to confirm.

“He is a director at Isaac Finance.”

“…A director?”

“Yes.”

I must have been crazy. How could I not recognize such a big shot and do something like that to him? Isaac Finance, a tier 3 financial company, was said to have originated from gangsters hired to work at a construction company. To rise to the position of director in such a place, one would either have been involved in related work or be related by blood to someone who was.

I was truly unlucky.

Park Dongsu’s car didn’t head straight to the house but stopped briefly at a supermarket.

“Let’s purchase the necessary ingredients.”

He handed over a card.

“For your reference, the director likes Korean food.”

Anyway, Korean food was all Haseo could cook. He awkwardly smiled and accepted the card. Nevertheless, someone of director status would likely have refined tastes. But the only cooking Haseo knew was what he had learned from his grandmother.

NOTES: 

3 금융업 (Tier 3 Financial Company) – A category of financial institution in Korea, often associated with higher interest rates and less regulation.