Precious Thing

“See you Saturday.”His disheveled hair swayed as he smiled and stepped out of the room. Lee Yesin quietly watched his back. Click, the door closed. Low voices were heard a few times, followed by the sound of the front door opening and then closing soon after. Shortly afterward, the sound of car wheels rolling away echoed.How do ordinary bodyguards and their charges part ways? Surely, not with a kiss. What are you and I, really? Lee Yesin bit his lip as he stared at the firmly closed door for a long while. I shouldn’t have kissed him. Regret always came too late.٠ ࣪⭑The temporary bodyguard wasn’t particularly intimidating. Whether it was because Tae Woowon had picked him rather than Chairman Lee, the bodyguard couldn’t even make proper eye contact with Lee Yesin and rarely spoke to him. Thanks to that, it was easy for Lee Yesin to avoid his gaze and head upstairs. He packed valuable jewelry into a pouch, prioritizing small, portable items. The bulkiest piece was a necklace given to him by Lee Yejin.The necklace, with its pale yellow gemstone, resembled an accessory design Lee Yesin had once imagined. The moment he saw it, he was captivated. Lee Yesin had asked Lee Yejin to sell it to him, but she had laughed and told him to just take it, saying there was no need for such formality between siblings. Since it looked so expensive, Lee Yesin couldn’t just accept it without giving something in return, so he bought her a pair of shoes as a token of gratitude.Whenever Lee Yesin couldn’t shake the image of Go Hangyeol from his mind, he would take out that necklace. On such days, he would especially struggle to sleep, often putting on the necklace and heading out to get heavily drunk at a club. He had originally planned to use the necklace for his graduation exhibit, but in the end, it only ended up soaked in the smell of semen before it was rendered useless. Still, hoping it would shine again one day, Lee Yesin carefully placed the necklace in the pouch. Lastly, he gathered a few notebooks and some gold bars from his workspace before heading downstairs directly to the dressing room.He packed the jewels, notebooks, and a few spare comfortable clothes into a medium-sized backpack. He meticulously included underwear and socks, along with a few gold bars and some cash tucked between the clothes. He planned to stop by the bank the moment he left the house the next day, intending to take most of the remaining cash with him. Looking down at the half-filled bag, Lee Yesin took out a key from a drawer and headed to the study. He unlocked the hidden safe where Go Hangyeol’s belongings were stored and collected what he needed. Now, everything was truly packed.After stowing the bag in the corner of the dressing room, Lee Yesin sat down on the sofa and opened a book he had brought from the study. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d read a book. Since becoming an adult, he had only bought books without ever really reading them. Lee Yesin adjusted himself comfortably, pulling a cushion onto his lap, and slowly began to read the title: The Horrific Gaze. It was a novel by a French author. Although he didn’t remember when he had bought it, he knew exactly why. He was curious about the fate of the character in the story who felt the weight of the horrific gaze.After Go Hangyeol’s death, Lee Yesin became terrified of people’s stares. He couldn’t remain sober in crowded places, and he constantly heard the sound of whispered conversations in his ears. Whenever someone spoke in hushed tones around him, his stomach would churn. After attending Go Hangyeol’s funeral, Lee Yesin didn’t leave Seong Wonkyung’s house. Or rather, he did move—he spent the entire time having sex.Seong Wonkyung had once said that if you get your back well stimulated, you won’t just forget reality, you might even beg to be killed. It was true. The first time they had sex, it hurt so much that Lee Yesin cried, but after that, he kept screaming for Seong Wonkyung to kill him. Hearing that, Seong Wonkyung laughed heartily and continued to pound him until he passed out. It wasn’t entirely a joke. In fact, there was a part of him that sincerely hoped he wouldn’t wake up the next day.From then on, his life spiraled into an endless cycle of alcohol and drugs. Of course, sex—which, to Lee Yesin, meant the same as sleep—was essential for him, just as it was for everyone. That year passed by in a blur. Or rather, when he came to his senses, a whole year had already gone by. That’s when he met Kwon Heechan.After having raunchy sex with Seong Wonkyung, they had gone out to buy some alcohol when they heard the sound of someone being beaten up in an alley near the convenience store.“Your mother’s a whore, isn’t she?”What stopped Lee Yesin in his tracks was that sentence. Three men in plain clothes were mercilessly kicking a boy in a school uniform. Lee Yesin tugged at Seong Wonkyung’s wrist. Help him, please. Being from the backstreets, Seong Wonkyung took a drag of his cigarette and asked, What’ll you give me in return? Lee Yesin, without hesitation, replied, Anything you want. Nodding, Seong Wonkyung evenly distributed punches among the empty-headed thugs.The boy in the school uniform took that opportunity to flee. They didn’t even get a thank-you, but while having sex with Seong Wonkyung on the balcony as he had asked, Lee Yesin felt oddly proud. Then, the next day, while out buying cigarettes alone, he ran into Kwon Heechan, who now sported a face covered in bruises. He was the one who had said, “Your mother’s a whore.”It seemed odd that he’d come back to the same area after being beaten up the previous day, and sure enough, it turned out that he had been waiting for Lee Yesin and Seong Wonkyung. Holding a wooden stick in his hand, he charged at Lee Yesin with a battle cry. Startled, Lee Yesin instinctively kicked him in the shin. Though he wasn’t strong, he had learned various self-defense techniques as a child for protection. He could easily handle someone like this with his eyes closed.Stunned by the unexpected attack, Kwon Heechan collapsed to the ground, clutching his shin, and stared blankly up at Lee Yesin. Furrowing his brows, Lee Yesin said, Don’t live like that. And that’s when Kwon Heechan cried. Now it was Lee Yesin’s turn to be taken aback.Kwon Heechan had been abandoned by his parents and was living in an orphanage. He had fallen into a life of crime with bad friends, was expelled from school, and had been committing petty crimes to survive. Lee Yesin handed him a chocolate milk and asked, Do you have any dreams? Kwon Heechan replied,“I want to be a fashion designer. I really love clothes.”There was no way Lee Yesin could just leave him like that.He left Seong Wonkyung’s house and rented a small one-room apartment. He spent a year and a half there studying with Kwon Heechan. During that time, Kwon Heechan passed his GED, and the two of them were accepted into the same university, in the same department. Kwon Heechan became Lee Yesin’s driving force and his form of atonement.Ding!Speak of the devil, the text was from Kwon Heechan. Lee Yesin put down his book and reached for his phone.“Hyung, come visit anytime. Got it? Love you!”Maybe what he really meant was come back instead of visit. Knowing that Chairman Lee might be watching, Kwon Heechan had probably sent a normal text on purpose. Lee Yesin immediately replied.“Yeah, I love you too.”He set his phone down and leaned back into the sofa, tilting his head up. I hope your graduation project is going well. I really wanted to do one too. I wonder what Seong Wonkyung is up to these days. It’s been over a month since I last saw him. And him… Ji Geonwoo is probably in China by now. Already, I’m starting to miss a lot of things.٠ ࣪⭑As the sun slowly began to set on Friday, Lee Yesin came out of his room now and then to show his face to the temporary bodyguard. Subtly, he let him know that he was behaving well, and the bodyguard seemed relieved.“I didn’t sleep at all last night, so I’m going to sleep now. I probably won’t wake up until tomorrow morning.”He spoke to the man in a calm, respectful tone, even using formal language. Perhaps due to something Tae Woowon had said, the bodyguard looked a bit awkward. But Lee Yesin firmly added,“I’m a light sleeper, so please keep things quiet.”After saying that much, he wouldn’t come into the room. Lee Yesin waited for his answer with a stern face. In the end, the temporary bodyguard nodded.“Good night.”“Yes.”He went into the room and silently locked the door. He checked the bed that was made to look like someone was in it, then went into the dressing room to change clothes. He packed his bag, placed the phone that was in his pocket onto the bedside table, and connected it to the charger just in case, even though the battery was full.“Goodbye.”He whispered softly and turned to step out onto the balcony. He climbed up to the second floor through the inner door and moved to the opposite room. Hooking the ladder he had prepared earlier onto the window frame, he descended one step at a time. Jumping down to the ground through the afternoon sunlight, he pulled the ladder down and discarded it nearby. It didn’t matter if someone found it later. By then, he wouldn’t be there.Lee Yesin checked his wristwatch as he walked. He chose the most secluded paths to leave the villa complex and put on a hat when he reached the main road. After stopping by a nearby bank to withdraw some cash, he hailed a taxi and headed to the designated meeting place. The location the man had written on the note was a karaoke bar in a bustling area filled with pubs. It seemed they would meet there and then move to another location.“Is here okay to drop you off?”“Yes.”After paying in cash, he stepped outside. It was Friday evening, so there were a lot of people on the streets. While no one was going in or out of the karaoke bar, there were plenty of people passing by. Lee Yesin stepped aside and lit a cigarette. After lighting it, he checked the time. It was 10 minutes to 6.As he finished his cigarette, a man wearing a black baseball cap and a white short-sleeved T-shirt appeared. He saw Lee Yesin, smiled, and waved.“Six o’clock, Mr. Lee?”“…Yes.”“Let’s go.”The man turned and walked ahead. Lee Yesin followed behind him. After turning into a small alley off the bustling street, a van came into view. The man opened the back door for him. His heart pounded loudly. Trying to suppress the feeling that his ribs were about to break, he got into the van. A woman chewing gum glanced at Lee Yesin from behind the wheel.“Let’s go.”The man who had followed him in lightly tapped the driver’s seat. The woman stepped on the accelerator without a word.“We’re heading to Sokcho. As soon as we arrive, we’ll take a photo. The forged passport will be ready soon, and you’ll take a boat to Russia. After that, you’re on your own. You shouldn’t have any trouble with immigration, but if they dig into your past records, they might find some things. So, after you reach your destination, get a new ID.”“…Okay.”“Any questions?”“When does the boat depart?”“11 p.m.”Lee Yesin nodded and pulled his hat down further over his face.By the time they reached their destination, it was already pitch dark. The man who brought him led him to a container box near a small port and began setting up a camera in the corner. There were more people inside the container than he had expected. It was really happening. Up until the car ride, the reality hadn’t fully sunk in, but now it felt closer.“Mr. Lee, come in.”The man called out to him. Lee Yesin stepped beyond the partition, took off his hat, and had his photo taken. As promised, the passport came out shortly after. Looking down at the passport with the unfamiliar name and the ticket, he sat among the people huddled together. It was 10:22 p.m. The departure time was approaching.“Want something to drink? We’ve got snacks but plenty of drinks.”The man, who seemed to be in charge of him, approached and asked. Lee Yesin declined politely and looked around. A woman nearby was cradling a baby in her arms. She briefly met his eyes and gave a slight smile. Lee Yesin, with an indifferent expression, looked at her for a moment before turning away.“Boss, I’m here. The wind’s good tonight.”An older man entered, removing his clean cap, and approached the man at the desk, who had been sitting there since Lee Yesin arrived. At first, he had assumed the man was just an employee, but it seemed he was in a higher position than that. Suddenly, he wondered where the man with the tattooed fingers was.“What, are we pirates or something?”“Hey, don’t underestimate the sea just because you’ve been living on land. If it weren’t for travel agencies scamming people, we’d still be shaking in fear.”“What’s that supposed to mean?”The man who had brought Lee Yesin joined the conversation. Holding a cup of coffee, he leaned against the desk and turned toward the older man.“You don’t read books, do you? Back in the day, the sea was a place that swallowed people whole. Think about it. You couldn’t know how deep it was, people who went to sea never came back, and when the sun set, all you could see was black water. Everyone trembled in fear of the sea. That’s why they offered bribes and such.”“…Aren’t those sacrifices?”“What the hell, are you trying to act smart just because you went to college? You don’t even read books, man.”“When did I ever act smart? Honestly, even without the tourism industry, the sea probably became mysterious as science advanced.”“What’s with this guy talking back all of a sudden?”The older man grabbed the younger one by the collar. The manager slammed the drawer shut with a loud bang.“Enough. Stop making a fuss over nothing.”“Captain Kim started it first!”The younger man yelled, roughly pulling free from the older man’s grip. Captain Kim spat on the ground. Lee Yesin didn’t want to board a ship captained by that man, but he had no choice.“Alba, go to the terminal and pick up the goods.”“Okay. Should I go with my sister?”“Yeah.”The man who had brought Lee Yesin was just a part-timer. He shot a glare at Captain Kim before approaching Lee Yesin.“I’m heading out now. Take care.”“…Yes.”“By the way, are you really 25? Based on the info I got, I made the passport with an age around that, but you look younger. Should’ve lowered the age.”Lee Yesin stared at the man silently. The man shrugged and left the container.“How many people today?”Captain Kim, sipping on a cup of mixed coffee next to the manager, asked. The manager pulled out a file and handed it to him.“Twenty-four? That’s too many compared to usual.”At Captain Kim’s remark, the people gathered there flinched.“Hyung, we’re smuggling here, you know how hard it is to sneak people onto a cruise.”“Who was it that got you onto that cruise?”“Hyung, it’s still tough. Can you cut down a few? We’re leaving again in a few days anyway, right? It’s already tight just getting food supplies for these people.”“Just go out and prepare. I’ll send the people out soon.”“Twenty. Twenty is the perfect number, you know?”Captain Kim stood up, grabbing his hat. As he walked away, people murmured among themselves. The manager, who had also gotten up, approached the group with the file in hand and put a phone to his ear. As soon as the other party answered, he spoke without greeting.“Send out ten people from your side. Also, is there any room on the Blue?”Lee Yesin counted. There were fifteen people sitting here, waiting. The numbers didn’t add up.“Yeah. Clear some space, and send Wonhyeok with the key.”The manager’s eyes met Lee Yesin’s. Lee bit the inside of his lip and quickly averted his gaze. His palms began to sweat.“Calling out passport names. When your name is called, line up at the door. Cha Jeonghwan, Joo Youngsun, Lee Sunjin….”As names were called, people quickly got up and moved to the door. Lee Yesin opened his passport and stared hard at his name.“…Jung Mikyung, Kang Minjae. That’s it.”A woman sitting nearby, the one with the baby, stood up hastily, murmuring a thank you. Lee swallowed dryly. His name wasn’t called. Along with him, four other people remained. His heart pounded loudly.“Until you board the ship, don’t draw attention. Once onboard, try not to wander around. As you know, none of you have assigned rooms. After boarding, follow the instructions to head to the storage area, and disembark in Vladivostok. Any questions?”“……”“The person at the front, open the door and go ahead.”“Excuse me, what about us…?”The young woman sitting next to Lee Yesin tugged at the manager’s sleeve. The manager, glancing down, said, “Just wait a moment,” and watched as the others filed out. The door shut with a clang. Lee Yesin’s throat burned.“The next ship leaves in three days. Does anyone here need to hide until then?”Silence hung in the air. After a moment of hesitation, Lee Yesin raised his hand. If Chairman Lee realized he was missing, it would be catastrophic. With Yeho Group’s power and influence, they could find him here within days. The manager looked at Lee Yesin and nodded, checking his watch. Just then, the door opened.“Boss, I’m here.”A young man with a bright smile walked in. The manager, acknowledging him with a nod, took two keys from his hand.“Take the car waiting outside. Use the rooms as you see fit. I’ll send a car to pick you up three days later at 9 p.m.”The remaining people glanced at each other, stood up, and, murmuring thanks, left the container. Now, only Lee Yesin, the manager, and the young man remained.“Those people went to a motel. It seems you’ll have to stay at our office.”“……”A strange sense of unease left Lee Yesin speechless. His mind felt like it had frozen. The young man sat beside him.“You can come with me. There’s a bigger office further away.”“……”“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get there safely. What’s your name?”“……”“I’m Jang Wonhyeok. You’re… Lee Yesin, right?”Lee Yesin turned his head toward Jang Wonhyeok, who smiled widely, showing his straight teeth.“I’m a fan of yours.”“Save the greetings for later. Go do your work,” the manager ordered.“Yes, sir.”Jang Wonhyeok grabbed Lee Yesin’s arm, helping him up. He slung Lee Yesin’s backpack over his own shoulder and led him outside. Just before leaving the container, Lee Yesin looked back. The manager sat at his desk, watching him with an indifferent expression.“There’s a bed and bathroom inside the office. We’ll stop by a convenience store on the way. Do you need anything?”Turning away from the manager, Lee Yesin was guided into a black car by Jang Wonhyeok. “No,” he replied. Perhaps there was something he needed, but he couldn’t think about it right now.“I have my own place, but I’ll come to the office every day to take care of you. We’ll get along well, Yesin.”Jang Wonhyeok, interpreting Lee Yesin’s silence as agreement, smiled and started the car. Something felt wrong.“There really is a ship in three days, right?”“Of course.”“And… I can board it, right?”“Definitely. This kind of thing happens all the time. You saw it yourself earlier. You just need to lay low at the office for now. Oh, and if you’re bored, maybe help me out. There’s a lot of work here.”Everything would be fine, Lee Yesin told himself. The others had been told to wait, and the manager’s actions had been smooth and professional. This kind of thing must happen regularly. Lee Yesin clasped his trembling hands together. His body kept tensing up.“By the way, you look good. You haven’t posted much on social media lately, so I was curious how you were doing. It’s nice to see.”Lee Yesin slowly turned his head to look at Jang Wonhyeok. With his eyes slightly squinted, Jang drove confidently through the dark night.“…I don’t use social media.”“Oh, really? Must’ve been a fan account then.”It’ll be fine, Lee thought. Just three days. If he could endure 72 hours, he could leave this place. In three days, he’d see the tense faces of those who had gone to the motel earlier. He’d receive a new ticket from the manager, listen to Captain Kim’s bold remarks while waiting, and board the ship. He just had to lay low, wait it out, and disembark in Vladivostok. Yes, everything would be fine.‘But will it really?’Lee Yesin looked back.