EDR Ch 26

I called for a taxi. The taxi driver looked at me funny when I asked to go to the police box. The eyes reflected in the rearview mirror were full of wrinkles.

“Why the police box at this hour?”

“I’m going to pick up someone I know.”

The taxi driver turned the steering wheel and entered the road. I leaned back in the seat and folded my arms. I don’t know why I felt I was being nosy. I really don’t know. Maybe I felt a sense of responsibility. Though, if Ha Won had gone to my house that day, nothing would have changed.

There is news about crimes against Omegas on the radio.

‘A series of Omega-hate crimes have taken place recently and are causing an uproar. Each Omega group has identified this as a serious social problem and…’

‘On the 4th, Omega Lee, a resident of Seoul, was assaulted by an Alpha group and his cash was stolen. The Alphas used pheromones to suppress Mr. Lee…’

If Ha Won hadn’t been an athlete, he might have been on the news. It still deserves to be in the news in other ways, but the news of being beaten is better than beating. I think so. An Omega’s life isn’t easy either.

Forget it. What shall I have for lunch? I needed to eat something delicious while also being able to eat quickly. I use my phone to look up restaurants in Samseong Station. There are numerous suitable locations for a party. Lunch, lunch restaurant… Should he eat rice soup now that he’s gotten out of the police box?

No. Tofu, a restaurant specializing in tofu dishes…

“Young man, you seem very worried. You’re going to get wrinkles on your handsome face.”

“Yes? Ah…”

The taxi driver suddenly spoke in a soft voice.

“That’s something I used to do when I was younger. I acted rashly, doing what I wanted. But in the end, not many people remained. There was only one person left when my friends abandoned me and my family turned away from me. The only person who waited for me was my wife. I wasn’t good enough, but we married and started a family anyway. As for you, I’m not sure why you’re going to the police box right now, but that person must be important to you, right? That feeling is genuine.”

A soft ballad started playing on the radio. Wasn’t it the news before?

“The person you’re visiting now, how did you meet?”

“He’s a work colleague. We are just co-workers.”

“You may be a co-worker now, but later when it comes time to be more honest with yourself…”

“Yeah, I’m already honest. I’m very honest.”

The ballad music had reached the chorus. The taxi driver’s eyes were moist as he looked in the rearview mirror. My phone is buzzing with mapo tofu restaurant reviews.

The taxi driver gently pulled over. We were already in front of the police box.

“Go ahead. I’m going to wait.”

I nodded and held out my card.

“You have to get the money.”

“Hurry up and go!”

“No, I have to pay…”

“Hey, young man! You only get one chance at this!”

I put the card in my wallet. The taxi driver’s forehead wrinkled. He seemed to be urging me to leave sooner. It seems that taxis are also a business where turnover is important. I hurriedly pulled out a ten-thousand-won bill.

“I’ll leave you with ten thousand won. Please drive carefully.”

I got out of the car and shut the door. From the driver’s perspective, it appeared that was very considerate of me, but I’m also wondering if I was being kicked out for no reason. I squandered my coffee fee because I didn’t get any change. I should’ve told him that my parents are going to be released and just get off.

The taxi driver lowered the window.

“Cheer up!”

“Oh, yes.”

I headed to the police box with a strong farewell. I don’t know why I’m being cheered up.

When I entered the police box, I felt really strange. This is the first time in my life that I’ve come here. I’ve passed the police box many times, but this is the first time I’ve been inside a police box. I look around, but I can’t see the iron grate. There are no signs of a homicide squad or a detective wearing a leather jacket. I’m a little disappointed. After all, this is a police box. It’s not a police station. I can’t be disappointed about this.

A police officer spoke to me.

“What brings you here?”

“Ah, I came to meet someone. It’s Ha Won-ssi…”

“Oh, Ha Won-ssi.”

Ha Won raised his head and waved his hand at a certain desk. It’s very strange. I met someone I knew at the police box. I came to the police box to meet this person, but it felt strange.

“Are you still not done?”

“Oh, it will be over soon.”

A few more people are standing next to Ha Won. There are two men who appeared to be bodyguards and a middle-aged woman in an impressive gray suit.

“Attorney Yang, then, can we just wrap this up?”

“Yes, Young Master. You worked hard.”

The woman seems to be a lawyer. As the woman and Ha Won exchanged a few words, a face protruded from among the bodyguards. He is a man with a bald head and a dark beard. As soon as my eyes met the man, I was startled. I got goosebumps. His eyes are weird.

“Ha Won-ssi, look at me. Okay? I blocked the red string, it’s me. Okay?”

Ha Won jumped up from his seat.

“Shall we go?”

“Who is it? Huh? Who’s that next to you! Your pair? Is it Won-ssi’s pair by any chance?”

Lawyer Yang beckoned to the bodyguards. The bodyguards pushed the man back. The policeman seemed confused.

“No, but don’t do it here, you have to guard outside… This is a police box…”

“Lawyer Yang, please take care of yourself.”

Ha Won jumped up. I pulled Ha Won towards me. The man kept showing his face. It’s like an office worker who couldn’t get off the crowded subway. He struggled to see Ha Won’s face once. It’s also terrifying to me. Even the police stopped the man.

“Hey, mister! Stay still!”

“Won-ssi? That’s right! Turn around, Won-ah!”

“Look, if you cause another uproar, you’re going to be arrested for good. Sit down. This can’t be done, Mister!”

“Won-ssi, let’s go.”

It’s creepy, it’s creepy. I wrapped my arms around Ha Won and turned his back. The sound of the bodyguards, the police, and the stalker arguing together could be heard.

“Won-ah! Your pair is me, it’s me!”

“Let’s go quickly.”

As I pulled the handle to open the glass door of the police box, my shoulder was grabbed roughly. It’s a stalker. It’s a stalker. Seeing one up close is really scary. His eyes are strange. His eyes are out of focus, out of focus.

“You are my pair…!”

“No…!”

The stalker swung his arm before I could make an excuse. Slowly, the man’s fist came. It’s the best concentration I’ve ever had. Can I get avoid it? Me? I can’t even avoid Kim Jooyoung’s kick. Can I take a half-day off after being hit?

A lot of thoughts ran through my mind in a short moment. What did I do wrong? Being kind? Being a Beta? Or being Kim Joo-hyuk?

Something touched my side. Ha Won’s body leaned forward as if it were collapsing.

I heard a cracking sound.

After one moment, there was an ‘ugh’ sound.

It was Ha Won. Ha Won punched the man in the face. It was a punch. The stalker fell straight back. I see the stalker’s wrist got twisted. I saw it. It’s completely twisted. I raised my gaze a little. The stalker’s nose was completely broken. It will definitely need medical treatment to repair it. It happened in an instant. Everything happened in an instant.

Ha Won’s skill isn’t limited to hitting once or twice. Ha Won, who threw his fists and then corrected his posture, was an athlete himself.

“You bastard, I already said I’m an Omega, you bastard.”

He is a bit of a foul-mouthed athlete.

“Won-ah, it’s you Won-ah…”

“Find an Alpha somewhere else for you to rip off.”

One of the policemen sniffed his runny nose. Lawyer Yang checked her phone. The bodyguards just stood there.

The stalker sobbed with a strange sound. Ha Won, who stomped on the stalker twice for good measure, walked away.

I quietly open the police box door and walk out.

I go out and stand blankly looking at the sky. Not long after, there’s the sound of something breaking and shouting from inside the police box. I didn’t look back. Something is breaking down inside of me too. Completely, broken down.

“Excuse me.”

Lawyer Yang, who leisurely walked out of the catastrophe, spoke to me.

“My name is Yang Seo-yul, a lawyer in charge of Young Master Ha Won.”

“Oh, yes.”

Lawyer Yang handed me a business card.

“If you need anything, please contact me.”

“Yes.”

Without looking at the business card, I crumpled it into my pocket. It isn’t polite. But I can’t afford to worry about that. Lawyer Yang calmly bowed to me and went back to the mess.

It’s cold.

I stand still, pull out my phone, and log in to my online banking app. It needs my fingerprint, but my hand is sweaty and unrecognizable. I wiped my thumb on my jacket before re-scanning the fingerprint.

Three regular deposits, CMA accounts, and installation savings are the ones I recognized, excluding housing subscriptions at the main bank.

My shoulders keep bending. I put my face on my phone like Peter Pan with a dying Tinker Bell in his hand.

I went to a job search site and calculated my severance pay.

I can’t go to Hawaii, but I suppose I can go to the Philippines. The sea. It will suffice if there is a sea. After all, the sea is blue and the sand is sandy. All I need is a palm tree. Did the Philippines have palm trees? There are bananas. They resemble palm trees and I can eat bananas. Then it’s enough.

Finally, I feel at ease. I straighten my shoulders and take a deep breath. I’m a little worried about the fine dust, but it’ll be fine.

Vibrate, I receive a message.

[Oh, Deputy Kim! Two lines popped up! Two red lines! Section Chief Lee is pregnant!]

I turn off my phone. A snicker came out. Suddenly, the world seemed beautiful… Dating? Do it! Do whatever you want!

I’m going to resign.

F*ck everything.