HRDT Ch 10

After that, the sound of dress shoes echoed, and the door opened and then closed. Click, at the sound of the locking door, Raewon’s eyelids slowly opened. For someone who had just woken up, his brown eyes held no trace of sleepiness.

Wow… I thought I was going to get caught.

Raewon belatedly clutched his chest, which was pounding like crazy. He hadn’t realized he had such outstanding acting skills. When Choi Taejin was checking on him earlier, he really thought he was going to faint. It was worth enduring with all his might.

All of Raewon’s senses were focused outside the door. Choi Taejin did not come back in; it seemed he really went to attend the meeting. After watching the firmly closed door for about five more minutes, he stealthily pushed himself up from the sofa.

Opportunity has a way of showing up unannounced. And now was the golden moment that he could not afford to miss.

Raewon had run through simulations in his head many times. About how to escape the ironclad surveillance. Among them, the perfect situation had finally arrived.

Don’t be scared, you can do it. He steeled his resolve internally. The probability of success was extremely low, but he couldn’t waste this hard-won chance.

First, he sent a message to Boo Seungchan.

[RealRaewon – I’m bouncing now. Let’s meet at Terra Square]

Whether it turned into porridge or rice, he was going to commit to it first and see what happens. A reply came back immediately. After checking the message, Raewon took a deep, shaky breath. As soon as he finished preparing his mind, he shoved his fingers deep into his throat without delay.

Ugh, Gwaaack.

As his fingertips stimulated his uvula, his throat immediately clenched. His lean waist heaved with a reflexive gag. After a few attempts, vomit began to surge up. Raewon threw up the lunch he had eaten earlier right onto the floor.

Fuck, he swallowed a curse and then slowly headed towards the door. Due to forcing himself to vomit, Raewon’s face was deathly pale. Without wiping his dirtied mouth, he grabbed the doorknob and turned it. Manager Goo, who was standing outside, turned around as soon as he heard the presence.

“…I think, I need to go to the hospital.”

Raewon barely managed to speak with a pale face. He could see Manager Goo’s narrow eyes widening in real-time. He scanned Raewon’s slumped figure and the scene inside the office in turn. Seeing the vomit on the floor, he seemed to have noticed it wasn’t a feigned illness. He openly furrowed his brow.

“Do you have indigestion?”

“I don’t know… I keep feeling nauseous.”

Raewon covered his mouth with the back of his hand and gagged once more. With the unpleasant taste remaining in his mouth, he felt like he could throw up at any moment.

“Oh, uh. Don’t do that here… to the restroom.”

When Manager Goo reached out in surprise, Raewon swung his arm before his hand could touch him. He glared fiercely at Manager Goo with bloodshot eyes.

“The hospital, I need to go.”

“The hospital is not an option. The Director will not permit it.”

“Fuck, do you people have no conscience? Is leaving a sick person unattended something a human being should do?”

“…….”

Manager Goo’s eyes were wavering more and more. Raewon didn’t miss the chance and squeezed out a weak voice.

“Then, at least take me to the infirmary….”

Manager Goo bit his lip hard. It was incredibly frustrating that this had to happen just when his hyungnim was away. Jin Raewon really only chose to do things he didn’t like.

But it was true that he looked sick, so he couldn’t just leave him like this. It was embarrassing to contact Taejin over a simple case of indigestion, and the infirmary was an area he could handle on his own authority.

Finally, Manager Goo’s eyes sharpened fiercely.

“You must follow quietly.”

The company infirmary is typically on the first floor. Although it had good accessibility, due to the nature of the place, the infirmary was always quiet.

There were a total of three employees stationed in the infirmary, including Choi Mijung. The only patient was Jin Raewon. Manager Goo, with an awkward face, asked if they could close the infirmary for a while.

“Yes, I’ll do that for you.”

Choi Mijung readily agreed to the unreasonable request. She sent all the employees out and put an “Away” sign on the door. The doorknob was also firmly locked.

Next, Choi Mijung took diligent care of Raewon, who was lying on the makeshift bed. Since they only had over-the-counter medicine in the infirmary, all she could do was give him a digestive aid, but she also brought him a blanket so he could rest comfortably and placed a glass of lukewarm water on the bedside table.

“You’ll feel better if you get some rest.”

She said with a bright smile. Raewon only nodded slightly and glanced at the curtain. As if his wish had been granted, Choi Mijung started to draw the curtain. Dararak, as the sound of the rail rolling was heard, Manager Goo quickly grabbed the curtain.

“No covering.”

“Why…….”

“Because I have to keep watch.”

Even in this situation, Manager Goo scanned the surroundings thoroughly. Were there any dangerous objects, were there any corners to escape from. His sharp eyes turned towards the window by the bed. The fact that there was an escape route, especially on the first floor, was quite bothersome.

Choi Mijung’s gaze also turned in the same direction. The window that let in the sunlight was a type that only opened halfway at an angle, making it unsuitable for entry or exit.

She also knew what Manager Goo was concerned about. Though she didn’t know the reason for such thorough surveillance. She forced a smile and gently patted Manager Goo’s thick upper arm.

“I’ll leave the curtain open then.”

“…….”

“Section Chief-nim, please sit on that sofa over there. You can see well from there.”

Manager Goo looked down at Raewon with a displeased expression. The slumped Raewon had at some point closed his eyes as if drained of energy. He didn’t seem to be asleep, but he looked completely devoid of strength.

In the end, he reluctantly turned away. As he sat on the small sofa Choi Mijung had indicated, it was indeed a position from which he could see the bed well. He crossed his arms firmly and continued his role as a guard.

On a peaceful afternoon, the infirmary was so quiet that even the smallest sound could be heard clearly.

Manager Goo occasionally glanced at Raewon with a sharp gaze. Each time, he saw a face deeply asleep with closed eyes. As time passed, he grew accustomed to the silence, and his surveillance gradually loosened. Choi Mijung, who had been diligently doing her work, suddenly spoke to Manager Goo.

“Section Chief-nim, would you like a cup of tea?”

“Ah… Oh, yes.”

“Do you prefer coffee or green tea?”

“Then, green tea.”

Raewon slightly opened his eyes into slits and observed the unfolding situation. He could see Manager Goo’s foolish-looking face. His flushed appearance from his nape to his forehead was quite different from the usual Goobeom.

The reason he intentionally vomited and came to the infirmary wasn’t to help Manager Goo’s love life. It was to take advantage of the moment he was distracted by Choi Mijung and bolt.

Not being able to close the curtain was unfortunate, but thankfully Choi Mijung was actively luring Manager Goo. It was worth placing a little hope on it.

A clattering sound echoed in the quiet space.

What are you doing, you bear-like bastard. Hurry up and go help. Raewon, with his eyes closed, sent a telepathic message to Manager Goo.

Did his fervent wish reach him? Manager Goo finally shot up from his seat.

“Let me help you.”

Along with a trembling voice, the sound of dress shoes echoed. Only then did Raewon open his eyes again. From the pantry, which was hidden by a partition, he could faintly hear the sound of a man and a woman talking.

Now’s my chance!

He quickly threw off the blanket and stood up. The cheap bed springs creaked with every movement, so he had to be as careful as possible. Keeping his eyes fixed on the pantry, he cautiously approached the window and gripped the long handle.

Fortunately, the window opened smoothly without a sound. It was barely a handspan wide, the gap was ridiculously narrow, but he had no time to weigh his options now.

Raewon stepped onto the artificial marble windowsill, which was only about the width of his palm. First, he shoved his left leg through the open gap and then squeezed the rest of his body through.

Creak— The fixed window frame let out a strained sound. The sound seemed as loud as thunder. Raewon paused to catch his breath and check the situation. As if God was helping him, the sound of an electric kettle boiling was loudly ringing from the pantry.

Thinking this was his chance, he pushed the rest of his body through. He had to forcefully shove his head through, and his skin was brutally pressed.

His white skin was scraped by the frame and a layer peeled off, making it sting with a pain that brought tears to his eyes, but he endured it. Raewon gritted his teeth and shoved his face through the narrow gap.

“Eut, heuu.“

His head finally popped out. Raewon clenched his teeth and pulled out his shoulders, torso, and remaining leg. Air, different from the air inside, brushed the tip of his nose. It was the smell of freedom he had so desired.

He jumped down and landed on the ground. As the cold asphalt met his feet, a sense of reality took over his mind. Raewon ran without looking back. The soles of his sock-clad feet pounded the ground as if in a full sprint.

“Manager Goo-nim, you seem very kind.”

“No, it’s nothing to be…!”

Manager Goo, who was coming out holding two teacups, froze when he discovered the empty bed.

The half-open window, the wind blowing through it. He threw the teacups he was holding. This fucking bastard! A harsh curse followed as a bonus.

“Kyak!”

Choi Mijung’s short scream didn’t even register in his ears now. Goobeom bolted out of the infirmary and ran. The urgent sound of his dress shoes seemed to shake the very ground.

In the meantime, Raewon ran for his life, looking only ahead. It was obvious he would be discovered soon. His soles were burning as if on fire from the urgent running, but he could absolutely not slow down.

As he exited the main gate, he saw the taxi stand he had scouted beforehand. There were always three or four taxis parked not far from the company.

He caught the taxi at the very front. Raewon bent over for a moment, panting for the breath that had risen to the tip of his chin. How long had it been since he had run like this. His lungs felt like they would tear at any moment.

“Haah, driver. Sinsa, heuu, dong, Terra, Square.”

As Raewon spoke as if he were about to pass out, the taxi driver looked bewildered, not knowing what was going on. The passenger, drenched in sweat, looked extremely suspicious.

“Quickly, quickly!”

But as the urging came, he finally shifted gears and started driving. As one taxi left, the other taxis that had been waiting in line automatically moved up one spot.

As the scenery outside the car window flowed by at a steady speed, Raewon could finally straighten his back. He tilted his sweat-soaked face back and swallowed the rest of his ragged breaths. Suddenly, he remembered the phone he had put in his pants. Knowing Choi Taejin’s personality, there was a high possibility he would use location tracking.

He pressed the small button on the car door, and with a whirrr, the window went down. Raewon, without a second thought, threw the phone out the window. The cute, yellow kids’ phone was crushed to pieces under the wheel of a car speeding in the next lane.

Only after seeing that could he feel relieved. Raewon caught his breath and restored the window to its original position.

The driver kept glancing at the rearview mirror. It was because the passenger in the back seat, no matter how he looked at him, seemed crazy.

When their eyes met in the small mirror, Raewon smiled weakly. He could clearly read how he must look to an ordinary person.

“I’m not a strange person.”

“…….”

“I’ll be sure to pay the taxi fare too.”

“……Yes.”

Along with the dubious reply, the taxi sped up even more. Raewon leaned his back against the stiff leather seat and threw his gaze out the window. His heart was still pounding. He couldn’t believe he had succeeded in escaping. He had to keep shifting his body from the thrilling sense of exhilaration.

I hope I don’t get caught. Manager Goo is going to get chewed out, right?

Even in that situation, the only thing that dominated his mind was Choi Taejin’s face. Raewon rubbed his wet forehead and forced himself to erase his face.

When he arrived at his destination, he was able to find Boo Seungchan right away. Raewon snatched the guy’s wallet without a word and pulled out a 50,000 won bill. After handing it to the taxi driver, he turned around without even receiving the change.

“The car.”

He asked abruptly without even a greeting, and Boo Seungchan quietly pointed to the shopping mall. Raewon nodded and started walking first. Boo Seungchan scurried after him.

“Hey, you… what about your shoes. Were you really locked up somewhere?”

“Seungchan-ah, stop chattering and hurry up and follow me. If we get caught, both of us are dead.”

He briskly crossed the shopping mall with his feet blackened with dirt. In the meantime, Boo Seungchan handed Raewon a hat and a mask. He too had his face thoroughly covered. It was worth arranging it beforehand.

“How can you walk around barefoot, should we go up and buy some shoes?”

“You really live a comfortable life.”

Raewon laughed as he ran down the emergency exit stairs. Well, both he and Boo Seungchan were raised gently and had their heads in the clouds, so what was the big difference. The difference was that Raewon was aware of the seriousness of his situation.

There was no time to delay for even a moment. At this very moment, Choi Taejin was surely hell-bent on finding him. If he got caught while running away… Raewon shuddered as if he had goosebumps thinking about his future.

It didn’t take long to get to the underground parking lot. Since it was a place that used VIP valet service, there weren’t many people coming and going. Raewon was following Boo Seungchan when he came to a halt. His jaw dropped in front of a supercar that was emitting a brilliant blue light as if begging to be looked at.

“……You crazy bastard, Boo Seungchan. I told you not to bring your car.”

“This is my brother’s, though?”

“Do you have no brain? If you drive around in a car like this, can people help but stare? Fuck, are you advertising for me to get caught right now?”

“Aigoo, our Raewon-ie. Still throwing tantrums as always.”

He patted Raewon’s butt and told him to get in, kindly even opening the passenger door for him. His eyes squeezed shut at the upward-opening door. Fuck, he’s really putting on a show, isn’t he.

In the end, he got into the car as if he couldn’t win. The supercar let out a loud exhaust sound. While his heart sank, a strange sense of reality set in. Raewon tightly gripped the seatbelt that crossed his chest.

˖๋ ࣭ ⭑

Hooo, the long exhale of cigarette smoke filled the office with a hazy white. The window wasn’t even open, so the acrid smoke continued to drift around the space like a spirit that couldn’t move on.

Currently, in front of Taejin, were a group of sturdy men. All of them were standing with their hands behind their backs, looking down at the floor. In the very front row, Manager Goo was kneeling on both knees as if atoning for a grave sin. As the one who had made the critical mistake, he was sweating profusely.

Taejin extinguished the shortened cigarette on the top of Manager Goo’s head. Even as the hot embers sizzled and burned his skin, Manager Goo didn’t let out a single groan and stoically endured. His kneeling posture did not falter.

“So, you couldn’t find him.”

At the report that he had lost Raewon, Taejin showed a surprisingly calm reaction. His smooth lips curved slightly, creating a handsome smile. Although, of course, his downcast eyes were as cold as frost.

“Where did you lose him.”

Manager Goo unclenched his fist and gripped his trembling thigh. With the feeling of vomiting blood, he squeezed out a voice that wouldn’t come.

“We confirmed him getting into a taxi on CCTV. It’s a private taxi, so it might take some time to find it.”

“The phone.”

“There’s no signal. There’s a high possibility it’s been destroyed.”

Cunning. Taejin smiled and pulled out another cigarette. It was already his sixth. A chain of cigarettes followed one after another.

“Goobeom, how long should I wait?”

“……I will catch him as soon as possible.”

“You and I both, we were so bewitched by a smile that we lost our minds.”

At the words laced with meaning, Manager Goo bit his molars hard. He couldn’t accept that he had forgotten his duty because he was distracted by a mere woman.

“I’m sorry, hyungnim!”

As Goobeom slammed his forehead to the ground, the gang members lined up behind him also bowed their heads in unison. Taejin blew out cigarette smoke and swallowed a bitter taste.

He had no intention of blaming his subordinates. Beating them to a pulp might relieve his anger for a moment, but it wouldn’t bring back the runaway Jin Raewon.

He slowly ran his hand through his hair. His sweaty and sticky scalp caught on his fingertips. Not knowing how to release the anger tangled in his chest, he ended up smoking one cigarette after another. In the whites of his eyes as he looked up into the air, red capillaries were sparsely formed.

Jin Raewon, you backstabbed me?

Even at this moment, Raewon’s face came to mind. The face that crinkled its eyes prettily when looking at him, the friendly smile, was easily drawn. It became quite disgusting. The fact that it was all a ploy to run away, and his own self who fell for it.

“Investigate all of Jin Raewon’s phone records. Put people on Cheongyeondang’s side too. Report to me as soon as you find any traces.”

“Yes!”

“How much time is left until Woo Jihwan’s release?”

“……Next Friday.”

“Find him before then. Don’t make a fuss, do it quietly.”

Manager Goo bowed his head again. Taejin took a long drag from his remaining cigarette. Just like the cigarette burning with bubbling embers, his eyes also died down, turning black as if tar were melting into them.