M 93

“Go to the intersection in front of the park by 4 o’clock?”

“Yes. To the traffic light there.”

“Ah, this is frustrating. There are so many people passing by there! You need to tell me who I’m supposed to meet, kid.”

“I don’t know the details either… But you’ll know right away when you see them. They’ll be looking for someone too.”

“What? Hey. Isn’t this mission too difficult compared to the money you’re paying? You’re saying I’ll just know when I see them?”

“Umm, I can’t be sure, but there’s a high chance it’ll be someone who looks a bit older.”

The hesitantly added information was worse than saying nothing. The man looked at Sehwa in disbelief and then laughed.

“Oh, for… Fine, let’s say I meet some old guy or grandpa, then what am I supposed to do next?”

“Please tell them that the person they’re waiting for won’t come, that the person will try to hold out a bit longer in the 2-Hwan. If no one shows up after 10 minutes, you can just leave.”

It was yesterday. The day he was supposed to meet Oh Seon-ran. Sehwa had been pondering all along and decided not to go to the meeting place. Still, he felt concerned because Oh Seon-ran had indeed been a great help to him. The fence auntie didn’t safely send him to the 2-Hwan just because of the badge he had. It must have been because she was aware of Major General Oh Seon-ran backing him.

Out of gratitude, he wanted to at least convey that he wouldn’t be following, that he wanted to try managing on his own… He couldn’t let someone who had helped him wait endlessly.

So he had just asked a restaurant employee with a similar build to go in his place.

Of course, he knew it wasn’t a safe choice. This person might just take the money and not go at all. Still, in Sehwa’s current situation, there weren’t many other options. The only fortunate thing was that Oh Seon-ran’s rank was Major General, higher than Brigadier General… Even if Ki Tae-jeong had followed, he probably couldn’t harm Oh Seon-ran who had helped him.

“Ah, would you wear this when you go out?”

“Huh? Isn’t this the clothes you wear?”

The man received the shabby shirt and laughed in disbelief.

“Hey. This is different. You’re asking me to pretend to be you. I could die in your place wearing this.”

“…I don’t think it’ll be dangerous, but I understand if you don’t trust me. Then just,”

“Forget it, pay me triple.”

“…Pardon?”

“This smells fishy from a mile away. Did you think you could get me to do this without hazard pay?”

The man slapped the side of Sehwa’s head a few times, looking annoyed.

“You little brat, already so rotten. Who’s the one in need here? You or me? Huh?”

Straightening his gas mask that had been knocked askew, Sehwa uselessly rummaged through his empty bag. Of course, no money would magically appear.

“…I gave you all the money earlier, I don’t have any more.”

After hesitating, Sehwa took out a small amount of crumpled money from his pants pocket and held it out to the man. Actually, he had some emergency funds and the badge hidden in the opposite pocket. But as the man said, he couldn’t use precious items for such an uncertain task. Especially the badge, though he felt sorry for Major General Oh Seon-ran, it was for Saessak. He had to hold onto it until the end in case of any unexpected situations.

“Are you kidding me?”

“You know my situation.”

“You’re lying. What’s in your other pocket?”

“It’s not money.”

“If it’s not money, then what is it? Show me.”

“…Let’s just forget about this. Please give the money back.”

“What? You little…!”

“Young man, it’s about time to go.”

It was Ms. Song who saved Sehwa from being hit by the man again.

“Huh? No, why is someone your age bullying a kid?”

“Auntie, why are you out here at this hour? Aren’t you taking your nap?”

The man who had been shaking Sehwa by the collar awkwardly stepped back.

“Wait a minute. Oh Taek, what’s that money? Don’t tell me you took it from the kid?”

“I didn’t take it! The kid gave it to me for running an errand!”

“You still haven’t come to your senses! Huh?”

Ms. Song gritted her teeth and kicked the man’s shin mercilessly.

“You have nothing better to do than take pocket money? And from people whose situation you know well?”

“No, it’s not like that! The kid was asking for an unreasonable amount for just an errand!”

Ms. Song was a scary person. She wrung out a dishcloth on the counter, got her hands wet, then rushed at the man and slapped his back repeatedly. Then she wielded a stick-like rolling pin and managed to retrieve Sehwa’s small change.

“Grow up, will you! Kid, come follow me quickly! You said you’d help carry stuff today!”

“Ah, yes…”

Sehwa dusted off his loose top and followed Ms. Song. Although he hadn’t actually promised to help carry anything, it seemed to be an alibi Ms. Song had created, given the many eyes watching. This was fortunate for Sehwa. He hoped no one would know he had left the restaurant until the moment he boarded the ship.

Adjusting his gas mask, before heading out the back door… Sehwa stroked the old crossbody bag he had carried since childhood a few times, then threw it into the trash can. After going to the trouble of asking Ms. Song for clothes, he couldn’t keep an item that would give away his identity.

“Get in quickly.”

The vehicle parked at the restaurant’s back door was, well… It looked more like a handcart used for collecting wastepaper than a car. It was so dented and falling apart in places that it was doubtful whether it would even roll properly.

“This car is a bit old, but it’s registered for entry, so they say the inspection procedure is simplified. Just need to go through some basic checks.”

“There’s an inspection?”

“Ah, it’s not like showing your face and checking your ID. More like scanning for illegal weapons? It’d be a big problem if someone started a fire or a big fight at the port.”

Her voice was gentle as she reassured Sehwa, saying it wasn’t a big deal since he was going for miscellaneous work, not as a technician. Since bringing up the debt topic last time, Sehwa felt the distance between his and Ms. Song had significantly narrowed.

Although they’d likely forget each other in a few days, Sehwa found it fascinating that Ms. Song would share even a little warmth with a complete stranger, knowing this.

Perhaps Ms. Song was just lonely. Well, when you’re poor in both body and mind and pushed to the edge, sometimes just being able to give to someone else can make you feel a bit better. Sehwa had been the same. Maybe… Ms. Song was even thinking of his son.

Sehwa patted his stomach quietly so Ms. Song wouldn’t notice. Saessak, if by chance… If I can safely give birth to you, and we can stay together afterwards… Will I become a warm and brave person like that aunt? Will I be able to help others, thinking of you, despite the inconvenience?

“Wait, don’t you have any luggage? Don’t tell me that plastic bag is all?”

“I don’t really have much to bring…”

“Come on, even so…”

Inside the black plastic bag hanging on his wrist were patches and tranquilizers. Yesterday, he asked Ms. Song, or rather, Auntie, and she said that there was a medical team stationed on the ship. So, he didn’t think he needed to bring syringes. He could get clothes somehow… He didn’t want to bring his shabby belongings with him. It might seem silly to think this way when he had nothing, but he wanted to throw everything away and start anew.

“Oh my, it feels good to drive a car and go see the sea after so long.”

Auntie told stories of her heyday. The house she lived in in the 4-Hwan, the big business she ran, stories from her college days… A past like a crumbled bouquet of flowers.

As the sun began to set, even with the air conditioning on full blast, the old car couldn’t overcome the residual heat and started to get stuffy. Auntie kept fanning herself, wondering why it was so hot when it wasn’t even midday, while Sehwa hid behind his gas mask, sticking out his tongue and panting like a puppy.

“We’re almost there.”

After a long while of somehow navigating the winding roads of the 2-Hwan, they finally reached the outskirts.

“Ah, is that the checkpoint? Looks like we just zoom through in the car and that’s it.”

It was exactly as Auntie had said, no big deal. It was a checkpoint in name only, almost the same level as a toll booth on a highway. Sehwa, who had been nervously glancing around through the oil-stained side mirror several times, finally relaxed, dropping his shoulders.

“Phew, this clunker…”

As they reached the port, Auntie’s or rather, her younger sibling’s old car kept stopping for no apparent reason. Each time, their upper bodies would lurch forward, and Sehwa found himself laughing at the colorful curses Auntie let out each time.

“Still, we made it just in time. The ship was supposed to leave at 9. We have an hour and a half left, so that’s plenty.”

Sehwa lowered his body and peeked through the windshield. The cargo ship was so enormous, like a mountain had been moved there, that from this angle, the hull wasn’t even visible.

“Is it really that big?”

“Yes, it is…”

“Private vehicles can’t go any further. Actually, we’re not supposed to come even this far, but they make an exception for families helping with luggage on departure days.”

“I see… Thank you.”

Then an awkward silence fell. Family… They weren’t close enough to consider each other family. Strictly speaking, he wasn’t even related to his aunt.

Sehwa knew this, but… He only regretted the lack of time that made it difficult to define their relationship. If they had known each other longer, surely they could have relied on each other and gotten along well.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? Looking at you keeps reminding me of my son.”

Auntie seemed regretful too, grasping and releasing Sehwa’s hand several times.

“Even if that bastard was alive, he wouldn’t have lived as diligently as you. It’d be fortunate if he hadn’t taken on more loans… I know this, but it still feels that way for some reason.”

Ah… So auntie’s son had died.

“Is it because I haven’t seen a young person in a while?”

Sehwa pursed his lips tightly and nodded stiffly. It wasn’t an affirmation. It was a gesture of courtesy to show he was listening. Auntie probably understood the meaning of this mumbling.

What could one say in front of a parent who had lost a child? Besides, auntie had mentioned before that his son had fallen to the 2-Hwan after taking out enormous loans for gambling.

Even without prying into the details… it was obvious. All he could hope was that it wasn’t a case of organ harvesting by loan sharks, but rather some unavoidable accident.

“…Thank you.”

Sehwa hesitated before grasping auntie’s hand in return. Perhaps the bad choices that Samwol, who had been struggling to survive in the House in 4-Hwan, had made might have been a small cause of the auntie’s broken life and her son’s death…. He thought it would be okay to resonate with the auntie’s sadness just this much.

“You’re so kind… How can you be so good-natured?”

Auntie, unaware of everything, stroked Sehwa’s disheveled hair.

“Whatever your circumstances are, travel safely. When you come back after disembarking, I’ll cook you something delicious.”

Sehwa knew the answer auntie was expecting, looking at him benevolently. I’ll be sure to contact you, see you later. Those normal, hopeful parting words.

“Aunt, you said there are borders in the sea too, right?”

But feeling guilty about any lie he might tell, Sehwa hesitated and changed the subject.

“That’s right.”

“…That’s good.”

The whale-like massive ship seemed like it would glide forward smoothly. How far would it have to go to reach another country’s waters? If only he could leave this place quickly. If only he could go far enough where even Ki Tae-jeong couldn’t freely send people after her…

Sehwa gently rubbed his lower abdomen, which kept stinging. It was fortunate that the sky routes to the 2-Hwan were completely blocked now. It was so reassuring that Ki Tae-jeong couldn’t deploy his toys like flying cars or helicopters.

“…It’s thanks to you, aunt.”

“What is?”

“Being able to leave the 2-Hwan so quickly. I wasn’t expecting it at all, but thanks to you, everything worked out so well that I’m in a daze right now…”

Auntie chuckled, saying he was talking nonsense, then gently pushed his shoulder. It was time to go, she said. It’s quite a distance to the ship, so he should hurry.

“Well then… I’ll be going.”

“Alright.”

Sehwa nodded several times in farewell, then closed the car door and bowed deeply. He watched the old car vibrating like a worn-out washing machine as it backed up, then finally took a step. This wasn’t his first farewell without promise of reunion, but he couldn’t understand why it felt so sad. He was so upset that he wanted to blame Ki Tae-jeong for this too.

“…Let’s go, Saessak.”

Ah… Come to think of it, auntie had kept the window slightly open during the drive, despite having the air conditioning on. She must have been considerate of him. Knowing that he didn’t want to show his face, auntie had surely created an excuse for him to wear a gas mask even in the car without it seeming strange.

A wave of undefinable melancholy, sympathy, and a warmth he had momentarily forgotten washed over him. As Sehwa walked towards the ship, he kept stopping to wiggle his toes.

The humid, salty breeze clung to his forearms. The loading was already finished, and people dressed in comfortable clothes like him were huddled together in the shadow cast by the ship. Seen like this, the staff and laborers were clearly distinguishable.

People who had finished their cigarettes were heading towards what looked like a small metal staircase, and judging by the queue forming before entering the ship, they seemed to be checking identities there. It was fortunate that there was no commotion, suggesting the checks were likely just a formality… Sehwa felt the edges of the badge, cash, and the crudely made resident ID in his pocket.

“Wow… What’s that?”

People everywhere exclaimed in wonder, looking up. Sehwa, who had just stepped into the shaded area, instinctively looked up too. And… he froze.

Something was flying through the sky in the distance. A helicopter? A jet? A car? The unidentifiable object glided gracefully through the sky, framed like a picture by the setting sun about to plunge into the sea. It pierced the sky vertically, precariously at times, then fluttered like a butterfly through black particles and smoke.

“…Ah.”

And Sehwa knew well the only person who could maneuver an aircraft like that.

“How… Why…”

He uttered futile sighs and lost questions over and over. Even though nothing would change… The helicopter, which had seemed about the size of a fingertip, grew larger and larger. It meant it was getting closer.

Sehwa, who had been creaking like a robot with tangled wires for a moment, suddenly threw away everything he was holding and started running aimlessly. His body moved before any word, sentence, or familiar face could even form in his mind.