RSL Ch 67

Near the address I received via phone message, there were regular cars and taxis everywhere. Perhaps because it was past 11 PM, there seemed to be many people hurrying to use public transportation. I was circling around the same place as there was no suitable parking spot. It wasn’t particularly pleasant to waste fuel like this.

I parked the car quite far away and walked towards the Japanese restaurant where Han Jae-yi was waiting. After sending a message saying I’d wait outside, I was standing on the sidewalk when I saw several groups of people shouting and staggering drunk. They were laughing loudly and repeatedly telling the same stories, insisting they wouldn’t go home.

Their tight-fitting suits made them waddle like penguins as they walked hesitantly. The women scattered among them were looking for taxis, clutching their bags to avoid making mistakes. Then, without fail, the men would call out, “Ms. So-and-so” from behind. The remaining people would lick their lips as they watched the women pretend not to hear and run away. The loud laughter would stop right at that point.

The door of the Japanese restaurant opened, and a group of people came out. They were trying to walk dignifiedly as if they hadn’t been drinking sake, but three of them were already stumbling. The last man to come out was standing straight with his hands in his pockets, looking at the people who had gone ahead with an amused expression. Then he turned his head, noticed me, and smiled.

The man who seemed the most drunk turned around and spoke to him.

“Director Han, we should go for round three.”

Han Jae-yi just smiled at those words without answering. He looked to be in his early forties. Judging by his well-dressed appearance, he seemed to be a client, but he apparently couldn’t handle his alcohol well. With a flushed face, he grabbed Han Jae-yi’s arm, trying to pull him to a bar he knew well for the third round. However, he lacked the strength to actually pull and was just walking in place.

“Director, let’s call it a day. The designated driver has already been called.”

The young man who seemed the most sober after Han Jae-yi smiled and handed him over to the other members of the party. So it seemed there were three people being entertained, and two doing the entertaining, including Han Jae-yi and this man. Perhaps this was the lawyer he said he was partnering with. The slim man wearing glasses exuded an intellectual air to anyone who saw him.

Leaving the rest of the party bickering like that, Han Jae-yi took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. He didn’t seem inclined to help his business partner and just watched as if observing a fire. The bar the client wanted to go to seemed to offer lavish VIP treatment, and if things went well, there might be legal prostitution – though I’m not sure exactly how that works.

Fortunately, the rest of the party didn’t seem too interested in that place, and they succeeded in persuading the man called Director to get in the car. The young man who appeared to be Han Jae-yi’s business partner sighed once as he watched the road where they had disappeared, arms folded. Then he turned and walked towards us, meeting my eyes.

“Ah, let me introduce you.”

While we were sizing each other up, Han Jae-yi approached and formally introduced us. His name was Choi Jung-yeon. He said he was a lawyer, business partner, and co-representative of the law firm ‘Soyul’.

“I’m Woo Seo-jin.”

I offered a handshake using the name the other person would find more familiar. He extended his hand warmly while using his other hand to push up his slipping glasses.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Choi Jung-yeon.”

I wondered what he had heard a lot about. I looked at Han Jae-yi, demanding an explanation. He shrugged his shoulders and put out the cigarette he had been smoking by grinding it on the ground.

“Let’s drop Lawyer Choi off at his house on the way. How’s your cold?”

Han Jae-yi naturally put his hand on my forehead to check my temperature. For a moment, I looked at Lawyer Choi Jung-yeon’s face, but there was no particular surprise or agitation in his expression. Did he already know?

“I’m fine, perfectly okay. I parked the car a bit far. We need to cross the street. We’ll have to walk a bit, is that okay?”

“Of course. It’s hard to catch a taxi now, so I’m grateful just for the ride.”

His manner of speaking to me was smooth.

The three of us stood at the crosswalk waiting for the green light to change. While walking to the paid parking lot where the car was parked, Han Jae-yi and he exchanged brief thoughts about today’s meeting.

In Korea, all dealings with corporations require sales, entertainment, and connections. I wondered how Han Jae-yi, who doesn’t particularly like such things, felt about occasions like today.

I wanted to ask. Are you really okay living like this?

“Still, Atek’s development is decent. How grateful we should be that they go home after a few persuasions. It’s really hopeless when they want to go to places where we can’t even process receipts.”

“Lawyer Choi is having a hard time because of me.”

Lawyer Choi Jung-yeon was quite talkative. I couldn’t give much reaction as I was driving, but thanks to Han Jae-yi responding consistently, the conversation didn’t stop.

“It’s no small trouble. But should I be grateful that you even come along to the second round with your personality, Director Han? Remember Sanggwang Industries last time? Ah, really, these nouveau riche always play so dirty.”

He seemed to be talking about that client who paid for his son’s study abroad with the sales office operating expenses. When was this “dirty play” he mentioned? Did Han Jae-yi, who comforted him saying he was having a hard time because of him, also participate in that entertainment? Perhaps it was the day he apologized after relieving his stress from outside through s3x with me.

Come to think of it, Han Jae-yi hasn’t been talking to me about work lately. It’s been quite a while since I saw him excited about preparing for a trial.

“Ah, please stop at that traffic light. I’ll cross since you’ll have to make a U-turn to turn the car around.”

“No, I’ll go all the way in…”

“Do as he says.”

Han Jae-yi interrupted, putting his hand on my thigh. I reflexively checked Lawyer Choi Jung-yeon’s expression in the rearview mirror, but again, there was no change.

I stopped briefly at the traffic light he mentioned and let him out. As he turned around after saying goodbye, Han Jae-yi lowered the window.

“I won’t be coming to work tomorrow. Call me if there’s anything urgent.”

“Oh my. Yes, Director. Do as you please.”

He seemed to have a good temperament too. That’s how your personality should be to do business. The man sitting next to me, putting on airs, really didn’t seem to have the qualities of a director.

We watched as Lawyer Choi Jung-yeon safely crossed the crosswalk and entered the apartment complex. Just as I was about to turn the car around to go home, Han Jae-yi made a suggestion.

“I’m hungry, let’s eat some ramen before we go.”

The place he pointed to was a snack bar that mainly sold kimbap, open for business with a sign saying “24 hours”.

Come to think of it, Han Jae-yi liked ramen. I remember the ramen he used to cook occasionally in Germany as emergency food was so spicy it made me sweat. He must be craving something spicy, having drunk and feeling a bit hungry. On the other hand, I can’t handle very spicy food well.

We parked the car in the alley and visited the snack bar together. Choosing one item from the menu board filled with countless foods is beyond my ability. As usual, I followed Han Jae-yi’s order exactly, but I was shocked to see the ramen come out with red pepper powder sprinkled all over it. He laughed and pushed the kimbap towards me.

“You like bulgogi, right? This has that in it.”

“Okay.”

I put a piece of kimbap, cut to a mechanically precise size, in my mouth. It was delicious. Among Korean foods, I like those seasoned with a soy sauce base. It suited my taste perfectly, with a generous amount of moderately sweet and well-seasoned bulgogi in each bite. Thanks to that, I felt the urge to try the ramen too.

“By the way, does that Lawyer Choi Jung-yeon know who I am? Did you tell him?”

I asked about what had been bothering me for a while.

“No, I didn’t tell him. There’s no need to specifically mention my sexual preferences when he didn’t ask. But if he puts together various pieces of information, I think he might have figured it out. We’ve known each other for a while, so he’s heard about you before. Oh, are you okay?”

Han Jae-yi cut off his words, seeing my face flushed and sweating from the spiciness.

“I’m fine. But it seems like he’s figured it all out…”

I said that much and then hurriedly pulled out some tissues and started coughing. Oh my… why do they mix in red pepper powder when the ramen is already spicy enough? I gulped down water repeatedly and coughed again, scratching the tickling inside of my throat.

“Don’t drink the broth. Why are you suddenly doing something you’re not used to?”

“You were eating it so deliciously.”

I looked at him reproachfully and buried my face in the tissues. Perhaps because of the alcohol, Han Jae-yi was eating the ramen with great relish. He was even adding kimchi and pickled radish, which he usually doesn’t eat because of me, taking a bite of noodles followed by a sip of broth. Watching him, I unconsciously ate the noodles and even drank the broth, with disastrous results.

Wiping my reddened nose with a tissue, I continued the interrupted conversation.

“But every time, um… do you just stand back and watch while entertaining like that? Does that lawyer take care of all the aftermath? Don’t you feel sorry?”

I scratched my throat vigorously in between speaking. After drinking water once more, it seemed to subside a little.

“I do feel sorry. But I’m doing my best in my own way.”

“Can’t you look for other work?”

“Huh?”

At my words that came out without thinking, he put down his chopsticks and looked at me. I didn’t mean to say such things, but the topic I had thrown out was too heavy to take back now.

“It’s just… how should I put it. It doesn’t seem to suit you.”

Fortunately, Han Jae-yi gave a small laugh. Then he picked up his chopsticks again and focused on eating the ramen. Behind him, I could see a water purifier with a sign saying ‘Self-service water’. I felt a strange sense of incongruity without realizing it.

Han Jae-yi looked impeccably neat, impossible to think he had been at a drinking party until past midnight. Sitting in a 24-hour snack bar eating ramen while dressed in a high-quality shirt made of a material that doesn’t wrinkle easily and a tightly fitted vest seemed out of place for him.

To go a step further, I wanted to use the expression ‘it lowers his class’ rather than just not suiting him. It was upsetting to see a lawyer who had worked with major companies like Bosch, Siemens, and Porsche coming here to entertain mediocre people until late at night and then soothing his stomach with cheap snack food.

Should I be even more honest? I felt even worse because all of this seemed to be because of me.

“Isn’t it boring? Living here.”

At that question, Han Jae-yi put down the water glass he was drinking from and looked at me.

“How could living with you be boring?”

After hearing his answer, I felt ashamed of myself. I had asked even though I knew what he would say. The more guilty I felt, the more I wanted to lean on Han Jae-yi and hear the words I wanted. Was it because of yesterday? It was a repetition of the pattern where I would beg to be reassured with words like “No, I’m fine” and feel better after getting confirmation.

“Seo-jin.”

Unable to bear my continued silence, Han Jae-yi called out to me seriously.

“It’s embarrassing, but the truth is I’m not that great either, so I couldn’t find a totally cool and impressive job right away after coming to Korea in a month. Yes, as you said, I’m not completely satisfied with life here. It will take more time to reach a satisfactory level. I understand what you’ve been worried about since yesterday, but please stop thinking like that.”

“……”

“There’s no such thing as a perfect life anyway. Do you think it would have been different if I had stayed in Germany? It’s the same. But if I had to choose, I prefer having you by my side. Honestly, client entertaining and sales are a pain, but isn’t it nice to sit across from you eating ramen like this after work and go home together? I’m truly happy right now.”

Han Jae-yi firmly grasped my wavering heart that had been swaying back and forth since yesterday. There was no hesitation in his words that poured out as if he had prepared them.

“Okay, I understand.”

Only after hearing my response did he start focusing on his meal again. The lady making kimbap glanced over at us, turning her head at our sudden conversation.

It was my fault. We should have had this talk in a very noisy bar while half out of our minds, or at home alone. It wasn’t something to say while eating ramen in a 24-hour snack shop with 8 tables. Still, I was grateful to Han Jae-yi for not avoiding it and holding onto me.

Just as he was finishing his meal, a group of drunk people barged in. About 6 men occupied consecutive tables and loudly placed their orders from their seats. Uncomfortable with the suddenly noisy space, we exchanged looks agreeing to leave quickly.

Han Jae-yi won the game of who takes out their wallet first. The lady who had been eyeing us suspiciously earlier was happy to receive cash instead of a card, her voice tone rising cheerfully.

“Wow, you guys are tall.”

A comment that could have been praise or mockery came from one of the drunk men. Bored waiting for food, he seemed to have picked the most noticeable targets to provoke.

“Whoa… Is this one a model or something?”

Since I was wearing a hoodie and jeans, he must have been referring to Han Jae-yi. His height of 190cm and suit attire must have caught attention even in the brief moment of receiving change.

“Let’s just go.”

The problem was that we weren’t completely sober either. Knowing Han Jae-yi’s personality of not being friendly to strangers when tipsy, I hurriedly turned him around first. Han Jae-yi looked back and forth between me and the drunk man before opening the snack shop door and leaving.

Ironically, we are foreigners here who need to maintain our visas. We need to stay in the good graces of the Korean government while also being at a disadvantage if we get caught up in unnecessary trouble. So I wanted to avoid getting into a fight.

“Cigarette?”

When I shook my head in refusal, Han Jae-yi lit one alone.

On the way back to the alley where we had parked the car, he received a phone call. Whether it was a work call that didn’t consider the time difference, he gestured for me to get in the car first without hanging up, even though I was right beside him.

I sat in the driver’s seat and listened to the radio. In the dark alley, Han Jae-yi’s silhouette was reflected in the car’s taillights as he talked on the phone for a while, holding both the phone and cigarette. The song playing happened to be Harry Connick Jr.’s “The way you look tonight”. I rested my chin on the steering wheel and admired the man with perfect physique visible in front of me. In the middle of the city locked in the early morning hours, the cigarette smoke from this foreigner was dispersing into the air.