After training, Ire shuddered among his exhausted classmates. He felt a chill from somewhere. As he looked around, Seo Young-jun approached and put his arm around his neck.
“Ire, what are you doing tomorrow?”
The trainees were told they could go out and stay out on Saturday nights. Most said they were going home, but Ire couldn’t. There was no transportation from here to District B, and walking was out of the question. He wasn’t in a position to leave this place freely in the first place.
“We’re going to a club. Want to come with us?”
“What do you do there?”
“Drink, meet girls, and have fun.”
He shook his head because those weren’t things he particularly liked. He also didn’t have any money.
“Don’t worry about the money. Oh Nam-gi is related to the manager there, so we can have fun for free if we go.”
“It’s okay. You guys go.”
“Don’t be like tha—!”
Seo Young-jun fell away to the side. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he flew away.
“Seo Young-jun, get lost. Unless you want to die.”
Park Mu-jin, who had suddenly appeared, threatened him, and Young-jun, looking apologetic, glanced around and moved away. Left alone, Park Mu-jin and his gang surrounded him. Park Mu-jin was the most capable of the trainees, but his personality wasn’t very good. He had picked a fight from the first day and constantly irritated people. His brother also hated Ire, so it seemed he had earned the double displeasure of the brothers.
“Hey, Hybrid, I saw your kick earlier. I should have taken a picture of you flailing around like an idiot.”
The guy and his gang snickered. Even my nephew would be better than you, they said, and this guy has long arms and legs but no athletic ability at all, and I don’t know how he even got in here. Amid the criticism, Park Mu-jin nudged Ire’s shoulder.
“There’s a rumor you came in here by giving Captain Kim Ha-yoon some backdoor action. Is it true?”
“How good must it be for that high-nosed Captain Kim Ha-yoon to use you as a fucktoy? Huh?”
“Tell me. Or show us. I’m not interested in a guy’s backdoor, but I might want to try you out.”
“Watch it, you bastard. You’ll catch a disease and die.”
“What disease? Beggar disease? Or slut disease?”
Hahaha, they were making childish jokes and laughing. Ire looked at Park Mu-jin with a bored expression.
“If you have so many complaints, go and argue with him directly. Don’t bother me.”
“Why would I? You’re going to get kicked out soon anyway. Why? Are you worried about going back to that shabby place? Why don’t you go to Kim Ha-yoon and fawn over him? Maybe he’ll let you stay if you wiggle your ass and act cute? Huh?”
When he tried to ignore him and leave, Park Mu-jin grabbed the back of his neck and pushed him against a nearby wall. Ah! Ire, who had hit his shoulder, grabbed his arm and sat down, glaring at him. Park Mu-jin, who was right in front of him, looked down at him with snake-like eyes.
“Lower your eyes, you idiot. Don’t be cocky.”
“…….”
He fondled his crotch with his hand.
“Or do you want to suck mine?”
“…….”
“Who knows? If you suck well, I might give you a generous tip.”
When there was no reaction, he stepped hard on Ire’s shoe.
“Even an earthworm squirms when you step on it, but this bastard really doesn’t react.”
“…….”
“Damn, this is no fun.”
Then he spat a long stream of saliva on his shoe and disappeared with his gang. Ire looked at his soiled instep and got up. At that moment, Seo Young-jun and Oh Nam-gi, who had been lingering nearby, approached hesitantly.
“Are you okay? Ah, damn it. Why are those guys doing that?”
Seo Young-jun, who was dusting off his clothes with an awkward expression, rubbed the tip of his nose for no reason.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t take your side….”
Ire smiled, saying he was okay. He had heard that Seo Young-jun and Oh Nam-gi had been bullied before he came here. In such a situation, who would take whose side? They would only get beaten up like before. He understood them. He didn’t think they were cowards.
“Park Mu-jin is a real piece of trash.”
While Seo Young-jun was cursing Park Mu-jin, Lieutenant Park appeared.
“Trainee Ire, number 1427. Captain Kim Ha-yoon is calling for you.”
At the three syllables of Kim Ha-yoon’s name, the faces of the other two besides him hardened. After telling his classmates that he would be back, Ire followed Lieutenant Park to Kim Ha-yoon. Kim Ha-yoon’s office was located quite a distance from the annex building where training was mainly conducted.
Was this their first meeting in ten days? He waved his hand cheerfully as he opened the door. He still had a smiling face and was wearing a spotless white shirt.
“Long time no see.”
Kim Ha-yoon smiled, welcoming him, and Ire saluted him politely.
“Sit down first. Would you like some tea?”
“No… I’m fine.”
“Why are you talking like that?”
“Pardon?”
“Talk to me comfortably like before. Sit down.”
As soon as he sat down, he opened a file and placed it in front of him.
“This is your training record for the past week. Take a look.”
Ire picked it up and pretended to look at it as he was told. Most of the scores were the lowest. He also noticed the short memos written by the instructors in charge. Terrible. Weak endurance. Weak strength. He almost burst out laughing at the last part. Doubtful if he can see properly.
“How do you think I felt looking at that?”
“I don’t know….”
“How would you feel if others insulted my precious baby?”
“I’m not your baby, Captain. Unless I’m your fucktoy….”
Kim Ha-yoon raised one eyebrow crookedly.
“What are you talking about?”
“That’s what the other trainees were saying. That I came here by giving you my ass. When they asked if it was true, I didn’t deny it. They wouldn’t believe me even if I said no anyway.”
Actually, he didn’t care what they said. It was true that he wanted Kim Ha-yoon to be in a bit of trouble. It would be a great thing if he kicked him out in disgust. Kim Ha-yoon pondered for a moment and then leaned forward.
“Are you appealing to me? Asking to do it once?”
Ire scoffed. As if.
“Sorry. I don’t have a hobby of taking men.”
“Who do you think does?”
“Damn it, then why did you bring it up? Getting my hopes up.”
“I’m telling you not to tarnish your reputation any further. There’s no good in keeping someone like me around.”
“That’s disappointing. Why do you have to say it like that? But what to do? It’s too late to throw you away, isn’t it?”
When he looked at him, not knowing what he meant, Kim Ha-yoon threw a picture on the table. Ire’s eyes widened as he picked it up and looked at it. In the picture, Matteo was lying down with a respirator on. Kim Ha-yoon smiled with a cigarette in his mouth as he frowned fiercely.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
“What did you do to Matteo!”
“The surgery is over. He’s recovering, and fortunately, the progress is good.”
He couldn’t believe it. That day, the day Matteo came to see him. He said he wouldn’t have the surgery. So he told Ire to get out of here somehow. Don’t even think about being noticed, don’t cause trouble, and stay as quiet as a mouse. There’s no need to prove your worth, no need to show off your skills. You have to be a fool here. But why…
“He definitely refused….”
“He told you that? He refused, so just do it moderately and get out? Endure like an idiot?”
Ire was taken aback, but he couldn’t say anything.
“Our staff found him collapsed and unconscious. He almost went straight to the Lord you guys love.”
He felt like the blood was draining from his body. He was someone who had never collapsed, even when he was having a hard time. Before he could even ask if he was okay, Kim Ha-yoon handed him another piece of paper. It was written in difficult words, but he recognized the words that his condition was improving.
“…Can he live?”
“Yeah. The surgery went quite well. The best doctor took care of it. He’ll be so healthy with a new heart.”
Ire was quite surprised at the words “new heart.” He knew his heart wasn’t good, but could it be easily replaced? Then whose heart…? Before he could ask more, he threw another piece of paper. It had an amount of money written on it that he couldn’t even imagine. An amount he had never seen in his life.
“The cost of the surgery.”
He clenched his teeth tightly.
“Are you going to pay it back? Or should I take the heart out?”
“…….”
“Don’t say, ‘Who told you to do the surgery?’ You’re happy too. Your adoptive father, or maybe something more. Anyway. You desperately wanted to save him.”
“…….”
“But there’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world.”
“What do you want….”
“Why are you making such a solemn face? Are you really worried that I’m going to ask for your ass?”
“…….”
When he didn’t deny it, Kim Ha-yoon’s eyes gleamed.
“What is it? You’re saying you’ll give it to me if I want it?”
“Just get to the point.”
Kim Ha-yoon couldn’t hide his laughter as he looked at Ire, who seemed nervous.
“It’s nothing else. Prove that my judgment was right.”
When he didn’t answer, Kim Ha-yoon made an offer that couldn’t be sweeter.
“If you do that, I’ll give you things that are beyond your worth. I promise.”