Runaway, Interrupted

“Where are you rushing off to like that?”

Her body froze at the voice coming from directly behind her.

The tone, pretending to be gentle, felt both unfamiliar and strangely familiar.

She did not need to lift her head to know.

The words were directed at her.

Ju Hayan squeezed her eyes shut.

The second hand in her halted field of vision spun uselessly in the same spot.

“Hm?”

“I asked where you’re going.”

Ju Hayan clenched the strap of her bag tightly.

Could she run?

The chances were slim.

But even so, she could not bring herself to obediently comply after coming this far.

She had made up her mind back at home.

She leaned her curled-up body forward, ready to kick off the chair and run as hard as she could.

Unfortunately, the hand that grabbed her was faster than Ju Hayan pulling herself free.

“Ah…!”

“You’re ruder than I thought.”

“An adult is asking you a question and you don’t even answer.”

Her body lurched violently as her arm was yanked.

She was slammed back into the chair.

Her pelvis struck the armrest as she toppled, the pain making her hunch over instinctively.

The man leaned in close, almost as if she had fallen into his arms, and lifted her chin.

“Shh.”

“People are watching.”

Shin I-hyeok looked down indifferently at her face, twisted in pain and leaking soft groans.

He brushed away the tears pooling at the corner of her eyes with his index finger.

Despite his cold demeanor, his hand was warm.

Before she could even flinch, Shin I-hyeok withdrew and stood up without hesitation.

“So your runaway attempt failed.”

“Kids should go home.”

“Get up.”

Ju Hayan glared up at him, pressing down on her aching hip, her eyes filled with raw resentment.

Shin I-hyeok pretended not to notice such trivial emotions.

He even turned his head away entirely, the prim gesture almost comical.

Just like before, he grabbed her arm and pulled.

A large hand slid down her thick sleeve and closed around her hand.

She tried to resist for a moment.

The difference in strength was absolute.

Soon, Ju Hayan was dragged along behind Shin I-hyeok.

Her fingertips turned white under his grip.

“Get in.”

A black sedan that looked expensive at a glance was parked in front of the old intercity bus terminal.

It felt jarringly out of place, as if the area around the car had been cut out from another world.

Ju Hayan had the sudden urge to kick the gleaming body of the car.

Before she could, a push to her back shoved her inside.

“Ugh….”

Her vision flipped.

When she straightened her body after being pushed in almost flat, the man was already seated beside her.

Their bodies were close due to her awkward posture.

He seemed not to care.

Only Ju Hayan stiffened, startled, and hurriedly settled into her seat.

What happens now.

She bit her drying lips.

Her imagination spiraled out of control.

Usually, in situations like this, people got dragged off and beaten half to death.

Or knocked unconscious and had their organs harvested.

She remembered a movie she had seen a few months ago.

It had aired on one of the few channels her old television could pick up.

No.

That was just a movie.

Ju Hayan forcibly pushed the horrifying thoughts away.

“Kid.”

“I thought you were smart, but I guess not.”

Shin I-hyeok spoke casually as he rubbed his back against the seat and got comfortable.

“I told you to just follow what I said.”

“And you couldn’t even do that.”

“…….”

“You’re not answering again.”

“So you’ve got no manners either.”

“…….”

Ju Hayan bit down on her tightly pressed lips and lowered her head.

It was not that she was holding back words.

Her mouth felt frozen.

The old saying was wrong.

When you really became a cornered mouse, you did not even think of biting back.

“Give me your phone.”

Shin I-hyeok extended his hand lazily, as if dropping it downward.

His pronunciation was slightly slurred.

She glanced over.

A cigarette was held between his lips.

A lighter clicked.

A wave of acrid smoke flooded the space.

This was the second time today she had been forced to inhale cigarette smoke up close.

There was a small sound as a window opened.

It did nothing to clear the already smoke-filled air.

“…Why?”

“Why?”

Shin I-hyeok echoed her question in a tone of disbelief.

The faint laugh in his voice was heavier than ten accusations.

In movies, wasn’t it always the ones who smiled all the time who were the real psychopaths?

Ju Hayan forced herself to look away from the brutal images resurfacing in her mind.

As Ju Hayan hesitated and rummaged through her bag, Shin I-hyeok kept his hand outstretched.

The moment the phone landed in his palm, he flung it toward the front seat.

He had only aimed roughly.

The phone struck somewhere inside the car with a dull thud and fell.

She had finished paying it off long ago.

But buying a new phone was out of the question.

Ju Hayan jolted forward in alarm.

Shin I-hyeok stretched out his arm to block her.

Their eyes met.

“What was your name again?”

“…Ju Hayan.”

“Right.”

“Ju Hayan.”

“…….”

“We’re past introductions now, so I’ll talk casually.”

“Tell me if that bothers you.”

Shin I-hyeok spoke with an accommodating tone as he drew deeply on his cigarette.

Ju Hayan met his eyes, faintly smiling, then lowered her head.

A low chuckle brushed past her ears.

The man turned his head and exhaled smoke out the window.

He called her name.

“Hayan.”

Once again, Ju Hayan did not answer.

“How much did Ju Gilwoo borrow again?”

“I told you earlier.”

“F… fifty million won.”

“Right.”

“Fifty.”

Shin I-hyeok slapped his knee as if amused.

“It’s not five hundred million.”

“It’s only fifty.”

“For a gambling debt, that’s almost cute.”

“Not even enough to abandon your kid and run.”

“…….”

“If it were hundreds of millions, I might’ve admired him enough to do something with you.”

“But a measly few tens of millions.”

“My face is burning just thinking about it.”

“…….”

He laughed alone in the silent car.

His wheezing laughter mixed with his breath, as if he found something endlessly funny.

“…….”

And beside him, Ju Hayan cried alone.

Her shoulders shook as she tried desperately to suppress it.

She could not even think to wipe away the tears spilling down beside her nose.

She felt ridiculous.

“So all you have to do is wait quietly for your dad.”

“When he comes back later, just say one thing.”

“‘Please save me.’”

“‘I’m scared.’”

“…….”

“Oh, hey.”

“Why are you crying.”

“This isn’t a scary story.”

“…Hhk, ngh.”

“Don’t cry.”

“Want some candy?”

“Ah, ugh… n-no….”

As he spoke, Shin I-hyeok pulled out a piece of candy from his inner pocket, like he was soothing a real child.

Ju Hayan shook her head.

His hand did not retreat.

Instead, it moved closer and closer.

Unable to avoid it, she accepted the candy hovering under her chin.

It crinkled every time she tightened her grip.

She lowered her head and stared at her open palm.

It was a cheap mint candy, the kind piled near restaurant exits.

She clenched it as if crushing it and looked up at Shin I-hyeok.

His eyes seemed to be waiting for something.

“…Thank you.”

“Your eyes are red.”

“That must hurt.”

He smiled in satisfaction after forcing the candy into her hand.

His words sounded concerned.

His expression did not.

His fingertips brushed over her tear-streaked cheek.

The stale scent of cigarettes seeped beneath her nose.

The man called “boss” was strange.

Unlike the others who were openly violent, he spoke gently and acted kindly.

But he was not good.

That much was obvious from his words alone.

Ju Hayan found the gap unsettling.

Unable to push away the hand grazing her skin, she rolled her eyes in confusion.

Her gaze drifted to his neck and shoulders.

Only then did she notice the window behind him.

In her daze, she had not even checked where the car was heading.

A familiar alley slid past outside.

The long car moved slowly through the narrow street.

“You’ll see me once a week from now on.”

“That’s to check the collateral.”

“……Yes.”

“Don’t bother thinking too hard.”

“I’m not trying to do business with a kid.”

“……Yes.”

“Good.”

“You must be tired from crying.”

Unlike her father’s rattling van, the luxury sedan stopped smoothly without a single vibration.

They were in front of the old villa where Ju Hayan lived.

Shin I-hyeok reached toward the front seat.

He received the phone back from the driver, likely one of his subordinates.

He handed it to Ju Hayan.

What did he do to it.

She had forgotten about the phone entirely.

She opened it immediately to check the screen.

A finger poked her cheek.

“Get out.”

“…Yes.”

“Thank you.”

She hesitated at how easily he let her go.

She slung her bag back over her shoulders and bowed quickly.

She hurried out, afraid he might change his mind.

Behind her, Shin I-hyeok waved.

She closed the car door quietly and opened the villa entrance right in front of her.

As she descended the steps, she heard the faint sound of the engine behind her.

She glanced up.

The alley, once filled by a single car, was empty.

The moment she confirmed they were gone, Ju Hayan collapsed onto the steps.

She had come back safely.

Her body intact.

She had not even been hit once.

“Haah…….”

She pulled her knees in and buried her face as she let out a long, exhausted sigh.

The cold of the filthy stairs seeped into her hips.

Her legs had gone weak.

She could not stand.

Was this fortunate.

Or unfortunate.

It was unfortunate that the option of running away had been crushed.

It was fortunate that the loan sharks would not harm her right away.

Too much had happened in one day.

She knew she should organize her thoughts.

Her mind refused.

Everything felt hazy.

Swish.

Drag.

Her strengthless legs scraped against the floor.

She barely managed to stand and enter the house.

Her hand shook so badly she fumbled with the key several times.

She stared blankly at the wrecked room.

She collapsed onto the pile of blankets shoved in front of the wardrobe.

She did not want to think anymore today.

With a deep sigh, her energy drained away.

Ju Hayan closed her eyes as if losing consciousness.