US 04

Chapter 4

Cha Taemok had visited the town administrative welfare center since morning.

Building a resort on Mangul Island was no simple task. It came with the immense social responsibility of developing a backward island and revitalizing it into a tourist city.

It was only natural that no one at Hoemok, skilled in calculating profits and losses, welcomed it.

If it weren’t for Chairman Cha Cheolmok’s stubbornness, the project would never have even begun. Unfortunately, the grandfather had outlived his father’s expectations. He had said he absolutely couldn’t close his eyes until the Hoemok name was engraved on Mangul Island, and it seemed to be true.

Getting out of the back seat, Cha Taemok climbed the old stairs leading to the entrance. As he idly read the slogan on the glass door — “Citizens, Bubble by Bubble” — his gaze met someone’s beyond it.

The person who immediately ran over was faster. They opened the door for him first, so Taemok fastened his jacket button and walked inside.

“How have you been?”

“Oh my, you’re here, Director.”

As he shook hands with Section Chief Kim, the person in charge, the surrounding civil servants also rose from their seats. Chief Kim, looking delighted, repeatedly patted the back of Taemok’s hand.

“I can’t even call you by your name casually anymore. It feels like just yesterday the Chairman introduced you right here, saying you were his grandson.”

“Please treat me comfortably. That’s why the Chairman sent me, isn’t it?”

Chief Kim couldn’t bring himself to say he would. Chuckling it off, he subtly glanced at the tall man in the well-fitted suit. Now a fully grown adult, an inexplicable aura emanated from him.

The aristocratic quality that he had once attributed to the Hoemok name’s halo in his childhood had matured, seemingly perfected into a dignified grace. It had only been a few years, but now he had become an untouchable presence.

“Haha… Let’s move to the conference room.”

His gait, as if he were in no hurry, was imbued with arrogant dignity. Not to mention his physically imposing stature, which seemed to carry social privilege as if it were a decoration.

Director Cha Taemok, having taken the head seat at the table with due protocol, seated lawyers on either side of him.

Minor issues — such as building a new, decrepit pier and significantly expanding ferry service — had already been coordinated. However, additional compensation negotiations were necessary based on the construction company’s opinion that the time until the resort’s completion would likely take longer than initially anticipated.

The somewhat heavy conversation continued, and the atmosphere in the seminar room grew equally dense.

Chief Kim, who had been watching, swallowed nervously. Just then, a low voice called out, “Chief Kim.” He quickly straightened his back toward the head seat.

“Yes, yes.”

“I’d like to clarify the target first. The data I received before, listed as ‘fishery workers near the construction site,’ was aggregated together with ‘aquaculture workers.’ Can’t I get them separately?”

“As you know, due to Mangul Island’s characteristics, there are many households where one person works in fisheries and another in aquaculture…”

His sentence was abruptly cut off.

“Many or not—”

His sharp lips stretched further.

“Isn’t this a compensation issue? The amount needs to be calculated based on accurate numerical data.”

“Ah… That’s right.”

“I’m asking you.”

Though he framed it as a request, it didn’t sound like one. Chief Kim, momentarily stunned by the subtly overwhelming atmosphere, came to his senses late.

“Yes, I’ll prepare it again.”

Having received his answer, Taemok picked up his fountain pen again when a civil servant sitting at the far end sighed softly.

“Oh, it’s raining.”

Even Cha Taemok, who had been looking over documents, briefly turned his gaze to the window.

Black clouds were pouring down rain like rods. Se-im, standing at the entrance of the school building, stretched her arm out. The rain pounding her palm shattered violently, cascading down her hand.

It was a sudden downpour, with no weather forecast. She didn’t resent it for coming without warning — that was just the kind of island Manguldo was. What was mildly annoying was that it had to happen on her way home.

It was strange.

What came to mind first, even before the misfortune of not having brought an umbrella, was the fate of that orange juice can that had been sitting by the front gate. Since she hadn’t picked it up, was it still there? Getting soaked in this rain.

Probably her aunt or dad had picked it up by now.

‘What do you like?’

She thought it was the summer she was seventeen. When Cha Taemok suddenly grabbed her backpack from behind and asked her that.

Funny enough, she hadn’t been able to give any answer. Because she had an overwhelming number of things she hated, but not a single thing she liked. She didn’t want to reveal her jagged little world, but at times like this, she couldn’t hide it.

Pulling her backpack, which he had grabbed, she said:

‘Nothing.’

‘Tell me quickly.’

‘I told you, there’s nothing.’

‘Then I’ll keep holding on like this.’

After that tug-of-war, the answer she finally gave was:

‘Orange juice.’

Orange juice — the kind her father, who couldn’t go far, often got from the juice factory worker, Mr. Kim. When she was little and cried loudly wanting something sweet, they used to soothe her with that. It was a warm memory she had spoken without thinking.

Cha Taemok seemed to have taken it quite literally. Judging by how he always handed her orange juice afterward. And yet, he always wore a nonchalant expression. Then, when she suddenly recalled that he’d always open the cap before handing it to her, she quickly shook her head.

She withdrew her hand, which had by now collected a puddle of rainwater.

This didn’t seem like a passing shower. Looking up at the overcast sky, Se-im took off her backpack and held it over her head. There was a supermarket at the end of the alley that sold umbrellas — she decided to run for it.

“Hah… hah.”

Her breath, reaching the top of her throat, tasted of blood.

Had it always been this far?

The fierce rain blocked her entire view. To make matters worse, she kept stepping in puddles, so her clothes were already soaked through. Holding the backpack over her head seemed pointless now… but she had no time to worry about that.

She kept running down the empty alley.

Then, blinking LED letters appeared through the blurry surroundings. Seeing the slogan ‘Citizens, Bubble by Bubble’, she realized it was the Administrative Welfare Center. She thought she should at least duck in there.

Just as she turned to walk in that direction—

Through the thick raindrops, her gaze crossed with someone else’s. Startled, her running legs came to a halt.

Why was he there again…

Beneath the large umbrella held out by the man beside him stood Cha Taemok. Seeing the back door of the sedan open, it seemed he was just about to get into the car.

For a moment, the sound of the rain — shwaaa — seemed especially loud.

His eyes, cutting through the heavy rain, unexpectedly scanned her up and down. Then, as if something displeased him, his eyes crumpled sharply.

Immediately, he snatched the umbrella from his companion and slammed the car door shut with a kwang.

“Everyone, turn around.”

“Excuse me?”

“Just look over at the community hall over there. What are you doing? Move.”

Leaving the bewildered suited men following his orders behind him, the man strode resolutely through the rain.

His wide, pounding strides were somehow threatening. Just as Se-im instinctively took a half step back, a roof appeared above her head. Thanks to that, she could lower the backpack she’d been using as an umbrella.

Not that it changed her plan. She had intended to go into the Administrative Welfare Center to take shelter from the rain anyway.

“Move out of the way!”

Her voice rose because of the noisy rain. Unlike her, his low, deeply lowered voice easily cut through the noise.

“Where do you think you’re going, looking like that?”

“That’s exactly why I’m telling you to move!”

“No, this is good. I’m the only one watching.”

His narrowed eyes approached her chest area. Suspicious of his target, she followed his gaze and realized her underwear was showing through her wet t-shirt.

Startled, Se-im hurriedly covered herself with both arms.

Then, the rain began to fall on her head again.

Cha Taemok had thrown away the umbrella.

Se-im looked up at him, dumbfounded. The sight of them both getting soaked wasn’t even funny anymore. Unable to bear the water stinging her eyes any longer, she was about to pick up the umbrella when, suddenly, he grabbed her bag.

“What are you doing? Let go!”

Frowning, Taemok wiped his face and laughed.

“Instead of saying ‘Let go,’ ‘Give it back,’ or stuff like that, Han Se-im. Try saying something else.”

“What am I supposed to say in this situation…”

“If it weren’t a damn situation, you wouldn’t even look at me, so this is why I’m acting like this. Like a crazy bastard.”

He really did seem like a crazy bastard. Judging by the cheerful smile hanging on his lips.

“Do you know you’re a crazy bastard?”

“I’d be lucky if I were just a crazy bastard. If you caught me standing stiff, they’d call me a pervert, right.”

“Cha Taemok!”

“Yeah. Here I am, Cha Taemok.”

Suddenly, he took another step closer.

“So call me that from now on. Then, even if you tell me to get lost, I will.”

“Get lost, Cha Taemok.”

At that, his long lips pulled back even more.

“You’re so damn smart.”

Without warning, he twisted his shoulder, took off his suit jacket, and draped it over her head. Consequently, she ended up in his arms.

“Let’s go.”

“No!”

“No, my ass.”

“I said get lost, Cha Taemok!”

“That’s right.”

“Then the umbrella! At least give me the umbrella!”

But Taemok, obstinately starting to move, deliberately stepped on the fallen umbrella as he passed by.

“Hey!”

His heavy dress shoe helplessly crushed the innocent umbrella.

“You’re really…!”

And so, this is how it ended up.

She ended up walking alongside that guy.

Under the rainy summer