***
Her move was truly simple. She had so little luggage that it was embarrassing that they had borrowed a 1-ton truck, as she only brought things that were absolutely necessary for living. (In truth, even if she had wanted to bring more, she couldn't because it was too dirty.) Most of the luggage consisted of items related to computers.
In fact, she had begun to show prominence in computers since middle school and was growing into a promising programmer once she became an adult. That was, of course, until she touched coins to earn her tuition.
If she had received sturdy support under parents, her future would have likely been a flower path.
At any rate, the important thing was that the detached house she moved into as a monthly rental already had basic household goods, so there was no discomfort in living there immediately.
After stopping by a household goods store to buy and fill in the missing items, it looked quite like a house where people lived.
Late afternoon.
We bought pork belly, a burner, and a grill, and took our places on a wooden bench on the second-floor rooftop. Naturally, alcohol could not be missing.
“As expected, on moving day, it’s pork belly and soju!”
Jo Sang-nim shouted while thrusting her chopsticks high into the sky.
“It’s my first time hearing that,”
Woo Do-hwa tilted his head.
“Of course it is! Because I just decided it.”
“Ah, right.”
A quick admission. Nothing good ever came from provoking her.
“How great is this! This romance of grilling and eating pork belly on a rooftop bench while watching the evening sunset!”
“Romance, my foot. I’m about to freeze to death. It’s November. November. Who but a crazy person would grill meat in a place like this.”
When I spoke while putting a mass of meat onto the grill, she quickly spread it out with her chopsticks and muttered.
“You even grilled and ate it in the middle of winter, yet you’re being so serious.”
A short while later.
The meat was cooked.
The atmosphere grew ripe with intoxication.
Suddenly, I remembered the time when all five of us gathered together in our early twenties. Back then, we really talked while drinking until the day broke.
Being with these two, I felt not like the 36-year-old me, but truly like the 28-year-old me. Should I say I suddenly wanted to act thoughtlessly?
My mood had improved due to the pleasure and sense of liberation I hadn't felt in a long time, but then I suddenly recalled the time I met my wife, and anger began to crawl up within me.
“Hey, Na Hong-gu.”
At that moment, Woo Do-hwa, who was pleasantly drunk, abruptly called me and put on a serious expression while crossing his arms.
Then, Jo Sang-nim, who was holding a cigarette in her mouth as if she had finished eating all the meat, spoke as if it were obvious.
“Again, again, he’s setting the mood. They say a dog can’t give up its old habits; you should have left that kind of thing behind in the slammer. Don’t do it. It won’t work. My friend.”
“What is the real reason you want to learn how to fight from me?”
Woo Do-hwa bluntly asked while lightly ignoring her words. This guy… even though he won't even remember this tomorrow.
Still, I felt that I should not avoid this answer.
“I want to try changing myself a bit. I don't want to live like I did before.”
“Bullshit. Just how long have you even lived with your wife.”
Jo Sang-nim tossed out a word while exhaling cigarette smoke at me.
Geez. I’m talking here.
Of course, the two of them knew that I had lived with my wife for about three years. That statement was correct as well. That is, if I weren't a regressor.
In truth, I lived like a dog for a whopping 11 years, not 3 years!!
“Stop cutting me off. You girl. Anyway, I’ve made up my mind to change! And to change, shouldn't a person be at a level where they can protect their own body? I won’t live anymore while being taken advantage of like a total hogu by those bastard affair partners, both male and female. That’s what I’m saying.”
“He’s drunk, this bastard.”
Jo Sang-nim shook her head.
Right, I was drunk. I was drunk, but these words were sincere.
“Fuck! I’m going to crush them all!”
“Yeah! Let’s go! Let’s crush them all! Long live the Republic of Korea!”
As I stood up from my seat and shouted, Jo Sang-nim also stood beside me and began to shout ‘Manse.’ Crazy bitch.
Thinking that this was enough of an answer, I looked at Woo Do-hwa, and he was dozing off right there while sitting with his arms crossed. Is it possible to sleep in this posture? How novel.
“This son of a bitch. He’s sleeping after asking the question himself? Hey, you bastard!”
The moment I swung my hand toward Woo Do-hwa’s head.
Thud!
His right hand blocked my hand, and his left hand came in under my armpit, and in an instant, he began to wrap around and choke my neck.
Whish!
It was something that happened truly in the blink of an eye.
“Ack!”
Suddenly, I saw the sky and my breath was blocked.
Right, this is the kind of thing I want you to teach me! Don't use it on me!
“I can reflexively block an enemy’s attack even in a sleeping state. Your killing intent, the flow of the air, even the most minor noise. I can feel it all.”
Woo Do-hwa spoke while lowering his voice with a quite serious expression.
“Oh~ Undonghwa~ So cool!”
Then Jo Sang-nim held out a thumbs up.
“Ack-ack! Let go! You son of a b— ack! I think I’m going to throw up… ack!”
I ended up vomiting on the wooden bench in the end.
<><><>
One month later.
A domestic luxury sedan entered the bank parking lot.
A short while later, someone stepped out of the car; she was wearing a fairly sophisticated casual suit, dark sunglasses, and heavy makeup.
It was Jo Sang-nim.
Entering the bank immediately, she headed straight to the VIP room since she had made an appointment in advance. After exchanging names with a staff member, she was guided inside.
“Phew~”
Left alone in the room after being served tea, she crossed her legs and let out a short sigh.
“Fuck, I haven't even committed a crime, so why am I trembling like this. No, I’m just saying I’ll take out my own money…”
At that moment, someone opened the door and entered. She quickly straightened her waist and took a posture.
“Hello. I am Team Leader Lee Se-ra. You said you are withdrawing 200 million won in cash.”
“Yes.”
She answered modestly.
“Yes. I understand. Could you please provide your ID for identity verification?”
She took out her resident registration card from the wallet inside her handbag and handed it over. The name ‘Jo Sang-im’ was written there. The person who was the team leader operated the computer for a moment, then checked the account and had her sign several times.
“May I ask what the intended use is? Large cash withdrawals are subject to regulations related to anti-money laundering and financial transactions. There are also many issues with voice phishing these days.”
“Ah, yes. My oppa is taking over a small gym this time. He said there will be many instances where cash is needed for the opening… and…”
Jo Sang-nim began to list the content she had memorized in a rambling manner.
“Ah! I see. Understood. Could you please wait for a moment?”
“Ah, yes.”
After a while, the team leader, who had asked a few questions and informed her of precautions, filled a bag Jo Sang-nim had handed over with cash and returned it.
“I have prepared everything in 50,000 won bills as you reserved previously. For safety, shall I attach a security team to escort you home?”
“Ah, no. It’s fine. Thank you.”
Exiting the bank as if fleeing, she returned straight to the car and began to leave the area quickly as if someone might chase her.
And a short while later, the place she arrived at was in front of a worn-out gym located halfway up a hill. It was a white cement building, but it was riddled with cracks.
It was a place that looked ruined at a glance, but after grabbing the bag from the passenger seat, she went inside without hesitation.
Then, throwing the bag onto the ring, she shouted.
“Hey! Don't make me do things like this! Got it? Am I your lackey!?”
In her words, two people who were shirtless and sparring looked at her while breathing heavily. They had sturdy chests, abdomens like washboards with absolutely no flab, and even the minor muscles in their arms were wriggling.
“Then it’s your account, so should we go and receive it?”
“Give me some water over there.”
The two people spoke as if it were no big deal.
They were Na Hong-gu and Woo Do-hwa.