It's almost closing time and Jeong Hyeok can't stop thinking about his bed. It has only been his second day in law school and the first school day he had to take a shift in the coffee shop after his classes. His body hasn't adjusted yet with juggling school and work as he has gotten used to the school break. Now he's back to balancing these two sides of him again and he isn't even sure if he could do it given that law school is different from his undergraduate studies.
He sighed as he watch the clock on the cash register with his mind wandering.
He remembered the call he got a few weeks ago after he made the monthly deposit to Cho Cheol Gang.
"I don't want to play with you anymore. I've got more important things on my plate now." he heard from the other line as the policeman laugh on his own. "I transferred back the money to your account."
He was left confused with the call and checked his online banking app as soon as he could. It really was returned back to his account, his money is back. He should feel relieved now but the voice on the other line just made him shiver so he called Cheol Gang back. He knew he is annoyed with the call back but answered anyway.
"Why are you returning the money? How about the evidence?" Jeong Hyeok asked hurriedly. There was silence for a while which just made him more anxious.
"I deleted it." he answered. Jeong Hyeok could not help but ask, "Huh? Why would you delete it?"
If he was using that video to extort money for the past seven years, what's gotten into him that he would suddenly delete it? Something just doesn't sit right... "I deleted it, look, as I have said earlier.. I've got bigger fish to catch now. I don't need your money."
"How can I be sure you deleted it?" Jeong Hyeok asked, his voice almost gone with fear or maybe he is just so confused he doesn't know what to say. "Look, kid, you can call me many things but I'm not a liar."
And that's the end of the call. He has never heard from him again. Not when he deliberately not make the payment last month but why would he suddenly stop? That night was 7 years ago, they agreed with monthly payments until the statute of limitations has finally take effect. He was ready to unfairly pay Cheol Gang for Mu Hyeok if he had to.
It doesn't really matter why Cheol Gang suddenly deleted the video, what matters is he's free now and he could focus on better things now. Maybe the universe has taken pity on him and removed one of his problems.
He sighed as he realized he's been spacing out in work again. Kwang Beom is staring at him and checked if he is okay. He has earlier offered to close the shop tonight as Jeong Hyeok might still be tired but he declined thinking it's unfair and he could make it through the next 30 minutes.
A group of customers entered the coffee shop so he put on a smile and tried his best to look alive. It wasn't until he saw the Range Rover parked directly outside the coffee shop did he really felt awake.
He checked the plate number as he listens to the order of the lady in front of him. He, then, realized the man next in line and the way he would check on the parked car every now and then. He doesn't need to check the plate number to confirm it was hers.
It's him. But what is he doing here and is he with her?
The thing with this coffee shop is that it's a business franchise. It means that there is an exact same coffee shop within the 2km radius of wherever you are in the city.
So why the hell do the both of them has to get coffee here? Is she playing some kind of game now? Why would she bring him here? Or ask him to buy coffee while she's in the car? He hasn't heard from her since Jeju and he intends to keep it that way.
