Chasing in the dark

CHAPTER 3

On a freezing Saturday morning, the streets in the shabby shanty town is sporting all sorts of characters, making their way to the main road. 

The streets are almost frozen by the leftover frost from the down pour of rain a few days ago. Jae-A sits in front of the only convenient store left in the area, staring into the abyss as he remembers the freighting encounter from last night.

=Jae-A POV=

I couldn't sleep at all after being ambushed in my own apartment last night. How they got into my place is still a mystery to me. 

Lost in thought, I take out the blood stained paper from my pants pocket and look at the name written on it "Han Ying" I softly say the name that has been bothering me since I saw it dissolving as the crimson liquid consumed it. 

With a deep sigh, I run my fingers through my hair and pinch the bridge of my nose. 

My thoughts get interrupted again by Lady Mei, the owner of the convenient store as she rudely place the steaming cup of coffee in front of me "Here's your coffee" she says as she avoids eye contact and rush back into the store. 

I follow her movements and notice her telling her employees not to serve me again. 

I cannot help but roll my eyes at the ridiculousness of the people in this area. I grew up in this now shanty town. My friends and I used to occupy this store frequently and now... I am nothing but a scoundrel, a lowlife gangster.

How easy it is for people to pass judgement on those that have no options left. Before my world went to shit... I had a family! 

My mom and dad and me. 

We were highly regarded in this neighborhood. My dad was a respected doctor with his own medical practice. My mom was a beautiful housewife who made sure we were always the picture perfect family... until the recession hit. 

We were fine for a while until my dad got involved with some bad business partners and ultimately lost his medical license. Something about malpractice. That send him down a spiral of illegal and backdoor dealings. And he thought he was smart about it, well he's in prison now, so I guess he wasn't that smart after all.

Suddenly, my mom and I were thrown to the dogs. Treated like outsiders in a neighborhood that used to welcome us with open arms. And after a while my mom couldn't take the humiliation  anymore, so she left in the middle of the night and never came back.

And people wonder why I'm so f'ed up.

I look through the window of the convenient store and see them all staring at me. With a smirk, I lift my cup and thank them for the coffee as I take a sip of it.

I spit it out almost immediately. I wipe over my mouth and glare at them as I slam the cup on the table. Taste like rat droppings. You can't even get a decent cup of coffee anymore. 

In the reflection of the window, I see a familiar face walking behind me. With my back turned to the street, I faintly listen to their passing conversation.

"Hyeong, do I really need to help you?" I hear the younger boy protest.

"Yes! Now stop complaining. And stop slouching!" A small smile makes it's way up the corners of my mouth as I hide my face with my hoodie.

"Dae-Seong! All my friends are hanging out at the park today!" The younger one continues to moan as he drags his feet.

"And? If all your friends decide to jump off a cliff, would you follow them?" I couldn't help but smirk at the banter between the two.