Swamp Murder

Swamp Murder. 18

Two weeks passed, and there was still no sign of mysterious Wang.

At first, I told myself I didn't care. It wasn't like we were anything. It wasn't like he owed me his presence.

But still... every time I walked into the club, I caught myself glancing toward the VIP section, expecting to see him. That sharp stare. That unreadable expression.

Nothing.

Work became routine, one day off, six days on. When I wasn't working, I was either sleeping or playing video games with small Wang, who had taken a liking to trash-talking me every time he won.

Grandma, being Grandma, had other plans for our little household. One night over dinner, she turned to Mia.

"You should stop working at the club," she said, matter-of-factly.

Mia, mid-bite, nearly choked. "What?"

"You're smart and talented," Grandma continued, ignoring her reaction. "Go back to school or do something with fashion."

Mia wiped her mouth and sighed. "School's a waste of time and money, Grandma. I'd just end up failing out."

"Then fashion," Grandma said simply. "You love clothes. Make something out of it."

For once, Mia didn't argue.

And just like that, she was on a mission.

The next morning, she was already out hunting for a small store to sell high-end clothes. By the time I woke up, she had already left, her determination surprising even me.

Life was changing again.

But for some reason, my mind still wandered back to him.

The air had changed.

Winter was creeping in, slow but undeniable. The once crisp autumn breeze now carried a sharp bite, slipping through the cracks of our small apartment. The streets were quieter, people wrapped in thick scarves and padded coats as they hurried about their business.

The sky stayed gray longer, and the scent of roasted chestnuts and hot soup wafted through the air. Nights were colder, and even with the blankets piled high, the chill still found a way to settle into my bones.

I was off work today, finally. I'd seen Dre once in the past two weeks, but my focus had shifted.

Right now, I had $10,000 saved up.

At first, I thought about surprising Grandma with a small store so she could showcase her delicious food, but the more I thought about it, the more I worried. She wasn't young anymore, climbing up and down the stairs every day would be too much for her.

No. We needed something better.

I was going to save more money, and when the time was right, we would leave Jeju Island for good. Start fresh. Somewhere that felt like home, where we could finally breathe.

But for now, there were smaller things to take care of.

I grabbed my jacket and headed to the thrift market.

Winter was around the corner, and we needed warm clothes. I picked out thick sweaters for Grandma, Mia, and myself—soft, sturdy, and warm enough to survive the freezing months ahead. I found a padded coat for small Wang, figuring he'd probably outgrow it by next year.

On my way out, I spotted a small mattress.

Without thinking twice, I bought it.

That night, I moved into small Wang's room, setting up my mattress beside his bed.