Someone Like Yoo

II

Chapter II: Tea Service Or A Ride Home?

"Don't you even think-!" My self-defense instincts had gotten the better of me and without any second thoughts, I turned back one hundred eighty degrees, facing him, and swung a hand against his arm in a karate chop. I did all of this in less than a decimal second. 

I saw the widening of his eyes before his face crunched up in pain. The magnitude of the strike haven't really sunken in until I heard another womanly cry coming from his mouth. "Ooww!" I almost rolled my eyes but I noticed that the room has gone more awfully silent than before. I turned around and met the astonished expressions on Mr. Kim Shin's and the other man's faces. 

Mr. Kim must have recognized me because he put down his utensils and raised both of his eyebrows at me in comprehension. I bowed down immediately from my position and greeted, "Ah, ahjussi. Sorry to interrupt your dinner." *

Deok-hwa came closer to me and leaned down to my ears, still holding the injured part of his arm. "Great, now you ruined everyone's night."

To mask my annoyance, I took two short breaths and exhaled one long one, closing both of my eyes at the same time. Once I opened them back, I faced Deok-hwa and forced myself to smile. "No, you-ruined-my-night," I quietly exclaimed, pausing in each and every word to emphasize my statement and make sure he gets it. He only stared back gravely at me I swear I could see fire blazing in his eyes. 

I turned back to Mr. Kim and caught him smiling. There's a swift twinkle in his eyes when he did, as if the tension in the stare-off between him and the man had already faded away hours ago – and unfortunately transferred to us. Ahjussi stood up. "It's not just about the money, is it?"

Everyone in the room suddenly turned to him – even the man in black, who was wordlessly eating his vegetables just a minute ago, looked up from his meal. I didn't know what to say at the moment so I turned to Deok-hwa again. I don't know, maybe for help or something else. Or maybe I was hoping he's as confused as I am too. But he only gave me a side glance and I could sense a tinge of guilt in the way he scratched his hairline. I then turned back to Mr. Kim, a baffled expression in my face. "Pardon me?" My voice went out hoarse. 

Mr. Kim let out a short chuckle and opened his mouth to continue, but Deok-hwa stepped in. "Samchon." * They met eyes and in an instant, they were in their own sphere of silent conversations, sending each other knowing glances and mouthing out words. Deok-hwa keeps shaking his head and Mr. Kim only has his mouth sealed shut with an intimidating look plastered on his face. The man in black went back to finishing one final piece of string bean and stood up from the table, bringing his plate to the kitchen sink. Maybe this happens all the time between Mr. Kim and his nephew. 

I glanced at my watch. 5:18 pm. Shit. If I don't leave now, I won't be able to make it. "Excuse me," I blurted out, clearing my throat afterwards. "Mr. Kim, I was sent here by my aunt, Samshin to get the payments of the books you rented from our bookstore."

Mr. Kim withdrew away from Deok-hwa's glares and looked at me, smiling again. "Yes, I'll go get my wallet." He turned to his nephew and asked, "Yah, won't you fetch a cup of tea in the kitchen for our guest here? Aigoo, your manners are getting poor as always." Deok-hwa only answered him with an inarticulate grant, pursing his lips to one side in dissatisfaction before he walked himself to the kitchen. 

Now left alone, I sat at the nearest plush chair and swept my eyes around the house. The man in black was at the farthest corner, drinking in a juice box and watching television. The last time I was here was two months ago when Aunt Samshin disguised herself as a grandmother to give Mr. Kim a head of cabbages. They talked for hours on end into the night that I couldn't even tell if it was morning already. We traveled all the way from Incheon to Seoul just for that. Sometimes, I don't know if I should feel really proud about the fact that Samshin helps other people with their fate, or should I feel unlucky about it because she needs to go out all the time and if she knows I'm not doing anything, she's going to drag me into it and force me to tag along.