Enigma II : Magic Card

/5/ Hoseok

"Hoseok had never told me what he went through in his work, not until the day he was escorted by the police to interrogation. He was always secretive, so I never asked him about it. He had this thing for computers, that he wanted to work on a part-time job I thought if he liked it then why not? He had been doing the job to support me and I never knew his pains!" I passed the tissue as Mrs. Jung sobbed. She thanked me and wiped the single tear about to escape from her eyes. She provided with a smile, "Would you like some tea?"

I sat next to the open door on the rattan chair as she went up to boil some water on the stove, and waited for her to continue, "After that, he had left for Seoul, what did he do then?"

"He told me he took up some part-time works there, but that didn't pay him enough so I sent him regular allowance per month. He refused to take and told to stop sending him money but that was the least thing I could do for my son."

"You do remember where he used to live, right?"

"I don't remember at the moment, but I used to send him letters," She rummaged through some drawers, a while later emerging some old envelopes, "This. Here's the address.'"

"I needed this for my research, thank you so much."

"Are you going to include the police incident in your dissertation too?" Her face saddened, "That may ruin my boy's image."

"No, I won't. You can remain assured about that. The research is just for a book about dancers and their lifestyle, no past incidents will be included in there that may bring a bad look on his reputation."

"That's a relief. I will help with all sorts I can." She brought forward a notepad too, "Here are some places he told me about where he worked at the city. It might come to your help."

'Omo, it's a surprise that you still have them. Thank you. Yes, I do need them too indeed." I stood up intending to leave.

"Huh, are you leaving this soon? No, stay for a while. You can't leave without having my tea. I won't let you go. It will take a few minutes." I smiled brightly at her benign face and sat back down again. "Let's talk about your boy until then."

"Hi, you must be, the landlady, Mrs-' I took the quickest glimpse at the small paper in my hand, "Choi?"

The woman looked at me from foot to head through her big round maroon glasses. She was standing akimbo before the half-opened door, her one hand held a spatula for perhaps a continued cooking session. The yellowish apron capturing the roundish petite figure of the owner, she, with a doughy face now gazing at my unwelcomed self didn't exactly enthusiastic about anything, I doubted if my upcoming inquiry would go well with her. The gloomy apartment behind her gigantic body was loud, passes of clamorous screeches of children had filled the corridor as soon as the door was unlocked. She uttered a loud 'Calm down!' turning around, that startled me too let alone the unknown number of kids in there. Everyone shushed next second. Then she looked back at me.

"Yes, how may I help you?" She sounded annoyed already. I stood in a politer posture, "I actually needed to get some whereabouts of one of your former tenants, maybe you can help me?"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"She almost shouted at my ears, I sizzled inside to keep my tempt down and smiled to gently repeat, "Could you- help me about a tenant who once-"