Swallow Hunting - Chapter 39.1
Since it was Friday afternoon, the streets were bustling with people. Even the bars with their doors wide open were in the middle of preparing for business, setting up tables outdoors one by one.
The shop the two arrived at was a meat restaurant tucked away in a corner of an alleyway. The owner and a part time worker were moving around busily, seemingly in the middle of opening preparations. Yohan stepped inside and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Brother Sang-geol!”
At that sound, a man who had been organizing tableware turned around. He was a man with a sturdy build and a thick, bushy beard.
“Bak Yohan!”
“It’s been a while, brother. I should have come sooner. I’m sorry for the late visit.”
Yohan bowed politely at a ninety degree angle. The man laughed heartily and pulled Yohan into a tight embrace. Likely due to working out, the thickness of his forearms looked as if they could crush someone like Yohan like a boiled potato. Sure enough, Yohan began to choke and struggle for breath before the man finally released him. Upon noticing Hae-jun, the man scanned him from head to toe and smirked.
“Who is this pretty thing?”
“He’s my friend. Say hello. This is Brother Sang-geol.”
“Hello. I am Yohan’s friend, Cha Hae-jun. I have heard a lot about you, brother.”
“About me?”
He hadn’t known before they arrived, but he realized it the moment he saw the man’s face. Yohan had mentioned it often. There were a few people who used to work as hosts but changed professions. This man was one of them. He had reportedly earned a large sum of money to buy a building and opened a meat restaurant on the ground floor.
“Yes. He told me many times that you are a great person. He said you’re a brother he wants to emulate.”
“I like this guy; he’s got a smooth way of talking. Sit over there. I’ll give you plenty of service in the house today.”
“Hey, I came here to spend money, not to get freebies. Bring us the most expensive thing in the shop. I’m treating him today, so help me keep my pride intact.”
Yohan bantered from the side. Hae-jun stared at Yohan in surprise. To think that the guy who showered with cucumber soap just to save money was planning to spend a fortune at a barbecue restaurant.
“Forget it, you stingy bastard. Is there anyone who doesn’t know you don’t spend money? You there, friend, what do you want to eat?”
“I like pork belly, brother.”
“I’ll bring you the best cut, so just sit over in that spot.”
The two sat in the place indicated by the tip of the man’s chin. He had promised service, and soon side dishes like savory pancakes and rolled omelets began to come out endlessly. There was so little room that they had to stack plates on top of plates. Only after Yohan went into the kitchen and pleaded with him to stop while the other customers weren’t looking did the overflowing service finally end.
“Anyway,” Yohan chuckled. On the grill, the pale pink pork belly specially selected by the owner was sizzling as it cooked.
“That brother is the reason I work delivery jobs during the day. Back when he was active in the business, he worked part time at a meat restaurant during the day and worked the host bar at night.”
He was a man so diligent he could serve as a role model. It was understandable why Yohan liked him. Hae-jun nodded and poured soju into an empty glass. Since it was the first time in a while tasting soju, a satisfied exclamation naturally escaped his lips.
“I’m going to live like that too. I’ll save up money, buy an apartment and a small building in the countryside, and live by opening a small shop on the first floor.”
It was a solid, well thought out plan. He felt a brief moment of envy, wondering how nice it would be if he had a future like that.
Instead of living day to day just to pay off debts and eventually meeting a miserable end in a back room, would a life where he could take naps in his own cozy home filled with sunlight ever come to him? Knowing the reality of his situation, only a bitter smile emerged.
“You should clear your debts quickly and come to where I am. It would be great if we lived together.”
“I want to do that too. These debts are the enemy.”
“Do those bastards still act crazy about money these days?”
“I’ve been paying regularly lately, so they call less. It’s a relief.”
“Crazy bastards. I wish they’d all just drop dead.”
That was what Hae-jun wished for more than anyone else. Having nothing to say, he just downed his drink. The soju was sweeter than reality.
“How is your new customer?”
“Huh?”
Yohan balled his hand into a fist and raised his elbow. Hae-jun had once described Lee Kang-ju’s penis as being about that size. He hurriedly grabbed Yohan’s hand to lower it and looked around. Since there were only a few customers scattered about and their seat was in a corner, it seemed no one had witnessed it.
“How can you do that in a place like this?”
“You’re probably the only one who would think of a dick.”
“You crazy bastard.”
Even as Hae-jun snapped at him, Yohan only giggled. He seemed to find the teasing fun. Since Yohan played even more mischievous pranks the more he reacted, Hae-jun made a large wrap and stuffed it into his mouth. Yohan chewed as his eyes curved into a smile.
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