The TV was showing the bloody clash last night.
The video was taken from a CCTV camera in a neighborhood.
All eyes were fixed on the TV screen.
Whispers of fear and worry spread among the customers.
Only two people in the restaurant did not pay attention to the broadcast.
Kim.
and
Hyun-ho.
While the film was playing, the calm but tense voice of the reporter could be heard.
"Last night, [Eunsong-gu] residents reported to the police that three men armed with knives attacked and wounded an unidentified citizen. During this conflict, two of the attackers were killed and the third one, who was seriously injured, managed to escape. "Detailed information about the condition of the injured victim is not yet available."
Hyun-ho calmly continued to clean the desks.
Apparently he didn't care about the news.
Kim didn't look at the TV.
He held his Glass of soda in his hand and closed his eyes.
He seemed to be trying to hide the anger in his eyes.
Slowly, he lifted the Glass and drank it all at once.
A narrow and almost dark alley appeared on the TV screen.
It looked more like an ominous scene than a passage for passers-by.
Two attackers attacked the citizen from opposite directions.
Their actions were cruel and violent.
Knives flashed in the yellow street light.
The citizen dodged the first attacker and placed him in the path of a fatal blow.
The second attacker's sudden attack forced him to change direction; Taking a step back and to the left, he avoided a direct blow, then—turning his body—he delivered the same initial blow to the second assailant.
The citizen's powerful fist hit the second attacker directly in the chest and he fell to the ground.
The type of standing, guard and movements of the citizen show that he is fully familiar with combat movements.
He is a professional fighter.
As the first attacker turned towards the citizen, the citizen's left hook landed on his face and jaw; He was knocked unconscious by the same blow.
A third man - who appeared to be Passerby- suddenly attacked the citizen from behind.
The citizen noticed in time.
With incredible speed and skill, he turned 180 degrees and placed one hand in front of the knife.
The blade cut his palm and sank into his stomach.
He locked his hand around the blade.
He punched the attacker's forearm with his other hand.
The knife was pulled out of the attacker's hand, but it was embedded in the citizen's body and hand.
Citizen quickly freed the blade.
With a half turn, he plunged the same knife into the third attacker's neck.
The attacker, his neck slashed, clutched it tightly with both hands as blood streamed between his fingers, and collapsed to his knees.
At that moment, the second attacker - who was back on his feet - threw his knife at the citizen's neck.
The citizen quickly sat down and dodged the blow.
As he got up, he delivered several quick blows to the leg and thigh of the second assailant.
The attacker lost control and fell to his knees.
As he fell, the citizen twirled the knife in his hand and held the tip under the attacker's chin.
As the attacker knelt, he fell on the blade.
The knife pierced his throat.
He fell to the ground in a stunned state.
The citizen fled the scene, breathing heavily.
The reporter's voice came again: "According to the police, there is still no information about the fleeing suspect."
The first attacker - the one knocked unconscious by a blow to the jaw - barely managed to get to his feet.
He limped away from the stage.
"The bodies of two of the attackers have been identified. One of them is directly related to [Nebula Systems Co]."
Several passers-by gathered around the bodies of the attackers.
One was talking on his phone, making a call.
The other one ran away in panic when he saw the knife stuck in the second attacker's neck.
The cold and harsh violence of the film was like an unequivocal document of the crime on the TV screen.
The silence greatly oppressed the minds of the viewers.
Kim turned his head towards the TV when he heard the name [Nebula Systems Co].
Sun-hee followed his gaze.
Kim stared at her.
"Honey… do you want to eat?" he whispered.
Sun-hee shook her head.
"No. I don't."
Kim brought her bowl closer and began to eat.
The reporter continued: "According to the senior official of the criminal police, so far no match has been found between the blood samples recovered from the weapons and any records in the identification databases."
Kim took a quick glance at Hyun-ho and nodded at the TV.
Channel 8 continued to broadcast the story.
"No matches found. For this reason, the police suspect that these people may be staying in the country illegally. Despite an increased focus on border security to prevent illegal entry—"
Hyun-ho changed the channel. Music replaced the news broadcast.
Kim continued to eat.
"Many people live here illegally. I don't know when the law will seriously address this issue. We must stop these people from entering, the situation is getting out of control." Kim grumbled under his breath.
A shudder ran through Sun-hee.
"That's terrible… what does it even mean? "People are walking like that and someone stabs them."
Kim nodded in agreement.
"These are the people who drive up the crime rate."
"But my dear, our country ranks high in the world for its low crime rate. Don't you agree?"
Kim put the last piece of meat in his mouth.
"Now… yes. I agree. But before… no – anyway, what do you and I have to do with law and politics? Let's focus on something else: getting home early and stopping me from eating so fast. Ha ha."
Kim also finished the food on Sun-hee's plate.
"Finally I'm fed up. Huff."
He looked at Hyun-ho and thanked him loudly.
"Thanks for the food, Hyun-ho."
Hyun-ho glanced at Sun-hee and then Kim. He paused for a moment and nodded slightly.
One by one, the customers left the restaurant.
Kim seemed to be planning and timing everything - constantly looking at his watch.
...
There was a teapot and two small cups on the dining table.
Kim took the last sip of tea.
Nobody was left in the restaurant.
The waiter placed the chairs on the tables.
Hyun-ho swept the floor.
The accountant closed the cash register. Her work is finished.
The accountant and the waiter went to the back room.
The waiter came forward first to bid Kim farewell.
Kim took out a wad of cash that he kept in his jacket pocket and gave it to the waiter as a thank you.
The waiter refused the tip.
"Sorry Mr. Kim - tipping is not allowed here."
He pointed to the paper on the wall [Tipping is prohibited.].
Kim put the package back in his coat pocket.
Sun-hee stood up and signaled to Kim.
Both got up and left the restaurant after thanking.
Hyun-ho walked over to a table and stared at a folded tissue paper with what appeared to be something written on it.
He put the handkerchief in his pocket and took out the cash he had put inside.
"What an arrogant man. I told him tonight that you are my guest. At last he paid for the dinner—oh, and many times more!"
The accountant came out of the back room, stood next to the waiter, and both of them said goodbye to Hyun-ho.
"Wait—take this money," Hyun-ho said.
But the waiter, following the rules, refused.
"Thank you Mr. Ho, but I can't."
The waiter again pointed to the sign on the wall.
Hyun-ho angrily pressed the money to the waiter's chest.
"I make the rules here. My tipping is legal. "No problem - take it."
The waiter took the money with a shudder.
"Enough is enough. Be careful on the way home."
Hyun-ho pointed around. "I take care of these things myself."
After saying goodbye, the waiter and accountant left.
Kim and Sun-hee, who had left the restaurant, decided to take a walk.
"Honey... it's been ten years since we first met. Sometimes I think if you weren't there, I might be dead by now... no, I definitely would be. You brought me back to life. I will be indebted to you and I will be forever grateful."
Sun-hee smiled in satisfaction.
"Do you remember the day that happened? "That was the day we met each other... At first I thought it was an accident, but later I realized that that bastard had deliberately hit our car because he had a grudge against my father."
"I'm sorry about that, my love."
"Don't be sorry. If you hadn't been there that day, I would have died and I wouldn't have enjoyed being with you..."
Sun-hee squeezed Kim's hand tightly.
"Honey... I'm thankful for everything too."
They passed a small hardware store that was closing down.
The shop was closing.
Kim looked at the shop.
"Wait a minute honey. I'll be right back."
Kim entered the shop.
Sun-hee stopped by the door and looked around.
Excitement blossomed inside her.
She was very happy and smiling for no reason.
Kim came out of the shop.
They went on their way.
He gave Sun-hee a pair of scissors.
"Always keep one of these in your bag, honey...it comes in handy."
Sun-hee looked at the scissors in surprise and fear.
She hesitated to accept it.
Kim put the scissors in her bag.
Color drained from Sun-hee's face.
"Mr. Kim...! What is this? You know you shouldn't give a present like that! It's not good."
"I don't believe in superstitions. It's useful. It has many uses. Trust me."
Sun-hee stared at her worn and scratched bag.
"Ma'am… before I take you home, I have something to do. Will you come with me?"
"I'll come anywhere with you, baby. Even to hell." Whisper "But."
Kim interrupts.
"Thank you, ma'am."
Sun-hee smiled and enjoyed the moment.
Kim paused and thought for a moment.
"Hey... can I borrow your phone for a moment?"
Sun-hee handed him her phone without hesitation.
Kim put her phone next to his phone.
It looked like he was sending a file to Sun-hee's phone.
He fumbled with her phone a bit and returned it.
Both of them walked in the dark and narrow alley.
Sun-hee was frightened and clung to Kim.
Kim picked up an empty mineral water bottle from the floor.
"Honey... why did we come here? It's just like where that man was attacked!"
"Don't worry. This is not that place, and as long as I am with you, don't be afraid of anything or anyone."
Kim was standing on the threshold of the shuttered door of a shop.
Sun-hee was standing a little behind him.
Kim struggled to pull up the metal shutter.
Inside, a couple of young men were drinking and smoking.
The door opened, and everyone trembled in fear.
Kim was standing at the entrance.
When they saw Kim, they got up in panic.
They stared at him motionless.
The room was filled with smoke and the smell of alcohol was everywhere.
Mr. Lee's son was in a corner of the shop; He got up with a confused and angry look.
His clothes were disheveled.
His hair was long and messy.
Kim first looked at Mr. Lee's son.
He pointed to the young man standing near him.
Mr. Lee's son tried to escape.
Everyone else understood what Kim meant and took the boy and gave it to Kim.
Then they stood still - still and unmoving.
Kim hit Mr. Lee's son on the head with an empty water bottle.
"How many times have I told you to treat your old father right? Why do you live like this? This is your last warning. If you misbehave with Mr. Lee again, I will break the fingers on your right hand. Do you understand?"
Kim hit the boy multiple times.
He looked at Sun-hee.
"Honey, will you return the present I got for you?"
Surprised, Sun-hee took a pair of scissors from her bag and handed them to Kim.
Kim took the boy's hair and cut it with scissors.
"This is my last warning to you. I will break your fingers one by one... I will even crush your wrists. Do you understand?"
The boy did not move from fear.
"Yes. Yes, Mr. Kim. I'm sorry I will not do this again. I promise."
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to your father."
Kim glared at the boys.
"This is the first and last time I want to see you in places like this. Do you understand?"
They all nodded in fear.
"Go home, everyone!" Kim shouted.
The other boys quickly left the shop.
One paused, picked up a lock from the corner of the shop, and stood in front of Kim.
"Excuse me, Mr. Kim... the lock is here."
He dropped the lock on the floor and ran away.
Mr. Lee's son was standing motionless in the corner of the shop.
Kim took his hand and squeezed.
The boy felt hurt.
Kim whispers in his ear.
"I will come to your father tomorrow. I work with him. If the shop is still a mess, I'll come after you and, as I promised, I'll break the fingers of your right hand one by one. Then I will take you to the hospital and treat you. If you continue, I will break your wrist and take you to the hospital and treat you again... I will continue this until you become a decent person. do you understand"
"Yes, sir. Yes, sir."
"It's better to act right now so you don't feel the pain. You don't know how much it hurts when a broken finger is fixed. "The pain is more than the initial fracture."
Kim let go of the boy's hand.
The boy bowed in respect and left the shop.
As he was walking out, he made a small gesture to Sun-hee.
Sun-hee looked at Kim in surprise.
Kim made sure that the cigarette was not left lit and left the shop.
He locked the door.
Pulling a clean cloth from his pocket, he wiped the scissors and handed it back to Sun-hee.
Sun-hee smiled and this time accepted the scissors without protest and put them in her bag.
...
Sun-hee sat in the car next to Kim.
"Tonight was wonderful, my dear… thank you."
"For the first time in all these years, we finally had a memorable night."
Sun-hee smiled mysteriously.
"I don't think so."
Kim was shocked.
Sun-hee kissed Kim's lips—a deep, long, passionate kiss.
Kim gasped.
Sun-hee quickly got out of the car.
"Just this kiss made our night unforgettable."
She headed for her apartment.
Kim sat still, stunned and motionless.
Sun-hee tapped on the van's window.
Kim returned to normal.
"Are you okay, honey?"
Kim smiled and looked at her. He lowered the glass.
"Drive carefully. Text me when you get home, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Sun-hee handed Kim the scissors.
"Darling, you shouldn't give things like this away. brings bad luck I believe in these superstitions."
Kim took the scissors and placed them in the dashboard.
"Yes, ma'am. Okay."
Sun-hee went to her apartment.
The broken glass at the apartment entrance had not yet been repaired.
Kim watched her and followed her with her gaze.
He looked at the upstairs window.
...
The sound of entering the security code of the apartment is heard and Sun-hee enters.
She turning on the lights.
"Wow… tonight was so good."
Still smiling, Kim watched the lights in Sun-hee's apartment turn on.
His smile gradually became cold and dry.
His face became serious.
He went to his house.
He suddenly changed his path!
He returned to the restaurant.
The van was parked a little further on the side of the street.
Kim got out and approached the restaurant door.
The door was locked.
No one was inside.
He sent an SMS consisting of 0 and 1 to an unknown number.
Kim is sitting in the van and waiting for someone.
...
He checked his phone and message status.
Forty minutes had passed since the message was sent.
He pulled down the window to let cool air hit his face.
The message delivery tone is heard.
He picked up his phone again: the message had been delivered.
He received a message consisting of 0 and 1 from the same unknown number.
He looked at the message, turned off the phone and put it on the chair.
Kim adjusted the mirror with his left hand.
Suddenly, a man stabbed Kim with a knife.
Kim was shocked and reacted too late; The blade tore his forearm.
The man moved the knife toward Kim's throat.
Kim opened the door of the van tightly and created a distance.
The man closed the van door tightly and again moved the knife towards Kim's neck.
Kim defended himself; The knife scratched his hand and tore it.
The man struck Kim's neck again.