Hyunjin
He sits silently in the back seat with his arms crossed over his chest and no seatbelt on, staring out of the darkened window. His face is completely expressionless. He shows no emotion, not even anger or indignation at the fact, that his own father sold him as a slave to pay off his debt.
„I expected you, to be more upset about this twisted situation, but I'm honestly taken aback, by how calmly you're taking it." I don't count the sudden attempt to escape — anyone would try to escape, whether or not they respected this crazy situation. Who would want to be sold to a heartless mobster without knowing, what fate awaited them?
„I can get angry. But do I have a choice?" He asks calmly, his tone almost chilling given his hopeless situation. He is still watching the city lights through the window.
„No, you don't. Someone has to pay off my debt."
„Well, there you go," he snaps icily. Why isn't he angry? Why is he taking it so calmly? His indifference makes me nervous. People should experience emotions when they lose their freedom. They should realise, that their life as they knew it is over. They should cry, scream and beg. I've always elicited those emotions, it's always been that way. Not this coldness.
Unpredictability pisses me off. It's a complication.
„You really don't care, why your father sold you?" Instead of answering, he falls silent. I'd love to know, what he's thinking right now.
„It surprises me anyway. It's not as much fun, when you're not angry." He should be freaking out at the fact, that he's in a car, with a stranger and armed guards, who look like they're protecting someone important, like the president or someone way worse dangerous.
„You're not quite right in the head, are you?" He says contemptuously, finally looking at me, with a deep, penetrating gaze and bottomless black eyes.
When he looks into my eyes and remains silent, filled with hate, I feel something stir inside me. Perhaps, I don't want to admit it, but the idea excites me. The idea of breaking him. Not physically — that would be too easy. I want him to see me differently one day. Like someone he trusts. Someone he fears but also needs.
„Maybe we should set some rules. Firstly, I'm your boss, not your friend, so you should treat me with a modicum of respect. You will address me as "boss", understand?" I realised a while ago that he's not from around here, because if he were, I would definitely know about him by now. He speaks English, with a thick American accent, suggesting, that he was not raised in this country. Therefore, I will abandon traditional Korean ethics and settle for him addressing me as boss.
I look at him, raising my eyebrows, and try to keep my expression emotionless.
„Do you understand me?" I ask him again, hoping, that he understands the rules, that apply here.
„You addressed me informally first," he points out, coldly noting, that I was the one, who broke with etiquette by addressing him by his nickname, without asking his permission. But I'm older. More importantly, I have power.
„I can, so I'll ask again. Did you understand me?" I ask him again and watch him look away from me.
„Yes," he mutters indifferently. Oh no, boy. Not like that. Something's missing. I grab him by the chin, turning his head towards me, with a sharp movement.
„Yes, what?" I reply sharply, my icy gaze burning into his. He shifts his gaze from one eye to the other and bites his lower lip between his teeth.
„Yes, boss?" Why does that sound like a question to me?
„Are you asking me?" I grip his lower jaw more tightly, with my fingers. If I squeeze any harder, he'll be left with bruises on his cheeks.
„No. Boss." I grunt with satisfaction.
„Secondly, you will do everything I tell you to do — and I mean everything. Whether you agree with it or not. You will do it." I emphasise every word, pressing him hard so that he understands, that I am the one giving the orders here and that I expect them to be carried out, when I give them.
„What does that mean?" He almost whispers.
„If I tell you to pull the trigger, you do it." Finally, I see an expression appear on his face. His face stiffens, his eyes widen and his pupils dilate. He looks at me in shock. I suppose he doesn't like the idea of killing people on my orders.
„You want me to kill people?"
„Even though you're innocent in this, you should understand, that I won't accept someone stealing my money. It wasn't a small amount, after all. Since you can't repay your father's debt with any of it, you'll have to serve me in another way. You should be glad, that I'm offering you a place in my security detail. I originally had a different plan for you." I glance at him and see a quiet understanding flash in his eyes. He's probably just realised, what plans I had for him. However, I can't say, that I've completely given up on that idea. I'm still tempted to see him kneel naked in front of me.
„There's no way I'm going to pleasure you in bed," he snaps, leaning back against the cold car door to put as much distance between us as possible.
„You have no right to resist. I told you, that you would do everything I say. If you want to survive, you'd better start obeying." I threatened him quietly, but menacingly. I need his complete obedience — I can't afford to lose another bodyguard.
„What's your name?" he asks me out of the blue. I turn to him, raising my eyebrows. „Boss," he adds quickly. I run my tongue over my front teeth and decide, that he should at least know my name.
„Yoon Hyunjin. But don't call me that. To you, I'm the boss. Like for everyone else."
We remained silent for the rest of the journey to my house, which suited me quite well. I think my conversation has really got him thinking. However, he must understand, that this is not a fairy-tale world, but a harsh one. It's heartless and merciless, it doesn't mess around with anything or anyone.
Either he'll adapt to it, or he'll end up six feet under the ground.
... ༺༻ ...
BLOOD DEBT (피의 빚)