A man walked up to just in front of the table, his tattoos visible through his clothes.
“What are you young punks doing, coming here to play and mess around? She’s mine. I’ve had my eye on her for a few days now. I was wondering why she didn’t come to our room, and here she is playing with a young punk. Gas, are you not going to the room?”
The woman snorted.
“Why should I go with you? Really, what a creep. I can’t come here anymore. What’s the point of this place?”
“What? What did you just say?”
“Why? I’ve been to your room several times, and I didn’t even have a drink. You should think I don’t like you. You’re as big as a wild boar, but you have no sense at all.”
“Damn, I’m going crazy. Hey, aren’t you going to leave?”
When the man was losing the argument with the woman, he shifted his target to us.
Thinking it was unnecessary to cause trouble, I stood up and said,
“Sir, I’m sorry. I came here with my friends to have a drink now that I’m an adult. We were just about to leave, so please calm down. What are you doing? Let’s go.”
Hyun-seong followed me as I stood up.
But Myung-soo showed no sign of moving.
“Myung-soo, stand up. Let’s go.”
“Aww, let’s play a bit more!”
“Hey, hey. Are you drunk? Let’s go.”
“No, do I need permission to book someone? Damn, what’s this?”
...Oh, Myung-soo.
The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.
“Hey, what did you just say? Damn?”
“It’s not like I’m saying it to you. It’s just a mutter. And this is my dad’s place, so don’t raise your voice.”
As our table got noisy, the people drinking around us started to notice.
Some people, thinking a thug was causing trouble, quietly got dressed and left.
The waiters rushed over.
“Oh! Mr. Sung-ho, why are you here? They’re still kids. Myung-soo is the owner’s son. Calm down. If you go to a room, I’ll make sure to book you well.”
The waiters tried to hold the tattooed man, but he shook them off and started shouting.
“Hey, the owner’s son? Damn? What kind of kid is this? Call the owner. What are you doing? If you want to close down, keep acting like this.”
Myung-soo’s father stepped in to block the tattooed man who was trying to approach us.
Just as I was about to leave with my coat, he shouted,
“Hey, where are you going? Aren’t you staying there?”
“Mr. Sung-ho, let the kids go. What are you doing? Aren’t you going to leave? Myung-soo, go home and see Bok-jae.”
Myung-soo’s father blocked the tattooed man.
Everyone, including the dancers, the DJ, and the drinkers, looked over.
Myung-soo’s father, looking flustered, held his cheek and stared at the tattooed man.
“Hey, everyone’s watching. Are you going to close down today?”
“...Speak.”
“Hey, treat me well. Damn, what’s this? You’re old, but you got slapped by a young punk. How does that feel?”
The tattooed man gestured to us.
“Come over here.”
“Mr. Sung-ho...”
Myung-soo’s father tried to stop him, but the tattooed man glared and he couldn’t continue.
The tattooed man stood in front of Myung-soo and shouted,
“Hey, say that again. What? Damn?”
“...”
“Wow? You were so bold just now, but now you’re scared? The world is funny, isn’t it? You get treated well because you’re the owner’s son, so you think thugs are funny, right?”
“I’m sorry. Please forgive us.”
Myung-soo apologized, but the man continued.
“What’s this? Your father got slapped because of you. Damn, you’re really something.”
“...”
Myung-soo was silent, his head bowed.
The tattooed man hit the back of Myung-soo’s head.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty.”
“Damn, you’re just a kid. I’ll let this slide today because you’re the owner’s son. Take a few hits.”
Myung-soo’s father, seeing the tattooed man about to hit Myung-soo, intervened again.
“Mr. Sung-ho, that’s enough. I really made a mistake. Please let it go. I’m begging you.”
It seemed he was trying to protect Myung-soo.
Whenever we got into trouble, Hyun-sang’s father handled the police, and Myung-soo’s father handled the money.
Myung-soo’s father loved him the most.
When Myung-soo’s leg was injured in my previous life, his father sold all his assets in Busan and left the city.
“Mr. Owner, do you really want to close down?”
“What’s the point of running a business if I can’t protect my son? Let it go and leave.”
Myung-soo’s father was stronger than anyone. The angry tattooed man raised his hand.
I grabbed his hand.
“Stop it. We’re all sorry. My friend was drunk and made a mistake. Please let it go at this.”
“Who the hell are you? You’re grabbing my hand? Are my eyes wrong? Guys, is that right?”
“Yeah, sir.”
The tattooed man, looking surprised, laughed as he looked at me and his hand.
I let go of his hand and said,
“No one hits a parent in front of their child. You’ve done enough, sir. Let’s end it here.”
“Wow, you’re really a tough guy. What’s your name?”
“Kim Mu-hyuk.”
“Kim Mu-hyuk? Don’t you want to work under me?”
I’m not a puppy to work under a thug.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”
At that moment, one of the big guys standing by the entrance ran over.
“Sir!”
“What? Why are you making noise?”
“Mr. Dong-soo. Park Dong-soo.”
“What? What did you say? Who’s Dong-soo?”
When the tattooed man approached our table earlier, someone I recognized had seen me and left.
“Hey! Dong-sang!”
Park Dong-soo’s distinctive voice came from behind.
But that guy keeps calling me ‘brother.’ I’m not his brother.
Turning around, I saw Park Dong-soo entering the nightclub with a few others. He was smiling.
“What? Why is that guy here?”
The tattooed man, looking a bit flustered, stuttered.
Park Dong-soo waved at him.
“Hey, who’s this? Is it Byun Sung-ho? It’s been a while. You managed to stay out of trouble.”
“What? This is my territory. Why are you here?”
“Damn, you don’t even greet me after so long. You’re still as useless. The kid in front of you is my brother, Dong-sang.”
Byun Sung-ho, the tattooed man, glanced at me.
“Are you here to cause trouble?”
“What the hell are you talking about? Why would I go through all that trouble for someone like you? I heard you were causing trouble with my brother, so I came.”
“...”
The tattooed man bit his lip.
Ignoring Byun Sung-ho’s silence, Park Dong-soo chuckled and gestured to me.
“Hey, Dong-sang, aren’t you happy to see this brother?”
“I’m not your brother, sir.”
“Haha! That crazy kid, he’s still like that even in this situation.”
The big guys Park Dong-soo brought surrounded us, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
Myung-soo’s father stood there, not knowing what was happening.
“Alright, Sung-ho. Let’s have a chat.”
After clearing the area, Park Dong-soo sat down confidently.
Byun Sung-ho, sensing the situation, sat in front of him.
“Sung-ho, how long has it been? Seven years? You’ve grown, Sung-ho. Expanding to Nam-po-dong.”
“...Let’s just end it.”
“What are you ending? We haven’t even started.”
I couldn’t tell the exact relationship between them, but Park Dong-soo was the strong one, and Byun Sung-ho was the weak one.
Seeing the conversation might drag on, I approached and said,
“Sir, I’m going home with my friends. Thank you for your help.”
Park Dong-soo, looking at me, waved his hand.
“Hey, Dong-sang, wait a bit. Now that you’re an adult, I’ll buy you a drink.”
“No, that’s fine, but please stop calling me ‘brother.’”
“Haha! That’s why I like you.”
I approached the kids.
“Let’s go. If I drink with you again, I’m a dog.”
“...I’m sorry.”
I went to Myung-soo’s father and bowed.
“Father, I’ll visit again. Mr. Park will probably take care of things. And please check the drinks carefully. They seem to be fake.”
“Yeah, yeah. I got it. Take Myung-soo home. Got it?”
“Yes, don’t worry. I’ll take him to my place and make sure he’s okay.”
“Hey, I’ll buy you a drink next time. Before you go to Seoul.”
“Yes, sir.”
As I was about to leave with the kids, Park Dong-soo’s loud voice echoed.
“Hey, Dong-sang! Have a drink before you go to Seoul! I’ll visit soon!”