Chapter 21 – Tony’s One Job

Chapter 21 – Tony's One Job

With only a few days remaining until the drop off date. Min and Jackson still had not figured out how they were going to get to Korea. They had no money, no savings, no credit cards. Affording the flight was a major hurdle to overcome.

Min decided to swallow her pride and ask her sister, Jackson's mother, for money. Her sister thought that Min was assisting with taking care of Jackson while he was in rehab. No one in Jackson's family, other than Min knew that Jackson had been kicked out of rehab for using drugs. Jackson's mother was still under the impression that Jackson was still there. She was grateful for the help Min was providing him. However, she also felt that Min was putting herself in danger by spending so much time around drug addicted Jackson. Even though Jackson was getting help, his mother felt that he had fundamentally changed. She worried about Min's safety. She worried about her son manipulating Min. When Min called to ask for the money, her sister quickly without hesitation agreed to give it to her. Although Min only asked for $300, her sister wired $800 to her paypal account. There was a note attached that said:

Min-Seo. Here is the money you requested. I have also sent some additional funds to help support you while you are caring for Jackson in rehab. Min, I ask that you use great caution around Jackson. He is not the sweet boy he used to be. Drugs have changed him. I am very happy that he is getting help but please, please be careful around him. I know that you and I are not very close, but that doesn't mean that I don't love you. Indeed, I love you very much. I thank you for everything you are doing for my son.

Min was perplexed by her sister's sudden concern for her safety. The two had a long complicated history but Min definitely was not close to her sister. The concern and words of "warning" seemed disingenuous.

"Well your mother came through." Min said to Jackson. "Now it's your turn. What are you going to do?"

Jackson owed money to people all over Busan, all now all over Tokyo, so there were no friends he could reach out to. Jackson knew that he only had one option. He had to go to Soujin to ask her for help. He thought carefully about how to approach her. He didn't want to let on that he was no longer in rehab. He also hoped that she would not pick up that he was high. He composed himself and dialed her number,

Soujin answered full of delight, "Hello!"

Jackson greeted her, "Hey Jinny, it's me."

Soujin squeled with delight, "HI BUB, I didn't recognize this number."

"Yeah," Jackson explained, "I lost my real cell phone months ago, so now I am using this temporary phone until I can get back on my feet."

"How ya' doin? I miss you so much." Soujin was so happy to talk to her brother.

"I'm doing great. Still clean, thanks to you." Jackson lied awkwardly.

"No, thanks to you and all of the hard work you're putting in. I'm so proud of you bub."

Jackson continued painfully to make small talk for another thirty minutes. He needed to wait until just the right moment to ask her for the money.

"Hey, Jinny, I was wondering, could you loan me about $300? I want to buy some new clothes and a few personal items." Jackson closed his eyes, trying to stay calm and sound believable.

"Of course," said Soujin, "but I sent all of your clothes from mom's house. Why do you need to buy more?" Soujin asked politely.

"Ughhh, I've gained so much weight. They feed me really well here. Most of my clothes no longer fit." Jackson felt that was a good excuse.

"Oh wow, eating well? That's very good news. Ok, I am dropping the $300 right into you pay pal as we speak. OK...DONE. You should see it now. Is that good?" Soujin asked.

"Thank you, Jinny, that's great. I just logged on through my phone and I can see it." Jackson said, rushing to get Jinny off of the phone.

"I love you Jackson." Soujin ended the call.

Soujin's bullshit meter was going through the roof. She immediately picked up the phone to call her friend Tony from the Tokyo rehab center. She dialed quickly.

"Hi, how are you Jinny." Tony said as he answered.

"Tony, how's my brother doing in rehab?" Soujin asked without providing Tony the benefit of a formal greeting.

"What are you talking about? Jackson was kicked out over a month ago for doing drugs on the premises. He broke ever rule in the book," Tony sounded irritated.

"What!" Why the fuck didn't you call me and tell me?" Soujin was heated.

"Jinny he's an adult. We're not obligated to call anyone." Tony snapped back at Soujin.

"But we're friends. This should have been a personal favor to me," Soujin said loudly.

"Jinny, I thought you knew. You always keep such a close eye on him, I figured you knew exactlyl where he was. I would have called if I …" Tony looked at the phone. Soujin had disconnected. "FUCK, last time I help you Jinny." He said to the dial tone.

Soujin raced out of the nurses station. She ran through the hallway yelling, "I need someone to cover, I have an emergency. I'll be back in a couple of days."

She raced out of the hospital and headed straight to the airport. The only flight available to Tokyo that evening was a red eye. Soujin was pretty sure that Jackson was staying with Min-Seo. If he wasn't in rehab, Min's house was the only other place he could go.

Soujin landed at 9:00am the next morning. She headed straight to Min's house. She walked down the hallway and stopped in front of Min's apartment. She could hear Min and Jackson's raised voices though the closed door.

"The drop is five days. We need to take separate flights to Seoul. We can't be seen together." Jackson paced the floor.

"Agreed." We're still doing it at the old rail station right?" Min asked.

"Yes, I will text them the location the morning of the drop." Jackson replied. "We're doing it at 9pm, so we need to make sure that our flights arrive in plenty of time for us to get a cab over there."

"Nine? Why so late Jackson?" Min was concerned about being out so late with that much money.

"We need the spot to be empty. We can't risk there being a lot of traffic flowing through. The spot is typically dead by nine oclock every night." Jackson sniffed and scratched at his arm. "I told Jungkook to come alone, but I know he's going to probably bring that bitch Jimin."

"You sure no cops?" Min wanted simple reassurance that cops would not be involved.

"I'm positive. I already told them, no cops. Besides, if they involve the cops, they'll have to spill their little secret about the sex tape. Trust me, they aren't telling anyone about that. I also told them that if I get even a hint that cops are involved, I will start leaking bits of the tape." Jackson laughed hysterically.

"Only, you don't have the sd card, Jackson, I do. And I'm not leaking anything. I want the money. That's the deal. We get the money, they get the sd card. You promised, that's the deal." Min was getting agitated by Jackson erratic behavior.

"Yes Aunt Min, that is the deal. This is going to be quick and easy. Trust me." Jackson concluded.

"Sex Tape?" Soujin whispered to herself. She wondered how in the world Jackson had gotten his hands on a sex tape of Jimin and Jungkook. However he got it, she knew it wasn't legal. Her Aunt and her brother were now blackmailing Jimin and Jungkook. Soujin knew she couldn't call the police. She couldn't take the chance of Jackson thinking that it was Jimin and Jungkook who involved the police. Jackson was unstable and high out of his mind. There was no suspecting what he might do if he felt that Jimin and Jungkook had gotten cops involved. Soujin covered her mouth and let out a silent scream. She couldn't believe this was happening. She had to figure out how to handle this. What to do. Soujin pulled away from Min's front door and ran out of the building. She headed straight to the airport and took the first flight back to Seoul.