60

There were days that felt exceptionally long. It was like that when I was physically tired, but it was also the same when I had a lot of thoughts. The darkness of the night seemed endless as you wonder if the day will ever end. Filling up the stretched time was a number of complicated issues.

Tomorrow was the day we were supposed to meet Chairman Kim, but will the madman come? Was that guy aware of Chairman Kim's moves? And if he didn't, what would he think? There was only one end to the ensuing question. Could he really win? On the other side of the endless question mark, an unidentifiable irritation came to mind.

The road manager remained tight-lipped after that, but it was clear that the madman had hired him. Maybe to protect me. I should have been angry at this fact, but bewilderment took precedence over anger. Of course, I should be angry because it was a blow to my pride, but the fact that he had done something for me made my heart flutter slightly. It was this that was irritating. Annoyed at my inability to react normally.

"Excuse me."

Hansoo, who had been chasing me to the bus stop after breaking up with the road manager, spoke up hesitantly. There must have been a lot of things he was curious about, but I looked back because I thought he had managed to endure it, but he asked as if he had been waiting.

"Who is Jay?"

"…"

"And he knows Road uncle and Taemin?"

"No."

After answering the second question easily, Hansoo gulped down his saliva as if frustrated.

"But you both know a guy named Jay. How do you know him?"

"…"

When I avoided answering again, he pursed his lips and muttered in disappointment.

"You bully only me."

When I still had no response, he pretended to be more depressed.

"I've known you longer, Taemin, and you only hate me."

"…"

"Manager told us to be like brothers. What kind of brothers are these…"

"Hey, I'll tell you, so stop."

In the end, when I finally spoke in a low voice, Hansoo quickly raised his head and his eyes brightened as if he had never done that.

"Who is Jay?"

"A madman."

"Ah, mad… huh!"

***

It seems that I almost stayed up all night with my eyes open. I knew it was morning because of a text message from the good-looking guy early in the morning.

― Hyungseok eventually brought another prey. When Song Yoohan appeared before the party started, his expression was funny. I think he saw it as an opportunity to suck up Chairman Kim's dick when he wasn't there. I think Song Yoohan also noticed Hyungseok's intentions a little. Chairman Kim must have been in a good mood yesterday. The party ended a little while ago. Tell me. Surely it's worth it for me to watch this disgusting thing? Can you take down all these bastards?

The combination of letters seemed to smell strangely of tears. I sent a short reply.

— Sure.

I closed my phone and opened the book I had been holding a while ago. Right now all I had to do was wait. For Myungshin to twist himself more and more, and for me to find the right moment to take advantage of it. And for the madman to appear today. In the book, the main character was finding the last hint in the lyrics of the song. But he had his doubts. Could this song be another trap?

***

After a quick acting class in the morning, I went to lunch and headed to the conference room, where my manager was just entering the office.

"Taemin, it's good to see you. Anyway, I've been meaning to ask you something."

The manager stopped at the door and lowered his voice with a serious face.

"Did Photographer Lee contact you to take another nude photoshoot?"

"Why?"

"No, I got a call from the company and they said they needed models for the pictorial and asked me to come with you for a test. Goodness, did they think we'll be going…"

"I will go."

"Yeah right. You… oh! You will?"

"Yes," I nodded, and he looked at me for a moment as if he wanted to say something.

"Wouldn't it be uncomfortable to meet Photographer Lee? I'm sure he'll ask you to do something nude again."

He had just opened the door and had been talking to me, but his voice was interrupted by a shout from the inside.

"Ahh! Manager! Why are you coming now?!"

"Huh! It's a surprise! Hansoo What's wrong with you? What's going on?"

When the surprised manager quickly went inside, Hansoo rummaged around and tugged on his arm, bringing up an important fact.

"Oh my God, the manager would be really surprised to know what happened yesterday."

"… I'm already surprised by your screams."

"No, even more surprised than that?! Well, I was on my way home yesterday and suddenly…"

"We ran into a thug."

When I interrupted to explain, the manager looked back at me with really startled eyes. Behind him, Hansoo blinked and looked at me. I gave him a quick glance and told him not to say anything more.

"But it was no big deal. I yelled at them a couple times about calling the police, and they all ran away."

"Oh yeah? I'm glad. I thought you were hurt somewhere."

The manager let out a sigh of relief, placing a hand on his chest. Seeing that, Hansoo said 'ahh' and put a finger to his mouth as if to keep quiet. He seemed to think I did it because I was afraid the manager would be worried, but I didn't want to expose what the road manager did. Because I didn't want to reveal he was someone related to Director Yoon. But all these efforts were in vain.

"Hey, Taemin. Then can we not talk about Jay?"

He whispered and asked, but the manager who was right in front of him couldn't not have heard it.

"Jay? Who is that?"

I looked at Hansoo with a bewildered expression. But he took my lack of an answer as permission to continue.

"Well, Uncle Road and Taemin both know someone named Jay."

"Jay? I think I heard the name somewhere… Hm, what about that person anyway?"

"He said he was the 'Madman'."

"Oh, that person again… Gasp!"

The manager opened his mouth, showing the same reaction as Hansoo did yesterday. However, I couldn't help but be more surprised by Hansoo's words.

"Besides, the madman is Uncle Road's stalker!"

I was surprised too. How does that make sense? The moment I tried to ask again, I had no choice but to shut my mouth at the manager's cry in shock.

"Then you mean that douchebag madman is a woman?!"

***

It was 6pm when the phone, which had been silent all day, rang. I thought about not answering it because I didn't recognize the number, but funnily enough, I pressed the call button thinking that this might be the madman.

"Hello."

[Is your sponsor related to Director Yoon?]

Disappointment came first rather than annoyance at Myungshin's sharp voice. it's not that guy.

"It's none of your business."

[… So am I right? Is he someone related to Director Yoon? Who? Fuck, which old man did you suck off?]

Why would he ask me this out of the blue? I was puzzled and answered dryly.

"Tell me why you're asking. Then I will tell you."

[…]

"Hang up if you don't want to."

I was about to end the call, but I heard a voice calling me over the phone.

[Fucking bastard, wait! Damn it… Director Yoon contacted me. If you don't come, today's meeting is off. What the hell are you thinking? Fuck, did you think I would be scared if you met me face-to-face at today's appointment?]

"You're already scared."

[What? What nonsense is this punk talking about…]

"You are trembling out of your wits, isn't that why you called me in the first place?"

[Don't be ridiculous. I was just dumbfounded and wanted to check. If so, that's probably the only power your sponsor has now… licking the backside of the would-be scarecrow, Director Yoon.]

Scarecrow. Still, Myungshin tried to get involved with Director Yoon. Did he think the madman would eventually be screwed over as well? However, on the other hand, his word scarecrow sounded like bluffing. In a state where I didn't know exactly which card Director Yoon had, I felt flustered because I couldn't even predict Chairman Kim's move. He must have considered himself an aide to Chairman Kim, but he did not know what decision he would make. Come to think of it, was Chairman Kim really the greatest? He's a really old fox. Not even saying a word to his lover who sucks his own dick.

"If someone's holding a knife behind that scarecrow, it's worth licking its back."

[… You mean that's your sponsor? Who? I told you why I called, so tell me too.]

"No."

I heard an angry voice saying "What?" over the phone , but I hung up the call. I ignored his calls several times after that, but my nerves were all focused on what Myungshin said. He said that Director Yoon contacted him. That meant…

Tring. When I lowered my head at the notification that a text message had arrived, I saw a few short lines.

― By 7 o'clock, in front of xx building xx. I'm coming straight from the airport.

Yes, he really came. As I stood up, I realized that all the anxiety inside me had been washed away. It's just the fact that the madman has arrived in Korea and is nearby. When I checked the time, another text message came.

— Were you worried about me?