Instruments

EP5

"Jungmin, can you teach me how to make coffee?"

Ji-hyun calls to ask how she got my number.

No matter how educated a person is, manners are lost in an endless sea of pleasure.

Look at the sex-related crime rate in South Korea, which hasn't gone down even as most people have higher education and university degrees.

How many people are willing to draw an X with both hands in front of a swamp of pleasure?

Have you ever thought about how much you're willing to destroy yourself in order to feel a priceless pleasure?

"That's not quite right, and how did you get my number?"

"I actually kind of like you, Jung Min. I was wondering if I could see you sometime this week?"

I hang up the phone. 'Blocking incoming calls' The first hand-to-hand combat move I learnt from the chief was a fake move to deceive the opponent.

When they get excited, you lunge at them, or when they hesitate and take a step back, you counter, or if they're far enough away, you tackle them.

If you give them a cold feeling from the start and push them away, you've achieved your goal.

Minjae used to come in three times a day when I was there to order. Of course, I only grace her with one cup of coffee a day.

Whether she orders one cup or three, she only gets one cup of the magic coffee.

"Jung-min! Jung-min!"

The bastard keeps calling me even though I'm busy.

He hadn't changed from his school days.

"Why do you think all the coffee tastes different?"

"What?"

"When I order several cups, only one tastes good."

"I can't stop thinking of the flavour, what's the secret?"

"I can't believe it," I say with a snort.

"They don't taste any different, but I'm not sure why."

He suddenly calls you to the back of the restaurant and stabs you in the face with money.

"Mr Jung-min, I'll pay you, let me know, I've been losing sleep over it."

"Isn't that because you've been drinking too much coffee?"

"No, it's not. I'll give you a little bit every month. Can you sell me some?"

"You can have your coffee at the store."

Did he realise that his behaviour would change from commanding to pleading?

Did he know that I had changed my name?

His fists balled into fists.

I'm mortified that he's begging me to sell him coffee.

But I can't let my anger out this easily.

"If you come, I'll make it better than anyone else, so come often"

The easy way out is the way out.

A body built on drugs, a body built on cheating, a body built on trampling over others, the pleasure of the process is greater than the thrill of victory.

The desire to have a better experience with a little more effort, that's what kills you.

Today, after a workout and before heading to his courier job, I meet Jung Myung-heon.

We chat as we wander around Topgol Park, Cheese's leash in one hand.

The cicadas seem to interrupt our conversation, but I don't mind. It's the first day of June. The weather is around 30 degrees.

"How's the capacity?"

"I think it's just right, I'm burning a little bit and getting her addicted."

"Yeah, you're right, you should only take the dosage upwards, that's what coffee does."

"I know because I've seen kids addicted to it, but don't suddenly stop for a few days. You'll go crazy."

"And you should never be weak. I'm giving it to you because I heard about Chul Woo-hyung."

"You've seen The Godfather, right? They never deal drugs in that film."

"I'll keep that in mind, Myung-heon, but there's a limit."

"What do you mean?"

"I need to do a little more to achieve my goal."

"What is that?"

"I'm looking into it, but thank you so much."

You hand over a wad of money worth about $400.

It's expensive for a dealer who used to deliver deadly drugs through safe transactions, but if you can train someone for that much, it's a lucrative business.

It was also useful to learn the correct dosage, usage, and mixing with food for the right purpose.

My courier service was also quite popular.

The house I always deliver to in the passenger seat.

Samsung Station Hyundai Apartment No. 1102... Jae Seung-in especially liked tomatoes.

At first, I felt like I shouldn't have done this.

I wondered if it was right to take revenge on his family, who weren't even the ones who bullied me, but nowadays I feel the same way.

There is no reason or purpose for me to inflict harm on them, just as they inflicted harm on me.

Just like a child stomping ants to death for fun, I take revenge on them and go on with my life.

The people around me who get killed in the process are just fate.

I have no power to control or manipulate them.

They deserve it.

The bastards who bullied and tormented me and never reprimanded me.