Chapter 143. Tremble in Fear (2)

As evening drew close and they met for dinner, Lee Soo-Hee readily agreed to go to Gyeongju for their upcoming trip.

“Are you really okay with it?”

“Yeah, I’m good with it. My last trip to Gyeongju was back during my first year of university, with Hyo-Jin, Jung-Jin, and a few others.”

A variety of dishes were laid out on the table, Lee Soo-Hee picked up the plate of shrimp sushi and placed it in front of Ha Jae-Gun.

“I remember asking you to join us back then, but I think you were too busy with writing throughout the entire summer vacation. You sat out back then, right?”

“Haha, yeah,” Ha Jae-Gun replied with a shy smile.

Memories of those tough and hot summer days surfaced in his mind. Back then, he had to write while sweating profusely despite having a fan. He was holed up in his room throughout the summer vacation.

There was even one day when he had no idea that his nose was bleeding. He could still remember how his father had given him a beatdown back then.

“I wrote like I went crazy..”

As if reading his mind, Lee Soo-Hee said, “I was on the phone with Jung-Jin a few days back, and we talked about you, saying that you were always writing something during holidays, lunch breaks, and even after school while drinking with friends.

“There’s no way you would have failed to succeed with the amount of effort you’ve put into your writing.”

“Jung-Jin said that?”

“Yeah. He actually gets more excited talking about you than about himself.”

Ha Jae-Gun looked down and chuckled. Park Jung-Jin was one true friend who had given him the strength to come all the way to where he stood at the moment. Ha Jae-Gun definitely would repay him.

‘Hmm?’

As he reminisced, Ha Jae-Gun’s downward gaze became clearer.

Lee Soo-Hee had a blustering chiffon skirt on today. Her long, slender thighs were wrapped in black stockings. They looked even more alluring with the orange lights shining on them.

“Where are you looking so intently?” Lee Soo-Hee felt his gaze and adjusted her skirt.

Ha Jae-Gun looked up belatedly.

He picked up a plate of sushi and said calmly, “Your legs look beautiful.”

“Look at you, getting more shameless.” Lee Soo-Hee’s face blushed, bewildered.

Ha Jae-Gun shrugged and smiled in response. Now, he didn’t have to steal glances at Lee Soo-Hee’s legs anymore. He still found it awkward looking at her openly, but at least he would be forgiven if he was caught looking.

“I usually like the summer season, but I’m slowly hating it now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I won’t be able to see you wear stockings in summer.”

“You—men really are…”

“Hahaha.”

Bzzt!

Their conversation was interrupted by Ha Jae-Gun’s ringing phone.

It was a call from Oh Myung-Suk.

Ha Jae-Gun excused himself and picked up the call.

“Hello, editor-in-chief.”

— Hello, Mr. Ha. Are you available to talk right now?

“Yes, please speak.”

— I would like to arrange a meeting with you this week. I have something to tell you. Are you available on Friday evening?

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’ll be going on a trip this weekend to Gyeongju, so it’s going to be tough. However, I’m free next Tuesday onward.”

— I understand. I’ll arrange for a meeting sometime next week then.

“But what is this about? I’m curious, so I can’t help but ask.”

— Haha, there are two things I’d like to discuss. Simply put, there are a few commercial requests that came in from a couple of online essay academies, including Giga Study. They say that your intellectual impression will improve their businesses’ public image.

“Ah, I see…”

Ha Jae-Gun wasn’t all that interested in that proposition. Of course, he would receive handsome remuneration if he accepted them, but that was not what he wanted. He had already earned more than enough money.

He needed to find his purpose.

‘Isn’t the answer to writing essays just to read and write more of them? It’s not like you need to go to an academy for that.’

If he took up those commercials, he would have to praise them, even if they were inferior. He would get paid, so he would have to do his best.

“I’ll think about the commercials. I don’t really think that there’s a reason for me to take up one that soon,” Ha Jae-Gun replied after a while.

Oh Myung-Sun did not ask further and raised his second topic,

— I understand. Secondly, it’s about your new novel.

“New novel?”

— Yes, I was wondering if you would like to consider writing your next novel with the overseas fans in mind as well. Keep the sensibility unique to Korean readers to the minimum and focus more on the story.

“I understand what you’re getting at. I’m still thinking about it.”

— It can be a horror or even a mystery novel, just something that will capture the US readers. I believe that if you make plans around that, your novel will become popular in that market as well. Probably a few dozen times better than how There Was A Sea is performing. A local agent there shares the same opinion as me. I apologize if this comes off as burdensome for you.

“It’s not. It’s all thanks to you that both my novels became bestsellers and even got to enter the US market. I’ll think over this carefully for my next novel.”

Ha Jae-Gun soon hung up the call.

Sitting beside him, Lee Soo-Hee asked, “Talking about your new novel?”

“Yeah, he asked me to write my next novel with the overseas market readers in mind. But I still don’t have any new story in mind.”

“You can think over it slowly since it’s not urgent.”

“Yeah, I should.”

Even though he replied casually, worry began filling Ha Jae-Gun’s mind. He even started wondering what stories would capture the attention of overseas readers.

***

“Myung-Hoon did?”

“Yeah. He… seriously.”

Oh Myung-Suk couldn’t believe it. His father, Oh Tae-Jin, had just conveyed news about Oh Myung-Hoon to him.

“He said he felt that he was lacking in many areas while working as an agent and has decided to remain in America. He also said that he wants to study more before he becomes the CEO and that he needs to build up his connections as well.”

Oh Myung-Suk nodded and smiled.

Across from him on the sofa was Oh Tae-Jin, sipping on his coffee.

Oh Tae-Jin said gently, “It seems like Oh Myung-Hoon has finally found his path after wandering for a long time. His personality is flawed, but he’ll do well in any job so long as he takes it seriously.”

“I know that, too. He’s got a wild side once he starts working, so I’m kind of worried.”

“Don’t blame it on him too much. There are times when you’ll encounter such unreasonableness when doing business. You can then give him a warning if you feel that it’s getting worse.?”

“I understand. He’s returning to Korea if that were to happen then.”

Oh Tae-Jin put down his coffee and changed the topic.

“There’s nothing much going on with Writer Ha, right?”

“Yes, he is currently planning for a new novel. Because of There Was A Sea, I suggested that he write his next novel with the overseas market in mind.”

“I hope it turns out well this time, too. I know that you’ll do well, of course, but don’t scrimp on the investment.”

“Of course. The popularity of his There Was A Sea made everyone else scramble to buy the rights to his past novels. I will discuss them over with Writer Ha one by one.”

“Okay, that’s good.”

Oh Tae-Jin then stood up with a grunt.

“Are you leaving already?”

“How can a President sit around becoming an obstacle in the editor-in-chief’s work? I’ll see you later in the evening. Come back early. Your mother made taro soup for dinner.”

“Yes, Father. Please return home first.” Oh Myung-Suk sent off his father, then picked up the phone. He exceptionally missed hearing his younger brother’s voice today.

Thinking back, Oh Myung-Hoon would definitely just give him a curt response no matter what he said, so he stopped himself and chuckled to himself before silently cheering on his younger brother.

***

The trip to Gyeongju was pleasant.

Ha Jae-Gun and Lee Soo-Hee arrived at the hotel they had made a reservation with and checked in before going sightseeing. They walked down the streets while holding each other’s hands.

“We’ve seen the Cheomseongdae and Anapji Pond. Let’s go to the museum next.”

“Soo-Hee, let’s take a rest before going there.”

“How could we rest when it’s just a two days and one night trip? Let’s rest at the museum. The sun’s coming down soon, too,” Lee Soo-Hee replied. She was in comfortable jeans and running shoes today.

She didn’t expect that she would enjoy her trip alone with Ha Jae-Gun so much to the extent that she found it a pity that time was passing by so fast.

As they stepped out of the museum, Ha Jae-Gun found a couple in their forties.

He asked them for a favor, “Excuse me, can you take a picture for us?”

The man took the phone and said, “Yeah, sure. I’ll just press this button, right?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Ha Jae-Gun quickly returned to Lee Soo-Hee’s side and stood beside her. He wrapped his arm over her shoulder, and Lee Soo-Hee laid her head lightly on him.

One, two, three.

The flash on the phone went off as soon as they said kimchi.

“Thanks a lot.”

“If you are, can you give me your autograph?”

“Pardon?”

The man grinned and pointed at his wife. She looked back with uncertainty and walked over with a book in hand. It was a copy of There Was A Sea.

“You’re Writer Ha Jae-Gun, right? We’re your fans.”

“Ahh, I see. Thank you. How did you recognize me right away?”

“I have quite the keen eyes. Look, honey. I told you I was right.”

“Did you see me earlier, too?”

“We were right behind you when you entered the museum earlier. You seemed quite focused on the exhibitions.”

“Hahaha, yes. I’m not the kind to multitask. Ah, please give me the book.”

“You’re here on a trip with your girlfriend?” asked the man.

The moment Ha Jae-Gun was about to answer, Lee Soo-Hee walked up and said, “We’re here to look for materials for his new novel. I’m not his girlfriend, but I’m just assisting Writer Ha with his work.”

“Hoho, I see.” The man laughed and nodded. He didn’t really believe Lee Soo-Hee, but he decided to let it go. “It was nice meeting you. Please do well in your research, we’re looking forward to your next novel.”

“Yes, thank you. Goodbye.”

The couple walked away in the opposite direction.

As Ha Jae-Gun and Lee Soo-Hee turned around, Ha Jae-Gun said, “I’m fine with revealing our relationship, though.”

“I didn’t do it for you but for myself. What if I get doxxed and people come after me just because I’m Ha Jae-Gun’s girlfriend?”

Ha Jae-Gun grinned. Lee Soo-Hee’s reason was definitely not an excuse. There was also another reason for keeping their relationship under wraps. They wanted to prevent any obstacles from popping up in the future.

“We’ve had a late lunch, so I’m not hungry yet. What shall we do now?” Lee Soo-Hee asked as she took the passenger seat.

Ha Jae-Gun pondered briefly before saying, “I want to go somewhere.”

“Let’s go then. Where is it? Is it somewhere we haven’t visited yet?”

“It’s not a historical site; it's just a neighborhood in Gyeongju,” Ha Jae-Gun said and entered the location in the navigator. He planned to look for the scene he had seen in his dreams.

“I think I might have been there a long time ago, but the memory is quite vague. I want to check it out myself. Can we go there? It’s not that far.”

“You’re weird. I’m fine, so let’s go.”

Ha Jae-Gun then drove to Guncheon-gu outside the city.

It was already sunset when they arrived at the Guncheon Public Office.

It was a small and quiet village.

‘I’m pretty sure I was facing this side, and the public office was behind me.’

Ha Jae-Gun recalled his dream and slowly looked around.

However, he got more questions rather than answers upon arriving.

Was the dream part of his memories? Or was it from the elder?

“Are you looking for something?” asked Lee Soo-Hee after walking up to him.

“Gyeoja Bathhouse.”

“Huh?”

“Actually, I saw this neighborhood in my dreams,” Ha Jae-Gun replied, looking back at Lee Soo-Hee. “There should be a place called Gyeoja Bathhouse around here. It was definitely here when I saw it in my dreams.”

“In your dreams? But didn’t you say you came here a long time ago?”

“That’s a question I have in mind now too. I kept wondering if I’ve been here before,” Ha Jae-Gun mumbled, asking himself as he looked around.

A group of elderly people walked past on the quiet side of the road. There was also a group of children playing hopscotch in a corner of an alley.

‘Hmm…?’

The building behind the children playing caught Ha Jae-Gun’s eyes. It was a single-level building that looked like it had been around for decades. It was surrounded by fresh-looking buildings.

“Jae-Gun, where are you going?”

“Wait.”

Ha Jae-Gun walked toward that building, seemingly attracted to something. However, the entire structure couldn’t be seen. He found a narrow walkway next to it, sandwiched with the neighboring building. It seemed like he had to take the narrow walkway to find its entrance.

Just then…

“Oh? That hyung is trying to go into Gyeoja Bathhouse,” one of the kids playing nearby said out loud.

Ha Jae-Gun turned around and asked the kid, “Gyeoja Bathhouse?”

“Yes, that’s our secret hideout.”

“…!”

Ha Jae-Gun swallowed once and shivered. The very same bathhouse he saw in his dreams existed in real life. Lee Soo-Hee watched Ha Jae-Gun’s face turn serious, and she walked up to him with worry.

“Are you okay? You don’t look good.”

Ha Jae-Gun nodded and turned to the kid.

“Hyung wants to take a look inside, can I go in?” he asked.

“Sure. If you head down that way, you’ll see the door.”

“Thanks.”

Ha Jae-Gun took Lee Soo-Hee and walked down the narrow walkway until they soon found an open space. Above the entrance to the shabby building was an old sign tilted to one side. Ha Jae-Gun froze upon seeing the signboard.

“Is this why it’s called Gyeoja Bathhouse…?” Lee Soo-Hee muttered as she looked at the signboard. She then turned to Ha Jae-Gun.