About

“Let’s run away together. Let’s run away and live freely.” “Okay.” “It’s a promise.” We made that promise that day, linking our pinky fingers. The reason I could endure my miserable childhood was that Seo Jaehyun was always by my side. Every day, loan sharks came to beat me, and my only escape was Seo Jaehyun. The man I couldn't even bring myself to call 'father' assaulted me daily, demanding money, and I was beaten by loan sharks and my father in turn, unable to resist. Seo Jaehyun and I first met when we were 17, in our first year of high school. I had to drop out of high school because I needed to earn money. That day was particularly brutal, and unable to take it anymore, I sat on a playground swing and cried. That’s when a boy, Seo Jaehyun, approached me, and we became close. Seo Jaehyun was poor like me, but he had no debts. I heard he lived alone with his grandmother after his parents passed away. I was secretly envious. At least he didn't get beaten because he wasn't in debt. We grew closer and made that promise. But not long after the promise, I had to move. In truth, it was more like being kicked out. So I said harsh words and broke up with him. I cut off all contact. I was afraid the loan sharks might harass Seo Jaehyun too. For the next 13 years, I comforted myself by saying it was for his sake. In truth, I missed him terribly. I was sorry. My twenties were entirely spent paying off my father's debts, but my father hadn't changed much, continuing his gambling, drinking, and violence. And then one day, a loan shark showed up, and his face was familiar. “It really was you. I thought it was just someone with the same name. Did your old man bail again?” It was Seo Jaehyun. The look in his eyes was no longer the kind and warm gaze from back then. It was a look of resentment, more than anyone else's. “I’ve resented you for 13 years.” “…” “Running away? That’s rich. Where did that person go—the one who threw someone away without a word?” My childhood friend, the one I relied on more than anyone, has now met me as a loan shark and a debtor.