I didn't want to take my eyes off this paper, I had to keep it with me to protect it. I put it in one of the inside pockets of my jacket and then I set off on my way home.
It was getting late and my little phone was almost out of batteries. I decided to keep it in case I have a problem. The road went smoothly, probably because of recent events.
The militia had to take charge of the population to "clean up" the neighborhood.
Arriving in front of my neighborhood, I was heading towards a small house moldy from lack of maintenance. I entered without knocking to find my father asleep in our living room next to Lihan.
To my great surprise, he had come home. The last time he came home he had been beaten up by one of his clients. I remember that day I was on my knees in front of the mob who was ready to kill him.
Fortunately, the crowd movement caused by this conflict was noticed by the city's technical director who called the police to restore order. After that, Lihan stayed with us for six months and then he started working in the mine with me until one day he disappeared like all the others.
I still remember our meeting. I was on my way home from school and I had to hurry because it was cold. We don't have the means to take care of ourselves, we are lucky to have a medical follow-up thanks to our work. Even if it is rather superficial.
On my way I ran into a person who collapsed, revealing under his coat a skinny body full of bruises, wounds, and puncture marks.
Hesitating between continuing on my way and trying to help him, I took the second option. I crouched down in front of him trying to wake him up and it was when I touched his forehead that I understood the situation he was in.
I put him on my back and continued on my way. When my father saw me with him he prepared the living room for me to put him on the bed. This was followed by a long week in which we almost lost him more than once. When he woke up he didn't speak right away and didn't eat what was problematic. I had to yell at him one night when I had gone through hell in the mine which made him cry. Finally, a sound came out of his mouth but after this day he started to eat whatever we handed him. We had to wait a few more days to hear his voice when he saved my father's life who was threatened by a thug in front of our house.
But it was little by little that we were able to get information about him. He told us his first name, Lihan, but not his last name. When we asked where he was from he answered us with a sad smile "from afar". He told us that he wanted to see his family at least once before he dies. I had the impression that this request was almost unattainable. When I asked him for more details about his past he said it was too dangerous.
One day, out of pure curiosity, I went into the city's recording room to type his name and the result gave me the creeps. Next to his photo, it was written Wei Lihan II the last child of the Wei family born dead. Since that day their father has never had a child with anyone else.
So I left this room with the intention of never looking for information about him again because, yes, it is too dangerous. That day when I came home Lihan was not there and it was thanks to the mafia that we found him a few months later.
I was getting ready to go to bed because the next day is going to be tough. I'll be going with Lihan if he doesn't disappear again to sell his beautiful body, even though it's riddled with scars.
"You're home late"
"You're finally coming home"
We started laughing softly and then he came and stuck to me.
"I missed you and Grandpa."
"I almost forgot you."
"You're a liar."
I laughed and then answered.
"Go to sleep, tomorrow we have a lot of work to do at the mine."
The next day, we made our way together after eating an apple for breakfast. Lihan went to a different department than mine.
After a few minutes of digging, I stopped for a few minutes to take a little break. At the same time, I checked the paper well being. I took it out to read it again with a smile on my face.
"Make it quick, we don't have time to hang around here! Besides, what are you holding there?"
"Nothing! I-I'm going back to work, please excuse me, sir."I said, putting the paper in my pocket.
"Wait, are you the kid who got close to Mr. Kim during the opening?"
"Yes, well he's..."
I was cut by a slap
"How many times do I have to remind you the rules Kyun?"
Then he slaps me again.
"You know Kyun, you can have the most beautiful face. Poverty will always make you ugly and pathetic. So put yourself in your place and stay there." Spited heat my face.
I was going to retaliate, but someone stopped me. It was Lihan who told me to keep quiet. But as he was probably going to calm the situation down I pushed him to respond.
"I didn't go near him and you saw it!"
"What do you want me to do, eh! I've got to go and reprimand him!"
"Shutting up, that's what you can do!"
"Insolent!"
He raised his whip to hit me thinking I'd cower and ask for forgiveness. Instead, I watched him do so without batting an eyelid and then said.
"What are you waiting for? Go ahead and hit me, you're going to replace me if I die anyway, aren't you?" I said frankly annoyed by the situation.
"Kyun shut up! Do you hear yourself? What's wrong with you, huh?" Said Lihan very upset.
"Please forgive him, he's not in his right mind. He's not usually like this so please don't do anything to him."
"My little Lihan, you haven't been here for a long time. I started to miss it, if you don't want the superiors to know about this, you know what you have to do."
"Okay, I will."
He disgusted me, enraged me, but I couldn't say anything back. I think I've done enough for today.
"it's okay."
"I don't want to hear you, let's go on."
"I... OK. Aren't you hungry?"
"Keep your money."
"I disgust you that much?"
"No, but they do."
We kept working until 6:00 pm. Lihan bought me food anyway and forced me to eat.
"I'm here!"
"Are you coming home with me?"
"Yeah, we can go to the grocery anyway. I've got some..."
"Do you have any medicine left?"
"A box, I think."
"Buy some with this money. You do it well to survive, don't you? You don't owe us anything, Lihan, I'll keep telling you."
"I don't see any repayment, I'm just taking care of grandpa."
I looked at him with a little smile and say.
"He hasn't drunk milk for a long time and misses it."
He gave me a big smile and we were heading for a cheap supermarket. We got milk and bread there before heading home.
"Lihan?"
He looked at me without answering so I kept going.
"Have you ever dreamed of moving to the city?"
"No, not once."
I looked at him for a moment remembering that day and then I kept going.
"You see this paper, could get father, you, and me out of this dump."
"What do you mean, it could get us out of here?"
"On this paper is the number and probably the address of Kim JiHyuk."
He stopped abruptly and tried to tear the paper off me.
"What are you doing!"
"No, what are you doing! You've gone mad, Kyun! Poverty has gone to your head! How can you even think of escaping with this?"
"And why can't I! Eh, tell me Lihan! Why can't I? Why do you stop me from dreaming like them? I thought you could understand me, that you wouldn't support me and we could get through this together."
"So you'd end up like that woman! Never!"
"He's not like the Wei, he's a Kim, he comes from a big family of doctors who work tirelessly for the survival of..."
"Humanity? Is that really what you believe Kyun? Do you think that in this world full of humans, one person would stand up to save others without a second thought?"
"Why are you protesting like that! Are you from there?"
An overwhelming silence fell between us. We didn't move. Him looking at the ground with tears in his eyes and me facing him with a face crumpled with anger, he said.
"Yes."