I'm Park Min-soo, a 27-year-old with a complex past. By night, I work as a male dancer at 'Eclipse,' a popular club in Seoul's vibrant nightlife scene. By day, I teach boxing lessons to those seeking to learn the sweet science. Originally from Pohang, I made the bold move to Seoul a year ago, following my ex-girlfriend, Yoon-ah, who landed an internship at the prestigious 'Hanseo Investments.' As an orphan, I've always had to rely on myself, taking on various jobs to be able to maintain myself but I never wanted Yoon-ah to go through hardships like I did. So I started to support Yoon-ah and her family.
But things took a turn for the worse when Yoon-ah started changing after just a month at Hanseo. She'd stay out late, ignoring my calls and texts. Three months in, she dropped the bombshell that she was moving out and breaking up with me saying that I needed to sort my life out. At the time, I was working as a cleaner at a different club, but that experience sparked an epiphany. I decided to leverage my dancing talent and take a chance as a male stripper at Eclipse.
That's when everything changed. I never heard from Yoon-ah again, and I was left to pick up the pieces. Now, I reside in a small, modest studio near the club, living a simple life. My athletic build, broad shoulders, and chiseled features have proven to be assets in my new career, drawing in customers and attention. But beneath the tough exterior lies a sensitive soul – a big teddy bear, if you will. I've learned to mask my emotions, but deep down, I'm still hurting from the past."
As I turned the corner of the club, I noticed a woman sitting on the ground in the dimly lit alleyway, clutching her arm. Her sleeve was soaked with blood, and a crimson trail dripped down her hand, forming a small puddle on the ground. She looked up, and our eyes met. Hers were large, expressive brown eyes with a sharp gaze, fringed with thick lashes. They sparkled with a hint of determination, even in her vulnerable state.
"Please, help me," she said, her voice weak but urgent.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But something about her expression tugged at my heartstrings. I quickly scooped her up in my arms and rushed her to my nearby studio.
Once inside, I gently placed her on the bed. She winced in pain, her eyes scanning the room frantically.
"Get me a first aid kit," she demanded, her voice laced with a hint of authority.
"I...I don't have one," I admitted, feeling a bit helpless.
Her gaze narrowed. "Fine. Get me a pair of tweezers, a sewing needle, and some vodka. Now."
I raised an eyebrow, unsure of what she planned to do. "Uh, okay...But what's going on? What happened to your arm?"
"Just get the stuff, please," she insisted, her voice firm but laced with a hint of vulnerability.
I quickly gathered the items, my mind racing with questions. When I returned, she instructed me to pour the vodka onto her wound, then used the tweezers to carefully extract a small bullet fragment from her arm. I watched in awe as she expertly disinfected the area with the vodka, then used the sewing needle to stitch the wound shut.
As I watched her work, I realized that this woman was no ordinary damsel in distress. She was strong, resourceful, and seemingly accustomed to handling dangerous situations. But who was she, and what had led her to this point? Little did I know, this chance encounter would change my life forever.
A while later.
"Ah, do you have an old phone I can use?" she asked, her eyes scanning the room.
I got up and handed her my old phone. She dialed a number and waited for a moment before speaking.
"Tae, I've been compromised. I'm going to lay low for a while. Don't let my sister anywhere near the gold trade that's happening tomorrow night . Also, bring some cash to your favorite street - 500,000 won should do. I need it to survive in this dump. And don't worry, I'm fine."
She ended the call and promptly destroyed the phone, crushing it beneath her heel.
I stared at her, stunned. "What the hell are you doing? I was still going to use that!"
She gave me a bored expression. "I did you and myself a favor. We would've been dead in an hour's time if I did not destroy the phone."
I shook my head, trying to process what was happening. "Who are you? Also you're not staying here tomorrow. You're leaving tomorrow morning."
She chuckled, a low, husky sound. "I'm Ji-hye. And I'll be here for a while, Min-soo."
My eyes widened in shock. "How do you know my name?"
She smiled, seeming to enjoy my discomfort. "I've seen your dance moves. I was intrigued. I wanted a private session, but...well, I got shot instead."
She yawned, stretching her arms above her head. "I'm tired. I'm going to sleep. Tomorrow, go down to the market on 5th street. There will be a guy driving a black Hyosung GV650 Aquila with the license plate number 43구 9211. He'll give you the money to buy me some clothes, food, and medication. I need antibiotics and painkillers."
I shook my head, incredulous. "Hey, crazy lady, I'm not doing those things. Are you crazy? I don't work for thugs."
She smiled again, her eyes glinting in the dim light. "If you don't go at 8 tomorrow, I'll kill you. They don't call me the Black Widow for nothing."
I swallowed hard, unsure of what to do. Who was this woman, and what had I gotten myself into?