* Name Reminder
Haphuco - The main character
Barami - The daughter of the city's mayor. Haphuco is working as a bodyguard for her.
Bodi - The boss of the Bodi Bodyguard Agency where Haphuco is working for
Nara - A co-worker of Haphuco at the Bodi Bodyguard Agency
Ba - The restaurant owner where Haphuco is working for
Haphumi - Mr.Ba's daughter
Biani - Haphuco's younger sister but not blood related
Biudo - The owner of the house where Haphuco is living in an apartment for rent inside
Hakyo - The name of the city where Haphuco is living in
In this world, after hundreds of years of war when countries invade, conquer and damage each other out of greed and conflict, human being has come to realization that war only brings unnecessary devastation to the world so they concluded "We are done with this sh*t".
However, as killing is still a need, a more "peaceful" method has been taken which is assassination. Over time, assassination is now a well-organized system with a proper organization managing everything behind it. People who do these jobs, called assassins, are well trained from a young age and when they grow up, they seamlessly blend into the daily lives of normal people, always be ready for action whenever receiving the order.
This is a story about a boy who grew up to be an assassin but then he wants to find a purpose in his life away from killing. His name is Haphuco.
[ Hakyo Shopping Mall ]
Like every Saturdays, Hakyo Shopping Mall is once again brimming with people gathering here for different purposes like eating, going to the cinema or shopping. Among them, a cheerful girl is walking happily while a boy is closely following behind, carrying multiple bags of clothes and accessories. They have been wandering around several fashion stores inside the building for many hours now.
Haphuco : Uhm, Miss Barami...
Barami : Huh ?
Haphuco : I just want to say that it will be very hard for me to protect you when I have to carry so many things on my hands.
Barami : Protect ? I thought you are a servant that my father hired for me.
Haphuco : No, Miss Barami. I was hired by Mr. Mayor to be your bodyguard and my job is to ensure your safety while you are going out.
Barami : Yeah, no thanks. It's not like we are in a comic book where there will be someone dare to kidnap me in the middle of the day like this.
Haphuco ( Briefly look at no where ) : Well, that's true, but still...
Barami : Instead of worrying about that, what you need to focus now is to ensure that everything you are carrying remain nice and clean or you are finished. Got it ?
Haphuco : Yes, Miss Barami.
Barami : Okay. Let's get back to the mansion.
Barami : By the way, how's old are you ?
Haphuco : I am 19, Miss Barami.
Barami : 19 ?! So you are only two years older than me ?!
...
[ Barami's Mansion ]
Barami's Father ( Hug Barami ) : Did you have a fun time, my sweetheart ?
Barami : Dad ?! Aren't you supposed to be at work this time ?
Barami's Father : Screw the work ! At least I have to be at home and greet my daughter, don't I ?
Barami : Dad !! You are the city mayor, remember ? You can not do that. Now let's me go !
Barami's Father ( Let Barami go ) : Okay, okay, sweetheart.
Haphuco ( Step in, clothes changed ) : Mr. Mayor, as it's time, I shall take my leave.
Barami's Father : Oh, okay. You can leave now, Haphuco.
Haphuco : Thanks you, Mr. Mayor. And have a great evening, Miss Barami.
Barami's Father ( After Haphuco leaves ) : So what do you think, sweetheart ? Is Haphuco a good bodyguard for you ?
Barami : I don't understand why I need a bodyguard, dad. At this rate, he would better be my servant.
Barami's Father : This is for your safety, sweetheart. About Haphocu, you can trust the boy. He is a very capable bodyguard, I can guarantee that. Also, I really like that boy, he is quite a likeable person.
Barami's Father : So do you want Haphuco to be your bodyguard from now ?
Barami : Well,...
...
[ Bodi Bodyguard Agency Office ]
Bodi : Congratulations, Haphuco !
Haphuco : Eh ? For what ?
Bodi : For securing the job to be the bodyguard of the mayor's daughter. We just received the confirmation call from them. For now, it's every Saturday but you might get more if you do well.
Bodi : With this achievement, I can say that you gonna get more recognition within the team. What do you say ?
Haphuco : That's great to hear. I really don't want to be constantly tested by my "lovely" seniors like at the beginning.
Bodi : That happens to everyone, especially for someone like you, doesn't it ?
Haphuco : Well, I am off. See you next Monday, Boss.
Bodi : Wait, Haphuco. Why don't we go drinking some beer tonight for celebration.
Haphuco ( Open the door ) : No thanks, Boss. I still have another job tonight. And also, I am still 19, I don't dri...
[ Fushhhhhh ! ]
As soon as Haphuco opens the door, a knife suddenly is launched diagonally up, aiming his head. Haphuco manages to move his head downwards but it does not end here as the attacker then skillfully turns the knife point to stab straight down. A swift two-step move from the attacker.
However, Haphuco not only manages to dodge the attack but also gives a counter kick to the attacker. The attacker is actually Nara who also works for the agency like Haphuco.
Nara : Auchy ! Nice, Haphuco !
Haphuco : Why did you do that, Nara Senpai ? What if I die from that attack ?
Nara : Oh please, Haphuco. How can you possibly die from a mere attack like that.
Haphuco : You... Boss, tell her !
Bodi : She has a point, Haphuco. Also, I think she just want to see if your skills have gotten any rusty or anything.
Nara : Spot on, Boss !
Haphuco : Urg ! You guys are crazy as heck. I am out of here !
Nara ( After Haphuco leaves ) : Before you say anything Boss, this is just a knife toy ( Point the knife into her finger ).
...
[ A restaurant in a street ]
Haphuco : Hi, Mr. Ba and Haphumi. How's it going ?
Ba : Glad to see you, Haphuco. Are you ready for another night of work ?
Haphuco : I am always ready for work, Mr. Ba.
Haphumi : Hi, Haphuco Senpai. How's your bodyguard's job going ?
Haphuco : I will tell you about it later, Haphumi. There is already a customer waiting.
...
It's 10 p.m and it's time for the restaurant to be closed. The three people sit at a table, eating food cooked from any remaining ingredient prepared for the day.
Haphumi : Wow, so you now become a bodyguard for the mayor's daughter ? That's so cool !
Ba : That's surprising to me too. You must really be capable to be chosen, aren't you..
Haphuco ( Slightly embarrassed ) : Well, haha, I just got picked, that's all.
Haphumi : By the way, Haphuco Senpai, it's unusual to see you still staying here during this time. Normally, you would just take the food and then leave, right ?
Haphuco : That's because my sister, Biani is not home today so I think I could stay here a bit longer.
Haphumi : Oh, the beautiful lady that talked with you last time, right ? She is your sister ?! And here I thought she is your girlfriend this whole time ?
Haphuco : No silly, she is my sister. We share the same room during the time we were raised in the orphanage. Although we are not blood related, I treat her just like my younger sister.
Ba : You kids must have gone through a lot to get this far in life. You should take this as a valuable lesson, Haphumi.
Haphumi : If possible, please invite her to the restaurant. I really want to talk with her someday.
Haphuco : Sure !
...
[ A house where Haphuco is living in ]
Currenly, Haphuco is living inside a house of an old man named Biudo. The old man, once a builder, has renovated his house's spacious basement into five apartments for rent and Haphuco lives in one of them along with Biani. Anyone who wants to rent and live here needs to get the approval of Buido right at the beginning. Right after Haphuco opens the door, he is greeted by Biudo.
Haphuco : Ah ! Mr. Biudo.
Biudo : Oh, you're back. How's the work, kid ?
Haphuco : It was fine. Have you not slept yet, Mr. Biudo ?
Biudo : I am old now, I don't sleep much. However, unlike me, you are still young so makes sure that you sleep soon, okay.
Haphuco : Got it, Mr.Buido. Thanks for caring.
Biudo : It's not like that, you brat. I am just giving you advices. Go ahead, kid.
...
Haphuco opens the door to his apartment. As Biani is not at home today, the room is pitch dark. Even when the light is turned on, the room still emits a lonely atmosphere. Haphuco sits on the sofa and lays his head backwards to relax. There is only one bedroom inside the apartment which is used by Biani. Afterall, it was Biani who shared the room to him plus for some reasons, he likes sleeping on the sofa, it just feels nice to him.
Overall, he had a good day. Today was the first time he become the bodyguard for the mayor's daughter. She sure spent a lot of money but she seems like a nice girl. It feels great that he now has a weekly job in the agency instead of being inconsistently assigned for work like before. He learned how to make another dish from Mr. Ba's restaurant today and he can't wait to have Biani taste it when she comes back from her "business trip".
...
But in this kind of time when he is alone, he once again is thinking about the purpose of his life. He manages to not think about it while he was at work but now when he is all alone, he could not help but be filled with thoughts. For a very long time, since he was a child, he had always trained to become a great assassin because he thought that's the only way for him to live. He constantly improved his ability, graduated from the assassin school but then he gave up being an assassin right after his first-ever mission as an assassin. Even though he now has a secure work for making money and a cozy room to live, he keeps wondering :
"What is the meaning of my life ?"
And then he falls asleep.
End of Chapter 1 - Meaning
Next Chapter - Chapter 2 : Sunday