Little Bro!
"Hey! Who the hell are you guys?"
Everyone turned to stare at him in surprise. Tattoos were visible through the clothes of the man who had walked right up to the table, breathing heavily.
"What are you young punks doing, messing around in a place like this already? That one's mine. I had my eye on her for a few days. I was wondering why she wasn't coming to our room, and here she is, fooling around with some kid. Hey, girl, you not coming over here?"
The woman scoffed.
"Why would I be yours? Hah… What a jerk, a total jerk. I guess I can't come here anymore. What is this crap?"
"What? What did you just run your mouth about?"
"What? I went to your room a few times, and if I leave without even having a drink, you should get the hint, like, 'Ah, this girl must not be into me.' You're built like a wild boar, how can you be so dense?"
"Wow, this is driving me crazy. Hey! Aren't you guys gonna get lost?"
Losing the war of words with the woman, the man shifted his target to us. Thinking there was no need to cause trouble, I stood up from my seat and spoke.
"Mister, I'm sorry. I just became an adult, so I came here to have a drink with my friends. We were just about to leave, so please calm down. What are you doing? Get up. Let's go."
At my words, Hyeon-seong got up to follow. But Myeong-soo showed no sign of moving.
"Myeong-soo, get up. Let's go."
"Ah, let's just hang out a bit longer!"
"Hey, hey. Are you drunk? I said let's go."
"No, do we need permission to get set up with girls now? Shit, what is this." ...Aigo, my head.
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
"Hey! What did you just say? Shit!"
"I wasn't talking to you, mister, so don't say anything. It was just to myself. And this is my dad's place, so don't raise your voice."
As our table got loud, the other people drinking began to cautiously watch the situation. Because of the loud music, they couldn't yet tell what was being said, but perhaps thinking some gangster was causing a scene, some people started to gather their things and leave. The waiters nearby rushed over.
"Aigo! Boss, what's all this? They're just kids. That's Mr. Lee's son, Myeong-soo. Please calm down. If you go wait in the room, I'll set you up with the best girls."
The waiters tried to hold his arm and talk him down, but the tattooed man shook them off and started yelling.
"What! Mr. Lee's son? Shit! What kind of punk is this? Tell Mr. Lee to come here. What are you doing? If you want to close up shop starting today, just keep it up."
I went up to Myeong-soo and whispered quietly in his ear.
"Why are you being like this? What are you going to do by making a big deal out of something that could've been handled quietly?"
"Well, did I say anything wrong? Why do we have to worry about what others think when we come for a drink? Isn't this my dad's place?"
"Have you had too much to drink? Let's just stop and go home."
I tried to coax Myeong-soo into leaving, but the kid wouldn't budge. It seemed he had taken quite a liking to that woman… but getting involved with a gangster would lead to nothing good.
"Hey, should you be interfering with your father's business? Let's just stop and get up."
At my constant urging, Myeong-soo reluctantly started to get up. Just then, Myeong-soo's father came running over.
"Aigo, Seong-ho. Why are you doing this again?"
"Mr. Lee, is this how you run your business? You want me to let my boys loose today? Want me to make it so you can't do business?"
From the way Myeong-soo's father treated the tattooed man named Seong-ho, I sensed that things had gotten complicated.
"Please don't. Nothing good comes from us getting red in the face, right?"
"Mr. Lee, are you saying that because you don't know we've taken over Nampo District? I thought we've known each other a long time, so I ended things nicely by just supplying you with liquor, right? But you shouldn't be treating me like this."
"Of course, Seong-ho, I know that. My son is still immature, that's why. I'm sorry. So please calm down and go inside. I'll make sure you're taken care of properly."
The ownership of nightclubs in this era was a complex web. Myeong-soo's father owned 51% of the shares, but the rest were divided among the local powerful figures. That was the only way to run a liquor business smoothly.
It seemed that with the Sa-seong faction dismantled and even smaller organizations swept away, thugs like him were now running rampant. Myeong-soo's expression was grim seeing his father grovel, but thankfully, he didn't step forward like before. I grabbed Myeong-soo's arm and pulled him.
We were just about to leave quietly, coats in hand.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going? Don't you stop right there!"
"Seong-ho, just let the kids go. What are you doing, you guys? Why aren't you leaving already? Myeong-soo, we'll talk at home."
Myeong-soo's father blocked the tattooed man who was about to approach us. I gave a nod as a signal and was about to quickly exit the place.
Slap!
If it hadn't been for that sound…
"Hey, Mr. Lee. You think my words are a joke, huh? I treated you with respect because you're older, thinking it's better to be nice, but you shouldn't act like that. I clearly told them to stop, so if you let them go, what does that make me?"
The people dancing, the DJ playing music, the people drinking—everyone turned to look this way. Myeong-soo's father seemed flustered… He just stood there, holding his cheek, staring at the tattooed man.
"Hey! Everyone out. This place is closed for today."
The tattooed man's lackeys, who had been watching, started to usher people out. It took exactly 10 minutes for the bustling place to fall silent.
"Mr. Lee."
"…Go ahead."
"Hey, you should have been good to me when I was treating you with respect. Shit, what is this? Getting slapped by a young punk when you're old and all, you must be thrilled, huh?"
The fuming tattooed man gestured towards us.
"You guys, come over here."
"Seong-ho…"
Myeong-soo's father tried to stop him, but when the tattooed man glared, he couldn't say another word. The tattooed man stood right in front of Myeong-soo and shouted.
"Hey! Say it again. What? Shit?"
"…"
"What? You were talking so tough earlier, now you're scared? The world's a joke, isn't it? Living the high life as the owner's son makes you look down on gangsters, right?"
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
Myeong-soo apologized, but the man's tirade continued.
"What is this, all because of you? Your father got slapped by me because of you too, right? Shit, this is just great."
"…"
Myeong-soo stood with his head down, silent. The tattooed man tapped the back of Myeong-soo's head repeatedly.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty."
"Aigo, you little squirts. I'll let it end here today since you're Mr. Lee's son. Just take a few hits."
Seeing the tattooed man get ready to hit Myeong-soo, Myeong-soo's father intervened again.
"Seong-ho, let's stop. It was my fault, really. Please spare my son. I'm begging you like this."
As if to prevent Myeong-soo from getting hit at all costs, Myeong-soo's father grabbed onto the tattooed man's sleeve. At that, the tattooed man let out a scoff as if he couldn't believe it.
"Wow! Mr. Lee, do you really think I'm a joke because I'm trying to talk this out? Why do you keep jumping in when this could end with just a few hits?"
"Aigo, he's my child. Just hit me instead."
Myeong-soo's father was always like that. Whenever we got into trouble, Hyeon-seong's father would handle anything police-related, and Myeong-soo's father would take care of anything involving money. He was the person who loved Myeong-soo the most.
In my previous life, when Myeong-soo ended up with a limp, his father sold all his assets in Busan and left the city without a word.
"Mr. Lee, do you really want to stop doing business?"
"What's the point of running a business if I can't even protect my own son? Stop this and please leave."
Myeong-soo's father was stronger than anyone. At that, the enraged tattooed man raised his hand. I grabbed that hand.
"That's enough. We're sorry for everything. My friend was very drunk and made a mistake. We would be grateful if you could let it end here."
"What's this punk now? Did you just grab my hand? My eyes aren't deceiving me, are they? Hey guys, I'm right, aren't I?"
"Yes, boss."
The tattooed man looked from my hand gripping his arm to his own hand and back, laughing in disbelief. I let go of his hand and spoke.
"No one hits a parent in front of their child. You've done enough, haven't you, mister? Let's just stop here."
"Wow, you've got some guts. What's your name?"
"It's Kim Mu-hyeok."
"Kim Mu-hyeok? Don't you want to come work under me?"
As if a wolf cub would go under a dog.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry?"
Just then, one of the thugs who had been listening from the side approached him and whispered something in his ear.
"Ah! You're the Mad Dog from Dongseong Technical High School, that one?"
"You know me?"
"You're famous. The whole neighborhood was buzzing about how some delinquent cleaned up his act and got into Korea University, right? Wow! I want you. Really, you don't want to work for me?"
"I'm sorry."
At the repeated rejection, his expression hardened.
"Hey, do you think I'm on the same level as some high school squirts? You not gonna lower your eyes? I'll pluck your eyes out and suck on them."
"…"
Why would I ever go under you? I was trying to maintain a neutral expression since I was in the position of apologizing, but the tattooed man seemed to be offended by my silence as well.
"This bastard really is a mad dog. Look at his eyes. Are you crazy and looking to die?"
I wasn't confident I could win against all those thugs, though maybe one-on-one. But there was another reason I had stepped forward like this. One of the thugs who had been guarding the entrance came running.
"Boss!"
"What is it? Why are you being so loud?"
"It's Dong-soo. Park Dong-soo."
"What are you spouting? What about Dong-soo?"
When the tattooed man first approached our table, I had seen someone with a familiar face notice me and leave.
"Hey! Little Bro!"
Park Dong-soo's characteristic way of speaking came from behind. But that mister keeps calling me little brother. I told him I'm not his little brother.
When I turned around, I saw Park Dong-soo entering the nightclub with a few of his men. He was smiling.
"What? Why is that, that bastard here?"
The tattooed man stuttered, looking slightly flustered. Park Dong-soo waved at him.
"Well, look who it is. Isn't it Byeon Seong-ho? It's been a while. Surprised you didn't get locked up."
"What is this? This is my turf. Why did you come here?"
"Ah, you punk. It's been a while, but you don't even greet me. Still got no manners. You see, the kid in front of you is my little bro."
At those words, the tattooed man named Byeon Seong-ho glanced at me.
"Is this a setup?"
"What bullshit. Do you think you're important enough for us to set you up? I came because I heard my little bro got into a scuffle with you."
"…"
The tattooed man bit his lip. Park Dong-soo paid him no mind and cackled, beckoning to me.
"Hey little bro, you really glad to see this big bro, aren't you?"
"I'm not your little brother, mister."
"Hehehe. That crazy bastard, he's still like that even in this situation."
The thugs Park Dong-soo brought with him surrounded the area. In an instant, the atmosphere became heavy. I looked over at Myeong-soo's father, who was just standing there, unable to grasp the situation.
"Now! Seong-ho. Shall we have a little conversation?"
Park Dong-soo, having secured the area, plopped down in a seat. True to his reputation. His actions overflowed with confidence.
Byeon Seong-ho watched him warily before sitting down in front of him.
"Seong-ho, how many years has it been? Seven? You've grown up, our Seong-ho. Even expanding into Nampo District."
"…Let's stop."
"Stop what? We haven't even started yet."
I wasn't sure what their exact relationship was, but the strong one was Park Dong-soo, and the weak one was Byeon Seong-ho. It seemed like the conversation would drag on, so I approached him and spoke.
"Mister, I'm going to head home with my friends now. Thank you for your help."
Park Dong-soo turned to me and waved his hand dismissively.
"Hey, little bro. Wait just a bit. Now that you're an adult, this big bro will buy you a drink."
"Well, that's all good, but could you stop with the 'little bro' stuff?"
"Hahaha! This is why I like you."
"The owner of this place is my friend's father. Please take good care of him. And… the liquor here is fake. Are there still thugs who use such cheap tricks these days?"
Park Dong-soo looked at Byeon Seong-ho and smirked.
"Tsk! Still haven't shed your cheap habits? Why haven't you changed at all since you were a kid? Who messes with the liquor they supply these days? In the end, you're just spitting in your own face."
"…"
Ignoring Byeon Seong-ho who didn't answer, Park Dong-soo spoke to me again.
"You gonna wait?"
"No. My friends have had a lot to drink today, so we're going to head out. Thank you for your help."
I ignored Park Dong-soo, who was about to say something, and went back to my friends.
"Let's go. If I ever drink with you again, I'm a dog."
"…I'm sorry."
I went over to Myeong-soo's father and greeted him.
"Father, I'll come see you next time. Mr. Park Dong-soo over there will probably take care of things. And please check the liquor when you receive it. I think they're playing games."
"Huh? Oh. Alright. Take Myeong-soo home for me. Got it?"
"Yes, don't worry. I'll just take him to my place to sleep tonight."
"Alright, I'll buy you a drink next time. Stop by before you go up to Seoul."
"Yes, Father."
As I was leaving the nightclub with the guys, Park Dong-soo's loud voice rang out.
"Hey, little bro! Let's have a drink before you go to Seoul! I'll come find you soon!"
Ha, he calls me little brother to the very end.