The cigarette raises to his parted lips, sitting perched between them. It slots between the two, like it was a puzzle piece perfectly meant to sit there. A lighter raises to the end of the cigarette, flame protruding from the end of the zippo and then he inhales taking a firm drag of the Esse, pulling it back from his mouth and giving it a new perch between two fingers that then lower to his side. His entire body leans against the car behind him, lazily idle. The man is waiting for something, or someone to come soon. It’s late evening and the sun is finally setting on South Korea. Many people are now on their way home from work or school, but he’s still working.

“Gi-hun ssi” In return, Gi-hun makes a point of raising the cigarette to his lips again. A half hearted hum leaves his lips to the man who called for him. “Put that out.” He demanded “I'm ready to leave.” There is a quick scowl that crosses Gi-hun’s features, he had only just lit the damn thing, and now was being asked to put it out. But such was the life of a chauffeur, far down on the food chain of the job industry and expected to submit to every beck and call of the client regardless of who they were. His boss for this call was a man who leeched off of the lives of others - specifically the poor and desperate. This man was a debt collector. He was a frequent customer of Gi-hun’s services, although he’s convinced the only reason the man offers to hire him so much is because he’s interested in more than just business opportunities. Gi-hun is not flattered in the slightest.

He flicks the cigarette to the floor, stubbing it out with his boot. Then he strides around the car, opening the back door wide for his passenger. The debt collector - that he can’t remember the name of for the life of him - makes every effort to have their bodies touch as he slides himself past Gi-hun and into the seat of his work car. He suppresses a cringe at the slight touch of clothing on clothing, or against bare skin. The door is shut behind him, and then Gi-hun situates himself inside the driver's seat of the car. “The usual?” He asks, knowing that every time he picks the man up from this location, they always go to the same place - his home.

“Not today.” The response drew a raised and curious eyebrow from the driver. “Not today?” Gi-hun repeats, a little surprised at the idea of a subtle change in his ever repeating day to day activities. “Then where?” There’s a pause from the man sitting in his backseat, a short silence that causes a twinge of nervousness to stir somewhere deep inside of Gi-hun. A sharp inhale of air into a held prolonged breath. The man in the back of his car discloses the location to Gi-hun, and despite his confusion as to why the man would want to go there, he complies. He reaches forward, starts the car and begins the drive to the location.

they pull up to the somewhat unmarked location, a feeling of unease sets steady upon Gi-hun’s shoulders. It’s late, and the only vehicles around are three large trucks, parked side by side. Other than that and his own vehicle it’s entirely desolate. The area is quite well hidden underneath quite a large expressway and he rolls his window down, peeking out at the only thing he can look at: the trucks. The door of his own car opens from the back, and his client steps out. Which was strange, as usually the man expected him to hold the car door open for him like he was some sort of prince. A hefty stack of won is thrown into his lap through the window, binded quite well. His lips part, but he’s not able to get the words out before the other does.

eep quiet about this.” The other speaks, his words more of a threat than a request. Gi-hun understands almost immediately, a hand tentatively raising the money in a gesture similar to that of raising a glass of champagne. Despite all of his senses screaming at him that something was majorly wrong, he finally releases that breath of held air. His client closes the door behind him, and walks almost aimlessly towards one of the three trucks. Gi-hun tries not to notice how the man enters the back of the truck as he starts his car and begins to pull out of the area.

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Pub: 23 Mar 2024 00:48 UTC

Edit: 24 Jul 2025 15:14 UTC

Views: 168