CH 10.1

misahyn11-14 minutes 28.05.2022

“What should we see?”

“Well. What do you want to see?”

Cocaine and Hashish exchanged only this question for 30 minutes. Even looking at the poster hanging inside the CGV, there was nothing particularly worth seeing. After stopping by the mart to shop, some people bought clothes, stopped at the hairdresser. Cocaine and Hashish felt it was a pity to just go back, so they decided to go see a movie. Cocaine looked at the poster awaiting a choice and pointed to one.

“I want to see this.”

Hashish frowned. In the poster, four old men were standing in the snow.

“The old people are the main characters. Just looking at it, it seems plain and boring.”

“It’s plain and boring, that’s all we need. The only people I meet every day are thugs, patients, or perverts. Look closely at the faces of the main characters. I’m sure the movie will be warm and fun too. Let’s see this, yes?”

“Fine. I’ll buy the ticket.”

Hashish walked to the ticket office, tapping his finger on Cocaine’s cheek. Hashish was the one who would often put up with Cocaine when he was being stubborn. He was also castrated, but unlike the delicate singers, he was tall, had a thick skeleton, and had a tenor tone. He had such a decent appearance that women would glance at him when he took off his performance costumes and dressed neatly.

When he was thirteen, his grandmother, his only blood, passed away, and he lived with his relatives and ran away because of their negligence. While walking around the streets, he joined a pickpocket organization, and he was caught by the boss who was acquainted with the group. Hashish took on the role of the reliable eldest in Paradiso. If they had something to suggest to the boss, he took the lead, and he also placated colleagues who caused conflicts. Except for Yaba, of course. Hashish bought the tickets and bought coffee on his way back.

“I have about an hour to spare. I was wondering why there are so many old people today, but I guess it’s because of this movie.”

Hashish said, holding out the coffee.

“By the way, he might mess around with your stuff again if you leave him alone.”

“Who?”

“Who else, the madman of course. In the past, if you were absent, your mask would be destroyed, and your reservation list would be ripped up. Even the gift you received from the customer was ruined… Anyway, he’s a real bastard. Was he like that when he was younger? I heard you lived in the same neighborhood?”

“It was different when we were younger. He was an honest kid who took good care of his sick brother. It would be difficult for anyone to endure in a place like this.”

It would be difficult for anyone to bear witness to the sight of people’s brains exploding in front of their eyes on that young day, being castrated, imprisoned, and forced to play clowns. Yaba’s intense sense of inferiority also corroded itself and eventually led to the path of a loser.

But he himself will never lose. He fought fiercely to escape from the nightmare of that day, and barely achieved the mask of composure. All that was left now is to escape from this hellish place. Cocaine opened the lid of the coffee and took a sip. The bitter taste engulfed his tongue. Hashish said.

“By the way, why did that crazy guy come yesterday with his forehead wounded? It’s the first time he was singled out like that and has been on a business trip, isn’t it strange? It seems to have something to do with the Executive Director Cha.”

“When did you see Yaba say something like that?”

“You share the same room, but you don’t even talk much, do you? What are you guys’ relationship supposed to be?”

“Well. It’s up to Yaba.”

No, it might be up to himself. Friends with dark childhood, or enemies who ruined each other’s lives. They hold the line from end to end and watch each other. But before that, there was one thing he needed to confirm with Yaba. Whether his premonition was right or wrong when he first met Yaba. Cocaine looked at the poster dryly. Hashish put the cup to his lips and spoke first.

“By the way, Executive Director Cha, he used to come in and out everyday, but it’s already been four days without any news.”

“He must be very busy with work.”

“What work… Does such a diligent person come day in and day out drunk on drugs?”

In the end, the conversation was back in circles. Cocaine sighed.

“Dongwoo.”

They called each other by their real names only when they were outside. These were their original names, Chaewoo and Dongwoo.

“I don’t care what Yaba is doing around here. Someone must have liked Yaba. Or maybe it really has something to do with Cha Yiseok. I don’t even want to find out one by one. I’m tired. I want to stop using my voice during the day.”

Hashish smiled bitterly.

“Don’t you know why I’m doing this? Do you know what your expression looked like the last few days, when you found that Executive Director Cha was not on the reservation list?”

“I do the same to my regulars when they stop visiting. Don’t make any fuss.”

“Don’t lie to yourself. Do you know that sometimes you’re worse than that jerk Yaba? You’re wittier than anyone else, and when I see you pretending to be dull, I get angry.”

Hashish murmured in pain. Cocaine was always like that. He didn’t reveal his thoughts outright, but it was difficult to let it go unnoticed. So being together with him consumed a lot of energy.

“You’re right. I don’t think this movie will be interesting. Let’s get a refund and go.”

Cocaine passed by, pretending not to see Hashish’s stiff expression. He saw a crowd of people moving. A man buying tickets to soothe a nervous lover, a couple carrying the popcorn carefully so as not to spill it, a child whining in front of his mother in front of a cartoon poster… His childhood and youth, which he did not enjoy, unfolded like a screen. He himself was a spectator who could not be mixed with that mediocrity.

Whose fault is that? Was it the fault of Yaba, who was terrified and forced to snitch? Was it the boss’s fault? Was it because of Imsoo who obeyed the boss’s orders? Could it be the mother’s fault for trying to use her child’s abilities? Or was it the negligence of God who gave him an unwanted ability…?

He wanted to get out of my position as a healer, even for a moment. If a colleague was injured or fell ill, he would run to him to ask for a song. Without thinking of self-reliance, they relied solely on healing. Sometimes, if you procrastinate because you are tired, your eyes will change. He was not a panacea. Sometimes their blind faith was stifling. It was confusing whether their goodwill was that of a friend or as a patient. It would be good if there was a person who could make his miracle be in vain. Someone to help him break free of the “healer” label…

Right, there was such a person. Even if they made you laugh out loud, even if they sometimes made him feel more incompetent than drugs or alcohol. Cocaine was fiddling with the phone in his pocket. Individual contact with guests was against the rules. The boss insisted that if they met with guests outside, sales would decrease. When he sent a picture to Cha Yiseok before, he didn’t erase his phone number. He kept it in his head since he couldn’t leave a trace. His legs moved as if being swept away, but his fingers continued to fiddle with the phone. It was then.

“W-why are you doing this? That’s why I told you not to come! Young man, call someone! Come on!”

In front of the ticket office, an old man fell, clutching his chest. An accompanying grandmother supported the old man with a pale complexion, and she was at a loss for what to do. People were buzzing, but they didn’t come forward. Hashish pulled out his phone and turned it on. Cocaine dragged Hashish and ran towards them. He said to Hashish, who followed him bewildered.

“Let’s go to the emergency exit.”

“Get your hands off! These guys! He can’t be moved around now!”

“Wait a minute. Don’t worry Grandma, wait a minute… !”

The grandmother alternated between smacking Hashish and Cocaine. Hashish then lifted up the fallen old man as if he knew what to do. The crowd was wide-eyed and buzzing, but they only adhered to the spectator stance. The grandmother ripped off the clothes of the two young men with tears and slapped them in the back. As soon as they reached the emergency exit, Hashish closed the door. The old man slumped to the floor in confusion, and with a pale face he panted. His hands and feet were cold. Cocaine looked at who was up and down the stairs and then quickly asked the grandmother.

“Where does it hurt?”

“H-he has a bad heart! He has a myocardial infarction! That’s why the doctor told him not to move too hard… ! Anyway, call an ambulance!”

“Give me three minutes. After all, it takes time for an ambulance to arrive. Please.”

“A-are you perhaps a doctor?”

“I am not a doctor.”

“Are you studying medicine then?”

Hashish calmed the grandmother down.

“He’s not a medical student, but believe me. I promise you.”

The grandmother relaxed her alert expression, but trembled with extreme anxiety. There was no time to convince her. Cocaine leaned his upper body tight towards the old man who had lost consciousness. He sang an aria into the old man’s ear. It was the ‘Queen of the Night’. A fast and flashy coloratura echoed through the open stairs. It was called with a meticulous and delicate technique to open the blood passageway to the heart, dissolve the clotted blood, and make the damaged heart muscle flexible.

The grandmother looked at Cocaine who sang a sudden song to her unconscious husband as if he was crazy. Towards the end of the three-minute song, the old man’s color slowly returned. Breathing became easier. The grandmother quickly asked, hugging the grandfather.

“Dear, are you okay? Can you guess who I am?”

The grandfather nodded his head slightly, his eyes wide open. Cocaine sighed in relief. The grandmother wept and looked at Cocaine.

“Three, my God… What the hell did you use? Don’t even touch… ! If you are ignorant… ?”

Cocaine replied with a smile. It was not a mild disease like a cold, so it could not be cured at once, but the urgent need was solved. He wondered if he should recommend continuing treatment at Paradiso. However, the faces of the old couple and modest attire made him shut his mouth.

“He has collapsed so suddenly like this before. The doctor said he couldn’t be sure if he would have more seizures. Today of all, I don’t know what’s with the sudden mood, but he urged that we should go to the cinema… I was so shocked. Thanks, youth. Thank you…”

The grandmother grabbed Cocaine’s hand and rubbed it. Her rough palms were soft. The body temperature wrapped around the back of his hand was warm. When the old couple went away, Hashish patted Cocaine on the shoulder and said.

“If the boss found out, he would be pissed. He’s a person who thinks that your abilities should be enjoyed only by a limited number of people.”

“How would the boss know? Assuming you keep your mouth shut, of course.”

“In return for nothing?”

Hashish asked sarcastically. The awkward atmosphere from a while ago seemed to have not happened. Cocaine smiled and stood up. At that moment, the ceiling twisted. As the strength of his legs loosened and he staggered, Hashish quickly grabbed him. Hashish’s expression looked worse than Cocaine he had stumbled upon.

“Are you okay? You haven’t had a good complexion since before, I don’t think you should have done anything.”

“I’ve been feeling dizzy very often these days.”

“It would be strange if you don’t get sick after working all week like that. Let’s stop by the hospital after we’re out.”

“Let’s just go back to the dorm. I want to lie down.”

Cocaine, supported by Hashish, exited the emergency exit and walked to the elevator.

Translator: misa