A Wager on Love

In a world where everything is encased in the gray concrete walls of high-rise buildings in a big city, the life of every person seems like a mundane inevitability. Birth and death—these are the two extremes between which only a gray reality and dull hustle exist. A young twenty-four-year-old man named Min Yoongi was not an idealist or a romantic with a sensitive nature. He believed that life is merely a given, not a gift from the heavens or God, as many think. And all because he hated his life. Yoongi was born out of wedlock to the mistress of a wealthy lawyer. His mother did not think with her head but with another part of her body about the consequences when she engaged in an intimate relationship with a married man. She became pregnant, hoping that he would divorce his wife. However, as soon as the lawyer learned about Min Chaeyoung's pregnancy, he immediately stated that he had no intention of marrying her. He paid her off and drafted a non-disclosure agreement regarding their relationship. Since he already had a wonderful wife and a beloved son, Yoongi's mother had to sign the document and disappear from the life of lawyer Park Soojun. After her separation from the lawyer, Chaeyoung married an office worker named Lee Bom when Yoongi was eight years old. Tough times began for little Yoongi. His stepfather turned out to be worse than his hysterical mother and beat him for no reason at all. When he came home drunk, he wouldn’t let anyone sleep peacefully. And this happened quite often. Yoongi hid from him in his room or under the bed, trying not to cry, as he would be beaten by his mother for that. “Men don’t cry! You’re a wimp! If I see tears and snot again, you’ll be living on the street with the dogs! Do you understand me?” Chaeyoung shouted. Fortunately, these beatings stopped as soon as Yoongi grew up and began actively practicing taekwondo. He learned to fight back in street brawls and school scuffles. Min Yoongi learned one important life lesson: never show your weakness and fear to others. Otherwise, they will destroy you, both morally and physically. With such life attitudes, he graduated from school and enrolled in the law faculty of a prestigious university in Korea. His father, Pak So-jun, helped him gain admission to this university. Yungi found him after finishing school and threatened to tell about him and his family. He said that then the lawyer's career and personal life would come to an end. Yungi clearly remembered the day he met his father in the lawyer's office and threw photographs on the table, which showed a loving couple. They were hugging and kissing for the smartphone camera. In the photos were Yungi's mother and the man sitting in front of him, lawyer Pak. "Why did you come? Are you really here to blackmail me? Your mother couldn't do it herself, but she wants you to take revenge on me? As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree... Right?" the lawyer asked. "Mom doesn't know I'm here. She doesn't know what I do every day. She, like you, doesn't care about me. So enough about her. I came here for business," Yungi replied. "And what business is that? Money?" The lawyer's eyes widened, feigning surprise. "Or do you want to receive a father's love? Sorry, I can't help with that. You look just like your mother. And I hate her..." The man sat in the chair, turned toward the window. Yungi expected that his visit would not bring joy to his father, but he was not prepared for such blatant disdain. Inside the young man, rage boiled, directed at both parents: the foolish mother and the arrogant biological father, the lawyer. Yungi, struggling to contain his anger, clenched his fists and said: "Of course, I came here for money! Father's love? Ha! I don't need any love! I just need to get out of the mess I ended up in because of you! I didn't ask anyone to conceive me, let alone give birth to me! This is your mistake, and you have to pay for it! Every day of my life, I fought to be noticed, loved, and respected. But now I won't accept your love! Just give me what I need, and you can live happily!" he continued, unable to stop. The man continued to sit with his back to him, as if he had not heard or was ignoring his words. This only angered Yungi, and he stepped closer to the lawyer. Suddenly turning his father to face him, he glared fiercely into his eyes and continued: — Ha! Do you think you can easily get rid of me by playing silent, Daddy? — And what are you going to do? — the lawyer asked arrogantly, meeting his gaze in response. — I will do what will ruin your life, — Yungi replied, almost hissing in his father's ear. — Oh? Aren't you afraid of ending up on the other side of the bars? — Pak asked, not believing his son's words. Yungi realized that his persistence and threat had not convinced his father, and in anger, he squeezed his shoulder so hard that the man winced in pain. — Listen carefully! If you don't want trouble in your cozy family life, then make sure I get into university! I know everything about you and your son Jimin! I know what time you have breakfast, what time you go to bed, and even what time you make love to your wife. Do you understand me? I don't care about your life, but I have hope for mine. So, if you don't want to lose two sons at once... Although why two? One Jimin will be enough for you. After all, you don't care about me! Think about this until the evening. If you don't call, expect a surprise from me in the form of Jimin's corpse. I'm not threatening you; I'm predicting the future. I'm not afraid of prison or your anger. And you won't scare me with death. I've put everything on this. I've been watching your son for a long time and know more about him than you do. If you don't do what I say, either he dies or I do. And I really want to live. So there are no options: the blonde could die because of your decision. Do you understand me? — the guy asked loudly, tightening his grip on the lawyer's shoulder. Pak tried to stand up, but the guy was stronger and pushed him back down. And without releasing him, he repeated the question: — I asked, do you understand me? — I understand! — The lawyer had to respond to get rid of the pressure. — Let me go! — I'm glad you got it, — the guy said, then loosened his grip and slowly stepped back from the man.