Chapter Text
It was a quiet night.
The streets of Seoul were calm.
Apparently...
It was a good night.
The cold was palpable in the air, winter would probably arrive soon.
The streetlight glow, along with the dull sound of cars, made the atmosphere feel so... "silent."
He had a slight tremble in his hands, not wearing gloves, which gave him a tingling sensation across his body.
Maybe he should’ve paid attention to the weather forecast.
What a... strange? Icy? God, he didn’t know.
It was the work and the cold getting to him.
He probably needed a vacation.
Urgently, apparently.
...
The music played slowly in the car, so harmoniously, so delicately. He’d never been a fan of "Jazz," but the song on the radio was marvelous.
A song so pleasant and peaceful, creating a small contrast with his restless and tired mind.
He glanced at the clock on the radio.
– 8:30 p.m. –
His shift ended at 9:00 p.m., half an hour, one more stop.
His gaze relaxed, it wasn’t long until it was over.
— How nice... — he whispered.
Being a taxi driver was pleasant.
Can you say that?
He liked it, and it was somewhat interesting to see how he interacted with so many different people during his job.
From young schoolgirls gossiping about their boyfriends, to businessmen from the biggest companies in the city and their busy work calls.
Even people who were... a bit... heavy?
– Tired –
He didn’t complain, really, he liked his job... but being a taxi driver could be exhausting, especially when your shift was a double, like today.
He’d been active since 6:00 a.m., with few breaks, it had been a heavy day, too hectic, a lot of traffic in the streets...
Too tiring for someone who hadn’t eaten since 2:30 p.m.
He was hungry...
But...
He had one last stop to go.
He checked the name of his last stop on the GPS.
Sangsu Station.
Perfect, a calm place, mostly known for its artisan restaurants, outdoor concerts, and bars.
Food and peace, pure perfection.
Yes, he was lucky, maybe—just maybe—no pedestrian would ask for his services as soon as he arrived, giving him time to grab something to eat from a stand.
He smiled faintly at that thought.
—' 🌕
Apparently, it was his night.
Luck was on his side. What a wonder.
He was able to buy some cheese-filled buns at a stand near the station.
— God, finally something to eat — he said as he walked back to the car. The place seemed calm, with few people around.
As he walked back to the car, he noticed a man.
He seemed to be staring at the taxi, maybe checking if there was someone available to take him.
He quickened his pace, not wanting to lose a client just for buying food.
Who would’ve thought someone would show up when he was absent...
Okay, he deserved it, no one told him to park in a spot so visible to potential customers.
It was stupid to park there in the first place.
The mysterious man was about to turn around when he finally arrived.
— Good evening, sorry for not being here, do you need me to take you anywhere specific? — he said with a small smile.
The man looked at him with... a gloomy expression?
Weird.
— Your taxi was empty, without its driver, I thought it was out of service — The man continued to watch him with a hard gaze and a very serious demeanor.
He gave a small smile and slowly lifted the bag containing his dinner.
— I went to get something to eat, I’m really sorry for making you wait — he made a small bow, showing his regret.
"I hope I don’t lose my last trip," he thought.
...
...
— Can you take me to the Yeouido commercial district? —
— Of course! —
Well, it didn’t turn out too bad. The man agreed to ride with him.
They got into the car, the man in the back with his briefcase, and him, of course, in the driver’s seat.
— Well, we should arrive in about 20 minutes, unless something goes wrong — he glanced at the man in the back as he said this.
— What’s your name? —
He wasn’t expecting that, to be honest.
— Seong Gi-hun — he smiled — What’s yours, if you don’t mind? — he looked at the man through the rearview mirror, who was still staring directly at him.
The stranger’s gaze was odd, it made him uncomfortable... It almost felt like he was some kind of maniac or psychopath.
How scary. He’d never come across a murderer or criminal on his double shifts, which he was very grateful for. The last thing he needed in his life was to die and end up somewhere far off.
He was exaggerating, but that’s just him, too paranoid.
He shouldn’t focus on these thoughts; just because a man is staring at him doesn’t mean he’ll end up dead...
This was his fault for avoiding eye contact too much, he wasn’t someone who liked it.
"Let it go, Gi-hun, it’s not a big deal."
Maybe it wasn’t, but it was uncomfortable, too uncomfortable. He tried not to show it.
...
— Hwang In-ho, a pleasure to meet you, Seong Gi-hun — this time the man smiled, pleasantly.
He relaxed. It seemed the man was just very serious.
— Just call me Gi-hun, and likewise, a pleasure to meet you. I hope you have a good trip, and that my service is to your liking —
He didn’t really like formalities, it wasn’t his style.
Mr. Hwang gave a small smile, then turned his gaze to the window.
He started driving and turned on the radio, the music helping him relax and make the ride more enjoyable than it already was.
It was good when his clients enjoyed the trip and relaxed before returning to their chaotic lives.
He liked making his clients feel comfortable.
The song playing on the radio was "Mayonaka no Door / Stay with Me."
Beautiful song, it gave the atmosphere a sense of peace.
The streets were a bit desolate, so it would be a quick ride.
He looked at the clock again.
"8:57 p.m."
With the deserted roads, they’d arrive a bit faster than expected—around 15 minutes. How quick.
And lucky.
He let out a small laugh, soft enough so it couldn’t be heard.
"You’re the best, Gi-hun, always doing a good job."
He looked back at his companion and noticed he was looking at a tablet. The light hit his face directly, creating a contrast with the dark background, a bit eerie.
He seemed very focused, apparently reading documents, maybe work-related.
Interesting.
He didn’t need to get involved, he knew that, but the man intrigued him with his aura of "stay away from me, or I’ll break your face into a thousand pieces."
...
He shouldn’t be thinking such silly things.
He wanted to laugh out loud. Sometimes he hated his stupid mind and the dumb thoughts it had.
How ridiculous. He decided to focus back on driving, no more distractions.
Soon they’d arrive anyway.
That was good. After all, it seemed like a peaceful ride, but even though he wouldn’t admit it, he felt like this night wasn’t going to end anytime soon...
The feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t leave him.
Why?
He didn’t exactly know. He just knew he didn’t want his peace to disappear.
He sighed, tired of his restless mind.
He definitely needed sleep, and possibly gloves.