Divorce Contract C30

Chapter 30

Go Igyeol was crumpled in the corner of the tiny motel room, unable to breathe properly. Anxiety had risen all the way to his throat. He tried to think only of good things, but not a single hopeful thought would come. Perhaps from the stress, his belly cramped with an uncomfortable tightness.

“Hah… hoo, hah…”

No matter how he looked at it, this place was no good. They would close the distance for sure. He had planned to endure until morning, but now he thought it better to leave tonight. He bit at his short nails, thinking over and over—what should he do, should he leave now, and if he did, where should he go.

Even as his mind churned, his ears focused on every faint sound outside the door. Each time footsteps passed by, his heart nearly leapt out of his chest.

Perhaps because of the psychological strain, the morning sickness that had eased up began again. Unable to suppress the rising nausea, he crawled to the bathroom and vomited up everything he had eaten. Clutching the toilet until nothing more came, he was so drained that he couldn’t rise from the floor for a long while.

Holding his stomach, Igyeol thought, How did it come to this? With every passing hour, regret only grew deeper. I shouldn’t have run away. I should have told him I was pregnant. If I had, Seo Dohyeon would have handled everything.

It was his deepening feelings that had become the problem. The occasional unprovoked tenderness, the pheromones, the melting intimacy—having never truly received affection before, Igyeol had fallen helplessly. I shouldn’t have been greedy. Seo Dohyeon didn’t even want this. Just because it was his child… I shouldn’t have forced myself to endure.

“Uhhhk, hahh, huuuh…”

It was nothing but sorrow. Why did it turn out like this? The bitterness only swelled larger. Yet even then, Igyeol could not bring himself to blame Seo Dohyeon. He told himself it was all his fault. Wiping his tear-soaked face roughly with his hands, he braced himself against the sink and stood.

The mirror reflected a face flushed blotchy red. He washed it with cold water until his skin stung. As his sobs subsided and his breathing steadied, the nausea too calmed. At least compared to before, he regained some clarity.

“I can’t stay here. If they’ve sent people to search, they’ll come here for sure. They know I couldn’t have gone far. They’ll know it.”

As a drop of water fell from his chin, Igyeol resolved to leave as soon as night fell. He reminded himself why he had left home. To protect the baby, he had to get far from Seo Dohyeon. Seo Dohyeon did not want the child.

“If I’m caught, I’ll never see my baby again.”

He recalled the contract clause: even the baby’s gender would not be disclosed to him. If caught, it would all end.

“I have to go.”

He dried his face with the provided towel and sat on the bed, waiting for the sun to set. He turned off the light, leaving only the curtain slightly open. As dusk settled, Igyeol checked outside. People who clearly weren’t there to lodge wandered near the motel. Watching closely, he saw groups enter and exit repeatedly. The crumpled papers they pulled from their pockets and examined looked all too much like his photo.

The pursuers were drawing closer. After some hesitation, Igyeol lifted the room’s telephone and dialed three digits. The line picked up almost instantly.

—“Emergency, 112.”

“Hello?”

—“Yes, please state your report.”

“It’s just that… I’m at Geumseong Motel, in a room here, and I see suspicious people outside the window. Not just one or two, but more than five, I think. Could you send a patrol?”

—“We’ll dispatch officers immediately.”

Setting the receiver down, Igyeol returned to the window. Still the men loitered, wandering in and out of the motel, chatting beneath streetlights, smoking with lazy swagger. Even as he watched, he couldn’t be sure if calling the police had been the right move.

“Why… aren’t they here yet.”

Minutes dragged by until finally, flashing red and blue lights swept slowly around the motel. The car seemed about to move on, but then spotted the black-clad men and approached. Under the yellow streetlamp, the smiles on their faces vanished.

The police stepped out and spoke with them. The men still lounged carelessly, bowing with false respect before strolling off into the alley. Igyeol swallowed hard. Now. This is the only chance to run. I have to leave before the police go.

He opened a bottle of water from the mini-fridge, wetting his parched throat, then quietly slipped out. He crept down the silent hallway, choosing the emergency stairs over the elevator. Descending floor by floor, the tension weighed so heavily he could scarcely breathe. At last, as he pushed open the ground floor’s emergency exit—

“Ahhh!”

“Ugh, what the—! What the hell, why’s someone popping out here?!”

A drunken couple screamed at the sight of him bursting through. Igyeol was just as startled but muttered apologies and hurried past them. His heart felt ready to explode.

The moment he exited the motel, he headed in the same direction the police car had gone. He tried to move quickly, but behind him came the distinct sound of pursuit. He had seen them walk away down the alley—why were they here?

He forced himself to keep pace casually, focusing on the sounds. Not just one. Maybe two. No, more. Three? There had been five earlier—were they all following, or were some waiting elsewhere?

He brushed back his hair, trying to breathe naturally. He had to time his sprint. Walking, he would surely be caught. All the while he prayed to every god he could think of. Please, please. Just let me get out of here.

And then, just ahead, a taxi stopped. A drunk man stumbled out.

“Ah, fuck! Hey, grab him!”

Now or never. Igyeol lunged, yanked the door open, and threw himself inside.

“Go, hurry! Drive!”

“Uh, what?”

“Please! Just go!”

At his desperate cry, the driver instinctively slammed the accelerator. A man chasing close behind nearly clawed the trunk before falling back.

“What’s going on?”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“Shouldn’t I report this? What the hell, why are black-clad guys chasing a young fellow at this hour?”

Igyeol racked his brain for a lie, panting hard, wiping his mouth, recalling the plot of a weekend drama he had watched with Shin Eunsuk.

“My husband… borrowed money from loan sharks. Then he disappeared without paying.”

“What?”

“He’s hiding, I think. But since they couldn’t find him for over five months, they must have come for me.”

“How much are they demanding?”

The driver was instantly invested. Igyeol steadied his breath and answered.

“Ninety million won principal, and the interest has already passed that.”

“Damn. What the hell did he do to rack that up?”

“…Gambling. Hwatu cards.”

“Bastard!”

The driver raged in his place, cursing on Igyeol’s behalf, lecturing him that choosing a partner poorly ruined your life. Marrying someone just for looks was a straight path to misery, he said. Igyeol nodded along, sinking back into the seat, eyes fluttering shut.

The streetlights illuminated the cab interior. The driver’s eyes widened, catching sight of Igyeol’s rounded belly.

“Don’t tell me you’re carrying that bastard’s child?”

“……”

“That wretch! What a disgrace!”

“…He doesn’t even know I’m pregnant.”

The driver groaned in genuine dismay, massaging his temples as if it were his own burden. In the short ride, Igyeol heard four separate times, Why on earth did you marry such a man?

“I don’t know.”

“You look so young too…”

“I know. Could you take me to the nearest bus terminal?”

“Of course. We’ll get you there before those bastards catch up!”

The driver, too swept up in the drama, pressed down on the accelerator. Promises of safety and encouragement poured from his mouth. Igyeol thanked him, closed his eyes, and leaned back. Thank goodness the man didn’t actually watch dramas. He steadied his nerves, wondering how much longer he could keep running.