The Secret of The Swan: Ch7

A few days had passed since he had met Park Jimin at the 7-Eleven. Taehyung had to return to watching the man like he had before now that he let some time pass to allow Jimin’s memory to fade-Park’s memory. Taehyung shook his head at his use of Park Jimin’s first name. He couldn’t keep doing it, he already had somewhat liked the man and couldn't get attached.

He slouched further in his car and watched Park read a magazine at the counter. The store was empty at the time until lunch hour would take over. He finished his slushy and turned the radio on softly.

Time dragged on when he finally felt the urge of nature. He cursed at himself for finishing such a large drink, but he couldn’t help it. Strawberry flavored things were one the few things that gave him simple joy. His leg bounced as he looked around. He knew there were no bathrooms in the small shops around, only in the 7-Eleven.

Maybe he could go home? He dismissed the thought when he looked at the time. The Swan demanded that he watch Park’s whole shift today, and he still had hours to go. He cursed to himself and turned off the ignition. He would have to go back into the 7-Eleven.

He quickly crossed the street and walked into the store, head down to avoid Park’s gaze. He had almost made it when he heard him.

“Hey, it’s you, isn’t it? You paid for the stealing girl the other day,” he asked. Taehyung froze in his spot and took a deep breath. He had to act normal, at least pleasant to not send any bad vibes to the man.

“Yeah,” Taehyung responded, “I’ll talk to you in a minute but I really need to use the bathroom.”

Park had laughed. “Go ahead, sorry!”

Taehyung nodded in his direction and went into the bathroom. After doing what he needed to do, he walked back out, patting his hands dry on his jeans. Park was looking at him with a slight smile, Taehyung returned it weakly.

“What are you up to? I haven’t seen you in a few days,” Park inquired. Taehyung shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

“Just working, being around my house, basic life stuff I guess,” he replied vaguely. The response he got was a tilted head.

“You’re a real mystery, you know that? I don’t even know your name,” Park teased. “It’s Taehyung,” Taehyung responded before thinking. He mentally facepalmed himself. Why did he blurt his actual name?

“I like that name, suits you,” he smiled. He gestured for Taehyung to come to the counter, to which Taehyung did hesitantly. “I have some snacks, want to share them with me?”

Taehyung eyed the array of snacks and his craving got the better of him. “Cheetos okay?” he asked meekly. Jimin nodded enthusiastically, pushing the bag toward him. Taehyung let a small smile play on his lips when he took the bag. Jimin was so kind to him even though they didn’t know each other. Even though Taehyung would have to kill him at some point in the future.

“What do you do for work?” Jimin asked with innocent curiosity. Taehyung munched on a cheeto slowly to think of a quick answer that would be easy to remember. He knew the closer to the truth the lie was, the easier it would be able to maintain.

“I do research for a private writer,” he finally replied. “What kind of research?” Taehyung took another cheeto to buy a few seconds.

“I observe the neighborhoods in Daegu, report on what the businesses are like, the people, quality of life the people seem to have, stuff like that.”

Jimin smiled and opened a bag of rice cakes and took a bite. “Why doesn’t your employer do it himself?”

Taehyung shrugged, “I think he has anxiety being around people I guess, he keeps to himself. I don’t ask questions, I need the pay,” Taehyung chuckled.

Jimin shrugged “Makes sense I guess.” They snacked in silence for a few minutes and Taehyung took the time to discreetly observe the man in front of him.

He was lean, slightly muscular, and gentle in his actions. Even handling food he was careful with every action, his fingers seemed to dance while reaching into the rice cake package. “What do you do when you’re not here, Jimin?” Taehyung asked. he cursed himself in his head. He couldn’t refer to Jimin by his last name. The feeling just wasn’t right, his name suited him and he was beginning to like to think of him as such.

“I don’t really do anything, I work here and go home to take care of my father…” he said, speaking softly towards the end of his sentence. Taehyung decided to question further. “Is your father ill?”

Jimin frowned and studied the rice cake in front of him. “He was attacked a few years ago and left completely paralyzed,” he sighed, clearly upset about the subject. The sadness in his eyes pulled at Taehyung’s heart. “Attacked?”

Jimin nodded. “He was a detective, the best in Daegu. He was targeted by The Swan because he had gotten so close to catching him. Have you heard of him?”

Taehyung’s throat was dry at the mention. A wave of nausea washed over him as the memories came flooding in. A few years ago, The Swan had sent him to assault a man within an inch of death. He hadn’t put two and two together until now, the name Park now floating up in his memory banks. Tears threatened to spill.

“Are you okay?” Jimin asked, noticing Taehyung’s state. His eyes were full of worry.

Taehyung swallowed and nodded slowly. “Yes, I, uh, heard about him on the news reports a lot, he’s responsible for a few deaths, isn’t he?”

Jimin scoffed. “A few? He's responsible for more than we can imagine. He runs the biggest human trafficking ring in Korea, possibly the world.”

Taehyung’s eyes widened. Was this true? He never knew exactly what The Swan did to get his fortune. Whenever he gave Taehyung an assignment, he sounded innocent on the phone, almost a victim. He always told him that these people were trying to harm him because of the position he held at his job, so he had to get them out of the way. Taehyung shook his head, he was so naive. The Swan kept tabs on all of his devices, blocking anything that could have a connection with ‘The Swan’. He told Taehyung he just wanted to hold his privately until the time was right to reveal himself; Minjun always monitored what he watched. Minjun’s aversion to news reports suddenly made sense. ‘Just boring political nonsense,’ he had always put it as. Taehyung had no interest in politics so he just went with it.

Taehyung’s thoughts were speeding a mile a second in his head and he was zoning out. Jimin shook his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Taehyung jerked out of his state and looked up at Jimin’s concerned gaze. He had to snap out of this, at least until he could get away from Jimin. “Yeah, I guess I never knew the full story of The Swan,” he said, voice cracking at the end. Jimin came around the counter and wrapped his arms around Taehyung, pulling him into a hug.

Taehyung's heart sped up. Why was Jimin hugging him? He hadn’t been hugged in years, maybe never since The Swan entered his life. Taehyung slowly wrapped his arms in response around Jimin and lightly embraced him. He was felt with a warmth he hadn’t ever felt before. Even though he loved Minjun, they had never been physically affectionate with one another. Was this what he was missing?

Tears started to stream his face and suddenly a sob slipped out. Jimin hugged him tighter. “I’m so sorry, Taehyung, I didn’t know that The Swan would upset you so much. I know he’s a bad man, but I’m sure you’ll never meet him or hear of him beyond the news headlines,” Jimin whispered to comfort him. Taehyung couldn’t help but cry harder. Why was Jimin so kind? How would he be able to kill him? How could he hurt The Swan? He didn’t deserve the target placed on him. His thoughts flooded him relentlessly.

Taehyung took a few deep breaths to steady himself and pulled away. “I’m so sorry Jimin, I don’t know what came over me… I guess the thought of someone so cruel hurting your father upset me. You don’t deserve something like that in your life, I can imagine your father didn’t,” he said wiping his face.

Jimin smiled at him. “It’s a horrible thing, but sometimes in life we have to just accept our fates. I know my father didn’t deserve to suffer, but the fact that he got so close to the point where The Swan felt threatened enough to harm him shows that he onto something. It gives me hope that The Swan will mess up and be caught. It reminds me that he is human, and bound to be found one of these days.” Taehyung nodded and smiled.

“I’m glad you can see a positive in this situation. I couldn’t imagine what it’s like,” he responded with a small smile to cover up the guilt that consumed him. He did that to his father. He ruined a man’s life and made his son give up his to take care of him. All for what? Was Jimin telling the truth? He had to find out.

Jimin went back around the counter hearing the bell ring. Taehyung checked his watch and saw that it was lunch hour and Jimin would have to keep up with the customers. “Thank you for the snack and talk, Jimin. I’ll see you soon I guess,” Taehyung waved. Jimin waved back and threw him a smile that began to thaw the ice that surrounded his heart that he didn’t previously know existed. “See you!”

After being back safely in his car, Taehyung buried his head between his knees. What was he going to do? Was he really the hitman of a notorious human trafficker? He rocked back and forth, trying to convince himself that Jimin was a liar, but the voice of his conscience knew better. He just had to find proof...