Red Obsession

5. Rose of the Undead

Cheongsu had a wide smile, cute dimples, board shoulders and a face of an actor. Grown up in Busan he has been a sporty guy who was making his money by training hip hop dance and organizing street performances in Hongdae. Two of his best friends, a violinist kicked out from Hongik University’s art department and an Australian singer with waist-long dreadlocks were constantly giving shows in the area of Sinchon station. 

Hyejeong had met Cheongsu through a friend at a party, she hasn’t been interested in guys much, as anyone who wasn’t Dongwoo couldn’t move hear heart, yet there was this small conversation that had made her curious when Cheongsu accidentally said his grandfather has been one of the leaders of the March Movement.

To find out this family’s story Hyejeong decided to meet Cheongsu again. It must have been a misunderstanding, a little bit too much of red wine in play as the next thing she remembered was them making out on the couch, fortunately nothing more has happened between them. All to painfully, she found out there was a dark side hidden in her nature, one that has been ready to just get close with a random guy, desire drawing her towards that man who has been there, somehow interested, not the right guy, not moving a spark, yet at that time there. She found out how easy it is to cross a border, she’s never thought she will cross. Just human nature. Just finding out it’s not kisses that are scary but the days after, the emptiness, the guilt, the pain, the regret, the odd feeling as if you are the most lonely person on the planet. That kisses are not anyhow special, a foreign breath, a foreign taste that is not able to be removed, a trace, almost invisible yet there, as if someone has left a layer of really fair paint on white canvas. That conscious mind didn’t have much to do with it and after a short time she wasn’t even sure if she’d like to meet Cheongsu again. 

Would kissing from love be better, she thought lying in that small motel room watching Dongwoo’s face two meters from her on the other bed, almost reachable, yet like in a different universe. Has he ever regretted any of his affairs? Would it make her longing for kisses, addicted to kisses to touch him like that, as so far kissing seemed as unfulfilling as her first lit up cigarette, a feeling you rather not repeat as it wasn’t that good.

The fresh air carried the ocean smell, it was past 9 p.m., Dongwoo was sitting on a terrace of a fisher bar finishing the third bottle of local peach soju. Even a small cup could make you dizzy yet that man seemed totally fine. Hyejeong was wondering what other poisons had carved his mind in stone to be so numb to hangover. Dongwoo’s eyes were too unfulfilling to be stared at for too long so Hyejeong made a small walk down the pavements. 

The hangover was rather kicking her hard, not that she has drunk a drop that night, no it was just the man of her dreams being a venom, a lightless electricity shock, a drug, destruction...

“Can your drones find Lee Yuna?” She had asked today, so now four of them were gone to scan the country up and down for the missing girl. Just Red Obsession and Brenda left to help them out in case the shadows appear tonight.

They shouldn’t split, shouldn’t stay outside for too long, so far from the car, yet the sense of survival was fading in Hyejeong, replaced by that “f**k it all, whatever” attitude tonight. Last time she has been that down was in the university library where she had been studying for the final exam while there were only images of Dongwoo licking that French girl clouding her mind.

With a loud noise a rusty truck stopped on the pavement meters from her. First Hyejeong wanted to pass it quickly, but then the plate caught her attention, weren’t trucks like that used by the military forces that were sent against the demonstrates in 1980?

“Nice car there.” Hyejeong stopped, chatting up to the driver, a tall man in a blazer and a basketball cap with a yellow logo. 

“It’s getting worse each year, I’ll need to give it in soon.” The guy sighed tapping the hood as if he’d like to give some comfort to an old friend.

“It’s a rare model, not many can be found nowadays.” Hyejeong walked around the truck investigating it until a small violet petal sticking to it’s back raised all the hair on her body.

“Have you given a ride to anyone today?” She asked when the man’s eyes widened.

“Nah.” He shrugged rushing his steps towards the fisher market.

“Sir. I need to know. It’s urgent.” Hyejeong followed behind so the guy stopped.

“I said no.” The man became unpleasant.

“My daughter left the house three days ago, he has never come back. I have proof that she has been assisted by a male shaman. I need to find her. Please.” Hyejeong was watching the man’s tensed face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He turned abruptly.

“The flower that was stuck to the back of your car is called The Rose of the Undead, in ancient Silla days shamans used it to disguise as demons and stay alive during nights when shadows creeped out on Earth.”

The man stopped, Hyejeong could see how all the muscles on his back tensed, he must have been considering something hard until turning back.