Two weeks came and the office became only heavier.
It began with modest changes: Sunghoon stopped having Sunoo collect sensitive documents. Manager Choi no longer left papers laying unattended on the meeting table.
Sunoo told himself he wasn't interested. That it was better this way. He sensed his heart thump every time he passed his boss's office, nevertheless.
The merger papers for the forthcoming project were still there; he had not sent them to the legal division. And he realized Mr. Han would not wait for ever.
His phone rang in his trousers on a gray Thursday morning, and he pulled it out to discover it was Mr. Han.
You're spending too much time.
Hurry up if you would have your brother to keep breathing.
He gulped hard, battling the sickness rising in his throat.
That night, when the office was almost empty, Sunoo lingered in the kitchenette, pretending to make tea while he watched the security cameras on his phone,he had already disconnected it all but just checked to be on the safer side.
At 9:05 p.m., Sunghoon left as on every Thursday, and the cleaning staff wouldn't get for another hour.
His hands trembled as he slipped out of the kitchenette, along the hall, and toward the executive level.
Sunoo had waited till most of the personnel had departed for the evening. Only infrequent footsteps passing down the hallway broke the quiet of the structure now. He walked past Sunghoon's office, peeking inside and around the surroundings to make sure no one else was there before starting work.
He was aware of Sunghoon's precise document storage location, It was locked in a cabinet on the left side of the room they were. Earlier in the afternoon, he had seen Sunghoon open it to retrieve a large file. Sunghoon hadn't uttered much at the time, he said that he would personally examine them.
With the door closed, he felt no anxiety right now. He had decided because should he back out, nothing would ever evolve. His mother would still be stuck in slavery for Mr.Han and his brother would yet be rotting in prison so getting them out was only possible this way.
He knelt at the cabinet and pulled the spare key from his pocket. He had stolen it several days before in case one presented itself. Turning the lock, his hand was steady.
He discovered the folder exactly where he had anticipated it. On Sunghoon's table, he opened it. There were dozens of papers—transaction reports, signed agreements, notes on the merger. Taking out his phone, he started photographing every single one. One page after another and moved fast but not so fast he lost anything.
Locking the cabinet, he restored everything precisely as he had discovered it and then examined the handle to be certain. Once again, he checked the office to be sure he hadn't been there. Then he slipped out into the hallway.
He did not depart right away. Instead, he went down to the third level where the marketing department had their lockers. Most lights were out. He knew the lady who worked there—she was always grumbling about late hours and how she forgot to lock her stuff.
Sunoo opened her locker then walked to it, he placed a printed version of the merger papers behind a stack of folders. He knew someone would find it there at last though no one would think to search here first. He verified the floor for footprints and made sure to close the safe.
At last exhaling a long breath, he stepped into the night.
He had acted so whether he regretted it or not didn't matter anymore..
.
.
.
..
Though the air outside was warm, it yet smelled of rain. With hands in his pockets, Sunoo strolled down the road. He didn't hurry, he just seemed like yet another weary employee going home after a late shift if anyone saw him. He withdrew his phone as he turned the corner. He never saved one number in his contacts, it wasMr. Han's private line and he dialed it from mind.
It rung once before the call linked.
Mr. Han's voice, low and even, came, "Speak."
Sunoo said, "It's done boss, i have everything. I'll transfer the files right now."
On the other end, he heard a silence as though Mr. Han was smiling.
"You've done well," Mr. Han said. "Make sure no one can trace this back to you."
I already dealt with it, Sir.
"Good. I will get in touch."
The line cut off and he retrieved the phone into his pocket.
He expected to feel relief but instead felt worn out. He continued walking until he got to the bus stop. He sat on the bench looking at the gloomy road, his elbows resting on his knees.
A few minutes later, the bus started rumbling down the road. He got aboard and sat at the back. The trip was silent only the engine was running under the bus.
Sunoo put his head against the window. He knew his actions were serious. Should Sunghoon ever learn, he would likely be ruined, not just lose his job. But nothing changed with it. He had to release his brother. He needed to liberate his mother from the hands of those monsters.
He got off the bus when it stopped close to his house and covered the last few blocks. Old homes and parked vehicles lined the deserted street. He tried to push off tomorrow by drawing the jacket more closely around himself and apparently consoled a little.
He did not switch the lights on inside his little apartment, he just sat at the edge of the bed staring into the dark .
One month. All he required was that and he would be free of this in only one month.
Lying down without changing clothes, he left his phone on the bedside table. He waited for sleep, eyes closed, but it did not arrive.
Instead, he saw Sunghoon's face, quiet, observant and for a second he felt almost like regret.
Almost.