Chapter 1: CH 1.1

Chapter 1 Learning

The subway is coming in. It is a good time to steal goods.

The station is noisy with the announcement and the sound of the subway coming in, and people are busy with the train they are going to take, so there is no one who pays attention to their surroundings. Those who are huddled together and look at the same place are funny like ants. I want to step on them all.

My target is a middle-aged woman, or maybe a man. The reason is simple. Young people nowadays usually don’t bring cash, and even cards.

I’ve already set my eyes on a few people that will be my victims. First, I choose one of the people standing next to the stairs to make it easy to run away if I get caught. That woman is looking up at the electronic signboard with a small bag on her shoulder. It seems like she will only realize her wallet is gone after getting off the subway or after arriving somewhere later.

I push down my hat, then stand close to her as if hanging around. If others look at us, I yawn while standing crookedly like between a mother and son. The zipper of the bag is facing back, and I tilt it my way so that she won’t easily notice when I open it. After looking around slightly, I touch the zipper.

The subway that is coming in covers the sound of the zipper being opened. When the zipper is opened half, I see a long wallet inside. A long wallet inside a small bag. It’s not a very good combination. I support the bag with one hand, and I carefully put the other hand inside the bag.

The subway stopped. From now on, speed is my life. I was going to take out the long wallet without hesitation. 

I feel a gaze. Fuck. If I take out my hand now or look in the direction of the gaze, it is no different from announcing I was stealing. I tilt my feet and slowly take out the wallet. When that person is unsure, when the subway is completely stopped, and they can’t see anymore, that is the time to run.

“Excuse me. That person…”

The person that was looking pointed at me with their finger. The bag owner turns her head towards me. I completely take the wallet out, and after I grab it tightly, I quickly take a step.

When the subway is pulled in, I run, pushing the people that are getting off, and climb the stairs. Piercing words like thief, catch him, can be heard from behind, but if a proper justice can be found here, it means that woman’s luck is good.

However, that woman’s luck is not good. I quickly leave the station and run to the alley with no CCTV that I’ve checked before. I run around an alley that connects to another alley, and then another alley. Then, I stop at a leisure place that is completely far from the station.

Calming down my breath, I lean my back on the dirty wall and open the wallet.

“Fuck.”

It doesn’t mean my luck is good just because I’ve stolen a wallet. Since I’ve got caught, they will surely call the police, and not only at that station, I also can’t do my business in the nearby stations. Then, I have to get an outcome, but there are only two credit cards, three 1000 won bills, several point cards, a family picture with a son, daughter, and husband, and a neatly folded paper inside.

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I let out a sigh after brushing my irritating hair back. The wallet is a branded item, but there’s a trace of it being used for a long time, so it won’t give me a load of money even if I sell it. Even if it is, I won’t be able to get enough cash to cover the disclosure earlier. Lee Sugeol will go rampant if I go back like this…

While spitting insults, I pick the family picture that fell. The sibling wearing the uniform is smiling brightly. I often see the emblem on the uniform jacket while walking around. A private school that only can be attended by children of wealthy families.

As I look at the innocent smile, I feel annoyed that I clench on the picture. Despite thinking it is nothing, I take the paper and open it.

[Enjoy it if you can’t avoid it!!]

A vain laugh bursts at the carefully pressed sentence. If it is something that can be enjoyed from the first time, then it can be avoided with all might. The words telling to enjoy if it can’t be avoided is only a deception said by those who can avoid it and are lazing around.

I put the wallet in my pocket after tearing the paper. It is dangerous to continue going around, whether it is nearby or in another place. It looks like it’s better to go quietly now and wait for the next chance.

As I walk on the road after coming out of the alley, a stimulating smell enters my nose. I see the gloved hands of the store owner pour the dough into a round sphere. The yellowish baked walnut cake in his hand drew my attention.

I get hungry. I don’t eat anything except for the food I ate at the facility this morning. The stomach that has been staying still is suddenly rumbling. The thing in my pocket is a useless branded wallet. Also, no more than three 1000 won bills.

If I only bring in 3000 won, I will get hit by Lee Sugeol and even get this snatched. So, isn’t it better if I just keep it somewhere or use it? Why should I get caught on the day Lee Sugeol comes? I can’t eat tonight.

But, even 3000 won is precious to buy that small snack that only tastes sweet on the mouth. Ramyeon. Kimbab. I think about various foods that can be eaten for 3000 won, but I want to eat steamy rice. My mouth water remembering warm rice that just got cooked perfectly. But there’s no home-cooked restaurant around here that sells food for 3000 won.

It is a waste of money to think of eating a humble meal. There’s a possibility Lee Sugeol will come late, so what if I just endure it now and go to the facility to eat what’s available? It’s not like there is proper food in the facility, but at least I can save the money.

I quickly walk away, leaving the tempting smell. The torn padding picked up from the clothing collection box has short sleeves and is not thick enough to overcome the cold of this winter. Normally I would use the bus, but in the situation where I can’t do my business because I get caught from the start, even public transportation is a luxury.

It will take around 30 minutes by foot from here to the facility, but at least it is a walking distance. At the end of the year, the gray streets are decorated with colorful lights. It already creates a Christmas atmosphere, so how packed will this street be on that day? Maybe that day will be good to do the business. I filled up my pockets last year, too.

Even though I try to walk as fast as possible, my toes are frozen. Still, I am getting closer to the facility. As I step uphill, I lose strength, but I can’t waste time outside. After climbing up the uphill road, I have to let out the cold breath inside my mouth.

This is not hard. This is nothing. Rather than hard…… I feel like I’m losing all my energy.

I stay there for a moment and look down on the street I walked up. The sunset glow is swallowing the sky. Suddenly I feel lonely.

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