SACCHARIN
CHAPTER 27

 

Since it was the same model as the phone I usually used, handling it was easy. I’d already set the burner phone to silent just in case I got caught. Once the screen loaded properly, I saw a number pop up on the message icon—unlike usual, it showed the number 3.

I started with the oldest message first. Judging by the timing, it always arrived around the same time each morning—like clocking in at work. It made me think Shin Chi-woo messaged me like a daily check-in. Though I still wasn’t sure if he actually worked for Pyeonjae Trading.

「Still no word from Director Seo today.」

I’d entered the island ten days ago, but we’d only started exchanging messages about a week ago. And for the past week, all he’d done was repeat the same thing—that he had no idea where my dad was. I just read it and replied with a simple “Got it.”

But today, Shin Chi-woo, who usually sent one message a day like it was homework, had sent two more. And the last one had arrived just twenty minutes ago. I opened the second message.

「Chef Kwak isn’t a bad guy, but don’t get too close to him either. What drug addict’s in their right mind, anyway?」

I couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle. Coming from Shin Chi-woo, that was rich—he seemed like the type who’d done every bad thing you’re not supposed to do behind the scenes.

With a faint smile, I opened the next message. He’d sent it just three minutes after the one I’d just read.

「Don’t fall for him offering to cook you something nice. Don’t smile at him, and don’t even talk to him.」

What did he think I was, five years old? I could take care of myself just fine. It was ridiculous how he thought he could tell me what to do, but I still found myself rereading his messages several times. For some reason, I could almost hear the irritation in his voice.

My eyes shifted to the top-right corner of the screen. 32%. At this rate, the battery would last a few more days. I moved my fingers again after pausing for a moment in thought.

It was a short sentence, but I double-checked for spelling errors just in case. Even checked the spacing. It took me a while before I finally hit send.

「Thanks for the concern, but I can handle things on my own.」

Staring blankly at the empty screen made me feel a little strange. Maybe it was because I’d suddenly sent something personal to someone I’d only ever exchanged businesslike messages with—and now I was sitting here waiting for a reply.

I was still holding the phone, but… had he not read my message yet?

After sending the message, I sat with the phone clasped tightly in both hands, just staring at the screen. It was evening—maybe he had plans, or maybe he was still working by Chairman Pyeon’s side.

But the human heart is fickle. I hadn’t sent the message expecting a reply, yet here I was, hoping.

Just one more minute. No, 30 more seconds.

Okay, just one more minute. No, seriously—if it hits 45 minutes, I’ll turn it off. That kind of thing.

I hadn’t sent the message expecting a reply, so I wasn’t hoping for much. Or maybe I was—since it seemed like he’d just been on his phone, I think I was secretly hoping he’d reply right away.

What if a message came through the second I powered off the phone? Would it be weird to directly ask him what his relationship with the ballerina was? I should’ve told him I gained an ally thanks to the watch he gave me.

I knew I had to stop stalling and get out of the bathroom, but my fingers kept hesitating.

Clunk—

The sound of a door opening. Someone stepped into the stall next to mine, and my body froze. I can’t let them find out I have a phone!

I quickly stuffed the phone back into my pocket and held my hand over my mouth, suppressing even the sound of my breath. I focused all my senses, praying that the person next to me would leave quickly.

Whoosh—

Thankfully, the gods were still on my side. I heard the flush, followed by the faucet running at the sink. Then the sound of someone patting their clothes dry—and soon, the bathroom went quiet again.

This is exactly why they say not to do anything you’re not supposed to.

With a deep sigh, I clutched my chest in relief. I needed to safely tuck the phone back into my inner pocket.

Wait, what?

Of all times, a message notification appeared on the screen right then.

「I’m not worried about you…」

Another message came through right after.

「Don’t worry.」

And yet… even though I was just reading the words, I could hear his cold voice in my ears. I frowned and pressed my lips together.

I already knew what kind of person he was—learned that the hard way ten days ago. Still, would it kill him to say something a little kinder? Why is he always so twisted?

「Why are you being such a jerk to me!!! Just wait till I get off this island!!! I swear I won’t let you off easy!!!!」

In a burst of emotion, I slammed out that message, full of typos and grammatical chaos. But before I hit send, I managed to rein myself in.

No swearing. Delete it.

Don’t blow up. I had to remember my place—I was the one with less power.

No matter how irritating Shin Chi-woo was, I had to be careful not to let my emotions spill over. Chairman Pyeon Jae-ho might hold my life in his hands, but Shin Chi-woo’s influence over this island ran deeper than I thought.

Endure it. I had to endure.

Even a rotten rope is better than no rope at all. Even if he didn’t try to stage a coup, Chairman Pyeon’s health could take a turn at any moment—and he could die tomorrow.

I closed my eyes tightly, then opened them again, clenching my jaw. I erased the angry message from the input box, then slowly typed, letter by letter:

「I’m not worried. Of course.」

If I expected nothing, I wouldn’t be disappointed. And if I wasn’t disappointed, I wouldn’t get hurt.

My life had turned upside down overnight, so of course I was vulnerable and on edge. Maybe I’d just wanted someone’s kindness—even if I was only imagining it.

Yeah. That’s all it was.

07. Ballerina

I turned off the phone and placed it into the black plastic bag inside the toiletry pouch resting on my lap. Then, I removed the watches from both wrists and put them in with the phone.

I deliberately flushed the toilet before opening the door and stepping out. After thoroughly washing my hands, I picked up my pouch and entered the shower area.

They called it a “shower room,” but it looked more like a public bathhouse you’d find in the city. I grabbed two towels from the mountain-like stack by the entrance of the changing room and headed in.

No one here…? Wait—there’s someone in the back.

I couldn’t exactly go without washing, so over the past ten days, I’d done my best to figure out when the place was the least crowded. I quickly headed to the locker in the farthest corner, stripped, and walked into the shower room.

Each shower stall had a partition, offering at least some semblance of personal space. Under the faucet—where the water didn’t splash much—I placed the black plastic bag, wrapped in a towel. Now, it was all about how quickly I could wash and get out.

Shaa—

Every time I showered, I was just grateful there was hot water. Standing beneath the showerhead, I washed thoroughly from head to toe as fast and efficiently as possible, then hurried out.

Whirrr—

Once I was dressed again and had all my valuables back on me, I finally felt a bit more at ease. Standing in the powder room, drying my wet hair with a hairdryer, I was finally able to let my mind wander elsewhere.

「Chef Kwak isn’t a bad guy, but don’t get too close to him.」

I already knew Shin Chi-woo had been keeping tabs on how I was doing on the island. With security cameras everywhere, it wasn’t far-fetched to think he was watching me through those.

But somehow, he even knew what Chef Kwak and I had talked about. Maybe he’d guessed we discussed food since he’s a chef, but… this was Shin Chi-woo we were talking about.

His eyes were watching me from nearby. And it wasn’t impossible that Chef Kwak was one of his people.

“Don’t you get sick of eating the same three meals every single day?”

Maybe Glasses picking a fight with me for no reason had been on someone’s orders. It could’ve been Shin Chi-woo—or maybe Chairman Pyeon Jae-ho. To go to extremes, maybe everyone living on this island was either my watcher or my warden.

The most important thing, though, was that Shin Chi-woo was clearly showing me that he had power on this island. In other words, he had more influence inside Pyeonjae Trading than I’d originally thought.

There’s no hope for Dad anyway. Even if he makes it out alive, he was never cut out to be a boss.

Even if Shin Chi-woo doesn’t stage a coup, Chairman Pyeon is destined to die from his illness eventually. Which means, before long, both Pyeonjae Trading and this nameless island will have a new owner.