How long had it been?

Ten years?

That must be it. Joo Eun-ho stopped counting the days and months many years ago. So, he was not entirely sure now.

What was the point anyway? He was sentenced with life imprisonment with very little possibility of parole. Everything he knew now was what life was like behind bars. And there was not much to know in that cursed place.

There was a routine. There were people who came and went. The warden had changed twice since he was transferred to this prison five years ago. The guards, were mostly the same. They had known each other by this point well enough to build a mutual respect and understanding. The guards didn’t bother him, and he didn’t cause any problems.

And then, the inmates. Most of them stayed here because they committed crimes severe enough to give them long-term prison sentences or even life.

Eun-ho only remembered five people so far who had left the facility after completing their sentences. The rest would probably die here when their time came. Eun-ho wondered if those who got out managed to reintegrate themselves back to society. He never heard anything about them.

Ahh… he, too, would soon become like them. Finally, breathing the air of freedom. After so many years, he wondered what life was like outside of prison. Had many things changed much? How much?

A prison guard smiled a little when he saw the young man walk near, wearing only a pair of khaki pants, sneakers, and a long-sleeved shirt. Eun-ho carried a small duffel bag in his hands and nothing else. It contained his entire worldly possession, which wasn’t much.

Like most inmates who had no family, he didn’t have anyone to visit him regularly and buy him things. What little money they earned while working in prison was only enough to buy basic necessities or occasional leisure.

So, when they got out, they didn’t have a lot of money or goods with them. However, today was the first snowfall, and it was very cold outside. This man would need a coat as soon as he walked out of the prison gates toward his freedom.

The guard wanted to say something, but he decided against it. Instead, he nodded and commented, “You should walk fast and catch the next bus. It won’t come again until another thirty minutes.”

Eun-ho nodded back, but he didn’t say anything.

The guard opened the gates and watched as the young man slowly stepped outside. When he saw the falling snowflakes, Eun-ho stopped in his tracks.

He looked up and watched the snow falling with a newfound appreciation. The crystal white snowflakes were dancing in the air before they landed gently on the ground.

He was mesmerized by the scene and slowly raised his hand and opened his palm to feel them on his hand. They were cold. His body started trembling a little because of the low temperature and the snow.

Eun-ho decided to start walking. Like the guard said, he needed to catch that bus and get away from here. Then, he would think about what to do, and where to go.

He didn’t have plans. No money to his name and no home to go back to. As he was walking down the road under the snow, Eun-ho began to think that leaving the prison was a mistake.

What’s the point of getting out now? When the lawyers started talking to him about reopening his case and trying to get him out of prison, he just followed along, thinking nothing would come out of it. 

That was ten months ago. And now suddenly he found himself free.

He didn’t know what magic those lawyers did behind the scenes and how much they must have cost to work on his case. The fact was, he was released from prison today, ready to be reintegrated back to society.

The temperature was really low but his mind was busy with thoughts that he didn’t notice the cold. Eun-ho kept walking. A fancy black sedan appeared in front of him as he was walking toward the bus station. Since the road’s end was the prison, the car was obviously heading toward the facility.

Were they visiting some big time criminals in the prison? Eun-ho was wondering.

He knitted his brows in confusion when he saw the car turn around and move toward him, and then it stopped gracefully right in front of him.

He halted his steps and waited for the person inside to come out of the car. Were they lost and wanting to know direction? It didn’t seem likely.

The front passenger door opened and a man in his thirties came out. He wore a neat suit with a brown trench coat and an umbrella in his hand. The man smiled as soon as he saw Eun-ho.

“Ah, Mr. Joo Eun-ho! I’m glad I still get to meet you,” he said with a cheery voice. “Apologies, we came late. I didn’t know the warden released you earlier than schedule.”

The man walked briskly toward Eun-ho and offered him the umbrella. He halted his step a bit when he noticed the young man was only wearing a thin long-sleeved shirt but hid his concern and smiled warmly as he offered the umbrella in his hand.

When Eun-ho didn’t make any movement to receive it, the man decided to just open the umbrella and held it for him, subtly protecting Eun-ho from the falling snow.

Eun-ho didn’t flinch. He looked at the man with a flat expression. “You know my name?”

The stranger hurriedly took out his business card from his coat pocket and gave it to the former inmate. “Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Lee Minjung. I work for Baeksong Foundation. Our foundation helped fight for your case so that you can now be free.”

Eun-ho read the card and then nodded. 

Lee Minjung. Executive assistant. Baeksong Foundation.

He had met several lawyers hired by the foundation to work on his case, and they were all very serious people. This one looked more laid back and approachable. What did he want by coming all this way to see Eun-ho on his release day?

Lee Minjung cleared his throat and said, “You can call me Assistant Lee. I am slightly older than you. I am so happy to meet you. I’m coming to pick you up and take you to your new residence.”

His last sentence made Eun-ho confused. He looked at Assistant Lee and asked dryly, “Why?”

Assistant Lee widened his eyes when he heard this question.

“Uhm… what do you mean ‘why’?” he asked back.

Eun-ho stood still under the falling snowflakes. His body barely moved even for breathing, and, for a short while, Assistant Lee thought he was speaking with a statue, a very lifelike one.

This young man was so beautiful, he thought. His light brown eyes looked like almond, his face was androgynous with delicate features like a woman, his messy hair grew almost down to his neck - did they allow inmates to grow their hair in prison? And his body was well built with enough muscles, shown by his tight-fitting shirt.

Even prison and plain clothes couldn’t hide this man’s beauty, Assistant Lee thought to himself, remembering his niece who worshipped some idols and spent so much money on merchandise every month.

If his niece saw Joo Eun-ho at the mall or somewhere, anywhere but the prison area, she would think this young man was a celebrity, never believe that he was a former inmate.

Look how cool he was standing under the snow unmoving like this, like he had no care in the world, but at the same time, you could also see how he carried the world on his shoulders. His curt responses and how he was always short on words made him all the more unapproachable.

Assistant Lee knew Joo Eun-ho’s story and understood that he had to be compassionate and patient when dealing with this young man. He went through hell and back. What he experienced in hell must have been what made him this hard to talk to.

Assistant Lee coughed a little, understanding what Joo Eun-ho wanted to know. He explained warmly the reason for his appearance.

“Like I said, I come to take you to your new residence. You must be wondering why we do it. Isn’t it enough that we give you freedom? Well, we don't like to do things by halves. The director of the foundation really wants to see you get back to living your life well. So, after you get out of prison, we will help you adapt back into society. You will be given a place to stay and a monthly allowance to survive until you get a job and can live independently.”

Eunho looked at the business card on his hand again. He muttered, “That director of yours... sounds like a good person.”

Assistant Lee smiled broadly and nodded in agreement. “Yes, he is. CEO Baek is a--”

Eunho smiled curtly and interrupted Assistant Lee’s words. “But I don’t believe someone would do all this for a stranger without wanting anything in return.”

It was the longest sentence he had uttered since the start of their conversation.

Assistant Lee frowned. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to convince this young man. He was so skeptical about everything.

“You can see for yourself later that our foundation has no strings attached in making this effort. Our mission is done for the sake of humanity.” Assistant Lee decided not to argue. He pointed at the car and gestured to Eun-ho to follow him. “How about we talk as we go? It's snowing harder and harder. I'm afraid you'll get sick. I promise to tell you everything you want to know.”

He waited until Eun-ho finally walked toward the car and got in after the driver got out and opened the back passenger door for him. Assistant Lee got in to the front passenger seat and instructed the driver to drive.

“Thank you for coming with me. Let’s get you to your new apartment and I will answer whatever questions you have once we are there,” said Assistant Lee as he buckled up. Eun-ho nodded slightly and became busy with his thoughts.

He didn’t have anywhere to go anyway. He got nothing to lose by following this man who came to pick him up. He really didn’t expect the Baeksong foundation would do so much for him even after they managed to release him from prison. He must find out what their agenda was.

The car moved swiftly leaving Daewon Correctional Facility behind. Assistant Lee and the driver looked at each other as their car passed by a black Mercedes parking by the roadside, not far from the facility.

With a tacit understanding, none of them said anything and continued the drive. In the back seat, Eun-ho was sitting stiffly, looking outside the window, mesmerized by the world slowly covered by the glittering snow.

The black Mercedes pulled up and started moving after the car bringing Joo Eun-ho disappeared from view. The driver was a middle-aged man with glasses. He looked to the rearview mirror and asked his boss if they should follow the other car.

“No. Let Assistant Lee handle it,” a calm voice replied from the back seat. “We should go back to the office.”

A man in his late twenties sat gracefully with his legs crossed on the leather seat of the passenger cabin. His slick black hair looked like it came straight from a men’s hair product commercial.

His face was handsome with a tall nose and well-defined brows. His lips were too red for a man. Perhaps it was because he never smoked in his life. His outfit was simple but perfectly cut, reminding people of the term quiet luxury.

Baek Jung Hwan was the definition of the perfect man. Tall, handsome, wealthy, and highly educated. Everyone kept saying he had it all and he was perfect. How lucky he must be to live such a life.

But he never once thought it was true. He was and always would be a loser. Unloved and inviting pity. That’s why he always did his best to do everything perfectly, to at least show the world that he deserved what he had now.

He came today not knowing that Joo Eun-ho would be released earlier, but he was glad he did. He didn’t get to see Eun-ho, but it’s okay. He didn’t know what he would have done if he had come to meet him face to face anyway. He was relieved it didn’t happen.

Maybe some other time.

TO BE CONTINUED