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Ihavebeen stalling. I was given a clear order almost two weeks ago, and I’ve yet to go through with it.

Monroe Ross is still alive and breathing because I have not acted as decisively and promptly as I usually would.

In my own way, I’ve been giving her more time to live.

I turn and walk away without another word.

Anyone in my way quickly scrambles to move. No one dares to make me tell them to. They understand I am not a man to ever be trifled with, but especially in a moment like this.

The truth is inescapable as I walk out of Club Gongshi.

This comes to an end now.

The moment her mother leaves, the job will be done. Monroe will die, and I will feel nothing. Just as I always do.

8.Monroe

The sky is a perfect,watercolor blue.

Not a single cloud in sight, just a clear sky that seems to stretch for forever. The sun glints off the gentle waves at Haeundae Beach, the air warm and salty.

Mom wanted to come to the beach for her last full day in South Korea. She hardly gets to see the beach in Philly. The closest one is several hours away in New Jersey, so seeing the waves lapping at the shore puts an immediate smile on her face.

We’re surrounded by women in floppy hats and kids shrieking as they chase each other in and out of the surf. Vendors advertise street food and trinkets from their booths, and I spot large beach umbrellas and blankets in every direction I look.

It’s truly a beautiful, picturesque day.

Yet I’m a nauseous mess on the inside.

My smile feels fake. I don’t feel present no matter how hard I try to engage with Mom. Stepping foot on Haeundae Beach conjures immediate memories of that dark night in the alley.

It was only two weeks ago, yet it seems like I’ve been plagued by dread for an eternity.

Just a few streets over, I stumbled into the alleyway and came across Jin and his crew of gangsters.

My stomach twists thinking about how they’d thrown me to the ground at his feet. I can still feel the terrifying bite of his blade as he pressed it against my throat and see how cold and chilling his gaze was as he peered down at me.

This man hated me. He truly wanted tokillme.

He probably still will…

The inside of my wrist itches as if in reminder. I readjust the bracelet I’m wearing and make a humming noise to whatever Mom’s saying.

She’s radiant beside me, strutting down the boardwalk in a sundress we bought at the underground mall the other day. She insists we get a mani-pedi for old time’s sake, one of our traditions just like shopping is.

We duck into a nail salon a street away from the beach. Mom lights up immediately, pointing at the vibrant nail polish colors and designs on display.

“Moni, what about this coral? You don’t think it’s too juvenile, do you?”

“No, Mom,” I say, forcing a small laugh. “That color would look so cute on you.”

We select our colors and are ushered into one of the comfy massage chairs for our pedicure. Our nail tech is a polite Korean woman eager to practice her English with us.

“You’re very good,” Mom says. “I tried learning German when my husband was stationed there in the early 2000s. Never learned more than guten morgen and danke.”

The nail tech laughs. “I get a lot of practice with travelers that come by.”

“My baby lives here,” Mom brags. “She teaches English at Suyeong Academy. She speaks five languages herself, including Korean.”