I've had this sitting on my hard drive for a while, just never got around to posting it. So with that, feast your eyes! And any feedback is appreciated.
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A Contemporary Tale of Bravery
K worked at a company in a good position. He had no children, but he had a beautiful wife, and to some extent, he got by with more than he needed. Nothing much changed for him-- he was just an ordinary, middle-aged man.
If you had to cite a change in his life, stopping over in the neighborhood park after leaving the house would be about it. Making a round through the park every morning before his commute became a part of K's daily routine. It somewhat made up for his habit of not getting enough exercise, and besides, it refreshed him.
On that day, however, the park didn't look what you could call "refreshing" and he was on his guard. As K strolled along, a young man sitting on a bench stood up and started to speak to him.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. K?"
"Sure, but who are you? And what do you want?"
"You're not going to like this."
"What the hell are you talking about? Just spit it out."
"It's hard for me to say this, but I'll just tell you flat out. I'm going to kill you."
"What? Are you crazy?"
The young man restrained the shouting K. He briefly pulled out a handgun, and then immediately returned it to his pocket. Then, with it still in his pocket, he pressed it against K's body. "Please, don't raise your voice. This is a new type of silent handgun. If I pull this trigger, the bullet will force the life right out of your body."
This was no joke.
"Are you going to kill me here and now?"
"If you try to escape, then yes. However, I would prefer to wait a little longer."
"What do you mean?"
"If possible, I would like you to return to your home and die there."
"What are you saying?! My wife is home!"
"I have been entrusted with killing you in front of your wife's eyes."
"Who the hell would think up something that cruel?! And without even a reason..."
"Since you're going to die anyway, I might as well tell you. Due to your company halting distribution of its products, a certain company went bankrupt. The manager committed suicide by jumping in front of a train right before his wife's eyes. In other words, it was said that you, the manager, killed him. At that, his widow took an oath of revenge. Taking it upon herself, she saved the money, and so that you should be killed under the same circumstances, she hired me. It's a real contemporary tale of bravery, isn't it? It's seldom that you see a lady so admirable. I even took the job on cheap."
"Well, wait a sec. Something like that may have happened, but that was done under company policy; it's not my responsibility. That's no reason to kill someone! Please, save me!"
"I can't do that. It is my job to follow the policies of a client. Putting it that way is no reason for me NOT to kill you. I can't save you."
"If she has some kind of complaint against me, she could come to me personally."
"However, killing you is not something which should be borne on the hands of of a lady. And so, I was hired as her agent."
"What a bullshit story."
"Complaining to me won't get you anywhere. I'm only an agent, you see? Now, how shall we proceed? Would you prefer to die here, or shall we go to your home?"
K thought for a long while. If he died here, it would be the end no matter what. He didn't want to surprise his wife and get her entangled in this either, but he had to buy himself a little bit of time. In that, he might be able to find a method of escape.
"Let's head towards the house."
"Well then, shall we go together? Please don't think about trying to escape en route or anything of that sort."
Without speaking as much as a word to the young man, K looked for a chance to escape. However, the assassin could see through that as well, and didn't drop his guard even for a moment. K's escape became an impossibility. Again, he tried to talk him out of it, but it was futile. The assassin would say no more.
Returning via the nearly shadowless road through the park, K turned towards his house. With every step, his despair further deepened. Then at last, they arrived in front of his foyer. Putting on his sunglasses, the assassin ordered thus, "Don't ring the doorbell. You have a key, correct? Open the door with that. If you don't comply, then right here..."
Having no other choice, K took out his key and opened the door.
"Now, where's your wife's room?"
K motioned towards his wife's room with the end of his chin. Thinking himself about to be killed, his words wouldn't come. In the end, it was hopeless. His only hope was that, before his death, he would just be able to meet his beloved wife one more time. Although, at the same time, he would have to die.
The assassin, his attention never leaving K, pulled open the door to the room.
When he did so, an unexpected scene, one which K had never considered, unfolded before them. There was a young man in the room who K had never even met. This man, wearing only his underwear, thought to grab the ashtray next to him, aim at the assassin, and let loose a powerful throw. Then, he threw on his clothes in a fluster and jumped out the window.
The assassin, his attention focused solely on K, had no time to sidestep. The ashtray hit him in the face, and his sunglasses shattered. He fell down on the bed, hands covering both eyes.
K, who had been dumbstruck by these unforeseen events, finally returned to his senses. With the nearby power cord, he bound the assassin up. After that, he asked his wife, standing indecorously in the corner of the room, "What was with that man who jumped out the window just now?"
"Uh, that is, he's a salesman."
"Why was there a salesman in here?"
At K's weighty question, she fell to her knees and answered.
"I'm horrible. While you were away, the salesman came into the house, and I was unfaithful. I'm sorry. I'll do anything to make amends! Please try and forgive me!"
Naturally, K forgave this crying, apologizing woman. He bowed down even lower than her.
"Thank you. I don't know what to say. Thanks for cheating on me while I'm away."
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