“What? I couldn’t hear you.”
“Ho! I said ho, ho!”
If he pushed any further, hyung would really get angry. Siyeon quickly backed off with sharp perception.
“I think I’m all better now. Thanks, hyung.”
“……”
Wonyoung hesitated, then fumbled at the spot Siyeon had pointed to earlier and asked.
“Did it really hurt?”
At those worried eyes, Siyeon smiled brightly.
“No, it was a joke. How could this body get hurt so easily?”
“When you’re always coming back injured……”
Though Wonyoung grumbled like that, he didn’t continue his words.
“More importantly, did you meet the other guys?”
Soon Siyeon changed the subject and asked. Wonyoung paused before answering.
“I met Heegang, but I haven’t seen Taerim-ssi yet……”
“What’s that nouveau riche doing that he still hasn’t even contacted you?”
“You didn’t see him near the house either?”
“No, I was there the whole time but didn’t see him.”
Wonyoung lowered his head as Heegang’s words came to mind again, but soon shook it off.
“He might be busy. I’m planning to go tomorrow.”
“How noble of you.”
“Don’t be like that. I came back safely thanks to all three of you.”
Wonyoung stroked Siyeon’s head.
“And I have things I need to say to that person.”
Siyeon gazed quietly at Wonyoung lost in thought, then changed the subject.
“Hyung, I think this part hurts too, blow on it for me.”
“Geez, really!”
“Ow, ow ow! Are you seriously hitting me?!”
Bickering like that, the two burst into laughter together. Temporarily forgetting about the approaching events and anxieties.
* * *
―I’ve filled the full year’s tribute money.
―Now you have to keep your promise, big boss.
When Siyeon said he wanted to leave the organization, the organization’s boss had presented him with choices. Either become disabled for life, or fill the entire year’s tribute money within two months.
It was called a choice, but it wasn’t something he could actually choose. If he became disabled, he wouldn’t be able to appear before Wonyoung for the rest of his life.
But the latter wasn’t easy either. A full year’s worth? It was an impossible amount even if he added most of the money he’d saved up until then. So he worked two, three part-time jobs. He didn’t care about dangerous work, and even added a loan with his two eyes as collateral. It was a fact Wonyoung didn’t know, shouldn’t know.
He agonized over the loan until the very last moment. Because it might become something that would entangle him again when he was trying to leave the organization.
But the moment he learned that Wonyoung had offered his memories to return to him, Siyeon had to lose his choice once again.
And so it came to today.
―Alright, I understand.
He should have been suspicious even a little at that ready answer.
“……Haah.”
Letting out a bloody breath, Siyeon faced the scene before his eyes. About a dozen organization members each holding weapons in their hands and the boss standing in the center appeared in his blurry vision.
His abdomen was hot. Blood was pooling on the palm pressing against the wound.
“You look like you didn’t see this coming. Ki Siyeon, you bastard know too much.”
“I at least thought our boss was a gangster who kept some honor. If third-rate gangster bastards don’t even have that, they’re too filthy.”
At Siyeon’s caustic tone, the boss burst into cackling laughter.
“We’re already third-rate, so what’s the point of keeping honor? And among us, you’re the one who did the most filthy things. You weren’t the action captain for nothing.”
“……”
“You were trash born in a mud pit from the start. Your roots are already there, so do you think you can escape? No, that mud pit will hold onto your legs for life and never let go.”
Siyeon bit his red lips. Why did Wonyoung’s face have to come to mind at this moment? What if my greed was dragging even hyung into this mud pit?
“Give up moderately. I’m not feeling good about this either.”
“Even if I went back, you wouldn’t take me anyway, right? ‘A dog bastard who bites its owner once gets a taste for it,’ that’s what you told me.”
When Siyeon shot back with a cold gaze, the boss smacked his lips and stroked his chin.
“You remember that? What a shame. Still, you were the most useful among those born in the mud pit.”
“……”
“Well, farewell. See you in hell.”
At those words, the organization members rushed at Siyeon all at once. Is this as far as I go? They said it was a game, but I guess I was a character who could die.
Or maybe, I wasn’t chosen by hyung?
―Siyeon.
―You’ve done well until now. You still have warmth left wanting to help someone. That alone is proof you’ve lived well.
―I know what kind of person you are. And I believe in you.
There’s no way.
There’s no way hyung would abandon me. Even if what he feels for me isn’t ‘romantic feelings,’ I know it’s at least ‘affection.’
‘So I can’t die here either.’
Siyeon re-gripped his knife. Soon he leaped into the center of the opposing side and swung his knife. In the process, his arm was cut and the wound on his abdomen throbbed, but he didn’t care.
“Come at me, you bastards! Even if I die, I’ll fuck you all up before I go!”
At Siyeon’s fearless movements and gaze, the organization members momentarily froze in terror. Not missing that moment, Siyeon knocked down the organization members on both sides one by one.
But then, a pipe swung by an organization member aiming for his unguarded back struck Siyeon’s head hard.
“Urk……!”
For a moment his vision spun. Siyeon swung his knife once more and pierced the shoulder of the opponent who attacked him, but indiscriminate blows continued on his back.
“Urk, uurk!”
Soon as Siyeon’s body fell to the ground, the organization members’ merciless kicks poured down. His whole body hurt, and hurt again.
“Do it moderately and dump him.”
“Yes!”
Hearing the voices of the boss and organization members, Siyeon sensed the end.
‘Wonyoung hyung……’
If I disappear, hyung will worry a lot.
But when the ending comes, he’ll return home.
‘……So it’s okay, Ki Siyeon.’
Siyeon closed his eyes trying to recall Wonyoung’s smiling face.
But then.
“!”
“What?!”
Suddenly brilliant light poured this way. Siyeon forced his eyes that wouldn’t open properly.
“I came to help.”
The person standing there was someone Siyeon never expected at all.
* * *
<0 Received Messages>
Going in and out of his message box, Wonyoung let out a sigh. Damn Kyung Taerim.
From the day after returning as Heo Wonyoung, Wonyoung kept waiting for Taerim, but Taerim never appeared.
On the second day. Wonyoung, who had been contemplating whether to call, decided after much deliberation to go meet him directly. He thought the events so far only had meaning if explained face to face.
But what came back to him who mustered courage to visit the company was unexpected news.
“A business trip? Director Kyung?”
“Yes, he had an urgent business trip yesterday. It will be difficult to meet him for the time being.”
“……I understand.”
Wonyoung, who was leaving the front desk on the first floor empty-handed, said with a hopeful heart.
“Um, when the director returns, could you tell him that ‘Heo Wonyoung’ is waiting for his contact?”
“Ah…… I’ll note that for now.”
Since it wasn’t Narae’s appearance, the front desk employee answered with a slightly wary face. Wonyoung had to leave the company dejectedly.
While trying to find a way to contact him somehow, the thought suddenly occurred that he too might need time to organize his thoughts. Perhaps now was the time to wait.
‘But a week is too much.’
Not knowing how people are burning inside.
The problem wasn’t just Kyung Taerim.
‘And why the hell is that bastard Siyeon unreachable too.’
Since meeting a week ago, he too had been out of contact. Did something happen? He’s not a kid who wouldn’t answer contact for this long.
‘……It seemed like he was trying to say something then, but surely not.’
He’s not caught up in something dangerous, right……
I should have pressed him more then.
In the end, after worrying, Wonyoung asked Heegang the day before yesterday to investigate Siyeon’s situation. That added another weakness he’d given to him, but if he could just hear news that Siyeon was okay, it seemed fine to give up an organ or so for real.
‘This guy and that guy, why are they making people worry so much.’
He even stocked the refrigerator full of the alcohol Siyeon likes in case he came. It’s okay to drink now, so I wish he’d just appear.
I should send more texts when I get home. Wonyoung thought that and hurried his steps toward home.
But the moment he reached the front door…….
“Mmph!”
Someone suddenly appeared from the darkness and covered Wonyoung’s mouth. The suspicious person wearing a hat placed his index finger on his lips as if telling him to be quiet.
“Hyung, it’s me.”
Hearing that voice, Wonyoung thought ‘no way’ and looked at the face in the darkness.
The unidentified suspicious person, no, Siyeon nodded his head slightly.
“Let’s go inside. I’ll explain everything there.”
Wonyoung nodded in understanding and opened the front door. As soon as they entered the house, Siyeon grabbed Wonyoung’s hand.
“Don’t turn on the light, hyung.”
“What?”
“And don’t make loud noises either.”
Wonyoung thought for a moment then answered he understood. And the moment Siyeon let go of his hand, he immediately ran and turned on the light.
“Hyung!”
And at Siyeon’s revealed appearance, Wonyoung drew in a breath.
“What is, this…… you……”
Siyeon’s entire face was full of bruises and wounds. His lips were all split, and one eye was so swollen he couldn’t open it properly. Moreover, though he had wrapped his whole body tightly in clothes, judging by the unhealed cuts on his hands visible outside the clothes, the state of his body was obvious without even looking.
“You, what are you……”
Wonyoung couldn’t even form words properly and stammered. Unable to believe it, he reached out his hand. He touched a cold cheek.
Soon the first emotion he felt was rage.
“Who did this! Who the hell did this to you!”
“Hyung, I’m okay.”
“What’s okay about this?! What is it, what the hell happened! You had no contact because you were hurt?”
“……”
Looking at the silent Siyeon, the second emotion he felt was pity. His heart ached as if being torn. Wonyoung couldn’t even touch him properly for fear he might hurt.
