Na-Kyum had spent the whole three hours on the phone with the frightened woman, his battery barely hanging on as he did his best to console her. He was out-of-breath and on high alert by the time he finally pounded against the door in the middle of a busy street in Seoul. Hee-Na had changed. Long gone was the pretty, joyful woman, in her stead stood an exhausted, aged version, whose eyes looked haunted.
« Na-Kyum… » She murmured before breaking into loud sobs and jumping in his arms.
« It's okay Noona, I'm here, » he held her and gave her time to calm down.
He felt his heart rate pick up at the state of her clothes and wondered how she had made it here without anyone calling the police on her.
« Let's g-go, » she suddenly startled and tightly gripped his arm. The young man winced but let himself be dragged.
« We should stay in crowded places, » he frowned as she walked toward a dark alley. « Get you cleaned up before we go. »
« I'm so scared ! » Hee-Na sounded hysterical as she dragged him harder and walked faster. Na-Kyum felt his heart clench at the sight. She was in obvious shock so he decided to follow her for now. There was no reason for the bad guys to suddenly show up after she had been hiding right here for three long hours. Also, he wasn't sure where he could bring her in that state.
« Everything's going to be alright, » he twisted his arm until he had pulled back enough to hold her hand.
« I'm so- AHH ! »
They had just stepped out of the busy street when two men jumped on them. Na-Kyum's heart skipped a beat and he watched in horror before affection for Hee-Na won over his paralyzing fear and he jumped between her and the man slapping her. It hurt, he thought as he covered the crying woman with his own body, it hurt a lot.
« Where's my money bitch ? » A third man dressed in suit and wearing too many golden rings stepped out of the shadow. He wasn't much taller than Na-Kyum but he was a lot fatter.
« We gave you ev-everything when y-you came ! » Hee-Na cried.
« When we came ? » The man frowned in genuine confusion but neither Hee-Na nor Na-Kyum noticed. « I finally decide to collect what's due and what do I find ? A half-dead motherfucker and his wife missing ! »
« Wh-what ? » Hee-Na shook in Na-Kyum's hold, genuine confusion and fear stark on her face.
« You weren't easy to find, sweetheart, » the leader came forward. « Let me see your pretty face. »
Na-Kyum tightened his hold and grunted in pain at the kick he received then. He tried to hold on, tried to resist, but his weak body had already been pushed well past its limits and they were both dragged into the building by the backdoor. From the muffled music that echoed, it was a club but the room they were brought to looked more like those empty torture rooms from movies.
—
Then he had passed out and now he was… Where was he ?
He gripped the sheets under him before rubbing his hands over the delicate silk. This was not a hospital bed. Now that the pain from moving had passed, a dull discomfort remaining behind, he finally looked around. The room was huge, proportionated to the bed he sat in. The tall grey curtains were slightly open in the middle and he stared at the floor-to-ceiling window for a minute before turning to take in all the luxury around. It was all sleek surface and designer's pieces.
Fear rose in his throat as he slowly got out of bed and noticed he had been changed. He gripped the oversized white t-shirt that reached the middle of his thighs and hesitantly pulled up. A deep, relieved sigh deflated him at the sight of briefs underneath. He also noticed the few bandages and bandaids here and there, and his confusion grew.
Na-Kyum looked around for his phone but couldn't find it. His eyes opened wide and he blushed at what he found in the bedside table before he slammed it closed. He didn't dare to open the second one. Where was he ? Giving up on going through the room, he hesitantly walked out. It took him a second to get used to the bright light and when he did, he gaped at the place he stood in. The ceiling wasn't just high, it could fit three average floors easily, huge chandeliers raining down from above and again the minimalist, dark esthetic.
« What a glorious sight, » a deep voice broke into the silence like thunder.
Na-Kyum whirled around and felt the blood drain from his face. No way. No. No. No ! This had to be a nightmare. It had been two whole years and yet the familiar fear reappeared in a second. He froze as the man approached him, his long legs bringing him over in a few strides. Why did he seem even bigger than in his memories ? And that smell. That familiar smell. Na-Kyum's eyes filled with tears as he stared forward but refused to meet the cruel dark blue eyes. His jaw looked sharper, his hair weren't slicked back but the messy style did nothing to soften his looks. If anything he looked even more dangerous, unrestrained. His lips were stretched into the familiar smirk that still haunted him.
It was only when he felt the softest brush against his ribs that Na-Kyum moved. He jumped backward, slipped on his own feet and barely stopped his fall by gripping the counter behind him. When he finally met the dark eyes, they looked the same as ever.
« W-why ? » He whispered.
« Hmm ? » The taller man tilted his head to the side.
« Why would you… ? Hee-Na ? You… » Na-Kyum couldn't speak, too many emotions rushed around his head, making it hard to focus.
« Calm down Kyum, » his smirk widened as he walked around to stand on the the other side of the counter, leaving Na-Kyum to stare at his broad back while he moved around the kitchen. « It wasn't me. That dumb woman's husband borrowed from the wrong person but you know I don't deal with junkies. Please, don't look down on me. » It was true. He hated junkies. But… « I just happened to be relaxing at the club when my men warned me about the commotion downstairs. You should be grateful, I shouldn't even have involved myself in since it's not my turf. »
« Wh-what ? »
« But I couldn't just ignore my dear Kyum, » Do-Yung turned around and put a warm cup in front of him. « Nor could I let those bastards go after they dared to touch what's mine. »
Na-Kyum was frozen as a large, calloused hand came to cup his cheek. His heart was beating a painful rhythm while Do-Yung stroked a thumb underneath his healthy eye.
« Look at what they did to you, » he sighed darkly. « I should have taken my time with them. »
« Where's Hee-Na ? » Na-Kyum asked in a shaky voice.
« Why do you care ? » The gangster raised an eyebrow. « Firstly, I don't even understand what you're doing here. She forgot about you a long time ago and I know for a fact you don't live in the capital. » Na-Kyum bit his lip and looked down. « I'm hurt that you came running for her and still avoid me. »
« Where is she ? » He asked again, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. « Please… »
« I can't refuse you anything, » Do Yung smiled and lowered his hand to hold his nape. « She went to her in-laws' house in the country. »
« But- »
« It seemed she's safe there. »
Na-Kyum's shoulders dropped in relief at hearing that.
« Well, then I- » He tried to leave the warm hold around his neck.
« Do you know why it took me so long to get you back ? » Do-Yung cut him off.
« I- » His throat tightened with fear but Do-Yung looked serene.
« I knew where you were, what you were doing, » He caressed his skin slowly making Na-Kyum tremble. « But I couldn't just drag you back or you would have run away. Again. Do you know how hurt I was ? » Na-Kyum swallowed under the finger pressing onto his throat. Do-Yung's eyes narrowed at the sight. « You have no idea how patient I have been with you…»
« Please… Let me go- »
« So I waited, » Do-Yung pressed harder making it uncomfortable to breath, let alone speak. « For two long, painful years, I waited for the right opportunity to bring you back. In truth, I was waiting for you to come back on your own but you didn't. And when I finally have enough, this, » he pressed harder and chuckled darkly while Na-Kyum gripped his forearm in panic. « This falls in my hand. »
« S-stop ! » He whined in a half breath.
« You're not leaving me again. Never. »
Do-Yung leaned over the counter and brought his face close until their breath mingled. His eyes had that intense, mad glint that still haunted his nightmares. How could such beautiful eyes look so scary ?
« Hhh ! » He struggled under the grip, mouth gaping in a useless effort to get more air and just as he was about to faint, Do-Yung released him.
« So Hee-Na owes money to very bad people, » he grinned as Na-Kyum gasped for air. « Owed. Now she owes it to me. »
« Sh-she do- Her hu-husband- No- Hee- » He struggled but Do-Yung cut him off with a tut.
« She ate her share, » Do-Yung leaned his head on his palm and smiled at him in that way that still made him shiver. « So how should I make her pay ? »
« P-please-» Na-Kyum was still struggling for breath.
« Of course, if you agree to finally stay put where you belong, I'd be willing to wipe her slate. »
They locked eyes and in that moment, Na-Kyum understood that his respite was over.