Confusion flickered across his face like a candle's flame caught in a draft, as he grappled with the unexpected turn their conversation had taken. "What!?" he exclaimed, disbelief lacing his voice, a mixture of shock and concern evident in his wide eyes.
Ji Hoon's response came soft and hesitant, almost swallowed by the heavy silence that hung between them. "You won't leave if I don't interfere, right?"
The statement hit Jae Hyuk like a sudden gust of wind, leaving him momentarily disoriented. It was the last thing he wanted to hear, a thought so unsettling it sent a chill down his spine. A wave of curiosity surged through him, crashing over his initial shock as he pondered Ji Hoon's perplexing reasoning. How had this guy arrived at such a bewildering conclusion? What intricate thoughts and tangled emotions had woven through Ji Hoon's mind to bring them to this moment?
Jae Hyuk's mind was a torrent of thoughts and emotions, thundering in his chest like a wild storm as he struggled to comprehend the meaning behind Ji Hoon's unexpected words. "No, that's not what I asked for. It's your body—why wouldn't you want me to take control?" he pressed, his voice a mix of frustration and confusion.
"But you said you hate being controlled," Ji Hoon replied, a hint of desperation in his tone.
"Yes, I did. And that's why you should push me away; that's what I suggested," Jae Hyuk argued, his heart racing as he grappled with his conflicting desires.
"No, I can't," Ji Hoon insisted, his grip on Jae Hyuk's hand tightening as if he were holding onto a lifeline. His eyes pleaded with Jae Hyuk, conveying a desperate longing for connection. "Please don't leave. I promise I'll never interfere, if that's what you really want."
Despite the weight of Ji Hoon's emotions, Jae Hyuk felt a strange pull toward Ji Hoon's offer. It was tempting, and for a moment, he was caught in a web of uncertainty. As he wrestled with his thoughts, he realized that the selfish part of him, the part that craved connection and greed, was beginning to win the internal battle.
"Fine, so you're saying you'll never repeat what you did again? Is that right?"
"Y-Yes," Ji Hoon blurted out, his voice trembling against the weight of his own contradictions.
"Good," Jae Hyuk replied, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "I like that. So, here's the deal: I won't walk away from you, but if you ever make that mistake again, it'll lead us both into a life we could never escape from—one that stretches far into eternity." He raised his hand for a truce, an unspoken promise lingering in the air between them.
Ji Hoon could feel a powerful tug of desire deep within his heart, an ache that urged him to reach out and grasp that hand. It was no ordinary hand; it embodied his yearning for safety and solace, a refuge amidst the chaos and turmoil that swirled around him. This hand promised to shelter him, to pull him away from the storm of the outside world. Yet, underneath that comforting exterior lay an undeniable truth—it was the very same hand that held the potential to plunge him into darkness of eternity.
With this resolve burning brightly within him, the atmosphere shifted, charged with intensity, as the deal came to a dramatic conclusion.
"Hoon-ah? Are you alright?"
Through his blurred vision, Ji Hoon could make out Hae Ra's figure, her face etched with concern as she hurriedly adjusted his pillow. Her wide, anxious eyes were glued to him, silently pleading for reassurance.
"I'm fine, but could I get some water?" he replied, his throat dry and scratchy.
"Of course," she responded, her voice softening as she filled a glass with cool water. A faint, tentative smile flickered across her lips before she handed it to him, the gesture warm and comforting.
"I'm really sorry," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "This happened because of me. I shouldn't have left your side, and I feel terrible."
"No, it's okay," Ji Hoon assured her, slowly handing back the empty glass. He met her gaze, his eyes steady and calm. "It wasn't anyone's fault. But could you call in the guards who were there at the time?"
Hae Ra shook her head, her expression evolving from one of guilt to a fierce determination. "It's alright, they're fine. If you'd like, I can handle replacing them myself," she offered, her voice a blend of firmness and kindness. As she spoke, she brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the movement accentuating the resolve shining in her eyes.
However, Ji Hoon seemed unfazed by her assurance. "Can you, no actually, call the guards who were there at that time," he stated, his tone lacking the softness it once held. His words came out with a surprising edge, almost resembling an order rather than a request.
Hae Ra was left momentarily speechless, her mind racing to comprehend the shift. It took a few seconds for the reality of the situation to sink in—the timid boy who would previously have rather buried himself alive than speak up to her had just commanded her attention with a newfound assertiveness. The air between them crackled with an unexpected tension, the roles they had once held shifting beneath their feet.
Lost in her thoughts, Hae Ra was abruptly jolted back to reality as Jae Hyuk slid a crumpled piece of paper across the table toward her. The hastily scrawled words reflected his signature wit: "I thought you couldn't hear me, so I wrote this down for you to read, right?"
Taken aback by his sarcasm, Hae Ra stood up abruptly, her eyes narrowing. "No, I mean, yes, I can read! But I... I'll call them," she stammered, her face flushed with a mix of surprise and irritation.
Ji Hoon smirked, unfazed. "With their profiles too," he added, his tone teasing.
"Yes," she replied curtly, turning on her shoes and leaving the room, a puzzled expression etched on her face as she tried to process the encounter.
From the shadowy corner of the room, a familiar voice interrupted the tension. "That's not how you should talk to her. She's a genuinely nice person, but she can be really intimidating, you know."
Jae Hyuk's laugh was more a bitter bark as he crossed his arms defiantly. "Oh really? And where was she when I was getting thrashed, huh?" His words dripped with a venom that spoke of past wounds yet to heal.
Cha Ji Hoon bristled. "What the- I figured you'd be smart enough to realize maybe she was-"
"Busy? Then why didn't she bother to ask who did this to me? She asked me how I was, but never who was responsible."
"You're acting like you're scripting some drama. She could've asked the guards—"
"And what good did that do?" Jae Hyuk shot back, his tone sharp, as he stared intently into Ji Hoon's eyes. "Did it provide you with a glass of water? Did it soothe your worries like a child seeking comfort?" The intensity of his gaze felt almost like a challenge. "Listen closely, Mr. Cha Ji Hoon. I have no idea what kind of sheltered bubble you've been living in, but let me tell you, a mere act of kindness doesn't grant anyone a halo. There's no such thing as purely good or evil individuals—just humans motivated by self-interest. That's the grim reality of survival in this era. Sure, you can dress it up in pretty words so that people like you can slap on a 'good' or 'bad' label, but it's all just a facade."
Before Ji Hoon could muster a response to Jae Hyuk's unsolicited "Life Lesson 101," the door swung open. Hae Ra entered, her expression enigmatic as she clutched a stack of files tightly in her hands, flanked by the ever-watchful guards. With a smooth, practiced motion, she handed the files to Jae Hyuk, her face giving away nothing, and signaled for the guards to stand at military attention by his bed, their posture rigid and imposing.
Lee Mina
She graduated from a prestigious high school, a feat that opened doors for her at the best college in the country, where she currently studies business administration. Mina is not only academically gifted but also has a teenage brother who shares her educational journey at the same institution. "Brains must run in the family, don't you think?" Ji Hoon remarked with a hint of admiration as he flipped through Mina's file, reading her details aloud while integrating his thoughts.
"Ah, a black belt in taekwondo," he noted, his eyes widening slightly at her impressive credentials. "And she's a member of Kyung's boxing club, boasting exceptional defensive skills, while also being formidable in attack!" After finishing his assessment, Jae Hyuk closed the file and flashed Mina a smile, which left her a bit taken aback, an unexpected compliment that lingered in the air.
Turning his attention to the next file, he opened it with a sense of curiosity.
Do Min Hyuk
Having graduated from a local public school, Min Hyuk quickly yearned for independence, leaving for the city with dreams of securing a job to break free from his grandparents' care. However, reality proved to be challenging; aside from a few low-paying part-time gigs, finding steady work was tough. Fate intervened when he landed a role as a helper at Kyung's boxing club. The vibrant atmosphere there sparked an unexpected curiosity about boxing, leading him to practice in secret. One day, Kyung himself caught him in the act and, impressed by Min Hyuk's self-taught skills, offered to train him. But when asked about his reluctance to step into the ring for matches, Min Hyuk hesitated, feeling the pressure of Ji Hoon's probing gaze.
"I love boxing," he finally admitted, finding his voice again. "It's about protecting others, not about fighting for the sake of winning." The sincerity in his response resonated in the room.
"What about you, Mina? What motivated you to join us?" Ji Hoon interjected, eager to uncover her reasoning. Mina struggled to formulate an answer, but before she could articulate her thoughts, Jae Hyuk chimed in with a cheeky grin, "Money, right?" His light-hearted tone made it clear he was teasing, yet there was a kernel of truth in his words.
Feeling a wave of discomfort wash over her, she struggled to defend herself, but once again found her voice overshadowed by Ji Hoon's dominating presence.
"Now just imagine for a moment what would happen if you were to be fired right this second," he stated, his voice cold and measured. "Would your brother be able to finish high school? Or could your grandparents manage to feed one more mouth in their already cramped home?" The gravity of his words left both of them momentarily stunned, exchanging glances filled with a flicker of fear that hung palpably in the air between them.
Observing their startled expressions, Ji Hoon pressed on, his tone unwavering. "I am not threatening you. I could never do that to people who have dedicated nearly three years of their lives to working for me. I am simply reminding you of the responsibilities that both of you appear to have conveniently forgotten."
Drawing in a deep breath, he continued with a harsher edge to his voice, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and the weight of their obligations.