Chapter 4 The Deal
Thirty-one-year-old Hanyang had a strong body. Years of fighting had given him plenty of techniques and solid muscle.
The current Hanyang was too thin and already injured.
I knocked him to the ground without much effort.
Hanyang sat on the ground, his features twisted in pain, yet his eyes were still full of hostility when he looked at me.
His chest heaved. His arms braced against the ground. He looked ready to get up and keep hitting me.
I could not hold back any longer. I knelt in front of him, grabbed his collar, and kissed him.
Caught off guard, I easily tangled with him.
Hanyang's body went rigid at once. Once he realized what I was doing, he began to shove and punch wildly.
He hit me once. I bit him once. I simply refused to let go of his tongue.
Hanyang grew frantic and used every move, even scratching me with his nails.
His nails were short and neatly trimmed, but he was strong. He tore several pieces of flesh from me.
I hissed in pain and punched him hard in the stomach.
Hanyang's muffled groan was swallowed by my mouth.
His brows tightened further. The hand scratching me dropped.
He finally behaved.
I loosened slightly and reminded him against his lips, "Breathe if you don't want to suffocate."
Then I covered his mouth again.
This time Hanyang learned. He did not hit. He chased my tongue and bit instead.
We bit each other until our mouths tasted of rusty iron.
Hanyang raised his brows at me, still biting down hard on my tongue tip.
I watched him. My palm slid up from his hem. My fingertips touched his chest.
Hanyang's expression changed.
I half-coaxed and half-threatened Hanyang into going to the hospital. He looked at the crowd waiting in line, his face a little pale.
"You said I wouldn't have to pay."
"I'm not the kind of person who beats someone and leaves them to fend for themselves."
Hanyang clicked his tongue and looked around uncomfortably.
The results came quickly. Hanyang was young and strong. Apart from a few untreated external wounds that had become inflamed, his bones were fine.
After the nurse treated his wounds, I stayed with him while he received an IV.
The room was private and quiet. Neither of us spoke. Hanyang stared out the window. I stared at him.
Hanyang took off his jacket and wore only a short-sleeved shirt.
I remembered the feel of him in the alley. Thin, but firm.
He might not be as strong as the later Hanyang, but it would probably feel different...
I must have stared too long. Hanyang grew irritable. He turned his head, his tone unfriendly.
"Why are you always looking at me? Got something to say or not?"
"You look good."
"...What?" Hanyang choked.
"...Really sick." He cursed and looked at the papers stacked on the bedside table.
Those were the doctor's orders. I had not gone to get the medicine yet.
Hanyang looked at the medicine names and pressed his lips together.
"I feel fine now. Nothing hurts. If you really want to make it up to me... don't buy the medicine. Just give me some money."
"Sure." I agreed without hesitation. "How much?"
Shocked by my quick answer, Hanyang slowly said a number. "One thousand?"
Seeing no reaction from me, he raised it. "Then... five thousand?"
"I'll give you ten thousand. Show me your payment code."
Hanyang did not move. I teased him. "What, not eager to take the money?"
Hanyang paused before answering. "I don't have a phone."
"...What?"
"Tch. I said I don't have a phone."
I circled Hanyang and found no trace of a phone.
He could not even afford a phone.
"Don't your family care about you?"
"Fuck! None of your business!" Hanyang grabbed a disposable cup beside him and threw it at me.
The empty paper cup had no weight. It caused no pain when it hit me, yet the room fell completely silent.
I had a friend deliver cash and a phone.
"Take these." I placed the items on the bedside table. "Let's make a deal. From now on, don't let others beat you. If you need a beating, come find me. I'll pay you each time and cover the medical bills too. How about it?"
Hanyang did not answer. He looked straight elsewhere. Whenever I stepped closer, he immediately turned his face the other way.
After several tries, I saw he was unhappy and ignoring me on purpose.
The old Hanyang had often been angered by me. He had never liked talking much, and when angry he spoke even less, like a stone.
But the silent treatment no longer worked on me.
I braced my hands on either side of Hanyang and leaned in.
Hanyang finally looked up at me. His free hand blocked the space between us.
"What are you doing! Get away!" Seeing my lips drawing closer, he panicked even more. "Didn't you already kiss me?"
"I didn't say how many times."
Hanyang knew I was playing word games. He looked ready to explode. "I already said I like men! Can't you go disgust someone else?"
Don't like men?
That was what he had said when I first brought Hanyang back.
But once he fell for me, his body proved far more honest.