Chapter 14: Stirrings

The punk pushed me into the car and there was that freaky guy again, sitting in the car, looking as if he owned the world.

“You again,” I exclaimed.

“Yes…” he said grimly.

“What do you want?”

“Stay away from Sierra,” he said.

“Why should I listen to you?”

“You really have no idea who I am, do you?” he asked me.

“Don’t know, don’t care…” I said.

“Well, I know you, and your mother, and your little brother,” he said. “If you want no harm to come to them, stay away from Sierra.”

“How do you know my family? What is up with you? What’s your relationship with Sierra?”

I get that she’s a hot girl, but this guy has got to be as lost as Ee Teuk to go around threatening people for her.

“She and I have unfinished business. It’ll do you good to stay away from her,” he said.

“And what do you intend to do with her if I do?” I asked.

“That is between Sierra and me,” he said.

“And if I don’t?” I challenged.

“You’ll regret it,” he said. “You mother’s debts are considerable. If you’re willing to leave Sierra, I may be able to overlook them.”

“How do you know?”

“I own those establishments,” he said. “And as for your little brother, some of my boys go to the same school. If you comply with my terms, I’ll make sure he’s protected. If you don’t, my boys will take him down.”

“Stay away from my family,” I said.

“Then stay away from my Sierra,” he said.

“I believe she’s mine now,” I said.

“If you had a brain, you wouldn’t repeat what you’d just said.”

“I’ll say whatever I want,” I said defiantly.

“You leave me no choice then” he said.

He leaned over, opened the door and practically kicked me out of the car.

“Deal with him,” he said to the punk waiting outside.

“Algaesseumnida!” he replied and dragged me up by the collar.

Music: The TRAX - Paradox

The car drove off, and as if he had conjured them, 2 more thugs appeared. They grabbed by my arms and dragged me to the wall, pinning me to it.

“This is what happens to people who mess with us,” the guy said, as he put on some leather gloves.

I struggled to get out of their grasps, and the guy ran over and punched me in the stomach. I doubled over in pain, and that was when he kneed my face.

“Stop!” I heard a familiar voice shout as the punk was about to punch me in the face again.

“Hyung-su,” the punk stood at attention immediately, and bowed to her.

“I am not your sister-in-law!” she shouted at him. “Let him go!” she shouted at the other two, and they meekly complied.

“Hyung-su…” the punk started.

“Ipta!” she shouted at him, practically breathing fire, then she rushed towards me and put her arms around me. “Jae Wook, kwaench’ana?”

“I’m fine,” I said.

“Ryeo Wook!” she said sharply without looking at him.

“Ne,” he said.

“Tell Han Kyung to deal with me, and me alone,” she said. “If he touches Jae Wook again, I will make sure he pays.”

“Ne,” he said.

“Ka! Karago!” she said, and they scuttled away like crabs.

“Jae Wook,” she crouched down beside me and touched my swelling cheek.

“I’m alright,” I said as I started standing up.

“Are you sure? Let’s get you to a hospital,” she said as she helped me up.

“Nah… I’m fine,” I assured her. “Jae Joong can clean me up.”

“He’s not a professional,” she said. “Let’s get you checked up.”

“He’s cleaned me up a few times. I’ve cleaned him up a few times,” I smiled, then winced at the pain.

“What?” she exclaimed.

“Hey… don’t worry. We’re guys, and we grew up on the streets. We can take care of ourselves.”

“You call this taking care of yourselves?”

“Well… I didn’t see this one coming.”

“He can kill you,” Sierra shouted at me. “I know Han Kyung. He could kill you if he wanted to.”

“He’d have to be above the law to do that,” I coughed.

“If it weren’t for me tonight, you’d be dead,” she continued.

“You mean he is above the law?” I scoffed.

“He is,” she said. “He could order your death sentence, and there would be people to take the rap for him. He doesn’t need to lift a finger. He just needs to give the order.”

“Damn…”

“Han Kyung was giving you a chance in his own way when he knocked you out the other day,” she said. “He could’ve beaten you up like Ryeo Wook was instructed to, and prolonged the pain for you.”

“Araso!” I replied, raising my voice in frustration. “You think I don’t know what these guys do?”

Music: Tim – 난 어떻게

This Han Kyung was obviously big. But would it do for me to back down whenever someone bigger tried to push me off? I was sick enough of my life as it is. My mother was a drunkard and addicted to the gambling tables. My brother and I barely scrape by our lives each day, trying to get a decent education and survive in the crappy environment that had become a fixture in our lives. Now, without knowing better, I’d picked a girl I can’t have. I’m sick of giving up on the things I wanted and taking a step back. I’m sick of bowing to the power of another, but was she worth losing my life over?

“Jae Wook… I’m not trying to patronize you,” she said softly. “I’m just worried because of Han Kyung’s intentions.”

“I didn’t know at first, but now I know what I’ve gotten myself into,” I said as I leaned against the wall.

“Maybe… maybe we should stop,” she said.

“Mwo?” I stared at her.

“I think it’s a mistake… us being together,” she said. “I should never have started this relationship with you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ll probably never get another boyfriend, and that’s because of my stupidity. I got myself involved with the wrong guy long ago, and now I can never be rid of him.”

“Don’t say that,” I said as I inched towards her.

“It’s true. I should’ve known better the moment I met him, but I chose to ignore the signs. I decided to be reckless and let myself be swayed by the moment.”

Tears were slowly forming in her eyes now. I reached out and put an arm around her.

“Sierra… if my calculations were correct, you were only a kid when you met this guy. You couldn’t have known better. Everyone has given into a moment of weakness at least once in their lives. Yours was with Han Kyung, and mine… I think mine would be with you,” I smiled as I finished my sentence.

“Jae Wook-ah…” she started, but I wouldn’t let her continue.

“I’m not as tough as Han Kyung or his guys, but I won’t back down,” I said as I came to stand in front of her, face to face.

Her back was against the wall, and I raised my hands to cup either sides of her face.

“Neoreul… naekkoya,” I whispered. “Araji?”

She looked straight at me, her eyes still brimming with tears, and she nodded wordlessly.

“We’re in this together,” I said, “Araji?”

She nodded again and I leaned in to kiss her.

[Han Kyung’s POV]

I couldn’t sit back and watch any longer. My sources had informed me that Kim Jae Wook had survived the common obstacle Sierra’s suitors would face, Park Jung Su. Park Jung Su never knew about Sierra and I, but if he did, he was nothing for me either. I thought that Kim Jae Wook would’ve been scared off like all the others had been, but I was wrong. He seems determined to stick by her.

I felt a little irrational tonight. Initially, all I planned to do was to scare him off with my status, but this guy was a tough nut, and he was dumb enough to challenge me. That’s when I decided that I needed to teach him a lesson.

“Hyung,” Ryeo Wook came into my office and bowed low.

His face told me all I needed to know. He’d failed in his task tonight.

“What happened?”

“Hyung-su…” he started, and that was all he needed to say.

“Sierra showed up?” I sighed.

It was equally my fault that he’d failed. It was my fault for telling them that Sierra was to be respected as my wife would be, and that her orders could override mine. I’d always given her what she wanted, and this time, my generosity had foiled my plans.

“Choesonghaeyo,” he bowed again.

“Ani… it’s not your fault. You did right. Sierra would’ve gotten more upset and hated me more if you’d killed him. That little scare will do,” I said.

“I can still get him tomorrow,” Ryeo Wook insisted.

“It’s fine. Leave him for now,” I said.

“Ye,” he replied.

I swirled my chair 180 degrees, after Ryeo Wook left, to gaze out at Seoul’s city lights. Contrary to what people believed, my office wasn’t in some dingy shipyard. My father also ran a legitimate business as a cover for his illegal ones, and I had an office with a view in the building.

I thought about Sierra as I stared at the night traffic below. This was the first time she’d progressed so quickly with a guy. She may not know it, but I had been keeping tabs on all the guys she’d dated after we broke up. It may look as if I was a stalker, but I had her best interests at heart. Most men are scum, and I didn’t want her to get hurt. This scum… Kim Jae Wook… he may be the guy who will take her away from me forever.

It was as if thinking about her would conjure her, my phone starting ringing, and that familiar ring tone played.

Music: Super Junior - 거울 (Mirror)

“Yeoboseyo,” I answered calmly.

“Meet me,” she said curtly.

“Where?” I asked.

“The tower,” she replied.

“Ok,” I said. “Half an hour?”

“One hour,” she said. “I’m attending to Jae Wook’s injuries,” she added, just to spite me.

“Araso,” I said, and she hung up.