Chapter 40
“Don’t ever get hurt.”
If you get hurt again, I’ll hate myself and might tear them apart and kill them. Seo Igeon.
“If a dangerous situation arises, run away. Just report it to the police instead.”
“I got it already. I’m fast, remember? Running away is my specialty, so don’t worry. Actually, there was a time I messed up in the past. Back then, Instructor Jin—”
As Igeon started telling an old story while emphasizing how fast he was, Han Taekyung was able to smile for the first time since that day. The stories Igeon shared about his childhood were rich and full of entertaining tales.
â—†
“Good work!”
“Thank you for your hard work!!”
Morning training had ended, and it was time to start afternoon training after lunch. Since they needed to eat lunch at the officetel as usual, they changed clothes and came out to find a car waiting in front of the gym. Igeon and Taekyung took that car to the officetel. Upon arrival, they found that the housekeeper had prepared lunch. They needed to start adjusting their diet soon, but it seemed Taekyung had already informed the housekeeper, as she had prepared foods suitable for their diet, allowing them to eat a satisfying meal without worry.
They had to go back to school about two hours after their meal, so they decided to rest together until then. Lying on the sofa, they chatted casually. Though they spent every day together and might have seemed to run out of things to talk about, Igeon was still continuing his childhood stories, currently around age nine.
“It’s been quiet lately.”
“Hmm.”
It had been nearly a month since they started living in the officetel after that incident. Either the other side was being cautious, or there were no suspicious movements. Rather than feeling relieved, their anxiety only grew stronger. Summer vacation would soon end. Then, from the preliminary selection matches, a long series of tests would begin. Hopefully, nothing would happen during that time.
“Oh right, Sunbae is coming to school tomorrow.”
“Did he contact you?”
“No, he wrote it in the group chat, but you probably didn’t see it.”
“Hmm.”
Senior Kang Yuhan was currently back at his family home since the dormitory was closed for summer vacation. During summer break, they only needed to meet twice for counseling. They had met once before summer vacation started, but due to various incidents, they hadn’t been able to meet again. Now, in the last week of the vacation, they planned to have a counseling session tomorrow.
“Since we can’t invite Sunbae to our place, where should we meet? The café won’t work, right?”
“Hmm.”
“Maybe the gym would be better? There are chairs there. Just for a short time.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Alright. Then I’ll tell Sunbae that—”
Igeon opened his messaging app to relay what they’d just discussed to Kang Yuhan. Just then, he received a call from Instructor Jin, so he pressed the answer button.
“Yes, Instructor.”
[Hello?]
It was clearly Instructor Jin’s phone number, but the voice on the other end was unfamiliar. The words that person rapidly spoke were enough to momentarily take Igeon’s breath away. After hanging up, Igeon jumped to his feet and changed his clothes.
“Hey, I need to go out for a bit.”
“Where to?”
“Instructor Jin was in a traffic accident. They said it’s not serious, but I still need to go see him.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No, you don’t have to.”
“Seo Igeon, think about the current situation. I’m sorry, but I need to come with you. I won’t feel at ease otherwise.”
“…Alright.”
Igeon quickly explained the situation to the coach, then headed to the hospital with Taekyung.
“Surely those guys wouldn’t go after Instructor Jin… right?”
“It won’t be them. I have people watching both your instructor and mine, and there have been no suspicious movements. Besides, they have nothing to gain by targeting your instructor now.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
But why did he still feel so anxious? Igeon tried to calm himself, feeling like his heart might jump out of his mouth from anxiety. If something happened to Instructor Jin of all people… if Instructor Jin were no longer in this world, there would be no one left to embrace him. With such sad thoughts, they arrived at the hospital and followed the directions to find Instructor Jin sitting in the emergency room with his leg in a cast.
“Oh? Igeon, Taekyung.”
“Instructor! Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine. I collided with a motorcycle that ran a red light, but the motorcycle driver is in worse shape than me. Haha.”
“I don’t care if that signal-violating bastard lives or dies. Are you really okay? Is your leg broken?”
“No, just fractured. They said I need to keep it like this for about a month. Sorry. They kept asking for a guardian, and I had no one else to call but you.”
Instructor Jin had become an orphan at birth and had lived alone without family until now. How must he have felt having to contact Igeon out of necessity?
“I’m glad you contacted me. I should be the one thanking you. Imagine if I’d found out about this later—I would’ve nagged you for ten years straight.”
“Oh my, don’t say such dreadful things.”
“But why do you keep moving around?”
“I need to get to the gym. What’s the point of staying here? I’ve already received treatment.”
Igeon wanted to suggest staying in the hospital for another day, but knowing the instructor wouldn’t listen, he sighed.
“Taekyung, can we take Instructor to the gym?”
“Of course. Take our car.”
“No! It’s fine!! I can take a taxi!”
“Instructor, please listen to me. Taking a taxi costs money. Take Taekyung’s car. It’s spacious and nice.”
Persuaded by his top student, Instructor Jin reluctantly nodded and, with the support of both young men, got into Han Taekyung’s car. After about 30 minutes, they arrived at the gym. Since the gym was also Instructor Jin’s home, they helped him get settled safely and made sure he could rest comfortably. However, seeing that it would be difficult for him to manage alone, Igeon pulled Taekyung aside.
“Taekyung, sorry, but can I stay here just for tonight?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Taekyung’s face contorted.
“I know, I know. I understand the situation. But I can’t leave Instructor like this.”
“I’ll get someone to help.”
“No, that would make Instructor uncomfortable… Actually, you’re right. He should accept help. In this situation, let’s get some assistance. But I’ll stay here today. I’ll return early tomorrow morning. You can assign several bodyguards, and I won’t move an inch from here. Just one night. Please.”
“Then I’ll stay too.”
“No! You should go back. There’s nowhere to sleep here, and you have practice and counseling tomorrow. You said Yuhan Sunbae is coming around 10 AM.”
“What does that matter? Tomorrow isn’t the only day; we can ask him to come another time.”
“That wouldn’t be polite. Please, just do what I’m asking.”
“Seo Igeon, you—”
Han Taekyung stopped mid-sentence. Igeon put his hands together in a pleading gesture. Seeing that, Taekyung couldn’t continue what he was about to say. ‘You’re not trying to be alone with Kang Yuhan in this situation, are you?’ How could he say that? Haah, Taekyung ran his hand through his hair.
“Fine. Then you need to be back by 9 AM tomorrow. I’ll send someone to help at 7, and I’ll send the car at 7 too. Make sure you take it.”
“Thank you. Really.”
“I’ll have bodyguards positioned all around this gym.”
“That’s fine. Just be careful yourself. Don’t be scared without me.”
“If you understand, come back early.”
Igeon had expected Taekyung to retort with something like “Don’t say such nonsense,” but instead, Taekyung answered seriously. Hearing that, Igeon wondered if staying behind had been a bad decision after all. But it couldn’t be helped. Leaving Instructor in that condition would probably be something he’d regret for a long time. After Taekyung returned to the officetel, Igeon endured plenty of nagging from Instructor Jin while diligently taking care of him—helping him bathe, preparing meals, and cleaning the worn-down gym. The gym that had seemed so spacious when he was young looked really small today. Fortunately, thanks to Instructor Jin’s experience, he was making a decent living, but Igeon still felt sorry for him. Thinking that he needed to succeed quickly and let Instructor Jin live in luxury, Igeon locked the gym’s door.
â—†
“Huff…”
As soon as morning came, Han Taekyung checked the clock. 5 AM. It was too early to even call it morning. Without Seo Igeon, he couldn’t sleep properly. Although he received reports about every 30 minutes due to his worry, he couldn’t help feeling anxious. After waiting with his eyes open until 6 AM, he received a report that a car had departed for Instructor Jin’s gym, so he left the officetel and headed to the school gym. Feeling like his heart might burst from anxiety, he stood alone in the empty gym and trained. He worked up a sweat for about 30 minutes and meditated. Then he got up again and moved vigorously, waiting for Seo Igeon to safely return to him. Just after 7 AM, he received a report that Seo Igeon had gotten into the car, and his anxiously pounding heart was finally starting to calm down when the gym door opened.
“Here to clean!”
Ah, it was time for cleaning. Watching the men enter and look around, Han Taekyung wiped his sweat with a towel and prepared to go to the waiting room. As he was about to put his watch back on his wrist—
“Urgh—!”
Suddenly feeling a sting on the back of his neck, he raised his hand to find a small syringe stuck there. He quickly pulled it out before all the drug could be injected, but half of it had already entered his system. As he staggered and slumped to the floor, the two men who had come in to “clean” approached Taekyung with sneering grins. Soon, the gym door opened again, and people started entering, dragging unconscious bodyguards one by one. Now they were even using drugs. Damn it. The situation was looking very bad.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
