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Nari angled petulantly before her bathroom sink. Her hands curled around the cool porcelain material and the small rectangular mirror hung above her nose on the mattered green tiled walls. Her knuckles had simmered to a light blush, her nose now rid of the bandage and the bruises had significantly reduced in swelling.
Nari hadn’t visited the cafรฉ in a few days. She didn’t pick up calls from Du-yeong or Yang-jung and both had been on the brink of storming her apartment when she didn’t show up to the restaurant. But Nari needed to clear her head. She needed to stop for a short moment and let reality sink in.
Kim Myeong-gil was back in town and stronger than ever. And he knew she wasn’t going to let him go. So, he was going to let her come to him instead.
In all honesty Nari was absolutely terrified. She did not know how she landed in this predicament. A small part of her believed she should just hightail and run. Ignore it. Go back to her job at the restaurant, act like nothing happened and leave Geon-woo to fix things himself. But she was too much of a soft-hearted individual to see anyone else suffer the same fate she did. And it’s not like her plan would work anyway. Not when she was now on Kim Myeong-gil’s radar. He would surely track her down, her brother, her father. And who knows what he’ll do to them if he does.
The only other option she had, was to fight.
Nari bowed her head in defeat, her body curling to the ground as her knees pulled to her chest. Nari wanted the ground to swallow her whole. No scratch that, Nari wanted her mother. She would’ve known what to do.
Nari dropped her head in her arms and let herself, for the first time since she lost her mother, cry.
She had never properly grieved for her mother, Jung Areum. Because soon after her death, everything blurred. The reds and blues of lights, the wailing of sirens, the earth-shattering scream of Byun In-su, the confused questions of her brother, the funeral, the yelling…the beating. Nari never shed a tear. She was too busy, too occupied with tending to her hebetudinous father and kid brother. She was too busy trying to keep her family together. But now, alone in the bathroom with the threat of history repeating itself. Nari cried for the mother that was ripped away from her. Her stupid, selfless, beautiful mother.
But even her release didn’t last long.
Nari’s sobs quietened as the buzzing in her pocket grew vigorous. If it was Du-yeong or even Yang-jung, sometimes Mr Kwan, she didn’t want to answer. So, she let it ring. But when it let up again, she knew it was none of them, because they knew to leave her alone after the first ring.
“Hello?” she answered softly, her voice nasally as she wiped her tears with her fingers.
“Nari?”
Oh
“Geon-woo” she frowned, her legs slowly falling to the floor as she sat straighter upon the wall. ” How did you-“
“I’m sorry if I’m disturbing” he said. “I hope you don’t mind; I got your number from my mom. “and almost if he was unsure what to say added, “she’s worried about you, you know”.
Nari let out a sigh. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited yet. My mind hasn’t seemed to shut up for a while. ” she said. ”How’s the cafรฉ?”
She heard Geon-woo exhale shakily. “Completely destroyed. Doesn’tย seem like they have any intention of rectifyingย it. Are you sure you’reย okay?” he asked and Nari let herself smile at his concern.
“Yeah, it’s a lot to digest.” She replied.
“Is it about those men? They seemed to know you and I don’t think it was good” he said, curious.
“I think that’s a story for another time. “she said curtly and Geon-woo took the hint. She didn’t want to talk about it.
“I’ll be ready if you do want to talk” he said, then he went quiet. Nari could almost picture the heat flushing his cheeks.
“Thanks Geon-woo”
“I know this may seem soon, and I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to. But I don’t think these people are going to stop until I cough up the money. What I’m saying is that, uh, you know, will-”
Nari smiled. “I’ll help you Geon-woo” she cut off and she could hear his breath of relief.
“Could you come to the hospital. I sent Woo-jin the contract, maybe there’s a loophole. We could use your brain” he said and Nari wanted to tell him there was no loopholes. Smile Capital fed off the weak and they wouldn’t stop, not ever, not even after they got their money. But she couldn’t see him defeated, not like that night.
So instead. “Sure, I’ll be there soon”.
“Hong Woo-jin?’
Nari paused as she saw the marine boxer sat on the uncomfortable steel hospital chairs, the contract between his fingers as he sighed in frustration. His eyes lifted at the voice, slightly startled when he saw the woman, her fingers clutching her bag and shoulders leaning forward in question. Dark raven curls cascading in rivulets down her shoulders and purple splotches poked from behind her mask.
“Byun Nari?” he asked, almost if testing her name. Nari was taken aback by that fact he knew her name, but she nodded as a shit eating grin plastered itself onto his face. Nari’s eyes widened as he suddenly stood up, dropping the paper onto the table and bounding his way to her.
“I’ve heard so much about you from Geon-woo. God he actually won’t shut up about you, it’s borderline annoying. Nari this, Nari that. ” he said as he struck out a hand for her. She hesitantly placed her hand in his as he shook it excitedly. “I actually wanted to meet you from how much he seems to go on about you. I can’t say I’m disappointed” he said, raising his brow suggestively as she scowled, tugging her hand back as he raised his hands in surrender.
”Kidding, I kid. You’re Geon-woo’s gal. Don’t worry. Anyway” and then he turned, leaving her stunned as he slumped back into the chair. ” Geon-woo told me you’re familiar with the company, care to share it with the class” he urged as she took a seat opposite him.
“Nothing much, just a bunch of scammers” she concealed as Woo-jin arched a brow but let it slide.
“Where is he by the way?” she said nervously as Woo-jin just jutted his finger behind him.
”Loverboy is in there, won’t be long. ” Woo-jin smirked. Nari wanted to protest. He was not her Loverboy but clamped her mouth shut and just gave him a nod.ย
Nari was surprised meeting the infamous Hong Woo-jin face to face. Although he still seemed quite forward, he was nothing how he behaved in the ring. He was cheerful, smiley and seemed to genuinely care about Geon-woo. Ms Yoon was right, they seemed to have bonded well in the short span of time they’ve known each other.
Nari’s and Woo-jin’s attention was pulled to the door that creaked open and then Geon-woo’s tall build emerged into view. Nari sat up straighter as Geon-woo rounded to them, taking a seat between her and Woo-jin as the older man leaned forward almost eagerly.
“Are you alright?” Woo-jin asked as Geon-woo nodded. He glanced up as Nari sent him a small smile which he reciprocated.
”Let me see” Woo-jin insisted as Nari frowned. That was a bit insensitive.
Geon-woo shook his head no.
”Let me see” Woo-jin said again and Nari wanted to kick him.
“Geon-woo” she discouraged softly but the boy glanced over his shoulder, lowered his mask and peeled back the bandage.
Nari wanted to throw up. It was a ghastly sight and Woo-jin’s expression of disgust didn’t seem to contribute anything either.
“How many stitches did you get?” Woo-jin asked as Geon-woo sighed, replying with thirty.
“Jeez” Woojin sighed. “Those motherfckers. This is seriously pissing me off” he swore. “Let’s report it” Woo-jin said as Nari swallowed the bile in her throat.
“You can’t” Nari said as Geon-woo lowered his head.
“What do you mean he can’t” Woo-jin snapped as she glared at him.
“You really think they’d allow him to call the cops after mutilating him. He’s being threatened dumbass” Nari scoffed. Woo-jin scowled before lowering his head with a curse.
“What about the contract?” Geon-woo asked as Nari listened carelessly. She knew it was pointless.
“I never heard of a loan extension fee. You have to pay 10% of the principal every week until you pay off the loan. Your mom took out a loan of 50 million, so the fee alone is five million. But once you miss a payment it doubles. The interest rate rises from 5% to 20%. Those bastards wrote it in the fine print so people wouldn’t catch it” Woo-jin explained.
” Your mom was scammed. It happens to the desperate. She stood no chance” Nari muttered as Geon-woo sighed.
“What do we do?” he asked desperately.
“Pay it back immediately” Woo-jin said as Nari scoffed.
“You think it’s that easy twinkle toes” she chastised as Woo-jin narrowed his eyes at her. “His house is now collateral, you think they can just cough up 100 million out of thin air. ”
Nari then paused. “Wait, I think there’s someone who can help you, they helped me when we were scammed.”
A hope filled Geon-woo.
Woo-jin noticed the way Geon-woo’s face lit up. He suddenly stood up, clasping his hands together with a soft bang that startled the two. “Well let’s eat and discuss miss know it all’s plan over here. I know a place ” and then he walked off, leading Nari and Geon-woo to stumble after him.ย
I keep forgetting this is a Geon-woo fic everytime Woo-jin is on screen๐ญ๐ญ
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