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When Geon-woo came to, he was awoken by blinding florescent lights. His eyes shut involuntary; lidden eyes hidden behind purple swells. Two nurses flocked his side. One dabbling ice on his cheek, carefully picking out sharples of glass from his knuckles while another was stitching the hideous scar he knew would soon develop.
“I promise I’m okay”.
Despite the flares of pain that shot through his body and the stinging in his face, his ears perked up at the familiar voice.
“Just rest, your ribs need some time to heal, and the bruises should be gone in a couple of days.” He heard an unfamiliar voice say. Geon-woo screwed his eyes shut as the nurse finished her stiches, placing a cool bandage over his cheek that let a sigh of relief leave his lips.
“Mr Kim” the nurse said as he blinked. Once, twice, before fully registering the nurse at his side. “You’re free to leave, but please come back in a few days to remove the stiches” she said. He barely managed a nod.
His blurry eyes found home on the wall; a clock ticked by with the hospital name plastered within it. It was past 11pm at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. Geon-woo sat up with a wince. His shirt was sprayed with droplets of red, his green jacket was laid out to the side. He could only imagine how it looked. He had managed to pry the curtain away, revealing the bustling hospital lobby.
“You’ve seen better days”
Geon-woo turned at the sound of her remark. Sarcasm seemed to drip on her tongue as her legs dangled over the hospital bed. He noticed how the swelt of her eye had begun turning a squeamish blue with yellow tints here and there. A small bandage secured itself over her nose and he could vaguely make out the bandages peaking from her shirt.
“It’s luckily just a fracture, nothing too serious” she said when she noticed how defeated he look, the way his doe eyes downturned into sadness and guilt. “It’ll heal sooner than yours” she said softly as she noticed the large bandage that was plastered on his cheek, from the corner of his eye right down to his chin.
“Are you, okay?” she said after a beat, his fingers nervously toying with his jacket. He couldn’t look at her, she realised. “It wasn’t your fault you know” she tried to reassure him, or to even just let him look at her.
“I know” he whispered, his shoulders slumping. “Thank you”
“hmm” Nari hummed.
“I didn’t say it but thank you, for protecting my mom, and for staying with me” he said, and finally their eyes connected.
It seemed in that one look it confessed everything that needed to be said. He was grateful she was there, beyond grateful that she had protected his mother when he couldn’t. But he was also scared, confused and angry. How did she know those people? What about her mother? What did she mean by they ruined her family? He was consumed with thoughts about who exactly was Byun Nari.
Nari saw his conflicting emotions, sighing as she realised there was no going back. Her past had come back to haunt her, torment her in the cruelest of ways. Was once not enough? Had she not given enough?
Nari was deep in thought when she suddenly heard her name being echoed through the halls.
For a brief second her heart soared. Had her father heard about her and come to check if his only daughter was okay. For a short moment, Nari let herself believe her father genuinely cared. Cared the way Ms Yoon cared for her son. But as her head turned Lee Du-yeong’s concerned face appeared instead. She hated how her heart stuttered in disappointment at the sight of him. She was a fool to believe her father would pick up the phone to a call that his daughter had been hospitalised. A hopeful fool she was.
Geon-woo frowned as the man brushed past the nurses and rushed to her side. Completely ignoring him, Lee Du-yeong froze as she glanced up from the hospital bed, a crooked yet reassuring smile on her face.
“Nari” he exhaled concerned as she dropped her head in a sigh “What happened Nari”.
Geon-woo eased the tension in his shoulders when he realised the older man wasn’t going to hurt Nari and instead he shot her one last look, Nari lifting her gaze to meet his as she gave him a small smile. Du-yeong’s eyes trailing to him as well where he frowned at the sight of the boy, before he retreated to find and console his weeping mother.
“Who was he? ” Du-yeong said as he eyed Geon-woo’s retreating figure. “Did he do this to you? Nari did he hurt you?” Suddenly he looked furious. Lee Du-yeong was a usually friendly man, always smiling, always cracking jokes. But when he was angry, mountains would shake.
“He looks way worse than I do” she chuckled weakly. “What are you doing here anyway Uncle Lee?” she asked as he sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. His hair was ruffled, clothes messily put on as if he dopped everything and rushed straight to the hospital, straight to her. Which he did.
” I was sleeping and got a call from the hospital saying you were admitted from an attack. They couldn’t reach your father and I was your emergency contact. “he explained as she nodded listlessly. Foolish her heart wept. “Do You know how worried I was Nari, how worried Mi -kyung was. Shit Nari, we thought you died” he swore.
“Sorry for scaring you uncle Lee, you didn’t have to come. It’s late and Mi-kyung should be sleeping. I-“she trailed.
“Nari” Du-yeong whispered, his eyes saddened. “Kid, of course we came. We care about you a lot. ” he said as her eyes teared up.
“Shit kid” Du-yeong sighed before he took a step forward and enveloped her in his arms.
“It’s happening again. “she whimpered as tears flowed down her cheeks and onto his leather jacket. ” They’re back” she sniffled as he pulled away, his head tilting in confusion.
”Shh, kid. Come let’s get you home and we can talk about it there okay” he said as he gently eased her off the bed, keeping one arm over her shoulder as he guided her to the exit. She just managed to catch a sight of Ms Yoon being cradled in her son’s arm. She gave him a small nod which he returned before she felt the breeze of the night air.
“Nari” she heard a gruff voice. Leaning on the hood of his car, face sullen and stressed was Hwang Yang-Jung.
“Mr Hwang?” she frowned as she glanced up at Du-yeong who sent her a small smile and a shrug. “Told you we’d come. I phoned him after I got the call. He insisted on being here” he said as she felt her heart swell at the gesture. They really did care for her.
“You good kid?” Yang-jung said. His face may have remained passive but the worry was evident in his eyes.
” Physically yeas, mentally, I don’t know” she sighed as Yang-jung frowned.
“Nari” he said as she felt her tears balance her waterline.
“They’re back” she said, catching their attention.
“Who’s back Nari?” Yang-Jung said, anger entangling him in a vine.
After a breath she replied. “The people who killed my mother. Smile Capital.”
Nari may have been deep in the memories that began to surface that she didn’t see the shocked look of anger that passed between Hwang Yang-Jung and Lee Du-yeong. If Smile Capital was back, and they knew who Nari was. Then she was in a lot more danger than she knew of. In one look they came to a mutual understanding, they were going to do whatever they could to keep her safe and they were going to ensure Kim Myeong-gil and his goons were taken down, permanently. Their only worry, how was Mr. Choi going to react to the news.
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