Array
(
[text] =>
____________________
“Mom”
Dread had filled every single one of them as they pulled up to Mr Choi’s home. They did not have time to marvel at the lavish house as they were ushered to the living room where Ms Yoon stood up at the sight of them.
“Are you okay?” Geon-woo asked when he noticed the bandage on his mother’s forehead as she approached her son. Her hands were shaking so badly Geon-woo had to cup them together. Her eyes were downcast, scared and confused.
“It’s alright” she sniffled, trying to smile as she held her son tightly. ” I just bumped my head”
Nari didn’t believe her for a second, however it didn’t deter the guilt and pained sadness that came with seeing the woman she cared for so hurt and afraid.
Ms Yoon glanced at her son, seeing the bruises on his face. Her hands quivered slightly as she traced the blemish under his eye before she saw the other three and equally as wounded people behind him.
“Nari” Ms Yoon cried as she shakily left her son’s side to her practical daughter. “Dear, what happened?” Ms Yoon’s voice trembled as she cupped the girl’s cheek before gasping at the bruise around her throat. Nari gently held her hands as tears sprag in the older woman’s eyes.
“I’m alright Ms Yoon, I promise” she said softly, gently squeezing her hand as Ms Yoon stifled her cries. Her eyes drifted to Woo-jin who was cradling his arm and her face fell further. He bowed and sent her a reassuring smile.
Ms Yoon never left her hold on Nari as she used her other to grab onto her son and kept them equally as close when Mr Oh entered the room.
The air shifted and she could feel their disappointment from where she stood.
“Mr Choi’s been waiting for you, he’s downstairs” Mr Oh told them before his tired eyes drifted to Nari. ” There’s someone here who wishes to talk to you. In the study” he said and Nari swallowed thickly, sending him a swift nod in return.
Nari gently squeezed Ms Yoon’s hand and let go. Her eyes automatically found Geon-woo’s who looked positively concerned for her but he nodded gently as she left them to face Mr Choi while she faced either her uncle or her boss in the other room.
Nari was worried, scared to have disappointed either of them shortly after mending their relationship. The last thing she wanted was for them to think her incapable.
She slid the door open, albeit reluctantly before closing it behind her and turning around to face her own castigator.
Hwang Yang-jung who stood in the middle of the study, turned at her entrance. He was cladded in black from head to toe, his mask laying limply against his wrist. But most of all he was looking at her with the most disappointed stare she had ever seen in her life.
” Mr Hwang” she tried but was cut off by his low yet sharp tone.
“Are you okay?”
Her eyes darted to his before dropping again. She couldn’t look him in the eyes when he looked at her like that. So she simply nodded.
He hummed but didn’t reply and that wounded her. His stoicism never usually bothered her but there was something about this, the look in his eye or the fact that she had grown wanting his approval, tormented her more than she would’ve liked. His cold demeanour this time was excruciating.
” You were reckless” he said
“Mr Hwang we-”
“It does not matter what the intentions were Nari. ” he silenced her, her mouth clamped shut and she took his anger to heart. ” What matters is that you went in there unprepared, blind and without backup and look at you. Look at all four of you. You are hurt Nari, and you could’ve been killed.”
“But we weren’t” Nari said meekly, his glare had her shrinking into herself.
“Your little plan resulted in Ms Yoon nearly being kidnapped” he said and Nari felt her heart drop to her knees.
”What” she gaped, her eyes flashing with pain at the possibility.
“Do you really think she bumped into a wall? No, Jae-myeong and a couple of his bastards tried to take her. Had I not been there they would’ve, all because you guys did not listen. ” he said, his voice rising slightly.
“No” she said breathlessly. ” They couldn’t have”
“But they did, on Kim Jun-min’s orders. They went after her the second they saw you”
Jun-min’s words echoed in her ears and pure panic shredded her veins.
“My brother, my father did they-”
“No” Yang-jung sighed and her shoulders sagged in relief. ” But it doesn’t mean they won’t now that they know you have no intention of stopping. We know they will go after them next”
“I’m sorry” she said softly. ” We didn’t know there was more of them. You’re right, we weren’t prepared but ” she choked. “But we couldn’t let them get away with hurting people”
”And what of you Nari?” he said, taking a step forward. ” Do you not care if you get hurt. Does it not occur to you that these people will kill you if you keep this up. Nari what of you brother, your father, of Du-yeong, me. Do you think we like seeing you hurt and that at any moment Smile Capital can finish what they started. I will not allow it Nari do you understand” he said more forcefully. She had never seen such emotion from him, but his words struck deep.
“I said do you understand Byun Nari” he repeated.
She reluctantly nodded.
“Then no more meddling. Leave this to the adults. You, Geon-woo, Woo-jin and Hyeon- ju have done enough. Let us finish this” he told her.
” Mr Hwang-”
“It’s not up for debate” he said, finality in his voice.
Nari knew better than to argue. Not when he was like this, not when she was so tired, and her bones hurt and all she wanted was to sleep. She couldn’t give him what he wanted. She couldn’t let them handle this on their own. This was her fight just as much as theirs. She wanted to see this through to the end even if it meant he’d hate her for her to accomplish it.
” You should go to bed” Mr Hwang said, he brushed past her but not before placing a hand on her shoulder. With one last squeeze he left her standing there alone ,the weight of broken words and false promises hanging in the air.
She would see this through to the end, even if it killed her.ย
Yall aren’t ready for episode 6๐ญ
[text_hash] => 5f0da26b
)