GBH 39

 The old man’s inquiry about whether the rain had stopped indicated that there was a problem within the organization. Kim Deuk-pal pondered what crisis had struck the organization. Since the organization’s operations were stable before his death, any issues could stem from betrayal or conflicts with other organizations. There were suspicions about certain individuals, but they were just suspicions.

One somewhat fortunate aspect was that it was only raining, not at a severe level. A typhoon would indicate a major threat, and after a typhoon passed, it would mean the organization had been disrupted. The only thing left after the typhoon passed was ruins. So it was okay for now. His subordinates weren’t the kind of people who would kneel down in the rain..

The room number on the key was at the end of the hallway. After unlocking the room handle and entering, he immediately conducted a bug sweep.

“Don’t ask. It’s complicated. Don’t go around telling anyone.”

He then took off his shoes and casually tossed his duffel bag onto the bed. The room was decorated with a yellowed carpet clinging to the poorly heated floor, walls discolored to a pale yellow, and old-fashioned floral curtains. Considering how much the old couple who owned it had ripped him off, Kim Deuk-pal cursed the innkeeper inwardly.

As he checked if the floor was warm and inspected the blanket status in the wardrobe, Choi Se-kyung remained silent. Kim Deuk-pal thought he might start bombarding him with questions as soon as they entered the room, but Se-kyung calmly pulled out disposable toiletries, a razor, water, and snacks from Kim Deuk-pal’s duffel bag. He was too compliant, which was suspicious. Kim Deuk-pal watched him closely, leaning against the wardrobe, trying to detect any cunning behavior from Se-kyung, but all he did was hand over the disposable toiletries.

“Would you like to freshen up first?”

Se-kyung suggested, but Kim Deuk-pal stubbornly crossed his arms. Despite instructing Se-kyung not to ask questions, his lack of questioning was making him more uneasy. Se-kyung seemed to vaguely understand how to handle Kim Deuk-pal and smiled innocently.

“I’m curious.”

Right. This reaction was normal. Kim Deuk-pal realized his caution was late.

“What’s your connection with the innkeeper, who or what is Chilsung Faction, what were you originally doing, where did you live, what’s your real name or age… I’m curious about everything.”

Choi Se-kyung abstractly listed the things he was curious about, but in fact he knew more than Kim Deuk-pal thought. However, he chose not to say everything.

When Kim Deuk-pal grabbed the old man by the collar, Choi Se-kyung was right behind him. Even if he had lowered his voice, it was impossible not to hear him speaking. Chilseong faction, organization member, boss. These words alone painted a rough picture of the situation, and the fact that the fake Song Yi-heon was unusually skilled in fighting made the background more concrete. Se-kyung realized that he was involved with an organized crime group, and that this inn was also connected to the organization. Perhaps if he reported the inn or investigated it, he could catch the fake Song Yi-heon’s trail, but Se-kyung wouldn’t do that.

“I just don’t want to make things difficult for you. So I don’t want our relationship to grow cold.”

“I just don’t want to make things difficult for you. And I don’t want us to grow apart.”

Se-kyung didn’t care who the fake Song Yi-heon was. Even if he had committed murder and was on the run, Se-kyung would gladly provide him with a hideout. As much as he offered his lifeline, Se-kyung could handle him.

However, if the fake Song Yi-heon disappeared without a trace, Se-kyung felt he couldn’t handle that shock. He liked the fake Song Yi-heon. He wanted to be with him. To be together. For that, what Choi Se-kyung needed to do was to give the fake Song Yi-heon, who said he would leave when the real Song Yi-heon came, the confidence to ask him for help.

“…Yeah. It would be awkward to ask.”

Unaware of these inner thoughts, Kim Deuk-pal felt like trash when Choi Se-kyung showed goodwill, so he uncrossed his arms. It was also because he was moved by Se-kyung’s face, smiling so purely as if he would give him his liver and gall.

“Here.”

This time, Kim Deuk-pal couldn’t ignore the disposable toiletries Se-kyung offered again.

---

In the grimy bathroom, Se-kyung lifted his chin to look in the mirror. His stubble had grown in, giving his face a bluish tint. Although Kim Deuk-pal would be the only person he’d face until he went home, Se-kyung shaved meticulously. He came out wiping his face, which had become fair as if steam had spread, with the towel around his neck.

Kim Deuk-pal was on a phone call. He sat cross-legged on the blanket spread on the floor, looking very serious, as if he had been preparing for bed when he received the call.

“… Call the attending doctor in the morning, give her an IV drip and let her sleep. Absolutely don’t let that housekeeper in. That woman is the one giving her alcohol. ….Lock it with the manual security system and pretend no one’s there. I’ll take responsibility for the aftermath.”

Even if he tried not to eavesdrop, there was nowhere to avoid in the small room. Se-kyung sat on the laid-out blanket, pretending to dry himself by rubbing his bare face with the towel.

“I’ll go tomorrow. Yes, please take care of my mother.”

The call was full of concern for Song Min-seo until the end. Se-kyung, who had witnessed Song Min-seo’s seizure before, apologized as soon as the call ended.

“Sorry. I didn’t think about your mother.”

“It’s fine. It’s just one night.”

But when Se-kyung didn’t relax his expression, Kim Deuk-pal said casually:

“If you really feel sorry, you can check on her later to see if she’s doing well.”

“Alright.”

It was just a throwaway comment, but Choi Se-kyung was as serious as if making a thousand-year vow. This is why you take in kids. Kim Deuk-pal snickered and sprawled out on the blanket, then suddenly, as if remembering something, he sprang up like a coil and tapped Se-kyung’s thigh.

“Get up.”

His usual curt way of speaking made it sound like he was picking a fight. For a moment, Se-kyung recalled the memory at the spring water fountain, swallowing dry saliva as he stood up and did as he was told.

“Now, clench your fist.”

Se-kyung awkwardly held out his fist. Unsatisfied with the gaps between Se-kyung’s fingers, Kim Deuk-pal wrapped his hand around Se-kyung’s fist, pressing it to close the spaces.

“Don’t you even know how to make a proper fist, like a man?”

“Do I really need to know?”

“That’s why you keep getting beaten up.”

Said the very person who had beaten him. Feeling guilty about the one-sided fight at the spring, he’d been looking for a chance to teach him how to fight. This seemed like a good opportunity, with nothing else to do and a soft blanket on the floor. Before starting the lesson in earnest, Kim Deuk-pal gave a stern warning.

“Hey, control your strength. You’re strong. Remember when you bruised my neck? I only ended up with a bruise because it was me. If it were someone else, they might have died.”

A few days after the fight at the spring, Choi Se-kyung had asked to see the bruise on Kim Deuk-pal’s neck. They went into a bathroom stall together, and Kim Deuk-pal showed Se-kyung the dark, reddish bruise that looked like it had been slashed across Song Yi-heon’s thin neck. Se-kyung nodded seriously, recalling the vivid mark.

“Hit me.”

Kim Deuk-pal held out his palm towards his chest. Se-kyung understood what he meant and punched with increased speed. The punch landed weakly, like a deflating balloon, eliciting a sigh from Kim Deuk-pal.

“Hah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen such a weak punch.”

Despite having thrown punches near the spring water fountain, Se-kyung’s resolve weakened as he remembered the bruise on Song Yi-heon’s neck. Embarrassed, Se-kyung shook his hand.

“You really can’t fight. Have you been getting beaten up all this time?”

“You’re the first person to hit me.”

Kim Deuk-pal scoffed at Se-kyung’s melodramatic statement. Kim Deuk-pal began to directly correct the posture of the refined young master who showed no will to fight.

“Lower your balance by bending your body, stick your butt out, spread your legs with your toes pointing outward. Yeah, like that. This way, your center of gravity won’t waver. Move your arm behind your shoulder. No, not like that. Move your elbow behind your shoulder.”

Kim Deuk-pal pushed down on Se-kyung’s shoulders to lower his body and adjusted his legs. Despite the awkwardness, Se-kyung followed Kim Deuk-pal’s instructions, achieving a proper stance. Finally, Kim Deuk-pal checked Se-kyung’s arm, now clenched in a fist and ready to swing.

“The power doesn’t come from your fist but from your shoulder. The force has to come from your entire arm. Tense up.”

Kim Deuk-pal instructed, massaging Se-kyung’s arm. As Se-kyung exerted strength, his arm muscles tightened. Kim Deuk-pal admired the muscles beneath Se-kyung’s sweatshirt, feeling them with awe. Soon, he gently prodded Se-kyung’s chest, back, and abdomen, exclaiming in admiration.

“You’ve got a good body.”

His hands quickly withdrew, but Se-kyung felt an unwanted, tingling heat in his lower abdomen, causing him to stiffen with embarrassment. Glancing down, he noticed a slight bulge forming, visible to the naked eye.

No, why? Just because the fake Song Yi-heon touched him? Panicked, Se-kyung bit his dry lips. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Kim Deuk-pal hadn’t noticed Se-kyung’s predicament yet.

“Like this. You shouldn’t just move your shoulders; twist your upper body with it. If you only use your shoulders, you’ll get hurt. Watch how I move my upper body.”

As Kim Deuk-pal demonstrated, the sound of slicing wind came from his fist. He told Se-kyung to watch closely, but Se-kyung’s focus was slightly off. Se-kyung needed to calm his body, which had reacted purely to the physical stimulation. He took a deep breath, convincing himself it was just a physical response, and the bulge slightly subsided.

“Hit me. Control your strength.”

Absorbed in his teaching, Kim Deuk-pal faced Se-kyung and extended his palm. Se-kyung swung his fist, but in his rigid state, he couldn’t control the force well. Despite not using his full strength, Se-kyung’s fist hit Kim Deuk-pal’s palm quite strongly.

“…!”

Song Yi-heon was hurt. Se-kyung’s eyes widened in shock, but Song Yi-heon twisted his palm outward, deflecting the punch. Grabbing Se-kyung’s forearm, Song Yi-heon pulled Se-kyung into his arms, seizing him by the collar. Se-kyung found himself in a vulnerable position, with his right arm and collar held, at risk of being thrown over.

To avoid being overpowered, Se-kyung instinctively planted his feet firmly. However, knowing the size difference well, Song Yi-heon didn’t attempt to throw him. Instead, he delivered a headbutt to Se-kyung’s face. Although he didn’t apply much force, it was enough to declare his victory.

Feeling bewildered and not understanding how he had lost, Se-kyung listened as Song Yi-heon demanded.

“Trip me.”

Se-kyung hesitated at Song Yi-heon’s instruction to make him fall. Seeing Se-kyung hesitate again despite having already lost once, Song Yi-heon provoked him

“You can’t beat me no matter how many times you try. Didn’t I tell you not to hold back?”

The face that he had touched at the dock was now taunting him, and the excitement from that time spread. Choi Se-kyung hooked his foot on the inside of Song Yi-heon’s leg and made him fall. As Song Yi-heon was gripping Se-kyung’s collar, Se-kyung fell too, but it was a position favorable to Se-kyung with Song Yi-heon underneath.

In the moment when Se-kyung was convinced of his victory, his posture was overturned. Song Yi-heon pulled Se-kyung’s right arm and pushed it down.

Thud! Se-kyung’s back hit the floor, causing a slight vibration. Although the blanket absorbed the impact, Se-kyung couldn’t open his eyes. It wasn’t because of pain. It was because of an unexpected physical reaction that occurred due to the close contact with Song Yi-heon, who was now on top of him.