PAHO 32

“Don’t you remember? You refused. In your own words, you said you didn’t need any help.”

“…Yes, I remember.”

At the calm reply, Na Taebeom let out a deflated laugh.

“Good thing you remember. You were so defiant, I thought you had forgotten everything. Or what, did you really think I’d grant your favor? Just because I made a suggestion like that?”

“…”

“Ha, I just threw it out there, but it seems it was true.”

Nam Gyeonhwa couldn’t offer any excuse in the face of the ridicule. He hadn’t expected Na Taebeom to be favorable, but he hadn’t wanted to be shut down flatly without even being heard. Na Taebeom, who had been staring at the coldly hardened face, cocked his head.

“You’re here to ask a favor, yet you’re just standing there so stiffly. You should at least get on your knees, whimper, and beg prettily. Am I wrong?”

“…”

“Hm? Why are you so quiet?”

At the low taunt that reached his ear, Nam Gyeonhwa bit his lower lip hard. But what would change by getting angry? Na Taebeom was right. In a situation where he desperately needed help, his petty pride and all that didn’t matter.

Slowly lowering his posture, Nam Gyeonhwa knelt and looked up at Na Taebeom. He fidgeted with his politely clasped hands before wrapping them around Na Taebeom’s legs as if to cling to them.

“What you said, Director, is right. And also that I, was an idiot who couldn’t even grasp the situation.”

The gaze looking down at him was heavy. Nam Gyeonhwa, suppressing a groan, continued.

“Whether you mock me, curse at me, or hit me. I will accept anything. In return, just once, please help me. I am, begging you.”

Nam Gyeonhwa finished speaking while hiding the resentment boiling up inside him, then caught his breath. He tightened his arms, which were clutching Na Taebeom’s thighs, a little more, just in case he might kick him away.

This is all for Nam Haejin.

He could no longer handle it on his own. It wasn’t because he was a wanted man by Samwon or because of his impoverished financial situation. It was a cold self-assessment that if something were to happen to him, Haejin would be harmed no matter how much he tried to draw a line. So, if he could receive Na Taebeom’s protection, at least Haejin could live safely in Seoul.

Na Taebeom, who was looking down at the neat crown of his head, shook his leg slightly. Na Taebeom clicked his tongue at the sight of him not easily releasing his arms despite the signal to move, then grabbed him by the hair and tilted his head back. In their eyes that finally met, Na Taebeom’s image shimmered roundly. Staring intently into his eyes, he opened his mouth.

“Ten minutes.”

Before he could even understand what that meant, his body was pushed backward. Na Taebeom, who had picked up the boxing gloves draped over a chair, pointed to the ring.

“If you last for ten minutes, I’ll consider that favor or whatever it is.”

“Sparring, you mean?”

“Yes. But, bare-bodied.”

Pow, a fierce sound came from between the clashing gloves, sending a chill down his spine. Even with gloves on, getting hit without any protective gear would actually be more intense than a bare fist.

However, being given a chance was better than the result of being flatly ignored. Nam Gyeonhwa, who had clenched his fists tight, climbed into the ring without another word and stood facing Na Taebeom. Na Taebeom gestured with his eyes toward Gwon Jongdae, who was standing outside the ring, preoccupied with watching the situation.

“Jongdae. Check the time.”

Having given his instruction, Na Taebeom turned his body and immediately threw a punch at Nam Gyeonhwa. Nam Gyeonhwa instantly raised his arms to block the attack. However, unable to withstand the momentary recoil, he was pushed to the edge. It had only been one blow, yet his bones felt like they were throbbing. Na Taebeom, looking at Nam Gyeonhwa leaning against the ropes, grinned.

“Now, let’s see if you can last for ten minutes. Doggie.”

He wrapped his arms around the ropes and held on, his legs lacking strength. Without even a moment to catch his breath, as soon as he got into position, a heavy blow came at him. Nam Gyeonhwa, who reflexively flinched, forced his weakened arms up and took the punch.

“Stop dawdling and get up, quickly.”

Na Taebeom, adjusting his gloves, ordered crookedly. As soon as the staggering Nam Gyeonhwa stood up straight, Na Taebeom threw a punch toward his right shoulder. Nam Gyeonhwa, whose foot slipped from the chilling pain, sat collapsed on the floor, panting hot breaths. Sweat was so profuse that it got into his eyes, stinging them. Na Taebeom’s approaching shadow stretched out, covering his entire body. Looking up at the already large man from a sitting position felt like facing a huge, insurmountable mountain.

“Giving up already?”

Unlike the utterly exhausted Nam Gyeonhwa, Na Taebeom was absurdly full of energy. Despite having swung his fists continuously, he was only slightly sweaty. Son of a bitch. Swallowing the curse down his throat, Nam Gyeonhwa grabbed the ropes and stubbornly got up. This time, he was sure to aim for the right shoulder again, so he had to avoid it as much as possible.

Na Taebeom, who had been throwing punches like a madman, at some point began to repeatedly hit the same spot. There was no way he didn’t know that his right arm and shoulder, which had been injured relatively recently and were particularly weak, were his weakness, meaning he was deliberately and persistently attacking it.

I have to endure no matter what. Nam Gyeonhwa set his jaw and raised his arms. Even if he passed out, as long as he was conscious, he had to face Na Taebeom somehow. It wasn’t the first time he had fought like this. The things inmates, struggling with boredom in prison, did all day long were to bet their prison account money and set up fights, and he too had been forced to participate a few times. Of course, it couldn’t compare to the fists they swung, but there was a corner for him to endure.

Na Taebeom, watching Nam Gyeonhwa who had managed to get back on his feet, burst out laughing. It seemed like a sneer, but also had a strangely amused air to it. Nam Gyeonhwa glared at him and brought his arms back together, preparing to block an attack.

At that moment, the timer rang.

“D-Director, time’s up.”

Gwon Jongdae, who had checked his watch, shouted toward Na Taebeom. It meant that the 10 minutes he had initially set had passed. Is it over? It was the moment he was steadying his drained body and trying to wipe the sweat from his face. Na Taebeom suddenly rushed in and threw another punch.

“What do you think you’re doing.”

“Huh? What?”

“Didn’t you hear? They said ten minutes are up!”

Nam Gyeonhwa, who had narrowly dodged to the side, pointed outside the ring with an angered face. Na Taebeom, who glanced sideways toward where Gwon Jongdae was, shrugged his shoulders.

“I didn’t hear anything.”

“What?”

“If I didn’t hear it, it’s not over. Didn’t you know?”

He trembled with rage at the outrageous rule. Wasn’t this pure stubbornness? Before he could protest, Na Taebeom charged with his whole body, cornering Nam Gyeonhwa. In the end, Nam Gyeonhwa, unable to push away the body pressing against him, was pinned firmly to the floor.

“You, son of a bitch, worse than a dog.”

Unable to bear his indignation, a curse slipped out. Na Taebeom slammed both of Nam Gyeonhwa’s arms onto the floor and thrust his head toward him.

“How about saying something other than curses? You were begging so well earlier. Cutely, wagging your tail, hm?”

“Fuck, cut the bullshit and get off.”

“Ah, maybe, that ‘get off’ is the favor you were going to ask me about earlier?”

At those words, his eyes trembled. Nothing he said would work. As long as he didn’t get out of this, the fact that Na Taebeom was thoroughly in the superior position would not change. Nam Gyeonhwa, who narrowed and then opened his sweat-reddened eyes, voluntarily relaxed his body.

It was at that moment, just as the triumphant Na Taebeom was about to get up at the sight of him going from acting like a rabid dog to instantly becoming docile with a single word, that an unexpected fist flew in and connected with Na Taebeom’s jaw.

“Ah.”

Na Taebeom, letting out a light exclamation, stroked his jaw. Got hit again. At the sound of the mumble, Nam Gyeonhwa lowered his arm and said bluntly.

“I think I’ve taken about a hundred hits, so count this one as a service.”

“Aha, as a service?”

Na Taebeom, who repeated the thoughtlessly uttered words with the exact same intonation, lowered his head to meet his eyes. His dark gray eyes were gleaming with a sinister, unusual light. He had naturally expected a blow to come back at him, but instead of hitting Nam Gyeonhwa, Na Taebeom looked back at Gwon Jongdae standing outside the ring.

“Jongdae. What, what was on the schedule for today?”

“Sir? Ah, well, there’s the monthly meeting this evening.”

“Is it important?”

“Sir…?”

“I asked if it’s important.”

Gwon Jongdae’s lips trembled. As befitted the term ‘monthly,’ it was a high-priority event. Especially since it had been over fifteen days since the blockade was issued, the subordinate organizations would be on edge. However, in the face of the cold tone that seemed to forbid an affirmative answer, Gwon Jongdae reluctantly shook his head.

“Good.”

Na Taebeom, smiling faintly, gestured toward the door with his eyes.

“You can go now. Don’t come down until I call you.”

As soon as the order to leave was given, Gwon Jongdae hurried away without asking any further questions. Na Taebeom, who firmly pressed down on the struggling Nam Gyeonhwa with both arms, licked his lips.

“You were going to provide a service, too?”

“Just let, me go.”

“You’ll leave if I let go.”

Na Taebeom grabbed the scruff of the struggling Nam Gyeonhwa’s neck and pressed down even harder. Nam Gyeonhwa, whose chin was tilted back, gasped for breath and then shook his head frantically. Despite the gesture indicating he wouldn’t leave, the grip on his Adam’s apple did not easily loosen.

Na Taebeom stared intently at the pale face, limbs flailing and head shaking, and only removed his arm when Nam Gyeonhwa’s pupils began to dilate. A metallic sound escaped from his throat as he choked while hastily inhaling.

“So, what are you going to do for me as a service.”

Na Taebeom tilted his head. It seemed the words, spoken without much thought, had piqued his interest. Nam Gyeonhwa, who had caught his breath, looked up at him with a tired face and said.

“…What do you want.”

“Well, if it’s a service, shouldn’t the doggie figure it out on his own?”

“You want to beat me more?”

“Hmm, that’s not bad, but I’m more curious about something else.”

What else? He grabbed the wrist of Nam Gyeonhwa, who had been lying limp, and pulled it toward his own trousers.

“You’ll have to take care of, this first.”