Junhyung's POV

Haneul’s words kept replaying in my head. It was so irritating to the point I have headaches daily and I just couldn’t concentrate well on anything.

“Hey Arrogant.” The voice I hated most said as he sling his arm over my shoulders.

“Ya, hi.” I said, shrugging his arm away.

“Damn it.” I heard him hiss.

“Look, I’m really not in the mood for any games today. Please, bully me tomorrow or something.” I said.

“Hahaha! Are you negotiating with me now?” He said, poking my chest.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath to calm myself down.

“Why? Are you angry?” He asked as he continued to poke me.

I grabbed his arm and pushed it away roughly.

“!” He cursed.

His friends grabbed my arms, pinning me to the wall as he threw punches onto my stomach.

“YAH!!!! BASTARD!!!” I heard a familiar voice yell and then I saw a shoe hit him right smack on his forehead.

“WHICH !?” He yelled in anger.

“This one.” Haneul said, walking towards us.

I shook my head at her, trying to get her to run away, but instead she just walked closer to the guy. The guy grabbed her cheeks and squeezed them so tight they redden almost instantly.

“ it! Just bash me if it makes you happier!” I yelled, trying to break free from the two that was holding me down.

“Who the hell are you to come disturb me? It’s not the first time!” He shouted at her.

“Who the hell are you to be bullying others? It’s not the first time!” She shouted back.

“!” He mumbled.

My blood ran cold when I saw him raise his fist at her. But luckily for Haneul, she had fast reflexes, as usual. She moved fast enough for his fist to miss her cheek and instead hit the concrete wall.

“Don’t touch my friend. Ever.” She said.

“Being so nosy wouldn’t do you any good.” He grabbed her hair.

“Being so rude wouldn’t do you any good too.” She smiled at him.

“ing let me go!” I found the strength in me to elbow the two guys in their noses.

I yanked Haneul away from the guy, pulling her behind me.

It was three against two now.

“Wow wow wow~ Trying to play the hero?” The guy smirked.

I shook my head and smiled at him.

“I have always been the hero. Don’t you think it’s time to stop your childish games?” I said.

“Childish? I find joy in seeing you hurt.” He said.

“Psycho.” Haneul mumbled, loud enough for him to hear.

“What did you say, !?” He tried to grab her but I blocked him.

“Don’t you dare call her that.” I pointed at him.

He grabbed my arm and twisted it hard, causing an audible crack.

“Let him go, you loser!” Haneul shouted.

She kicked him in the shin and jabbed him in his eyes. He yelled and cursed in pain while she dragged me to run away. His friends chased us but gave up eventually when we kept throwing random stuff at them. The both of us collapsed onto the grass patch. When our eyes met, we burst into laughter.

“Gosh. That seemed painful.” I said, pointing at my eyes.

“I know right! And ahh, I forgot to cut my nails.” She said, showing me her nails.

“Ouch.” I mumbled.

“Does your arm hurt?” She asked worriedly.

“It’s fine.” I said.

“Let me see.” She insisted.

She pulled off my coat and pushed up my sleeve.

“It’s a little swollen.” She pouted, poking my arm lightly.

“Does it hurt?” She asked.

“No. It doesn’t.” I said.

“Don’t lie. Where else did he hurt you?” She asked.

“I saw them punch your stomach.” She said, lifting up my shirt.

Her eyes widened at the huge patch of bruise on my stomach. I pulled down my shirt and smiled awkwardly at her.

She rested her head on my lap and hugged my waist, face snuggling into my stomach. I her back, enjoying our time together.

“!” She cursed suddenly.

“How could they do this!?” She yelled.

“Huh?” I looked at her, confused.

“How could they hurt you like this!?” She shouted.

“It’s okay.” I said, rubbing her back to calm her down.

“It’s not okay!” She yelled at me. Tears spilled out of her eyes like an open dam.

“Hey hey~ Don’t cry. Please. Shhh~” I pulled her into my arms.

“Don’t cry.” I hushed her.

“They hurt you and all you said is its okay!? It’s not okay! Damn it! It’s not okay!” She shouted.

“Okay, okay. I’m wrong. Shhh~” I said.

“How is getting hurt for no reason okay!? You tell me! How is it okay!?” She cried louder.

“It’s not okay. It definitely isn’t. Please, don’t cry.” I pleaded her.

Her tears wet my sleeves. She was crying so hard that I had no idea how to stop her, so I just let her cried until she got tired and fell asleep. Even in her sleep, tears were flowing down.

“Haneul ah, it’s really okay. Seeing that you love me so much, nothing matters anymore.” I whispered to her, in hope she would hear it.

I wiped the tears off her cheeks and planted a kiss on her forehead.

The weather was good and the surroundings were calm. I felt my eye lids got heavier as the moments passed. I closed my eyes and drifted off into sleep myself.

/FLASHBACK

“Is there no cure for me?” I asked the doctor.

“But Junhyung, you’re not sick.” The doctor said.

“I know, but I am weird. As in, is there a way I can get rid of it? An operation or anything?” I asked.

“There is.” He said.

“Really!?” I asked, hopeful all of a sudden.

“Yes. We can always operate on you and just remove it, but we don’t know what the side effects are.” He explained.

“Side effects?” I asked.

“In the worst case scenario, you may lose your manhood. Also, we don't know exactly how much blood are you going to lose in the process. You may die of blood loss. Even if you survive the operation and successfully remove whatever that's inside you, we don't know what complications you might experience in future. It's really a huge gamble not worth risking your life for." He said.

I sank into the seat, feeling cold out of a sudden.

“Junhyung? Junhyung!” My doctor yelled.

“Huh? Yea. Yea.” I mumbled.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Does that mean, I don’t really have a choice?” I asked.

“You can take the risk if you want. But I am not confident about it. Sorry.” He said.

“What are the odds?” I asked.

“About 7:3.” He said.

“Seven being?” I asked.

“Fail.” He mumbled.

“Thank you.” I mumbled.

I left the hospital, feeling as depressed as ever. I lost my family already, now I can’t even be a normal man. What have I done wrong in my past life to deserve this?

/END OF FLASHBACK

Haneul’s POV

I woke up to the sound of someone sniffing. I sat up and turned to Junhyung. His eyes were closed but tears were falling down his cheeks. Why was he crying?

“Junhyung ah~” I whispered as I wiped the tears away from his cheeks.

“Why?” He mumbled in his sleep.

“Junhyung ah, wake up.” I shook him lightly.

“Why must this happen?” He mumbled, crying harder.

“What is happening?” I asked, hugging him tight.

“Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.” I whispered into his ears.

I rubbed his back, trying to calm him down, but he just kept on crying and repeating ‘why?’

“Shhhh~” I hushed him.

“Umma… Appa… Where are you?” He mumbled.

He has never told me about his parents or his past, neither have I ever asked. Did something bad happen to him in the past? I remember Seungho telling me Junhyung isn’t as happy as he seemed like he is.

“Umma.. Appa.. I’m so sorry.. Please don't leave me. I’m sorry..” He cried.

Did he do something wrong that they disown him?

“Please don’t cry. It’s okay. You’ll be okay.” I hushed him.

“Umma.. Appa.. I’m sorry I am a freak.. But I don’t wish to be like this too.. I’m sorry..” He apologized again.

“What freak? Junhyung ah, you’re not a freak.” I whispered.

What was he talking about? I understood nothing. What freak? What sorry? Why is he so upset?

“Jun ah~” I shook him lightly.

He opened his eyes and stared blankly at me.

“Did you dream of something bad?” I asked, wiping away his tears.

He snapped out of his thoughts. He shook his head and wiped his face with his palms.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He nodded and grabbed his bag.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Wor… Work..” He mumbled, giving me a kiss on my cheek before running off.

I saw him flag a cab and leave. I guess he needed some time alone.

Junhyung's POV

"To Seoul General Hospital please." I mumbled.

Haneul ah, for you, I'll do anything, even if it means risking my life. I want to be normal for you. I want to be a man for you.