Warning: curses and violence ahead

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“Baek Chang Joo.” Jong kook looked at Ji hyo with a confused expression. Why did she bring him here? Was this greasy guy the reason she quit? “Hey, Ji hyo yah it had been a long time.  Jong kook-ssi, yes I am Baek Chang Joo. I guess you don’t know yet. I think you two need to talk. I’ll be in the kitchen.” He turned to Ji hyo and they exchanged a friendly nod. What’s happening? The man retreated and disappeared somewhere in the back of the restaurant. “Ji hyo?” She took several deep breaths before she finally spoke. Her voice was weak but with determination. “Jong kook-ah… let me tell you the whole story. This time it would be the complete one… No more hiding.” He can only nod to her. Even if he was scared, Ji hyo looked like it was important to her to let it out. “Tell me…”

 

------Ji hyo’s Memories – from the Past-------

 

Ji hyo flinched as she heard a delighted laughter echo through the chilly night. An anguished scream that definitely belonged to a tortured man made Ji hyo curl. She shuddered as she tried her best to chase away her tears. She knows she wouldn’t get hurt. She only has to stay silent, keep everything in. Don’t talk, don’t ask and she’ll be safe and alive. She pulled the comforter around her trembling body as she tried to get lost in the vast bed. She closed her eyes willing the nightmare to stop.

 

It all started when she said yes to Chang Joo’s offer of a better agency. It is his fault… but she knew it was a lie. She had been unfortunate. It was no one’s fault but her bad luck. She heard the door creak open. He was finished. There were no more laughter and screams. “The old man wants you to pour him tea.” She didn’t move. She only wanted to run away. “Ji hyo-yah I know you are not sleeping. Don’t make him wait.” she bolted up from the bed and charged at the man in the door. “It’s your fault! You tricked me Chang Joo!”

“Shh! We both know we don’t have a choice! Calm down Ji hyo. Do you think I want this kind of life? I am just a henchman.”

“I can’t do this. Help me… What should I do?”

“Wait. Don’t talk. Don’t tell anyone… and we’ll live.” Defeated, she slumped her shoulders and followed Chang Joo outside. They passed by the room where Ji hyo heard the screams. The door opened giving Chang Joo and Ji hyo a view of the lifeless and mutilated body of a man. She almost screamed in terror if not for Chang Joo who was quick to cover . Her eyes darted in every direction as her arms flailed wildly. “Don’t Ji hyo, stay silent!” he hissed, his thick fingers hurting Ji hyo’s mouth as her tears raced down her face. Chang Joo wiped her tears as she swallowed the bile at the back of . She felt numb. The image of the man haunted her. “Remember that body well Ji hyo. Remember it could be your family or us. Don’t forget what you saw. Now go and give the old man his tea.”

 

Ji hyo entered the plush room. It took her all not to strangle the leader of the biggest mafia gang who ruled Seoul. She wished she could get the police but she knew it would be a futile attempt. Who knows, the police could be his puppets. He smiled a crooked smirk of his that made Ji hyo’s stomach flip in disgust. “Oh, Seung Im. Come.” He dismissed the reluctant guards with a chuckle and a joke that she couldn’t do any harm. She tried to still her resolve. She slowly approached the old man and kneeled beside him. “Closer… beside me.” She cringed at his voice. She inched closer, not daring to look at him. “Look at me.” She didn’t listen but instead she reached for the tea. A hard blow landed on her face. “Ingrate! How dare you defy me? Look at me!” She did obey him, a small mocking smile playing on her lips. He could only do that much. She was just his trophy soon to be wife and his henchman, Chang Joo, was her cover boy friend for the public. He could hurt her as much as he wanted but that was all the old man could do. He can never claim her as a man would. She looked at him, her eyes dark with loathing and contempt. “You’re still as fiery as ever Miss Song. This is why I wanted you. Don’t challenge me too much, I wouldn’t want to destroy that pretty face.” He wiped the trail of blood in her lips then placed his bony fingers on his mouth, tasting her blood from them. Then he caressed her cheeks making her flinch. His hands traveled to her shoulders where it lingered for a while. Then it went further until it reached the sash of her hanbok just below her chest. “You can’t, you’re not capable…” her words stopped the old man. Her words hit a sore spot that made his face darken. “Go back to your room. I don’t think I can still keep you alive if you stay.” She quickly turned around reveling at the small victory. 

 

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Ji hyo tried her best to mask the bruise in her lips with makeup. She turned around only to find Jong kook watching her. “Ji hyo, who did this to you?” She quickly looked away. “Oppa, I think the Pd is calling us.” She stood up and went to the door of the dressing room but a hand grabbed her wrist. “Tell me! Your lips are burst, how can it be nothing?” Ji hyo wanted to tell him, but she couldn’t. “Ji hyo-yah…”

“I got in a bit of accident during shooting. Don’t worry, its fine.” She pulled away from him. She had a bad dream last night. She was in that room. The lifeless body was still there. The figure looked eerily familiar. Suddenly, there was light, it was becoming brighter. That muscular body, that mutilated face… it was Jong kook.

 

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“Oppa! What are you doing here?”

“Why did you lie to me?”

“What are you saying? I never lied to you.” She squirmed under his scrutiny.  She bowed her head when she remembered washing away the makeup. He will see the bruises. He pushed the door wide open and shut it with a force that made Ji hyo cringe. He walked towards her making her step back. His eyes are burning with fury. Why oppa? That fury, it’s not alone. There were more, concern and worry… more than that, they have no names. Oppa, don’t… don’t! The back of her knees hit the edge of the sofa then all she know was she was being squeezed in a tight embrace. “You… you should’ve told me.”

“Told you what?”

“I know about Chang Joo, he did this to you.” No, it’s not him. Ji hyo trembled as his fingers grazed her swollen lips. She felt warm even if she wasn’t enveloped in his arms anymore. His eyes begged her. Why are you here oppa? Her eyes blurred and lost its focus. Her mind ran amok. He can’t know. The image of him mutilated cold and lying on his own pool of blood haunted her. She can’t run away but she is safe because the old man is interested in her. However, Jong kook, he would die. “Oppa,” even speaking hurt as she choked on her words in her dry throat. “Hush… I will help you. There is a way Ji hyo... let me protect you.” She can only cry as his voice washed away her fears. His arms were like a safe haven that she never wanted him to leave anymore. “Why oppa? Do you like me?” Now that the question was out, she realized she liked him more than just an oppa and that she wanted him to say yes. She needed him to say yes. She needed to have a reason to fight, to have something to look forward to.  She didn’t want to push him away even if her mind is swirling with the horrible possibilities. Yes, she was selfish but she wants to trust him. “I don’t know Ji hyo-yah… I just want to protect you. I can’t bear seeing you like this.” she felt his hand caressing her back. She let her hands cup his face. She looked at those orbs. They were confused but so is she. She pulled him closer to her until she felt his lips on hers. He tried to push her away but there was no strength in his retaliation. She can taste in him a faint trace of soju. Ji hyo knows this is a sin. He will never forgive her but his response blurred all her logic away. He wanted it too, and together they chose to forget.

 

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“! What have you done? You’re ed up real bad . You’ll die, that er will die. I am not part of this. No, you do that alone. I won’t die for this.” She fell on her knees. “I am pregnant… He will kill me and this child. Even if I die I want to try.” There was only silence. Ji hyo noticed Chang Joo’s face twitching as it paled. The old man was right. Chang Joo still wasn’t over his sister who died because of miscarriage. She only has him, Shi Yoon and Jong kook. She knows it will work. Chang Joo walked towards Ji hyo and pulled her up. “Ji hyo, you really never listen. How can you… its Jong kook’s?”

“It can’t be the old man’s or yours… yes it’s his.”

“God! How can you still joke at this?”

“Will you help me?” He didn’t answer. “Chang Joo… I know you want out too. We can do this.”

“I don’t know… Song Ji hyo, you’re so stupid! I thought you were smart. I told you to wait. I’ve always told you to keep it in, but still…”

“You care Chang Joo. Help me.” He sighed. He was now at the door of the conference room but he just stood there. Motionless, five minutes, still in deep thought but at least he is not yet running away. His forehead is creased. He is scowling, still contemplating. Ji hyo waited, she didn’t want to nag him lest he got fed up. “What’s your plan woman?” she smiled. She knows a good man when she sees one. “Let’s meet Shi Yoon.” he only cocked his brows to her. He didn’t like many names being dragged in their situation.

 

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“Chang Joo, this is Im Shi Yoon. His uncle is the leader of the West group.” Chang Joo’s eyes widened at the mention of the West. He suddenly felt nervous. They could be killed for just being in the same place with any person related to the group. He looked at Ji hyo with uncertainty but the idol looking guy extended a manicured hand towards him. He hesitated as he continued to stare at the hand. When he did not respond, the stranger only coolly retreated his hand. “I am Im Shi Yoon. Baek Chang Joo-ssi, don’t worry this is a safe place.” The three took a seat at the corner of the restaurant. Chang Joo only eyed his two companions. When no one talked, Shi Yoon started. “The old man’s group is my uncle’s headache and rival. He wanted to eliminate them a long time ago but they can’t get hold of the old man’s weakness. He is very sharp and cunning.”

“Wait, how and when did you and Ji hyo met each other?”

“Jong kook hyung is a sunbae of mine. My uncle had been watching the old man and my men learned about Miss Song through investigations. I thought we could use her since the old man clearly regards her as his valued asset. We could have come to her directly but we were not sure if she was forced to be with him or not, so I came to Jong kook hyung and told him about you Chang Joo.

“I approached hyung and told him that his best friend’s boyfriend is a gangster. I can’t tell him of course about the higher ups. I only told him about you then he got mad. He made his own assumptions that you are black mailing Miss Song and I let him be. We can’t complicate this thing by giving him too much detail. He only knows you are the gangster Chang Joo-ssi.” Chang Joo processed the information in his head. The young man is a smooth talker and a user. He made sense but there was more surely. Things can’t just go smoothly like that. “You have Ji hyo. She wants out. Why have me here?”

“You Chang Joo-ssi, Miss Song and me. We all want out. I am not cut for this gangster stuff. I want a normal life.”

“Who says –”

“Chang Joo oppa… I know. The old man told me in his stupor. Your sister… you sold yourself to them because of her. I know you are not a bad person.” He kept silent. The pain and memories made him dazed. He looked at his companions and they nodded at him. “Chang Joo-ssi, my uncle will let me cut ties and live a normal life if I do this for him. I was the one who found you and Ji hyo. Uncle knows nothing about my plan. He said he will support and protect us but will let us go after the old man falls. Uncle is not as bad as that old man is. He never kills. It’s only about business.

“Jong kook hyung and I will build our own agency. I told him to build one and recruit Miss Song from CJES so she can be free from you. I said no one would ever accept her because of you Chang Joo. Once she is out of your wall, she won’t have anywhere to go. Her career would end. The truth is that agency will be our protection. It is a last gift from uncle. No one would touch us. You too, you can get what you want. Ji hyo mentioned you have lost your sister’s restaurant. We can get that. I’ll give it to you and you’ll never have to worry about any gangster stuff ever again.”

“This is too good to be true. Why are you doing this? You are not like us. We are ordinary people but you, Im Shi Yoon… you are his nephew.”

“I don’t want this kind of life. I don’t want to live dishonestly.” He mulled over the words of the idol looking man. Ji hyo obviously trusted him and it sounded plausible. He gave up thinking. He knew he’d still go on anyway. “So what do we do?”

“It’s easy, I am glad you are committed. Miss Song will pretend to be in love with someone and anger the old man. The thought of not knowing his rival on her will drive him crazy. He will start becoming unreasonable and his own men will fall victim to his thirst for blood. Soon his followers will doubt him. You feed poisonous thoughts and rumors to the others. You two will cause confusion and divide. His empire will collapse on its own. His people would want to transfer to us. My camp will work on the recruitment of the men over there when they lose their trust on the leader. We will also have our men inside to help you when it comes to worst.”

“Are you serious? Do you really know what you are doing? This sounds like a typical mafia movie.”

“Who do you think sponsors those movies? My uncle really likes them. Anyway, back on topic. The old man is already half crazy. You are the trusted among his men and your minions will believe you more than him. Miss Song here… she is untouchable. The old man won’t ever harm her because firstly, he likes her. Secondly, he hates the publicity, it’s bad business.”

“You two planned this… Im Shi Yoon, Song Ji hyo… you two are crazy. This is crazy.”

“Yes it is crazy Chang Joo-ssi, but not impossible.” Ji hyo only nodded her eyes pleading him. He wondered why she was looking at him like that. “Song Ji hyo…” Ji hyo what are you thinking? Am I the only one who knows your condition? She shook her head no, begging. Chang Joo kept silent.

 

The next months had been fast and calculated. It was not hard for Ji hyo to act in love with someone because she really was. The old man would hit her a lot. He would be fuming mad but Ji hyo kept it in. He would try to touch her but her eyes would make him back away. He wanted to claim her through dominance. He wanted her to stop defying him with her looks and actions but she never said a word. She wouldn’t even let him see any weakness. Chang Joo also started spreading rumors about the old man’s senility and many believed. Many were scared that the old man was slipping and that the West group will kill them.

 

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“You! ing ! You did this to mock me. Because I can’t and that bastard can?” The old man shook in rage. His eyes were bloodshot and threatening to burst from its sockets. He took a gun from one of his bodyguards and pointed it at Ji hyo. She remained calm. If she dies that day, she would be freed. She wouldn’t able to say goodbye to them but at least her pain would be over. Shi yoon promised her he will take care of Jong kook and her family and she was not worried anymore. I love you… I’m sorry. She stood in the middle of the room, waiting for freedom. Her hands are tied over her head. The gun was still pointed at her. She saw a flash of light and a searing pain followed it on her head. Unconsciousness claimed her, but she held her ground. Slowly, she felt the blood trickle down her face. Her head is numb. It wasn’t even painful anymore. She willed her eyes to open. She can’t give her tormentor the satisfaction of seeing her crumble. She smiled, as she tasted blood on her lips. “Who is it? Tell me! Who is the father of that bastard? Who are you ing!? Answer me ! Who!?” Another searing pain, this time it is on her stomach. Nae Agi-yah… She wanted to crumple in pain. Her stomach twisted in agony. It felt like her insides where being sliced finely. If not for the rope that tied her up, she would’ve already collapsed. There was a shot. The man behind her fell.  The bodyguards were backing down. Ji hyo realized the old man was killing his own men. She heard shouts. The old man was cursing about no more bullets. She felt life slowly being out of her body. A hand grabbed her. “Jong kook oppa…” She tried to look but darkness was faster and she succumbed to unconsciousness.

 

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She opened her eyes in a white room. She can’t feel her body. She tried to talk but it was impossible. “Ji hyo…” That voice. She knew it well. She couldn’t see. There was a rustle. Something fell. Someone was running. The door opened. There was shouting. Someone was holding her hand. She felt someone open her eyes and there was a bright flash of light. She wanted to shake it away but her hands had no strength. Slowly her vision cleared. Jong kook was there worried and… he was crying. What happened? “Ji hyo-yah why did you not tell me? I could’ve have killed that Chang Joo. I’d really kill him I swear. What if we lost our child? I can’t go through that again…” He was grasping her hand. It wasn’t Chang Joo… It is the old man. She caught another figure behind him. It was Shi yoon and he is shaking his head. She kept silent. That was the first crack of their relationship. The first lie.

 

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“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me… the pregnancy. You should’ve told me.”

“It’s over Shi Yoon and I am getting married, but…”

“You love him Miss Song.”

“Yes I do but…”

“He likes you too… forget that night. It will be okay. We are out.”

“Chang Joo?”

“He is in his hometown, safe and sound. He swore never to set foot in this industry ever again.”

“I still can’t believe this… the West group… the old man.”

“They aren’t your concern anymore Miss Song. You don’t need to ever think about them.”

“I am still scared. I can’t face Jong kook.”

“It would be better if he doesn’t know. Forget everything.”

“But…”

“Forget it. Congratulations on the baby and the wedding.” She nodded. Still unsure, she touched her bump as hot tears rolled down her cheeks. It was over. It almost cost her an unborn life but it was over. Still, she couldn’t be at peace. It is still impossible that there will only be happiness from now on.

 

----------Back to the present----------

 

“I was scared. I tried to forget everything. I tried to focus all my attention to you and Hyo Jong… It wasn’t easy. I was always fidgety, that if you knew you’d leave me. When I saw the script, the nightmares came back. I can’t go back… I can’t.” Jong kook reeled from the revelation. His mind couldn’t seem to process it. He had read that Chang Joo was a gangster but he didn’t know it was this big. He can only stare at her in disbelief. He didn’t even notice that he was openly crying. “Ji hyo-yah I am sorry… I should have known. I should have done something for you but no, I only hurt you. I wasn’t able to protect you even if I said I would I am sorry.”

“Jong kook, that night when you came to me. I knew I’d never be able to repay you no matter what I do. It was a terrible nightmare but you gave me a reason to want freedom. If not for you I’d just die a mafia’s wife.” He wanted to go to her side. To hold her tight and whisk away all her pain but his body wouldn’t move. How could he. His future self was there. He saw what happened at the hospital. He cared for her when he came running at her that night. He wanted to protect her. What happened? It didn’t make sense at all.  “I was a like the old man said. You offered me protection but I wanted more. I lied to you. I deserve this for –”

“No Ji hyo, don’t ever say that. You didn’t deserve any of those horrible things.  How could you even think of that? I can’t believe this… it must have been so painful and I didn’t help you.” Think Jong kook… You discover she is pregnant of course you’d want to marry her. You saw her almost dying in a hospital. You would have felt pity for her. You’d want to take her in your arms like now. You went to her and offered her protection. You were mad at her boy friend. You wanted to save her. You built the company so she would have a home... I like her, maybe even more, but what was keeping you? He ran through his mind the new information. The old man… Ji hyo didn’t say where he was now. Maybe it wasn’t important. Doubts, he as the secret lover, he that destroyed the old man’s empire. Could it be that he doubted her? Did he grow distant from her because of it? But it couldn’t be that shallow and what will he doubt, the secret? He didn’t even know there was a secret until now.

 

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The author wants to hide. Sorry for the grammar I can't reread anymore.