Mysteries Solved- 2

"Mhm" Ji Hoon nodded

"What do you mean by your underworld?"

"I've set up all these things, on my own, to take revenge"

"Revenge!? For what and for whom?"

what the hell is he talking about? I can't understand a thing.

"For my dad's death"

My eyes widened and breath stopped when he mentioned his dad.

"As I told you, after my dad's death and mom's departure, I started living in States with noona and In Na."

I nodded.

"I lived an ordinary life till the age of fourteen but then I met a notorious thief there, and he changed my life entirely. He used me for his errands once, and later I started working with him. Ofcourse my noona and In Na weren't aware of this at that time."

" I had no purpose to join him or to work with him but I just did it, because even then, all I used to think about was my dad's revenge and I thought maybe he will help me."

"That thief taught me fighting skills and all the evil stuffs that helped me in getting away from cops. He used to scold me a lot for my lazy moves and slow-witted head, but gradually, under his guidance, I improved a lot. But he never complemented me nor encouraged me."

"His face is hard to define, but he was in his mid thirties when I first met him. He had beard and brown hair. And his face always wore a derisive smile towards me. Whenever I think of him, that smile comes in my mind. One day, after two years of practice with him, I finally defeated him on one on one. I expected some kind of praise from him but instead of praising me he said."

"You're finally a man now"

"Those were his words but even at that time, his derisive smile towards me didn't leave his face. That day, later at night, he asked me for a drink and that was the first time I drank at the the age of sixteen and from the next day I started smoking too. I don't remember, when I got tattooed for the first time but it was also around that time only."

"He never told me his name and asked me to never reveal my name to anyone. I asked the reason to what he said"

"It's cool. Life is all about coolness and confidence."

"Since I didn't know his name so I addressed to him as Mr X and he used to call me Boy which later evolved into Man."

"That year was special because not only did I become a man in his eyes but I also joined a gangster group along with him. At first, those gangsters didn't permit me to join them but later on when Mr X said"

"He is not a kid, he is my business partner"

"They agreed on keeping me with them. And I learnt about almost everything related to gangsters during that one year with them. But later on my aunt and noona found out about it and the looks that they had in their eyes were unbearable. So I decided to leave States and come back to Korea."

"I know, what I did, is downright disdainful, I completely agree, but I never regretted it and probably never will. Because it made me who I am today"

"After coming back here, I decided to take my revenge and set up all these things here. I didn't know who killed my dad but fortunately I got my hands on the cctv footage of that time. I haven't found that man yet, and all the people I've encountered, were his people. Not him."

"So that day, outside the hospital.." I said, as I am joining some dots.

"Yes, that day was my first encounter with one of his men. That's why I was covered with blood and wounds. Sorry to make you worried though"

"You should.. you should protect yourself " my voice cracked, I don't know why.

"All I can do is try."

I nodded and asked "By the way, that day, how did you know that my mom was there?"

"To be honest I didn't even know and I wasn't there for her, but for noona. Yes, after six months of spending time here alone in Korea, one day my noona asked me if she can come here too. I instantly agreed. That time she was six months pregnant with her baby so my aunt also came with her and then they both decided to not to go back there. And aunt started her cafe here."

"She told me that you were her first visitor even though you were there for job purpose. That's why you're special to her."

"And after pretending to be your girlfriend, I became more special to her" I laughed

"Yess .. haha" he laughed back too

"And what's with those police?" I remembered, him going inside police car.

"So yes, instead of meeting my noona, who was at the hospital for her checkup, I met your mom. And I really couldn't meet her as police arrested me for causing a ruckus at a public place"

I was surprised, so he assured me "Nothing to worry about. Money plays a big role in today's world and with the help of money, I easily got out from there, but I couldn't protect myself from my noona's taunts on failing to pick her up at the hospital."

"That killer is aware that I am searching for him so he often sends his men to fight with me at most unexpected and out of blue places. But he never appears, only his men."

"It was fine until, it was all about me and him but one day, he started attacking people close to me. My noona was his first attack. It happened on that day, when I came at night to hug you, and your mom caught us"

"That day I came because of this incident only. When he attacked on noona and she was severely injured, I thought she might loose her child, but fortunately, she got better along with her child. But I was really afraid even after that and then a thought of losing you struck me and as you were avoiding me at that time, I craved for you more and more and I couldn't resist myself from coming to you."

"I'm sorry ..." I whispered in an exceedingly soft voice.

"What are you sorry for?"

"For.. everything.. from leaving you.. to .. to everything that happened" few droplets of tears seeped out which made Ji Hoon to take me in his arms.

He stroked the back of my head and said in a soft voice "You don't have to be sorry for anything"

"I love you.. an..d..I prom..ise you I'll never lea..ve you.. you" I finally proposed to him while crying.

I swear, it was the worst proposal.