And another chance

It had been two days since Salin's brother was attacked. Finding out who hit him was easy. But who ordered it? That question had been consuming me.

I knew Sora was awake, but he hadn't been talking much, and that worried my Salin.

I found him sitting in the hospital waiting room. He looked lost, unsure of what to do. But at least he was relieved not to have found his brother unconscious like last time.

— Salin? — I called, and he immediately saw me.

— Why do you always come back? — he said, his voice thoughtful.

— Here. — I walked over to him and handed him a can of drink. — Sorry I didn't come to see you for the past two days.

— And here I thought you had finally listened to me.

— My life only makes sense if it involves you, Salin.

— Shh, I don't have to listen to this. You can leave now. Goodbye.

— Hmm… okay, I'm going. But if you need anything, let me know. — I turned toward the elevator, but Salin grabbed the sleeve of my jacket. I turned back, and he wasn't looking at me. He remained silent for a few seconds, as if about to make a big declaration.

I just waited.

— I need your help. — He whispered, finally.

— Go ahead. — I responded, crouching down, trying to look into his eyes.

He still avoided my gaze. Maybe he really had no way out.

— You probably know, but my brother owes 30,000 to a gang. My younger siblings are in a boarding school. My mother is in the hospital and needs surgery. My father needs physiotherapy… — He hesitated, but I just watched him silently. He pouted as he spoke, as if he was about to cry. — I'll do anything. I think you're the only one who can help me.

— Salin, do you know what you're getting yourself into?

— Not exactly. But if you wanted to do something worse to me, you would have done it already. — He said, nervous. He looked shy, but his eyes met mine.

I was enchanted.

— Okay, I'll help you get rid of your burdens, but then you have to help me with mine.

Salin shivered, worried.

I would never hurt him. But I can't just give up my world without gaining something in return. I've done that once before, and I can't do it again. Helping him now means admitting that I've been interfering in the life of an innocent civilian without a justifiable reason.

The council quickly found out about Salin, and of course, they also learned that I was hunting down anyone who had attacked or tried to harm him and his family. The mere fact that I was here proved that the advisors were right.

I love him, and I don't intend to let him go. So, I have to take responsibility for that.

— What do I have to do?

— Marry me.

Silence filled the room. Salin frowned. It was incredible how, even while asking for help, he still had an attitude. He let go of my sleeve and sat up properly in his chair.

— Impossible. — He said, pouting again.

— I help you, and you help me. It's simple. — I said, standing up.

— I can't give you a child! — He argued, standing up as well. — These marriages are for heirs, right? I'm a man, dude!

— I only need the status. Once I get the position, we can divorce. The conditions are simple: you must live with me, go back to college… — I needed to add one last point. — And kiss me too.

— What? Kiss you? — He looked like he regretted asking for my help.

— I need it from now on, especially because it will make our relationship seem more real. And of course, after I turn 25 at the end of the year, we can end the marriage…

Salin's eyes widened, but then he looked at the doctor coming out of a patient's room. He seemed to accept my conditions well enough.

— Can you help my family? — He asked, his face anxious. — Will they be okay?

— Yes, and I'll do the impossible if necessary. We'll be engaged for six months and then get married. But now, I really have to go. Come to Promise if you decide to say yes.

He grabbed the hem of my shirt for a second time.

— Thank you for letting me choose. — He looked relieved.

— Ah… the bar dancers, they get paid well. — I said, stepping away from him, feeling my face heat up. He gave me a weird look, as if I had said something absurd. — You're pretty and androgynous. You'd be a hit. — I shouted, trying to lighten the tension.

— Oh, good to know. — He replied, almost smiling.

— I'll be back. — I said, and he nodded.

I couldn't contain my excitement. Salin might say yes, and I could make him fall in love with me.

(...)

As Jun-Ho walked toward the hospital exit, I felt something strange. A mix of relief, but also confusion. I was about to enter an agreement with him, an agreement that would completely change my life. His proposal sounded simple, but I knew it wasn't.

A kiss… He probably just wanted to use me to keep testing himself.

I watched him get into his car, and something inside me stirred.

I could handle a fake marriage. I was willing to help my family, but I shouldn't get involved emotionally. I knew I would fall in love, even if to him, I was just a toy.

The sound of a door opening suddenly pulled me from my thoughts. The doctor walked into the room and handed me a paper.

— We're going to perform your mother's surgery. Can you sign here? — He asked.

— What? — I said, still confused.

— The surgery and treatment for your family have been paid for, sir. You just need to sign, and we'll transfer them to another room.

I couldn't process his words. What was happening? How was everything already paid for?

— The shareholder Min Jun-Ho covered all expenses and asked us to do whatever is necessary to ensure your family recovers well.

My hands started shaking, and I almost dropped the paper. It hadn't even been 20 minutes since Jun-Ho left, and he was already taking care of everything. I hadn't even made my decision yet.

I signed, speechless. My father looked confused, my brother just stared at us. But I felt relieved, deeply grateful.

— What's going on? — My father asked, his expression suspicious. My brother was watching me closely.

As if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, I took a breath and said without thinking too much:

— I'm getting married.

— What?! — The shock was clear in their eyes.

— I found a rich guy who needs a rent-a-husband. He's a good person, so I accepted.

— Is it the same man who came after you that day? — My father, always perceptive.

— Yes. He's been making this offer for a while. I wasn't going to accept until I realized that he's actually a good person.

— Son, you can't just do this suddenly.

— Well, he already paid your debt. Now I have to fulfill my part of the deal.

The last six months had been the worst of my life, and now I was about to live another 500. But at least, I doubted less about Min Jun-Ho's kindness, though I still needed to confront him.