And the Test of Trust

Salin woke up in his apparent new room. He got up and then noticed that Jun-Ho was still sleeping, squeezed into a corner of the spacious bed. It was very contradictory.

"Why are we sleeping together?" he wondered.

He quickly concluded that Jun-Ho had put him there.

Salin looked around the room. He had been here before. His gaze fell on the man who was sleeping not far from him, observing the tattoos on the younger man's arm.

Salin was chewing on the idea that they would be much better off if they had met in another life... One where he owed nothing to anyone and Jun-Ho wasn't a traumatized assassin.

He lay back down and moved closer to the younger man, gently stroking his hair. A sense of protection rose within him as he saw how he slept. He slept like a child. He was young and already so caught up in this cruel world that his biggest dream was to be the leader of Goden.

Jun-Ho was cute, sexy, handsome, strong, and tattooed. Was the guy from the fanfics real? Salin still feared seeing the other sides of an assassin at some point. So, for now, he would stay there, living one moment at a time until he was free of all of it.

Suddenly, Jun-Ho moved abruptly, gripping Salin's hands tightly.

— What are you doing? — He looked at Salin with wide eyes.

Salin was startled, but Jun-Ho seemed to share the same emotion.

— I... I was just stroking your head! — Salin argued awkwardly as Jun-Ho let go of his arms.

Jun-Ho's startled expression shifted into regret.

— Sorry, I didn't... want to scare you. It's just that... don't touch me without asking, don't do anything else.

— It's fine, I didn't think it through, you had already mentioned that. — Salin needed to be reminded again that Jun-Ho's condition was serious. The younger man felt his touch and reacted negatively very quickly. That scared Salin. Jun-Ho was ready to react, even while asleep.

The younger man sat up, staring into Salin's eyes.

— My parents will be here soon. Be prepared. They'll probably give you some kind of test.

— Your parents? Now? A test?

"Min Kun and Chu Yoonae... I never thought I'd see them up close, much less know they were Jun-Ho's parents, the founding loan sharks of Goden."

— They're worried that you're an ordinary person. So, be convincing.

— You said they agreed with everything!

— Yes, but they also know that I like you. So, they'll take this more seriously. They'll try to make you want to back out.

— Why are you telling me this?

— Because I want you to pass the test. — He said with shining eyes.

— Wait, you like me?

Jun-Ho left smiling and didn't answer Salin.

(...)

Min Kun and Chu Yoonae were staring at Salin, in disbelief.

"I think this is what Jun-Ho meant by a test."

— So, this is the guy? — Chu stared at Salin with a serious but curious posture.

— Yes, I'm Park Salin.

— Park Salin, you really don't fit the profile of our family... hm.

— Come on, are you going to leave us standing here? Take us to the breakfast table! Don't be useless. — Said Mrs. Chu to her son.

Jun-Ho's mother was very stern and didn't take her eyes off Salin.

— Can you cook? — The woman asked.

— I can.

— Do you want kids?

— Depends.

— How old are you?

— 28.

— I thought you were the same age. You're much older, but you don't look it. — She said, still very curious.

— It's because he has this androgynous face. — The father added. — And he dresses well, despite being in debt.

— Jun-Ho, what kind of butter is this you bought? Get a better one. Gross. You work too much, son, you need to eat properly, even in the details.

— This pancake has too much salt. Did you do it on purpose? Want to get high blood pressure? Aren't all these diseases enough? — Jun-Ho's father seemed surprised. — Park, do you really plan to spend all this time with our son?

Salin was startled by Kun's blunt words.

— Yes. — He answered.

The younger man remained silent with everything happening. Salin didn't quite understand the dynamics.

— That boy, Sora is in the hospital. — Said the father. — All because you can't do the basics! Seventeen is indeed a weed.

— What does my brother have to do with this? — Salin asked, apprehensive.

— If my son says he's in love with you, he should protect you and take care of those who are important to you. If he can't do that, you shouldn't be in a relationship.

Salin stared at Jun-Ho. The younger man was silent and downcast.

"Does Jun-Ho really like me?"

— Sorry, Salin, I didn't know he was getting involved with Seventeen.

Jun-Ho hadn't expected his father to use this information to try to mess with Salin, but indeed, he hadn't been quick enough. He could have stopped this.

— Sorry? — Kun stood up. — Get up. — He ordered his son.

Jun-Ho obeyed.

— Apologies can only fix a hurt heart, at best. Not the damn reputation! This afternoon I'll have to hold a meeting because of this, and you'll be there! Kneel! — He commanded Jun-Ho to kneel, and the younger man did.

Salin's heart burned.

"What was this old man trying to do?"

Kun started giving small kicks to Jun-Ho.

This didn't seem like a test. This was real!

Salin immediately got up, without thinking too much, and pushed Kun, placing himself in front of Jun-Ho.

— Stop this nonsense right now, you old bastard!

Kun stared at Salin.

— What? You think you can protect my son? — Kun taunted, clenching his fists to punch Salin, but the younger man dodged. Min Kun tried again, harder, thinking the first time had been pure luck. But Salin remained unfazed and dodged again.

It was a basic boxing sequence.

— I've practiced boxing. — He clarified.

Kun was surprised, and before he could process it, Salin, with a precise move, used Min Kun's own weight against him, knocking him down with force. The impact echoed through the room, leaving everyone in shock at the unexpected scene.

Kun fell on his back, his eyes wide in surprise, while Salin, still in a defensive stance, stared at him firmly. The silence that followed was almost deafening.

— I'm also a black belt and third dan in Taekwondo.