Chapter XCIV - Hold On

Irene stroked her boyfriend’s hair as Arthur napped on her lap in the bedroom. She was livid after finding out about the conversation with Moon but seeing as he barely had the energy to stay awake, she held back and took him to bed. All she could think about was how peaceful he slept while she dealt with the fear of losing him. Irene had never voiced it before, but everything felt so surreal.

It was already crazy enough to accept Arthur’s truth without question; and how she also had to deal with her boyfriend having issues with a group of criminals that could seriously harm them. She couldn’t help but compare it to a movie plot, except it was very much real, and the ending worried her. Irene believed she would have felt better had he not been dealing with exhaustion while stressing about their safety, but that was a luxury they didn’t have.

“What am I going to do with you?” She mumbled, haunted by troubling thoughts.

Despite being exposed to danger herself, she never thought about the possibility of something happening to her. All she worried about was Arthur and how he’d handle it. The fact that Moon strolled right in without an issue made her want to go to the police, but they both understood the danger that would impose. The last thing they needed on their hands was someone seeking revenge.

“It’ll be fine,” Arthur whispered, glancing up at her eyes while her golden hair tickled his neck.

“You’re insane,” she whispered back, still stroking his hair gently while her other hand rested on his chest.

“That didn’t sound like you were joking.” He chuckled.

“Cuz I wasn’t.” Irene sighed, closing her eyes for a second as she took a deep breath before daring to look at him again. “Do you even realize how bad this is? And I'm not talking about what we discussed before, but you want me to act like everything's fine when you're planning to walk in there like everything's normal? You idiot. . . I'm terrified, and you haven't even left yet."

“Irene-”

“This doesn't makes sense.” She interrupted him, gripping his shirt tightly. “Where’s the money you had on your card? Why would he give it to you in the first place? How do we know you even owe them money to begin with? Do you think they’ll really be satisfied with Moon taking over? What’s stopping her from asking for more afterward? You’ll still be in the same situation. Why aren’t you asking any of these questions yourself? Why are you acting like everything will be alright when you don’t even know what’s going on?!”

Arthur listened as she gradually raised her voice. While he lazed around in her lap, she was stressing over every little detail. It wasn’t that he didn’t consider everything she mentioned; he just never vocalized it. Her worry was warranted, and many of those questions remained unanswered.

“With Ryung in a coma and without me seeing the man behind it all, I can’t answer those questions. All I can do is react to what unfolds for now and strive for the best outcome.”

“This is ridiculous,” her voice trembled. Letting go of my shirt, Irene rubbed her eyes nervously, whispering, “This isn’t something we should have to deal with. We should just be able to go to the police and let them take care of everything.”

A low meow echoed underneath the bed as Kyu interrupted their conversation with his adorable cry for attention. Managing to somehow wiggle around the countless boxes stuffed under, he leaped on the bed and rubbed against Irene’s forearm.

“Kyu,” She whispered. “Not now. . .”

However, his stubbornness made her sigh as she picked him up and placed him on Arthur’s chest for both to pet. Irene was about to break from worry, so his appearance was a welcome surprise.

“Irene,” Arthur said, cupping her face before pushing her hair behind the ear. “You’re right.”

“I know I’m right,” she mumbled, gazing into my eyes. “What I want to hear is that you’ll be safe.”

“If it makes you feel better, I’ll refrain from seeing Ryung tomorrow before I return. That way, you’ll know I’m not exhausted, and if worse comes, I’ll be able to defend myself,” he said, but failing to mention that he wouldn’t be in top shape as recovering from losing so much inner Qi wasn’t as easy as sleeping it off one day.

“That’s a given. . .” She gripped his hair, leaning down a bit. “If anything happens to you, I’ll never forgive you.”

“Nothing can stop me from coming back to you,” he whispered, closing his eyes and placing his hand behind her neck, pulling her closer.

Regardless of how often he felt her soft lips pressing against him, the fluttering feeling in his stomach never disappeared. Time felt like it froze as he focused only on how addictive kissing her was while enjoying the slightly sweet taste. Irene’s tender tongue met his halfway as they poured raw emotions into it; her fingers curled around Arthur’s hair as her body temperature rose. If anything, the warm feeling of her breath only provoked him to embrace her deeper.

"Meow." Kyu’s voice interrupted their moment, getting them to break away the kiss.

“For a second, I forgot we had an audience.” Irene chuckled for the first time.

“Buddy, if this is gonna work between us, you're gonna have to learn not to cockblock me." While Arthur talked to Kyu as if he understood him, Irene couldn't help but snicker after hearing him say the word cockblock for the first time. The boys were becoming an unavoidable influence on Art. Looking back at Irene, he grabbed her hand and whispered, “Feeling better?”

She nodded, gazing back into his eyes. “Just promise me you'll be safe."

“I promise.”

“I’m guessing you’re not leaving regardless of what I say, huh?” Arthur asked, standing outside his house the day after.

“Be glad I’m not tagging along.” Irene looked tense, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and one knee slightly bent.

She spent the night and refused to leave until he returned home after the meeting with Moon’s brother. While it wasn’t the safest option, Arthur knew changing her mind was harder than dealing with all their issues combined.

“Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” he mumbled as the loud engine roar drew the attention of nearby pedestrians, but luckily their street was commonly deserted.

Breaking in front of their gate while riding on a navy-blue sportbike with black markings, Moon took off her helmet and swung her hair over the right shoulder. Stepping off the bike in her skin-tight black jeans and an asymmetrical leather jacket, she glanced over at Irene, giving her a wink.

“Damn, hottie getting hotter,” Moon teased, but Irene simply glared back, refusing to play along. “Though I thought I made it clear it’s just the two of us.”

“She’s not coming with us, don’t worry,” Arthur reassured her. “But why a bike?”

“You don’t like it? I even brought you a helmet.” Moon chuckled.

“You have a car.” Arthur could feel how intense Irene was being.

“Trying to kill me with your gaze?” Moon asked, glancing again at Irene with a smirk.

“Maybe it’ll work if I give it enough time,” Irene mumbled, looking her dead in the eye.

“You talk to everyone who tries to save your ass that way, or is it just a privilege?”

“How do we know you’re telling the truth?” Irene asked, letting a sigh escape her.

“I guess you don’t, but what choice do you have?”

“That’s not good enough,” Irene argued.

Moon pocketed her hands and slowly walked up to Irene, leaning uncomfortably close. There was no sign of aggression, so Arthur didn’t step in to intervene.

“You know,” Moon whispered, pulling her right hand out of her pocket and placing it beside Irene’s head. Irene refused to move despite how close they were. “Ever since I first saw you, I knew you’d be interesting. That cold glare of yours. . . no wonder he fell for you.”

“That’s enough, Moon,” Arthur warned her.

“You could’ve admired me from a distance.”

“If only I were a guy.” She chuckled, glancing back at Arthur. “Don’t worry. I’m not here to start anything, and as long as you win, I won’t be bothering you again.”

“You’re willing to forgive a four-hundred million debt just like that?” Irene asked, doubtful that Moon won’t try to pull something.

“Fuck money if it means getting back what's mine. Besides, it’s a small price to pay.”

“If you’re lying-”

“Whatcha gonna do about it? Fight me?” She broke away from Irene, approaching her bike again. “His fate is in his hands, so don’t look at me. Besides, it’s not like any of us have a choice.”

She stayed ambiguous about what she meant, pulling out a helmet from her bike and throwing it to Arthur.

“Art,” Irene said, walking up to him, but before he could react, she grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in for a kiss, forcing Moon to watch. She made sure it lasted, marking her territory. “Remember what you promised. I don’t care what you do to pull it off.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, kissing her forehead.

“So sweet,” Moon said, mounting her bike and putting on her helmet with a raised visor. “Get on.”

Arthur and Irene exchanged a glance before he finally put on the helmet and went to sit behind her. As soon as he slipped into the seat, Moon kicked it into gear, making the machine roar to life and edge forward. She stepped on the break immediately, causing him to slide even further against her before lowering his hands to her waist and giving Irene a wink.

Moon knew what she was doing as Irene looked vexed, but before she could say anything, she flicked down the visor and sped away.

Luckily it was the weekend and almost nighttime at that, making the streets relatively clear for Moon to embrace her reckless driving while Arthur hung on for dear life. It didn’t help that it was his first time riding like that, which vastly differed from horseback.

Strong wind grazed his skin, making him realize why Moon wore jeans and a jacket, coming to regret his loose-fitted clothes that showed lots of skin. However, their ride wasn’t incredibly long as they reached the northern part of Seoul, where they stopped in front of a seemingly abandoned warehouse.

Raising her visor, she looked back at Arthur and said, “You can get off now.”

Arthur nodded, glad to get off the bike, strongly believing he’d never get on one again. He gave back the helmet and looked around to scan the area.

“Is this where you guys hang out?”

“You’re asking too many questions already. Stay quiet and play along.”

Arthur expected her response to be as much, but it was worth a shot.

“Lead the way.”

Walking up to the metal door, Moon slammed on it twice with the bottom of her fist. “Open up.”

The hollow door opened as the middle-aged man covered in tattoos recognized her voice. He had a white shirt that had its sleeves pulled up to his elbow and black pants, maintaining the similar formal style they had the first time they dropped by Arthur’s house.

“Welcome back, Miss,” he said, respectfully bowing to her before glancing warily at Art.

Moon didn’t need to confirm anything for Arthur to realize that it wasn’t where their group commonly gathered but more of a one-time meeting place. Over a few dozen men hung around, chatting in small groups of around five, all wearing matching clothes with similar taste in tattoos. Considering how they were smugly glaring, trying to look intimidating, it was obvious that Arthur wasn’t supposed to have a fun time meeting Moon’s brother.

They reached the center of the warehouse, surrounded by countless boxes they used for lazing around while waiting for the boss to arrive.

“Where’s Oppa?” Moon asked one of the men standing around.

“He’ll be here shortly.”

Moon turned to Art, placing her hand on his shoulder with a sadistic smirk that looked threatening, but Arthur recognized it as fake. “If you know what’s good for you, stay quiet and just take what's coming to you.”

Arthur refrained from saying anything, listening in on the whispers from those around.

“Poor kid. Think he’ll lose an arm?”

“Who cares. . .”

Loud metal doors opening in the back of the warehouse stole everyone’s attention as they got up on their feet and waited for what Arthur assumed was their boss’ arrival. Walking up to them from around the corner were two men wearing suits, except one was black and the other red. It was easy to tell who the boss was as one of them looked like a typical salaryman, and the other had dyed red hair, surprisingly looking seven to ten years older than Moon.

“Greetings to our boss,” said the man in black, making everyone bow deeply apart from Moon and Arthur.

“At ease,” said Moon’s brother, walking in front of Arthur as one of his men brought him a cushioned chair to sit on. Arthur could tell at first glance that he too possessed Qi, but not to what extent. Sitting down, he leaned forward with elbows resting on his thighs, gazing into Arthur’s eyes. “So you must be Ryung’s grandson?” he asked, glancing at Moon. “Where’s the sister?”

Arthur’s hand twitched after hearing Sophie mentioned, but he kept himself in check.

“Does it matter?” Moon said, turning back to Arthur. “I’ve brought him, just as you requested.”

“Can you blame me for wanting to see her? She’ll soon be working under me." He paused. "Well. . . whatever. Let's not keep our guest waiting."

He looked to his men and nodded toward Arthur. Two guys immediately walked up to him, grabbed his shoulders, and forced him down to his knees which he allowed, refraining from showing resistance. It was hard to tell how many were armed, but a few had visible handguns strapped to their belts.

“You must be confused as to why you’re here,” he said, gazing back into Arthur’s eyes. “My name is Kyung, and it just so happens your grandpa owes us a lot of money.”

“Why would my grandfather borrow money from you?” Arthur spoke up against Moon’s wishes.

“Don’t know. My old man never told me before he passed. They must’ve been really close for him to loan that much. Regardless, I tried to be as understanding as possible, but he just couldn’t come up with the money. To think he fell in a coma. . .”

“So I was right. . . You’re the reason Sophie’s crying,” Arthur mumbled, looking at the ground.

“What was that?” Kyung asked, standing back up. Arthur didn't repeat himself, making Kyung sigh. "Doesn't really matter. Now that you're here, it's time to cash out. Do you have the money?"

“No,” Arthur uttered, refraining from looking up, caught lost in his thoughts.

“Too bad,” he said, lowering his voice. “Bring me the axe.”

Arthur felt hands gripping his shoulder, forcing him to stay in place while her brother waited on someone to bring over what he requested; meanwhile, Arthur thought about who was at fault. On one end, Ryung was the one who borrowed money for unknown reasons, but he struggled to figure out if he cared enough not to blame everything on Moon and her brother. Considering what Moon said, they sounded like an organized gang that owned a part of Seoul, so to him, they were nothing more than scum.

“Here you go, Boss.”

He took the handaxe, checking the sharpness of the edge. “Choose, left or right?”

“Choose?” Arthur asked, looking up blankly.

“Did you piss yourself already?” He chuckled, looking around at his men. “Well, in that case. I'll choose for yo-”

“Oppa,” Moon spoke up. “Mind putting that away?”

“Huh?” He lowered the axe to the side, tilting his head in confusion.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I can’t have you harming my fighter,” she smugly announced.

“What?” He asked, sounding annoyed as her words riled up the crowd.

Oh. That’s right. We had a plan. I shouldn’t do anything I’d regret. . .

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.