Daniel closed the shop's door and made sure to lock it securely, turning his key and with a soft secure click he lets go of it. He gave the door handle a good tug to make sure it was locked, with an approved nod he pocketed the keys and walked off. Tonight was cold, even the lightest breeze made daniel shiver under his coat.
"I should get a thicker coat..." he muttered to himself, tugging the seams of his coat and breathed into the soft fabric. He really couldn't wait to just lay down and sleep, or maybe even make himself some instant noodles? He smiled to himself, This night just keep getting better.
He climbed up the stairwell of the small apartment complex, not the most cozy nor stable place to live in but it was definitely better than to live on the streets. He reached his floor and it was quiet as ever, he searched into his pocket for his keys when he bumped into a figure. "Ah i'm sor.....sorry?" he looked up to see that it was the customer he had just served tonight, surprised, confused, but it was nothing too bad right?
"Oh it's you" the man smiled, straightening up from leaning back on the balcony railings.
"What brings you here? Are you visiting that old friend?" daniel smiled back
"Mhm, just some business talk is all"
Daniel looked back to the door, seeing that it was his neighbor, mr Park's door. He never knew mr Park would have this kind of connection...it felt odd, why would mr Park have connections with this foreigner? He's retired so...what's his deal to come pay him a visit and have this 'business talk'
The door suddenly clicked open, revealing the frail and trembling figure of mr Park, holding up a brown envelope to mikhail. And it all clicked to daniel like a puzzle piece, this wasn't a reunion. This bastard's a loan shark.
"Wow~ another late pay hm? Doesn't even cover your debt for this month"
"P-please...mikhail i beg you...it's all that i h-have..!"
Daniel's eyes widened seeing mikhail coming closer to the elderly man. He came to his defense and made sure that mr park was behind his back and he was infront and ready to fight if necassary.
"What do you think you're doing?" his voice stern and firm as he stared dagger at the man infront of him, the way he'd just to his defense making mikhail chuckle in amusement. "I just want to talk to my, old friend. Now mind your business."
Mikhail shoved daniel out of his way, making his stumble from the force. "Wait! You can't just..!" daniel scrambled to stand and help mr Park to get out of this situation, but he only watched as mikhail forced the poor old man into his apartment with a harsh grip on his collar.
"LET GO OF HIM ASSHOLE!" daniel yelled, banging onto the apartment door as he kept demanding entry (only to fail miserably). Finally after what felt like an eternity, mikhail stepped out of the apartment and was warmly welcomed with a harsh punch to the face, his hand came to rub his temples as he stopped daniel from attacking anymore.
"Mind your own business, will you?" mikhail taunted
"It's my business if you lay hands on my fucking neighbor."
"Such a sore..." he chuckled, releasing daniel's wrist as he walked off. "Make sure you pay up, old man."
Before daniel could chase him down and slam mikhail's head against the concrete, mr park stopped him. His trembling hands stopped him with a gentle grip on daniel's shoulders "please...Daniel..h-he's not worth the trouble..." mr Park weakly pleaded, his face already bruised and beaten, making daniel's stomach drop from worry and forget his initial aggression.
"Are you ok mr Park..?"
"I'm fine, hung....but please don't fight him....he's a mafia, he'll destroy you.." mr Park sobbed, his voice trembled as he begged
"...i won't i promise..let's just get you cleaned up, mr Park....you don't look ok.."
Daniel led the elderly man back into his apartment, making sure to be gentle as he treated the fresh and painful wounds. His brows furrowed as he looked over the bruises, it showed how much mikhail didn't even hesitate to hold back and made sure to leave a painful mark on mr Park.
"How...did you get into this trouble, mr Park?" daniel looked up to the older man, offering a tissue clump to stop the blood that trinkled down his nose.
"It's my son...he's in debt with mikhail after losing so much in one of his clubs...he fled from his debt by....overdosing...and i was the only contactable person who's related to him"
Daniel bit his lip, trying his best to hold hid anger and only listen to the old man's words.
"I'm sorry for you loss.."
"It's fine...i just need to pay off his debt.."
"are you sure you can handle all of this? This seems like alot..."
"It's fine...a father does whatever needs to be done for his family after all.."
Daniel's throat tightened as he pulled the poor man into a hug, letting him cry into his shoulder. His heart breaking with every sob, and from then on his name seemed to have carved itself on the back of his head. Reminding him and taunting him of what he thought was a charming foreigner's true power over people who were less fortunate like he was.