"Please… I need to know."
"He's out of danger. There are no severe injuries," Dr. Han reassured, his voice calm and steady. "The knife was not sharp enough to cause any major harm, nor did it damage any vital organs. He did lose a significant amount of blood, so he'll need to stay here for a few days. He's stable now and can manage a short conversation. You may go see him."
"Thank you so, so much, Dr. Han!" Taesan said breathlessly, shaking the doctor's hand with obvious relief before rushing toward the room.
"Jae!" Taesan crossed the space in seconds and pulled Jaewon into a tight embrace, one hand instinctively patting his head. "Are you okay? I was terrified. I couldn't think straight."
Jaewon chuckled softly and returned the hug as best as he could. "Sunbae, I'm really fine. It was just a minor attack. Nothing serious," he said, his voice gentle as his eyes drifted to Taesan's scraped knuckles and bruised cheek. "But look at you. Have you even treated your own injuries?"
"That doesn't matter," Taesan replied immediately, his brows knitting together. "You got hurt because of me. I still can't believe you stepped in like that. Why would you do something so reckless?" He tapped Jaewon's arm lightly, a mix of frustration and lingering fear behind the gesture.
"Ouch, hey, careful," Jaewon laughed, wincing slightly. "I couldn't just stand there and watch that jerk hurt you, Sunbae. Of course I stepped in."
"You're unbelievable," Taesan muttered, shaking his head, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. "A complete idiot."
The room slowly settled into a quiet calm. Words were no longer necessary as relief replaced panic, and gratitude lingered in the silence they shared.
***
As the days slipped by, Taesan remained constantly at Jaewon's side, caring for him with quiet devotion. Small gestures turned into unspoken promises, and shared laughter softened the weight of recovery. In those ordinary moments, their bond deepened naturally, weaving comfort and trust into something far more meaningful. Each day became a memory worth holding onto, stitching their lives closer without either of them fully realizing it.
Eventually, Jaewon was discharged, and life began to resemble normalcy again. The world resumed its familiar rhythm, yet something felt subtly out of place. Beneath the surface calm, Maya's words continued to echo in his mind, refusing to fade. What was meant to be a passing thought lingered longer than expected, unsettling and persistent.
The idea she planted disturbed him more than he cared to admit. The possibility of using Taesan, even briefly, stirred guilt and resistance, yet curiosity quietly followed close behind. He tried to push it away, to dismiss it as a moment of weakness, but an inner pull urged him otherwise. Torn between hesitation and temptation, Jaewon ultimately chose to confront the thought head-on, deciding to meet Maya once again.
***
One Friday evening, Jaewon sat across from Maya in a dimly lit restaurant, the kind where shadows clung to corners and conversations stayed buried beneath low music. The air felt heavy, almost conspiratorial.
"What are you even saying?" Jaewon hissed, leaning forward despite himself. "I cannot just turn around and betray Sunbae like that." His voice rose before he could stop it, panic slipping through his carefully built restraint.
Maya's eyes flicked around the room before settling back on him, sharp and amused. "Lower your voice," she said calmly, lips curling into something almost playful. "And stop dramatizing. I am not asking you to betray anyone."
Jaewon frowned. "Then what exactly are you asking?"
"Simple," Maya replied, resting her chin on her hand. "Stay close. Be attentive. Play the role you are already playing. Just for a few days. Take a little money while you are at it. He is rich enough that he will not even feel it."
Jaewon stiffened. "That still feels wrong."
"Wrong?" she echoed, letting out a quiet laugh. "You took a knife for him. A literal stab. You bled for him, Jaewon. Do you really think a few transactions tip the moral scale?"
"I did not protect him expecting anything in return," he said, slower now, as if convincing himself. "That does not give me the right to demand payback."
Maya leaned closer, her voice dropping into something colder, more precise. "Who said anything about demanding?" she scoffed. "Begging would be pathetic. This is not about asking. This is about recognizing an opportunity and being smart enough to use it."
Her words sank in, carefully chosen, perfectly timed. She spoke of survival, of balance, of how the world rewarded those who knew when to take instead of give. Loyalty, she suggested, was admirable but useless when it left someone empty-handed.
Jaewon stared down at the table, his thoughts spiraling. The idea of using Taesan twisted uncomfortably in his chest, yet Maya's logic wrapped around his doubts with unsettling ease. She made it sound reasonable. Deserved, even.
By the time the plates were cleared and the conversation faded into silence, the decision had already taken root.
Just once, he told himself.
Just this once.
***
The next day at school passed without leaving much of an impression on Jaewon. He attended his classes, took notes, answered when called, yet his mind remained elsewhere. Thoughts of Taesan lingered in uncomfortable layers. Friendship blurred into something more useful, something easier to justify. He told himself it was confusion, but a colder truth sat beneath it, waiting.
After school, he went to their usual meeting spot in the park, the third red bench from the entrance. Taesan was already there, sitting still, hands folded loosely in his lap, eyes unfocused. He looked smaller somehow, like someone bracing for disappointment.
"Sunbae! What are you thinking about?" Jaewon called out.
Taesan glanced up, offering a faint smile. "Nothing much," he said. "Just nervous. My results come out tomorrow."
"They'll be fine," Jaewon replied, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You always worry too much."
"I guess," Taesan said quietly.
Silence settled between them before Jaewon spoke again. His voice softened, carefully measured. "Sunbae… can I ask you for a favor?" He hesitated, as if choosing his words. "I need to handle something important. Could you lend me some money?"
Taesan turned toward him fully now, searching his face for a moment. Then he nodded. "Sure. How much do you need?"
"₩7,500," Jaewon answered, eyes lowering.
Taesan reached for his wallet without another question. He counted the bills and placed them into Jaewon's hand, smiling as if the exchange meant nothing. "Here. Just don't waste it."
Jaewon's fingers curled around the money. Guilt brushed against him, light but persistent. Maya's voice slipped into his thoughts again, smooth and convincing, reminding him how easily kindness could be used. How trust, once given, rarely questioned.
"Thank you," he said softly.
The words felt insufficient. Taesan had been there when no one else was. Loyal, steady, believing. Jaewon knew that. And still, the money rested in his palm, warm and undeserved.
"Jaewon?" Taesan asked. "You look pale."
Jaewon forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just tired." He slipped the bills into his pocket, the motion too quick. "Thanks again, Sunbae."
"Anytime," Taesan replied easily. "You know I trust you."
The word trust settled heavily in the air.
They walked through the park together, side by side, the sound of their footsteps uneven. Taesan spoke about trivial things, unaware, unguarded. Jaewon listened, nodding at the right moments, his hand brushing the pocket where the money lay. The guilt had not disappeared. It had simply learned how to wait.
——————— TO BE CONTINUED