Revenge

EP10

I wake up in a hospital bed. A nurse checks my heart rate and a doctor comes to me and asks.

"Are you okay?"

My answer was very simple.

"Who hit me?"

The detective in black short sleeves next to me asks.

"Do you happen to remember the one who had something to do with Ms. Jung Dahae?"

And for a split second, I remember. 

It feels like someone hit me with a brick from behind. 

A face I remembered before the fuse blew. A body with fierce eyes. 

I remember the movement and the voice, full of life. 

The doctor continues.

"Luckily, the bystanders grabbed him as soon as he collapsed and held him down, so there was no further damage."

"He has a temporal injury to his head, which could cause a brain bleed or concussion, so we'll need to keep him in the hospital for a few days."

"At this time, we've only sutured the bruises and tears on your head, and we'd like to keep you stable for a few more days."

"We'd like to order an MRI or other tests to further evaluate your condition."

And I ask.

"How many days, and where is he?"

The trusty detective says. 

"He's in custody at the station for aggravated assault and we're investigating."

There was one unnerving thing. 

As I collapsed, I was terrified that the recorder and sex tape I had in my bag would be discovered, as well as my whereabouts before the attack, but neither the detective nor the doctor seemed to have a clue and were only concerned about my safety. 

Well, they did. 

Jung Dahae came to the hospital with tears in her eyes. 

"Brother, I'm so sorry, so sorry."

"I'm so sorry, I feel like I'm the reason you've suffered this kind of damage."

"I'll do everything I can to help him get punished."

"It's okay, you didn't do anything wrong."

"But it's Dahae." 

"What?"

"People die because of people and live because of people."

"Don't think that relationships and encounters will always lead to good things."

"The world is harsh and there are so many people who are hurt and broken."

"Such people try to break others and heal themselves with the pieces, so be careful who you meet."

"You have to be suspicious until the end, whether it's your heart or someone else's."

Dahae was quite surprised by my seriousness for the first time. 

Her rabbit-like face widened and she burst into tears. 

I can't tell if they are crocodile tears or tears of regret.

Why is the world so full of woe. 

"You seem like such a warm and nice person, so different from everyone else I meet."

"I've met so many strange people, using me as a sex symbol, using my poverty to fill a need, it hurts so much, but the reality is more painful, so I compromise."

I feel strangely teary-eyed. She cries too. 

Tears are falling down her face. 

Uncontrollable emotions and feelings. 

I feel guilty and self-conscious that I can't take back. 

She feels as if her tears are washing away the evil plans of revenge that she has been victimized by all her life.

 Why does love come at a strange time. 

Why does love come to me when I'm poor, sick, and poisoned, like a drug that lifts me up. 

My scars are more visible today.

"I didn't mean to make you cry, but remember this, if you take relationships for granted, you'll find trouble where you least expect it."

"Today I got hurt, but next time it could be someone more important than me."

"No, you're very important to me."

"By the way, did you hear what Detective The said?"

"About what?"

"Was he following me or did you accidentally punch him?"

"The detective said he did it because he lost all his money gambling and was walking home when he saw you."

"That's so funny, so you weren't following me?"

"Yes, are you still very uncomfortable?"

"No, I'm fine, thankfully I don't think I'm hurt other than a few stitches."

"Well, in the future, if you need me, just call me and I'll come!"

"Okay, I'm going to file a restraining order against him. You don't mind if I don't settle with him, right?"

"Yeah, of course you don't have to settle."

My first stop after leaving the hospital was the Seocho police station. 

He was being held in the detention center with a haunted look on his face. 

Detective Kim Jung-tae, who had followed me to the hospital, asked me. Black short arms. His thick biceps and impassive expression. 

"Where are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. Did he say he was being mean to me?"

"Yeah, I think it's because of what happened last time, and he's probably got a rap sheet of his own, so I don't think he'll get away with it."

"Is he willing to settle with me?"

The detective said with a tone that said he was sick of dealing with criminals like this. 

"Yes, I do, but he said he lost a lot of money gambling and that he committed the crime accidentally while he was in that state."

"Can I meet him?"

"Would you mind?"

"Yes, I'd like to see if he's willing to settle."

"Sure, sure."

He was released from the holding cell and lit a cigarette outside the police station as a detective watched from afar.

"Hey, you piece of shit, why did you do that to me?"

"I'm sorry, it was just my fault, I just deserve to be punished."

"I want you to get your shit together. I'm not the one who got into this weird gambling thing. I'm sorry, Jung-min."

"How bad are your wounds?"

"Don't ask me questions I don't want to know. How much money can you give me?"

"I have all my money, about 400, but I can give you this. If it goes into the bread, you might live for more than three years and your mother might die, really."

"What?"

"My mother is dying in the hospital right now. That's why I pretended to pay Dahae back for the money."

"You're such an asshole. Really. You think you can get off probation if I settle with you?"

"Probably not, you won't avoid jail time, I think the sentence will be reduced a lot."

"You asshole, listen to me."

"Yeah."

"I'll let you live like a human being." 

"What?"

"I made a deal with you. You don't have to pay me a dime, just call me when you get out of prison on my number."

"What? Are you sure?"

"Remember this, if you don't call me when you get out, you'll live like an asshole for the rest of your life."

"I'll pay for your mom's surgery and keep you fed and housed, and you'll work for me."

"Is that true, and why are you doing me this favor?"

"Asshole."