𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫: 𝙨𝙖𝙚𝙗𝙮𝙚𝙤𝙠 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝟬𝟭

"HERE, ITS ALL I HAVE LEFT" I bow and offer the fat envelope of money. The young man backs away and shakes his head hastily. "Oh.. y/n... I can't" I merely shake my head and place the envelope onto his chest, grabbing his hands and making him hold it.

He seems to shrink when I back away with a gentle smile. I owe Gyunho more than I could give him, despite us being the same age, he was like a father figure to me.

•••

Some years ago, Kim Gyunho searched all over Busan for a musician. More specifically, someone who could play the guitar. Most people would contact someone who has connections with producers or someone with popularity but...

Gyunho, unfortunately, found me.

I was on my way to a hotel to rest my head, at the time that he ran into me, I had already been awake for two days. He was so polite and didn't even give me a bad look, and he wasn't afraid to shake my hand. Him showing me respect made me grateful for his presence immediately.

Ever since, he has taken me in as a guitarist/partner for his dream to become a star. I figured it was pretty foolish to do so when he found me off the streets and on my way to sleep in a hotel but...

I wasn't going to let him lose.
I owe it to him.

•••

"I'm off for work now! Make sure you eat well and-" Gyunho cuts me off when a groan. "You've got to stop y/n. Look at your hands!" he scolded me and grabbed me, scrutinizing my palms. They were calloused and decorated with splashes of purple and red marks.

He huffs when I pull my hands away with a guilty smile. "Ah, you worry too much... I'm just working hard okay?" I pat his shoulder. "I've been doing really good Gyunho, There's about 70000 won in there for you!" I poke his chest. His nose scrunch makes me giggle because he only does that when he cringes.

Despite his disapproval, he latches me into a bear hug. "Yea whatever y/n. Get home safe okay? I can't finish the penthouse without you." he pats my head in a teasing manner. I roll my eyes and break the hug. "Oh, right cause you haven't watched it twice" I jest. He shrugs and flashes me a blinding grin. "See you later y/n".

•••

"I CAN'T DO IT... I'm done." the booming ambiance of the room dies the moment a release my grip from around the woman's neck. I watch her eyes gradually relax before I get up.

Hundreds of protests and curses pour out of the men's mouths. "Ah.." my head was pounding. When I press my bloody hand to my forehead, I catch a glimpse of a suited man rising. That was the man running this club.

After I promised my loyalty to Gyunho, I was willing to do anything it took to get him the future he deserved. Anything. Even if that meant I had to hurt people for petty money, it's Gyunho over me.

When the man fixed his suit, he bent over and talked sternly in a man's ear. I'm not stupid, I am fully aware of the money these people put on the table to watch me fight. They called me the Maahes of Korea, knowing about my case with Gyunho.

With one glance to spare at the crowd, I grab my black shirt and shift my way out of the makeshift boxing ring. Once I get my beaten-up sneakers on, I deck it out of there with the mindset of getting as far away from this place, as possible.

My lungs seemed to spasm when I get intersected by a man with a gnarly scar across his nose. He grins and grabs my neck, not sparing me from any of his strength. "Dear Maahes... where are you off to eh?" he grits his teeth. With my head already pounding, I was losing consciousness way faster than usual.

I start to struggle against his grip, attempting to claw at his face. My attempt went to waste because the moment my hand reached his face, he turned away with a conceited smile. "Bad Kitty... you know the rules. You forfeit, you lose... you lose, you get punished" he just barely releases his grip when he notices my eyes shutting.

"And we don't lose around here do we?" he forces me to shake my head and he giggles at his antics. "King said he'll let you go... but if you fail to fix what you did... I'll cut your little boyfriend's body to shreds..." he closed in on my face, daring me to make a sound.

He then shoves me away, leaving me to lose my balance. "Get out of here." he smoothly walked away, fixing his rings.

My chest was on fire and it felt like his hands made tattoos on my skin. But that doesn't matter.

I don't care, I have to keep Gyunho safe. He won't die. Not for anybody.

I was sitting on a bench in a dark park, taking in small breaths to deal with the pain of today. What will I do? That club is my only source of income. I don't have any other way. I'd consider using my body but.. that'd kill me before King could.

My heart jumps to my throat when I hear a shuffle from behind me. I jump up with my hands up, defensive. But it wasn't anyone I recognized, it was a well-groomed suited man with an endearing smile on his face.

"Sorry to startle you, you seem a little upset....

would you like to play a game?