knight in amor | na jaemin

Business card

"You're such a sweetheart for helping me with the cooking today, my other child is useless" Jeyi's mother grumbled as she threw handfuls of bean sprouts into the wok.

"She's been bogged down with exams lately" Yeseul said with a smile and her mother sighed

"I just hope by the grace of god she passes this semester" she said

"I'm sure she'll be okay" Yeseul said, finishing up washing the noodles.

Today Jeyi's parents came to visit for lunch after their church service, only to realise that all these 3 had for lunch the past few weeks was ramen.

"I don't mean to pry but...I practically see you as my own daughter now. What's going on with that guy" her mother asked

"Which guy? Jungwoo?"

"Not hi- well that's a different story I guess. I meant the guy...Jeyi said you all went to karaoke together for your birthday last month

"Oh uh....him..?" She asked with her eyebrows raised, she hadn't heard of someone bring up Jaemin for quite a but now. she didn't even have enough time to think about him these last few days. Moving in with Jeyi, becoming close to her other college friends and people her own age really changed her life the past couple of months.

"Yeah...sounds like you guys don't talk anymore, is he not a nice guy?"

"No he's...he's great. Uh..i don't know, we met on rare circumstances anyway and he's a really busy person, me too...like I've been working and coming here and helping out to repay Jeyi and all...its been a lot" she answered

"Well if he's a nice guy then why don't you call him...meet with him for a coffee or something? Even if it doesn't work out you can still be friends, you should surround yourself with nice people, just because you're busy shouldn't be an obstacle"

"Maybe I would have actually saved his number if it wasn't for the fact that he gave me it on his business card" she said with a chuckle and Jeyi's mother hummed in response

"Ah so...he's a chaebol?" She asked and Yeseul nodded

"Yeah...its best you steer clear of them. They all think we're charity cases, just because we don't have a black credit card or drive the newest tesla" the mother said with a bit of spite. Yeseul sighed, she understood now how society used to view her when she was living with her rich business family. She was often gate-kept from making friends with people at school that didn't benefit her parent's reputation. Not that a lot of kids wanted to be her friend either.

"He's a businessman sweetie, their hearts lie where their money lies...don't bother with him" she said and Yeseul slowly nodded

"Could you run out to the store and buy some gochujang...and some more chilli oil and sesame oil, its all run out" she asked and yeseul nodded

"I'll be back soon" she said with a small smile before reaching for Jungwoo's car keys, a car he often let her drive every now and then as long as he wasn't using it.

She sat herself down in the drivers seat and placed her belongings in the passenger seat before she sped off onto the roads. It was a pretty close knit area. The place were Jeyi lived was very famous for nightclubs, hence why there was a 5 star hotel there to welcome tourists who were looking for an area with good nightlife.

Just as she stepped out of the car which she parked at a spot far away from the place her car got towed, she walked across the street and entered the small convenience store.

Upon entering she greeted the worker, hoping it would be Jisung but there was no one in the shop.

"Thats weird" she said to herself as she walked around the store, peeking behind the counter and and knocking on the staff room doors and bathrooms, yet to not avail.

She walked out of the store, the wind gushing against her hair and face again. It was starting to darken, the winter nights started to kick in at around 4pm these days. She was about to leave to the supermarket but before she could she heard an argument just a few alleyways down, voice and speech becoming more prominent as she walked towards it

"I'll pay you back...please just give me one more wee-" the voice pleaded before sounds of grunting could be heard

"I'm sorry!-"

"Cut the bullshit! I told you if you didn't repay me by the end of this week your interest will double! Why borrow money from a loan shark if you don't know the consequences?!"

"Please i was really stuck for money, i had to pay for ren-"

"I don't care....close your rent deposit account and pay me back with that money"

"But I wont have anywhere to sta-"

Another grunt could be heard before Yeseul haf finally laid her eyes on the scene infront of her, seeing Jisung being kicked in the stomach as he laid on the ground

"Wha-WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" her voice shouted, startling the two men

"Stay out of it" the man scoffed before going back to kicking the boy in the stomach but Yeseul was quick to run as fast as she could to push the guy away with all her strength

"YAH! What the hell is wrong with you?! You wanna get slapped?!" the man cursed, yanking her by the hair as he stood up to his feet

"Leave him alone! He's so young!" She begged as she watched Jisung struggle to stand up onto his own feet

"I'll repay it, whatever he borrowed from you I'll pay it back just leave him alone! I'm begging you!" She said, forcing herself onto her knees as she watched the man scoff, her cheeks running with hot tears as she saw the blood being coughed up by the poor boy

"Meet me here tomorrow, 2am, i want 2 million in cash" the man said

"2 million?! How do you expect me t-"

A harsh slap was planted across her left cheek, so harsh that her knees gave up on her and she was pushed to the ground but the man immediately yanked her hair, making her kneel again

"2 million by tomorrow night!" The man said, attempting to slap her once more. Her flinch in response was enough to make him laugh. She was scared of him and thats all he needed to know to become confident that she was going to pay all the money back. Once the man had fully left the alleyway she had stumbled onto her feet to approach Jisung's side, helping him stand up.

"Why did...why did you do that...for me?" He asked, harshly biting his lip, not allowing himself to become grateful. The more people that helped him the more people he owed.

"Don't worry about-"

"Dont worry?!" He shouted but coughed again, his throat itchy from the bloody coughs, the taste of iron still evident in his mouth

"Does it hurt?" She asked, sniffing as her eyes scanned over the boy's face. Several cuts to his lips, a blue eye and a bloody nose.

"I'll give you the two million someh-"

"You don't need to... does it hurt?" She cried again as she watched the boy wince in pain although he was trying to stay focused on monetary issues

"You don't need to act so tough...you're only 17" she said with a sob as she heard him sniffle, one tear falling down his cheek followed by another

"I'm sorry he hit you...because of me" he mumbled through his tears but she shook her head, pulling him into a tight embrace

"I'm glad you're safe...you deserve to feel safe"