Reserved [Book V]

Spiders

Zitao sat in front of Jang Ah-reum's two eldest brothers, a pot of boiling army base stew between them, their arms crossed over their chests, eyes sharp on him, heavy air pressuring on the lungs as if even the atmosphere didn't want him to breathe. He kept his hands pressed on his lap as to prevent the men in front of him from seeing them tremble.

They would have wanted that. Hakyeon and Jaehwan would've found satisfaction in his fear. But Zitao tried his best to conceal his fright. It was now or never and although his throat was drying up and he wanted the earth to swallow him whole, he needed to be brave for Areum just as she was brave for him.

The two of them thought it was best to individually talk to her brothers first before speaking to them together. Zitao longed for the tension to leave and he knew he had to work hard to make it so.

"I suggested discussing this to you first but Areum insisted." Zitao began; his voice firm. Thank God it was. "I'm supposed to be seeing all four of you today."

"And risk Wonshik killing you? No way." Hakyeon calmly remarked, sitting forward. Zitao liked Hakyeon a lot more than Jaehwan, but that might just be guilt and he attempted to ignore the feeling. "This is not what we asked for, kid. Is this some kind of sick compensation for what you did before?"

"No, absolutely not." Zitao replied quickly. "What I feel for Areum is true. It's been here for a while and I'm acknowledging it now. I'm asking for your permission here."

Jaehwan scoffed and Zitao's expression dimmed.

"I know this is off the deal – "

"Way fucking off the deal." Jaehwan cut him off. Nevertheless, Zitao carried on speaking.

"But whether you believe me or not, I'll still try to be with her post-deadline." He sighed. "Please hyung. I'm not some stranger, you know who I am. For the first time in years, I'm really genuinely happy and that's because of your sister."

The men kept their mouths zipped. Their eyes glanced on each other's and then on the boy again. The restaurant filled with people. The stew smelled scrumptious. None of it mattered to Zitao at the moment. His brain was onto convincing Hakyeon and Jaehwan how they should let him and Areum be together, or at least allow him to court her.

"Please. I'll take her home from school every day. Flowers, gifts, whatever, every book she asks for." Zitao placed his hands on the table and with a soft look towards Areum's brothers, he hoped they'd be swayed. "I just want one chance to prove I'm dead serious."

Zitao couldn't breathe for a moment. None of them were talking and soon, Jaehwan turned the stove off for the stew to stop boiling. Zitao prayed. He seldom did but he needed all the help he could get. The men in front of him stared at each other for a while before turning to him.

What concerned him the most was that the tough faces were gone, replaced with worried ones.

"Alright since you're so determined..." Jaehwan started. "Say all of us agreed to what you want... when are you going to tell Areum?"

Suddenly, the air was denser than before.

"You were right. We know who you are." Hakyeon said, finger going over a spoon on the table. He spun it around a few times while speaking and Zitao stared at the gleaming metal, his mind clouded and heart heavy. "We know of your mistakes in the past and for you to pursue her like this, so headstrong and frank... don't you think Areum deserves to know why you're hired to watch over her in the first place?"

Zitao placed his hands over his lap again.

"You see, Tao, we planned to keep this to ourselves forever. And then we met at that store and here you are." Jaehwan explained. "If you want to be with Areum that much, the least you can do to convince us you're in for the long run is to tell her the truth."