Waiting for Anpanman

CHAPTER 21: Evasion

Combing his hair using both hands and tying it back with a black elastic band, Yoonsoo walked out of the designated waiting room for the evening's event. Even with the access doors still some distance away, he could already hear the roaring crowd in one of his patron's back yard. The woman had volunteered her estate in the mountains when she heard that Yoonsoo was booked for multiple matches that night.

He gathered his wits about him as much as he could. Putting up his guard, he walked out into the cold, brightly lit and oversized backyard. Tonight's fight was going to be difficult – five inconsecutive fights under the stars and fully exposed to the elements. He was already trying to think of ways to prevent his body from slowing down because of the cold weather.

Wrapping himself with his enigmatic gangster persona, Yoonsoo marched himself to the makeshift fight grounds. Greeting those who came up to him to wish him luck, he made his way to the fiery woman collecting bets for the on-going match. It didn't bother him that Marie had set up five fights to make up for the two he had missed. Yoonsoo would have fought twenty-four-seven if it meant getting out of Han Marie's life faster. Too bad for him, the woman still actually cared for his well being and limited the number of matches he could take.

Fighting to pay off Jaeho's debts was the deal he had chosen when Han Joonyang threatened him with becoming in-laws. He knew that that was what the old man was after but he had no other choice but to play into Joonyang's hands. He couldn't choose becoming Han Marie's husband over paying for Son Jaeho's debts – he simply wasn't husband material.

Oppa. I'm an oppa who knows all the women wants me and am cocky about it. Yoonsoo rehearsed the role he was about to play in his head before finally approaching Han Marie. Draping a heavy arm around her shoulder, Yoonsoo protested cutely. "Jagiiii, why did you book just five matches for tonight? Let me fight them all so I can disappear from your life permanently. Pretty please?"

With sharp eyes that could shred souls, Marie turned to Yoonsoo abruptly and barked at him. "Michyeosseo?! I already told you! The maximum number of fights you can have per week is ten! What will I tell our daughter if you died because of these stupid fights, huh?! She's going to think I didn't love you and that I let them kill you!"

Yoonsoo smiled widely at the glaring woman and sweetly objected. "Jagi-yah, I told you I'm not your little angel's father. Just looking at her reminds me of a certain Son Jaeho. She's every inch a Son. She's even as stubborn and demanding as her aunt, Jaerin."

"Shut up! You're the only man I've ever loved – I'll ever love! It's almost your turn; go sit down and conserve your energy!"

"But, Jagi, procreation doesn't always have something to do with love. Sometimes it's just a drunken mistake, which you probably made with Jaeho." Yoonsoo quickly kissed Marie on the cheek to stop her from flaring up before sprinting to an empty sit at the other side of the yard. Marie only pouted like a teenager, her brows coming together as if she was upset, and her cheeks quickly filling with a vivid blush.

Yoonsoo chuckled as he saw Marie throw dirty looks his way every few seconds from across the lawn. A few meters from her, he noticed two figures who stood out like sore thumbs. One was a tall boy who kept looking around while the other was a shorter one who seemed to be so taken by the violent display before him. Their faces were hidden by a light pink baseball cap and a black bucket hat respectively. Compared to everyone else, these two looked like first timers who were dipping their toes into the illegal before deciding if they should take the plunge.