Irony of Revenge

Chapter 16

Jinyoung absently gazed at the green land of the golf course and the clear sky above. He was not sure how long it would take Mark to get here as Mark was coming from his scheduled work. But since Mark had texted him that he would be there at the golf club, Jinyoung had taken a golf bag and headed here where Mark usually played golf.

He liked this kind of atmosphere: he could feel the wind occasionally; the afternoon sun gave a fair amount of warmth; and everything he could see - well, most of what he could see - was the endless green lawn and the broad sky.

"Hi, Jinyoung."

Jinyoung turned around to find Jaewon with a golf bag. "You're not playing this time? I actually saw you from afar. You looked lost in thoughts. A penny for your thoughts?"

"I'm just relaxing. Nice to see you again. Where're you going to play?" Jinyoung silently hoped Jaewon would move away without too many words or demanding him to play with him again.

"Not sure yet. Are you playing golf?" Jaewon asked, with a nod towards Jinyoung's golf bag. "Fancy playing against me again?"

"I'm sorry I can't. I'm here to meet someone."

"Oh, let me guess. Your friend? Or your girlfriend? The owner of Colourful Dream, right?"

"No. It's just, well, a friend. He's already on his way, in fact."

"He isn't here anyway. Maybe we can play a little until he arrives. Not a game. We can just play together for fun."

Jaewon was looking at him so expectantly that Jinyoung rejected the idea of denying him. And he reasoned Mark would not mind it.

Some minutes later, they were already in the midst of taking swings.

"You're really interesting, Jinyoung. Once I set my eyes on you, I just had that feeling that I must get to know you," Jaewon commented, stopping for a while and just watching Jinyoung aiming for the target. "A while ago, you said 'no' to my question about whether your girlfriend was coming. Did you mean your girlfriend wasn't coming or that Kim Jieun is not your girlfriend?"

"The first one," Jinyoung looked intently at where his ball landed, "But it's complicated. I'm not dating her anymore."

Jinyoung turned to see Jaewon's reaction, which was totally calm, showing nothing akin to surprise. Jinyoung found it a little strange but just shrugged the thought off.

"So you're single?"

The question made Jinyoung feel uneasy. It was not because he would have to lie to Jaewon but it was due to the way Jaewon sounded.

"Well-". Jinyoung was caught off guard when Jaewon suddenly moved towards him and took hold of his arm. He did not like Jaewon's studying gaze on him.

"You're really too handsome for someone to resist. Maybe you're meant for guys like me. Don't you want to know how it feels to be kissed by a man? Or you already know? Come, Jinyoung, give me a kiss. Or let me kiss you."

"Jaewon, you're kidding?" But he realised it was not a joke when Jaewon's hands gripped his arms and forced him forward. There was a mocking smile on Jaewon's lips.

The golf club was still in Jinyoung's hand but in his disorganised mind, he forgot its presence and the thought of using it, at least to scare Jaewon, did not enter his mind. But he was struggling against Jaewon and to get his hands off his arms.

"Come on, Jinyoung, a kiss won't hurt. Are you playing hard to get? Your lips just se-"

Jaewon could not finish his sentence as a punch was landed on his face. He had to let go of Jinyoung, stumbling backwards. He wiped the blood that oozed from the corner of his lips and looked at the person who had caused that.

"Oh, Mark Tuan. Just good timing, huh?"

"Yes, Mark Tuan. The very boyfriend of the person you were trying to kiss just a while ago. Care to explain your intentions?"

"Your boyfriend was just about to kiss me back. Ask him," Jaewon said, spitting at the ground.

Jinyoung felt revolted, watching Jaewon. And he blamed himself for not having realised Jaewon's motive for befriending him.

"You're wrong if you think I'll believe you," Mark stepped forward and grabbed Jaewon by the collar. "I don't know who you're. But whoever fucking you're, stay away from Jinyoung. Next time it happens, I'm not going to restrain myself. Do you understand?"

Mark pushed Jaewon away and his fists were clenched at his sides.

"So possessive and so protective, huh? Fuck you. I don't care whether you're a freaking model nor not. You're scum. You both are. They do not deserve people like you." Jaewon spat again and then abruptly turned around and marched off.

Jinyoung could see Mark's shoulders slightly shaking, from behind. The veins in his hands stood out as his fists remained clenched.

"Mark." He approached Mark warily, sensing that Mark was not yet calmed down.

"Why were you with him? What does it all mean? Tell me that it was all against your will."

"It was, Mark. He's a customer and I thought he just genuinely wanted to play golf with me. You don't think I'm cheating on you, do you? I won't ever do that. Believe me, Mark."

Mark's expression softened when he could see how upset Jinyoung was. "I was just scared by the idea, Jinyoung. Did he do anything else to you? I'm sorry, it wasn't that I didn't trust you. I just simply loathed the idea."

Jinyoung fell into Mark's open arms and tried to forget what had happened. He somehow hated himself for failing to protect himself. Most of all, he was still shocked by Jaewon's sudden change of behaviours. And his words 'They do not deserve people like you'. What had Jaewon meant?