Bandaids & Punches ✔️

4. Stay Away, Stranger

February 25, 5:56 P.M.

Haneul enters the cafe, eyes searching for a certain raven-haired male. The aroma of coffee and caramel tickle his nose, an immediate want brewing in his belly. A week after the doctor had offered cash to Ace, for whatever reason it may have been, a sense of accomplishment wafted over him when the other sent a message agreeing to meet. He spots Ace at the corner left booth with his usual black clothing that contrasts with Haneul's pistachio green sweatshirt and white jeans. Ace is focused on the mobile in his hands when Haneul pulls out a chair and sits in front of him. When the other pays no attention to him, the doctor observes Ace's features intently, still amazed to see another Jisoo.

Without moving his eyes from the screen, Ace quirks up an eyebrow and snorts. "Take a picture, it lasts longer." He then looks up to face the man opposite to him.

"I wasn't staring at you," Haneul retorts, the tip of his ears turning a shade of red due to embarrassment. "Don't you think that line is aged and overused?" He looks away and observes the cafe. It is quiet, only a couple at the table on their right, a barista brewing coffee behind the counter. "Isn't this place a bit too quiet?"

"Isn't your unnecessarily loud and obnoxious voice enough to destroy the peace in here?" Ace answers snidely and the doctor gawks at his rude words. "Why did you want to meet me?" The fighter asks placing his mobile phone on the table beside his black coffee and half-eaten croissant.

Haneul crosses his arms over his chest and drums his fingers against his biceps. "Tell me about yourself."

"Black Ace, I'm an underground fighter," he answers bluntly, his bored eyes unblinking.

"You can't be serious! I already know that. I want to know your real name, some crucial information."

Black Ace scoffs, reaching for the coffee and blowing into it. "You don't need to know anything, why would I share my details with some shady stranger?" His sharp eyebrows draw together in judgment.

Haneul scowls, creases forming on his forehead. "You're impossible!" He rubs the side of his temples, gritting his teeth. "Alright, I'm Kim Haneul, the second son of the CEOs of Starlight Travels & Resorts and Stoned Beauty. I'm twenty-four years old and I skipped two years of middle school, which explains why I've already started working at Saenghwal Hospital." He gives all the details in one breath. "Now I'm not a stranger, so spill."

Ace stares at Haneul pensively, shaking his head in disbelief. "Looking at you, one may not think you're this stupid. Talking about yourself just like that?"

The doctor pinches the space between his eyes in irritation, the guy is really testing his patience. He wants to get over with this and spend time with people who appreciate his presence, not a rude and disrespectful person. Before Haneul can comment anything on the matter, Ace talks.

"You want to know something important about me, here it is. I hate annoying, rich snobs like you."

'Someone please help me punch this guy,' Haneul prays silently. "I don't want to say this, but aren't you forgetting we had a deal you'd answer my queries if I lent you cash. It's only fair you keep your part of the bargain too." At this point, he is desperate. He wants to know who the man is.

Ace looks at him dead in the eyes, he clears his throat. "When I borrowed money from you, it was a once in a lifetime moment of weakness, it'll never happen again. I'll return your money soon, so stop whatever you're trying to do, you bubblegum head."

"Hey! Insult anything but my hair, I take pride in it. And for your information, it's electric blue. Bubblegum falls under the category of pastel color, but my hair doesn't." Haneul sucks in his lower lip in offense and then brings out his phone, grumbling, "I was trying to be civil, but let's do it your way." He flips his mobile phone towards Ace, the gadget stopping at the end of the table.