Bandaids & Punches ✔️

22. Seal the Deal

Haneul walks out of the hospital gates, proceeding to his car and removing his white coat, placing it on the shotgun seat. Letting out a tired breath, the doctor rests his head on the steering wheel. "I need to sleep well, my body is tired. Thankfully Dae Ho will be out of the hospital tomorrow."

Although Dae Ho has been disrespectful towards his fashion choices, Haneul plans on bringing him an early dinner and going home soon after. He starts the engine, stretches his arms for a bit, and drives off.

The streets seem quiet as well or perhaps it's the tiredness that makes his surroundings dull too. Haneul has been working non-stop and needs a visit to the spa. He parks his car in the alleyway and enters a restaurant, 'Eomma's Dinner' the board reads. He orders seaweed soup for himself as he doesn't have the energy to make dinner at home, followed by bulgogi, white rice, and galbi for Dae Ho.

"Thank you, ahjumma." He bows to the older woman and walks to his car after taking his order. When he opens the door, a van stops in front of him with a screech, covers his head with a woolen mask, and pulls him inside. The packets fall from his hands, the contents spilling on the road. It happens in a blink of an eye and Haneul doesn't have time to fight back.

The men hold him down when Haneul struggles in their grip. "Who are you!" He demands kicking his legs. A hit with a blunt object on his head welcomes darkness the next moment.

He doesn't know how long he's out for but a bucket of cold water splash jolts Haneul awake from his slumber. His head spins, eyes weary, and feels the ground moving when he opens them. "Wh-where am I?"

"You're finally awake!" A man claps, Haneul wincing at the echoing sound.

The blonde lifts his head after adjusting to his surroundings. He tries standing up but the ropes tied around his body prevent him from doing so. His hands are tied together behind his back, legs to the foot of the chair and his upper body tied to the backrest of the wooden chair. "What do you want!" Haneul struggles against the rope, the material scarring his skin in a hue of red.

He sees a few men staring at him with amusement, grins plastered on their lips. "We hold no grudge against you. We're just doing what we have been told."

"Who are you taking orders from!" Haneul raves, pulling on the ropes harshly. "Let me go before I hit you where the sun doesn't shine."

The man with a hummingbird tattoo on his arm laughs mockingly. "You think you're in a position to take us on." He closes onto the other, punching him across the face. Haneul's head jerks to the side due to the harsh blow. He lands another hit, busting open the doctor's lip, a trickle of crimson trailing to his chin.

"If you don't behave, I'll kill you myself."

Haneul observes his surroundings, he is in a rundown space, an abandoned building. Seven men surround him, all wearing black hoodies and caps, except for the tattooed one, he wears a tank top.

"Just because you're the son of a rich man, doesn't mean you can do what you like. Guess what, your father is the reason you're here."

'What!' Haneul gawks, the man's words making no sense. He feels his chest tighten and presses his lips into a thin line, hating the metallic taste of blood on his tongue.

"W-what do you mean?" He asks, his voice low and hesitant.

"Your father has to cancel the deal with Amouré hotels located in Paris in exchange for your life."

"The deal has already been sealed yesterday!" Haneul exclaims, "it cannot be undone now."

The man shrugs moving forward and slipping his hands into Haneul's pant pocket. "I don't care, Kim Jinwook will cancel the contract if he loves his son." He holds the doctor's mobile phone in front of his face, the latter closing his eyes tightly, preventing him from unlocking the device.