"Hi. Welcome to my antique shop."
The guy in black blazer over a white v-neck motioned his hand to the couch.
"Have a seat."
Okay, he's accommodating. Chan looked at me and I nodded to agree to sit. Since he orders around here, I will assume he's the boss, but not the big one.
"What brought you here? You don't look like bounty hunters."
When he stood up, I noticed he isn't as tall as I expected. I mean, what did I even expect. He looks really tough, though. He might be a capo here.
Then the door opened and two men rushed inside.
"Jeonghan? Hoshi?" I said. Why do we have to meet like this all the time.
"I have many visitors tonight. Come in, help yourselves." The capo said.
Five men in black polos entered the room, too. They readied their guns and stood at each corner and one beside the capo.
Jeonghan and Hoshi just stood at the door and looked surprised at what's happening.
"Why don't you sit?"
"Who are you?" Jeonghan asked.
"I should be the one asking."
"Are you Woozi?"
"Oh, so maybe you're the bounty hunter?"
"Pffft." Hoshi covered his mouth and he started shaking.
"Hoshi?" Jeonghan glanced at him.
"Pffffft buu HAHAHAHAHAHA"
This guy bursted out laughing. Can't he read the tension?
"Wait wait wait. That's Woozi? Wait, where's Woozi? HAHAHAHA."
"Hey stop." Jeonghan mouthed.
"No no, you're telling me that this kid is the capo? No wonder he doesn't have a picture, camera doesn't hit hi-"
BANG.
"AH!"
The capo himself, with a poker face, shot Hoshi's foot.
"What an idiot!" Jeonghan aimed his gun at the capo and all men pointed their guns at him.
I looked down and shook my head. I feel sorry for Hoshi. I stood up to volunteer.
"I'm a doctor. Please let me give him a first aid. They're.. they're my friends."
"Well, tell your friends to be polite."
The capo commanded his men to bring the first aid kit and medical tools. Jeonghan helped Hoshi sit on the couch. I checked the items and on his wound.
"Hoshi, sorry we don't have anesthetics."
"What? Check again."
I did and still none. I gave him a handkerchief to bite on, to at least release his stress.
"We really don't have. I'll start with the surgery, think of this as your practice to keep your mouth shut."
The capo started talking while Hoshi here is moaning in pain.
"I'm Woozi. Now, tell me why are you here."
"I'm looking for Mr. Choi. He dresses up like one of your men so we followed them here." Chan explained.
"Oh. What are the odds, we're looking for him too." Woozi answered.
"Wait, that's why you're here?" Jeonghan turned to us, his brows are furrowed and teeth are gritted.
"Yeah. Joshua and I noticed them at the general hospital. We thought we can find him here."
"Didn't you also notice that you're following a mafia?"
"We didn't, but we thought they're suspicious." Chan shrugged.
"I told you not to do this alone!"
Jeonghan stood up and the black polo guys immediately raised their guns. I finished dressing the wound and Hoshi also finished crying, too. Wait, I think he passed out. I looked up
"You also told us that you won't help."
"You should've told me first-"
"EHEM."
Woozi caught our attention and gave us an intimidating glare.
"To calm you guys down, I'll make you a tea." He snapped and one man came closer to him. "Ask the new kid to bring us green tea. Make it five."
The man bowed and went out the room.
"Going back, why are you looking for him?" He turned to Chan.
"He.. he killed my father?"
"Eh? Why would, oh wait, what's your father's name?"
"Lee Jin-ki."
Chan tries not to cry. I rubbed his back to comfort him. Things are hard for him. Meanwhile, Woozi scanned through his binders.
"Ah. Lee Jin-ki. He owes me 100k since last year. He only settles the interest but the not the principal. Tsk tsk bad payer."
"What?" Chan looked confused.
"I said, he owes me 100k. Ahhh. The guy you're looking for, he was assigned to collect the money last week. Since then, he hasn't showed his ass up here. Hmm hmm we thought he ran with the collection money. That's why we're looking for him."
I saw Chan shaking and crumpled his pants.
"Last year." Chan let out a sob.
"Hey." I hugged him and rubbed his shoulder.
"Joshua. Last year, my mom died of colon cancer. I didn't know how papa paid our hospital bills, he just told me it's all settled now. Papa.."
"Hmm there's a way to pay for the debt." Woozi said.
"How?" Chan looked up.
"I already told this to Choi. If your father can't pay anything, after the grace period, we can take all his possessions. Appliances, real estate, and people."
"Huh?" Jeonghan asked.
"Yeah. Children or spouse."
I held onto Chan tighter. I won't let them take him away. Then someone knocked on the door.
"Oh, here's our tea." Woozi said.
A little girl in pig tails entered the room with a tray of green tea on her hand. My eyes widened when I recognized her.
"Doctor Joshua?" Said the girl.
"What are you doing here?"
She first served the tea to Woozi and came to our table to place ours.
"You know her too, Mr. Congeniality?" Woozi asked me. I still can't comprehend this sight.
"Mr. Woozi! He's papa's doctor!" The girl hopped towards me.
"Where's your dad?" I asked.
"He left me here, told me that I'm on a vacation with Mr. Woozi, that he will teach me many things."
What on earth?
"Take the girl out." Woozi ordered.
"Why is she here?"
"His father, one of the leaders of Rose, loaned money for weapons. Then told me they can't pay in cash. That fella offered his daughter. That's why she's here."
I should have stitched that bastard's mouth as well.
"I.. I will end up like her, I can't pay-" Chan is shaking again.
"No, you won't." I assured him.
"Boss." A man went near Woozi and whispered something.
"We have many visitors tonight. Bring him in."
The man bowed and opened the door. Two men entered holding a young guy covered in bruises and blood. He whined when the two threw him on the floor.
"You!" Chan stood up and pointed his finger to the man.
"Everyone, meet Choi Yeonjun."
