Brute

Part 40

Joong

I walked in, with wounded knuckles and pain on my cheek. The living room was illuminated, but Nine was not there, nor in the bedroom. My heart started to beat erratically, until the curtain moved, and let the cold wind in. He must be outside.

Nine was sitting on the cold floor, leaning his back on the sliding door, hands clamping the phone tightly, while looking at the grayish morning sky. The sun was yet to fully rise. He didn't turn to look at me; eyes kept blinking hard; but the vacant look in them, scared me a little.

I went down on my knees, trying to engulf him in a hug, yet only to be pushed away gently, signaling that he didn't want such comfort, for now. I waited for him, who kept being silent. He gulped a few times, putting his phone away, and only then turn to face me. His eyes darting to every inch of my face, down to my body and my knuckles that was bandaged, and raised his eyes back to me. 

"You can't keep doing this, Joong... This is not alright...".

"Getting injured?".

"That...and also, keeping me in the dark, most of the times. Didn't I ask you not to treat me liked a glass doll? But, still, you keep doing it. Though I try to be understanding, I can't help but feel useless too".

"No! You're not...".

"I understood Joong; that you wanted to spoil me to the core; let me be in my utmost comfort; to not to stress out, to feel safe. My coming here, and also the funding, was your doing, right?"

"You knew?". Nine gave a nod.

"Not just that, even the people you put to safeguard me, I knew it all, Joong. Even when Jay was following me back then, I sensed it, more so with the tight security you put around me; it was damn obvious...".

I released a heavy sigh, and feel a bit foolish, to assume Nine was unaware. He was observant, could read me liked an open book, even when I said nothing about my family, nor my pain. 

"I am blessed, truly to be treasured that way and feel grateful for it. But, just because I say nothing of it, doesn't mean that I am blinded by such comfort, Joong. I am waiting for you, to open that door, not just for me to come in, but also...for you to come to me too. It is still close, right now".

"I'll tell you everything, if you wanted to, right now...", my voice was rushed, I could feel the distance that he started put in between us, and I was desperately trying to pull on a thin thread.  

"No. That's not how it works, baby. That will only gloss the surface. What I want...is for them to come from inside of you, not because I ask for it, every time. Last night...I finally felt, that I had enough. I read your note; with both fear, and also huge pain too. You should have given me a chance to see you before you go, you should have said something to me too, no matter how bad the situation was. Yes, I will worry, but I will have the strength of hope and trust, that, whatever it was, will pass", his voice was getting pressed with unshed tears, "But, you wanted to know how I feel, all the time that I sit here waiting for you? Do you know why I didn't call, though I feel liked dying, inside? I am too scared...that it won't be answered, and suddenly I will face a dead body". His tears started to fall, running to his cheeks, dripping from his chin to the floor.

"Nine....", I wanted to wipe the tears, but he shook his head to let him be.

"I called my father to pick me up, and he's already on his way...in a few days, I'll go back to the village. My work here is almost done, the few documents left, could be sorted out later by post".

"Nine, please...don't leave...". My voice was quivering. My throat felt dry. My hold on his hands, was iron tight. I never felt this desperate. 

"I love you very much, Joong. But, I want you to understand, that I couldn't stay in a relationship, where I am very much love, but do not stand on equal footing. It doesn't sit right with me, at all", he enveloped me in a tight hold for a long time, and finally let go, "Let us stay apart, for now. When you're ready, and I have sorted out my feeling...come and ask me, once again". 

****

3 months later

The news of a crackdown on the biggest circle of people involved in bribery and crime; shook the whole country. Half of the people in the list, were prominent figures and conglomerates, making the case to become a national issue. With the help of an international bureau, even the one who already left the country, were brought to justice. Joong's company suffered both losses and recognition. Half of the assets and businesses, which were linked with the case, were frozen as investigation and proceeding were still ongoing, tackled case by case, in stages, based on available evidences. Investments dwindled, but loyal partners stayed put, knowing that half of the businesses, one where the managements were revamped in Joong's time, were trustworthy. When it was revealed later, that the crackdown was successful due to aggressive effort led by the corporation's current management, the supports that coming in after, were greater than the original losses.

Jay's father was in physical therapy for two months, after he gained back consciousness. He needed to recover his energy, health and muscle strength, that was not in use for so long. The tremendous effort paid off, that he was discharged from the facility, earlier than projected. There was still little tremor in his hands, but the doctor told the family that the muscle would grow stronger with consistent physio and exercise, and with time, the tremor would be gone too.

Jay still resigned from the company. But, not out of spite, or to distance himself from Joong. He wanted to take over the small family business, and let his parent spent more time together, to make up for lost time. Joong's case was closed too, as with Jay father's statement as the sole witness, reinvestigation found that Joong was not involved at all, at the time and place that the case happened. The venue was ambushed before the fight even took place. The other fighter, was actually part of the team, that planned to catch Joong red handed in illegal venture, to use it for blackmail later. When Joong didn't come, Jay's father who was the bookie was caught and forced to call for Joong, but refused to; even with threat and force. He was then beaten, and the final few blows caused him to suffer internal injury to the head. The moment he fell down unmoving, was used to bait Joong to come, and thus indirectly put him into the picture of the unresolved case. The officer involved, was charged under several offences, the heaviest was attempted murder, that would let him serve jail term almost for the rest of of his life.