TTD Ch 19

Ja-kyung, who had been making noises of moans, groans, and pain, abruptly got up from his bed and sat down. Cold sweat was forming on his forehead and his back was soaking wet. He looked around, unable to distinguish between dream and reality. He had a nightmare. Kang Il-hyun came out, shot him, cut off each finger with a knife, and put them in his mouth.

It was so vivid it feels like he still has his own fingers in his mouth. He moved his tongue to make sure there was nothing and collapsed onto the bed. He didn’t really dream for a while, but it seemed that yesterday’s events were psychologically stressful.

He lay down to try to fall asleep once again, but when he realized it had been some time, he got up. It would be good if he could work out till he was exhausted in this situation. He needs to jog around the neighborhood. The sun was already in the middle of the sky when he went to the window and took down the blinds.

He saw that there was construction on one side of the yard when he heard the sound of a drill. Since the last time, Kang Il-hyun has been building a swimming pool, but it appears that the work is about to complete now. It was fairly nice and had a resort-like feel thanks to the addition of parasols, tables, and even sunbeds.

He headed downstairs after changing. On the couch in the living room, Kang Il-hyun was reading the newspaper.

“Good morning.”

He intentionally greeted him brightly, and Kang Il-hyun pulled down the newspaper and looked at Ja-kyung.

“How was your sleep? Your face looks good. You must have slept well.”

Ja-kyung laughed bitterly. The dream he had the entire night came to mind. He found solace in the fact that they said dreams were the opposite of reality. After greeting the head butler in the kitchen and preparing a cup of coffee, he left the kitchen and entered the living room. Before he knew it, Kang Il-hyun was standing in front of the window and looking out.

A dog he had never seen walked in the yard with the employees despite the fact that construction was also happening in the place. It was a German Shepherd, but it was rather huge and looked fierce.

“You have a dog…”

“I was raising it, but it just came back from the training camp.”

“The training camp… Why?”

“It killed someone by biting them.”

Ja-kyung looked at Il-hyun. He then casually said the following:

“It was the guy I was going to kill anyway, but it still needs education.”

“Oh…”

Il-hyun bent his eyes and smiled.

“Whether it be an animal or a person, you should give it a chance.”

Ja-kyung immediately smiled and nodded. When he attempted to force a smile at the other person in the morning after having such a dream, he felt as like his face was twitching. This person still hadn’t gone to work even though it was already after ten. He left early the other day, but he was especially late today.

“The swimming pool is quite big.”

He switched the topic to the pool since he had nothing to say. Not because it wasn’t, but it was really big.

“I’m looking forward to the construction being completed soon.”

“Do you like swimming?”

“I’m good at sports. What about Yi An?

He was asked if he was good at it by Kang Il-hyun, who was. He was bragging about himself. Too bad.

“I like swimming too.”

“Okay. Let’s swim together before you go back to Hong Kong.”

Ja-kyung laughed at the sudden suggestion.  Actually, he didn’t want to do that. He remained silent and cast his gaze to the trees in the distance as he waited for a chance to go to the second floor. In the dense bushes, something glistened.

Just now… What was it?

He thought he was mistaken, but he wasn’t. Ja-kyung e Eyes opened wide. His body was the first to realize what it was and respond to it.

Bang, Ja-kyung’s body was laid on top of Il-hyun’s as they both hit the floor. Before they could even comprehend what was happening, another bullet fired. At the loud commotion, staff members fled from the building, and Ja-kyung called on them to come back in. Dogs were barking loudly outside, and the guards were shouting.

Ja-kyung took a deep breath and started to feel anxious. The house was as quiet as a dead mouse and no further shots were fired. The silence was broken by Il-hyun.

“I wish you could come down…?”

Ja-kyung, who was looking around, then looked down at Il-hyun who was lying beneath him.

“Sitting on top of me and panting, you really drive me crazy.”

He seemed so relaxed and calm. In addition, the thing under his buttocks was getting bigger and bigger. Fuck. He was not even a dog in heat! Il-hyun grinned and even laughed as Ja-kyung glared at him with disdain.

Several employees rush inside just in time. Park Tae-soo was also there.

“Are you okay, Director?”

Il-hyun got up from the floor, shook off his shirt, and walked toward the window. Park Tae-soo, who was behind him, approached and stopped him.

“It’s dangerous to be there, sir. First of all, you need to avoid…”

Kang Il-hyun’s face was visibly wrinkled as he stared at the bullet-proof glass with a hole in it.

“Go catch him.”

“We’re after him right now.”

He turned and looked at Park Tae-soo.

“No. The bastard who sold the window.”

Tae-soo paused, and Ja-kyung looked at him with a puzzled expression. Il-hyun gritted his teeth and had a cold gaze.

“Fuck… They said it was bulletproof glass, so I got it at a damn high price.”

“…”

“No. Just bury him, so he will never see the sun again.”

Yes. Tae-soo bowed his head. Il-hyun’s gaze shifted to Ja-kyung, who was next to him. Those glances were really slow but terribly suffocating. Damn it. Regardless of what happened yesterday, he noticed the bullet flying and saved Kang Il-hyun’s life today. He needs to explain this somehow. Should he honestly say to have seen the sight glass’s reflection in the light? Or should he lie about seeing the bullet instead?

Evidently, last night’s dream wasn’t just a crazy one; rather, it was a foreshadowing.

“Yi An.”

“Yes…”

“Are you okay?”

He extended his hand as he came closer. Il-hyun pulled Ja-kyung’s arm as he attempted to take a step back. His body was being dragged as their distance grew closer. He confirmed that Ja-kyung was fine by caressing Ja-kyung’s cheek with his hand. Ja-kyung appeared to have been scratched by the splattered glass, based on the small amount of blood that was there. Il-hyun seemed more frightening than when he demanded to find the person who put the window a while back.

“Tsk. You got a scar on your pretty face.”

He thought he had misheard. Pre, pretty face? He talked like a 60 years old man. Ja-kyung looked at him with disgust, but Kang Il-hyun looked genuinely moved.

“Thank you.”

“…”

“Thanks for saving my life.”

Ja-kyung found the best words to persuade him.

“No. I was lucky. Ever since I was a child, I had a habit of always watching my surroundings carefully for fear that someone might attack me.”

“As expected… that’s helpful.”

“Yes…”

“I also thought my eyesight was about 5.0.”

“Haha… No way.”

“If you take off those glasses, won’t you transform into Superman?”

What. The fuck was that supposed to mean. Was he being sarcastic? Or was it a compliment?

“Just kidding.”

“Haha.”

“Don’t force yourself to laugh.”

“…”

Il-hyun tapped Ja-kyung lightly on the shoulder. Then he called the staff and asked him to bring a band-aid to put on the wound. He walked over to the painting and cursed again. He claimed to have paid a very high amount for it at an auction, and if anyone was found, he would be entitled to the whole value of the paintings and glass, including their lives.

How could he have remained composed after a bullet had just entered when he knew he faced death every day. Ja-kyung was astonished, yet his thoughts were also complicated. The bullet that was fired earlier was obviously intended for the area where Ja-kyung was standing. The placement of two bullets in the same location was not an error. Who? Why? Thoughts were tangled like a thread in his head.

Il-hyun approached Ja-kyung after receiving a band and ointment from the staff. Il-hyun wasn’t going to put it on him by himself, was he? All the staff was watching. Ja-kyung extended his hand in advance if that was the case.

“Please give it to me… I can put it on myself.”

“You are the prince who saved my life. I will put it on myself.”

He smiled sweetly and wiggled his fingers, signaling him to come closer. That was his gesture to the benefactor who had saved him. He appears to be treating Ja-kyung like a neighborhood dog. Ja-kyung reluctantly approached him, Il-hyun then squeezed the medicine directly into his fingertips, and gently rubs it on Ja-kyung’s cheek. Il-hyun locked his gaze on him, and Ja-kyung avoided his gaze for no reason.

The staff was quietly clearing the glass behind the scenes. The head butler and his staff were in better condition than expected. Because the wound was stinging, Ja-kyung’s eyes wrinkled without realizing it, and Il-hyun even blew the wound with his mouth. Ja-kyung took a step back, shocked by the unexpected action.

Il-hyun carefully applied the band-aid while expressing what was the problem. His eyes were full of curiosity. Ja-kyung couldn’t take it any longer and turned his head.

“Thank you.”

Il-hyun offered the medicine. Alright. He’ll put this on later. Ja-kyung took it and kept it.

“If it gets worse, I will compensate for hospital bills.”

“Yes…”

“If you are very surprised, I will compensate you for the psychological damage as well.”

“Yes…”

“If you are really scared, you can sleep in my bedroom tonight. I’ll allow it.”

What this bastard was saying. Even though Ja-kyung knew it was a joke, he couldn’t change his expression. He still remembered being hit hard on the buttocks. As Ja-kyung glanced down, the outlines were clearly enlarged. Ja-kyung couldn’t think of anything to say. It got really big. How could it get bigger in this situation?

Kang Il-hyun smiled sweetly.

“Don’t go out today. It seems like he was aiming for Yi An.”

His eyes and actions were told lightly, but his voice was firm. As expected, he knew.  He didn’t say anything else about it. Il-hyun went outside with Park Tae-soo after telling him to go up and rest. The housekeeper approached Ja-kyung and asked if he was okay. Ja-kyung nodded and looked at the ointment and band-aid he was holding. His cheek, which had just been touched, felt strangely itchy.