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“Ji-Woon! I’m coming, Ji-Woon!”
He could hear Yun-Jin call out for him, just outside the large doors, in between the sounds of Lucas’ fists hitting his face. Ji-Woon yelled out in pain. While this was his plan, it still hurt like a motherfucker. It wasn't completely unpleasant though...
Seconds later, the sound of metal on metal and then the doors being thrown open.
Yun-Jin entered, panting slightly and dripping wet from the pouring rain. Lucas seemed to not notice and continued his assault on Ji-Woon.
“Ji-Woon!” She rushed towards them, brandishing a lead pipe, and screamed, “Get your hands off of him!”
The pipe landed on Lucas’ shoulder with some force, and he flinched, dropping Ji-Woon to the ground with an oof. “Ow! Miss Lee?!” He seemed more confused than angry by her presence. He backed up, rubbing his shoulder.
Yun-Jin dropped down next to Ji-Woon, pulling him into her arms and away from Lucas. “Ji-Woon! Are you alright?! Talk to me!”
Ji-Woon winced, his face bruised and bloody, and looked up at her as her wet hair dripped onto his cheek. “Yun, you saved me.”
“Saved you? You attacked me first, you little bastard!” interjected Lucas angrily.
“What?” Yun-Jin looked up at him confused.
“Yun.” He couldn’t let Lucas sway her before the cops arrived; their sirens off in the distance, slowly getting closer. Ji-Woon reached up with his bloodied hand, letting her see the cut. By showing her how hurt he was, she had to come to the conclusion that he was the victim. Surely she’d believe her beloved idol before some stranger.
Yun-Jin put down the pipe and grabbed his wrist gently, looking at his palm. The cut was fresh and quite bloody, but it seemed rather superficial rather than from a struggle. It was too shallow. Still, she hugged him closer with her other arm, something Ji-Woon noticed, causing him to smile. He was sure he was winning her over.
Yun-Jin looked at Lucas again. Though she was acting protective of Ji-Woon, she didn’t feel like Lucas was a danger to either of them. He was just…standing there, just as confused as she was. Yes, he was angry and visibly so, but if he had intentions of harming Ji-Woon in the first place, he could easily overpower her. Yet he didn’t. So she’d hear him out.
“Lucas, explain.”
“Huh? What is there to explain?” Ji-Woon questioned her, but was only met with a shushing.
“Gladly.” Lucas started off with where he was originally heading; to meet with his producer. “You know him, right?”
“Yes, Allano Muse. We’re somewhat acquainted. Go on.”
“Right, so I get to my car and get in. Never noticed anyone in the backseat due to the rain, so I’m none the wiser. I go to start the car, and someone pounces on me, throwing me into a choke hold and shoving a rag in my face. I fought back, getting a hold of one of his arms and bit him in an attempt to weaken his grasp.” Yun-Jin glances at Ji-Woon’s arms. The left one did in fact have a bite mark. “Doesn’t work and I’m knocked out. Next thing I know I’m tied up in a chair in this warehouse. And the first thing I see is this maniac’s smug face, and him holding a knife. I try to get up but find myself tied to the chair. Then the weird thing. He circles around and cuts me loose.”
“If you’re the victim, why would he do that?” Yun-Jin asks, looking at Ji-Woon, a perplexed look on her face. Ji-Woon gives her a pitiful look in return, silently begging her to believe in him.
“Beats me. But I’m pissed, so I started beating the snot out of him and took the knife from him. And that’s when you showed up.”
Yun-Jin lets out a deep sigh. “I see…” She looked over at the tipped over chair. “Can you set the chair up for me please.”
“Ah, sure?”
As he does so, Yun-Jin returns her attention to Ji-Woon. “Can you stand?”
“I’m not sure…,” Ji-Woon replied wearily.
Yun-Jin nods then puts his arm around her neck and helps him up onto his feet. She then leads him over to the chair Lucas set up for her and has him sit. “Right. Now it’s your turn. Explain yourself.”
“Wh-what?”
She backs up and crosses her arms. “I want to hear your side of the story.”
“Right…” The spotlight was on him and not in a good way. He was losing control. The police were meant to be here by now. They should have seen Lucas as the aggressor and taken care of him then and there, but something was delaying them; they still sounded so far. Had the rain gotten that bad?
He looks up at Yun-Jin, standing there, still dripping wet, waiting for his explanation. He had to think, and quickly. What could he say that could be backed up later? “Well…” Ji-Woon started, hugging himself and glancing at Lucas as if he was scared he’d rush at him at any moment. “I was thinking about our conversation yesterday, and decided to go for a walk to clear my head before heading to rehearsals. But then it started raining and I got lost. Went to ask for directions, but got jumped and knocked out.”
“That’s bull-” Lucas started but Yun-Jin held up her hand to quiet him.
Ji-Woon flinched as if Lucas was scaring him, and added a quiver to his voice. “...When…when I came to, I was in a car. That’s when I pulled out my phone and texted you.”
Yun-Jin nodded. “Your SOS. I got it.” It had convinced her he was the victim. But now, she wasn’t so sure.
“Right. And just as I hit send, he opened the door and grabbed me, and I dropped it. I tried fighting back, pulled out my knife to protect myself, but he over powered me and took it.” Ji-Woon gestured to the knife in Lucas’ hand, then showed the cut on his own. “He then dragged me in here and started beating me up until you came and stopped him.”
Lucas turned to Yun-Jin. “You don’t honestly believe all that, do you?”
Yun-Jin was quiet. She didn’t know what to believe anymore. “It sounds reasonable…”
“You believe me, don’t you, Yun?” Ji-Woon looked at her with his puppy dog eyes, which usually helped him get his way.
Yun-Jin took a moment before she responded. “I’m sorry, Lucas. I don’t know why he’d go after you like this. Perhaps he found out that I’d given you my card and was angry with me, and took it out on you.”
Card? As in…her business card? He’d seen a card fall out of the car and glanced at it briefly, but didn’t pay it much mind. Was that hers? That’s right, ‘Magnum Opus’ was her stage name, wasn’t it? While many people only knew her by that name, he never called her that.
Had she been planning on replacing him? With his target? Anger rose in him. How dare she! But maybe he could work with this. If she thought this was merely a lashing out, he’d be reprimanded and disciplined, but ultimately get away with it. He’d just have to be more careful in the future. Be more mindful of Yun-Jin and her resourcefulness.
Ji-Woon sighed remorsefully. “Okay, yeah, I was angry. I couldn’t believe you’d try to replace me. After all these years? It hurts.”
“You’re hurt? What about me? Your constant lies and sneaking out? You not caring about anything I do for you or the stress I’m under? I can’t take it anymore Ji-Woon,” Yun-Jin sobbed. “I’m tired!”
“I wouldn’t have to lie if you’d just understand me!” Ji-Woon suddenly yelled out, his blood boiling. “You keep stifling my art, my sense of self! Getting in my way! Ruining things!” As he moved towards her a gun shot rang through the air.
The police finally arrived at the wrong time. He was seen as the aggressor and they attacked. Blood pooled out of him while Yun-Jin looked on in horror. The bullet had pierced his neck. He reached up and held it, choking. He attempted to call out Yun-Jin’s name, but only a gurgle came out. As he fell to his knees, Yun-Jin let out an ear piercing scream which rang in his ears as he succumbed to the darkness.
Ji-Woon’s eyes slowly opened. He was lying in bed with Yun-Jin sitting next to him, tears staining her face. He knew she never wanted him to get hurt. No matter what she thought of him or his antics, she was never that type of person.
She quickly noticed he was awake. Smiling softly, she brushed his hair out of his eyes. She then took her phone out and typed something before showing him the screen. It explained that she blew out her voice and won’t be able to speak for a while. Her smile fell and tears started streaming again before she started typing again.
‘Ji-Woon. I’m so sorry.’
He tried to ask why, but nothing came out. In fact it hurt. He reached up and touched his neck, feeling bandages wrapped around it. He also couldn’t speak.
Yun-Jin typed some more. ‘You just came out of emergency surgery. You also won’t be able to speak for a while. But, it’s worse. You may never be able to sing again.’
Ji-Woon’s eyes widened in horror. Never sing again? He started hyperventilating. He couldn’t breathe. How was he going to live without his voice? Without himself? He began to sob with strained sounds escaping him.
Yun-Jin pulled his hands away from neck and tried to sooth him, gently caressing his face and petting his head, with soft shushing sounds. Slowly his breathing started to return to normal, but his tears still steady. He looked up at her, knowing as much as she’d try, it’d be impossible for her to fix this problem. All he could do was hope and pray he’d be able to make a full recovery, but that was very unlikely. He was probably lucky to be alive at all. But without his voice, his songs, would it even be worth living? Would the thrill of the kill be enough? How could he be experienced now?
A week passed. Lucas had agreed not to press charges after being granted a large sum of money and a restraining order. Not that Ji-Woon cared. Lucas was insignificant now.
Yun-Jin’s voice is still weak, but recovering. She expresses some relief over Lucas' decision to simply not be involved. There was still hope for Ji-Woon’s career. It’ll be framed as if he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time while police were dealing with local gangs stirring up trouble.
She was still upset at him over how he tried to handle things. He had no right to take matters into his hands in that way. But she’d deal with that later.
A month and a half has passed. His face has long since returned to normal, but his neck had a long way to go. He’d written a new song. About losing one’s sense of self. He stares at the page. He could still write. He was still talented. But losing his voice, the very thing that raised him to new heights. It hurt.
Yun-Jin was sympathetic. Though her own voice had fully recovered, she was careful not to speak too often around him. She thought it was helping, but it wasn’t. He wished she wouldn’t walk on egg shells around him. It only made him feel worse.
Another month. He was essentially shelved as an idol. Occasionally he was allowed to do signings to promote old work and special events with Yun-Jin speaking for him, or put on a show through dance, but with no new songs, he was losing public interest. Only his die hard fans kept coming. They’ll give up on him soon and force his retirement. Perhaps they’ll keep him as a dance instructor. The thought made him cringe.
While Yun-Jin was careful to not speak around him too frequently, her voice might just be the thing to save his sanity. He proposes she sing his songs instead. It wasn’t something he really wanted, but at this point, it was all he could do, and she was the only one he could trust to do it right.
She was skeptical. While she loved to sing, she was rejected as an idol once upon a time. She starts to make a suggestion, then stops herself. The man wanted nothing to do with them, and she couldn’t blame him. She thinks about it carefully, then agrees to give it a try until he’s fully healed. She still had some hope for him. Hope he didn't have.
He’s given up on his voice recovering. Though his neck has healed, he can still barely talk. Singing was out of the question, and the scarring on his neck was a painful reminder of that fact.
He started smoking more frequently, and focused on writing songs for Yun-Jin to create for him. It was surprisingly fun. His style with a feminine touch has been quite successful. But it was missing something. The old sauce his art once had; Human anguish.
He hadn’t attempted to kill anyone for a while now. Did he even have it in him anymore? Part of luring his victims was his voice, something that was no longer at his disposal. And his attempt with Lucas was a complete disaster. He had gotten too sloppy.
Yun-Jin has been more full of life than he's even seen her. He finds himself smiling as she puts the energy into his music the way he no longer can. He became her dance partner in music videos, but she was the focus. For some reason, he didn’t mind this.
They shared drinks as she talked about the new album. He leans over and kisses her. She leans into it. He pulls her onto his lap. They grind against each other, moaning into each other’s mouths. Their clothes are removed. He thrusts into her. She cries out his name. He comes.
Ji-Woon blinks, feeling his crotch throbbing as he awoke with a hard on. He sighed. It was just a dream. Of course it was, that would never happen. Not with Yun-Jin; she would never. But why did he dream about it? And why did he have to dream about his entire recovery process as well? He was just coming to accept his situation.
“Fuck,” he whispered. Wait… he opened his eyes. He was still in the hospital. Was all of that a dream? He felt his neck. Nothing. It was normal. His eyes teared up, relieved that it was just a nightmare. But what really happened then? Did his plan work?
“It’s okay, Ji-Woon. You’re safe now.” Yun-Jin was with him, just like his dream; Slightly damp, and looking as if she’d been crying. She gently rubbed his cheek in a comforting manner, wiping his tears away carefully.
Ji-Woon looked up at her with a faint blush, thinking of the latter half of his dream. Did he always feel this away about her? No, of course not. She was his manager, nothing more. He cleared his throat, and asked, “What happened? Where’s…?” He trailed off. Did Yun-Jin know he knew his name in real life? She did see them talking at the recording studio, right?
“He’s not going to harm you anymore. He’s…dead.” She hesitated slightly, still not believing all that happened. “The police shot him on sight. I’m sorry I let this happen. I was focusing on the wrong things. But I’m glad you’re safe now.”
Yun-Jin looked out the window and sighed. It was still raining. “Between this and the rain, we may wind up canceling the concert.”
Ji-Woon pushed himself up and looked out the window with her. “Don’t. I can handle a few rainy days.”