Painful Love

Chapter One (Part III)

"No, not anymore." And although, as far as she was concerned, he was just a stranger, it still stung a little. She smiled, a fake smile that he came to notice. They talked some more, and they both bid their goodbyes. Her memories were vague, and the harder she tried to recall her life, the further away from them she thought she was getting. Between the two men, the one that left seemed to be the one that knew her well, then she knew herself, but she had a feeling that they hadn't known each other for that long since he referred to both of them as strangers. She got to spend more time with Marce because he came around more often after Ha-Nuel left; however, to her surprise, Ha-Nuel would call her via FaceTime almost every day. For someone who was no longer interested, he knew how to keep a girl on her toes. She found it strange that every time she went outside to head for her hospital visits or just grab something from the store, she would see men in suits, and she was really starting to hate men in suits. However, one thing she found amusing was how fast she could get around with her wheelchair. She even got special treatment sometimes. Today she decided that she was going to go through her stuff. She had been so busy since she got back to the apartment with hospital visits that she didn't get the chance to rummage around. She hit a dead end when she came across her laptop because she couldn't figure out the password. The laptop was on her lap when the phone rang, and Ha-Nuel's name shone through the small screen. She felt her heart get warm. A sense of relief and excitement came over her. "Hey, Ha-Nuel!" She greeted him cheerfully, but before he could say anything, she could tell that there was something wrong. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing is wrong. How are you? How are your exercises going?"

"You have creases on your forehead. You have always been there for me for as long as I have these memories. Can I be there for you?" she said with puppy eyes, another thing she had to master when she was hospitalized because she had to find a way to eat food other than the one provided by the hospital. The two men were so adamant about her getting better that they wouldn't let her have anything she wanted, but slowly she managed to convince them with a voice that's not hers and eyes that beg while making you feel guilty at the same time. "It's nothing to worry about."

"I insist. I'd really like to hear about it."

"It's a deal that has been dragging for a while now, and we cannot seem to come up with an agreement." He said after a deep breath.

"How well do you know the people you are making a deal with?"

He took a moment to think and replied, "we don't. We have only communicated with them through a third party." He said as if he was thinking out loud. Zarah watched as he got into a zone, setting the phone down; while still on the phone, he made a phone call and started to speak in Hangul, and a few minutes later, he hung up the phone and picked the other one up. He took a deep breath and smiled. "How was your day?" He asked as he leaned back on his chair. She smiled, and she went on to give a vague answer. She realized that the only reason it appeared that he knew more about her was that she never took the time to get to know him. He only asked questions and listened. "You know quite a bit about me, but what about you? Who is Ha-Nuel? What does he like?"

"But we talked already about those things the night before I left."

"I talked, and you listened, Ha-Nuel." She smiled almost sadly.

"I suppose this means that you have been thinking about me?" He said with a smug smirk.

"No, I am just trying to cherish the time we have?"

"What do you mean the time we have?" He sat up from his chair and leaned towards the screen. She let out a soft chuckle.

"I'm dying, Ha-Neul," she said nonchalantly.

"Whaaaaa... what do you mean you are dying?" He asked with a shaky breath.

"In the last checkup, the doctor said that scans came back, and there's something in my brain. I have two weeks left to live." She said as she watched as his face turned from horror to confused and, finally, complete sadness.

"Zaraphinah...." He barely let out. She burst into laughter when he looked like he was about to cry. "I'm joking! I'm joking! Korea is your home, and although we can communicate through such a device, we can only do this for so long before the calls fade away. It's different when you are sitting across or next to someone you know what I mean?"

"Don't you ever make a joke like that again? It was not funny." There was a bit of a pause before he continued, "do you want to see me?"

"Yeah, that would be nice," she smiled. "It's a nice thought, Nah?!" She said. The conversation went on, and when they hung up, she let out a smile because she forgot to ask him if, by chance, he knew her password. The following day, a door knocked, screaming, "it's open," the tall Italian man walked into her apartment. "Do you know what I used to do for a living before the accident?" Marce was greeted by a question. When he had gone back the next day to look for her, the day after the coffee incident, she didn't show up, and even a week later, she was nowhere to be seen. The cashier had looked worried when he talked to her. He tried to ask everything he could about her, but it was almost as if she was a ghost, people knew her by her name, but that was the only thing they knew. He contemplated lying to her, but that wouldn't be nice, so he said, "I don't know. You seem to have had a very private life?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's just that when I went back to look for you so I could apologize, no one knew who you were except for your name."

"Why did you have to apologize?" She asked curiously. He looked at her, and he bit his lip. Before she got shot, she seemed like a woman who held grudges, and as awful as he felt, he finally gained her trust enough that she let him in her space, and he really didn't want to mess it up. "Breakfast is ready, and hot chai latte, your favorite, by the way, at your service."

"You say that every time, I already know it's my... I'm sorry." She said after she took a deep breath. She was frustrated and stressed, although it had only been a month and perhaps it was too soon for her to think about it, it was driving her crazy not remembering anything, and she was stuck with two people that knew nothing about her past. She had no relatives. She really must have been a loner; that's what she kept thinking to herself. She felt like something was missing that she was meant to do something, but because she couldn't remember anything, she was missing out on it. Even taking a shower was difficult. The pain seemed to be everywhere, from her body to her mind and even her life. She felt like a loser; she felt stuck. And if there was anything she was learning about herself was the ability to put on a mask. No matter how bad of a day she was having, she never smiled in front of people. It was as if it was second nature, and at times she was scared to even find out who she was for the fear that she wasn't going to like the person she was going to have to face.

Landing back in America, Ha-Nuel took a minute to breathe in the new air that smelled so familiar. He thought the American government was lacking in so many ways. So even when his parents suggested that he go to America to study, he just lasted a year and went back home because he just couldn't grow accustomed to the system, and although he didn't vow to never step foot again, he sure didn't think that he would be back here two times in less than a year. His heart kept beating faster the closer the taxi got to her apartment, and when the old building came to a view, he couldn't help but scratch the back of his neck. Walking up the stairs, he wondered if he should go back and buy flowers, but he shook his head right after because he remembered that she didn't like flowers. It was odd to him. Every girl he knew or even those he didn't would be swayed over the thought of that. "She sure is different," he mumbled to himself as he knocked on the door. A minute later the door swung open, and he instantly knew that there was something wrong, it was the same look, the look of 'I am so glad to see you,' the one she gave him when he stopped the taxi in front of the bus station. Her shoulders went down a bit, and without asking any questions, he walked into the apartment to find four men that looked to be government officials by the suit and the flashy badges against their chest. He regarded them thoughtfully and then turned to Zarah, who seemed as uncomfortable as one can be. "Does she look like she wants to talk to you guys right now?" He asked in a firm voice. The four men looked at each other and then back again at him. "And who might you be?" One of them asked. Dealing with government officials back in his home country, although things are not the same, he knew that they would completely dismiss him if he wasn't someone related to her. "Husband, I'm her husband."

"We have been surveillance her for about a month now, and we haven't seen you around."

"I had to go back to Korea to take care of some business."

"And you left your wife here alone, in that condition?" One man questioned suspiciously.

"I insisted, we have to eat, don't we? And since it's one of us bringing in the money, we are learning to adjust, right honey?" Zarah spoke looking at Ha-nuel. He nodded yes with a smile. "So please, gentlemen, leave my wife alone. When she regains her memories, I'll be sure to come to find you." When they left, she turned to him and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Because you wanted to see me." She c****d her head to the side in confusion. "The other day, you said that it's best to sit across or beside someone talking than through the screen." She smiled in disbelief. "Before you left, you said that you didn't want to sleep with me anymore, and now you are here within 48 hours of me saying that?! I don't understand you."

"That's not what I meant..." She raised her hand up to stop him. "I need fresh air," she said while she was heading for the door. When they stepped outside the building, she noticed that there was more man around. At first, she thought that the men in black were maybe the ones that the government people were talking about, but as they rounded the corner, she noticed a van that she'd always see when she went out for her hospital visits, and that's when she realized that more than one person was watching, it was three. She wondered who was Marce and whether or not he was a gangster. Looking at Ha-Nuel, she stopped herself from saying anything because he looked happy. Should she move? But even if she did, they would be right behind her since she got tagged. They walked down the street that looked so familiar for some strange reason, and they walked into a cafe. "Zarah!" The cashier shouted. She looked at her, but she had no idea who she was. She read her name tag that read Becky and still came up with nothing. Her mind was in a fog as she accepted the cup of hot chai latte that Ha-Nuel handed to her, but her grip wasn't firm enough, and the hot beverage poured all over her. "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" she let out. She tried to get off the chair, and she fell. "Zarah!" Ha-Nuel screamed. He helped her get back on the wheelchair and stood by the door as he waited for her to come out of the restroom but after 30 minutes, and there was no sign of Zarah emerging back, he went in, and she was gone. It was supposed to be a happy reunion. He planned to take her to the beach because she loved the stars, and as he panicked, he rushed outside to see a van they came across when they rounded the corner speed away. He tried to run after it, but his legs could only go so far compared to the four-wheel vehicle. "Marcellino!" He gritted out. He went back to the apartment since he knew that he was bound to show up at some point, and sure enough, Marcellino was already there when he got there. He lodged at him and connected his fist with his cheek, 'Boom!' came another one. "What the fu..." came another punch. Marcellino could not back away from a fight, and so he decided to hit back. Ha-Neul ducked the fist that came and gave one right after. Kicks were thrown, and although Marcellino took fighting classes, he soon realized that this guy was a professional fighter. When they both got tired, bruised, and bleeding, they looked around only to find the apartment trashed completely. They had broken from the coffee table to the tv and couch. "The f**k was that for," his thick Italian accent came out only when he was pissed. "They took her, they took Zarah!" he said as if accepting the fact for the first time, and he felt a tear come down his cheek. He didn't like America, but he vowed to stay till he found her, however long that may take.

"Are you in a gang or something?" Ha-Nuel asked.

"No!" Marce replied in a hurry. Ha-Nuel regarded him for a second and then spoke, "do you know someone who is?" Marce felt that he wouldn't let it go, so he just decided to answer him. "My father is." His father had increased the security that he initially had before, but he never told him why and on the day of the shooting, that's when he found out that he was going to be used as a lesson. The bullet was meant for him from a betrayal that his father did to one of their partners. His father was so grateful that it wasn't him and showed no remorse that another human bared the consequences. His father had asked him not to see her again because they still intended on making a lesson out of him. Still, he didn't listen to him because just for the few moments that he had spent with her, he thought that she was the last person that should receive such cruelty. Although he heard an earful the first time he went to see her at the hospital, he made it very clear that he wasn't planning on stopping but kidnapping? Kidnapping he didn't see coming and knowing his father and the people he dealt with, including enemies, kidnapping meant torture till death. It can only mean that they think she knows something and wants it out of her, but his father wouldn't kidnap her. He wanted nothing to do with her. She had already served the purpose, whether knowingly or unknowingly. His father was looking toward him to become a business successor, and he refused, but now that this had happened, he was contemplating. Looking up at Ha-Nuel, he had a feeling that he was about to do something idiotic. With a scary look in his eyes, he got off the floor. "Where do you think you are going?" Marce asked. "Where the f**k do you think?" He replied curtly.

"Well, if I knew, I wouldn't ask, would I now?" Marce retorted. Ha-Nuel stepped back and regarded him as if trying to figure something out. "Take me to your father?" He said. "What?!" Marce replied, shocked, "absolutely not!" he continued.

"You do realize that one way or another, I am going to find her, and if that means finding your father, I will do just that." He said in one breath. The man was angry. 'He's a nut-job' that's what Marce thought, but regardless, he didn't comply with his request.

It had already been a week since Zarah was kidnapped, and there was no sign of her. He tried to find out what was going on through his father, but he was no help, and so one could imagine his surprise when he went to visit his father, and there sat Ha-Nuel across his father. His eyes went wide, and he couldn't find any words to say. At first, he thought that he had gone back to Korea because he hadn't heard anything from him. When their eyes connected, Ha-Nuel had a smug look on his face. "What's going on?" He finally managed to ask.

"New partnership." His father replied with a smile, a genuine smile at that. His heart dropped.

"What kind of partnership?!" He tried replying smoothly, but Ha-Nuel could sense panic in his tone.

"Nothing you would be interested about. You don't want anything to do with the business anyways." His father replied.

"Oh yeah? It's always a father's pride for his son to follow in his footsteps. What a shame, huh?!" Ha-Nuel said as a joke, but Marce knew that he was only taunting him, but still, he let it get to him. He was so shocked that his brain stopped working. He couldn't think of anything to say to get Ha-Nuel out of there. The look he saw on his face at Zarah's apartment, he just had a feeling that he wasn't someone to be messed with, and although his father was a capable man and did lots of horrible things, he knew nothing about Ha-Nuel. His father taught him to know his enemies, and he could count on one hand how many times he talked to this guy. He had no idea what he was made of, and if worse came to worse, he still had a passport to Korea. He never knew that he would be scared for his father's life, but at this moment, as he watched his father smile big and shake the hand of a man that appeared to be more deceiving than he could imagine, he was scared. As Ha-Nuel walked out, he followed behind him. "What the f**k are you trying to do?" He asked angrily. Ha-Nuel smiled and said nothing in return. "I'm talking to you!"

"Till she's next to me, I'll go through great lengths to find her even if it means I need to kill someone," He said and continued walking. "And oh! If anything happens to her, you'll wish you had never met me." He didn't even want to get involved in the business, but because of him, it appeared that he had no choice but to if it meant that he would save his father. Ha-Nuel went back to her place, and as he walked through the tiny apartment, he wondered if she was okay, if she had eaten, or even if she had a smile. He first saw her on the plane. She read a book almost the entire plane ride except for the naps that she took here and there. She looked very uncomfortable in her seat. When they were about to land, the teenage boy beside her seemed nervous, and she whispered something in his ear, and he held her hand, and the moment the plane touched the ground, the teenage boy squeezed her hand so tight that she placed her other hand on her mouth while frowning. When they were out of the plane, he noticed that she had rings on her left hand, which the boy squeezed, and she was massaging her fingers. He smiled at the memory. He checked for the CCTV, but there was none. It was all planned out. At first, he thought that perhaps it was because of the government officials, but after assessing the situation more, it may appear that they would take her either way. It just happened that they had given a reason for her disappearance. He kept recalling that day over and over again, trying to figure out a clue or something, but if there was one thing for sure was that he would definitely get ahead behind Marce's father. After all, it was because of his son that all this was happening.

It was day 9 since she was in this dark room. She hadn't seen the light since. But as the door opened, she sensed that it was not the normal person that would come in and out to deliver her food. She sat up straight and leaned her head forward, smelling. It was familiar, and she wanted to make sure that she was right. It was very obnoxious. She hated the smell. She started sniffing, making it known that she was doing so. "What are you doing?" She was startled. "What is it with men and accents?" she murmured under her breath. "Come again?" The man questioned.