Painful Love

Chapter Two (Part Two)

The following day, he rented a car, and when he was almost at the location, he parked the car and started walking to the enormous house. Having been raised with a father that served in the army, he prepared himself for a mission. He scoured the property, and for days, he just watched as people went in and out, mostly being the kidnapper. Going into the big house on the fifth day, he learned the house's layout, but Zarah was nowhere to be found, and he wondered if he got it all wrong. When he went up the stairs, a bald man was standing in front of the door. If he were to walk up the hallway, he would be spotted way before he got to him, and it seemed that he was the only one in the house, but either way, he didn't want to risk getting caught. And in cue, the man turned to him and started walking his way. The stairs were too long, and he wouldn't have made it down the stairs in time for the man to miss him, so he did the only thing left to do, he hung underneath the stairs. It was the most awkward and painful hold he had ever had to figure out to hold on to. When the man was out of sight, he hurried upstairs, and the moment he opened the door, his heart exploded.

In the middle of the bed lay Zarah. She was sleeping on her side. Suddenly, he heard the door open. "Damn it!" he muttered and stood behind the door. When the man walked in, he quickly placed his left hand around his neck and right hand behind his neck, and with as much pressure, he squeezed to stop the airway. "나는 매우 미안 해요 (I'm very sorry)" He whispered as my precious passed out. Zarah was still sleeping when he walked up to the bed. He carried her in his arms, and they started their journey to the car.

Getting her under the covers, she didn't even stir. It was as if she was dead, but she was still breathing. He decided to call a doctor, and as it turned out, she was sedated with drugs. The doctor recommended that she get sent to the hospital, but he didn't trust anyone. He requested that anything that needed to be done to get better should be done at her apartment. He knew it was the safest place to be because if it wasn't, then they wouldn't have kidnapped her far away from her apartment. For the next few days, he looked after her, and he got distraught when he saw the marks on her wrist and noticed marks inside her palm. It looked like she dug her fingernails, perhaps because of clenching her fist. He wondered what happened to her and what the kidnapper did to her for her to be in that state. He thought about going to find him and teach him a lesson, but his job was done. Looking out the window, he noticed that someone was watching. The door knock startled him, and his heart started pounding.

"Who is it?" He asked before he opened the door. "It's me," Marce's voice came through the other side of the door and to say that he was livid was an understatement. He wanted to open the door just so he could punch him, but he really didn't know who he really was, and he didn't want to risk anything given Zarah's condition. "Go f**k yourself." He gritted through his teeth. He thought about taking Zarah to Korea until everything settled down, but he wasn't sure if it would be something that she wanted to do, and knowing her, she would rather face the problem head-on.

Waking up, she took in a deep breath, and she instantly knew that Ha-Nuel was near her. She looked around her room, and she felt safe. Looking down on her thighs, Ha-Nuel's head was lying there. She caressed her hands through his head as she watched how peaceful he looked. She frowned and wondered how she got home. The last thing she remembered was another nightmare and Alexei apologizing before injecting her with something. She heard a knock on the door, and she went to get up, but she fell right back on the bed. "You are awake?" Ha-Nuel said with a raspy morning voice. A second knock came around, and Ha-Nuel pretended as if he didn't hear it. "What are you hungry for?" He asked.

"Aren't you going to open the door?" She asked. He pouted his lips and shook his head no. "And don't ask who it is." He finished before walking out of the room. He was gone for minutes before coming back with an omelet mixed with tomatoes and two cups, one with black tea and the other with a hot chai latte. He helped her sit up and placed the tray on her lap. She smiled at him and ate her food. When she was done, he collected the dishes and went out of the room once again. When he came back, Zarah was not in the room, and he freaked out in a matter of seconds. "Zarah!!!" He shouted. "I'm in the bathroom!" she called back, and he felt his heart slow down. He wondered how she got to the bathroom. Right then was when he remembered about her physical therapy appointments. He picked up his phone and called Marce, and after the first ring, he picked up.

"First off, I want you to know that I hate you."

"With all of your heart, you made it known more than a thousand times," Marce spoke back through the phone.

"And if I knew..."

"Any other way, then you wouldn't have called me because I am the last person on earth you want to talk to. I know you better than you think, Ha-Nuel." He chuckled.

"Can you guarantee me, 30 bodyguards?"

"30 what?!" he asked, shocked.

"Can you or not?"

"What the f**k for?"

"Ya!!! Can you or can you f*****g not?" Ha-Nuel was starting to get annoyed.

"I can try," was a soft reply.

"Trying is not good enough. Forget I called you. f*****g waste of time." He whispered the last part before hanging up the phone. He heard the door open, and he rushed back to the room only to find Zarah standing, she was extremely shaky, but nonetheless, she was standing up. He jumped up and down with joy. "Zarah! You are..." he was overjoyed at the sight before him. She had a towel wrapped around her body, and when she finally settled on the bed, Ha-Nuel chose a dress for her to wear. "I need a bra." She spoke up, and as he opened her underwear and bra draw, he couldn't help but blush. He picked one matching set and handed it to her. He turned around and waited for her to finish getting dressed before turning around. He took the towel from her, placed it somewhere in the bathroom to dry, and then returned to her room to sit beside her. "About...." He went to speak, but he was stopped short midway. Zarah placed her lips against his, and in seconds she pulled back. His heartfelt like it would beat out of his chest. "죄송합니다 (Sorry)" she whispered. Ha-Neul just sat there, frozen, looking into her eyes, searching and wondering what she was sorry about. It was the first time that a woman had apologized to him after a kiss. "왜? (Why)" He asked. She closed her eyes and looked down. Slowly she looked back at him and said, "I know that I am not your type, to begin with, not alone in a situation I am in right now, and I meant to say thank you, but instead..." she let the sentence linger. He wanted to correct her and kiss her back, but that would be selfish of him, and it probably could be because of what she experienced in the last month. Her emotions might just be on a high for her to control them. He cleared his throat and said, "you probably been inside for the last month. How about we go out for some fresh air, huh?!" She nodded her head. He went to take a shower, and when he came out, he only had a towel wrapped around his waist, and without realizing it, she bit her lip upon seeing him. For a second, she remembered Alexei, and she couldn't help but compare, and Ha-Neul was no match for Alexei. The man was fine as hell. She watched as he opened the closet and noticed that some of his clothes were at the corner of the closet, and she wondered if he lived there the entire time she was gone, which would explain his smell, it was everywhere, especially in the bed. She smiled. He went back to the bathroom, and when he came back this time, he was fully dressed. He scutched in front of her, his back facing her. "What are we doing?" she asked.

"Piggyback." He said, looking back at her.

"Where is my wheelchair?"

"I don't know, when.... when they took you, they took it too, so we gotta go buy a new one." He said. After doing some adjusting, she was settled on his back, and out they went. When they stepped outside, she noticed that there were so many people, probably 40 and as if on cue, they all straightened their posture and started following them. Ha-Neul didn't seem to notice and kept walking. After a long walk, she asked, "aren't you tired?"

"For you, I'll never be tired," he replied out of breath. She thought it was the cheesiest thing she had ever heard, but nonetheless, she didn't say anything back. After a while, they were by the lake. He sat her down close to the water, so her legs touched the water before sitting next to her. After a few moments of silence, Ha-Neul spoke up, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." She turned to look at him, and he looked like he was holding back tears. She extended her hand and placed it on his cheek, and instinctually he leaned his head on her palm. She smiled and caressed his cheek. "Thank you for coming for me." How can she be with someone when she already has so many flaws? "Stop it!" He said with eyes closed.

"For you, I'll never be tired," he replied out of breath. She thought it was the cheesiest thing she had ever heard, but nonetheless, she didn't say anything back. After a while, they were by the lake. He sat her down close to the water, so her legs touched the water before sitting next to her. After a few moments of silence, Ha-Neul spoke up, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." She turned to look at him, and he looked like he was holding back tears. She extended her hand and placed it on his cheek, and instinctually he leaned his head on her palm. She smiled and caressed his cheek. "Thank you for coming for me." How can she be with someone when she already has so many flaws? "Stop it!" He said with eyes closed.

"Stop what?"

"You are criticizing yourself," Ha-Neul said as he opened his eyes. She tried to deny it, but he gave her a don't you even think about it look. They spent two hours talking and playing with the water. When they made their way back to the shore and to the street, Ha-Neul was the first one to notice him, but before he could say anything, Zarah shouted, "Alexei!!!" Ha-Neul crammed his neck to the side because she was too loud against his ear. "Sorry," she whispered. Alexei had her wheelchair with her. They walked up to him, and Ha-Neul sat her on the chair. She turned to Alexei and muttered a "Thank you." All this time, Ha-Neul was watching in amusement and anger at the same time. How can one be so nice to someone who had taken away their freedom? "Do you still have nightmares?" Alexei asked. Zarah shook her head no.

"What nightmares?" Ha-Neul asked.

"Oh, nothing...."

"Nothing?! Zarah..." Alexei stopped her.

"Really, I'm fine. I haven't had one since I got back from..." she didn't finish the sentence and took a deep breath.

"Want to grab something to it?"

"Yes."

"No." They both answered at the same time.

"Absolutely not! I'm not letting you take her away again."

"If I was going to take her away, then I wouldn't have brought her wheelchair back. Do you know how ridiculous I looked wheeling around an empty chair?"

"So what, you want her to repay you?"

"How about we all have something to eat, yeah?!" she asked with a smile. The two men looked at each other, and none of them dared oppose what she said. At a normal pace, they all walked to the nearest dessert place and took their seat, and not long, the chair opposite Zarah and Ha-Neul and beside Alexei was pulled, and Marce took a seat. "I thought we were having an uncomfortable conversation. It's only fair that I join. Don't you think so, Zarah?" He asked with a serious tone. The tension around the table was so thick that Zarah started tapping her fingers on her lap. Ha-Neul noticing this, he placed his hand on top of hers. He leaned in till his lips were almost touching her ear and whispered, "relax. He's going to have to go through me first before he gets to you." She knew that he didn't mean it sexually, but she'd be damn if she didn't say that she found it arousing. The two men opposite them looked shocked. "What kind of ice cream do you want?" Ha-Neul asked as he got up.

"Nah, I'm good," Marce answered.

"I wasn't talking to you bastard," Ha-Neul retorted back. She shook her head with a smile and answered, "ice-cream corn, surprise me with the flavor?"

"I didn't know you guys were dating?" Marce whispered after Ha-Neul was out of earshot.

"No, we are not," Zarah replied with confusion on her face. "Why would you think that we are dating?"

"Well, because..." before Marce could complete his sentence, Ha-Neul was back. It was as if he hadn't left. He had his guard up; if it was up to him, he wouldn't let the two-man in a country, let alone near her. He never took his eyes off her. He promised to keep her safe, and he intended to fulfill that promise no matter what. Handing the ice cream to Zarah, he took his seat beside her. She licked it one time, and she let out a soft moan with her eyes closed. "This is so good," she almost whispered. Ha-Neul felt his pants tightening. He had seen her eat ice cream before, and he had forgotten how verbal she could be when she ate something delicious, but there was that sense of s****l tension you couldn't help but imagine as you watched her. If he could feel it, then he knew everyone else could feel it too around the table, and sure enough, looking around, the men opposite them were gawking at her. "So, what is it that you wanted?" Ha-Neul asked, directing the question to Alexei. Alexei had to recoup himself. The few days without her in his room had been different. He missed her, but he wouldn't dare admit that to himself, let alone to her.

"I wanted to know how you found my whereabouts?" He asked with a serious voice.

"I tracked you," Ha-Neul replied nonchalantly. He didn't know what he was expecting, but he wasn't expecting such an honest answer. Alexei thought that the guy was nuts. When he got home after forgetting something, he found my precious on the floor unconscious. For a second, he thought that he was dead, and he was surprised yet again to find out that he was still alive. He knew that he wasn't dealing with an enemy. He was simply a guy that wanted to save a girl, something that had never happened in his entire career. When it came down to it, the boyfriend or even husband chose their lives over their partner's. 'He must really be in love,' he thought to himself. He couldn't imagine doing such a selfish thing for another human, but here he was, sitting in front of a man that would do anything for a woman, a woman who perhaps needs saving. After seeing the nightmares that she would have, the look of pain and despair with her eyes closed, he could only imagine what they looked like if they were open. And even as he was trying to have a conversation, Zarah licking the ice cream was still distracting to him. He smiled inwardly after noticing thathe wasn't the only one to be affected. She had that effect on people, and the sexiest thing was that she didn't even realize it. When there was silence after a few minutes, Ha-Nuel stood up and excused himself together with Zarah. He started to wheel her away before turning around and directed a grim "thank you" to Marce. When they got home, the sun was beginning to set. Ha-Neul made dinner, and together, they sat and ate in comfortable silence. Zarah was the first one to go to bed while Ha-Neul sat with her till she fell asleep. She was woken up at night by the sound of Ha-Neul calling her name coming from the bathroom. She got off the bed and, using her hands to hold herself up as she held on to whatever her hands could grab, she opened the bathroom door only to find Ha-Nuel standing by the toilet, pants halfway down, a hand wrapped around his c**k as he stroked it. She was so shocked at the sight before her that she stood frozen in place. "f**k Zarah, yes!" Ha-Neul let out as white liquid shot out of his c**k. He turned to the left to find Zarah staring at him, no, at the mess below him. He cleared his throat, and Zarah slowly let her eyes meet his, and with two blinks, she muttered a low "sorry" before closing the door. When he came out of the bathroom, she was under the covers, covered from head to toe. He wondered if he should talk about it, but what's there to talk about? If what she witnessed doesn't show her that he finds her sexually attractive, he doesn't know what will. He lay down on the futon floor mattress, and as he recalled the look on Zarah's face, he fell asleep.

The sound of people talking woke him up. Looking around the room, Zarah was nowhere to be found, and the bed was already made, his panic kicked in, and in seconds, he was in the living room only to find Alexei crotched opposite Zarah with his hands on either side of her wheelchair. "Get your f*****g hands off her!" He shouted as he launched towards Alexei. "Ha-Neul, please, it's okay."

"How is it f*****g okay Zarah, you let the man that not only kidnapped you but also drugged you into your home?"He was beyond frustrated. "How do you know he isn't going to do the same s**t again?" Looking at Zarah, he was taken aback by her smile. "What's so funny?" He asked, wanting to be irritated.

"Nothing's funny. I just think you look sexy when you are upset and that accent..." She stopped herself before she could finish the sentence, but she didn't have to because Ha-Neul was already blushing. Alexei couldn't help but be irritated. "Sorry Popov, you gotta go. Looks like you are no longer welcomed here."

"You really are going to kick me out because of this?" He said, pointing the finger at Ha-Neul with a look of almost disgust.

"Well, this.." Zarah pointed the finger at Ha-Neul, "Is the man that slept beside me last night, and the night before that, and the one before that. It's not about kicking you out; it's about respect. I'm sure we'll talk again." With a shaking head, Alexei let himself out. Zarah wheeled herself to the kitchen and finished what she was doing. She went to stand up, but Ha-Neul was already behind her, "I'm almost done. Go take a shower." She said as she pulled out two cups. He thought the air would be awkward the next day, but she didn't seem to act differently, which he was more than thankful for. He really didn't want awkward Zarah. She isn't fun to be around. When he emerged again to the kitchen, the table was already set, and his black tea was sitting before the empty seat. He smiled. Apart from his mother, he hasn't lived with a woman before and although this was special circumstances, both times that he had shared space with her felt homey. "What did he want?" He started a conversation.

"An answer to a question he asked a while back."

"You mean when..."

"Yes, I meanwhile when." She didn't like talking about it. She understood that she was supposed to hate him, but she couldn't. He hadn't r***d her or laid a finger on her. All she told herself was that he was only doing his job. When she shared a room with Alexei, he would sometimes be on a call thinking that she was asleep, and she would listen in and from what she had gathered was that that was his job, he gets a call, kidnap someone, and get paid for it. She knew that he was a very dangerous man given the black eye that My Precious had after receiving a punch from him, but regardless, she didn't want to make an enemy out of an enemy. As they say, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. She was just playing by the rules. And plus, until she found the person responsible for her kidnap, she needed him around. "What question?"

"I don't want to say."

"You don't want to say, not you cannot say. Now I'm curious."

"I am not telling you nothing, Ha-Neul, especially after..." she really had to watch her mouth, she thought. She really didn't want things to be awkward between the two of them, and so far, she succeeded despite the few s****l incidents.

"Especially..." He let the words linger in the air, and to his disappointment, Zarah left it at that. They talked about this and that but nothing special. When they were done eating, he got up and did the dishes despite Zarah's protest. "We are going back to the physical therapist today," he said as he opened the door to go outside the apartment. She looked up at him, and her heart clenched. She didn't realize how much he cared till that moment. She was so caught up with recovering from what happened that she completely forgot about her hospital visits. Walking out of the apartment building, a black car was waiting for them. "I can't get in on that," she said. Ha-Neul wanted to ask why but the look on her face told him to not even. He pulled out his phone and called Lyft, and a few minutes later, a bright orange SUV pulled up in front of them. Going through the hospital doors, she was nervous. She wondered what would the doctor say and whether or not she was improving. They spent almost the entire day at the hospital with Ha-Neul leaving her side only once just to return with food. She wanted to see him as a friend, but she couldn't see it. No matter how hard she tried, she didn't see a friend, but she knew that with that, there was a possibility of losing him. Relationships tend to be messy. And what if she remembers and she has a boyfriend or a husband that was on a business trip or something. She knew that was unlikely because she hadn't received a call from any other man apart from Ha-Neul, and she could count how many phone numbers were on her cellphone. The results came out pretty good for someone that hadn't had their regular doctor visits for more than a month. The doctor said that if she kept up with the exercises, she would be able to walk again.