Part II (1/1)

Jung Daehyun. Youngjae had wanted to get to know him but he never had the chance. Jung Daehyun.                         Himchan sat beside him after having collected other people’s bets. Youngjae knew he shouldn’t let this slip.                         “Hyung, could you do me a favor?” Youngjae whispered.                         “What is it?”                         “Could you…could you arrange a meeting between Daehyun and me next Saturday?” Youngjae asked.                         “Oh yeah, sure, I could probably do that. Why not tonight, though?” Himchan asked.                         “Uhh…well, I have other matters to attend to. In fact, I really have to go. I’m just waiting for his match to finish.”                         “Oh, I see. Yeah, okay, I’ll just tell you next week if he’s up for it.”                         “Here’s my card, hyung.” Youngjae pulled out a small business card from his coat pocket. “Call me whether or not he agrees.”                         Himchan pulled out his phone and punched in the numbers. “Don’t worry, I’ll call you.”                         “Thanks, hyung. Well, I should be going now.” Youngjae stood up and left with a wide smile on his face.                         Himchan looked over at the ring. Match is over. Daehyun won.                          Later that night, Youngjae was just falling asleep when his phone rang. “Hello?” he asked groggily.                                               “Oh, I’m sorry, did I wake you up?” Himchan asked from the other line.                         “No, hyung, it’s okay.”                         “Well, I just wanted to tell you that he agreed to meet you after his match on Saturday,” Himchan said, triumph evident in his voice.                         “Oh, cool. Thanks hyung! I promise to pay you next week.”                         Himchan laughed. “Are you serious? It was a favor, wasn’t it? I wouldn’t accept your payment.”                         “Oh, come on, hyung. Just a little token of gratitude from me to you?”                         “No, Yoo Youngjae, I wouldn’t take it. Go to sleep.” And the line went dead.                         Youngjae closed his eyes with a big smile on his face.                          Saturday came. Finally, he is going to meet the person he has admired from afar for six months. Youngjae picked his favorite suit and tie, along with his favorite belt and shoes. He had to go to a board meeting in the morning and another one in the afternoon, but he was too excited to focus on any of them.                         His afternoon meeting went on until eight in the evening, and he was so restless and all he wanted was for it to end already. When it was done, he jumped into his car and drove as fast as he could to the arena. Himchan called last night to tell him that he had managed to have Daehyun’s match put in an earlier time so they’d have more time to talk after that. Youngjae wouldn’t want to miss it for the world.                         He arrived just as Daehyun was going up the ring. He ran to his usual spot, greeted by a beaming Himchan.                         “I see you got ready for your date,” Himchan teased.                         “It’s not a date! As for the suit and tie, I had two very important meetings today,” Youngjae countered.                         Himchan chuckled. “Whatever you say.”                         “Here’s a thousand five hundred bucks.” Youngjae threw a bundle of money at Himchan.                         “What’s with the extra five hundred?”                         “A little ‘thank you’ for what you’ve done for me?”                         “I told you, Yoo Youngjae, I wouldn’t accept—“                         “I’m placing it as a bet, Mr. Kim Himchan. I’m not giving it to you.” Youngjae smirked.                         Himchan sighed in frustration. “You sly little— Why, hello there, Mr. Bang. Nice to see you here,” he said as Yongguk slipped into the empty seat next to Youngjae.                         “When are you gonna stop calling me that, Himchan? Ever since I came back, that’s what you’ve been calling me!” Yongguk complained.                         Himchan chuckled. “Are you gonna place your bet now, Yonggukie?”                         Youngjae laughed a little. Yonggukie didn’t really suit Yongguk.                         “A hundred and fifty bucks on Daehyun, Himchannie,” Yongguk answered.                         Himchan raised an eyebrow. “An extra fifty than usual?”                         “I’m feeling a bit generous today.” It was Yongguk’s turn to chuckle. “Because you finally stopped calling me Mr. Bang.”                                               Himchan playfully hit him on the shoulder. “I’ll be doing my rounds now,” he said, laughing. “You two enjoy the match.”                         “We will,” the two answered in unison.                          Three rounds into Daehyun’s match. Daehyun has the upper hand. People are whispering, saying that the match will probably be over before Round 10. Youngjae and Yongguk smiled, confident that Daehyun is gonna win.                         Five rounds into the match. The opponent still hasn’t had the chance to hit Daehyun anywhere. He would throw strong punches but they wouldn’t hit Daehyun. He’s just too fast. Youngjae and Yongguk felt it would be over soon.                                               Seventh round. Daehyun threw a powerful right uppercut and hit his opponent squarely on the jaw. It was the second time his opponent fell that night. Just one more and Daehyun is going to win.                         Eighth round. Daehyun’s left fist connected with his opponent’s right cheek. Big mistake. His left is not as powerful as his right. If he had used his right, the match would’ve been over and Daehyun would’ve already won.                         Ninth round. His opponent had somehow regained his strength. His blows kept on coming. Daehyun dodged them expertly until one punch hit the side of his head and he fell. He tried to get up but his knees buckled. Another punch from his opponent and Daehyun collapsed in a heap on the ring.                         Youngjae stood up, aghast. He ran to the side of the ring nearest Daehyun and climbed up, despite protests from the referee. Yongguk came up beside him.                         “Daehyun-ssi? Daehyun-ssi?” Youngjae took Daehyun in his arms. “Something…something is definitely wrong here,” he told Yongguk, his voice shaking.                         “Youngjae, call an ambulance,” Yongguk ordered. He stood up and grabbed Daehyun’s opponent’s wrist and yanked his boxing gloves off. Solid brass knuckles fell on the floor. Daehyun’s opponent ran away.                         “Do you see this?! Do you see this?!” Yongguk growled at the referee, grabbing his shirt collar. “You better make sure he ends up in jail or I’ll smash your head with this!” He pushed the referee off the ring before rushing back to Daehyun’s side.                         “Hyung, what should we do?” Youngjae asked, tears streaming down his face.                         “Have you called for an ambulance already?” Yongguk asked, checking for external injuries on Daehyun’s head. The latter is still unconscious.                         “Yes,” Youngjae answered.                         “The ambulance is here,” Himchan announced after five painfully long minutes. He ran towards them and helped them lift Daehyun onto a stretcher.                         “Daehyun-ssi, please hold on,” Youngjae whispered. “Please, please.”                          Youngjae was sitting on one of the chairs outside the operating room, his head down. Himchan sat beside him, patting his back. Yongguk was pacing up and down the hall, anxiety painted on his face.                         The doctor went out. The three rushed to him.                         “How’s Daehyun?” Yongguk asked.                         “Will he be okay?” Himchan followed.                         “Please, please tell me he’ll be okay,” Youngjae whispered, barely audible.                         “He…he had brain hemorrhage. We’re doing everything we can to save him but chances are slim. I’m sorry,” the doctor informed them. “Could you call his parents or anyone from his family?”                         “He…he’s an orphan. He lives alone. He…he doesn’t have anyone from his family left,” Himchan told the doctor before sinking back into his seat.                         Youngjae grabbed the doctor’s hands. “Doctor, I’m ready to pay you a huge amount. Just make sure he’ll live. Please.”                         “We’re doing everything we can, Mr. Yoo,” the doctor said. “I should get back inside.”                         Youngjae crashed on the floor beside the operating room door, tears streaming down his face.                         Ten minutes later, a group of nurses and doctors rushed into the operating room. Youngjae knew something was wrong. He had gone through this before, when his older brother died fifteen years ago. He didn't want it to happen again.                         “Daehyun! Daehyun! Hold on! Don’t let go! Daehyun!” Youngjae yelled, pounding on the door.                         “Youngjae, calm down,” Yongguk tried to comfort him. “Everything’s gonna be okay.”                         “No, hyung. Nothing would be okay,” Youngjae said, sinking onto the floor once more.                         “Youngjae…” Himchan whispered.                         The doctor had come out.                            Time of death: 1:24 AM.