Pay With Your Heart

Chapter 357: Apology

The night was an unusual one, filled with worries, fear and sadness, and the morning seemed to be far worse. Everyone’s anxiety had toppled a few scales as they awaited some good news, any news that would bring relief not just to them but to Dan-Han who was in his worst state and seemed not to have slept a wink last night. Fear and anguish could be clearly seen in his eyes as he watched her from the door, his hands buried deep in his pocket.

“Dan-Han.” His aunt called, as she and Ni-Na approached him.

Dan-Han turned towards them, but his eyes fell on the man beside them. They silently held each other’s gaze before Dan-Han turned to his aunt who was standing in front of him.

“Any news yet?” She anxiously asked while he shook his nod. She hissed. “It was hours already.” There was supposed to be some result already.

She cupped his face. “You’re tired.”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s what you’ve been saying since last night. Ni-Na said you didn’t eat.”

.....

“Not hungry.” He replied.

“But you have to eat something. You’ll fall sick if you continue like this, and she wouldn’t be happy with you. So eat something, mmm? For her.”

Dan-Han fell silent. He gazed at In-Ha who was standing behind the two women before giving a curt nod. Including Eun-sun’s probable displeasure in him starving was enough to convince him.

“Good.” His aunt smiled and quickly gestured for Ni-Na to bring the bag of food they had brought.

“Here, big bro.” Ni-Na passed the bag to him. She felt a pang in her chest when she saw the distraught look in his eyes. She couldn’t help but give him a hug.

“This will soon pass over.” She encouraged him. She turned to In-Ha who was being too silent. She took a step back and surreptitiously stepped on his toes before nudging him forward towards Dan-Han.

Both mother and daughter shared a look and excused themselves, leaving the two estranged men alone. They silently stared at each other, the ambience slowly turning heavy till In-Ha finally broke the silence.

“How is she?” He inquired, but Dan-Han remained silent, his intense gaze on him not faltering for a second. After several seconds of screeching silence which felt like aeons to In-Ha, Dan-Han turned around to leave.

“Dan-Han.” In-Ha hastily called, halting him on his heels. He walked around him and stood in front of him. He hesitated when he met the man’s lethal gaze, and he also felt like walking away, but Ni-Na...that girl had manipulated him into unknowingly promising her to fix his issues with Dan-Han. If only she knew it wouldn’t be that simple to resolve, but he knew if he didn’t, that girl would plague his life to no end. And honestly, he also wanted to do this.

“I’m sorry.” He apologized.

In-Ha gulped when Dan-Han continuously stared at him with silence, but his eyes weren’t as silent as his lips. There was anger, and some frightening coldness in them. It was macabre.

“I know I messed up and you didn’t deserve any of that especially not from me. Dan-Han, I’m sorry. I didn’t wish for any of those things to happen. I didn’t wish to hide mother’s illness from you, she has been a mother to me even before I lost mine. I also didn’t plan to fall for the same woman as you, or kis-” He paused when Dan-Han’s gaze on suddenly hardened on him. Hay stones threatening to rain out of them.

“Dan-Han, I’m truly sorry. I miss my friend and brother.” He honestly said.

Being under Dan-Han’s intense eyes made him quite uneasy. The man naturally had a way of unsettling people, and the current situation seem to have heightened it.

“You should know you’re scaring me.” In-Ha truthfully told him.

“You should be.” He stoically replied, but his response made In-Ha’s lips twitch. He finally said a word. That was a sign.

“Does this mean-”

“It means nothing, Kang In-Ha. Just don’t provoke me twice.”

“I won’t.” A small smile threatened to split In-Ha’s face knowing what Dan-Han’s words meant. Dan-Han was a difficult man, but he knew him best. He understood him perfectly even when he wasn’t saying anything. The look on his face wavered and a serious look replaced it.

“Eun-sun’s condition-”

“I’m taking care of it.” Dan-Han curtly replied and started walking away, while In-Ha quickly followed behind.

“Who did it?” In-Ha couldn’t stop himself from asking the question that has been on his mind all night.

“I don’t know.”

“Could it be your dad?” Father Lee was his first suspect, and that was why he had blamed Dan-Han last night. His father could be cruel when he wanted, and it was common knowledge he didn’t like Eun-sun, neither did he want her for his son. But after pondering on it, he realized Dan-Han was just as hurt as he was, so there was no need pointing fingers.

“He didn’t.” Dan-Han replied him.

“Then-” He slurred when he Dan-Han stopped and turned to him with menacing eyes

“If you have any questions about her health, you know who to ask. You’ve apologized and I’ve accepted, but don’t bother about my woman too much in my presence, it makes me want to hurt you.”

They both stared at each other, each with different thoughts going through their mind, but both understanding how each other felt. In-Ha understood that Dan-Han would never be comfortable with him having feelings for Eun-sun, and Dan-Han equally knew In-Ha was only being worried for Eun-sun not just because of his feelings, but because of the friendship between them. But he couldn’t just look past the feelings he had, especially when he In-Ha wouldn’t be able to get rid of them anytime soon.

Eun-sun was his woman, and having another man, friend or not, harbouring feelings for her would never seat well with him.

Both men still had their gaze on each other, when hurried feets came running towards them, Jae-Hyun leading the squad of doctors and nurses coming their way or rather heading towards Eun-sun’s room.

“What is it?” Dan-Han deeply frowned, while In-Ha turrned towards the door when beeping sounds of monitors started emanating from the room.