Pay With Your Heart

Chapter 356: Help The Girl

Ni-Na sat on a bench outside the intensive care unit where Eun-sun was kept. Restlessly, she tapped her foot on the ground while her mind endlessly pondered on the actions she was about to take. Dan-Han might scold her for it, but her mind won’t stop musing on it if she doesn’t. She peered at her phone one more time before dialing the number on display.

Her heart skidded as it rang and when it finally connected she drew in a shaky breath to calm herself.

“Little girl, if you’re calling to scold me again, I’ll have you know that I’m way older than you.” In-Ha silkily said through the phone.

“That’s not why I’m calling.”

“Really?” Why did he find that hard to believe. She was just as bold and daring as Eun-sun, and she scolded him in a similar way, and at every opportunity she gets.

“I...” Ni-Na hesitated. “You should come to the hospital now.”

“Hospital? Why?” In-Ha curious frown framed his face.

.....

Ni-Na hesitated again. She wondered if she should tell him exactly what was going on.

No, he’d be overly worried and he might recklessly drive there.

“Just come here, it’s important.” She hurriedly said and hung up. She deeply sighed when she realized how fast her heart was pounding. Maybe this was a bad idea. Not just for her, but for everybody involved.

In-Ha befuddlingly stared at his phone after she hung up. That was strange, he thought. He wondered what was wrong with her. Why was she asking him to come to a hospital? Was she sick? Even if she was, why was she calling him? Or was it Dan-Han?

Immediately, he scrolled through his contact list and dialed Jae-Hyun’s number, but the man didn’t answer. In-Ha got himself ready and drove to the hospital.

“What’s wrong? You got me worried. Is Dan-Han okay?” He asked in one breath the moment he saw her. Hints of worry and concern lingered in his voice.

“Dan-Han is okay-”

“So?”

“Eun-sun isn’t.”

He frowned. “Eun-sun isn’t what?”

“Fine.” She answered making In-Ha’s frown deepen. Ni-Na sighed and walked towards the door of Eun-sun’s room. She gestured with her head for him to come over. In-Ha stared at the inscriptions on the board which read, ‘Intensive Care Unit.’

In-Ha glanced at Ni-Na again before walking towards the door. He looked through the transparent glass at the upper part of the door and his body stiffened. He properly to ensure he was seeing well, but nothing changed. Though the person on the bed looked pale, and was covered with bandages and a lot of tubes hanging around, but he could tell it was her.

He instantly tried to open the door, but Ni-Na stopped.

“You can’t go in. The doctor’s said no one can go in for now.” She held his hand tightly holding the knob.

In-Ha briefly looked at her, he shook his head and tried opening the door again. There was determination in his eyes.

“In-Ha, you have to stop. It isn’t safe for you to go in there. She’s still in danger.”

“Danger? What the hell happened to her?!!” He lividly roared. “Why is she in such a state?!” He yanked her hand off his.

Ni-Na sadly sighed. “She was attacked.”

“Attacked?” In-Ha was shocked. “By who?” He angrily demanded. Ni-Na looked at his eyes and she saw the anger and worry glinting inside them.

“We don’t know. But you have to be calm.”

“Calm?” He gazed at her in utter disbelief. How could he be calm? He looked at Eun-sun again, and his heart clenched tightly.

“Where’s Dan-Han?” He asked.

“He had business to take care of.”

“By business you mean he had gone after those who did this? This is because of him isn’t it?” In-Ha could swear Eun-sun was in this situation because of Dan-Han.

Ni-Na scowled when she heard his accusation. “No one knows what happened, and you just can’t blame Dan-Han for this!” She glared at him. Maybe she really shouldn’t have called him over.

She watched him sigh as he placed his hand on the door and painfully looked at Eun-sun. The girl was limply lying there. Now, he seemed like he could cry and pass out any moment now. She felt a ache on her inside. And why did he even look so lean?

“In-Ha?” She gently called.

“What really happened to her?” He asked. Ni-Na wasn’t sure if she should tell him exactly what happened, but she did anyway. Eun-sun’s situation was precarious, and even though they were all being hopeful with her situation, as a case of poisoning was dangerous, she thought it would be best if everyone close to her were there for her at the moment. And although, Eun-sun’s and In-Ha’s situation was a delicate one, she had heard they were both friends.

Ni-Na narrated what happened and what the doctors had said.

“So they’re currently trying to identify what she had been poisoned it. Brother Jae-Hyun said it isn’t a common substance, so it might be difficult to identify.”

“So you’re saying, she might die if they don’t find it fast?” In-Ha’s eyes were filled with horror. He was hoping that wasn’t the case. He really hoped it wasn’t. His heart was already clenching and throbbing hardly. Was he suffocating?

“In-Ha.” Ni-Na panicked and hurriedly pulled him into a hug when she saw him struggle so badly.

“I...I only got to tell her how I feel and I kept away from her. She doesn’t deserve all this hardship thrown at her one after another.” He cried. In-Ha couldn’t help the tears. He has been missing her for days, and everyday had been a struggle for him. Had he known something like this would happen, that she’d suddenly be at death doors, he would never have avoided her at all. Even if she only loves Dan-Han, he knew she also loves him in her own way. He didn’t want the last time they met to be the last he’d see of her.

If there was a sacrifice he could make to save her, he’d do it. He’ll stop loving her if that would save her and bring her back. He’ll try to even if it kills him.

“I don’t want her-”

“She’ll be fine.” Ni-Na comforted and assured him. She haven’t seen In-Ha like this in a long while. Whenever he was in pain or was troubled, he would always bury it and find comfort underneath a skirt. This was a side of him he hadn’t revealed in a while.

Ni-Na flinched when In-Ha returned her hug, but he also quickly pulled away.

“I’ll go see Jae-Hyun. I’ll be back.” He told her before turning to leave.

“Wait!” She stopped him. “Do you know if she has anybody that’ll be worried for her. Any family member or friend we can call?” She inquired.

“She lives with her best friend, and there’s also her mom, but I don’t think their relationship is a smooth one.” He told her.

“Well, we still have to tell them, right? They might be worried.”

In-Ha wasn’t sure about Eun-sun’s mother as he had never met her, and Eun-sun rarely talked about her. But her friend would indeed be worried.

“I’ll see Jae-Hyun first, then we can ask Dan-Han about this.” He told her and sauntered away. Ni-Na watched him leave, and she wondered if truly In-Ha had changed.

...

In-Ha gloomily barged into Jae-Hyun’s office, slightly startling the man.

“Why didn’t you call me?” He angrily demanded making Jae-Hyun wearily sigh.

Jae-Hyun kneaded his temple. “Who called you?” He asked.

“That isn’t the question. Why didn’t you call me? And why aren’t you doing something to save her?”

Jae-Hyun frowned at him. “Do I look like I’m playing to you?”

In-Ha sighed and softened his countenance on realizing he was being rude. “You have to do something Jae-Hyun, please.”

“And I am. I don’t perform miracles. All available hands are working on this, and we believe something good will happen.”

They were still talking when Jae-Hyun’s phone rang. It was a call from the lobby.

“Yes.”

“Sir, a package has been delivered for you.” The nurse at the lobby informed him.

“Okay.” He disconnected the call and turned to In-Ha.

“I know you care about her, and I understand how you’re feeling, but please keep it down. Unless you have something for me to help her with, stop barging into my office and stop yelling. I can’t work well with all this pressure and yelling, and also try not to do all this in the presence of Dan-Han. He’s really not in a good frame of mind today, and she’s his woman nit yours.” He told him, and quickly added. “I have a package to pick, and I have to check up with the labs. You can stay here to cool off for the time being.” He said and left without waiting for In-Ha’s response.

.....

SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY

Mr Park was solely enjoying the cold and darkness of the night with his cigar and whiskey. His mind kept looping back to the day he had met Eun-sun at the restaurant. The look on her face when he told her he wasn’t her father. That desperate look of disbelief that flashed through her eyes was unforgettable. He saw the silent plea to tell her it was a joke. The hurt and pain in her eyes was something he had never seen in them before. Those eyes had always looked alive and happy when she was younger. When she was his princess.

He hissed as he took a drag of his cigar. It wasn’t his fault, he couldn’t let go of the hurt he had also experienced. What happened to their family was all because of Song-Hee’s poor decision in life, and even now she hasn’t learnt her lesson.

He wondered if she’d heed his advice.

“Boss,” A subordinate called from behind him. He waved him over.

The man walked closer. “Sir, we got info something happened to the girl you asked Sam to watch after.”

“What happened?” He casually asked.

The man brought out a phone and gave it to him. “Someone attacked her at her place of work.”

Mr Park frowned when he saw the picture of Eun-sun in an hospital bed.

“Who attacked her?”

“Sir, no one knows. Should we look into it?”

“No.” He replied. He looked at the picture again. “CEO Lee would have handled it already. And I’m obligated to do anything for her.”

“So we should do nothing?” The man inquired.

Mr Park touched her face on the picture. “Why does she have such Ill luck? She must have killed someone in her past life.” He hissed and passed the phone back to the man.

“Send it to Song-Hee. If it doesn’t move her to help the girl, then she must be a devil.”

.....