Yoonah
I park the car right outside the Casino and frown as I turn to look at Baekhyun. ‘So, this is where you go and spend your money and then end up in * huh?’ I ask. He looks down and I close my eyes and try to inhale as much air as I can before I explode. ‘You’re an *, you know that, right?’ I ask.
‘I do noona and I already apologized for this.’ He replies and I scoff. ‘I’m sorry noona. I can’t help myself but I promise, I’ll stay away this time.’ He says.
‘This is the third time that I am giving you money to pay off some losers so this time I’m going to make really sure you don’t do this * again.’ I say and I see his eyes going slightly wide.
‘What do you mean noona? What are you going to do?’ He asks, getting agitated and scared.
‘I’m going to warn them to not lend you money. Now come on, let’s go.’ I say, getting out of the car before he can say anything else. He puts on his hood and trails behind me while I walk towards the entrance door. I see Baekhyun struggling to actually keep up with me. Slowpoke! I think to myself. I reach the entry doors and see the two bodyguards looking at me. ‘What are you looking at?’ I ask, or more precisely, snap. The bigger one of the two guys chuckles.
‘It’s not exactly every day that we get a woman dressed in baggy pants and a tank top.’ He says snickering. I realize my attire is not exactly the most Casino-appropriate, especially when it’s the biggest and fanciest one in Seoul but quite honestly, I don't really care.
‘I’m here to settle some things. Is there some kind of law about how I should be dressed to play?’ I ask, getting irritated.
‘Not really. You can go right ahead ma’am.’ He replies, still wearing that * smirk on his face. If I could punch you right now… but I keep calm. They open the doors and we walk inside.
‘Now where?’ I ask my brother. He gulps and he starts to lead the way. I realize just how much he actually knows this place, which obviously does not sit well with me. He should have never stepped inside this place in the first place.
‘Noona, you’ve got to be careful with these people. They’re dangerous and they won’t care that you’re a woman.’ Baekhyun says.
‘So why are you getting involved with them huh? The Casino is no place for you. You’re still practically a kid who can’t take care of himself.’ I reply.
‘Noona, I’m eighteen not eight.’ He says with a frown and I scoff as I let out a little chuckle.
‘So what? You could be thirty years old and still be immature and at the rate you’re going, that might just be the reality for you unless you grow up.’ I say. He looks away and doesn’t respond just as we make our way through the crowd.
I see a woman in an expensive dress looking at me in disgust and I roll my eyes. We finally reach a backroom and there are two more bodyguards there. I go to open the door when one of them stops me. ‘You can’t go in there.’ He says gruffly. Baekhyun takes a step forward and removes the hood. The bodyguard sees him and rolls his eyes. ‘You again? Is Boss expecting you?’ He asks.
‘You could say that.’ Baekhyun replies with a mischievous grin. My brother may be an * most of the time but he definitely knows how to use his charm. They open the doors for us and we go inside. This time I’m the one strutting forward as we reach inside. There’s a large poker table and a number of people around it – all of them wearing expensive clothing and jewelry. If the circumstances weren’t so dire, I’d be worried about the fact that I am so under-dressed but right now my focus is paying my brother’s debt and getting us out of this place.
‘Baekhyun!’ The one, who I assume is boss says. He stands up and fixes his suit and then his bow. He’s tall, with broad shoulders and his hair slicked back. ‘Baekhyun – who is this lovely lady you have brought with you?’ He asks as he plasters on a charismatic smile but I don’t fall for it. Baekhyun goes to say something but I cut him off.
‘I’m his noona. I came to pay off his debt.’ I promptly respond. Boss smiles as he walks towards me. He takes my hand in his and kisses the top of it.
‘Pleasure to make your acquaintance Ms. Noona.’ He says with a knowing smile. ‘Please, come to my office and we can talk more freely on the matter.’ He says. I look at Baekhyun who gulps but we do as we are told. Boss, walks towards another door – this one made of wood and with another bodyguard there. Damn – there’s no getting to this guy. He opens the door for us and we walk in just while Boss follows in behind us. ‘Please sit down.’ He says but I shake my head.
‘We are not here to talk. We’re here to give you the money but I am also here to warn you.’ I say. He looks at me, an amused smile on his face.
‘Warn me? That’s a bit… intriguing.’ He says as he sits down on the leather chair at his desk.
‘Call it whatever you want but get this through your head. Stay away from my brother and don’t lend him any more money, even if he comes begging to you. I don’t want any trouble and I do not like people taking advantage of his youth and I especially do not like people who raise their hand on him.’ I say. He chuckles as he looks at me and then at Baekhyun.
‘Baekhyun, are you sure this is your sister? I mean, she’s got a fiery spirit unlike you.’ He says and I roll my eyes. I take out the envelope with the money in it and throw it at his desk.
‘There’s your money. Come on Baek, let’s go.’ I say as I turn around but I hear Boss laughing.
'Now, hold on a minute princess.’ He says as he stands up. I stop walking and turn around. ‘This is what he originally owed me but that was two weeks ago. He kept evading my men and gave them so much trouble. There is also the issue of interest.’ He says.
‘Interest? What do you mean?’ I ask, my blood running cold because I know exactly what he means.
‘Sweetie, do you really think I would lend him money without earning some kind of profit in return? He owes me over one hundred and twenty thousand won.’ He says and I gasp. Well *! He walks over to me and touches the strand of my hair. ‘I’m not usually the forgiving type but I would be willing to forgive if you… hm, how to say this, perhaps pay me in a different way.’ He says as his hands go to my face.
‘Boss… I’ll find a way to get you the money.’ Baekhyun says but Boss shakes his head.
‘I’m not sure I’m interested in money right now.’ Boss says as he comes closer. I can smell the scent of whiskey on his breath. His lips crash against mine and I push him away, my hand rising as I slap him across the face. He stares at me, his expression full of rage. ‘You *.’ He says as he strikes me across the face with the back of his hand. The ring on his middle finger cuts at my lip while the force of the strike, sends me down to the ground.
‘NOONA!’ Baekhyun yells as he quickly comes in front of me. Baekhyun don’t! – I want to scream but it’s like I have lost my voice. ‘Boss please forgive my sister – she acted rashly. I’ll find a way and get you the money. I swear.’ He says. I look at my little brother with wide eyes.
‘It took you two weeks to get the money. This is double the amount and the more time you take, the more the interest goes up.’ Boss says.
‘I know but I will get it somehow. I don’t care how but I will but please, don’t hurt my noona.’ Baekhyun says.
‘Fine. I’ll let this one slide but I want the money by two days’ time. Got it?’ He asks and Baekhyun nods and bows. He helps me up as he hurries me out of the office and then out of the room.
‘What the hell where you thinking slapping him? Do you want to get us both killed?’ Baekhyun says as we make our way towards outside. I don’t respond as we continue walking before we finally reach outside. I hurry to the car and get in. I hear Baekhyun getting in as well just as I slam my hand against the steering wheel. ‘Noona?’ He says but I keep staring onward. ‘Noona!’ He says again as he forces me too look at him. He frowns as he sees the cut on my lip. ‘Aish noona! Why did you have to do that?’ He asks as he grabs a tissue from the box and tries to wipe at it.
‘Did you expect me to sleep with him to pay your debt?’ I yell and he winces. ‘I know slapping him wasn’t the right thing to do and it only aggravated the situation but when he kissed me, I just felt completely disgusted.’ I say.
‘I know Noona and I am so sorry I got you into this mess.’ He says and I look at him as I take in the sorry sight. He’s scared but also sad, tears brimming at his eyes.
‘Truth is I want to be really mad at you and hit you until you learn but I can’t even do that. You protected me.’ I say, giving him a warm smile. Right now, I don’t see my * brother who keeps getting into trouble but my little brother who is still trying to learn how to survive. ‘And don’t worry about the money. I have some money saved away and we’ll come with it tomorrow but that’s it, got it? It's got to stop.’ I ask and he nods.
‘Yes, noona. Thank you so much. I love you.’ He says as he comes to hug me. I freeze for a moment, not having heard him say that in years. I warm up as I hug him back. Don’t worry little brother – I’ll find a way to fix this. I drive him home and we get out of the car. ‘What are we going to tell Eomma?’ He asks.
‘Tell me about what?’ She asks from behind us. I see her holding her shopping basket and I quickly take one while Baekhyun takes the other one. ‘Yoona! What happened to your face? Who hit you?’ She asks, her voice shrilling and high pitched.
‘Nobody Eomma. I was tired and playing on my phone and I walked into a glass door.’ I say, trying to remain neutral. She doesn’t look too convinced as she looks at Baekhyun who looks everywhere but at her.
‘If you say so. Come on, let me make you some dinner.’ She says and I nod. Baekhyun smiles at her and nods.
‘I’ll eat with you.’ He says and Eomma looks at him with wide eyes. ‘If you don’t mind.’ He murmurs.
‘Of course not. I’m just happy that we’ll be eating together. It’s been a while since Yoona is always away at work and you’re always…’ She begins but stops, shakes her head and smile. ‘Want to help me prepare?’ She asks.
‘Sure Eomma.’ He replies and I smile in contentment. We go inside and I set everything down. I go to the bathroom and look in the mirror. I open the tap and wash my face and try to rub at my chin where there is some dried blood.
My lower lip has a cut on it which has made it swell a bit now. It stings but it’s nothing that won’t heal. The boys will be returning tomorrow evening and I’m sure they’ll notice it and they’ll be asking questions but this is not something I can share with them. It’s too risky and I won’t involve them in this, I can’t. I care too much about them to involve them in something like this.
How did we end up like this? Appa why did you have to leave? If you didn’t leave us for that woman, Baekhyun would not be acting like this. We wouldn’t be in this mess. I sigh, put on a smile and go back to the kitchen from where I can hear Eomma's laughter.
As promised, this chapter is all about Yoona and her brother Baekhyun. He's gotten himself in quite some trouble and with him, his sister. She's trying to protect him but Baekhyun might have a gambling addiction / problem which won't go away so easily. As you might already know, I like to tackle certain real life issues and some which will be addressed in this story include poverty and the effects of it (perhaps by looking at social class) as well as addictions and the possible consequences that might come along. Of course this is a story and not necessarily the most accurate representation but I do want to create awareness. I look forward to what you think. - Tae's Misfit
Please check out my other BTS Story
Wings of Innocence (BTS)