Gigolò: 10/20

[sexycurrygoat]

---CHAPTER TEN---

The ride in the limo was smooth, if not a bit tense. In Young sat in the side seat as Chansung and Joon sat in the back, keeping their distance from each other. Joon's fist was flexing.

"Hate each other all you want, but don't even bother trying to fight. You should both get over Hyori."

In Young took off her hat and gloves. She set them aside before she reached for the wine bottle already chilling in some ice.

"Would either of you like a drink? I thought we could toast the occasion."

They both glared at her ominously.

"No? Just me then?"

After she poured herself a glass, she started laying out the story.

"I guess you're both wondering what you're doing here. At least, I know you are, Chansung. We were getting close...weren't we-"

"We had sex. That's it," he said, cool as ever.

She removed her glasses.

"Well...besides that fact, there's someone else who fell head over heels for you. ...you remember her, don't you Chan? Small girl? Married to that nerd, Jinki?"

She saw his eyes twitch, and she smiled, setting her glasses aside with her other accessories.

"Of course you do. Either way," she raised her glass, "congrats are in order. ...you may be a father."

It was now Chansung's turn to clench his fists. He remembered Hyoyeon's warning.

"I know you haven't had issues in your...'dealings' before, but this girl took it upon herself to stop birth control all together. Speaking of which, did she ever provide you with a condom when you were with her?"

She took a sip as if it were the most normal conversation to have. Chansung couldn't believe what was happening and looked aghast.

"Chan, Chan, Chan...I thought so. And you call yourself a pro," she took another sip of her wine and chuckled.

"As for Joon here, he was kind enough to help me find you and Hyori. I saw you...the way you looked at her. So many of us saw it, but they didn't care. I did. She was going to be bad for business."

"I said I'm done with that In Young-"

"But Chan...you were so good at it. So good you even fooled me..."

Another sip of wine and she batted her eyes, attempting to dry their newly forming wetness.

"Now, where was I? Oh yes. You remember that party don't you? Oh, what am I saying, of course you do. I invited all of you on purpose. I knew Hyoyeon would break down. Her immature and overstimulated little body would, that brat. You think she'd thank me for giving her your number. ...no matter," she waved her hand and smiled, "you left with me. You left with me, Hyoyeon left with the ever-gullible Jinki and your dear, sweet Hyori was left for Joon. You became the whore and Joon came in as the kind, non-slutting man she needed in her life. That night...when you thought you'd lost her," she leaned into Chansung, whispering breathily, "was the best sex I ever had. One hell of a farewell if you ask me."

Chansung strained in the car, ready to yell at her, push her and jump out of the car, and get away from her stories; but he wanted to listen. He was set up and his whole world was spinning with the new revelations.

"But my story is all over the place, excuse me. ...to put it simply: I hired Joon to get Hyori away from you, but you were so good at what you did that you made a girl purposely get pregnant to keep you. Bravo. Do you follow so far? Chansung? ...I need you to respond sweetie."

Chansung nodded, although forcefully.

"Good. Now, I thought that Joon would keep up on his part, but even he eventually failed me."

She shook her head softly at him. Chansung turned softly to look at him and saw the makings of tears hit his eyes. Joon turned to the window to avoid one being seen as it fell down his cheek.

"Couldn't fuck her. Said it was 'wrong.' As if what he'd been doing wasn't. He," and she looked at him with contempt as she said this, "started to like her too."

She looked back at the glass in her hand, swirling the contents left in it.

"Ah Hyori...lucky bitch doesn't even know what she has."

She looked back up to smile tightly at Chansung again.

"So now, she likes you again. Congratulations."

She raised her glass again.

"But then here comes the matter of Hyoyeon..."

She tapped a finger to her lips.

"She decides to jump in and make things so...complicated."

"So how am I suppose to-"

"Don't try to think yet. There's too much convoluted shit here. Now Chansung, like I said and despite my other opinions of you and Hyori, I like you. You're a good fuck, fine, but you're a sweet kid. Even I can see that. So you have to do one last thing for me if want to get out of this."

"What?" he replied weakly, obligated to listen to her options if he wanted a way out of this.

His life was turning into a big ball of shit, if it hadn't been before.

"Deny. Deny...everything. I'll handle Hyoyeon. She might spout off to Hyori about everything...and everyone, you've been doing if you're not careful. But, like I said, I like you, so I'll help you. She's had her time with you, but when it comes to me..." she finished off her wine, "she really doesn't know who she's fucking with."

Joon sat aside quietly as they rode for ten more minutes as Chansung thought things out. Apparently the driver had been going in circles and they arrived back near campus. In Young began putting her accessories back on.

"Take yourselves home, get some rest. Chansung, I suggest you find a new phone and save my number in it. Joon...don't bother with Hyori anymore. It'll just get difficult. You didn't listen before, but I suggest you do so now. I have enough power to have your ass unemployed for the next ten years if need be. ...too-di-loo, boys."

They stepped out of the limo and watched it drive away, a gloved hand reaching out to wave them off. They stared at each other again, but it was different. Contempt was gone and understanding set in, their clenched fists releasing. They were in love with Hyori and couldn't do a thing about it. Patience was what was needed then.

Only a nod was shared between them as they walked off in opposite directions.

---

"Might I ask why he hasn't been in class this past week?"

Hyori suggested Chansung for the position and felt the pressure settling on her back. Each day Chansung wasn't in, was a day that the professor was losing faith in her. She put in small excuses, saying he was sick or something similar. It grew to him having an infection that would have him out for the week. Unfortunately, there were no doctor's notes, no updates from Hyori who should have visited her close friend in the hospital...nothing.

She attempted calling Chansung in the middle of the next week, her head full of questions concerning class and their relationship.

Nothing.

It was a silence that barreled through her after the last time she saw him.

Joon attended class as well, but she didn't approach him, and he reciprocated the action. Avoidance on both their parts had echoes of the beginning month of that semester ringing back in her ear. She was lonely again, and she could feel his loneliness. It was stupid to think that he hadn't hurt at all from their break, and he did warn her about Chansung.

Why couldn't they at least be friends, she wondered.

Joon walked out of class, earlier than everyone else, as usual, but Hyori excused herself to follow. He didn't notice anyone behind him until he heard the clicks of pumps and a soft voice behind him. Speak, she told herself. Say something.

"Joon?"

He paused, remembering that voice, but kept walking.

"Joon...I know you hear me."

She continued to follow.

"Have you heard from Chansung?"

He stopped softly.

"I haven't seen him in a while and I'm...the professor is getting worried. He was suppose to train as a new TA."

Joon turned around, but let his eyes avoid her as he shifted the backpack strap on his shoulder. He didn't want their eyes to meet, otherwise he would have fallen harder, lost and stranded in her depths.

"If you hear anything, tell me please?"

He nodded his head at the ground and kept silent. She knew it was the best answer she'd receive and turned to head back to class. Joon looked up as she walked away, his heart hurting twice as much as it was before.

Hyori finished her class with a flourish, trying not to let other things bother her. She had one more person to talk to if she couldn't find Chansung.

---

"Back off Jinki," Hyoyeon said, waving her arms at him, "I'm fine."

He'd held back her hair as she threw up into the toilet, only to have her on the ground next to it, pushing him away after. She reached over and flushed.

"Was it something you ate? We should go to the doctor-"

"No doctors. No."

She got herself up weakly and wiped at her mouth. Walking over to the sink, Jinki tried to steady her, but she just shoved him off. Jinki saw her attitude set back in, but thought it was a hangover of some sort. He saw empty wine bottles chinking under the sink every few mornings, though he knew he'd never been much of a drinker himself. Jinki saw his wife deteriorating and he wanted to do something about it. As she washed her face, he brought it up.

"Hyoyeon, were you drinking last night?"

She paused the splashing of her face.

"Maybe," she answered. Don't let him smell your breath, she thought.

It never did smell of alcohol, and never did her sick either.

"I saw the bottles. You should take care to clean them out. ...if you have a problem, talk to me. Don't do this to yourself."

He heaved a heavy sigh as he walked out of the restroom.

Good, she thought, bringing back the memory of alcohol purchases and the emptying of them down the sink. He shouldn't know about the baby. He won't if you let him think you're always drunk. Hide it Hyoyeon. Hide it until you can get rid of it. She never ate with Jinki, excusing her hatred of strong smells on her hangovers.

"When I drink, I get hungry," she'd say, making him run to various restaurants in the middle of the night.

Jinki'd had enough one morning when he saw her throwing up again.

"Hyoyeon," he said, grabbing her wrists and picking her up, "come on baby."

"Don't fucking call me your baby, I hate you."

"You're sick."

He pulled her away from the bathroom and threw a coat on her. When he grabbed his keys, he was pulling her out the door.

"Jinki stop. Stop it Jinki. Let go of me!"

He used her weakened state to pick her up and put her in the car, despite the tantrum she threw. Her hands were pummeling his back as he shoved her into the front seat. When the door was shut, her rushed around to the other side. Hyoyeon practically ran out, but he grabbed her again.

"Jinki please! Let me go! I'll stop okay? I'll stop!"

"No," he said, taking control of his uncontrollable wife.

Next, he opened the back door, setting the childlock and putting her in. When she tried to escape, he'd already made it around and took off toward the hospital. She was in the back crying.

It's too soon, she thought. He can't find out. It'll ruin us.

Despite everything, she came to love Jinki since her break from Chan, but she didn't find herself in love with him, and that was enough to give up the baby; a baby she knew that he'd want to keep.

When they arrived at the hospital, he zoomed up to the emergency room, yelling that his wife had alcohol poisoning and needed help right away.

"What!? Jinki! Stop this, I didn't drink!"

She was crying, frantic and sweating. He helped pull her out of the car, worried beyond belief and too stuck on taking care of her to see what her real 'problem' was.

"Sir," one employee said, trying to calm Jinki down, "calm down and bring her in. We'll have a look at her as soon as possible."

"Miss, I'm not drunk, I swear. You can see it can't you? I'm not drunk!"

She helped Hyoyeon in, dabbing at her forehead and shining a light into her eyes. They were dilating properly. The smell of vomit was floating from her mouth, but it wasn't laden with alcohol. Although the nurse was worried about her profuse sweating and weakened state.

"Sir, you have to let go of her, we can take it from here."

Jinki finally broke the hold on his wife's hand, but she began to cling to him.

"Please, don't let them take me Jinki-"

"They're going to make you better, just let them," he was overcome with emotion and breathing heavily.

"But nothing is wrong with me!" she cried.

Jinki pulled her fingers off of him and let the nurse help her into a wheelchair. As she was rolled off, he started filling out paperwork on her. She looked back at him and then forward again, crumbling as she let herself cry.

---

Hyori arrived at In Young's house later that second week.

"What the hell am I doing?"

With deep breaths, she walked up and rang the doorbell. In Young opened it soon after.

"Well...surprise surprise," she leaned against the door frame and crossed her arms, "why are you here? We haven't talked in months."

A small, knowing smile came up on her face. Hyori sneered at her.

"Don't play stupid. You know."

"Oh I do? Then I must have forgotten, you'll need to remind me."

In Young raised one arm until it was leaning against the frame, elongating her short body. The other fell to her hip.

"...Chansung. I saw him get into your limo two weeks ago."

"Oh that!" she snapped her fingers, "Well, come in then."

In Young walked back into her house, dragging her feet lazily.

"Quit standing there Hyori. If you want answers, you'll come in."

Hyori stepped into the grand home again, sitting herself down in the same place she was comforting her friend just months before.

"I take it he hasn't called you then? You know he has a new phone, right?"

"In Young...let's just cut to the chase. Are you back with him?"

In Young spread herself out on a chair across from Hyori.

"If I were, do you think I'd bother to get the door? Shoot, I wouldn't let that man leave my bed if he were with me again."

She smiled at the memory. Hyori quickly became flush.

"Hyori come on, don't tell me you didn't even try a piece of that yet? ...goodness you are a prude."

"Let's not talk about my sex life here, I just need to know where he is," Hyori stated.

In Young peered over at her friend.

"He's around, that's all you need to know. He just has some issues he needs to deal with."

"Do they concern you?"

"Not necessarily, but I spoke to him about it."

Hyori found herself getting angry, and couldn't contain the emotion, letting it flow onto her face.

"Hey, don't get mad at me," In Young said, "I've had a 'deeper' history with him than you, don't you think?"

"'Screwing' is not considered 'deep.'"

"And you're 'talking' was? Again, get over yourself Hyori. You have a pussy, like any other woman, and you don't think that it can make or break a relationship? Just ask Joon."

She whispered the last sentence, but Hyori heard her.

"Excuse me?"

"What? Were you just not giving it up, or was it bad? Or was it him? He never did seem like the type to take control of a situation..."

Hyori's face turned red.

"Ah...so it was the sex. My advice to you, when Chansung comes back...fuck his brains out. Maybe he'll stick around."

"That's the stupidest-"

"Then why did he leave you and get in my car Hyori?"

In Young walked back to the door and opened it for her.

"Go back to school and do your job."

She ran her hands through her hair when she saw Hyori wasn't getting up.

"Look, he wants you, and dammit he's probably in love with you. He came to talk to me because he doesn't know what the hell to do with you. You like him one day and you hate him the next. Give him a chance. I mean, he turned down my advances...and look at me."

Hyori turned around and rose out of the seat as In Young gave her a hopeful look. She walked away from the chairs and back towards the door.

"Go get your man, and stop letting stupid holdups like his past get the better of you. You're a stupid bitch, but I love you, too. ...now get out of my house."

In Young gave her a wayward smile and Hyori returned one slowly. She stepped out of the house and went back to her car. In Young was a crazy bitch, but she loved her too, and began to see why they were friends in the first place.

Back inside the house, In Young walked to the bottom of her stairs and yelled up to the second floor.

"There! She finally came by and I spoke to her! Are you happy!? If you were still in business, you would owe me at least two hours of your time!"

Chansung slowly walked out of a second room she had upstairs and smiled at her.

"Thanks," he said.

She smiled at him and walked off.

"Yeah, yeah."

---

Jinki sat, foot tapping hurriedly on the emergency room floor. He was anxious, angry, and every other confused emotion rolled into one. Hyoyeon was somewhat of a match, and a bit crazy of late, but he loved her nonetheless. He worried and kept gazing at the clock. Two hours later and no one had gotten back to him yet.

Tests. It's just a few tests they're running probably, he told himself.

His foot continued to tap.

As the third hour approached, a different woman spoke up.

"Mr. Lee?"

His head popped up and he sprang out of his seat. New nurse, there must have been a team of people, what if there was a surgery, dear God...all these thoughts ran through him.

"Yes, that's me. How's Hyoyeon? Is she alright? How long will she have to stay?"

"She's fine. I'm sorry we couldn't get back to you sooner. She's a little weak but we have her calmed down."

She handed him a prescription.

"Now, these are the prenatal vitamins she'll need to start taking as soon as she gets home, don't let-"

"Prenatal...vitamins?"

"Yes sir. Also, makes sure she stays hydrated. If the nausea becomes worse, just give us a call with any-"

"Why would you subscribe her these when she was drinking?"

The nurse looked at him confusedly, but awareness struck her at Jinki's confusion.

"Mr. Lee...your wife was never drunk. Her nausea was just a bout of morning sickness. Your wife's liver, kidneys, stomach...everything is functioning perfectly sir. She's pregnant."

Jinki froze and clasped his fingers around each other.

"Can I...see her?"

"Yes, right this way."

She led him down the hall until they arrived at the entrance of a sterile hospital room. When they entered, she was hooked to an IV and looking out the window. She was thinking hard on something, her brows furrowed in concentration.

"Hyoyeon..."

His voice was whispered across the space as the nurse let herself out. He came near her bed and saw his wife, silently biting her lip.

"Jinki, I'm sorry. I can't tell you how sorry I am. I have to tell you something-"

"It's fine," a smile came onto his face, "I know honey, I know."

He kissed her forehead and took her hands in his. The smile only grew wider.

"You know?" she almost perplexed by his happiness.

"Yes. Why couldn't you tell me you were pregnant? The wine bottles?" he questioned.

"I...poured those down the sink. I didn't know how to tell you Jinki, I still don't know if I still can-"

"Tell me what? We didn't plan for it fine, but...we'll take care of it."

He petted her head gently.

"I'll do whatever I can to help take care of our baby."

Hyoyeon suddenly found herself crying, from a deep sadness. 'Our baby,' he said.

He didn't know.