Inside the Hotel
The room reeked of sweat, alcohol, and indulgence. Ji-ho's crew, shirtless and glistening under the dim lights, took turns with the two exhausted women on the sofa in the karaoke room, passing them between each other like playthings. Laughter and moans mixed with the clinking of bottles and the faint hum of city life beyond the hotel window.
Youngsoo groaned as he rolled off the bed, reaching for his pants.
"Where you heading? It's just getting good!" one of the goons called out, taking a long drag from his cigarette.
Youngsoo buckled his belt lazily. "I gotta get some water. Running low on fluids."
Mocking laughter followed him as he exited the room, leaving behind the sick display of debauchery.
At the vending machine Youngsoo inserted a few bills into the machine and pressed for a bottle of mineral water, tapping his fingers impatiently as he watched the bottle of water drop.
Suddenly he felt a presence looming behind him.
Before he could react, a pair of iron-like hands grabbed the back of his head and slammed his face into the vending machine glass. The shatter-resistant surface cracked upon impact, spiderweb fractures spreading like veins.
A low, venomous voice growled in his ear.
"You came to my fucking house, you piece of shit."
Youngsoo barely managed to push against the glass, his nose already leaking blood. "Get the fuck off me!"
Another brutal slam sent his head bouncing off the button tabs of the vending machine, making his vision blur. A barrage of rapid punches buried into his ribs, each one digging deep, forcing out pained grunts.
"Where is my sister?" Rafiel's voice was ice-cold, his breath hot against Youngsoo's ear.
Youngsoo gasped, barely able to force words out between the sharp, burning pain in his ribs. "She's… with Ji-ho…"
"I'm not gonna play twenty questions."
Rafiel slammed Youngsoo's face harder against the cracking glass surface, the jagged edges digging into his cheek, drawing thin lines of blood.
Youngsoo screamed. "AAHHGG!! 388! Room… 388."
Rafiel let out a satisfied grunt. "Thanks."
Then he grabbed the back of Youngsoo's head and slammed it into the wall. The sickening crunch of bone against plaster echoed through the hallway as Youngsoo collapsed in a heap, unconscious.
Rafiel walked down towards the elevator and stepped inside, blood still on his hands, chest rising and falling as his rage simmered.
Before the doors could fully close, a voice rang out.
"Youngsoo! What happened?!"
Two goons rushed from the room, one immediately spotting Rafiel.
"Over there!"
One of them sprinted at full speed, slipping into the elevator just before the doors sealed shut.
The other ran back, shouting, "Party's over! Someone's after Ji-ho!" as he banged on the neighboring doors, waking up Ji-ho's sleeping and partying goons.
Inside the elevator, the half-dressed thug squared up with Rafiel.
The two men traded blows like caged animals.
Rafiel dodged a wild swing and delivered a vicious uppercut, lifting the man onto his toes. He followed up by grabbing the back of the thug's head and smashing his forehead against his nose.
The goon stumbled, dazed, but retaliated by catching Rafiel's knee strike with both hands, shoving him backward before launching a series of rapid kidney punches.
A surge of white-hot pain burned through Rafiel's side, but he pushed through, his fury outweighing the pain.
He caught the thug in a reverse headlock and drove his elbow into his back—again and again—until the man crumpled to his knees.
With no hesitation, Rafiel delivered a brutal knee to the man's face, a sharp crack signaling a broken nose. Blood sprayed against the elevator wall as Rafiel followed up with a relentless rain of punches, each strike breaking something new.
When the man finally went limp, Rafiel let his unconscious body slump onto the floor.
The elevator was thick with the scent of sweat and blood.
Leaning back against the railing, Rafiel took deep, ragged breaths. His reflection stared back at him from the polished metal walls—except it wasn't him.
A younger version of himself, barely a teenager, stood beside him, looking up with questioning eyes.
"Are you going to do it this time?" the boy asked.
Rafiel clenched his fists.
"Are you going to kill him?" The boy clarified.
Before he could answer, the elevator dinged.
The doors slid open—and chaos exploded.
Ji-ho's men were already waiting.
They rushed in, a wave of muscle and rage, slamming into Rafiel and forcing him against the back wall. Fists and knees hammered into him, smashing his ribs, his gut, his face.
Rafiel gritted his teeth, vision flashing red as he saw the hallway beyond—just steps away.
Using the wall for leverage, he planted both feet and shoved with all his strength, forcing the group back.
They all tumbled out of the elevator in a tangled heap, Rafiel landing hard on the filthy carpet.
A burly man attacked from behind locking a thick arm around Rafiel's throat, dragging him backward. Another goon approached, fists raised.
"Hold 'em steady." he ordered before burying his knuckles into Rafiel's ribs over and over.
Pain flared through Rafiel's torso, but he gritted through it. He lifted both legs and kicked the attacker square in the stomach, sending him flying backward.
Then, with a sharp jerk, he slammed his skull back into the nose of the man choking him.
A wet crunch. A scream.
Once released Rafiel spun and drove a fist into the man's shattered nose, then grabbed him and hurled him into the oncoming crowd.
His eyes then landed on a fire extinguisher mounted on the wall to his right.
Without hesitation, he smashed the glass, grabbed the extinguisher, and yanked the pin.
One thug charged at him—Rafiel blasted his face with the spray.
Then, with a brutal swing, he shattered the man's kneecap.
A bone-jarring snap echoed through the hallway. The thug collapsed, screaming.
Rafiel seeing the man on his knees shoved the extinguisher's nozzle into his mouth, hand on the trigger.
The man's eyes widened in terror.
Rafiel hesitated.
Then—he removed the nossle.
The man shakingly smiled at being spared before Rafiel simply swung the extinguisher like a hammer, shattering the man's jaw.
Two goons remained.
Rafiel, extinguisher still in hand charged preparing a swing.
One caught Rafiel's swing, yanking the extinguisher from his grasp, while the other landed a vicious kick to Rafiel's ribs.
Rafiel stumbled. They bombarded him.
They were quick. One would strike, forcing Rafiel to react, while the other followed up.
A perfect rhythm.
Wheezing, spitting up blood and struggling to stand, Rafiel fell to one knee and as one of the men approached him preparing to throw a down punch, Rafiel grabbed him by the crotch and squeezed with all his strength.
A howl of pure agony filled the hall.
Still gripping, Rafiel lifted the man off the ground and hurled him across the floor.
The final thug hesitated. He was alone now.
Rafiel, now bloodied and bruised with cold dead eyes slowly closed the distance. The man now nervous tries to throw a punch, Rafiel caught his punch mid-air, spun the man around and kicked the man's arm, snapping it backwards at the elbow.
The scream never came. Rafiel jabbed him in the throat, silencing him, then grabbed his head and slammed it into the wall with such force it left a hole.
Silence..
After seeing the goons all laid out, Rafiel could finally take a breath. Panting, covered in blood—his and theirs—Rafiel wiped his mouth and stepped over the bodies.
As he passed the thug still clutching his broken crotch, Rafiel barely spared him a glance before stomping his face into the floor breaking all his front teeth.
He stared down at the half-conscious man with a pool of blood forming from his mouth.
And as he looked up he could see his younger self looking at him with the same cold expression.
The two states at one another before the younger Rafiel raised his arm pointing down the turn of the hallway.
Without looking back, Rafiel walked toward Room 388.
Hana's screams tore through the dimly lit room, raw and desperate. She fought against the weight of Ji-Ho pinning her down, thrashing with everything she had left. Her wrists, bound tightly, burned as she twisted against the restraints.
"NOOO! LET ME GO! GET OFF!"
Ji-Ho's breath was hot against her ear, his voice sickly sweet. "Let me show you how much I love you, Hana." His grip tightened, his body pressing against hers as he slid a hand between her thighs.
Hana jerked violently, her stomach churning in pure disgust.
Ji-Ho groaned, voice trembling with depraved hunger. "You're the only woman I can get off to anymore. These whores just don't do it. Not unless I imagine it's you." He nuzzled against her neck, inhaling deeply. "Please don't feel jealous. I know they'll never compare to the real thing. The real feeling of being inside of you."
A new wave of nausea gripped her, bile rising in her throat. Her nails dug into her palms, rage overtaking fear. "Get the fuck off of me!" She arched her body, twisting violently beneath him.
Ji-Ho sighed, almost disappointed. "I didn't want it to be like this," he muttered, pinning her down harder. His hands forced her face toward him as he leaned in, lips parting to steal another kiss.
Hana's eyes flickered to his mouth, and she reacted.
With every ounce of strength she had left, she lunged forward, her teeth sinking into his bottom lip. Hard.
Ji-Ho's eyes widened in shock before his head snapped back, a strangled scream escaping his throat. The flesh between Hana's teeth stretched, tearing with a sickening rip.
"SON OF A BITCH!"
He clutched his face, blood pouring through his fingers. His muffled cries of agony barely registered before Hana used the moment to act. She brought her knee up, then slammed her foot into his face with every ounce of fury in her body.
"FUCK YOU!" she spat.
Ji-Ho reeled from the blow, stumbling back. His eyes, now wild with rage, snapped toward her.
"You fucking bitch."
His hands shot out, fingers clawing into her shoulders as he forced her down. The first punch landed hard—knuckles cracking against her cheekbone. Then another. And another.
Each hit sent shockwaves of pain through her skull, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth. Her vision blurred, black spots dotting her sight as her head lolled to the side.
"R… R… Rafi…" she croaked, her voice barely above a whisper.
That name sent Ji-Ho into a frenzy.
His blows came harder, faster, his breath ragged and furious. "SHUT UP! SHUT! UP!" His hands shot to her throat, squeezing.
"STOP SAYING THAT FUCKING MONKEY'S NAME!!!" His fingers dug into her windpipe, his face twisted with manic glee.
"I'm here!" He squeezed tighter. "Me!!! Not him!"
Hana clawed weakly, her hands stilled binded, her body convulsing beneath him.
"SAY MY NAME, HANA!" His laughter turned unhinged as her struggles weakened. "SAY IT! SAY MY FUCKING NAME!" He yelled, blood leaking from his lip onto her face.
Suddenly a loud crash is heard.
The door burst open, the impact rattling the walls.
A dark figure stood in the doorway, the air around him thick with quiet fury.
Ji-Ho's breath hitched. He turned, face contorted in rage. "What the hell?! I told you bastards not to—" His words died in his throat.
It wasn't one of his lackeys.
It was Rafiel.
Standing in the doorway, bloody and motionless with a face of utter rage.
Hana's swollen eye barely opened, the world around her nothing but a blur of crimson and darkness. Pain laced through every nerve, but even through the haze of suffering, she recognized him.
"Rafi…" she choked, her lips trembling into a weak, bloodied smile.
Her brother had come.
Ji-Ho climbed off her, cursing. "Goddammit." He wiped at his bleeding mouth, licking the split flesh. "I thought you finally got the picture, but oh well!" He rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. "I guess some animals can't be trained."
Rafiel didn't respond.
His expression was unreadable, his eyes locked onto Ji-Ho with terrifying calmness.
Ji-Ho sneered, stepping forward. "Fine. Beating the shit out of you one last time would make for great foreplay before I fuck Hana's brains out." He spread his arms, inviting the fight.
Still, Rafiel didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe.
Ji-Ho smirked. "When I'm done with you, we're gonna throw your monkey ass back in the zoo."
Rafiel exhaled, slow and deliberate.
"And when I'm done with you…" His voice was quiet, deadly. "You're gonna piss blood."
Ji-Ho laughed—until Rafiel moved.
Faster than a bullet, Rafiel exploded forward, his foot rocketing upward. Ji-Ho's jaw snapped violently to the side as the kick connected, the sound of cracking bone ringing through the room.
Before Ji-Ho even registered the pain, Rafiel's hands were on him.
His head slammed into the wall—once, twice—before Rafiel yanked him forward and threw him through the bathroom door. Ji-Ho hit the ground hard, skidding across the tiles.
He barely had time to groan before Rafiel was on him again, gripping his skull and smashing it against the shower wall. The tiles cracked, blood splattering against the white surface.
Ji-Ho's body slumped, his breath ragged.
"W-Wait…" he choked, barely able to lift his head. "S-Stop… s-st…"
Rafiel's knee drove into his nose, snapping it instantly. He seized Ji-Ho's head, slammed it into the toilet bowl, and held it there.
Ji-Ho thrashed, his muffled screams drowned in water.
He fought, kicked, struggled—only for Rafiel to yank him back up. Ji-Ho gasped for air, coughing violently.
"S…Stop…pl…please…stop…" Blood and spit dribbled from his lips. "It…hurts…"
Rafiel didn't hesitate.
His fists came down like a hammer, blow after brutal blow smashing into Ji-Ho's face. Blood splattered against the walls. Another hit. And another. Until Ji-Ho's movements became sluggish, barely conscious.
Rafiel leaned in, his voice eerily calm.
"I tried to let you go the last time you touched her." His fingers tightened in Ji-Ho's hair, yanking his head back. "I tried to show restraint. I tried to move on. But you persisted." He slammed Ji-Ho's face into the bowl again.
"This is my final warning."
Ji-Ho garggled under the water while his hands flawed about.
"If you look for my sister if you touch my sister, if you talk to my sister, if you breathe near my sister, hell if I find out he saw someone from eight meters away who vaguely looked like you in any fucking way," Rafiel whispered, "I will kill you."
With one yank he stood up holding Ji-ho's half conscious head, he let Ji-Ho's limp body collapse, his head hitting the bowl cracking off a piece before he landed against the floor. The chunk of porcelain from the broken toilet rolled across the tiles.
Rafiel stood, breathing steady. He turned off the bathroom light.
And shut the door.
Jae-Sun stood outside, his hands in his pockets, watching the entrance of the building with a patient but knowing gaze. The night air was cool, a stark contrast to the heat of the conflict that had just taken place. He didn't have to wait much longer before the doors swung open, and Rafiel emerged, carrying an unconscious Hana in his arms.
Jae-Sun's brow furrowed slightly as he took in the sight—Rafiel's tired expression, the weight of the girl in his hold, and the tension in his posture. He exhaled through his nose and smiled.
"So… how'd it go, kid?" Jae-Sun asked, his voice light, but his eyes sharp.
Rafiel met his gaze, his expression hollow, eyes dark with guilt. (I failed to keep my promise. Again.)
Instead of answering the question, Rafiel tightened his hold on an unconscious Hana and simply said, "She needs a doctor."
Jae-Sun nodded, already prepared. "Already called us an Muber."
Four Hours Later..
The hospital's fluorescent lighting cast a sterile glow over the waiting area, where Rafiel sat hunched forward on a bench, his elbows resting on his knees. His gaze was fixed on the floor, lost in thought, while Jae-Sun stoos beside him, leaning on the wall watching over him in quiet understanding.
After a long silence, Rafiel finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm sorry, Sah Bum Nim."
Jae-Sun turned to him, brow raised. "For what?"
Rafiel let out a slow breath, still not looking up. "I got too comfortable. I should've been more prepared instead of assuming Ji-Ho would just go away."
Jae-Sun shook his head. "It's not your fault, kid."
But Rafiel clenched his fists. "Yes, it is." His voice held no uncertainty. "I let down my guard. I gave him time to recover. Deep down, I wanted to believe that stopping him once was enough. But it wasn't."
His bandaged fingers curled tighter, blood leaking from the Band-Aid's cotton. "When I was beating him, I didn't feel angry, or sad, or anything really. He's so weak compared to me now that all I felt was… disappointment."
Jae-Sun remained silent, letting him speak.
"Disappointment that I let someone so weak and so pathetic control me—my life and my decisions—for so long. Disappointed that I left Hana… that I… almost left Hana to live a life with someone like him."
Rafiel finally looked up, eyes burning with something new. Determination. "I honestly thought that my training would end with me finally taking down Ji-Ho, but not anymore." He raised his chin, his voice filled with conviction.
"I'm not gonna stop training. I'm not gonna stop getting stronger. Not until any and everyone who threatens me and my family gets the living piss beat out of them." He turned to Jae-Sun, his gaze unwavering. "And that's a promise."
Jae-Sun couldn't help the eager smile that spread across his face. (This kid... I never noticed until right now, but... he's starting to remind me of you, Byung-Ho.)
Three Days Later – Park/Dela Cruz House
The front door swung open as Rafiel carefully wheeled Hana inside. Cheek swollen with a bandage over her left eye, crossed her arms, pouting slightly.
"Rafi, you know this is overkill, right? There's nothing wrong with my legs."
Rafiel ignored her complaint, rolling her chair up the small landing. "I'm not finna argue with you, Hana. You had a concussion, and you were out cold for two whole days."
Hana sighed dramatically. "Which is exactly why it's a good idea for me to walk around and stretch my legs."
Rafiel exhaled, finally giving in to the truth. "Okay, I'll be honest." He wheeled her towards their parents' bedroom, the one on the bottom level. "The wheelchair is for me. After what you went through, I would feel better if you relaxed and let me take care of you for a while, okay?"
Hana gave him a knowing smirk. "I'm glad you learned to be honest."
Rafiel chuckled softly. "Shut up."
Meanwhile at the Bloody Knuckles Gym.
Jae-Sun whistled as he pressed a new wall stencil onto the inside of the gym, stepping back to admire his work. "All right! Looking good!"
The chime above the door rang, signaling a new arrival. He turned to look and grinned.
"Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."
Seo-Jun walked in alone, his arm still in a cast from his injury. His expression was unreadable as he took in the sight of the gym, his gaze briefly flickering to Jae-Sun.
"I still don't understand why I came here."
Jae-Sun shrugged. "You showed promise! Though I do feel like there are a few things I could teach you." He smirked, eyes twinkling.
"I've really been getting into inspiring this new generation lately. And you got me interested. How did a weak nobody like Gim Ji-Ho get so many lackeys under his belt? Especially one as strong as you?"
Seo-Jun narrowed his eyes. "And why should I tell you?"
Jae-Sun's smile faded slightly, though he still kept his playful tone. "Oh, come on! Don't tell me you're still upset about the arm? It was a means to an end, no hard feelings!" He grinned like an absolute dork.
Seo-Jun let out a frustrated breath before finally calming down. "…Fine. I'll tell you… under one condition."
Jae-Sun perked up. "Ooo! And what's that?"
Seo-Jun met his gaze, unwavering. "…Tell me about the person who defeated Gim Ji-Ho."
Park/Dela Cruz House.
Rafiel carefully lifted Hana into his arms, preparing to lay her in the bed.
"…Hey, Rafi?"
He paused, still holding her. "Yeah?"
Hana hesitated. "When it happened… everything the other day. Were you… scared or worried at all?"
Rafiel's expression softened. "…More than I've ever been in my entire life… What about you?"
Hana let out a small breath. "A little bit. But when I saw you come in, I started to relax. Any worries I had washed away because I knew you were there."
Rafiel smiled. "That's great. I'm happy."
A small silence fell between them before Hana spoke again.
"Rafi?"
"Hmm?"
She hesitated, then shook her head. "Have you… I'm sorry. Never mind."
"What is it?"
"It's really stupid." Hana said, turning her blushing face to the side.
"Just blurt it out." He said.
Hana exhaled, then quickly asked, "…Have you ever… kissed anyone?"
Rafiel blinked. "Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"
Her face turned red. "I told you it was stupid! I… I just wanted to know."
Rafiel thought for a moment. (Let's see… Now that I think about it… if we go by my current past, there was that one time with… Nah. Probably should keep that to myself, besides it was only once so…)
"Nope, never kissed anyone before."
Hana's eyes widened. "Really? That's a relief."
"Really? Why?"
Instead of answering, she leaned in, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips against his in a passionate kiss.
Rafiel froze. (What… the fu—?!)