I'll be your light

The next day Yukwon is released from hospital. The doctors told him to visit his local doctor every month so they can check his hand. As soon as he steps out of the hospital, his mobile phone rings. It’s Zico. He answers and Zico demands a BLOCK B meeting at the most recent territory claim. The place Melinda sprained her ankle. At first Yukwon is hesitant to go, if the other members see his bandaged hand they’ll question him, but Zico urges him to come so he is obliged.

“What happened to your right hand?” Zico asks sternly. Zico sits in his couch and folds his hands together. Yukwon nervously hides his hands behind his back. “Tell me now.” Zico demands.
“I just had an accident.” Yukwon lies. Zico gives him a piercing stare that penetrates right through his chest.
“An accident…? That temporarily cost you the use of your dominant hand? Don’t lie to me.”
Beads of sweat travel down Yukwon’s spine and something gets stuck in his throat. Fear. Who knows what would happen if he told his boss that we went into a fight alone? Zico is always about being united, being one.
“I slipped in knife practise.” Kyung’s voice pipes up from behind Yukwon.
Yukwon spins around and gives him a face of confusion, but Kyung doesn’t make eye contact with him at all.
“Yukwon was standing at the knife wall and I had to aim as close to him as I could without getting him. But a bee landed on my ear, and I thought it would sting me…so I accidentally…y’know.” Kyung imitates the whoosh of a knife being thrown.
“Because of your sloppiness Yukwon has to suffer.” Zico says angrily. “Don’t put members in harm’s way again Kyung. You know better. Your punishment: clean up our new base so it is suitable, no money from me for four months and…” Zico pauses, “I’m taking you whips away from you until four months pass.”
Kyung’s face drops, slightly. His mouth and eyes drop a millimetre and you can only notice if you are standing as close as Yukwon is.
“I understand.” He replies.
With that done, Zico slouches in his single couch and relaxes. “Come with me until the other’s come for the meeting.” Kyung says to Yukwon.

“You don’t have to act tough y’know.” Kyung says. Yukwon looks at him in confusion, the wind messing up his blond hair. They sit on the edge of the roof of their new building, their legs dangling between the fence keeping them from going over the side.
“I know how you feel.” Kyung continues. “No body knows but, I was on the streets too, before BLOCK B.”
Yukwon feels his gut knot. Why does this bother him?
“Oh…” he manages to say.
“I was homeless for a year. When I was 14 my mother died of lung cancer, and my father committed suicide after her death. I was alone. Extended family tried to take me in, but, it wasn’t the same.”
Yukwon can see Kyung’s eyes becoming glossy.
“Life was hard, but I had to keep moving. I eventually lost the house, extended family decided to sell it without me knowing. But before they packed everything away I suck in and swiped a knife. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but that knife was the reason why I am here now.”
Yukwon feels his chest tighten as he listens to Kyung’s story. They have been together for three years yet Kyung has never mentioned any of this, to anyone.
“One fateful day, Zico appeared before me and asked me if I wanted to join a gang. He offered me a place to stay and a monthly allowance. How could I refuse? That’s why I live on the floor below you. Anyways, when I asked him why he chose me, he told me he’d been watching me for a while. It sounds creepy, but I’m grateful for it. He saw how good I was with a knife and decided to recruit me. When I first started it was only Zico and Taeil.”
Kyung rubs his eyes and quickly wipes his tears before they fall. Meanwhile, Yukwon slowly nods his head, as if he is processing the information.
“I’m telling you this because I know why you’re acting like this. You go out and handle things on your own because you want to prove that you are strong, that you can do things yourself. And it’s OK to feel like that. I use to be like that, but Zico taught me that sometimes it’s OK to reply on others, sometimes it’s OK to feel weak and vulnerable, but that is what friends and family are for. That’s why he made BLOCK B, to bring people together and make a family. Other than the fact that he is a rich boy who has too much time and secretly makes a gang without anyone knowing.” Kyung smiles brightly, like he always does. Kyung’s smile and positive energy is like a virus, it spreads easily and infects anyone who is in sight. He makes Yukwon smile even though he isn’t feeling the best. The door leading to the stairs burst open, Jihoo and Taeil stand in the doorway with massive smiles on their faces. “Come downstairs guys.” They say simultaneously. They share a giggle before continuing. “Zico has some good news for us. BLOCK B is back!” The run back down the stairs, laughing as they do. They sound like little children, excited that their father is home, running down the stairs to greet him. “We’d better go.” Kyung says. Yukwon uses his hands to support him up but pain ripples up his right arm and he winces. “Dammit.” He mutters. He just now remembers about his wound. Kyung extends his hand towards Yukwon. “Need some help, brother?” Yukwon smiles, and with his good hand, he reaches for help to pull him up to his feet. “Thank you, brother.”

Notes