Hajin had no complicated reason for fighting in Helios's arena: he just needed quick money. He had thought it would take him at least two fights before he could get the amount he needed, but someone actually bet on him the first time.
Honestly, he could quit after that first night since he had enough money for his business. While he enjoyed fighting, there were places where he could gain job security and paid well while doing occasional fights. But that person...the girl who looked at him as if she knew him and told him to win...
He wanted to see that person again out of curiosity. And she was indeed present the second time, and then the third. He wanted to strike up a conversation and asked if she knew him from somewhere, but on that third night, she immediately walked away before Hajin even got down from the arena. At that time, he thought oh, well...there will always be next time.
But that next time did not come when he participated in his fourth and fifth games, and when he asked around, it didn't seem like the little butterfly had ever come to the arena again, which truly frustrated him. Did she get bored? Did she stop watching fights altogether? Did she lose interest after more people bet on him?
Hajin wanted to see her; he wanted to talk to her; he wanted to ask all kinds of questions. He couldn't get her and her gaze out of his mind, and it broke his concentration countless times.
And so, despite no longer needing to continue fighting in the arena, he stayed there until the general manager finally called him to the bar and gave him a private room number.
Hajin wasted no time. For all he knew, the little butterfly could fly away anytime.
Standing in front of one of the private rooms, Hajin knocked on the closed door. "Miss, may I come in?"
Unfortunately for him, there was no answer even after waiting for a minute. He knocked again, harder this time, and pressed his ear to the frame. Still, there was no answer. He even called Lee Sol to make sure that he was in the right private room and that she hadn't left yet, but the general manager told him that she should be still in her private booth.
Hmm...oh, well--he only wanted to talk for a bit and conveyed his gratitude anyway. Shouldn't be too much of a problem to intrude for five minutes...right?
"I've no choice, then..." Hajin shrugged and turned the knob, peeking his head inside to check the room. "Miss?"
The room, like any other private room, had a set of sofa and table with an array of drinks and refreshments that were served as a package. A TV screen was mounted on the side of the wall, ready to play some movies or even used for karaoke. When Hajin peeked inside, the room was dim--the light of the chandelier set to the lowest possible brightness. Most of the light came from the screen that showed random animated movies with lots of explosions and flashes of lightning, complete with deafening sound effects.
Was that why no one answered his knocking?
Hajin narrowed his eyes and sought the person he had been looking for. As his eyes scanned the room, he almost flinched at the crouching figure on the couch; long black hair flew down a bowed head, almost giving him a heart attack. In the split second of shock, he unintentionally slammed the door closed, prompting the girl to finally look up.
"What?" Seul-ah narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the shape of the person suddenly coming into her room. It didn't look like a staff since the person used casual clothes instead of a uniform, and was too tall to be Lee Sol. "Who are you?"
Hajin raised his brows at the sharp tone coming out with a slurred speech. The squinting eyes looked hazy even under the dim light, and as he walked closer to the couch, he could smell the alcohol swirling in the room. He shifted his gaze to the table, where bottles of alcohol had been opened; some splashed around in what he presumed to be an accident after getting too unsteady to hold a glass properly.
"Did you drink all of these?" Hajin asked in surprise. For all he knew, the little butterfly only ever drank wine during the game. Even then, it was only two glasses at most.
"What's it to you?" the girl grumbled. She didn't even question who he was anymore and turned toward the screen again. "Isn't it better for you guys if I spend a lot, here?"
"I don't particularly care," Hajin shrugged. "But you don't strike me as someone who would get wasted in public."
Her brow knitted under the dark fringe, and her soft voice turned even sharper, filled with irritation. "What do you even know about me?!"
"Admittedly not much."
"Then shut up!" she leaned forward and slammed the table harshly. Empty bottle tumbled and rolled down; glasses shook and clanked against the hard surface--as hard as the glare she gave him. "And why are you here?! This is a private room!"
"Inside a public bar," Hajin shrugged again, a subtle smile played on his thin lips.
"Don't you know shut up?!"
"Okay~" Hajin raised his palms in defeat, lips stretching wider.
How amusing. He had been wondering what kind of person the little butterfly was all this time. Admittedly, he only ever saw her three times from afar, but she always looked calm and poised, like a proper lady of traditional value. Although, naturally, such a lady wouldn't be loitering around an illegal fighting ring. Still, he could more or less see how she had been educated from her sitting posture and movement. Even while her leg was slightly lame from the accident, she retained her straight back and held her head high.
And so, it was truly amusing seeing her like this: messy, slurry, sulky. Despite her petite stature, her glare was menacing, even with how red and swollen they were from tears that had been long dried up. It made Hajin wonder about how hard had she cried, how long she had been hiding this side of her, and if it could only be lured out with the influence of alcohol.
If that was the case, then it would be rather sad.
Oh...but what should he do? He couldn't ask her anything like this. It didn't seem possible to wait for her to sober up, since he couldn't follow her to her palace.
Hajin smiled helplessly and took a seat on the couch, watching the little butterfly grumbling while making a mess of the table. She picked up a bottle, attempting to pour it into a glass, but ended up splashing it all over an empty astray and a vase. Pouting, she picked up another bottle and tried to drink it directly, only for the bottle to be empty. She slammed the bottle on the table in frustration and stayed still for a whole minute without moving.
It was strangely adorable. Hajin was contemplating whether or not he should help her with the drink when Seul-ah started to move again--this time, however, she proceeded to tidy up the table, grumbling about someone making a mess. She even picked up the empty bottle rolling on the carpet, and clicking her tongue when she found a little puddle on the floor. When she looked around while muttering about tissue, Hajin could no longer hold back the chuckle that had been dancing at the tip of his tongue.
"Who are you?!" the little butterfly snapped again, turning around toward Hajin as if she forgot he had been there for a while. She stood up and swayed closer with a sharp gleam in her eyes. A broken jade clanked against her chest, shining under the dim light as she raised her arm and shoved Hajin's shoulder. "Why are you here?!"
"Oh, now you acknowledge my presence?" Hajin smiled as Seul-ah wobbled closer. "But it's rather sad that you don't recognize me."
"Why should I?"
The girl's black eyes, clearer now as she stood in front of him, were squinting hard. Suspicion flashed in her eyes and knitted brows as she put her hands on her waist. Suddenly, with a sharp hiss, she threw a bewildering accusation. "Are you my sister's spy?!"
Hajin tilted his head. "Where's this come from?"
"You are, aren't you?! I saw you with her for years! You worked for her for years before suddenly disappearing!" she pointed her finger at him, looking down with eyes full of suspicion. She might be drunk, but she sounded utterly serious.
"What? Are you mistaking me for someone else?" Hajin chuckled, wondering what he should do with this drunk girl. Should he call the manager? He had to let go of this chance, but...what could he do?
Perhaps there would be another chance.
"At any rate, let's calm down before you report me because of a misunderstanding," Hajin said.
"No, I don't!" Seul-ah swayed once more and almost collapsed into Hajin's arms. She hovered above the man's lap, legs straddling his thighs as she grabbed Hajin's collar, staring at him sharply with unblinking eyes. "There's no way I'll mistake this kind of face! A-and those eyes! And y-your name!"
The grey eyes narrowed. "My name?"
Seul-ah grasped the man's sharp jaws. "I d-don't know any...any other Ryu Ha-jin w-with this face!"
Hajin widened his eyes. No one...no one knew that name in this place but the general manager and the immigration employee who processed his documents. Everyone only knew him by [Jin] in this place, and there was a contract between them to hide his name no matter what, even to the clients.
But even that wasn't the problem. Even if Lee Sol somehow told her his real name, this girl had been speaking as if she knew him from way before, calling him a spy for her sister. But how could it be? Hajin had only been in the country for a month, most of which he spent beneath Helios. He barely knew this girl's name, much less her sister.
"You know my real name?" he frowned and held the girl's arms. "But why did you speak in past tense? What do you mean I was working for your sister? Who is your sister? How...how do you even know me--"
"Urk--"
Hajin grabbed the girl's shoulder impatiently. "Hey, what--"
And got attacked by a strong wave of alcoholic breath as the girl burped right in front of his face.
"Oof..." Hajin waved his hand between them, getting rid of the heavy air. Well...at least he should be thankful it wasn't a vomit coming out.
But the little butterfly slapped his hand away, scowling and pouting before letting out a series of exasperated curses--which was kind of cute, Hajin had to admit. Ugh--let's just give up and try to ask some other time--Hajin decided in resignation before his ears perked up when the girl shifted from curses to barely coherent babble.
It was filled with slurring words, not to mention unbelievable content; but it was still coherent enough for Hajin to widen his eyes in response, shaken to his core as stuff that could throw the nation into chaos continued to spill from her drunken lips.