Chapter 3:
Back at One
The early light was warm and as nice feeling as was the cool breeze on the summer morning. Hwoarang yawned as he jogged slowly down the nearly empty sidewalk, dodging few people on the way. The shoulder length red hair blew in the wind slightly and fell about his face shaping it well. The grey t-shirt and sweat pants made him look partly normal as possible, which was nearly impossible for the six foot three red headed Korean, but he was in his homeland, his home, and he was happy. Or he thought he was. Something seemed missing, something he couldn't quite place. Hwoarang smiled and waved at Mrs. Kim, an old friend of Baek's that used to come over quite often when he was a kid, 'It's good to see someone who cares again.' The frail elderly woman waved back,
"Han Yoseo, Hwoarang!!" Hwoarang grinned and returned the greeting warmly. "My my. You've grown! How beautiful of a young man!" Hwoarang blushed at the shorter Korean's complement.
"Thank you."
"Still red I see! Or is it...? My my, I'm going color blind young one!"
"No, you aren't, my hair is still red." He chuckled. The woman smiled and patted him on the back,
"Well, well. Just do me a favor, young bird."
"Yes?"
"Get yourself a good partner, one that treats you well! And," The woman began to whisper to him out of the corner of her mouth mischievously, "Don't let the army get a hold of that hair of yours or an old woman's going to loose her mind!" Hwoarang laughed lightly at her comment. "Good bye, Hwoarang!" Hwoarang waved,
"Good bye, Mrs. Kim!" He smiled and watched the lights for 'Walk' come on and the streetlight for the cars turn red before beginning to cross the street. In one sudden second Hwoarang was turned upside down and felt sick as he rolled over metal. He landed on concrete and coughed up blood,
"Damn fucker..." Hwoarang cursed quietly.
"My gods! Are you alright-" Hwoarang looked up from the touch on his shoulder and the person crouching near him. "HOLY SHIT, HWOA!" Hwoarang began to laugh at Jin's sudden cursing but every time he laughed he poked himself in the heart with a rib and it hurt. Jin grasped him lightly and pulled him into his car, before jumping in and driving to the hospital.
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"Mr. Kazama?" Jin looked up, hopeful and fearful at the same time. The nurse smiled. "Mr. Hwoarang went through surgery quite well. He is going to be fine. You may see him now."
"Thank you," Jin sighed relived but something was caught in his throat. A lump of fear, that Hwoarang would be extremely angry with him for this. Jin looked through the door and walked through to the other side of the room, passing Hwoarang's hospital roommate. "Um.. Hwoa?" he asked cautiously.
"Get in here Kazama." Jin heart felt like it had hit a solid block of ice and sunk like the titanic in the middle of World War II. Jin stared at his feet as he shuffled behind the curtain into Hwoarang's view. "What the HELL where you thinking? NEWSFLASH! Kazama the light was red. That's not like you. You always notice details, man. What's distracting you?" Hwoarang sat up, his bare chest bandaged and bruised. Jin looked up, his eyes full of sadness and passion,
"You." Hwoarang blinked.
"What..?" He was quiet.
"I .... Been thinking about you, and how you changed me." Hwoarang held his breath, 'What is he getting at?' "You're a dream... My dream... come true." He looked at the floor. "I love you, Hwoa...." Something inside Hwoarang burst and a little him began to scream 'OH... MY.. GODS... CAN'T.... BREATHE.... OH-MY-GODS-OH-MY-FUNCKING-GODS-OH-MY-DAMMED-FUCKING-GODS-MANUAL-OVERRIDE-MANUAL-OVERRIDE-HES GONNA BLOW!!! HOLD THE STUPID COMMENTS!! THERE'S ONE! CATCH IT! OH HOLY SHIT TOO-'
"You serious?" Hwoarang's face was blank. 'Late.'
"I-No, it's ok! I-I understand, you don't feel the same. I-I-" Jin blushed brighter than Hwoarang's hair and he nearly ran from the room quickly. Hwoarang sat blank faced and dumbfounded.