Rice Power and Revenge Talks
Mealtime was one of the few things that bastard dad generously allowed. To do martial arts, you need strength, and Koreans run on rice power, he'd say. Of course you can't have any strength if you're starving, but I never could understand why he had to say it with a cigarette dangling from his mouth in that gravelly voice. That same dad choked to death on his own cigarette butts because of it. No idea why I suddenly went off on a tangent about smokes. Anyway, dad said eat a ton of rice, train hard in fighting, succeed socially, and bring home big bucks. So the house was always overflowing with rice and kimchi at minimum. He'd even take me to all-you-can-eat buffets for unlimited meat.
"Oh, ham~." Today I lucked out—there was ham and stir-fried anchovies too.
Exercise and fighting had become less fun and more just life itself, so eating was my one joy, making me happy even from the moment I started prepping the meal.
"Why the fuck are you grinning like a dumbass?"
"Why? Mealtime's my favorite part of the day. Don't you like it?"
I couldn't understand why Hye-yeon was looking at me like I was pathetic. Or maybe she'd had so much sex that it beat out even mealtime. She'd begged me to praise her and fuck her ass earlier, so it was pretty much confirmed. Still, I diligently grilled the ham and scooped rice from the cooker into bowls. Say what you will, I'd never met anyone who hated food.
"Hye-yeon, let's eat."
"What, you my mom now?"
"You're gonna eat, right?"
"Hmph...."
"Made fried eggs too."
"Fine, I said."
She said fine but kept rustling around forever, so I craned my neck to look—she was getting dressed. Our eyes met when she was wiping the cum leaking from her ass with tissue, and she glared, so I awkwardly looked away.
Sitting at the table, Hye-yeon raised an eyebrow at the heaping rice bowl.
"That's too much."
"Yeah? Don't you need this much?"
"Am I a piglet or what?"
"Dunno. First time eating with a girl."
"I'm your first?"
"Yeah."
"Your first sex, and first girl to eat with?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"...Feels weird."
We ate in silence. No soup, which sucked. The fried eggs helped, but they couldn't replace slurping it down with broth.
"Next time, I'll definitely make soup."
"You can make soup?"
"Of course. Gotta have soup or your throat gets all scratchy."
"Yeah."
Her reply was curt, but the corner of Hye-yeon's mouth twitched up. See, people just feel better with food in their belly. Whoa, so eat, fuck, eat, and your mood triples? Gotta try that with a girlfriend someday.
"Been a while since home-cooked."
"Jin-hyuk never cooked for you?"
"He did sometimes, but that fucker was lucky if he even ordered delivery. Always just booze and snacks."
"You ate out? Must've had cash."
"Would a rich guy sell off his girlfriend on the secondhand market?"
"......."
She sold herself off too, so why bitch at me? I didn't sell her—I'm the legit buyer. They were the scammers.
"...Tastes good."
"Right?"
Hye-yeon had begged on her hands and knees earlier to take her with Jin-hyuk, but now she acted like the lady of the house. Dad always said women get shamelessly brazen once you satisfy their urgent needs, and Hye-yeon fit the bill perfectly. I could've called her out, but I didn't want to sour the mood while she was eating so well. Mealtime was sacred—pure focus on the food and joy.
"So, Kwang-woon, what're you gonna do about that fucker Jin-hyuk and his crew? You said revenge."
"Yeah. Track 'em down, ask if they really did that shit, and if yes, send Ye-jin company so she's not lonely."
"You not scared of killing people or dealing with bodies? Jin-hyuk killed two too."
"He's weak. I'm stronger."
"Saw that earlier—you're the real deal. Always been that strong? Back in high school, you just took beatings from us. Sudden power-up?"
"Always was. Dad said touching civilians blocks pro debut or gets you blacklisted even after."
"Ooh~, a guy with standards. Kinda hot?"
They fucked with me first, and now it's hot? Crazy bitch. Weirdly, her nonstop bullshit chatter didn't annoy me. Way livelier than guys silently scarfing down food.
"How you gonna find Jin-hyuk's other buddies?"
"Just ask around."
Hye-yeon set down her spoon and gave me a pitiful look.
"Dude, you got no brain? Just wander streets yelling 'Know Jin-hyuk? His friends?' and poof, someone shows?"
"You know his place. Ex-boyfriend."
"Kicked out of there. And you know his family? Yakuza. New Gwanseo-dong faction ruling this area. Loaded with cash. Think they'll sit still hearing some weirdo's hunting their son?"
"They won't?"
"Idiot? Send goons to fuck you up! They don't fear jail, life's already trash, but money's endless!"
"Got it."
"Don't just say that—listen to me!"
Hye-yeon fumed alone, then yelled. I stopped chewing and stared. Dad would've slapped her, but no violence at the table.
"S-sorry...."
"Hye-yeon, mealtime's for fun. Why get mad?"
"Just... worried about you, sorry if it upset you...."
"You were worried?"
"Duh, you're my boyfriend."
Not yet, but she made it so.
"We're not dating yet. After Ye-jin's revenge and getting refund from Jin-hyuk, we'll talk. Too much to sort now."
"You... sigh, fine."
"And I won't die to yakuza or whatever. No worries."
"Too many of 'em—even for you, risky. Be careful, Kwang-woon. You die, I'm fucked too. You're all I got."
"Told you not to worry."
Yakuza? I'd toyed with worse before. Dad borrowed and stiffed loansharks who came raiding—they were easy. Their street style even suited me better than pure fighting; told dad I wanted to be yakuza, got beat all night. Unfair. Why no Yakuza UFC?
"Nah, keep worrying. Feels good having a girl fret over me."
"Psycho."
"Hye-yeon."
"What."
"You wanna be my girlfriend?"
"Wtf during dinner."
"Said you're worried 'cause boyfriend."
"Shut up, asshole. Don't want to now."
"Bummer."
Still, while living together, I'd hit that ass a few more times. She took it when I pushed at home, so play it cool and it'll keep going.
As I went for another spoonful, Hye-yeon smirked.
"What? Bummed no girlfriend?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Wanna girlfriend, and you're hot."
"Hehe~."
Hye-yeon popped a fried egg yolk. Split it half and plopped it on my rice.
"Aww, eat up, my Kwang-woon."
I made it. But half a precious egg? I gave her a slice of ham.
"So fucking cute. Hey Kwang-woon, wanna just date?"
"Ye-jin's revenge first. Confirm everything, collect what's mine."
"Fucker, got my heart racing then pissed me off—pick one."
Hye-yeon griped, but I stood firm. Had to confirm. And yeah, eating together like this, but Hye-yeon was an accomplice in Ye-jin's death. Depending on facts, this bitch pays too.
"No money now—how you gonna live? Got cash to hunt the crew?"
"Nah, broke as fuck. You got some?"
"That rider asshole stuffed me in a bag outta nowhere—got nothing."
I got robbed by that rider bro too. Was the niceness fake? Looking back, he seemed loaded. Yelled at the marketplace op for delivery fees.
"Gotta get a job first."
"What job?"
"Day labor. Got health cert and boots—week's work covers a month."
"Fucking hell... What if Jin-hyuk ghosts and his yakuza family hunts us while you're out? They break in, gang-rape me, sell me to a bar—then what?!"
"Oh... shit."
"Think, dumbass...."
"Wanna labor with me?"
"Think, I said!"
"Why? I can protect you."
"...Forget it. Just eat."
"You eat plenty too."
"Fuck...."
Like Hye-yeon said, money was the issue. My arms and legs worked fine, so I'd hustle and sniff around. Drag her along—precious accomplice, and bonus ass when horny. Win-win.
"Wah, what the?!"
Dad's old phone rang. A ringtone I'd never heard—dad never used it.
Unknown number, but the screen said 'Have a nice day~, Black Joongo.' So I picked up.
"Hello?"
"Ah~, bro! Made it home safe?"
"Who is this?"
Acting all buddy-buddy out the gate, so I got serious, and a giggling laugh came through.
"Bro~. It's me! The delivery guy from earlier."
"Oh, you. How'd you get this number?"
"How? I called for the marketplace delivery already."
"Oh, right."
"Bro, straight to business—I'm in a rush too."
Suddenly the rider bro dropped his voice, all serious.
"Wanna do a gig?"
"A gig?"
"Need cash, right? Can make more than what you paid me—sound good?"
"Right now?"
"Yeah, right now. Not bad, huh?"
I hung up.
"I'm eating right now."
Hye-yeon smacked my head in horror.
"You crazy fuck! He's offering money!!!!! Call back NOW!!!"