.
Ban Hwee Hyul, who had been silent, finally changed the look in his eyes and growled. It meant that Jung Yohan hit a nerve.
“Are you done talking?”
“In the end, it was not you but me who avenged Ban Hwee Ahn’s incident!” yelled Jung Yohan out of the blue.
Ban Hwee Hyul stopped roaring. His eyes widened.
Jung Yohan opened his arms and yelled, “So, you might have got that I would have the original photo I sent you. And that’s why you’re here. But I’ve already taken care of them on behalf of you who have the power to correct everything but does nothing.”
While Ban Hwee Hyul turned stiff wordlessly, Jung Yohan struck a cold retort.
“If I’m trash, so are you. It’s my turn to take your position, so get out of my way.”
Looking at the confrontation between the two, I swallowed my breath. As I threw a glance at the stage, Eun Hyung also seemed to be asking for advice, looking at us. However, no one dared to come forward.
Jung Yohan, of course, wasn’t right since he exacted revenge on those who attacked Ban Hwee Ahn.
However, Jung Yohan told Ban Hwee Hyul that he was also the same. That was true. If Ban Hwee Ahn was a bit more active in correcting the lower-ranked fighters’ wrongdoings, neither Ban Hwee Ahn nor Jung Yohan would have been involved in such troubles.
Deciding who was right and wrong in the situation was just the same as asking the chicken and egg question. Thus, there was nothing we could do right now. This thing should be left for the two to resolve on their own.
As if he also thought the same, Eun Hyung looked up at Ban Hwee Hyul.
“Hwee Hyul,” said Eun Hyung, “If you want to take the Number one title from me, please do. I guess I can’t fight anymore.”
“Let’s do that, but wait a minute… before that, I want to say something,” uttered Ban Hwee Hyul in a low voice.
“Say something?”
Not only Eun Hyung but we all looked at Ban Hwee Hyul in wonder too. Was there anything else left to say in this situation? In the end, the words he said to Jung Yohan in the past also weren’t acceptable anyway.
At that moment, Ban Hwee Hyul opened his mouth with his eyes fixed on Jung Yohan.
“Let me ask you first. Wasn’t it on Sunday when I saved you?”
“What? Why on earth would you ask that? Does it make you different by day?”
Jung Yohan was sarcastic as if he became speechless. So was I. ‘Hwee Hyul, if you couldn’t sort things out, just don’t say anything…’ I said in my thoughts, looking at Hwee Hyul pathetically.
Meanwhile, Jung Yohan nodded, “Yeah, it was Sunday. What’s wrong with that?”
“At that time, there was a comedy program that aired every Sunday evening. It was a program I enjoyed watching a lot.”
I became even more puzzled when I heard that. Why was he talking about a comedy program out of the blue? At that moment, for some reason, Jung Yohan’s face turned pale.
“Hold on, just don’t say anymore. Something very ominous came up in mind…”
“No! I must tell you. If you’re getting me wrong, I think I have to correct that.”
“Just don’t!”
My brows met in the middle at Jung Yohan’s screech. What the hell was wrong with him? That was when Ban Hwee Hyul continued speaking.
“It was the only joy of my life at the time.”
The moment I heard that word, I felt like I had already seen the ridiculous ending of this show in the future. Even I, who didn’t have a sharp batting eye, could sense that, so others would react more severely too.
Jooin closed his eyes, rolling up his body round like a hamster; Yeo Ryung grabbed her knees with a pale face as if she was riding a rollercoaster.
Jung Yohan quickly babbled, “No, please, do not answer. Just please stop talking.”
“So, what I wanted to say back then was…”
“I said STOP!”
“What do you live for–I live to watch comedy TV shows. Likewise, if watching those shows was the reason for your life, you would have not walked around at night, but you didn’t, which caused you to get involved in trouble. Because of you, I missed that TV show and wasted my time.”
“…”
“That was what I tried to say, I guess.” Ban Hwee Hyul concluded his words, at last, taking off his hand from his temple.
There was a cold silence. Jung Yohan stood blankly as if he was struck dumb.
“Um, Hwee Hyul,” said Eun Hyung.
“What?”
Showing a warm grin that seemed to melt away this ice-cold silence, Eun Hyung replied, “Take the Number one title from me ASAP.”
“But you said to me earlier if I don’t want to be a shameful brother to Hwee Ahn…”
“Come on.”
“…”
Eun Hyung asked him kindly and savagely, “Should I go upstairs myself?”
His words sounded much bloodier than that of the strictest teacher in our school. Ban Hwee Hyul finally moved his heavy body then stood beside Eun Hyung falteringly. He tapped Eun Hyung and got his title back then stood face to face with Jung Yohan.
Amid the situation, I thought, ‘So even that gentle touch can be admitted as succeeding to the title…’
Then earlier, why did Eun Hyung punch Ban Hwee Hyul so hard, which made him almost fly away? Maybe Eun Hyung had some bad feelings against him? I wondered.
Meanwhile, Eun Hyung finally returned to us, and we kept watching the situation.
Jung Yohan looked grim. Ban Hwee Hyul spoke to him hesitatingly.
“Even if you got me wrong, it’s true that my words aroused suspicion. Besides, I did ignore you who were in trouble. Sorry, please accept my belated apology.”
“I am not here to get those useless apologies. If you want to say something, say it through your fist. In the end, I’m also here to follow the logic of the strong,” said Jung Yohan.
I stared at him with pity. Jung Yohan and Eun Hyung’s fight was going unilateral; he was losing to Eun Hyung. However, Ban Hwee Hyul was overwhelmingly stronger than Eun Hyung. So, to be honest, the final winner of this game was obvious.
As if he was also aware of that, Ban Hwee Hyul hesitated and didn’t raise his fist to the end. Jung Yohan shouted, “Hold up your fist! How further are you gonna humiliate me?!”
“But…”
“Or else, am I still a worthless weirdo to you?”
Ban Hwee Hyul, at last, raised his fist at Jung Yohan’s retort. When the host lifted his hand up, the two dashed into each other at the same time. Since I couldn’t stand the things that would happen afterward, I just closed my eyes tightly.
It was the most desperate and sad fight ever. Those who experienced Eun Hyung’s fatal blow realized the difference between their strengths and surrendered immediately, whereas Jung Yohan kept throwing himself to Ban Hwee Hyul no matter how many times he got beaten. Even Ban Hwee Hyul was struggling to give as little damage as possible to Jung Yohan.
However, it soon came to end within a few minutes. Jung Yohan fell down to his knees, eventually. Watching that sight, I heaved a deep sigh.
“The w… inner is… Ban Hwee Hyul.”
The host in the corner, who was lost in admiration, announced with a stammer, but no one raised the roof. Although this was what we had expected and wanted to happen, I couldn’t help myself feeling so bitter.
If Jung Yohan won this game, would I have felt better? No, I would not. He tried to use Ban Hwee Hyul’s pain so that he could become the Number one. So, how could I?
Did this game really need a winner and loser? That was when I felt pity for this situation, squinting my eyes. Ban Hwee Hyul came close to Jung Yohan and grabbed his hand to raise him up.
Jung Yohan removed his hand with a slap and threw a tantrum.
“Don’t pity me! Stop making me miserable…”
“I don’t.”
“What?”
“I think you’re as amazing as my brother who’s weak but practiced doing the right thing till the end.”
Speaking in sorrow, Ban Hwee Hyul helped Jung Yohan stand up. He then turned around and slowly took a look at the people staring at him. Bending his steps on the stage, Ban Hwee Hyul finally stood under the pouring light. The host lost his place, but he didn’t say anything.
