How to Tame a Mad Dog - Chapter 2

Chapter 2
Half coaxing, half threatening, I dragged Han Yang to the hospital. When he saw the line of people in front of us, his expression turned a little ugly.

“You said I didn’t have to pay you back.”

“I’m not the kind of person who beats someone up, then tosses him aside and leaves him to fend for himself.”

Han Yang clicked his tongue and glanced around, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

The examination results came out quickly. Han Yang was young and strong; aside from a few superficial wounds that hadn’t been properly treated and were slightly inflamed, he was built like a rock.

After the nurse finished dressing his injuries, I stayed with him in the ward while he got an IV drip.

It was a single room, very quiet. Neither of us spoke. Han Yang stared out the window, and I stared at him.

Han Yang had taken off his jacket, leaving only a short-sleeved shirt on.

I remembered how he’d felt when I’d hit him in the alley. He was thin, but very firm.

He might not be as fierce as the future Han Yang, but I figured he would have a charm all his own…

Maybe I stared for too long, because Han Yang grew irritated. He turned his head, his tone hostile.

“Why do you keep looking at me? If you’ve got something to say, spit it out, okay?”

“You’re pretty good-looking.”

“…What?” Han Yang choked hard.

“…You’re seriously sick.” He cursed under his breath and looked at the stack of papers on the bedside table.

They were the prescriptions from the doctor. I hadn’t had time to pick up the medicine yet.

Han Yang looked at the names of the medications on them and pressed his lips together.

“I think I’m fine now. Nothing feels wrong. If you really want to make it up to me… then don’t buy the medicine. Just give me some money instead.”

“Sure,” I said without hesitation. “How much?”

Shocked by how readily I agreed, Han Yang slowly gave a number. “A thousand?”

Seeing that my expression didn’t change at all, he raised it a bit. “Then… five thousand?”

“I’ll give you ten thousand. Give me your payment code.”

When Han Yang didn’t move, I teased him. “What, you’re not even eager to take money?”

Han Yang paused for a while before answering, “I don’t have a phone.”

“…What?”

“Tch. I said I don’t have a phone.”

I circled Han Yang and looked him over, and sure enough, there wasn’t any trace of a phone on him.

How was that possible? What era was this? He couldn’t even afford a phone? And Han Yang didn’t look like he was still in school, either.

“Doesn’t your family take care of you?”

“Fuck! What’s it got to do with you?” Han Yang grabbed the disposable cup beside him and threw it at me.

The empty paper cup had no weight to it. It hit me without hurting at all, yet the room fell deathly silent.

I asked a friend to bring over some cash and a phone.

“Take these.” I put the things on the bedside table. “Let’s make a deal. From now on, you’re not allowed to let anyone else beat you up. If you’re asking for a beating, you can come to me. I’ll pay you every time I hit you. How’s that? Medical expenses included. I’ll even pay your social insurance and housing fund.”

Han Yang didn’t answer. He stared straight off to the side. When I stepped over, he immediately turned his face in the other direction.

After a few times, I understood. He was upset and giving me the silent treatment.

The old Han Yang used to get mad at me all the time too. He hadn’t liked talking much to begin with, and once he was angry, he spoke even less, like a block of stone.

But the silent treatment didn’t work on me anymore.

I braced both hands on either side of Han Yang and leaned in.

Han Yang finally looked up at me. His hand, the one without the IV needle in it, blocked the space between us.

“What are you doing? Get away!” When he saw my lips getting closer and closer, he panicked even more. “Didn’t you already kiss me?”

“I never said how many times!”

Han Yang knew I was playing word games with him. He bristled all over like an angry cat. “I already told you I like men! Can you go disgust someone else?”

Doesn’t like men?

Back when I first bought Han Yang, he’d said the same thing.

But after he fell in love with me, his body was more honest than a dog.