Ali didn’t go back to the games. He was on his way, but his boss found him and he left the area. He felt terrible, but he was planning to flee Seoul until he could save enough money to return to his wife, and....
Sangwoo. He runs into Sangwoo. After a week. It was by chance; he was sitting in a park, soaked to the bone and smoking what looked like the third cigarette from a new pack. Sangwoo is surprised, but a little flustered. They talk and... Sangwoo says he went back to gambling. And he won.
Ali can hardly believe it, but Sangwoo shows him the card. His name is Ali. He just got back. He’s going to the bank in the morning to settle his debts and find a way to reinvest. Ali remains silent, happy for his friend, but seeing Sangwoo’s state, he doesn’t ask if he could spare him a little
They stay there until dawn. Ali distracts him from the games (which Sangwoo refused to talk about), they bought some coffee, two outfits, and a hotel room for two. A shower and then the bank. Ali didn’t understand almost anything, and let Sangwoo handle the situation. He was by his side. Maybe because of the money, maybe because he was the only person Ali had, but mainly: because he cared about Sangwoo, and something had happened during those games—he didn’t want to leave him alone in misery.
But one week turned into two, three, a month. Ali loved being with Sangwoo; they slept in the same hotel bed, were always side by side, and even though Sangwoo was busy with new meetings and studies, he always made time for Ali, to listen to him and talk. But Ali needed to go home.
He asked Sangwoo for money.
And Sangwoo didn’t take it well. Ali was hurt and angry; Sangwoo was dismissive, questioning Ali’s motives and the nature of their relationship, calling everything into question. It was a terrible night, and they went nearly three days without speaking, Ali insisting on sleeping on the couch. Until, about two weeks later, Sangwoo showed up with a contract. He was willing to offer Ali’s wife and son 3 billion won as compensation for his death. He would send another 3 billion when the son came of age. Ali would receive monthly updates on how they were doing. But Ali would remain with Sangwoo, no matter what happened.
It would be the only help Sangwoo would provide regarding his family.
It took two months for Ali to return, with a black eye, bleeding gums, and a stab wound in his thigh, deciding to sign the contract. He realized he wouldn’t survive long enough to return; he would die trying, and he didn’t want to imagine his wife raising their son alone. He didn’t want to imagine her experiencing the same hunger he had already felt.
And Sangwoo is happy; now he has his emotional regulation pet back.
But imagine the nausea he feels when, at an event Ali took him to, he sees his Hyung—whom he thought he had killed—being someone else’s pet?
