The alley was dark and muddy. Ye-Jun found out the hard way, having just landed on the freezing, wet pavement, his hand was grasping at something humid and slimy.  God knows what it could be. But that was the least of his concerns at the moment. 

Ha. If only my fans could see their perfect idol now… 

His jaw was aching and he felt the metallic tang of blood on his tongue. He was certain that tomorrow the left side of his face would be swollen. If he lived to see tomorrow, that is. 

“Pretty boy, you see now we mean serious business?” the man in the dark gray coat sneered. 

Though rather short, his uppercut split Ye-Jun's lip, too drunk to block or avoid it. 

“Didn’t know business included punching people in the face” Ye-Jun complained, slowly getting himself into a sitting position. 

“In my business, we like to skip the talking and move to action a lot faster” the man informed him. “So, what will we do with your obligations?”. 

Here we go again. Same question for almost a year. 

“I told you... I will get the money” he replied. 

“The question is when. Because you will find the money if you want to live long enough to see what your kids might look like one day” the man threatened him. “You know, we have a consultant who digs up stuff, and told us you don’t actually make as much as it seems”. 

“But I will soon” Ye-Jun insisted. Their new album was scheduled to be released next month, and test runs showed that they definitely had runners for the top 5. 

The man cackled. “Do you know how much you owe us?”. 

“You’re the ones keeping the account” he reminded him. 

“Tsk, tsk… What a disappointment! Hey you! Prettier boy! Maybe you can help him remember” he turned to his friend, who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time - that is with him. 

Sang-Jun's eyes trembled and his lips were drawn into a thin line. On either side of him stood two other men—bigger and more menacing than the guy in the dark gray coat. He simply shook his head, not daring to meet the man’s gaze. 

“No? You are all alone buddy...” the man concluded. “So, let’s get that answer out of your system!” he continued as he pulled out of his pocket a pair of brass knuckles. 

Oh shit... 

If the punch with his bare hand made him dizzy, he couldn’t imagine what he could do with these on. “No, not the face...” he muttered.  

“You got a point. If you are to pay us back, you’ve got to work”. The man turned to his lackeys: “Break some ribs”. 

Ye-Jun panicked. Sitting on the ground, he pressed himself against the wall, trying in vain to push himself away. The two goons were approaching slowly. The man went to Sang-Jun, who was evidently shaking, and grabbed him by the shoulder. 

“Watch and learn youngster what happens to people who don't keep their word” he told Sang-Jun. 

The next thing he knew was the feeling of a shoe crushing into his right side. It was clear for a hit as he had lifted his arms to protect his head. He came down to the ground again and a storm of kicks slammed all over his body. 

He couldn’t breathe properly, he couldn’t see what was going on around him. He just prayed this would stop soon. Or that he could at least faint. 

“Stop right now! What are you doing?” a familiar female voice reached his ears. 

Chloe… 

The blows stopped and the goons turned to see who was calling them. 

“Mama, you crazy? Can’t you see you are getting yourself into trouble?” the man with the coat said. 

Ye-Jun opened his eyes and saw their assistant manager, their 7-months-pregnant assistant manager, rushing towards him. 

“He’s a kid, damn it! You can't do that!” she cried out, as she kneeled next to him. 

“Chloe…” He doubled over, coughing up blood. “Go away…” was the only thing he said. 

“Do you know her?” the man asked Sang-Jun. 

His face was petrified and pale, his eyes were round with fear. He reluctantly nodded. 

“Don't touch him! Leave Sang-Jun alone!” Chloe yelled. 

“This one is safe. He is smart. He came by so many times, but never played” the man said. 

“Came? Where?” Chloe asked. 

“At my club. We run a club for… players. Card players” the man clarified. 

Chloe froze. She slowly turned and looked at Ye-Jun horrified. 

“Your boy here played a lot. He kept losing. I offered him money. His face looked worth it, he's all over the place. And he took it- again and again. He signed the papers but hasn't returned a single coin. And the interest keeps piling up” he explained. 

Ye-Jun, numb with pain and half conscious, felt the wave of shame crushing down on him. Chloe had found out… 

“I have a business to sustain and he has cost me a lot. It's either my money back, or him resting forever at the bottom of the sea”. He couldn't be more clear. 

“How much?” she coldly asked. 

“Uhm… The figure might shock you. In your condition…” he said. 

“I can take it!”. 

The man approached her and whispered in her ear. Chloe’s breath hitched. She looked up at the sky, releasing a long sigh. Then she turned to Ye-Jun, eyes filled with sorrow and said with a strong voice: “I’ll take care of it”. 

“Are you rich, mama?” the man asked. 

“No, but he is gold. I will make him the biggest star and pay you off” Chloe said decisively. 

Star my ass… Who asked you that? 

“Apologies, I cannot trust you since I don't know you” the man said. 

“But you know the company, right? NT2. What if they agree to vouch for the debt? What if I get them to buy out his debt and the interest to today? You get a signed contract and a formal repayment schedule plus a legal annual interest. Everything clean, no need for blood or dead bodies” Chloe proposed. 

He carefully studied her. “And why would a company sign that?”. 

“The company already owes him. If they lose him, the cost will be greater” she explained. 

“You’re serious” he said. 

She stood up and took a pen and a business card. She wrote something on the back, and then placed it on a car next to them. 

“Here is my signature. Sign our deal as well” she demanded. 

He smirked. “Legal interest, you said?”. 

“Legal. All payable in full before his thirtieth birthday”. 

The mobster signed the card, and put it in his pocket. 

“Come by my office in one week exactly. I will be ready to discuss the details” Chloe said. 

“Must be my lucky day! Thank you, Ms Pyo” he said to Chloe. “But now you also have an agreement with me. I can only guarantee that I don't harm children” he continued, looking at her baby bump. 

“You… bastard…” Ye-Jun groaned. If only he could stand up… 

“Easy there!! You're safe for now pretty boy. Try to screw me over, and your fans will learn what you do in the evenings!”. 

His sinister voice cut like an ice knife through Ye-Jun's throat. 

His lackeys followed him in the car and they left. 

The alley was even darker now. Silence was heavy, but heavier was the heart of the three people left there.  

“Ye-Jun, honestly! What is wrong with you? Do you have a death wish? If they don't kill you, I will definitely will!” Chloe unleashed her fury at Ye-Jun. “Illegal gambling!? Borrowing from the mob? 

“And you? The smart one he says. If you were, you would have told me! At least you called me now” she attacked to Sang-Jun as well. He was crying. 

Ye-Jun was lying motionless on the ground. He lacked the will to try to move, or even speak in his defense. His body was shattered, his mind too. His face was lying on the filthy pavement, exactly where a shit like him belonged. 

Chloe was swearing, yelling, cursing but he paid no attention. Finally he heard her calling his name. He tried to focus. She was standing in front of him, her hands gently holding her rounded belly, her eyes red and thunderous. 

“Here and now Ye-Jun. Let’s make a deal. You will listen to everything I say, and I will make you a bunch of money. If you are not up to it, I call them back to finish you off right now!”. 

Chloe's voice cracked as she said those last words. 

He shut his eyes and gave the only reply he could: “Ok…. Deal…”. 

He was barely 20 years old. He didn’t want to die.