AUTHOR'S NOTE:

THIS CHAPTER HAS UNDERGONE A MAJOR EDIT AS OF 6/24/2018.


TWO

"Unexpected Offers."


Wisteria has entered the chatroom.

ZEN: I saw on the news yesterday that Jumin's new book is now a bestseller.

Yoosung: Oh that - You mean Jumin's quote collection book?

ZEN: Yeah that book, isn't the title so strange too?

707: The successful path of a certain man!

HAPPY EMOJI

Yoosung: lolll so cringe loll

ZEN: Yea... Why is it even selling? Who the hell buys it? Even the name of the book is full of it!

707: Someone who wanna succeed like him?

ZEN: I don't get it -_- for real. He's the standard to success? One with a golden heart should be successful!

Yoosung: Then how golden is ur heart?

ZEN: More golden then the next-to-be CEO dude;;;

707: I like his book, its hilarious lol I can literally hear Jumin's voice dubbed when I'm reading it

ZEN: ANNOYED EMOJI Ergh... It creeps me out just thinking about it.

707: Success is not something you work hard for. If you are competent, success will naturally follow.

Yoosung: oh god

ZEN: Hey ... STOP IT.

Yoosung: I think I just heard Jumin's voice.

Jumin Han: That quote must have been your favorite. I will keep that in mind while writing the sequel.

ZEN: Don't do that!

Yoosung: AMAZED EMOJI

ZEN: Don't write it.

Yoosung: There's a sequel?

Jumin Han: Yes.

ZEN: I said don't write it.

Jaehee Kang: ... The meeting with the publisher just ended.

V: If the sequel is coming out, I guess a lot of people are reading it. Is it coming out as a series?

Jumin Han: Not sure. Today's contract was finalized for book 3, for now.

ZEN: ANNOYED EMOJI OMG...

707: OOOOH MUST PREORDER

ZEN: There are two more follow-ups of that weird book?

707: I shud memorize all the words.

Jumin Han: PLEASED EMOJI I am pleased to have such a loyal reader.

707: Villains twinge in pain when you recite 1 by 1 to them. Lol

ZEN: what's your purpose then?

707: V, have u read the book too?

V: I do have the book since Jumin sent it to me but I haven't had the chance to read it yet. Seeing how everyone's reacting, it's making me curious... I should spare some time someday to read it.

ZEN: No, V...;;;; I think it's better if you don't.

Yoosung: Jumin's book... Seems like it's selling well.

Do you think it would come into my school's library?

Jaehee Kang: I do not know, if requested, it might.

ZEN: I don't know who'll request such a book..;;;

Have you read the book yet Jaehee?

Jaehee Kang: ...Ah yes, I did read it. But I closed it after reading one page.

707: lol

Jaehee Kang: Felt like I was working...

ZEN: If I... Get to have his book... I think that'll make two of us

Jaeger Kang: As Luciel said, I could hear Mr. Han's voice from the first line of the book;;

ZEN: Omg never ever want that to happen

Jumin Han: You do not like my voice?

Jaehee Kang: I did not want to feel as if I was working from home.

Yoosung: You're a secretary, is it okay to not read it?

Jumin Han: I cannot force her to read my book if that is not her taste. No need to force her, it's selling well already.

ZEN: Jeez;;; what a show-off

V: It's true. It's been a bestseller for a while now.

Jumin Han: I'm telling you... I've never been a show-off. I was only born extraordinary.

ZEN: ANNOYED EMOJI

Yoosung: Frankly, I can't refute that.

Woohoo boo... I so do not want to study.

Jaehee Kang: Everything will pass by if you just roll with it.

HAPPY EMOJI

707: ?

?

?

Yoosung: what's wrong?

Jaehee Kang: Luciel, do not hog the chat room.

707: SHOCKED EMOJI

ZEN: What's wrong with you? Did a cockroach pop out or something?

707: INTRUDER INTRUDER

Jaehee Kang: If it's a cockroach, use Kombat.

707: WEEEOWWEEE WEEEOWEEE Issuing security alert!

Yoosung: Seven;;;

Jaehee Kang: The hogging has started.

ZEN: What do you mean intruder? In your room...? Or in the chatroom?

A slew of pandemonium ensued in the chat room with a flurry of confused emojis and reactions from various members of the RFA. They had noticed my presence... Well, Seven finally had. They tried to get the answers out of each other but they wouldn't find any from the others. I was almost too overwhelmed myself to type a response to the members despite the flashing box in front of my eyes. They would be expecting me to explain myself rather quickly now that they had noticed my username.

I groaned.

Wisteria: Oh, pardon me. I didn't mean to cause a commotion in your chat room;;;

707: Too late for that lololol

ZEN: This isn't the time to joke around!

Jaehee Kang: Identify yourself.

Jumin Han: Suspicious how V has no idea what's going on.

ZEN: Seven, did you distribute this as a public app?

707: CONFUSED EMOJI

Nope! Huuh, W-a-i-t

Yoosung: what what;

707: lololol There's a written challenge email in my spam box.

ZEN: CONFUSED EMOJI Did you stir up trouble somewhere?

707: Yes... Seems likely.

Jaehee Kang: ANNOYED EMOJI Why don't you explain the whole story from the beginning?

Jumin Han: Why are we moving from an Intruder/intrusion situation to a challenge?

707: hahhahah...ahahah..

Jumin Han: Explain the casualty.

707: I hacked into a server that hackers use four days ago... I left a cat paw print! Meowing... They sent a challenge for me to take revenge.

ZEN: To the spam box...?

Jumin Han: Cat paw print...?

707: I was thinking that they hacked this messenger server to take revenge ahahhahahhaha

ZEN: WHAT IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?

707: They were bragging that their servers were super tight! Iron tight... That they were number one in the world's ranking. So I took the courage and challenged them!

Despite the severity of the situation, I found that I couldn't stop the laughter that escaped me. This was the kind of joke that I had expected that he would use to deflect the situation and what he didn't know to calm the others. Unfortunately, his theory wasn't correct and the others wouldn't believe that. The others were annoyed with his theory, their emojis signified that clearly. "I shouldn't laugh but that made me a lot less nervous." I whispered underneath my breath.

Wisteria: I would hate to ruin your theory;; That's not exactly the case.

707: Oh so you're not totally cruel-hearted! I'm actually trying to trace the source of the intrusion right now lolol I'm actually, excited!

Jaehee Kang: How can you say excited right now?

707: I will begin the search for its identity. Today's HM~

Yoosung: But first, why don't we just ask he/she who they are?

Jumin Han: Doubt they will be honest with us but it's worth a try.

Yoosung: u won't know until u try. Hey, where are you from, Wisteria?

Another universe... If we wanted to be honest. Ray didn't give me any advice but to keep my lips sealed on what I'm doing... which made sense given who was in charge of this place. She wouldn't want them to know until she wanted them to know. That left me some kind of liberty to what I could and couldn't say. It wasn't as if I could do anything but talk to them for now. Leaning back in my chair, I began to compose another message.

Wisteria: You wouldn't actually believe me if I told, you know? I'm actually here because I was sent here by someone.

Yoosung: Sent?!

ZEN: Who would send you to our chat room?!

Jaehee Kang: Luciel, are you done yet?

707: SHOCKED EMOJI

ZEN: hey stop hogging

Jumin Han: Is there something wrong, Luciel?

707: What's wrong with this?

It's not working?

Yoosung: what's wrong?

707: I can't track down the location - AT ALL

If Seven wasn't able to locate me... I could only assume that Ray was hard at work making sure that he couldn't trace the source of my phone. That would pose him to be rather busy keeping up the track of miscommunication, right? It wouldn't bode well if Seven was able to find Mint Eye that easily since I believe it had always been Rika's plan to drag all of the members of the RFA here and get them under her power on her timeline and nobody else's.

I ran a hand through my hair. So much for a quick rescue.

That tiny bit of hope in my heart that Seven being able to just find me didn't last very long.

I looked back down at the messenger to see another question.

Jumin Han: I'll ask directly. For what purpose did you log onto this messenger?

Wisteria: I was told to hold a party.

They told me that V was the only one in charge of parties and their purpose since he was after all the leader of the RFA. It was a blur that reminded me of their original interrogation of me, in the original timeline... I almost couldn't keep up with all of the responses that came at me. That time Seven knew where I was and he could see my information clear as day on his computers. This was different. He couldn't trace my location and he couldn't find any of my information.

Seven asked for V's opinion on the matter since he was the leader, but the room was quiet had gone silent on V's end. He asked if he should block me, and let that be that.

V was strangely quiet. He didn't give an immediate response. The leader of the RFA was almost an unknown to me as much as Ray was. He was never in a lot of chatroom's as a participant, but he was in this one.

I knew V, sure. I didn't really know him though, I knew that on some level he was aware of Rika and Mint Eye... he knew where this place was, he had been trying to hide it from the others and he even got sh... I stopped the thought before I could finish it. That was a different reality than this, he wasn't dead here like he was in that reality. His friends didn't even really know him entirely.

I guess it was time to name drop their former party coordinator.

Wisteria: I'm only here because someone named Rika sent me here in the first place. Am I going to be blocked or;;;

Yoosung: WHAT?!

ZEN: OMG...

707: Wait, I think there's something wrong with my eyes

Yoosung: Rika? Ur someone Rika sent?

Jumin Han: Astonishing...

Yoosung: She contacted you, Wisteria? When...?

V: ...

Jumin Han: V is here with us. I hope you'd refrain from thoughtlessly mentioning Rika.

V: No, it's okay. I'm okay. Wisteria, I don't know how you know Rika. But she's not with us in this world anymore... in this world... She left our side six months ago.

Yoosung: That might not be true.

Six months? Six months had passed! I stared at my phone. Mystic Messenger took place almost two and half years after Rika's supposed suicide. I was considerably further back from the original story.

Jumin Han: From what intentions do you say that?

Yoosung: That's how I believe it...

Jaehee Kang: Yoosung...

V: Luciel, I have a favor to ask you.

707: Should I cut off this Wisteria's access?

Yoosung: NOOO! WAITT! Don't cut off yet! This person might know something about Rika! Aren't you guys even curious?!

ZEN: I'm curious but more suspicious

Jumin Han: I'm also starting to think this person might be dangerous.

Yoosung: I can't calm down... I didn't even get to see any evidence that she's dead...!

Jumin Han: Try not to distress yourself, you will miss out on something if you act with haste.

Jaehee Kang: I think you're overly calm, Mr. Han.

Jumin Han: There should be at least one person who can critically access the situation. It balances what's happening.

ZEN: This guy's not human;;;

Jaehee Kang: ;;;

V: No. I wasn't going to ask Luciel to deny Wisteria's access. It's actually the opposite.

Yoosung: Opposite?

V: Luciel, I want to make a call to Wisteria. Can you connect me through?

707: Umm... it's not impossible. Really? Should I connect?

V: Yes. There's something I want to ask Wisteria.

Wisteria: You could just ask me here.

Yoosung: Yes! You can just say it here!

V: It's a slightly delicate subject to discuss in the chatroom.

Yoosung: Discuss what? Is it about Rika? Another one of your secrets behind our backs again?

ZEN: Yoosung;; I understand that this is upsetting. But let's first see what happens from here, okay

V: Sorry... it looks like I'm causing disputes.

707: V... I'm gonna put you two through, is that okay?

Yoosung: Can we talk to Wisteria as well?

707: Probably... The fact that this person is here... means we're already connected to him/her. But V's connection is in manual mode. So I have to open that connection to make it alive...

Yoosung: I... I wanna hurry up and talk with Wisteria.

707: V, is it okay to put you through?

V: Yes, it's okay. Put me through.

Jumin Han: V, I believe you would have thoroughly assessed the situation and examined the situation. Hope it's not a hasty decision.

V: I appreciate your concern, Jumin. There is something that I must ask Wisteria, even if there are risks, I need to endure. If, as Wisteria has said, 'Rika' is the one who sent Wisteria to this messenger... I'd like to think Rika wanted the RFA parties to continue even when she's gone.

ZEN: If that's what you think, V, I guess it could be.

Jaehee Kang: If this is what Rika really hoped for...

Yoosung: ...

V: Wisteria, I'll call you in a bit.

Wisteria: I was only told to open a party, honestly.

V: Yes. I feel that is what Rika wants to happen. That is if Rika really did send you, Wisteria.

Jumin Han: Since you are Rika's fiance, V, and if you feel that way... that could be what Rika wants.

V: If Rika wanted to continue the parties I want to make that come true.

Jumin Han: You are the final decision maker, so we should comply

but I'm concerned that Wisteria's identity remains a mystery.

Jaehee Kang: That is true since we do not know anything about Wisteria. So I'm not sure if we can leave Rika's role to Wisteria...

Yoosung: What kind of person do you think Wisteria is?

Wisteria: I'm not a shady person with ulterior motives if that's what you're concerned about. I promise.

Yoosung: Then... are we going to be throwing parties again?

V: Yes. We will. As Wisteria will take Rika's role for us. But since Wisteria's identity has not been identified, we will have to see.

Jumin Han: A temporary hold.

Jaehee Kang: Even so, Wisteria's situation is quite perplexing. Is it okay for a non-member to take Rika's place?

V: That's what I wanted to talk about. I'm thinking of accepting Wisteria as a new member of the RFA, if Wisteria agrees.

Jaehee Kang: It seems a bit abrupt...

Jumin Han: I agree. Accepting a stranger as a new member...?

Wisteria: You make it seem like being a member is a privilege. What's so good about being a member?

ZEN: This one's quite straightforward...

707: If u become a member, guess what!

Jumin Han: You can use the RFA's messenger.

Jaehee Kang: That's not all is it...?

Jumin Han: You can live a contributing life.

Yoosung: Sounds big but not wrong and... Seven won't get rid of u right away

V: It would be best if you cooperate. Since you have come to host parties, Wisteria, our purposes are the same.

Jumin Han: I can't deny the fact that our situations and purposes fall perfectly, so things are quite suspicious.

ZEN: Hey, If you start questioning, there's no end in that;; I mean the situation is all so sudden but...

Yoosung: For now... I agree in holding parties again

Jumin Han: There is no reason to oppose holding parties itself.

ZEN: V has decided, so I'm going to follow that

Jaehee Kang: Of course, reopening the party is welcome, but it would have been better if we know exactly what kind of person Wisteria is.

V: I am fully aware of that. So Luciel, I want you to keep searching about Wisteria.

707: Um... Is it okay, Wisteria? I didn't think he would find anything if he even tried to do it. There was no way I was going to tell him that though.

Wisteria: While I would rather you not, I can see the purpose in that.

707: A background check is compulsory if we want to open the party with your help, Wisteria.

ZEN: Don't collect irrelevant info;;;

707: Yes, sir! V, shall I proceed?

V: Yes. I have a thought, so go on with it.

Jumin Han: V, I expect you will later tell us what your thought is.

V: I'll tell you when I collect my thoughts together.

Wisteria: I do apologize if I've caused you any stress. When will planning for the party need to begin?

V: There's no date yet, so there's no need to rush. I'll send a notice when I have a date fixed.

707: Rationally speaking - There is a simple solution - denying your access. I'm not sure if such risk is necessary... T_T

V: Speaking of which, there something I need to tell you. I'll call you right now.

Yoosung: One of those secret talks again... Wisteria, just so you know in advance, V is full of secrets;;;

V: Yoosung...

Yoosung: It's nothing new.

Jumin Han: Let's all think that he has a good reason.

707: Except for Yoosung.

Yoosung: Well, I do not understand;;;

V: I'll explain everything to you when it's time. I'm sorry. I should get going. Please excuse me first.

ZEN: See ya later V

Jaehee Kang: Take care.

V: Thanks everyone, I'll see you, too, later... Wisteria.

Wisteria: Yes, I'll see you around.

V: Yes. We will.

V has left the chatroom.

Jumin Han: Give us a replay la

707: srry

Jumin Han: He left while I was typing,

707: hecalledrightawaylikehesaid

i'mgonnatakethiscall bye

707 has left the chatroom.

Yoosung: I wonder what secret V is up to again.

Jaehee Kang: Do you want to install a wiretap or something?

Yoosung: Yes, if secrets keep building;; Ever since Rika died, it feels like V only talks to Seven.

Jumin Han: It's simple. Luciel is in charge of RFA's confidential information.

Yoosung: ...

ZEN: As the head of this organization, V probably has a lot on his mind... He said he'll explain later. Let's trust him and wait a bit, okay?

Yoosung: Exactly when is later? What I'm angry about is...That it's been like this since Rika passed away.

Jaehee Kang: Yoosung calm down.

Yoosung: He's locked himself up in secrets about Rika's death too...!

Jaehee Kang: I'd like to think that was V's best decision, made for our sake.

Jumin Han: So do I. But he wasn't himself today, a bit flustered.

ZEN: V? Flustered? Didn't seem like it;;

Jumin Han: I could see he was baffled today compared to his usual stance.

Jaehee Kang: Is that so? i think you're the one who could tell that, Mr. Han.

Jumin Han: Asking to open up the call function...? That was a shock.

ZEN: Huh.

Wisteria: You and V must be very close.

Jumin Han: Childhood best friends to be exact. V is a trustworthy person. In fact, has V's decision so far threatened our association even once?

Yoosung: Not yet but... The way he closed Rika's death was a bit suspicious...

ZEN: Hey;;

Yoosung: He was strange even during the funeral

ZEN: V would have been the most agonized one;

Yoosung; But I still don't get it...

Jaehee Kang: Umm... Actually, I wanted to say this for some time now... Is it okay to talk about our personal lives when we don't even know what kind of person Wisteria is?

ZEN: I don't think we talked much about ourselves...

Jumin Han: Well, there's nothing bad about being careful, I guess. I will be watching you closely, Wisteria.

ZEN: What are you, a PI now? gawd

Jaehee Kang: In my opinion, our most crucial issue here is whether Wisteria is a threat to the RFA or not

ZEN: A threat? I think that's too much;;

Yoosung: It's someone Rika sent! Rika would never send a threat to us.

Jumin Han: If Wisteria's words are true, that would be so.

ZEN: ;; Suspecting isn't really my thing. I hope we can soon find out that Wisteria is a good person. Then, we can get the parties ready or something.

Jaehee Kang: Luciel is on it. We will soon find out.

Jumin Han: Anyhow, it seems the important issues have been taken care of. I should get going, I need to read a new business proposal plan...

Jaehee Kang: Mr. Han, there is something that I need to brief you about that. May I call you now?

Jumin Han: Go ahead.

Wisteria: Goodbye, both of you. Good luck with the rest of your day.

Jaehee Kang: Yes, I guess I'll see you more often.

Jumin Han: Hope all the questions about you are cleared soon, Wisteria. Hopefully in a good way.

Jaehee Kang: I hope so too.

Jumin Han: Well then, I'm off.

Jaehee Kang: I should get going too.

Jumin Han has left the chatroom.

Jaehee Kang has left the chatroom.

ZEN: Only three of us left in a flash. I wonder what kind of person you are, Wisteria.

Yoosung: Yeah, me too.

Wisteria: We'll take our time to get to know each other soon enough, talk and all, and get to know each other through that. I don't think I'm all that bad but I'll leave it up to you to make your own opinions.

ZEN: You're positive lol I luv that kind of attitude

Yoosung: I also have a lot I want to hear from you, Wisteria. Especially about Rika.

ZEN: I want to chat more but I need to get going. Duty calls. Wisteria, I look forward to getting to know you.

Yoosung: Aren't you going to say bye to me too, Zen?

Wisteria: Don't leave the boy hanging lol

ZEN: ANNOYED EMOJI Bye Yoosung. Yeah. See you later.

ZEN has left the chatroom.

Yoosung: Everyone's gone. Wisteria, Umm... Can't you at least tell me what you heard from Rika? Doesn't matter how small it is.

Wisteria: I've already said all I was told. I'm sorry that's so little information.

Yoosung: Then can at least tell me when and how Rika said those words? Did you talk with Rika directly? Did she leave any other words?

Wisteria: One at a time, please.

Yoosung: Oh... sorry.

V told me that she committed suicide... but I couldn't believe that...there was no other evidence other than V's words...then you pop out, and say that Rika sent you... how do you think I'd feel?

Wisteria: It must be very difficult for you. I lost someone like that myself once. I understand where you're coming from.

Yoosung: Thanks for saying that... I really cannot believe that Rika killed herself... I still can't believe it... Oh, I'm sorry My professor just called;; I'm a college student. I forgot that I set an appointment earlier on. I gotta go immediately T-T

Wisteria: Goodness. You should get going.

Yoosung: Oh god;;; why now? I think I have to take this call, seems important. You must talk with me again!

Yoosung has the chatroom.


I exited the chatroom after Yoosung took his leave to chat with his instructor. That was a lot to take in at once and this was only the beginning of what they were going to do. V said he was going to be calling me, right? That meant that I could really expect to be talking with the RFA. I stared at my phone just waiting for it to go off in my hands.

Eventually, it did just that. V's photo illuminated my screen until I clicked the little green button to answer the message. "Hello? Oh, the phone's working alright. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am V, the head of the RFA. It's a pleasure to meet you." V's voice came through the other line, he didn't seem bothered, he was calm and clear.

"It's nice to meet you. The pleasure is mine." I said. V was calm and easy-going, I didn't expect to have a heavy barrage of information from him as if Jumin Han were trying to talk with me about information.

He took a breath on the other end of the call. "Oh... thank you. It's great to hear you in person outside the chatroom. I called you because there was something that I wanted to ask you here. I already mentioned this in the chatroom back there but, uh... if it does not offend you, may I ask you something?" He asked.

"Sure."

"Thank you for saying that. Can you tell me what you know about Rika? I believe it will be confusing for the rest of the members... if they hear it."

I hated to lie so I told only told him the bare minimum. "I got an invitation from her."

"Huh... Just an invitation that told you to host parties for the organization?" He inquired.

"Yes, that's it more or less. I apologize that I don't have much other information, V." I said. Did he know already what Rika was doing? Was this too soon before he realized she had started a cult after running away from him? "I'm in the dark on a lot of things as well... I just wanted to do as I was instructed in my invitation."

He was quiet. "Very well, for now. Thank you for answering me." He said with a hum. "Hmm... I think that's enough questions for now... And I believe there are limits to the conversation through the phone."

The acid in the back of my throat was threatening to splash up the more that I spoke up. Lying wasn't my favorite thing. If anyone knew how to circumvent the situation this early - it would have been him but if Ray was monitoring my actions he could hack into the calls. "...You're not suspecting me of something malicious are you, V?"

"No, that's not true. I was surprised that somebody who is a complete stranger to me talked about Rika. That's only why I asked, I'm sorry if I offended you. Since you're here to hold parties, we share a common goal. So I'll help you to the best of my abilities. I'll tell you one by one... how a party is held." V said. "If you need my help or have any questions, please feel free to ask me anytime." He continued. "I hope we can spend a good time. And I hope we can spend a good time with the rest of the RFA members as well."

"Please, leave it to me."Why was he so ready to trust me when I barely gave him an answer that made any sense? Could he be trying to figure out more about Rika's disappearance through me? Is that why he's vetting me now? That was what I always assumed when it came to the apartment.

"I will. I hope you're a good person. Now I must leave... I look forward to your... future performances." The other line went dead.


When the members of the RFA, Rika's Fundraising Organization, referred to their MC as a princess, I assumed that it was just some cute nickname that they all would give to her. She would be the princess to any of their stories as she saved them; She was less of a fairytale princess and more of a knight in my opinion if you wanted to think that she was saving the day each and every timeline. She was put to a higher status as we, the player, were usually lonely people who were seeking affection through a digital world as we couldn't have them in our reality.

You could feel important to somebody.

That was an aspect that I liked.

However, it appeared as though Ray took the princess matter far beyond what I had thought. This room was decorated as if royalty were within it. The frills, the antiques, the flowers, it all reminded me a lot of storybook illustrations that I had been working on back home. It was busy by all means, the idea that Ray had put all of this together for my sake was a little... much. I was used to these kinds of sceneries. This was the kind of room that I would want to paint for my own collection and it was down to a tee the kind of thing that I liked.

Ray was an enigma.

Even if all I knew so far was that he definitely had a princess complex for MC like Unknown. I barely interacted with Unknown during my time playing the game, I only aimed for good ends when I played Otome and that left me with slim and far between interactions and they weren't usually... When he was right of mind. His face seemed genuine. I couldn't find any wrong in his eyes; The way he looked at me when I spoke didn't trigger any screeching alarm bells like it should have when I saw Unknown.

"Ray seems nice but," In the back of my head, I knew better than to trust someone just for the kindness. The last time that I found myself listening to someone that seemed nice I wound up getting hurt beyond recognition. I knew this game wasn't a game. Could this be before his mind was almost lost to the elixir Rika forced on him? Even if he was only feeding me half-lies, I needed some more time to understand this situation and what was happening around me.

"No."

I was no better right now the way I was speaking with the members of the RFA, giving half-truths with my answers. I couldn't just blurt out the truth so blindly. Turning my eyes back down to my phone in my hand I noticed some of the members sent me text messages through the app while I was chatting with V on the phone. They were mere introductory words, them giving me their trust or hope that they could get to know more about me.

The text that stood out was one from Ray himself.

20XX-XX-XX Monday

Ray: I'm guessing your chat with the AIs just ended.

You can keep talking with them like you did just now, okay?

Wisteria: I didn't expect a text from you so soon. I will don't worry.

Ray: I'm here as long as you're here, Lila. ^^

As long as you don't leave me.

Are you just lonely?

Reading his message a few times over, I swiped the app to a close. My mind needed a break to just... not deal with everything that just happened. Rising from my seat I headed over to the window to see if I could piece together my location. This was very rural by all means, and it reminded me of the area that I grew up in... in that it seemed remote and away from bustling cities and any people. there were trees everywhere and the slope beneath me signified we were pretty high up on a hill. Had it been different circumstances I might have liked the view.

"That doesn't tell me anything." I lamented underneath my breath. Once more, I came to the conclusion there was no way out of Mint Eye for the time being. There was still one place I hadn't yet seen on my own.

I headed to the door of my room and peered out of it.

My head turned left and then turned right; It would be easy to get lost in this place, I knew, the walls were bare but posh. It seemed like one of those large hotels that had the same design on every floor. You couldn't dispute the looks and would only know where you were if a sign told you, or if you could gauge how high you were from a window. Rika spared no expense, that's for sure. I thought. Before I knew it I was out in the hall unsure of my next move, I was pacing back and forth, that was a habit of my anxiety when I had a hard time grounding myself back to Earth.

My phone went off in my pocket. I picked it up without looking at the ID.

"Hello, Lila."

I stood still. "Oh, it's you, Ray."

"I noticed you left your room a while ago, you weren't planning on exploring on your own, were you?" He asked.

"You... You were watching me?" I looked around for would be locations for cameras but came up short. There were clearly cameras in this building but they were hidden out of my view. Another layer of defense that I hadn't initially considered. Ray could see me. This was like when the MC was in the apartment and Seven could see her in the hallway from his house.

"There are cameras throughout our headquarters for security reasons, I hope you don't mind that I checked up on you," Ray admitted. "You were pacing back and forth for a while so I thought I needed to check on you. Everything's alright with the game right?"

"Oh... Yes, actually, that's going fine." I told him. He could see my chat logs - I'm sure he knew how it went down to the letters that I used. They at least existed somewhere in the world and were breathing. Their lives were intertwined with Rika. I wasn't okay but I pushed through the sinking feeling in my stomach. "They're peculiar characters... to say the least. I wasn't expecting them to be so... lively."

"Do you like anyone in particular so far?" He asked.

I paused.

I didn't lean one way or the other with anyone in the RFA personally - I liked everyone. Though, showing favoritism might not be exactly a good idea knowing that he held ill feelings to most of the members. "I guess it's too soon to say," I told him instead. On the other line, I could hear the clatter of fingers touching a keyboard. Ah, so that's where he is. There was a computer room somewhere in this building and that's where he had to be located most of the time. "It's only been a little while since I started playing."

"Ah. Good point."

"And I was just a little curious about this place," I said. My eyes focused on the little shine of a lens in the top left corner of the hallway. Bingo. One camera down in my mind. "I didn't intend on straying far from my room, actually, I just wanted some fresh air for a moment, I was just about to head back in - sometimes when I'm alone I get a little stir-crazy."

He seemed pleased with this answer. "Oh, alright. I'll be dropping by sometime later so you won't feel too lonely down there for long. I just have a bit of work that I need to complete before then."

"Don't let me keep you," I said. How long did he work? I couldn't imagine what Rika had gotten him to do in his time here - If he had time to keep Seven at bay and talking to me than my little excursion had to be cut short from this point - but I would try again to learn more about this place. "I would hate to interrupt your work."

"I'm actually good at completing a number of tasks at the same time, but I appreciate that you care about me like that, I was starting to feel a bit tired but I feel motivated once again."

I wasn't sure why, but I smiled. "I guess I'll see you soon."


When I returned to my room, I spent a significant amount of time on my phone trying to explore the extent of this universe. Nothing was named the same as it was in our world, Google wasn't google here. That was my first roadblock, but once I figured all of that out I checked out what I could on everyone. There wasn't much difference in events or history. I could still locate no trace of things that I wanted to know. Nothing that could explain my situation. When I gave up my search on the internet... I found myself looking through this room.

There was no sign of any camera in the bedroom which relieved me and that included the adjacent bathroom. Nothing out of the ordinary was in the room. Everything had a place and stuck to it. There was nothing that could prove to be useful just yet. The dresser and its drawers had a few outfits within it, but I had not yet even considered touching those. I would eventually as the feeling of being contained here grew. That was when I began to search through my own bag. There wasn't much in it. The only thing that I had with me was what I had when I left my apartment. That meant I only had my spare phone charger, some lipsticks, my wallet, my small art box and my sketchbook.

My fingers rested against the sketchbook.

If I was going to be here than I was going to use my time wisely. I could channel my energy into something creative and calm my unsettled nerves before I sank into any warm water.

A few hours had passed before I decided to return to the RFA chatroom, and when I did... It appeared that Yoosung was the only one online. That would be a minefield, I knew, trying to talk with him and watch my words when it came to his cousin. He was grieving her, as far as he knew, and that pain was strong. I could understand what he was going through, but sometimes I disagreed with the way he handled himself.

People dealt with grief in different ways, however.

Wisteria has entered the chatroom.

Yoosung: Huuh? Wisteria! I was hoping that I could talk to you, and you're here! This must be my lucky day!

Wisteria: It was Yoosung, right? It's nice to meet you, you know, without the chaos.

Yoosung: Yep, that's me! I'm thrilled I can talk to you right away! ^^ I have tons of things I wanna know I'm not sure if it's okay to ask you since it's kind of late now... Umm... Did you by any chance talk to V already?

Wisteria: I have.

Yoosung: You did? Can you tell me what you talked about?

Wisteria: You know we talked about this and that, that or this, something suspiciously fishy and about the weather lately. The usual things that people talk about!

Yoosung: SHOCKED EMOJI NO WAY! SOMETHING FISHY?! What is it?

Wisteria: Hm. You know what, I heard your omelets suck!

Yoosung: Not fair! He told me he liked it in the past... Anyways why would you talk about that in a dire situation like this? Wait! Are you - making fun of me right now? You're not, are you? Don't tease me. We just met! T-T

Wisteria: Sorry Yoosung. I say with the utmost certainty that nothing fishy went on, me and V just talked about the situation and cleared up a few things. I thought a joke would help you lighten up. You seem tense.

Yoosung: Oh... Umm... Thanks. The rest of the guys and Jaehee might be wary of you... but not me! I don't think we should be wary of you!

Wisteria: I appreciate that. I really want to be friends with all of you. :D

Yoosung: I hope we can too! Actually... What I wanted to say was... I might be mistaken but perhaps Rika could be trying to send the RFA something... to deliver something, that is. Um... Wisteria? Didn't Rika ask you to tell us something more? How did it feel when you met her?

Wisteria: I haven't met her in person - just through my invitation.

Yoosung: Oh... Honestly, it still bothers me. What V said about her last, I mean. There's so much that bothers me to just buy what he said. Do you honestly know nothing about her past? I'm literally dying to know.

Wisteria: I'm afraid I can't. I didn't see what it was like personally, or through her. I'm sorry I don't have more.

Yoosung: You're right... The only witness we had back then was V... I thought what if I thought that you could be an unknown witness... It was fool's hope. Haaa... V couldn't give us enough proof that she committed suicide. He said that she committed suicide - but we couldn't even find her body. It's basically no different from disappearance.

Yoosung: It's been six months since her death was announced... But we have nothing new on her death. I need solid evidence. I would admit it if there is solid evidence.

Wisteria: You must be feeling very frustrated right now, Yoosung. I'm not sure evidence would make you feel any better about it but just trust me when it comes to that. Sometimes the unknown is better.

Yoosung: I am frustrated... No one ever really understood how I feel... but you do. Thank you.

ZEN has entered the chatroom.

Yoosung: It's Zen!

ZEN: Oh, Wisteria! Still awake at this hour?!

Yoosung: Aren't you going to say hi to me?

ZEN: I see you every day. Why should I? lol Anyways welcome to the RFA Wisteria. HAPPY EMOJI

Wisteria: Nice to meet you as well, Zen, thank you.

ZEN: hehe same here. You don't look like a bad person. You are very courteous. Though this might be a presumption rushed hehe

Yoosung: HAPPY EMOJI

ZEN: I hope we get to know each other some more. New members are always more than welcome lmao Jumin will practically try to bury you with suspicions but I won't lol You know Zen of the RFA - man's got the best looks - best loyalty - the last real man in the world.

Yoosung: Wisteria - if Zen is getting to you. You can just go to bed lolololol and chat again with me in the morning. HAPPY EMOJI

ZEN: how dare you try to monopolize our new face

Yoosung: lol what do you mean monopolize? Zen - trying to own a person is an ancient ideology

ZEN: CONFUSED EMOJI Ancient ideology? Why do you suddenly sound difficult? ;;;

Yoosung: I saw that term yesterday while I was on the internet looking for sources for my assignment lol

ZEN: So it didn't come from you

Yoosung: of course it didn't

Any interaction between Yoosung and Zen always got me to laugh.

They were friends but it was so strange in the way that they always got to each other. It was just like they were brothers. That was how their relationship felt. Zen was always scolding him and teasing him a healthy way, unlike the way that Seven did to were back and forth for a few more minutes until the conversation suddenly turned to Rika and V's relationship, and about the two of them. Yoosung was throwing out his own theories and Zen disputed whatever he went about saying.

Yoosung: You know that V keeps hiding things from us... You know what I mean, don't you? You know... Everyone would feel that there's something he's not honest with.

ZEN: Hm... But I'm not going to suspect him. He just lost someone he loved...

Yoosung: ...

Wisteria: You should trust him in some regard Yoosung. He's just trying to keep you from being hurt.

Yoosung: From hiding the truth from me?! He should show us something that we can actually count on! He's just too fishy! You're too nice, Zen. No matter how many times I think about it. There's something fishy about V.

ZEN: OMG - I bet you'll be embarrassed to death when later it's all revealed to be a misunderstanding. and when that happens, You'd better buy us some drinks.

Yoosung: Our newcomer might be holding the key to the secret.

ZEN: Key to the secret... What is this, some kind of esc room or something?

Yoosung: Someone that Rika sent... is none other then Wisteria! I got a bunch of things to ask!

Wisteria: That would be five million won per answer at this rate, Yoosung - Gotta make bank somehow.

ZEN: LMAOO

Yoosung: What...? Can't you tell me for free? T-T If not can I just use a monthly payment plan? CRYING EMOJI

ZEN: Hey... ANNOYED EMOJI It's barely been a day since we met Wisteria through the messenger. I know how impatient you are but slow down, please You know what I mean, don't you?

Yoosung: Yes... I'll try. MOPING EMOJI I just wanted to know what brought such a dreadful weight on her.

Wisteria: When people are depressed, they are usually the kinds of people that you least expect to be depressed. I can't tell you why she did what she did, Yoosung. But I doubt it would be something that you would be able to easily guess - sometimes people just don't tell anyone they're sufffering.

Yoosung: You sound like you know firsthand Wisteria. I see.

ZEN: Yes... if she didn't even tell us perhaps it's because we don't want to know about it.

Yoosung: Maybe... But I want to know! I must! Even if I regret it, I want to know. I wanna know why she tried to take it all by herself... Why she didn't ask me or others for help... That's what I wanna know. You have no idea how frustrated I am! I think I'll feel better only after I find everything out.

ZEN: I know how upset you are. You were so close to her... and her death was a shock to everyone

Yoosung: ...

Wisteria: I know you're upset, but you should calm down and collect yourself.

Yoosung: Should I...?

ZEN: You should. I would have told you that if Wisteria didn't. Yoosung

Yoosung: ?

ZEN: Touch your forehead right now.

Yoosung: What's the deal so sudden?

ZEN: Hot, isn't it?

Yoosung: Uh... Um... A little. CONFUSED EMOJI

ZEN: I think it's time for you to cool down.

Yoosung: Cool down? My head?

ZEN: Yes. So you can think cool-headed I think your head is overheated. Wisteria, you agree, don't you?

Wisteria: From a logical standpoint, I would have to say that isn't convincing. Though, my heart is telling me that you should try Yoosung. You should try to cool off, okay?

After reasoning with Yoosung for a few minutes, he finally conceded and went to cool off some stem. He was getting a bit... off with himself. Yoosung just needed to sleep that off - He wasn't ready to deal with the information that V may or may not have had about Rika. There was a lot that had gone wrong with her. That left me alone in the chatroom with Zen.

ZEN: Um... Wisteria, Yoosung isn't very fond of V... but in my pov, they're both good people. So I hope you can take good care of the RFA

Wisteria: Zen, it's late, you should really hurry to bed too. Your skin will suffer if you don't.

ZEN: Oh my! Good point! That was sharp, Wisteria. I'll go to bed now. Have a sweet dream... Wisteria. I'll talk to you again in the morning. WINK EMOJI

ZEN has left the chatroom.

Those two left me feeling a little better off then I had before. I set my phone down on the bed beside me. My eyes lifted towards the ceiling. It posh white... a lot brighter then eggshell. I wasn't familiar with this view above my head. My ceiling had glow-in-the-dark stickers of different varieties like stars and flowers or little animals. This would be my view for now and I didn't think I would be getting much sleep this night.


AUTHOR'S NOTE.

Wow. I forgot how long that first chatroom can be! I don't intend on typing out every single chat, only those that I feel are important. Thanks for the reviews/favorites/follows so quickly! I didn't expect to see anybody commenting so soon. I'm a bit astonished it's coming from people whose stories that I've read and enjoyed lolololol