Chapter Two

The app had been quiet for the morning. I hadn't even heard back from Seven since those first morning messages. While I folded my extra clothes and placed them into the plastic bags I'd saved from the convenience store, I could almost hear Jumin chastising my "commoner's" ingenuity.

The next chatroom opened up an hour after I'd finished lunch. I had just put my shoes on to go for a walk when I spotted Seven's little icon. The subject screamed at me, voicing his disappointment in the current situation.

I WANNA SEE ELLY!~

I clicked open the chat room, eager just to have someone to talk to, and curious as to what kind of adventure I'd face talking to the batty genius alone.


~M.C. has entered the chat~

707: Jumin Han is

707: Going on…

707: VACATION?

Not even a second in and he was already overwhelming me with spam chat bubbles and surprised emojis. I opened the keyboard, frantically typing in a greeting before he could continue with a series of short and dramatic texts.

M.C.: Hey Seven,

M.C.: He hasn't said where he's going, but yes.

707: And he put our lovely little coordinator in charge of his precious feline wife.

M.C.: Yes…

Seven sent up his personalized heart-eyed emoji, one seemingly reserved only for Elizabeth 3rd.

707: M.C.~ you know what you should do!?

707: You should totally

707: throw a party!

M.C.: In Jumin's house?

M.C.: While he's gone?

707: Ya.

M.C.: No thanks. I'd rather keep whatever trust Jumin has in me.

707: At least let me come and play with Elly while he's gone.

M.C.: I don't think so, Mister.

His next emoji up was his signature stressed emoji, little animated fists beating down on some invisible surface and sweat or tears flying from his little face.

707: Stickler.

707: Just kidding.

M.C.: If it's okay with Jumin, I can post some pictures of her in the chat room while I'm there.

707: ooooh

707: perfect!

~Yoosung has entered the chat~

707: Oi! Yoosung!

Yoosung: Seven…

707: I'm a little surprised Jumin didn't ask you to watch Elly for him, as his future slave...I mean intern.

Yoosung: I still have classes.

Yoosung: Besides, M.C. was nice enough to offer.

I giggled a little, blushing foolishly at the praise. It would have been one thing for him to say that, but it was another to see the special speech bubble, cute font with the frame of pink hearts in the corners. It was rare that I saw it, but it was sweet every time.

M.C.: I just wanted to help out a bit.

707: Want to help me, Sweetie?

M.C.: What do you need?

707: I'm kidding

707: lololololol

707: Not allowed to accept any help from outside sources.

707: Unless you want to solve a mystery for me, it'd help my sanity.

I cocked my head to the side out of amusement. What mystery could I possibly solve for this supposed genius? Seven knew more about everything than I could begin to imagine, and something has him stumped. I shook my head as I waited for his question, swearing to myself if it was some domestic question, I'd tell him exactly where he could shove his mystery.

M.C.: Try me.

707: What does the M.C. stand for?

Yoosung: M.C. … You know I wondered the same thing. What is your real name?

I laughed out loud, throwing my head back, and feeling the silent air around me fill with the noise. I had met them all last night. After shaking hands with Jumin, receiving a kiss on the cheek from Zen, an enthusiastic hug from Yoosung, a few words with Jaehee, and having my phone stolen from Seven for a questionable hour, I realized I never talked to any one person long enough to exchange such pleasantries. I had told Jaehee in a text when we first introduced ourselves so she could place me in the records as a member. I was so flustered at the implications of her words that I had given it away in my next breath. I smirked now, realizing how much power a name had, I'd seen Yoosung and Seven tease each other enough with nicknames and the things they knew about each other, and I realized that despite twelve days of communication and a six-hour long party, no one in RFA really knew me outside of the cute things I said in the chat rooms.

M.C.: Sorry defender of justice, that one's going to stay a mystery.

707: A lady of secrets~

707: I have told you the dangers of keeping secrets from a hacker, haven't I?

Yoosung: You won't even tell me?

He sent up his most adorable emoji, an exaggerated blinking, and blushing face, one he normally used when I called him cute, and for a moment, my resolve weakened. I couldn't say no to that face, pixelated or otherwise. But the sudden response from Seven reminded me why I should keep it a secret.

707: Don't tell me... the C stands for Choi, doesn't it?

707: Wouldn't it be something if we had the same last name, princess?

707: You'd have no choice but to marry me then, huh?

Yoosung: I bet she's secretly your sister, and you wouldn't find out until you were at the altar.

707: No way! I'm an only child.

Yoosung: As far as you know.

707: …

707: Oops, just got called.

707: More work~~~

707: Defender of Justice over and out!

MC: Bye Seven

~707 has left the chat~

Yoosung: It's not like it matters or anything

Yoosung: But the C doesn't stand for Choi, right?

M.C.: No, it does not.

Yoosung: Well if you won't tell us, I'll just use my imagination.

M.C.: I'll tell you my name, I just don't want Seven to know.

Yoosung: Why Why;;?

M.C.: Because I know you're not going to tease me about it.

Yoosung: Tease you?

Yoosung: Why would anyone tease you about your name?

Yoosung: I'll bet it's just as cute as you are ^^

There he went with that speech bubble again. It was almost more than my resolve could handle. I blushed a little, imagining him on the other side of town, peering down at his phone in his classroom. Or maybe hiding out in the bathroom to participate in the chat room. While I hated knowing he was missing class to talk to me, I was glad to have someone around.

M.C.: Call me when you get home from school today, I'll tell you then.

Yoosung: Okay!^^ Have a good day, M.C.

~Yoosung has left the chat~

M.C.: You too, Yoosung.


Well, that's a bit embarrassing. I too, clicked the exit button and logged off for a while. Standing near the CCTV camera, I thought about messing with Seven, if he might have been watching. I jumped in front of the lens, smiling and giving a quick wave, blowing a kiss in the direction of it. I wasn't sure what kind of response I was hoping for since there wasn't an intercom system in place. I cringed at the idea. It would be nice for times like these, but it was too much power in the wrong hands if his three am texts and calls were any proof. I goofed around in front of the camera only for a minute, retreating and sitting on the couch and opening an old magazine on the low table in front of me. I'd read it a couple of times already, skimming the same articles and giggling at the picture of Jumin Han superimposed against the article that boasted his label of Number One Most Eligible Bachelor. It was only particularly funny to me because I had gotten bored enough to doodle on it. Before I even knew who Jumin Han was, I read about him in magazines, I watched interviews with him and his father, I listened to the endless gossip regarding the Executive Director of C&R International, and on a boring rainy afternoon, I'd had enough of his controlled unsmiling smolder, and sketched a rather obstructive bushy mustache on his face with black ink.

That was a version of me untouched by the whirlwind that swept me up into a world of kind faces, dark secrets, and glimmering charity parties. Now I was so close to this unattainable bachelor that I was going to stay in his home indefinitely and care for his cat while he took a lavish vacation. Maybe if I kept myself in his good graces, he'd take me with him for the next one.

While I was reading an article about a movie that had come out months ago, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. The RFA specified ringtone let me know it was a familiar caller, and as Seven's face lit up my screen, I felt a sudden fluttering in my chest, thinking about the stupid little dance I did in front of the camera just a moment ago.

"Hello?" I answered innocently.

"Were you putting on a show for me or something?" He asked with mischief brimming in his voice. I smiled into the phone, knowing he couldn't see my face now. "It was cute, why'd you go away?"

"So you saw it." I replied. He huffed in response and I couldn't help as my giggle broke the silence between us.

"You're lucky I was already looking that way when you jumped into view. It's not like I was watching the screen for long or anything. Ha, I'm not some loser."

"I didn't suggest it," I replied. "What are you up to, anyway?"

"Can't tell you." He said. I listened to the background noise, silence until the tapping began. He was probably hacking into something, typing codes on a big screen in big green letters, I imagined him in a dark room, illuminated only by the eerie glow of green, his glasses off so he could focus a little better.

"He Seven, I was wondering if there was somewhere I could keep the information on the guests who attended the party," I said. "I haven't opened any of the file cabinets or even turned on the computer here, but I'd like to keep everything somewhere a bit more secure and accessible than my cellphone."

"Our Mystic Coordinator…"He simpered.

"Mystic Coordinator?" I asked.

"Yup." I could hear the smile in his voice, and I realized he had found a way to what I was worried about. Despite not having my real name, he's managed to use my username to his advantage, I wasn't surprised. If anything I wondered what had taken him so long.

"So, is that my new nickname?" I asked.

"That's the name of the game, honey."

"What?" I asked. "What game?"

"It's just an expression," He replied. "Since you won't tell me your name, I've decided what I think M.C. stands for, congratulations Mystic Coordinator!"

"I like it," I replied. "Thanks, God Seven!"

"No problemo, Mystic Coordinator!" He gasped audibly, his voice faded and I assumed he turned his head away from his phone, talking to someone quickly. I couldn't quite hear what he was saying, so I waited silently.

"Gotta go, M.C." He said quickly. "Have fun today! Bye-Bye!" He hung up, and I set my phone down.

To say I was excited would be an understatement. In the two days leading up to the party, I was told to not step foot out of the apartment. It was so sudden I didn't even have the chance to complain about it and when I found out why, I was so stunned I couldn't be angry, regardless of what Yoosung and Zen said. A bomb that would wipe out the entire building, a special security system requested by Rika, hacked into whoever it was that brought me here in the first place. Seven's sorrow had been palpable, it filled the air in the apartment without him even being near. Even when I wanted to leave, when I thought I could just delete the app and run away, his apologies, his self-hatred, and my own worry for his mental health kept me inside.

After those two days, the feeling of liberation in the party hall was almost intoxicating, and now this waiting period is stifling.

It was only after I heard the camera click that I realized what I was doing. I had actually become so bored that I was taking selfies. I texted one to Zen, figuring for all the ones he posted, he could stand to see a new face.

He called me later that night long after I decided to go to bed. I wasn't asleep yet, just listening to music from my phone. The ringing was jarring, taking over the light melody of my song choice and making me jump up from the little nest of blankets and pillows I'd made for myself. It was dark in the apartment, only dimly illuminated by the pale light of the crescent moon pouring in from the open curtains by the computer desk. I picked it up from the table, cringing from the brightness of the screen. Quickly the bitter start faded, giving way to pleasant surprise as Zen's face lit up my screen. I pressed the answer button and listened to his greeting.

"Jagiya! I meant to call you earlier, but I was so caught up in reading the script.

"It's okay!" I replied brightly. "I was still awake. How did rehearsal go today?"

"It was pretty good," he said. "It got a little awkward when my old agent brought in her new little "rising star" and recognized me." I suppressed my giggle as I listened to him sigh, almost hearing the quotation marks in his sleepy voice. "It's nice to see people just starting out in theater. The girl seemed to be about the age I was when I started, I just hope she's ready for all the hard work that goes into it.

"What was your first show?"I asked.

"It was called Tei's Tea Leaf," he replied. "It was a short show and the writer wasn't well-known, but my agent told them about me, and they practically begged me to audition." I listened to his yawn. It was clear he was trying to conceal it, but it was still audible, and the little sound that escaped him at the end was utterly adorable.

"You should get some sleep, Zenny." I said.

"I will soon." He said. "I'll have an early day tomorrow. But I couldn't help to think about Jumin, and I hate doing that... " I smiled, stifling my amusement at his pouting. "It was strange to see him accept your offer so quickly. I mean… He loves that furball more than himself, probably. And he only just met you properly last night, but he's willing to not only let you watch his cat but let you stay in his house too?"

"It surprised me too," I replied. "I'd offered before, but he said no, mainly because it wasn't safe for me to travel around, and I'm sure he didn't totally trust me."

"Why would you think that?" Zen asked. "Seven and V gave you an all clear…"

"Having a pet is like having a child to some people, I think I'd be careful if I had one too. So I understood him."

"You're so cute, MC." he simpered.

"Hey Zen...Did I ever tell you what my real name was?" I asked.

"You know, I don't think so." He said. "What is it?"

"It's Mia," I replied. "Yoosung and Seven were wondering earlier today, and I realized I hadn't told anyone but Jaehee."

"Why did she get to know first?" He demanded sulkily.

"She had to know to make a record of me in the system," I replied. He yawned again, and I felt bad keeping him awake this long. "Go ahead, Zenny, you sound exhausted. I'll talk to you tomorrow when I'm at Jumin's place."

"Please do," He replied. "I want to make sure you're doing well there. Goodnight, Mia." He hung up after blowing a kiss into the phone, the sound pierced into my ear and I blushed, placing the music back on and curling into the pillow beside me, feeling my own mind grow heavy with fatigue, and sleep overwhelmed me moments later.