7 years ago..
The sun shone brightly that afternoon. Not considering the circumstances, the sun kept emitting its light to all corner of the world. The leaves seemed reluctant to dedicate their dancing to the front of the world. The wind was also unwilling to whisper a word to surrounding. And the water in the ground romp to the sky above to become the first cloud. And almost no one was passing through the arid.
But a red headed boy was seen amidst the heat. He was carrying lots of plastic bags; groceries and a few bottles of soju sticking out among other things he brought. It was strange indeed for a boy like him buying alcohol on a heat like that.
A sweat dropped from his forehead into his eyes. He blinked once. It was a bit sore. He put down those plastic bags and lifted his hand to his eyes; wiping out his sweat. At least he could ease his sore for a bit.
His skin was burning, and his T-shirt had long drenched of his sweat. Lifting back the plastic bags, he sighed once. He continued walking, until he reached a church. There were a lot of people there. Maybe there was a ceremony or something. He had no religion, so he never visited the church. He meant to pass it by without seeing clearly what's inside. But suddenly, a voice rang toward him. It was a young girl, maybe a few years older than him.
He turned his head toward the source of this voice. It was coming from inside the church. A young girl was running lightly toward him. Her long blonde hair was glowing under the ray of sun. Her smile never faded from her beautiful face, like it was carved by the best sculptor in the world. Somehow, all bad things that occurred in his life vanished, replaced by a warm feeling that he got after seeing her beautiful smile.
"Hi!" the girl said
That boy only nodded to answer her.
"Where are you going?" she asked
"Home,"
That girl drifted her eyes to the plastic bags he carried. She frowned when her eyes met unusual items that didn't suppose to be there, the bottles of soju. The boy knew, she would probably question him about those sojus soon enough. How a young fellow like himself able to buy the soju from the first place, or who ordered him buying all those things.. But the young girl lifted her head again and smiled at him.
"Well, I've seen you walking from afar. You seem so tired," she uttered, lifting her eyes from the plastic bags into the boy's forehead, "Oh my, look at your sweat, you must be suffering from the heat," she said, wiping his sweat in his forehead with her bare hand, "Come, I'll get you sweet ice lemon tea. We're having an open house in this church,"
That boy didn't say a word. He really wanted to go inside, but he didn't want to make his mother waited too long at home. He never went home late before, so he didn't know what she would react if he wandered off for a bit longer than usual. Beating him? Or perhaps, starving him? Well, that was not a big deal. He got used to it. Still, he prefered not to get punished. Not to mention he didn't want to reject the girl's offer. And one more reason, probably the number one reason, his throat longed to taste a bit of sweet ice lemon tea the girl mentioned before. Maybe, it was okay for him not to go home directly. Yeah, his mother probably sleeping at home, so she might not know if he was a bit late.
"Okay," the boy said, following the girl's trail from behind
It was full of people in the church. Everyone was laughing together. All of them seemed like the happiest people that he had ever seen. Being 24 hours per seven days back and forth between his house and grocery stores without meeting other people seemed to make him didn't understand how to react to society. He felt like he turned into robot among human. He kept his mouth shut and make sure not to lose sight of the girl.
"Here, drink it, you'll feel fresh at instant," she said, smiling as she gave him a glass of ice lemon tea
That yellow-browned drink looked so fresh with those ices. And it was very rare for him to drink something nice like this. It was already a luxury for him if he could drink mineral water in his home. He was used to drink from tap water because sometimes his mother didn't give him anything to drink or eat. He didn't know whether it was good for his body or not, but he had no other choice if he wanted to stay alive.
Once he heard something that sounded like news about people who had an eating disorder. The news said that people could live without eating food for a few days and only live depend on drinking water. It was true though. He was barely alive. Even though he didn't remember when the last time he ate proper food.
"Thank you," the boy said
He spent the ice lemon tea in a blink of eye. Looked like he was way thirstier than seeming. He wiped his lips and felt freshness spread throughout his whole body after he finished drinking it. He wanted more.. But he was too embarrassed to ask for it.
The girl in front of him was giggling when she saw him finishing his glass of lemon tea in a second. She gave him another glass even though he hadn't asked for it.
He drank it slowly this time.
"Rika,"
A young man with a turquoise hair was coming toward them.
"Ah, V!" the girl who seemed to be called Rika answered
"What are you doing here? I thought you were at the backyard," the young man named V said
"Ah, I just met a new friend. He looked so tired, so I invited him to have a drink," Rika said
"Ah, I see. Hello then, I'm V. What is your name?" V asked, reached out his hand
That red headed boy was reluctant to give his name to a complete stranger. He was afraid that they were not nice people like they seemed to be. His mother said appearance could be deceiving.
"It's okay. You can tell us your name. We're not going to harm you in any kind," Rika said, smiling
Yeah, they might not be bad people like he thought before. Perhaps, he needed to open up his heart for people who genuinely care for him. Besides, someone who had the most beautiful and warm smile like Rika and V didn't seem to have bad intentions.
"My name is Saeyoung," the red headed boy with amber eyes said, smiling wanly
…
Haejung's restaurant was still alive. More and more people coming in and out, both with excitement in their faces. Those delicious lamb skewers Haejung's specially made were emptied, and of course, Yoosung's skewers piled up in front of him, twice the size of both Zen and Eun Ha combined. Eun Ha scratched another note inside her brain; lamb skewer was one of Yoosung's fave food, other than Honey Buddha Chip.
With mind still occupied with things concerning V and Seven, Eun Ha drank the last sip of her ice lemon tea. And her gaze accidentally fell on her silver watch in her left arm as she placed her glass to the table. She jumped in her seat – Yoosung and Zen were both startled at her sudden move – at the hour her watch stated. It was already 11 pm! She needed to go home as soon as possible.
"What's wrong?" Yoosung asked, looking surprised
"I.. I have to go home now," Eun Ha answered, getting up from her seat and grabbed her black sling bag
It was way too long hour she spent outside the office tel. She couldn't bear being alone inside the elevator again. And the emergency stairs didn't help at all; 14th floor was too high to take the stairs. So she had no other option to use the elevator. She just hoped, she was not alone in the elevator.
"Ah!" Zen exclaimed, "Sorry, we've hold you till this late hour.. Sorry.. Yeah, let's go home now,"
The three of them went to the cashier not long after that; Zen paid for the meal. They greeted their farewell to Haejung afterward, and Eun Ha promised to visit his restaurant again if she got time. They got out from the restaurant not long after that. The strong wind struck them hard. Eun Ha was shivering for a second when the wind struck her thin body. She blamed herself not to wear long jeans or even put on a jacket. Short black shirt and white skirt totally was not the best outfit for the night.
But a moment after that, she felt a long heavy black jacket wrapped her body and fell down until below her knee. She turned to her left side. Zen smiled at her and placed both of his hand at her shoulder.
"Use it. I don't want such a pretty girl like you get cold," Zen said, winking his right eye
Eun Ha stood rooted to the spot. She couldn't really tell whether the moon lit perfectly at the sky or something else; but Zen seemed brighter than he already was. Like there was halo reflected from his face. And his perfect sculpted arches of lips formed the most sensual smile she had ever seen. She couldn't control her heart beat. Both of his hand was still in her shoulder. It was so gentle she had to hold the urge for touching his hand.
"Thank you," Eun Ha muttered after Zen released his touch
His jacket was so big in Eun Ha's body. She lifted her hand to touch the fabric, and her fingers loved the touched. Smell of cigars also, but oddly she found it relaxing. Usually she despise the smell of cigars, she hated it. But she made an exception for Zen's. It was so sweet she could smell it for hours if she were alone at that time. There was a scent of mint in there, added by presumably his cologne. She couldn't really tell what cologne it was but it was so freakingly sweet.
"You're welcome," Zen replied, smiling, "Come on. We'll take you home,"
Eun Ha could only nod as her reply; she was too overwhelmed by the little thing Zen did for her. She formed a faint smile for Zen, and the three of them walked side by side toward the bus shelter.
In a moment, they got on the bus. There were a lot of seats available and they sat on the back. Zen sat beside the window and Eun Ha sat beside him. Yoosung, who was the last one, sat beside Eun Ha.
10 minutes after their depart, Yoosung asked the girl about Rika's office tel. That was when Eun Ha remembered the thing Seven constantly asked her not to tell. "Rika's office tel's location must remain secret," Seven commanded. Eun Ha told them both they couldn't know where Rika's office tel. So, they need to take their own buses in the next stop. And it was not Zen if he took the suggestion at one time. He insisted that he should take her back safely because it was almost midnight. Yoosung felt the same way. But Eun Ha promised Seven that the location mustn't be revealed. After a long debate, Zen and Yoosung gave up. But to make sure that Eun Ha arrived safely to the office tel, she needed to inform them the moment she arrived on the chat room. She agreed to it.
In the next stop, both of the guys got off the bus because they needed to take a different path. They waved to Eun Ha who was still on the bus.
The bus took off again. Eun Ha placed her fingers at the window where the silhouette of Zen and Yoosung began fading at the corner. Tremendous feeling of longing crept into her heart without the consent from its host. She sulked. Deep down, she wanted Zen accompanied her to the office tel. At least being with her inside the elevator. But she had sealed her promise to V and Seven not to tell other member about the location of office tel. She let out a long sigh. Why did the office tel need to be secret? Nothing seemed suspicious within the office tel.
She shrank to her seat and sullen. That moment, her eyes fell into the black jacket Zen owned that still attached in her body. She rose from her seat and panicked. There was a moment she'd like to make the driver stop the bus from moving further. But as she turned back, Yoosung and Zen were nowhere to be seen. So she plopped herself into her seat once again, pulled out her phone from her sling bag and texted Zen.
Eun Ha : ZEN! Omg, what should I do.. Your jacket…. T_T
She waited for 5 minutes until she got her replied.
ZEN : It's okay lol,, I guess we'll have to meet again then ^^
Eun Ha : Sorry T_T;; I'll wash it clean for you!
ZEN : You don't need to though lol.. Well, text me again when you reached home, OK?
Eun Ha : Okay, thank you ^^
ZEN : Pleasure to help you, my lady ^^
She transfixed her gaze toward her phone screen. Once again, her heart was racing uncontrollably. The part when he uttered 'we'll have to meet again' had been ringing in her head over and over again. She grinned ear to ear at the sentence, and her stomach became weird. Like there were uncountable butterflies flapping their wings, ready to come out from her body. She obviously waited for the day they 'meet again'. Well, who couldn't be? Being asked by one of a famous actor, and on top of it, the most beautiful looking man on planet earth! She would never miss it for anything.
She put her head on the window and her eyes started to feel heavier by the second. A grin still lingered in her face as a yawn fell from her mouth. She fell asleep in no time.
The bus was strolling for more than an hour when Eun Ha's phone vibrated in her pocket. She woke up at sudden and straightened her back. Feeling dizzy for about 5 miliseconds, she stroked her own head and pulled out her phone.
It was from Seven.
But before she could swipe the green button, the bus shelter she was headed for was seen from the window. She jumped from her seat and yelled at the driver to stop the bus. She almost missed it. It was all thanks to Seven's phone call, she could get off in time. She stepped out, and the night wind mercilessly attacked her once again, sending shiver through her spine.
She was alone at the bus shelter, as expected. The clock in her lockscreen showed it was 20 minutes after 12 in the morning. Very early morning. Well, midnight, actually. No time to lose, she fastened her step into the lobby of Rika's office tel and swiped the green button in between.
"Hey!" Seven shouted – but not that loud – as she placed her smartphone to her right ear.
"Hey! I'm already in front of the office tel, Seven," Eun Ha answered, climbing the stairs that led to the building
She didn't need to know what Seven would say next. He might be worried because Eun Ha hadn't gone home yet.
"It was soo late Miss. Aren't you afraid of burglars or criminals lurking around you?" Seven asked steadily, but Eun Ha could sense a bit of concern in the way he spoke
"Sorry, but we chat so much that we lost track of time," Eun Ha said, giggling
"Well, it's okay then if you've arrived. Be careful, okay, bye.."
"WAIT! Seven…." Eun Ha yelled
Her heart stopped.
"Yes?"
"Thank God he did not hung up yet," Eun Ha thought
"Can we talk on the phone like this until I reached the office tel?" Eun Ha asked
She reached the building. Nobody seemed to be in the lobby. She didn't know where the receptionist might be, but no one guarded the desk as she spoke. The lobby was lit perfectly, yet she felt uneasy nonetheless.
"Why?"
"I just… need to know that there was someone there who talks to me. I.. didn't really like elevator.." Eun Ha said, her lower lip slightly cowering
No words coming out from the other side of her phone. She cursed herself. She wasn't supposed to blatantly confess her weakness to Seven. She didn't want to sound so wimpy or weird in front of him. But her fear won her over. She really needed someone to talk with at that precise hour.
"Okay~" he hummed as an answer
"Thanks, God Seven!" Eun Ha sighed in relief
She pressed the Up button on the cold marble wall. She noticed that the elevator was on 17th floor.
"So~ where did you go until this late?" Seven asked
"We went to Haejung's place, Zen's friend. Do you know him?" Eun Ha asked
"Yes I know him. But I never go to his place. He owns a kebab restaurant, right?" Seven asked
"Yes,"
The elevator reached her floor. Alas, she was alone. Even though she was with Seven, it was still uncomfortable for her.
She took a long breath and finally stepped on the elevator. She clicked the 14th floor button and closed her eyes afterward. She clenched her left fist, while her right hand was still on her phone.
"Seven?"
There was no answer.
"Seven!"
She shouted a bit loud now. She started to have a panic attack.
"LUCIEL!"
Eun Ha said his real name at last. She wanted to know whether the phone call was still connected or not. Remembering that she was in the elevator, the connection might be jammed. Suddenly, when she thought of lowering her hand, Seven answered her at last.
"Whooah.. Please, pity my ear~~ Sorry, got worked earlier~" Seven said, "But, finally you mentioned my real name?"
"Sorry, I.. I thought there was something wrong with the connection.. But I received a phone call once in the elevator, so it might not be jammed.. Maybe.. But I don't know.." Eun Ha muttered shakily
"Eun Ha, are you okay?" Seven asked
"Yeah, it was usual for me. No need to worry," Eun Ha said, trying to form a smile, but failed
"Are you scared using elevator?" Seven asked
She inhaled deeply once again, one of the methods she created to muddle through her claustrophobic attack.
"Yeah.. Though I don't know why.." Eun Ha answered
There was pause for a few second. Eun Ha leaned back at the cold mirror wall behind her, and shut her eyes.
"I'm sorry.." Seven said, Eun Ha heard slightly solemn in his voice, "You are forced to live in an office tel like that and feel uncomfortable because of it. Sorry,"
"Hey, I'm the first one who agreed to it. No need to feel like that. And I'm not the type to go out regularly. I'm a translator, so I could work inside the office tel. Besides, it was just a silly thing of me. Getting scared out of nothing.. Such a weird girl, huh?" Eun Ha asked
"No, you are not.. But.. what would you do? You have no other option beside taking that elevator everyday.."
"Well, it's my problem. I just.. need to hear something while I was in elevator. Thank God you're calling me," Eun Ha said, "So, what you said yesterday in the chat room was right then?"
"What did I say?" Seven asked
"You said that there was a 0,0000000001% that you might appear if I called your name. So, maybe I called your name in a sleep and magically you appeared!" Eun Ha said tried to cheer up the situation
"Well, what did I say? That enchantment worked out very well then," Seven said, giggling
"Yes, you are very correct, God Seven!" Eun Ha replied, laughed nervously
He went silent once again. Eun Ha squeezed the metal grip on the elevator wall in order not to fall. Her legs almost gave up. She cursed in silence, complaining why the elevator seemed to have slowed down floor after floor.
"Anyway, did you have fun at the restaurant?" Seven asked after a while
"Yeah! We were having fun. But the conversation mostly about V and when the party would be held," Eun Ha answered, glad at the change of the topic, "Do you know when the party would be held?"
"No, I don't. V hasn't told us yet. Please wait for a bit more," Seven muttered
"Okay.." Eun Ha said
By the time she finished talking, the elevator arrived in 14th floor. She scrambled out as soon as the doors slid open and exhaled deeply when she stepped off the elevator. She leaned on the wall beside the elevator for a while, feeling at ease at the stable floor she stood on, before she waved to the CCTV.
"Hey, I saw you.. But whose jacket did you wear now?" Seven asked
"Zen. He gave it to me. It was a bit cold here outside," Eun Ha said, "Anyway, I'll go inside the office tel then? Thank you so much for keeping me accompany, Seven,"
"Don't worry~ It's been a privilege to serve you m'lady~" Seven cooed, "Bye Eun Ha,"
Eun Ha waved to the CCTV, "Bye, my knight,"
She put her phone in her pocket and pressed the password to get inside the office tel. After there was a click sound, she went inside the office tel, put down her bag and carefully put Zen's jacket in the hanger. She pulled out her phone again to send a message. She promised to tell Yoosung and Zen when she reached the office tel.
Eun Ha has entered the chat room
Eun Ha : Hey, I'm home. I'm safe ^^
ZEN : Thank God!
ZEN : Did you just get in there?
Eun Ha : Yes..
Han Jumin has entered the chat room.
Han Jumin : A lady must not get home this late at night.
Han Jumin : Where have you been?
Eun Ha : I visited Zen's friend kebab place.
Han Jumin : Is that so? Hmm, never taste kebab before.
ZEN : Well, trust fund kid! You don't need to eat commoner food like this. lol
Han Jumin : Whatever..
Eun Ha : Sorry.. I need to go now.. I'm tired.. ^^
ZEN : Okay babe~ get some rest..
ZEN inserted a wink emoji
Han Jumin : Bye
Eun Ha : Good night ^^
Eun Ha has left the chat room.
Eun Ha went to the bathroom and took a bath. No need a long time. She went out as fast as lightning and prepared to go to sleep.
She opened up her phone again before she fell asleep and sent a message to Zen.
Eun Ha : Thank you for today ^^
No answer. Maybe he was sleep already. She closed her eyes at last, and hoped that she could meet Zen in her dreams. She hoped…
…
The 21 years old hacker, Seven, kept his gaze into the CCTV feed at the right corner of his desk. He watched Eun Ha going out from the elevator and leaned on the wall. She almost stumbled due to her eagerness to get out from the elevator as soon as possible.
Alas, the resolution in CCTV was not good enough. He couldn't take a better look of Eun Ha's facial expression, whether she was completely scared or just a bit scared. But her gestures explained it all.
"What is wrong with you, Eun Ha?" Seven thought helplessly
Seven turned his head into the other CCTV feed at his left side. It showed a glance of Eun Ha walking into the lobby and stopping for a while. Her head looked into the reception desk, only to find no one guarded it. Perhaps it was because no one seemed to present at the lobby, she decided to fasten her step into the elevator.
Seven bit his lower lip as he continued watching Eun Ha inside the elevator. She seemed terrified inside it. He could see how tight she gripped on the metal grip as her fist whitened. Shame on him, he couldn't be there to protect her. He was chained onto his desk. Not to mention, Vanderwood, his dear handler came back to his fotress again to check on him.
"Does she suffer claustrophobic?" Seven pondered, "Why? What started it?"
Seven pondered all the reason that might trigger the claustrophobic Eun Ha suffered. Whether she was forcefully trapped inside a small room by somehow her evil mother, like he used to be when he was a child. Or because of pranks she encountered at her school, being locked inside school locker.. All didn't make any sense, for who could ever make the sweetest girl like Eun Ha feared of closed space. But once again, Seven needed rememberance that he just knew her merely for two days. He didn't even have a chance to ask more personally about Eun Ha other than she told them herself – both graduated and worked as an assistant lecturer in Yonsei, and a translator.
Eun Ha should probably be sleeping by now – it had been an hour after Eun Ha went inside Rika's office tel – but Seven kept on re-watching every CCTV feed that had Eun Ha in it. He couldn't deny his face was gushing red at the sight of Eun Ha that night. Luckily both Seven and Eun Ha were separated by space that he didn't need to reason her why his face turned red.
As a matter of fact, he wanted to ask Eun Ha about the black jacket she wore, as it wasn't likely hers based on how big it was in her body. But he had to hold the urge. He wouldn't possibly state to Eun Ha he kept his eyes toward her ever since she entered the lobby. What if she thought Seven as a freak? That was the last thing he wished for from her. And turned out it was Zen's. Seven chuckled lightly. Perhaps his imagination about Eun Ha ended up in marriage with one of RFA members was not a mere fantasy. Zen.. Zen had everything.. Good career, good personality, and his statuesque physical he always bragged about.. And he grew quite fond of Eun Ha already, by the excitement Zen showed whenever both of them chatted in the chat room. There was no way Eun Ha turned her face away from perfect male-beauty like Zen toward alienated deep sea fish like him.. Not.. in a thousand years.. Although his conscience wished otherwise.
