Ciphertext – Chapter 11: Suspicion

"J-Just let me carry on working," Luciel said, trying to ignore the obvious expression of hope plaguing her face. "Don't disturb me until I tell you I'm done."

Sad that she couldn't do anything to help, Eun-ji dragged her feet as she walked into the bedroom to log into the RFA app. Things had become a bit awkward between the two of them now that they were in such close proximity. Maybe it had been easy for him to watch her through the lens of a CCTV camera or talk to her over the phone, but now that he could physically reach out and touch her, it was a different matter entirely. Still, he had been gentlemanly enough (and busy enough) not to act on his innermost desires. If anything, that robot cat was just a nuisance, bringing all those things up. What good could come from knowing that he was sexually frustrated? Realistically, what was Eun-ji going to do about it?

She sighed.

[A NEW CHATROOM HAS OPENED]

EMILY HAS ENTERED THE CHATROOM

Emily: Hi everyone!

Zen: Oh! Emily … um …

Emily: What's wrong Zen?

Zen: I mean … is it really you this time?

YOOSUNG HAS ENTERED THE CHATROOM

Yoosung: Zen! And …. Oh, it's …. Emily. The real one?

Emily: What are you both talking about?

Zen: Hmm? You didn't know about it?

Yoosung: Your profile got hacked earlier.

Zen: Yeah, and we received a picture …

Emily: A picture? Of what?

Yoosung: ….

Zen: …

Emily: What was it? Please tell me! I'm getting nervous …

Yoosung: Naked …. naked ….

Zen: It was a picture of a naked woman. No need to be shy Yoosung, even though you're inexperienced, unlike me.

Yoosung: I'm not being shy! I'm just trying to be diplomatic when there's a girl here, since I'm such a nice guy ^_^

Zen: If you say so. Well, it was what it was … a very nice body indeed. Don't mind if I do …

Yoosung: Zen!

Zen: Oh, sorry … I got carried away.

Emily: What? But I didn't post anything like that! Why would I?

Yoosung: You wouldn't! We know that!

Zen: And Seven was spouting some nonsense about it not being your body. He was pretty insistent about it too. Like, how would he even know?

Emily: Actually … there's something I should probably mention.

Zen: Sure. You can tell us anything. We're here for you Emily.

Yoosung: Yeah, he's right. As an RFA member, accidental or not, we will look after you!

Emily: It's just that … Seven is here right now.

Yoosung: At Rika's apartment?

Emily: Yes.

Zen: Wait … You're in an apartment …. alone … together … with HIM?

Emily: Yes. He's working to try and find more information on the hacker. There was some company called Cheritz he found connected to it, but he won't tell me any more details.

Yoosung: Cheritz?

Zen: That name sounds familiar …

Yoosung: Oh!

Zen: You know something Yoosung?

Yoosung: I remember Rika mentioning that she used to play games made by Cheritz on her smartphone. I think V used to get a bit irritated with her as she was on them quite often.

Zen: Rika played games?

Yoosung: Yeah, haha. I guess it runs in the family ^_^;;

Zen: Okay, let's get our priorities straight here. Never mind the hacker right now, the point is Seven … HE DIDN'T TRY AND DO ANYTHING TO YOU DID HE?

Emily: Haha, unfortunately not. No. He's been too busy to pay much attention to me.

Zen: "Unfortunately not"? Sounds like you actually want something to happen (laughs). You're not serious about that are you? He's an oddball. I'm much more of a gentleman! (sighs) Well, okay whatever. Just watch your back at all times, because no matter what they say, all men are wolves!

Yoosung: Wolves? No, we're not all like that Zen. Please don't just talk about yourself … ^_^

Emily: Actually, this isn't the first time I've seen Seven.

Zen: What do you mean?

Emily: I saw him several times before I even came to the RFA. We used to go to the same Starbucks for coffee, but we never spoke to each other back then.

Yoosung: Oh …

Zen: Whoa! So ….. it's not a complete coincidence that you ended up here?

Yoosung: Isn't Seven being a little too secretive? He would have been able to see you on the CCTV cameras outside the apartment as you entered to know what you looked like. Why wouldn't he have mentioned this earlier?

Zen: Yeah. For all we know, he might have just created a hacking bot that automatically logged into Emily's profile and posted those messages, just so he could be the one to fix things and be the hero.

Yoosung: Who's to say that he didn't set up this whole fiasco so he could see Emily again? It's entirely possible that there wasn't even another hacker to begin with.

Emily: What are you guys talking about? Don't you want to trust him to find the solution to all this?

Zen: I do, but … he obviously likes you, so why else would you – of all people – be here? The situation smells too fishy and I don't like it.

Yoosung: Isn't what he's doing a bit … stalker-like?

Zen: Yeah … I hope that Seven wouldn't do something like that, but-

Emily: Personally, I can't believe that he'd have such malicious intentions. I just don't want to believe that's the case.

Zen: You're too trustworthy little lady. He could have a hidden agenda up his sleeve.

Yoosung: But she's right Zen, I think we're being too harsh on him. Would he really use his skills for something like that? Can't we put a bit more faith in him, as Emily says?

Zen: Well … to be honest I want solid proof that he's not tricking us.

Emily: Let's just wait and see what happens, okay?

Yoosung: Alright. Let's do that. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that the photo wasn't you. I knew you'd be more careful than to send something like that to us all. I'm sure … you have a much more delicate body.

Zen: YOOSUNG! DON'T START IMAGINING THINGS!

Emily: Haha. I'm embarrassed ^^::

Zen: That boy … His inexperienced brain is making up something ridiculous! (sighs)

Yoosung: I am not imagining anything! I promise! 0_o Also, I'm an adult now, so you can quit calling me a boy!

Zen: Yeah, yeah. Whatever ;) Anyway, I'm going to go and practice my lines for a bit. I'll check back later to hear what Seven has to say about this. Bye!

ZEN HAS LEFT THE CHATROOM

Yoosung: Oh, right! I was in the middle of cleaning my room. That damn Jumin Han called my mother and told her to come over. I don't know what he was thinking. SHE'S GONNA LECTURE ME NON-STOP!

Emily: Well, enjoy!

Yoosung: I'll try … T_T

Yoosung: Talk to you later! Take care of Seven!

Emily: I will, thanks!

YOOSUNG HAS LEFT THE CHATROOM

EMILY HAS LEFT THE CHATROOM