MC stepped back into the apartment, glad it had gotten cooler throughout the day. The 14th floor apartment was still as he left it, or as Rika left it before… minus the pile of clothes on the loveseat.
Walking to the kitchen, he set down a couple of bags down on the island counter. Knowing he got his weekly douse of sunlight, he got food so he didn't have to leave.
He also picked up laundry detergent and the like because the apartment had none.
Opening one of the bags he felt his phone buzz for what felt like the hundredth time, he started to ignore it a couple hours ago because he figured it was his sister, he'd rather deal with her in person than be yelled at over the phone.
But deciding he had enough, he opened his phone where around 30 texts awaited him along with 13 missed calls.
He read the most recent texts.
707 (4 hours ago)
MC, did you forget to text? -_-
707 (3 hours ago)
MC…? Is something wrong ?_?
Did something happen?
707 (2:30 hours ago)
Okay, not funny anymore, call or text, let me know you're safe
707 (2:15 hours ago)
I said before responded MC, I can't find you on any of the university campus cameras
If this is a prank or joke, it's over
707 (2 hours ago)
Call me. Now.
I'm not messing around
Was Seven that worried about him?
Yes he had gone to some out of the way places, but wasn't meaning to make Seven worry…
He also did forget to text him every now and then.
707 (1:50 hours ago)
I am ready to get the entire Seoul police department looking for you
I'm done screwing around MC
707 (1:45 hour ago)
Thank god, I see you on a camera
Answer your fucking phone
707 (1:30 hours ago)
Are you playing hooky or something?
I see you looking at your phone right now
He seemed to have also gotten a text from Jumin at around the same time, an hour and a half ago.
Jumin Han (1:30 hours ago)
Are you running off already?
Seven said he would provide me with a photo of you
Call me or him or I will send my security force to retrieve you
Jumin Han (1:25 hours ago)
Seven has just told me not to send my security force
And that you are simply ignoring him
I ask you to talk to him, he seemed very upset over the phone
And the most recent text from Seven, three minutes ago.
707 (3 minutes ago)
You're in the apartment
Stay there or so help me god
Answer you're fucking phone
Call me. Now.
Setting down the bag he had in his hands he peeked around the corner of the room into the living room, towards the camera. The red light was blinking so it was on.
Retreating into the kitchen he looked down at the phone he had set on the counter with a tinge of fear.
Would he be mad with him? Most likely. Would he yell at him? As much as he didn't like it, he probably would.
Picking up the phone, he went to Seven's contact.
He'd never know unless he called…
Pressing the tiny green phone icon, ringing began to sound in his ear as he called.
One ring, two rings, three rings, four-
The line opened up but was silent on the other end, clearing his throat, he began to speak in as sweet of voice as he could.
"Hello, Seven, you wanted to talk to me" He put on a smile, fake but, one nonetheless, it helped him to talk more energetic like.
He heard a sigh from the other end.
"Cut the sweet crap MC, why are you ignoring my texts and calls?" That startled him, he didn't think Seven could sound so serious or mad going by how he was in the chatroom.
"Seven, I…" His voice back to normal, not slightly higher pitched to sound energetic or anything, just filled with guilt.
"'I' what? I've spent so long the past few hours trying to just contact you" Typing filled his ears before Seven spoke again "I'm already behind on work and I don't need you causing more trouble and taking more of my time"
"Do you know how worried I've been trying to find you, what if the hacker got you? What if you were dragged away unconscious never to be seen again, huh? How do you think that would make me- I mean, make everyone feel?"
MC slowly walked out of the kitchen and sat on the far end of the couch, farthest away from the pile of clothes Seven gave him, like he felt guiltier by being near them.
"I'm Sorry Seven… I- I didn't mean to make you worry"
A frustrated sigh came from Seven as a chair creaked. "Don't think about me just…" another sigh.
"Just stay in the apartment…" his voice quieter, not from focus, but from what seemed like tiredness "If you won't follow my only request asking you to text me every so often to ensure your safety? It'd be easier to watch you from there"
"Seven-"
"No, no buts just… please, stay there…" a chair creaked again "The hell? Are you crying? Don't cry…" He sounded tired and desperate.
MC looked down at himself, he hadn't realised it, but he was on the couch still, sitting on his legs, body facing the camera.
He felt his eyes, small tears were formed.
"What, no, I'm not" He wiped the small tears away and turned away from the camera.
On the other side of the phone, Seven ran a hand through his red hair as he stared as the camera boy on his monitor.
MC was sat on the couch, sitting on his legs and from what he saw, MC looked about to cry.
"Look…" he started softly "I'm sorry for yelling MC, didn't mean to lose my temper with you, I guess… work plus the hacker plus you playing hooky… I- I don't even know why you didn't look at your phone, hell you might even have a valid reason…" He wondered why he was apologising, it was MC's fault he was frustrated, so why should he care if he was crying or not?
He knew he shouldn't, but he did.
Seven rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment that MC saw, or heard, him lose his temper.
"I'm sorry too Seven, my sister had been texting me all day and… thought you were her so I turned off the thing that says when you get a text…" MC looked blankly at the floor, face showing no emotion as he spoke.
"Well, siblings can be tough… I guess" he left that topic at that before clearing his throat.
"Anyways, how was you're shopping? I saw you got… one, two, three, ravioli, chocolate, five bags of stuff!" He sounded much cheerier now, good.
MC chuckled at the sudden change of tone but was thankful for the change in subject, he stood up and went to the kitchen, a more genuine smile of his face this time.
"Oh, well… I got… some milk, bread, hot chocolate mix; basic necessities" He set the large tin of chocolate powder on the counter and began to unpack the other stuff, bananas, juice, soda, sandwich stuff.
He heard Seven laugh through the phone as he placed some tuna in the fridge "I sort of understand the other stuff but, chocolate mix? That's a necessity for you?"
He turned to tin before smiling "Yes, they don't call me a chocolate addict for nothing"
"Who is 'they'?" a scoff came after it along with the sound of someone walking and grabbing a bag of chips, or he guessed they were chips, before sitting back down.
"People, hey you're the one that has a Honey Buddha Chip addiction" Turning back to the love seat, he wondered what he was going to do with the clothes, didn't want the place to be a mess after all.
"Says the chocolate addict" Seven responded in a mocking tone before pausing "Hey MC…?" He heard a brief hum and saw the light brunette walk to the pile of clothes "Can we start today over? Like, how about, I'll trust you to leave the apartment, if you text me when you leave, and when you return, sound good?"
"Alright, sounds reasonable, I'll try not to leave till tomorrow if it calms your nerves"
"Okie dokie!" MC chuckled at the hackers antics "Oh! I see chatroom~! God Seven must go to prank the poor civilians that have entered his domain!" Seven hung up, both checked chatroom and saw Yoosung, Zen and Jumin.
They both entered grinning mischievously.
707 has entered the chatroom
MC has entered the chatroom
Yoosung: I bet MC thinks I'm cute
ZEN: Ha
ZEN: If anything, she'd think of you as a little brother
Yoosung: What? No, not in a brother way
ZEN: Then in what way dear Yoosung? Does the youngest here have a crush lol
Jumin: I do not see any advantage to having this conversation, let's stop it
Jumin: Hello Seven
Jumin: MC
707: Hello Jumy~ how is my Elly doing?
707: *Heart eye emoji*
Jumin: I don't know why I bother to correct you every time…
Jumin: Do not shorten Elizabeth 3rds name, she is not your cat, and do not call me that
MC: Hiya Jumin!
Yoosung: Wait, MC is here…? GAHH!
Yoosung: Wy cant I del someting!
MC: My my, that's a lot of typos Yoosung
ZEN: lolol, Yoosung's crush found him out
Yoosung: I do not have a crush on her!
Yoosung: *Depressed emoji*
Jumin: Judging by the way you two are acting, you both made out?
Yoosung: Made out?!
Yoosung: *Depressed emoji*
Jumin: Sorry, made up?
707: Made out, nope~ made up, nah, we're enemies now
MC: Wha?
MC: Oh!
MC: Yeah, we totally hate each other now
707: Big ol fight! Guns a blazing, fists a flying! The whole shebang!
MC: Still have me that black eye, got me right in the kisser
Yoosung: BLACK EYE!?
Yoosung: Seven you hit MC!? A woman no less?!
MC: Glad to see my gender matters more then my imaginative health…
MC: Um… yeee! How dare ye! Got me one good eye lassie!
MC put a hand to his forehead and swooned onto the couch, now lying on his back he laughed at his phone, everyone was so funny.
Jumin: Have we devolved into pirates now?
ZEN: For once, I agree with Mr. trust fund
Jumin: I don't need you to agree with me for my point to stand
ZEN: Oh my… I didn't ask for your consent!
Yoosung: MC, are you alright, it's ok, I'll protect you from Seven…
MC: My story… I stood near the pearly gate, as Seven loomed over me, our hundred-year battle
MC: coming to its close…
707: But
707: I refused to see MC go beyond yonder gates! So, I dragged her back!
MC: And that's when I met my sister in hell, Seven pulled me back to far
ZEN: You have a sister? If she's like her sister, bet she's cute
707: You don't even know what MC looks like
ZEN: Send a picture then
707: Nope~
ZEN: Damn…
ZEN: So, your sister
ZEN: is she single?
Yoosung: Zen! No!
MC: Yes, she is single, but fair warning Zen, try to go after her
MC: And I won't be responsible for any of your broken limbs
Jumin: I can appreciate one protecting their family from womanizers like Zen
ZEN: I am not a womanizer! If anything, you are Mr. Getwomantosigncontractwithsweetwords!
MC: Just being a good brother!
707: She means sister, she's tired lololol
MC: That remined me, I still need to kill you Seven
707: EEEK! I'm not sorry!
Yoosung: If you're tired MC then you should go to sleep
Yoosung: Oh, I wanted to say something, I think I made a new friend!
ZEN: Is it a girl this time, or over your game?
Yoosung: No, sadly… but he's nice! He helped me when I dropped my papers this morning!
Yoosung: From what I know, he takes Tech Design
ZEN: Heh, he's not technologically inept, you'll make great friends
Yoosung: Hey~ don't insult him, you don't even know him!
MC: Wait…
MC: Yoosung, how do you feel about this person?
If he was correct, Yoosung was talking about him, and if he was, it would be a good time to see if he made a good first impression on the boy.
Yoosung: I don't know… like I said, I just met him today but, he was nice, even good looking by some standards too
Yoosung: I don't know for sure, but I think he pet my head before he left…
MC: Like a puppy?
MC: Yeah… I know the guy, we're… in the same… class, yeah... let's go with that
ZEN: I'm not following where this is going…
MC: lololololololololololol
MC: lololololololololol
MC: lolololol
Jumin: Can we refrain from spamming the chatroom please?
MC: lololololololol
707: Wait, MC, is Yoosung talking about…
MC: ye lololololol
707: lolololololololololololol
Yoosung: Why are you guys laughing~?
Yoosung: *Crying emoji*
ZEN: I take back what I said about Sevens question…
ZEN: I wouldn't be surprised is they started dating…
MC: lololol
707: lololol
Yoosung: Why are you guys laughing, don't you hate each other…?
MC: lolololololol
MC: Huh?Oh yeah
MC: I shall be back God Seven! To vanquish you once more!
707: Right you are my darling MC~
707: I mean… We shall fight once more, for glory on the field of battle!
Yoosung: Please don't hate each other T_T
Jumin: I take back what I said also on that subject
Jumin: Except I would not be surprised if they are already dating, they act so similar as it is
MC: o_0
707: 0_o
MC: *Turns so Seven*
707: *Turns to MC*
MC has left the chatroom
707 has left the chatroom
And so, MC and Seven both left the chat, faces as red as the redheads red hair or the red-eyed actors red eyes.
ZEN: Did they really need to put in the last two messages?
Yoosung: That wasn't nice Jumin…
Yoosung: Well, I better order pizza before they close and I accidentally dial MC again T_T
Yoosung has left the chatroom
ZEN: I'm not staying in the same room alone with you
ZEN has left the chatroom
Jumin: Surprising, I'm the last one here again, I hope this doesn't become a trend
Jumin: Well, I had a guest I wanted to suggest to MC but, I didn't have the space to
Jumin: Oh well, I'll tell her when I see her in the chatroom next, expect to see me again soon MC
Jumin has left the chatroom
MC sat in the bedroom, deciding that if he did fall asleep, he'd rather sleep on a soft bed than dusty couch.
He thought back to what Zen and Jumin had said, they wouldn't be surprised if he and Seven dated.
He'd be lying if he said the thought hadn't come up every so often, and from the few pictures of the hacker that he had seen in the chatrooms among other things, he wasn't bad looking either.
With the bit of anger he saw from Seven in the afternoon, he knew it wasn't a mad anger, it was a protective anger, more mad at himself than him, mad that he wasn't able to see and protect him.
Seven also seemed very laidback, not really caring about who the person he liked was, male, female or other, but he couldn't just assume that either.
Looking back on the past couple of days, he realised he had taken a shining to Seven since the prologue, since day one…
MC looked at his phone, the light was flashing and he had a feeling it was a text from the redhead who was currently taking residence in his mind.
Grabbing the phone, he opened the text.
707
That was a funny prank, thx for playing along MC
Should def. do again lololol
End was a bit awkward but, at least Yoosung fell for the prank
High five!
He smiled at the text, even if the end of the chat was a bit awkward for him and most likely the hacker as well, it got him to think about his feelings, so he didn't mind it at all.
He then noticed the fact that Seven had changed his profile picture.
It was a picture of a light brown cat with one green and one blue eye wearing the same red and blue stripped flannel he had on. Seven had made a picture of him as a cat.
He decided not to mention the change in picture to Seven in the slight worry the hacker would get embarrassed and change it. He decided to save it for himself though, it was an adorable picture.
But, looking at the picture, he decided one thing.
For a majority of his life, he had just gone along with what others wanted, not wanting to upset people, and rarely asked for something for himself, he still did that today.
But, looking at the picture, he decided to have one thing for himself, he decided to have feeling for Seven, to like… to love Luciel Choi.
A smile of on face and in his heart, he responded to the text.
MC
Yeah! The prank was fun and we should do it again!
High five!
I don't really mind how the chat ended, it… got me to think
I'm happy with how my thoughts turned out
As he expected, Seven replied almost immedietly.
707
Heh, got you to think huh?
Should I hack into your brain and find out the secrets?!
But, you're an odd one I'll give you that
… oh…
God Seven must leave, his slave driver- er, boss, has more work for him!
Wish me luck!
MC
Hurrah~
You can do it, you're my man
If Seven can't do it no one can~!
707
Aww~
God Seven feels energized to work until he collapses already!
Bye bye!
Laughing he put his phone onto a nearby desk, plugging it into a charger that was already there so it wouldn't die.
Lying on top of the blue and white bed, his shirt wrinkling underneath him, he decided to take a nap, Yoosung did say to sleep if he was tired, so, he was, and to make sure he didn't sleep the rest of the day away, he set an alarm for a couple hours from then.
Closing his eyes, he soon fell asleep.
While he slept, a text popped up on his phone, the device making no vibration or sound indicating it was received.
Unknown
!t i$
N0t t#e
/-End-\
Moments after it arrived, it was deleted.
"Savior, there's no way you'd do this to me… You're the one who saved me. You're the first one who truly loved me…! You'd never betray me…!"
"No way you'd do this to me… but you've changed…"
"Ever since that man came…!"
"…"
"This is all because of you… It's all because of you… that this is happened to me!"
"NO!"
MC shot up from the bed, the sound of gunshot ringing in his ears, the prurient smell of gunpowder clouding his nose.
In panic he reached over and grabbed his phone, pulling it from the charger he dialed the first number he could think of.
One ring. Two-
"Hello, you're God Seven is here…" He sounded tired but still playful.
"Ah, Se- Seven!" His quickened breathing and panicked voice making the sleepy hacker more alert.
"MC, what's wrong, did something happen?" The hacker quickly moved from his place of sleeping, which was the floor, to his computer that was a few inches away.
His dream replayed in his mind, someone in black holding a handgun, a man with dull blue eyes lying on the floor, bleeding. The ringing returned.
"G- gun… powder, I smell it… ringing…!" Still in a state of fear, MC looked to the bedrooms window.
MC heard frantic typing. If Seven was tired before, he wasn't anymore.
"Alright, just stay calm MC, is someone in the apartment? If so, leave. Now"
Staying silent, he tried to hear if someone was there, no.
In that moment of silence, he remembered, the cloudiness of his vision, the blur of the voices as they yelled and screamed, the muffled sound of gunfire, it was just a dream… just… a bad dream… and he's bothering Seven with his fear from it. As his panic lessened, low guilt replaced it, Seven sounded tired so he was probably sleeping before.
"I- I'm sorry…" he looked down at the blue blanket.
"Now isn't the time for apologies MC, is someone there"
He shook his head "N- no, it… it was just a bad dream" he mumbled, voice now calm but quiet, he took the phone away from his ear and stared at the screen "Sorry for bothering you with it, and… sorry for waking you… bye" As he heard the redhead start to say something, he hung up and placed the phone somewhere, he didn't care where right now.
Lying back down on the bed, he turned and pressed his face into the pillow next to him "I'm such an idiot…"
For the next few hours his phone continued to ring, the sound of Seven's personalized ringtone and the ding of texts probably from the same person was all he heard.
To MCs dismay, he didn't fall back asleep, but, a good side to it though, was that it allowed him to think about the dream.
Trying to recall the almost memory like nightmare, he got only a blurry mess for his senses, what he did remember, was a man wearing a black coat, not like Sevens sweater, it was leathery looking, with a gun, and the dull blue-eyed man bleeding, most likely shot.
Looking back at the bedroom's window, all traces of panic now gone, he saw it getting dark, a little past twilight.
Reaching to the table beside the bed he found his phone lying face down. Maybe someone was in the chatroom? Like Jaehee or Jumin…
He looked at the time, 19:56, or 7:56PM, he felt it buzz, a chatroom just opened, well, good timing.
Opening the app and going to the chatroom, he saw Sevens image on the participants list. Sighing he entered, knowing he couldn't just avoid him, and, in truth, he would need to explain his sudden disappearance.
MC has entered the chatroom
707: MC!
707: Don't leave, please
He decided to stay quiet, and let Seven talk.
707: I'll take you still being here as an agreement…
707: So, you had a bad dream and it got you scared so you called me?
707: In a way, I'm sort of happy you did, if you called me in a state of panic
707: Even if it's false, you still contacted me in a scary situation
707: *Happy emoji*
707: And if you think I'm mad about you waking me up, don't be
He did feel sort of bad for waking him, from what he knew, Seven worked day in and out with little to no breaks to eat properly or sleep even.
707: I fell asleep while I was working, better to wake up to you than a taser lololol
That got him to smile.
MC: Okay… the taser part got me smiling, you goof
707: And the princess talks!
707: *Happy emoji*
MC: …
MC: I'll let the 'princess' thing slide
MC: But only this time
Jumin has entered the chatroom
MC: You're lucky I'm in a good mood now lolol
707: So, MC, I heard talking about bad dreams helps
MC: lolololol ha, nope, let's change the subject
707: Oh~ Our subject change is here!
707: Hiya Juju! May I see Elly, promise I've been good~
Jumin: Your behavior has nothing to do weather you see Elizabeth 3rd
Jumin: That is determined by how well my security can keep you the restraining orders distance from her
Jumin: And do you ever use formal greetings?
MC: Oh, hello there Jumin
Jumin: See, why not be more like MC in your greetings?
Jumin: Hello MC
Mood now lifted, MC stood up from the bed and began to walk around the apartment. He enjoyed how these people could easily help him feel better, even if they didn't have to do anything at all.
Looking at the kitchen, he felt his stomach grumble, maybe he should get some food…
He looked back at his phone.
707: But I don't (M)C what you want me to do Juju!
Wait what…
He just… made a pun… from. His. Name?
MC: Oh it's on red riding hood
707: Red riding hood?
Jumin: Before we dissolve into a fit of pointless rebuttals
707: lololol 'butt' lololol
Jumin: MC, I have a guest I would like to suggest for the party
Jumin: I was meaning to tell you about them the last time I saw you but we got distracted
Oh yeah, he had a job to do, guests for the party, if he was being honest he completely forgot about that with the stuff that had been happening the past two days.
He still couldn't believe it had been only two days… it felt like a week.
He should probably start asking everyone else if they had or could find potential guests. And possibly think of some groups of his own to invite…
Jumin: So, what do you think MC?
MC: Huh? Sorry, I spaced out, can you repeat please?
Jumin: Alright… even if you could just scroll up and read what I said…
707: lololol
He pulled out some eggs, margarine, bread, and a pan from their respective places preparing to make some poached eggs for a late dinner.
Apparently, the guests Jumin wanted to suggest was a group of women he had met in a meeting known as the Cultured Citizens Organization. The organization was made for high class women to talk, or, that's what MC took from it.
After a quick search about them online for basic information, he figured that their high place in the business world through their companies would be beneficial to the parties' reputation and fundraising aspect along with putting in a good card for Jumin's company, C&R.
MC: Alright, thank you for telling me about them Jumin
MC: Please tell them to e mail me as soon as possible
MC: Oh, Seven, is it possible for you to reroute the emails from potential guests
MC: to my personal e mail, I feel that it would be much easier to respond that way
They might notice his change in demeanor, but, this is his job here, he should take it as seriously as any other job when dealing with potential party attendees.
707: Oh, uh, yeah, no need to tell me your e mail, already have it lololol
707: Should have it working the way you want before they reply
707: I'll go work on that now, laterz MC, Juju~
707 has left the chatroom
MC: Well, that's one potential guest, let's hope we get more
MC: I suppose I should start asking everyone whether they have any guests for me as well
Jumin: Hmm… I couldn't help but notice your change of attitude when the topic switched to party guests
Jumin: I'm glad you are taking this job seriously MC
Jumin: Well, that is all I had come here to say, I will take my leave
Jumin has left the chatroom
MC: Aw… I was hoping to talk more, I have two pet cats if that's a conversation topic anyone would be interested in
MC: Well, 'have' is a big word, more like had
MC has left the chatroom
Putting his phone away, not planning to using it for a while he placed two pieces of toasted bread onto a paper plate which he had gotten while shopping, as the apartment had no dishes he carefully put the now cooked eggs on them to finish his meal.
Jogging to the couch he set the small meal down, as he went to grab some to eat, a thought came to him, everyone else seemed to post a picture of their meal in the chatroom, so why shouldn't he?
Taking his phone again, he snapped a picture, a bad one from the lack of quality his phone had, but decent, better than Jumin's picture by a longshot though.
MC has entered the chatroom
MC: Yes, I am eating
MC: *Posts picture of poached eggs*
MC has left the chatroom