You were in shock the whole time Rika gave you the tour to your new apartment. It was a cozy one-bedroom apartment with just about everything you need. You see that Rika has prepared for everything, the computer even has all the files from the previous parties and all the transactions ever made by the organization.
"Why?" you ask the blonde after the tour. "Why would you give me this huge responsibility? I'm still new, and there are others in the organization more suited for this job. And what about V?"
Rika gives you her signature smile, hands clasped in front of her. "Because you're perfect for this," she tells you. "Yoosung has told me a lot about you. You're smart and hardworking. Besides, you follow my orders very well. As for V, he's very busy right now and cannot be of any help to the organization." She placed a hand on your shoulder, gives you a reassuring squeeze.
"You're perfect for this Joohyun. Trust me the same way I trust you."
That did it. You've always wanted to be trusted. Luciel didn't trust you but here was Rika, the woman who made you part of this organization without your consent. The woman who may hide secrets far more than you've ever imagined behind those angelic smiles, giving you the one thing you crave for from Luciel, or anybody else for that matter. And you didn't want to fail her. You give her a nod and her face brightens up and she pulls you into a tight hug.
You move into your new apartment at the end of the week, convincing your parents that it was better for you to move there. The apartment's nearer to school, you tell them, so that there will be no need for you to rush to school.
Rika herself helped you move your stuff: a couple of clothes, toiletries, and your school stuff. You were beyond surprised upon seeing her at your front door, but you could use all the help you can get. Once inside her car she asks you if you've told anybody where you will be living and you shake your head. You haven't been in contact with any of your friends, Zen and Yoosung included, and there was no way you would contact Luciel.
Rika nods, her eyes focused on the windshield, and she tells you that it would be better if none of the other RFA members know where the apartment is. "Except for Ray," she tells you. "We can trust Ray with the location."
It should strike you as odd that Rika plans to hide this to the other members but during that time, you were more focused on trying not to let Rika down and impress her. You ask her why Ray knows about the move and she informs you that Ray will be monitoring the CCTVs surrounding the apartment complex for your own safety.
In a matter of weeks, you seem to be able to be getting your life back on track. Rika has been coming by a lot to teach you everything there is to know about the RFA. Your job was easy, she tells you. All you need to do is keep in touch with all the organization's patrons, as well as monitor transactions made by the other members. If there are parties, it's your job to invite the guests.
Once, Ray came by to tell you about the CCTVs inside the apartment, and you weren't thrilled to find out about them.
"Can't I have some privacy?" You ask, appalled.
Ray gives you a smile and tells you not to worry. The bedroom and bathroom don't have CCTVs installed inside, and it made you a little more at ease.
"You look better," he comments after giving you a once-over. You give him a huge grin, which made your facial muscles tighten. Your face must not be used to smiling, and you briefly wonder when the last time you genuinely smiled was.
"Rika has been keeping me busy."
He gives you a nod, as if in understanding. "Rika has helped a lot of people." His smile was gentle, and you remember the bouquet of blue roses in his balcony. You wonder what Rika did to make him smile like that.
"I almost forgot," says the white-haired male as he rummages through his jeans pocket. "Rika told me to give you this." He holds his hand out and gives you a small packet of the white substance you took with the boy the other day. You stare at the package.
"Rika gave you just enough to escape to paradise, but not enough to overdose you," the boy continues, placing the packet in your hand. "Use it when it gets too tough. That's what she taught me to do."
You put the packet inside your pocket and give the boy another smile. "Thank you, Ray. I'll use this when… life gets too tough for me to handle."
"You know that you can also give me a call anytime right?" he blurts out, and you notice a light tinge of pink color his usually pale cheeks. "I mean, I know that I'm not close to you like Zen hyung and Yoosung. Heck, we never even talked until that night you asked me about my brother. But I'll be here when you need me. I'm not like my brother, I promise."
You didn't know what suddenly came into you. You pull him close to you, your arms wrapping around his waist, breathing in the scent of roses, an unexpected scent, but it suits the boy quite perfectly. You feel his arms wrap around you after he gets over the shock of the sudden physical contact, enveloping you in warmth.
"Thank you," you whisper, in a voice barely audible for him, but he catches it. You don't see it, your face buried on his shoulder, but the boy smiles his most gentle smile yet.
"You're welcome," he whispers back, and you feel the gentle rumble of his chest as he says the words. For the first time ever since that night with Luciel at the park, you finally felt at peace.
Yoosung and Zen noticed the change. You smile more, laugh more. You feel their confusion towards your change in attitude (again), but they don't try to pry. They were mostly just relieved that you were back to the way you were before.
You and Luciel never spoke to each other again, and you pretend like he doesn't exist at all. Funny, now that you have Rika to guide, the redhead seemed like an insignificant speck in your life. Or like he was never a part of your life at all.
You mostly hang around with Ray now. Whenever you're not with Zen or Yoosung, Ray keeps you occupied. You don't bother trying to bridge the growing gap between you and your other friends. Who were they anyway? Only Zen and Yoosung and especially Ray can truly understand what you went through. And Rika. Of course. She was the angel who brought the light back to your slowly darkening world.
"C'mon Joohyun. Tell us where you moved into!" Yoosung complains one Saturday morning. You, Zen, and the blond were hanging out in his apartment like the good old days when the two began bugging you about it. You won't tell them of course. You promised Rika it'll be a secret between the three of you. The only other people who know about it are your parents and you made them swear not to tell a soul about it. They were curious about the secrecy of your apartment's address and you had to make up a lie and tell them that you didn't want people randomly barging in unannounced. It would mess up with your studies.
"Sorry Yoosung," you tell the blond, and he gives you those puppy dog eyes and a pout. You laugh lightly and reach out to mess with his hair. "It's a secret."
Yoosung lets out a "hmph" as he tries to fix his ruined do while Zen asks you why you are so secretive about your address while taking a selfie with a can of Dr. Pepper. You purse your lips.
"I can't tell you that either."
The narcissist brings the can of soda down and turns his attention to you, those hypnotizing red orbs of his narrowing to slits.
"You're not doing anything illegal there, are you?" His voice was laced with suspicion.
"You mean, not more illegal than what we do in the RFA?" You ask, raising one eyebrow. His face splits into a grin.
"Touché, Ms. Park."
You feel your phone vibrate inside your pocket and you take it out. The screen opens up to a text notification from Ray and your face immediately brightens. This doesn't escape the observing eyes of the two males with you.
You open the message. It was simple. Ray was just asking you about your day and you reply with something like: "It's good. Just hanging out with Zen and Yoosung. You?"
"Was that Unknown?" You hear Zen's deep baritone and you look up after hitting send.
"Hmm? Yeah. It was. Why?"
"What about Seven hyung?" Yoosung asks with a frown. Your face darkens a little at the mention of Ray's twin. "The two of you were getting along so well." You don't bother to give them a response, leaving them to wonder what happened between you and Luciel.
You and Zen end up playing several rounds of Tekken in Yoosung's Play Station, the said blond busy with his phone. After several more rounds of Zen winning and you challenging him again and telling him that he just got lucky and that you would bet him in the next round, Yoosung suddenly exclaims, "Seven hyung's coming here!"
You and Zen were too busy bickering and hadn't heard what the blond said. He repeated the sentence and you both stare at him, your mouth gaping wide.
"Wh-what did you say?" You stutter out your question, wishing that you heard wrong.
"He's coming here."
You scramble for your bag, muttering a quick "I forgot to do my homework." The two males tried to stop you, confused at your actions, but the only thing you care about right now is leaving the apartment before the redhead shows up.
You were almost successful at getting away too. Your hands clutch the door knob and you twist it open, the other two following behind you. You push the door open and see him, the redhead with the golden eyes, with his fist up in the air and a surprised look on his face. The look on his face would've been funny, and you might have laughed at it too, if you found the whole situation funny.
Finally, he clears his throat, and in a strained voice, says "Hello, Joohyun."
A/N: The tenth chapter is out! Hurray~! I'm not gonna say much today, just wanna thank the people who read this ^^ I also encourage you to write a review after~ Reviews motivate me to continue this ahahaha. Sorry for the typographical and grammatical errors. Hope to see you guys in the new update!
-olympicmayhem