HANA

by Rainyday9090

For the longest time I studied revenge to the exclusion of all else. I built my first torture chamber in the dark vaults of imagination. Lying on bloody sheets in the Healing Hall I discovered doors within my mind that I'd not found before, doors that even a child of nine knows should not be opened. Doors that never close again. I threw them wide. Revenge is what I want.

34. Chapter 34

Hello, beautiful readers. Sorry for the delay, but here is the longest chapter yet (about 18,000 words). I hope you enjoy reading it, and I really can't wait to read your comments and reactions to this chapter :)

I was thinking about creating a forum just for us & this story where I can post my notes and some info ( I don't want to include them in the story). Let me know if you would like that or if you all are good with just the story and these little intros.

As always, thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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The pouring rain had a goal of its own as all the evening newscasters had warned everybody to head home and be out of the streets that were predicted to be washed by the water gushing down from the dark clouds. The sun being swallowed by the darkness, most were doing as commanded as they rushed to their cozy homes. Those were lucky ones. Some didn't have an option as it was just another Monday evening, and work was work. Sitting in his car, still parked a short distance away from the bus stop of the street that rarely had any traffic, Junpyo had wasted hours reading through the documents he was handed. The raindrops attacking his car were creating the perfect atmosphere for the gloom and doom that had taken over the boy sitting and reading every line of the paper in his hands. The case documents Jandi had printed to read comprehensively on her way home, he hadn't failed to read even Eun's file as he made sure he read and reread every line until it was all drilled into his head.

With the raindrops beating at his window, the day had turned into night. The rain pouring down for hours wasn't able to get his attention as he hadn't even looked away from what had grabbed his attention for a second. His mind having a hard time accepting what he was reading, he had decided to read it again and again, wasting hours seated in his car. Nothing mattered at this moment as much as what he was reading. Even his stomach growling and aching for some food was silenced immediately as irrelevant. When it became persistent, Junpyo had pulled his cigarette from his pocket and lit it up. Some nicotine will be able to silence his hunger. The window he opened, right when the cold wind gushed in, he finally took note of the rain that had paused after hours of attacking the city. The neighborhood had received a nice cleanse, the street was as spotless as it could get as Junpyo, after taking his first inhale of the white smoke, turned his eyes back to the pile of paper sitting in the passenger seat of his car.

The thing she had shouted at him, one thing had grabbed his attention as he sat blowing out the white smoke. His family name which was at the top of each paper. His left hand bringing the cigarette to his lips, he placed the cigarette in-between his lips as his hand was sent to his hair. It took both hands to free his hair from the hair tie he removed from his hair and placed on his wrist. Instantly, his dark hair had started dancing to the directions the cold wind was directing it to. The chill air brushing against his face and the warm air he was inhaling, was the right mixture to help handle her enraged gaze and violent tone, which he couldn't seem to stop thinking about.

" This is what your last name is stamped on." the infuriated tone of her voice.

" This is who you are," her fingers that were pointing at the wall, the second he replayed her words his eyes had turned to the passenger window and the school logo on the wall.

Needing the cold air more than ever, he opened the door and stepped out. The cold wind was merciless as it started attacking his body, which he ignored as he walked to the passenger side and stood leaning with his back against the passenger door. His eyes focused on the school logo, her words repeated again and again as he inhaled the only thing that was keeping him calm about what he had learned in the last two hours. He was lost in whatever he was thinking about, he hadn't even noticed the car that parked behind him.

"What are you still doing here?" Jihoo's voice brought Jun Pyo out of the world he was in as his eyes looked to his right at Jihoo who jumped out of his car and was walking his way.

" Are you okay? Jihoo was a bit concerned about finding Junpyo around the school campus hours after the last class was dismissed. It didn't take Jihoo that much to notice that car parked by the stop or to figure out that it was Junpyo's car.

"Are you okay? Jihoo asked again as he walked to his best friend and stood in front of Jun Pyo.

" I fuckin hate this so much" Junpyo on his second cigarette whispered as his eyes stayed glued to the school name and logo.

" What happened now?" Jihoo asked, sending his hands to his pocket. He has heard this enough times to not be bothered by it. It was nothing new.

" What did your mom do?" Jihoo added as he returned his eyes from the school name to Junpyo. The only time Junpyo complained about school or the company was when he was forced to do something by his parents, mostly his mom.

" I hate all of it." Between the white smoke he was breathing in and out, Junpyo added. His right hand brushing his hair which was flying in every direction to rest behind his ear, at least on the right side.

" You know you can change anything you want when you get to run it. '' Jihoo took two steps to Jun Pyo's side and stood next to him, with his back resting against Junpyo's car.

" Think about that," Jihoo added sharing one of his few philosophies.

" Is that why you live for them?" Junpyo asked not even remotely worried about starting a serious conversation with his friend whom he hadn't had a private conversation in a while.

" So one day you can be and do whatever you want," he added, bringing the cigarette in his left hand back to his lips and finally sending his eyes to Jihoo, on his right side.

" Not all of us can afford to be as reckless as you" Jihoo was quick with his response.

" haha," Junpyo starter smiled. Jihoo turning towards his best friend, he was enjoying just watching Junpyo smiling. Something that has become a rare site. His directionless hair flying in every direction, it was nice to see his dimples form at both cheeks of his.

" You're going to waste your life trying to please everybody" Junpyo was always good with the right words to say to his friend. His cigarette he stuck to his lips, he sent both hands to his hair he started putting back into the hair tie he moved from his wrist.

"and you're just wasting your life" Jihoo was sharper with his observation as he sent his words along with a soft smile at Junpyo who turned his way.

" You hate all of this because it requires you to care. '' Jihoo was gentle as took a step and he pulled the cigarette away from Junpyo's lips and threw it to the ground.

" At some point, you're going to have to start caring about something," Jihoo stamped on the cigarette before he returned his eyes to Junpyo.

" Let's get dinner." Jihoo started walking to his car. Junpyo turning to Jihoo, just stared at his friend. Did he just offer him dinner? This is new. At least for the weird couple of months they have had where Jihoo had never been free for dinner to hang out.

" We will go to your favorite," Jihoo added, turning back and smiling at Jun Pyo. The latter didn't complain as he walked to the driver's side of his car. Before buckling his belt, Junpyo had made sure to collect all the documents and place them on the back seat. That was enough time for Jihoo to drive a little ahead and be the one to lead as Junpyo started following behind.

The two friends that spent the last hours of their evening together had woken up in the same zip code but in a different situation the day after.

Jihoo, waking up by his alarm, had pulled himself out of his comfortable bed and the 10,000-feather pillow he rested his head against. The remote he grabbed and pressed had opened his window letting the morning in. The fresh smell from the garden behind his room was always the nice sound of the morning he enjoyed when he opened the window. The sun was hidden behind the dark clouds, and there weren't many rays coming in as the automatic program tv turned on and started going about the day's breaking news. With the slippers he put on his feet, he slowly started his walk to his grand bathroom in the other corner of his massive room. His right hand was sent to his pajama set, he started unbuttoning the top of the two-piece Burberry pajama set he had on. The shirt he took off, followed by his pants, was folded on the counter in the bathroom before he turned the warm water on. The water was adjusted to the right pressures; he had his eucalyptus and mint-scented body wash and shampoo to help him start his day smelling and feeling great. The ten-minute shower was followed by putting on his neatly ironed and placed uniform while he watched the most important news of the day. His body lotion was matched to the perfume he put on and was done after he handled his 3 step skincare morning routine. A little bit of hair gel and his freshly cut hair was brushed back.

Before the clock hit 6:30 a.m. he had to get down to the first floor of the family home to join his parents for breakfast. The maid he greeted on his way down was headed to make his bed and clean his room. His watch was the last thing he put on as he usually had to run down the stairs to the dining area. As usual, it would be his mom that would warn him about running. Her philosophy was to never run. Even when you are late you walk in with confidence and calm. Others have to wait for you whether you were on time or late anyway. And she was right. For people like his family, no matter where they went, they were the ones people waited for. Seated in the middle seat of the long table that had his parents at both ends, Jihoo was the only one to thank the maid who poured him the coffee that went well with the beautiful breakfast laid down. His dad reading the report on the table and watching the news at the same time, was busy trying to figure out his day while his mom was being informed about her schedule by her assistant on her right side. The maids served his freshly cooked breakfast, Jihoo started his breakfast with the perfect soup made for the rainy day. For the three-course breakfast, he started with his soup, followed by the special omelets and chamomile tea. His mom that was serious about diet, what the whole family ate was monitored by two nutritionists and run by two chefs. He finished his breakfast with a nice dessert, the tiny croissant that came with a side of fresh fruits. All his stuff was placed in the car by the maids, and he was out of the house following his dad who always left first. The kiss he left on his moms head, he got her great day wish as she sent him off with a warm smile. The same morning had started differently for his best friend who wasn't even sure where his parents were.

The sun rays peeking through the clouds were welcomed by the massive window he didn't close last night. The rays hitting his face and forcing the thin skin of his eyelids to open his eyes for another day were the main agents behind the body that started moving to hide away from them. His head turned to the right, his black hair was finally brushed away from his cheek and his skin had landed on a few of the papers his head was surrounded by. From one discomfort, he shifted to another before his mind had to accept that he had to wake up. His head turned to face the chandelier hanging from above, both his hands were sent to his face; to cover his eyes that weren't keen on waking up for another day. It doesn't even take a minute for his body to start sending pain signals to his mind that weren't even fully awake. The floor he spent most of his nights on, his back had become used to sleeping on the carpet that covers the sofa set of his living room more than the thousands of dollars worth bed of his. It wasn't just his back, every muscle in his body had started to pinch and ache the moment he was awake and forced to accept the reality that he was indeed alive for another day. While his hands stay on his face, hiding it away from the light and creating a fake darkness he could convince himself to get even 5 minutes of sleep from, his body will be forced to tolerate its own pain and hunger. His stomach that hadn't had a proper meal in days, including the dinner he didn't eat fully last night, his body has learned and adapted to not even ask for food anymore.

Forced to pull some energy from somewhere his body was slowly pulled up from the carpet he was lying on. His upper body lifted up, he sat with his head held down. His neck and shoulder, the discomfort from them were worse than the headache he sent both his hands to silence by squeezing his head. His thick lashes slowly opened, the first thing his eyes landed on was the mess of all the papers surrounding him. The file that was shoved into his chest, he was quick to remember the number of hours he had spent going through every line of every document. That was his night, staying until 3 a.m. to read between each line until his eyes gave up and his tired body landed on the pile of paper he was reading. That was 3 hours ago and his exhausted body being forced to wake up, needed some minutes before it was forced to stand up. His eyes sent to the window in front, he focused on the dark clouds that seemed ready to start pouring down the rain they were holding captive. His messy hair covering most of his face, it didn't even take much for his restless mind to replay her angry hands shoving the paper he was surrounded with against his chest.

The words she was shouting at him were muted as his memory focused on her enraged face. The ire air that surrounded her body, her face that had turned red, the fury burning in her piercing eyes, the frenzy of anger spilling from her lips that were cursing at him... the pure loathe she had for him was where his day had begun as his hands were gently sent to brush his hair away from his face as he closed his eyes and forced himself to get up. His tall body was finally up, and he was taking slow steps to the bathroom in the corner of his bedroom. The direction his legs knew from memory, they didn't need the help of his eyes that were closed. As he used the wall he was walking by for a guide. His hands still holding his hair were finally removed as he lowered them to the sweater he had on and started pulling it up. The cloth he still had on from yesterday. The dark green sweater was pulled away from his body along with the t-shirt he had underneath. The fresh air brushing against his skin was a bit calming as his necklace that landed against his chest became the only thing on the top half of his body. His sweater and shirt were thrown onto the floor, and he continued his walk to the only place that could provide him some relief and wake him up for good.

The moment he walked into the bathroom, the light had turned on providing more direction to the right turn he took towards the shower. The water he turned on, he let it run as he headed to the sink. The sound of the water hitting the floor of the shower was calming as his eyes finally opened up to help him pick up the toothpaste and put some on his electric toothbrush. His right hand would be used to brush his teeth as he was forced to look at his own reflection in the big mirror in front. The two voices that always fought within him had already concluded their battle as the self-loathing one had won for the day. "Look at yourself," the voice starts forcing him to stare at his dark eyes that never fail to pick at everything and anything they decide to scrutinize. There was much to hate and pick on

"No wonder she hates your guts"

"All of them do," the whispers go on as his dark eyes follow the necklace hanging on his chest. The cold metal of the ring hanging on his neck unintentionally provided some relief as it rested against the left side of his chest. Right at the cold skin and fragile bone caging his so-called soulless heart. He was used to it. The sourness and piercing pain that starts pinching at the left side of his chest, and spreads throughout his body; he was used to it by now. The pinching has been there since his age turned into double digits. Call it mini heart attacks, anxiety, panic attacks, or whatever the current doctor his mom dragged him to called them, he was used to them by now. He was used to it all as it had even become his daily wish that one day the piercing pain would actually pierce through his heart and let him bleed out the dark blood that keeps him living. If he tolerates it long enough, one day. One day his wish will come true. If the universe doesn't grant him his wish, he could listen to the voice in his head that has many suggestions. His eyes lifted up, rested on the cabinets in front of him and all the bottles. Somehow the voice in his head had turned softer and more convincing as it whispered.

" Your cabinet is filled with medication. Take a bunch and just sleep it off," the persuading voice whispered as his right hand paused what it was doing. For a second, the tenderness of the voice had paused everything as his eyes had erased everything from view, only the white bottles being what he needed to see. The voice that repeated didn't sound like it usually does. It was dangerously seducing and pulling at a string Junpyo wasn't conscious enough to be aware of its existence as his right hand leaving his toothbrush was slowly sent to the cabinet.

" Do you really want to die?" the same voice asked as his right hand grabbed the bottle at the corner. The only bottle with pills he was repeatedly warned not to take more than one per day. His fingers that were around the bottle had slowly fallen down as his right hand returned to his toothbrush. He had always been a coward. A coward at ending his pain.

The toothbrush thrown on the counter, he sent both his hands to the jeans he still had on. In less than a minute his sour body would be held underneath the cold water that would be the only thing needed to ease the tension across his shoulder. His wet hair brushed away, he lowered his head to let the water that had the perfect pressure to attack his neck and shoulder. The cold water trailing down his chest followed the visible muscles and the black ink of the tattoos. That was one good thing his non-existent diet provided him. His irresistible and perfectly structured body not even a single girl who had gotten close enough to see it unclothed was able to say no to. It didn't even need to get that far, most times, he had only to take his shirt off to silence them and get away with doing whatever he wanted. Well, it was that but mostly genetics. The Tom Ford body wash, shampoo and conditioner set, the sandalwood and cinnamon fragrance of all was picked to match with the oud fragrance of the perfume all his clothes were sprayed when they were being placed in his closet. How good he smelled with cloth on or off was something everybody who interacted with him could attest to. It was a result of the stylist that was in charge of making sure not only did he look good but smelt good and felt as soft as possible. Ten minutes under the cold water, his body was finally fully awake as he wrapped the towel around his waist and walked out of the bathroom. He knew not to leave his wet hair as it was but he had better things to worry about as he headed to the kitchen. He enjoyed the water he pulled from the fridge and the single apple he had pulled out. The cold breeze from the window left open that started coming his way, his body was asking for some type of cover but his eyes glued to the abyss, he had stood there drinking his water and enjoying his apple. Not even for a second thinking about how standing almost naked and with wet hair in front of a window wouldn't be a good idea.

What it was asking for would be minutes later when his body would be covered by the cloth he pulled from the closet. The black cargo pants he chose to go with went well with the white t-shirt and black hoodie he matched. The moisturizer he put on his face was the last time he looked at himself before he grabbed his phone and wallet from the pile of paper still scattered in the living room. His wallet was sent to his back pocket, and his right hand started to pick up some of the paper. Eun's personal file he needed to memorize was the file he picked up as he left the penthouse and headed to his car. His phone and wallet thrown on the passenger seat, on top of the paper he dropped on the empty seat, the car was out of the parking space in seconds.

The first stop was his favorite coffee shop which was 10 minutes away. His morning coffee and croissant in hand, he had returned to his car trying to avoid the few drops of rain that started falling down. His hair which was still wet but was staying put behind his ears had received some raindrops as he ran to his car. That was his breakfast as he headed to his main destination, school. Arriving super early, he had gotten all the VIP parking spaces to choose from as he decided to park his car right behind the tall trees. A perfect spot to hide away but have a good look at the driveway of their building where most seniors would be dropped off and where the person he was waiting would be walking to. Actually, he had an amazing view of the path she would take from the gate all the way to the seniors building driveway.

The radio he turned on, he sat comfortably as he started enjoying his breakfast. The minutes adding up, the students had started arriving but the first to arrive was Jihoo who he saw driving to the student general parking. Some of the council members had been the ones that arrived right after Jihoo. Surprisingly the girl who claimed to be Jihoo's assistant wasn't one of the few students to arrive early and Junpyo wasted 30 minutes sitting in his car watching most of his peers arrive once the clock passed 7:30. The document he was reading, his eyes would shift to the driveway then back to the lines he was reading.

"The police chief had given a press release but the case is still staying closed" the radio goes on as he focuses his attention on the file he was reading.

" I mean, this is a serious issue," one of the invited guests started to share their opinion.

" We have a serious problem that needs to be addressed and we are seeing the politicians and the so-called police fail to protect us and our children" the angry voice of the person was able to get Junpyo's attention for a second as he looked up from the file he was reading.

" We have over 100,000 people missing every year. Do you know how many of them are children, especially young girls" The voice coming from the radio as quickly as it grabbed a tiny bit of his attention, it was forgotten about as his eyes looked up at the walkway that leads to the driveway and found the person he was waiting for.

The file he slowly lowered down, his right hand was sent to shut off the radio. His eyes zooming in on the pathway, he was discovering something new as Jandi, who he was used to seeing walking alone, had somebody accompanying her today. His quick mind was able to match the face of the girl walking next to Jandi to the picture on the file he was reading. That was Eun. The girl he had been reading about. Her bubbly personality was easy to pick on as she was the one to keep talking and smiling at the blank-faced Jandi next to her. Her boots, he started at that as his enthralled eyes followed her legging-covered legs to the skirt topping them that was almost covered by the black hoody she had on. Her hair moving left and right wasn't tied back as yesterday. With her hands in her pocket, she was silent as she just focused on her steps. Unlike Jandi, the girl next to her had her hair tied into a ponytail. The fake pear-decorated hair clips she had on her head were matched to her earrings as Junpyo made out her neat uniform that was accessorized with cute tags just like her pink bag. Her legs were covered by skin-colored leggings that were finished with the tennis shoes she had on. Since the moment he made them out, she had been the one to keep talking and smiling. Her expressive face and even her hands were expressive as they helped her with whatever story she was telling Jandi. They were the two opposites of each other, and Junpyo was enjoying picking every minute difference between the two girls before he noticed Jandi's focus being zeroed in on something. Not just her, even the look on Eun's face had changed as her smiling face had turned gray. His eyes from the two landed on what they were looking at, Woobin's minion that stepped out of the car one of them had pulled to the end of the drive right where Eun was walking.

The file he slowly placed on the passenger seat, his right hand had a mind of its own as it was sent to the engine of his car he pressed on. His eyes from the boys that started walking out of the car one by one had focused on Jandi. The look in her eyes, he was able to pick on the moment her gaze had changed. Her right hand slowly was pulled out of her hoodie pocket and sent towards the girl on her right. Jandi's right hand had gently pushed Eun. The scared Eun didn't object as her legs started stepping slowly to follow the direction Jandi's hand was pushing her to. Eun had stopped her steps once she got behind Jandi who took a step to fully cover the scared girl behind her.

The three boys that walked out, the leader had been the one to step closer as he sent his hands to his pocket. Junpyo, who couldn't make out what was being said, had focused all his attention on the girls. The girl behind Eun looked petrified as her shaking hands grabbed Jandi's backpack. Her scared eyes landed on the back of the girl that was protecting her, Junpyo's eyes had followed to notice none of the fear in Eun's face visible on Jandi. Neither on her face nor her eyes, there was no fear visible. Her scary eyes he was pulled to focus on, his right leg that was demanding to step on the gas pedal was forced to back down as his eyes followed her right hand that landed on her skirt. He had seen it before. Her right hand was always resting on her skirt and her left hand behind her. That was her fighting position. He was witnessing it in action as he focused all his attention on reading her every move. All his eyes ever did was study her.

The three boys who started laughing had taken a step back when the girls started moving, walking past them. They hadn't failed to continue laughing and making comments as the two girls kept walking away. Junpyo didn't need to know what was being said. Just the giggling of the boys whose eyes were following every step of the girls walking was enough. It was easy to notice something was said as Eun turned around to look at the boys who started laughing even louder. Her scared eyes from the boys had glanced at Jandi. That was all he needed to know whatever was being said was about Jandi. The unbothered Jandi, he had been the only one to look past her blank face and focus on her hands. Her fidgeting fingers scratching her hand were sent to her pocket as she continued her walk. His eyes returning to the boys, he focused on the leader who had been the one to say something that had started the wave of laughter of the boys. As his eyes zoomed on the leader, Junpyo's hand on the steering wheel tightened their grip.

The leader, surrounded by his laughing friends, had slowly started his scanning of Janid. His eyes from her boots to her hair, he had looked her up and down. The look in his eyes as he scanned her body, Junpyo sitting in his car was forced to witness as he recognized the thoughts going through the leader. The way his eyes were looking at Jandi, the way he was biting his lips; Junpyo could only take in what he was witnessing with a smirk. This was ridiculous.

When he finally decided to leave his car, he had a few things he wanted to do as he headed to the building. His legs aiming for the library where he hides were redirected when he saw Eun walking out of her class and heading to the left corner. Taking some steps he followed behind. Deciding to get some warm water for her tea, she headed to the small cafeteria on her floor. The hot water poured into her mug. She was excited about the new tea she had gotten from the old lady, and Jandi introduced her to the tea she wanted to try.

"Hello," the new voice she heard behind her, Eun turned quickly. Thankfully the mug holding the hot water was still on the counter as her whole body was frozen the moment her eyes landed on the person standing a distance away. With her frozen body, Junpyo knew she needed some time to take in that it really was him in front of her. He always hated it and it still feels off to see how people still act like this when they see him. After a full minute of staring blankly, her mind unable to contemplate what it was seeing, she turned left and right to see if there was anybody else who could verify if the person in front of her was real and not a ghost.

" Be careful", his hands extended to help her with the mug that almost slipped out of her grip, it was his turn to be stunned as he noticed how her body had jumped away from him.

The shocked look on her face was mixed in with fear as her body instantly moved away from him. His right hand slowly being pulled back, it was so obvious to see how scared and terrified she was of him as her hand started shaking. Before he even fully took in the petrified look on her face, she had run away. The hot water dripping on her hands wasn't even sensed as her eyes looking back had made sure she wasn't followed as she ran away. The boy she left behind was still stuck on how she had jumped away from the hand he had extended to help her. People were shocked and acted weird when thye met him but her immediate reaction was to get away. The way her stunned face had turned petrified, this was his first taste of how much the scholarships were scared of him, and rightfully so. He was the leader of the infamous F4. Not only the leader, the owner of the school whose last names all wore on their uniform. There was a message all of them received as part of their orientation and it was to never ever bother the F4. Don't even appear in their sight, had been their warning. The iron fist they ran the school with, he didn't even have to appear let alone do anything, only his name was enough to instill fear in all students. Let alone those who had to starve themselves to survive attending this school, all the students with famous last names were scared of him. He never did anything or had to do anything, his name was enough. That was all others needed to use to do what they wanted on this campus. What Woobin and his minions used to do whatever to whoever was his name. His name and his silence were beyond enough for none of the scholarship kids to even dare raise their eyes his way. He didn't even need to do much but just say hi and her reaction was as though she saw the devil in human form.

"Huh," his small smirk, Junpyo tried smiling it off but it didn't matter.

"What the fuck' he cursed at himself as he couldn't even shake off the look on her face and how she had jumped away from him. His hand was quick to answer his need before it became a question so he pulled out the cigarette from his pocket and sent it to his lips. He didn't even need to light it up, just having it between his lips was enough as he started walking.

What he did would cause him more trouble than it did as hours later, on lunch break, he would get the reaction to his action. Having decided to leave campus for lunch, he was wasting some time as he stood against his car, inhaling the white smoke of cigarettes, when he noticed her marching legs heading his way. The white smoke he blew out was cleared away from his view in seconds, thanks to the cold breeze as his eyes found their favorite subject. His right hand from his pocket had slipped out to come to his hair he brushed away and placed it underneath the hoodie he pulled over his head. His dark eyes knew he was in trouble without even looking at her angry face; her quick steps his way was enough. For a second, he had chosen to forget about everything else as he focused his attention on just her walking his way. She was walking his way. She was coming to him. A sight he was starting to enjoy as he slowly placed his back against his car. Over the weekend her walk his way was shocking enough to have him cursing and coughing to save himself from choking. Today, it was enough to make him be prepared to get yelled at. The look in her eyes, the rhythm of her steps, the pissed-off aura that surrounded her, her attitude... oh the attitude and conviction behind everything she did, how could he not enjoy seeing her walk his way? Especially when she was coming to him.

Covered in black from head to toe, her slender figure was adorable when it was wrapped up with the anger she had whenever she was around him. Her face, the only thing left visible, was back to its usual look. No makeup, color, or even a hint of lip gloss on. Her hair moving left and right, that was when he finally noticed how strong the wind was. The cigarette he placed back between his lips, he inhaled deeply as his eyes hadn't even blinked since they saw her. One day he is going to find a way to remove this anger away from her and he couldn't help but wonder what she would look like without such rage always being present. Probably, Jihoo has already seen that. His best friend she had a crush on, Junpyo was sure she didn't look at Jihoo the way she looked at him. She probably acts all nice and adorable in front of Jihoo he thought before he stopped himself from the nonsense he was thinking about.

" huh" he sighed as his left hand pulled his cigarette away from his lips. His body standing against his car was prepared for the moment she would be close enough for him to feel her presence, and he was right. The moment she stood three steps away from him, his body was made aware of her full presence that removed everything else from his attention. His blinking eyes couldn't do anything but look in amazement as she parted her lips to be the one to talk first.

" What do you want from her?" her soft voice hit his ears. The sight wasn't enough he was being blessed with hearing her voice his ears had been waiting for.

'Sending them is not enough now you're doing it' she added as she crossed her arms. Her eyes were focused on him as she picked on his silence, which was becoming more irritating than his voice. She hated his voice and hearing him talk, but the way he looked at her silently was causing a different type of irritation. She hadn't figured out why but there was something creepy about the way his dark eyes looked at her whenever he wasn't saying anything. It wasn't long since it started and it has already started feeling strange. She didn't like it. His silent gaze pulls a different type of anger out of her. She hated it but she knew it was this or his husky deep voice. Which she hated just as much. As though he knew it, Junpyo didn't respond. His unwavering eyes focused on hers; he stood in silence. The only thing his lips were doing was inhaling what his left hand brought to his lips. All he wanted to do was just look at her. The white smoke he breathed out was slow as it cleared away, giving him what he wanted.

"Leave her alone" Trying hard not to be annoyed by the smoke covering his face, which was already covered by the hoodie he had on, she commanded.

" You all have done enough" she added as her eyes closed in on the small reaction she noticed on his face. The tiny smirk that escaped his lips was a trigger as her anger was elevated to another level as she witnessed his smirk. Another thing she hated. His little smirks and smiles were as annoying as everything he did. If she could she would shove the cigarette down his throat to stop his mouth from functioning. That would help clear his gravelly voice and make him sound but then she would have to rely on his eyes. Which she already knew were more dangerous than anything he could say.

What she didn't consider was how her deadly eyes were the exact, if not a worse match to stare right back at him. The scrutinizing and antagonizing way her eyes looked at his well-structured face whenever he was in front of her, she wasn't aware of her own power.

His right hand brushing his hair, he looked away for a second. The white smoke he breathed out, he needed a second to get his thoughts in order before he turned his face back to her to examine. Starting right back at him, the only thought going through her mind was grabbing his hair and smashing his head against his own car as she forced her eyes to focus on his face she would love to smash against the black metal behind him. Her attention focused on that imaginary scene; it was used to calm her anger down. The fake scenarios her mind comes up with were always used to calm her down but rarely became a reality. Sometimes, they caused her more trouble.

" I said hi," in his raspy voice, he finally spoke, unable to handle her eyes that were looking at him with such focus.

" What do you need to say hi to her for?" Her eyes had changed their gaze as she asked.

" You didn't even know she existed"

" You shoveled her file at me," the cigarette brought to his lips he inhaled the nicotine that was doing its job.

" She is none of your concern, so leave her alone." She only had one request.

" You said my name was stamped on it"

" Didn't you scream at me to make it my problem?" he blew the white smoke that hadn't failed to come her way. He had a question she didn't prepare an answer for. She just stared back.

" Huh," he sighed, brushing his hair. His body finally lifted away from his car; he stood straight. His eyes closed, he turned his face away for a second. He needed to breathe.

" You can hate and blame me for everything, but she needs to see a doctor ASAP." his face was turned her way.

" She needs to report it to the police if she wants

" You're now acting like you care?" her arms crossed, she asked, interrupting him.

"Or is this some skit?" she asked with a small smile on her face. Her head turned both ways; she was looking to see if there was anybody else witnessing the funny scene, but there was nobody in the VIP parking space section that was left for F4 members.

"Are you smiling at me suggesting you take her to the hospital?" Now a bit annoyed, Junpyo asked.

"It's ridiculous to see how you, of all people, act as if you care what happens." Her words were beyond sharp as they cut through whatever calm the nicotine had provided. It was all gone with just one statement.

" am going to buy into you caring for a minute and tell you what you can do"

" Fuck off," she added, leaning forward to ensure the message was received loud and clear. As she leaned in Junpyo's eyes had followed her head as her face was brought his way and her curse reached his ears. There it was. The cursing of hers he was starting to be obsessed with. The only thing he was becoming addicted to, her soft voice cursing at him. His elusive thoughts had a mind of their own as they imagined what it would sound like when she said it in a different situation. Would it sound just as fascinating if she whispered it to his ear? His nonsensical mind he can't control at times, he was fast in shutting his own thoughts down and trying to focus on the conversation at hand. The cigarette he placed in between his lips, the nicotine he inhaled was satisfying a different type of need as it was sent to cool his body down. The cold breeze of the night, his skin that was suddenly awakened was finally made aware of the cold air brushing against it.

" I know you don't believe me but I didn't send them to her ''

" I would never do that. '' he tried to at least make that clear but the words he whispered had been the second trigger.

"Me laying on the cold floor, stripped and surrounded by 4 of them, you would do that tho?." She chose her words carefully as she knew she would cause herself some discomfort with the visual she painted. Her fingers were sent to battle against themselves as her angry eyes focused on the boy she had frozen. His left hand bringing the cigarette to his lips had paused mid-air as the words she whispered had frozen him in the odd moment he wouldn't be able to wash away for days. He thought it was her words, but it was her eyes. It was the look in her bewitching eyes that hit him like a ton of bricks as he could finally look past the anger that clouded everything around her. The hint of sadness in her voice and the look in her eyes had afforded him a tiny glimpse as he was provided to see behind the veil.

" I didn't tell them to do that," was his speedy reaction; he wasn't sure why he took a step towards her as his voice softened up with every word that escaped his lips.

" I wouldn't let anybody touch you," he added, the softness of his voice now mixed in with the hint of anger that simmers at the top of all the emotions he can't name that get triggered by just the thought of the visual she had painted. Both didn't consider the weight of the words he had just said. The two people operating from two different emotions, it was easy for Jandi to take in what he said as nothing but his bullying to avenge his friend.

" Because I am yours to torture, Her eyes didn't accompany her words. She had turned them to the floor as she uncrossed her arms and sent them to her back. The step he took had been enough to make her finally aware of his tall body which was now close enough for her to feel his presence. His smell, as always, was the first thing she picked on. His towering body was the second as she listened to her body that was ordered to stand by to fight or flight. With her hands on her back, she was ready for both as she created more distance between them.

" That's not." he had to silence his own words the moment her eyes looked up. There was nothing to say. She always had a way of using just a glance to zip his lips shut. The situation he placed her in that pool that day, there were not enough words in his vocabulary he could use to describe the guilt he felt towards what happened. The weight of the shame he carried for what he did, there was no apology he could say that would make it go away. There were no words he could say that would lead her to accept his apology, let alone forgive him. The way she had brought it up. The words she used to describe it. The voice and look in her eyes. He had only witnessed a fraction of the gravity of what he had caused her, and it was enough to bury himself in the pile of emotions that were wrapped with shame and guilt that had instantly taken over his empty soul. There was nothing he could do to erase it from her memory. The only thing he wants to do. The only thing he can't seem to let go of her for.

Her anger he blames for demanding a reaction out of him every time he witnessed it; if he was ever self-aware, he would have been able to notice what seeing even a tiny bit of the sadness she carries does to him. If he were conscious enough, he would recognize how that was a more dangerous string that could pull out the beast he keeps caged. What just seeing a hint of it does to him, if he was lucky, he would have recognized and stopped it before her sorrow became something he could feel. But that was a line he would become aware of once he had crossed.

"If you care, leave her alone." She was quick as she listened to her body and the second command it gave. To stop looking at his eyes. Something had changed in the last few seconds, and she was ordered to look away. An order she accepted with no question.

" I'm sorry," he whispered, immediately dismissing the order she was following as she had no power to fight against the softness of his voice that had forced her to look up at him.

" I really am sorry" his dark eyes. One look into his dark eyes that have all of a sudden melted into the tender and mellow gaze they displayed, her baffled mind had a choice to make as she just stared back. He is good at acting, the voice in her head tried to convince her as she couldn't look away from his eyes.

" I don't want anything to happen to you. '' The glowing dark circles of his apologetic and emotive eyes, were demanding a reaction that her body was fighting not to provide. She was fighting back from accepting any of it. It was easier to convince herself he was just acting. That was easier than accepting he had any compassion and humanity in him. It made it easier to hate him if she believed he was just acting.

"Then leave me alone" she demanded before turning around and marching away. Her body choosing to flee, she had decided to leave. She had to leave.

"Huh," the deep sigh that escaped his lips, it was as though he was released from being held captive in a claustrophobic box which he was freed from the moment she left. The girl fleeing the scene, she had only turned back when she heard the sound of the car speeding away from the parking space. Her eyes that turned back had stayed on the speeding car until it disappeared out of her view in seconds.

Her march to the building, she was aiming for a bathroom. Any bathroom as she needed some cold water to calm herself down but she wasn't provided any as she heard her name shouted across the halfway. Her startle eyes that turned back found Jihoo walking her way.

"Where were you?" Turning his walk to a small jog, he asked.

"Nowhere," she responded, trying hard to organize and get a handle of her thoughts.

"Are you okay? '' Jihoo was quick to pick up on something that felt off.

" am fine" the small smile on her face she responded

" Lunch? "She asked, choosing to distract herself away from what happened.

" Yes please" Jihoo finally catching up, started walking beside her as she started heading to the elevator that will take them to their office.

" I was talking to Professor Lee about the end of " Jihoo went on talking while Jandi, silently walking beside him, was focused on trying to erase what just happened in the parking lot.

" Watch out," his story he cut short; what he did next had left both startled.

His right hand that came to her side had landed against the right side of her face as he used his hand to cover her face from being hit by the edge of the fire extinguisher she didn't notice. The soft palm of his right hand covered the right side of her face, as Jandi's startled body was triggered the moment she felt his touch. The warmth of his skin against her cheeks, her eyes hadn't even looked at where the point of contact between their skins had happened. They had glanced up, to look at him. Standing right in front of her, his beautiful face as clear as it can get. His tender hearted and warm eyes staring back at her. The hint of a smile on his face, the touch wasn't as enthralling as the way he was looking at her.

His glowing eyes looking down at her, the care in his voice was new or was taken in as new as her bewildered eyes focused on his face that was right there. His squishy looking soft face, it was scary how it had turned her surrounding blurry and even out of view. It wasn't a choice she made as everything was erased, only the man standing before her was the subject of the rose-colored world she was just pulled into. A soft rose-covered world where it felt like she could just float away. A lovey-dovey world where nothing black even existed, and everybody looked at her with tender and glowing eyes like the one that was in front of her. A foreign world where the gentle hands that touched could pull her to any time she wanted to escape the real one. The silence of the world around them, the silence itself had a sound of its own as his blinking eyes and smile had a melody of their own.

She was made aware of how Jihoo had left his hand on her face longer than he should have, but it didn't matter. There was no command for her to fight or run away. Her body that was pulled into a different realm in fact felt lighter causing more illusion. As though that wasn't enough the universe had more to give as his slender fingers moved. The slow caress of his fingers against her skin, all thought was paused at that moment as her body was forced to shut everything down. All her energy was used on just processing the tiny shockwaves sent from his fingers tracing down her cheek.

"Are you okay?" his tender voice whispered bringing her back to reality.

" I'm fine." rather than pushing his hand away, she took a step back. Her face lowered down, it was a hard choice to make not to send her hand to relieve some of the weird sensations buzzing across her face. Jihoo, slowly retrieving his hand, sent it to his pocket. Accepting her reaction as a discomfort, he had chosen to balm himself, but only for a few seconds. After that, his mind was busy wondering why he should feel bad about touching her or wanting to touch her. Why was it even such a big deal to touch her? His hand still marveling at the softness of the skin it touched, Jihoo was lost in the mix of questions he didn't have answers for. Her adorable face he always thought would be beyond soft to the touch, was now a confirmed fact. The rosy skin, the hue his fingers had caused along with her stunned eyes that had doubled in size, Jihoo was saving the new look on her face he observed into his memory. Jandi, walking next to him, hadn't even gotten to questions. She first needed to process what on earth just happened before she got to her own line of confusing questions to ponder about as they continued walking in happened was beyond and not something friends do. Is it? She wasn't dense enough not to recognize the silence that had taken over the small distance between them after what happened.

Whatever was happening, it had to be her imagination, she concluded. Her always pessimistic mind had used the only excuse she needed to make that conclusion. The beautiful and graceful she had seen him kiss not even days ago. It was easy then to blame herself for her wild imagination. It was always easier to blame herself. Her lack of friends, she blamed her odd existence on her imaginative mind that read what he did as anything but a nice gesture from a friend. All the feelings she couldn't quite understand that had been peaking here and there whenever she was around him in the last week, she blamed herself for thinking of anything other than their friendship. How dare she even think of him in any other way? She was harsh with herself as she went on a self-loathing rant. The voice in her head loved screaming at her.

Who was she to think of him as anything other than a friend?

Whatever his touch had brought out was completely obliterated and erased in minutes, and Jandi was back to her usual self when they finally got to their office. Jihoo needed more time and used his alone time to grab lunch from the cafeteria to sort out what he was so bothered by. By the time he returned to the office, Jandi was sitting in the corner seat of the meeting room, waiting for him. With her neatly arranged food, he could tell she had even taken a single bite and was waiting for him. Something that has become a thing in the last few weeks. Before, she had a problem starting without him. She actually started first so she could finish before him and get back to her work.

" I heard you defended the girl." Jihoo knew he was picking on a serious topic to start their conversation. He walked across the table and chose the seat in front of her as always.

"That was nice of you." he sat down. The silent Jandi didn't have a response as she picked up her spoon and started eating.

" Seems those boys haven't learned their lesson"

"They don't want to listen to me. Soon they will learn it by force." His little smirk, she wasn't sure what he was talking about as she decided to let it go. Does he mean her? He had seen her use the laptop, but Jihoo didn't know she could beat all four. What force is he talking about? Did Junpyo tell him about her? The last question caused more worry about all the things Junpyo could tell Jihoo, so she chose to ask.

" What force?" She asked, trying to sound too interested in his answer.

" They were warned not to bother you. '' Jihoo, taking the first bite of the pasta he decided to have from the Italian menu scheduled for today, responded to her question. He wasn't trying to be vague but thought she knew what he was talking about. Jandi didn't and had made the wrong assumption he was talking about himself. He was the only one to stand up to them for her sake. He had done it more times than she could count. When she was lying there unconscious, he had been the one to save her. Something he had confessed after some pressure. That day his name was added to her small list of people she cared to listen to and get to know. There was a special place for people that went out of their way to show mercy to her when she was at her most vulnerable, and the fact that he had done it without demanding anything after it, that was the day Jihoo was awarded the nice and kind title. How she had started smiling more around him after that day. She wasn't aware of how safe she felt whenever she was around him, yet she wasn't aware of the comfort he brings. For now, he was just kind.

" I hope she is okay?"

"She is not going to be okay." Jandi, covering her chewing mouth with her right hand, shared the sad fact. With the serious look in her eyes, Jihoo was bewildered by that.

" It's sad how the school is handling it, but what can you do "Jihoo sighs. Jandi sat back as she tried not to read much into what he said. She can't question Jihoo. He was the student president. The most powerful student in the school, and he had already accepted the situation as is. She didn't like that, but he was Jihoo. He was the kind friend of hers whose intention she couldn't question but his power. She could question that.

" You're the student president; you can do something," she whispered as she set her eyes on her food.

"That's just a childish title; this is a legal case," his response was fast. As though it was rehearsed. Her questioning eyes were slow as they glanced up.

" She doesn't even have a lawyer, so how is it a legal case," she asked. Her curiosity was more on what Jihoo thought than on the actual situation.

" She signed legal documents"

" How do you know?" The most important question of the day was asked. Jihoo has no right to look at any document she might have signed with the school lawyers and admin. He was just the student president.

" oh" Jihoo whispered as he returned his focus to the food.

" You're not going to be happy?" he asked. Her eyes were waiting for him to explain. Jandi didn't reply; just continued waiting.

" Junpyo has a copy of the documents she signed," Jihoo shared as he sat back; he was waiting for a reaction the moment he said his best friend's name, and he was surprised when he didn't get any. She had just returned her attention to her food.

" You read it?" She asked as she tried going through the files she stole to remember if she had a copy of the document Eun signed. She doesn't remember reading it. Maybe it was in the folder, and she didn't read it, she assumed.

" No. He was telling me about it at dinner"

" he said the document she signed gave up her right to pursue a criminal charge for settlement"

" Hu," Jandi sighed. Her mind was busy trying to remember reading that.

" No matter her evidence, the lawyers could use that to say she was looking for money which judges would believe"

" She went to a settlement before the police report, so," he added as Jandi sat back, carefully listening to what he was saying.

" Not a good look"

" Are we still talking about a 19-year-old assault victim who doesn't have any family members and was surrounded by 3 lawyers and 8 men when she signed the paper?" Jandi crossing her arms and asked.

" I know. It sucks but"

" There is no but" the change in her tone. Jihoo was silenced by that and the look in her eyes.

"She can't win any case" Jihoo, softening his voice, spoke after a few seconds of silence.

"She has no evidence, not even a police report"

" I just want her to get justice" he added to make sure Jandi understood where he was coming from.

"The legal system is not the only way to get justice" she whispered. Her eyes from the food, she turned it back to Jihoo when she saw him start smiling.

" What?" she asked, confused by his smiling.

" Just, Junpyo said the same thing," he added in between his smiles.

" Why does he care?' her intrusive through had escaped again but she was somewhat happy she asked as she started waiting to hear if he had told Jihoo she was the one that brought the issue to him and made it his problem.

" I don't know"

" Sometimes he gets interested in something and he becomes obsessed with it like crazy" Jihoo focused on his food, giving her something to worry about.

" He said he had his lawyers look at the document and they already found a loophole. '' Jihoo was nonchalant, sharing something that had stopped her from enjoying the food she was eating. This was serious and she was not interested in whatever Junpyo's lawyers had found.

" Did he say what it was?"

" No"

" He was focused on her more than the document"

" What do you mean by her?" the worry in her voice, even Jihoo was able to sense it as he looked at Jandi. It was adorable how she was worried about Eun.

"What she went through was traumatic. She needs lots of help to deal with it" Her bewilderment by what he said, Jihoo sat back, taking in the puzzled look on her face.

"He was talking about that all through dinner," Jihoo added as he recalled the topic that took over the dinner he had with his friend after such a long time.

" he is not going to do anything to her"

" He didn't send the boys" Jihoo added seeing if that would get Jandi some relief.

" I know' she whispered as she remembered Junpyo's own admission that he had nothing to do with the minions attacking Eun.

Jandi, replaying everything said in the VIP parking lot, left Jihoo's conversation with her as he went on talking. She needed to think.

"You said he becomes obsessively interested." Cutting his speech about the Seohyun dinner tomorrow he was talking about, she asked.

" Who? Junpyo?"

"Yes, once he is interested in something, you can't make him stop," Jihoo shared, unsure why what he said caused such a look on her face.

"Excuse me." She stood up and left the room. Her phone started dilating; she was quick as she moved out of the office and started making a call.

"Plan is off," she whispered the moment the phone was picked up.

"We have eyes on us' ' she added, the only reason her team needed to listen to her and back off. That was all she had to say. Junpyo, who already had enough evidence against her, if she or anybody did anything to the teacher, she was sure he would have enough evidence to come for her finally. This was a risk she can't take. All the attention Junpyo had on the case it was her fault. It had always been her fault. From the family she made him aware of, which she needs to check on, now to Eun, she had been the one to bring his attention to them. He knew too much. How, she wasn't sure of and that was one of her many worries as she opened her laptop to go through the folder she had stolen. She was busy looking for the settlement document Eun signed, which wasn't part of the files she took. She looked three times, but the document wasn't there. Which means he had gotten it from somebody else, somehow. That was enough to make her a bit happy about the choice to cancel their plan to look for the teacher whose whereabouts her team might take a while but could locate. She had just saved her team. If Junpyo came for her, at least it was her. He doesn't need to know about anybody in her team she considered her family.

Her anger at the situation was becoming a headache as she accepted that she might be unable to give Eun what she was promised. She needs to find a way. Any type of way. That was what she spent her afternoon on even when she was in the council office sending the email Jihoo wanted to be sent after her last class. By the time the clock hit 7 pm, her hoodie was placed down as she left the building, and her mind tried to get at least 10 minutes of peace before she was busy finding a way to take care of Eun's situation. The song she was listening to guiding her steps as she walked past the almost empty school. With the jazzy beat of the soft song, she took a deep breath of the fresh air that felt so amazing after such a rainy day. The wild breeze was beyond claiming as continued her walk to her bus stop. Her eyes on the floor, she was in her own little world until her eyes finally looked up to notice the black car parked right before her bus stop, exactly where it was parked yesterday. Her eyes from the car turned to the driver's side of the car; she was sure it was him. She didn't even need to see him. She knew his car. By now, she even knew the plate number and the maker of the expensive car, which she had chosen not to google to protect her sanity. She knew it was better to not even try to know how much what these spoiled pricks spent their money on costs. He had three houses at which she had seen so many different cars. His world, his possessions, and his spending habits she wouldn't be able to understand even if she was reborn as a rich person. They were above that. The type of wealth he was swimming in, she was aware it was something she would never understand.

Her slow walk to her bus stop, she aimed her legs that way until she noticed the passenger door open slowly. Her eyes from the door turned to the man in the driver seat who was now in clear view.

" It's about Eun, '' he whispered, glancing her way. That was all he had to say as she turned her steps from the bus stop towards his car. One look into his eyes, and she knew he was telling the truth. Considering what Jihoo shared with her about the type of information Junpyo had, she could gain a lot from listening to what he had to say and maybe, just maybe, get a copy of the signed settlement and anything else he might have. That was all she cared about. She could put her hate and rage at him away for a minute and get what she needed to take care of Eun as she had promised herself she would. She can put her hatred in the back seat for now; she concluded as she closed the door behind the passenger seat she got into. It wasn't her first time in this car. The seat belt hadn't even been moved from the last time she used it as it was perfectly fit. Her backup pulled away from her side; she placed it by her feet.

" What does?" her question was silenced as he picked his laptop from his messy back seat and placed it on her lap. Tilting the laptop back to get a better view, she focused on that after glancing at his back seat filled with documents. Her eyes that landed on the screen shifted to Junpyo. Then, back to the laptop as her right hand slowly clicked play on the video. The surveillance video, which was only 30 seconds, was playing the clear footage of Eun and the teacher walking into the cafe Eun said was where they met at the exact time she had said. The video she played twice, Jandi was focused on that as Junpyo started the car and joined the road. Jandi focused on the video and wasn't worried about where they were heading as she left that at the bottom of the things she could think about.

"Her story matched with all the surveillance video." his raspy voice sounded rougher than hours before as she glanced up. His face looked a bit off too, but it was ignored as she focused on the task at hand.

" What videos?" She asked after pausing the video and glancing at Jun Pyo.

" You'll see," was all he said in between the random coughs he silenced with his elbow. She was sure wherever he was taking her had all the videos he was talking about.

"How did you get this?" she asked as she quickly recalled how Ctrl had texted her two hours ago about the hard drives of all the places and locations Eun mentioned being whipped out and some of the stores even claiming they didn't have surveillance cameras.

Junpyo didn't respond; he only had to look past her window at the school gate they were passing by. The school name and logo on the brick wall, which she had pointed out yesterday, was what he was looking at. Her eyes following his had landed on the school name and logo. She was getting her daily reminder of who he was. All the power and privilege his last name afforded him; she really had no idea as she sat thinking about all the possible ways he could have gotten his hands on these was the answer to her question. There was no need for words as the silence took over while the car turned right and headed towards the park he used as a shortcut. She was slowly picking up on some of the directions he made when he headed to his penthouse. And she was right, which she had smirked about. Her photographic memory was beyond amazing. The penthouse they pulled to, she was even good at the time she assumed it would take to drive up to his private parking space and get into his penthouse.

She let him lead her out of the elevator into the house that welcomed them. His hands in his pocket, she had followed behind. His cough she ignored. She had paid attention to the beautiful view of the city from the living room she liked. What a view, even the view of the cloudy evening was remarkable from here. She focused on that as she followed the sneezing body, leading them to his study room. The moment she entered the study room, her eyes were focused on all the documents all over his desk and around the couch.

" The videos from the store, the coffee shop, and the ice cream shop across the place"

" What's this?" she cut his speech short as she pointed at the big board in front.

"The timeline" In between his sneezing he responded.

" The green one is from her statement, the red one is from his' ' Junpyo pointed as Jandi, placing her back up by the couch, started taking steps towards the board. The green line across the board had check marks on it as she started from 4 p.m.

"The check marks mean they match with the video." while heading to the desktops, Junpyo provided some clarification as to what she was looking at.

" The X's don't match, '' he added as she changed her eyes to the teacher's timeline marked with a red marker with many Xs.

" That's the first discrepancy in his story"

" He also claimed he was there first and was enjoying his food." Junpyo, silencing his coughs in his elbow, shared even more evidence.
" The cafe order was made at 5:15, she walked into the cafe at 5:03." Jandi's eyes from the crazy board had returned to the sneezing Junpyo plugging something into one of the desktops on the grand desk. She was getting a test of Junpyo's obsessive behavior Jihoo was talking about as she started walking to the desk. She needs to see these videos. Her eyes hadn't failed to look at the wall-to-wall bookshelf filled with books she walked past. It was one of the things she knew about him, how much he reads.

" There is a lot of footage to go through," he started talking as she headed to the desk. The documents all over the desk, she started shifting to notice how all of them were highlighted and underlined and had Eun's name on them. The pencils and pens scattered in between the files, she hadn't overlooked the cookies package on top of the documents along with the empty smoothie bottle. Was that his lunch? Who cares, she focused her attention on the highlighted documents.

" Here is the footage for the whole day from the ice cream shop across the place he took her. They had no camera, the ice cream is across the street," he went on as he opened a folder with lines of files.

" We don't have to look at all of them"

" if you just start

" 6:20 ish" she cut him and gave him the same answer he was going to say. She got her answer after glancing at the board he had neatly organized. She was beyond smart and quick to understand what he was talking about and how he was organizing the evidence.

" right" he responded as he turned around to hide his sneeze away from her. Now she was finnlay forced to notice his coughing. Her eyes from the file turned to his red nose he was covering with his hand he used to hide his cough away from her. Her focus changed to the computer just as Junpyo stood up while she took a step closer to the desktop. The girl that finally entered his personal space, he was made aware of the second she took a step that landed her right next to him.

" That would be in this." he clicked on the file that was marked 5 -8 p.m. Her eyes on the video that started playing, she wasn't concerned with the same thing he was as he had taken a step back, creating a space between them.

" Here," he offered the chair as he took another step back. Without any hesitation or question, she had taken the chair as she fixed her eyes on the video that started playing. Her eyes had only turned back when he started coughing.

"Sorry," he apologized as he let go of his mouth he had covered with his elbow. Her questioning eyes wanted to ask, but she had deemed it none of her problem as she returned to the video. While she adjusted herself on the chair and focused on the video, Junpyo had headed to the couch to pick up his laptop and use that to arrange all the evidence in the timeline he had created a document for.

Cough cough - His typing fingers had paused as he placed the laptop down, covered his face with his elbow, and went on coughing and sneezing. Jandi's eyes from the video were directed to the man sitting on the couch, a distance away from her. His body had turned to face the door and not her direction; she waited until he stopped coughing. His right hand brushing his hair, he had turned back and as he picked up his laptop, he looked her way to find her eyes examining him. She slowly turned her eyes to the video as she grabbed some of the files on the table and checked what he had highlighted. The video that was playing since 5 pm, her eyes were tasked with reading the documents while she also kept an eye on the video playing.

The silence of the space, only the raindrops that started falling down from the night sky echoed in the room. Jandi, sitting comfortably on the chair, was lost in the files she was reading and the video she was watching to think about how not just the chair she was seated on but everything around her smelled like him. Not just smelled like, everything around felt like him. She had no mental space to pick on why or wonder about the pile of books at the corner of the desk or behind her laid out on the floor. The fresh flowers at the edge of the corner table by the window, she would have been curious who got those fresh flowers if she cared, but she didn't. The ash-white curtains slowly moving to the breeze of the soft rain; none of her surroundings she had glanced at was paid no deep attention. Her eyes glued to the video, and she decided to focus on that. By the time the video went past 6 had already sat there for more than an hour.

Her eyes on all the people walking past the ice cream shop; they had quickly left the video and landed on Jun Pyo sitting on the couch who had been coughing or sneezing every other minute. The laptop he placed down, he had stood up and started walking away. Her eyes, following his steps, had stayed on him until he left the room. His absence her curious eyes had finally rested on the pile of books behind her, then the grand bookshelf. The rotating chair she was on, she had shifted in the circle, slowly examining everything in the grand study room. She took her time.

"Huh" she sighed as she returned her eyes to the video. The time stamp was getting to 6:10 as she focused all her attention on the video. Her excitement when she made out with Eun, there was nobody to witness it, and she was happy about that. With her small smile, she hadn't failed to pause the video when she saw Eun and the teacher walking into the door right across from the ice cream place.

"Got you," she whispered as she picked up the black marker and headed to the board. The 6:21 pm mark of the video, she wrote that time on the board as she added a check mark on Eun's timeline which stated arriving at the place around 6:30.

" They got there at 6:21" She turned around and announced to Junpyo, who walked into the room. Using the black marker, she tapped at the check mark she put on Eun's green timeline.

" Good." Junpyo placed the napkin he was covering his nose with and continued his walk to the desk.

" How do you"

" Oh I got it. '' He quickened his steps to the desk, and so did Jandi. She had gotten there faster as she sat back down on the chair and rewinded the video for the last 15 seconds.

" We have to cut it for maybe 2-5 minute increments" Junpyo coming to her right side, his disappearing voice it was hard to miss how rough it had gotten since she heard it an hour ago. Leaning down he took over the keyboard and started pressing back to find the folder. His hands typing on the keyboard she pushed his way, he was standing right next to her as he continued trying to cut the video and copying it over to the flower he was organizing all the evidence on. Her eyes from the video were lowered to his long fingers pressing on the keyboard. The ring on the small finger on his right hand She noticed first her eyes were pulled from that to the vein that was visible enough for her to notice. The blood flowing through the lines, she had followed them until the edge of his sleeves where they disappeared into.

" This would need to." With his uncomfortableness on his back and his head he had to lean down, Junpyo just decided to bend his knees and kneel down. Jandi was now made aware of his closeness as she turned right and noticed how they were now equal height. His eyes were on the file he was trying to locate; Junpyo wasn't the one to notice how it takes him to kneel down for her to be taller than , him kneeling down and she sits on a chair. It was Jandi who noticed as her eyes were finally able to see the top of his head covered with his unruly but soft-looking black hair. She changed her gaze to his side profile she had a good view of. The amazing bone structure of his was dismissed as her eyes picked on not just his red nose but also the weird color of his cheeks and his watery eyes. He doesn't look well. He never did but this ... she didn't finish her thought as turned her eyes back to the screen before she was caught by Junpyo who had turned her way.

" It might take a while for it to cut and copy" Before he finished his sentence he turned to the other side as he silenced his cough with his elbow. Her eyes shifting his way, Jandi waited until he was done and brought his attention back to the screen.

" Maybe cover your head, '' she whispered as she returned her eyes to the screen. Junpyo looking at her was only given access to her side profile as she focused her attention on the video.

" It will take time so you can watch the rest on here" he brought her attention to the other desktop. They had found the time Eun and the teacher walked into the place. Now they need to find out when they left. That would take however long as they had no clue to work with. It might be 30 minutes later or an hour later.

"Here's that footage" he pulled up on the second desktop he pressed play before he stood up and started walking away. Jandi had slowly pulled her chair towards the second desktop as she tried focusing her attention on the video playing and not on how she was right; everything around her smelled like him. The space he just left, which she moved her chair to, had the same sweet and lavish smell as everything she was touching.

" Huh" Sitting back against the chair she got more comfortable. Her eyes always used to focus on moving things; it was bound to follow his steps to the couch. His legs crossed and placed on top of the glass table after he had sat down and placed the laptop on his lap. His typing fingers, he had paused as his right hand was sent to his hoodie which he pulled up and covered his head.

" this jerk" the voice in her head had whispered as she took in how he had listened to what she had suggested and covered his head.

Her eyes returned to the video; she focused on that.

1

2

5

10

15

20

30 ... the minutes went on as Jandi, who wasn't ready to waste hours, had done just since that was what it took for her to find the minutes the teacher had walked out the place and when Eun Had. Her tiny excitement at finding that she had shared the time but got no reaction from Junpyo or his hands that had stopped clicking. Picking her marker, she had headed to the board. Maybe it wasn't a big deal, she had silenced her 1% excitement as she started writing the time on the timeline.

" It doesn't match with hi '' her words cut short as her eyes turned to the man on the couch and found his body that wasn't moving.

" hey" she softly whispered as she started her slow walk to the couch.

" hey," She lowered her head to see his face that was covered not just by his hoodi but his hair. It was hard to see his face. His body that wasn't moving, she glanced at his hands resting on top of the laptop. He wasn't moving at all. Deciding that was not her problem she returned to the desk to follow the steps she saw him take to cut and copy the video. As the computer started doing the task she commanded it, her attention was brought to the body that wasn't moving at all. Deciding to check if he was at least alive she walked back to the couch.

" Hey," she whispered as she slowly pushed his head back. The hoodie she had touched, she was glad the thick fabric of the hoodie had separated her hand from touching his hair as she pushed his head back.

Cough cough - his coughing that started immodestly, his closed eyes had opened up as she noticed how his watery eyes had turned red.

"Sorry," the rough voice he tried to apologize in between his cough.

" You're sick" She took a step back as she noticed his coughing getting worse. His face he covered with the hoodie, it was now beyond obvious that he was sick. The hoodie he removed away from his face, Jandi focused on his red and ill-looking face that was made visible. The messy hair that surrounded his off-color-looking face didn't help either as he finally managed his coughing and looked up at Jandi standing steps away from him.

" I am fine" Brushing his hair back, Junpyo moved the laptop away from his lap and placed it on the table which he brought his legs down from. The moment he tried standing up he had lost his balance. Her quick reaction, she had only taken a single step towards the couch but didn't do anything as she watched him try to balance himself by using the couch.

" Oh god," he whispered as he decided to sit back down on the couch.

" You're sick" She took the step left as she came to his side. His head he moved up, he wasn't ready for her right hand that had landed on his head.

" You're burning" She removed her hand as quickly as she had placed it on his forehead. His sick eyes looking up at her, she was sure he was looking at her like that because she had dared to touch him. Something she keeps forgetting she wasn't allowed to do. She was quickly reminded of how much he didn't like being touched by her. Her hand she sent to her back, she tried wiping her right hand on her hoodie.

" I'll be fine if I rest. '' Junpyo said, sending both hands to squeeze his head that was hurting. His hoodie he pulled back over his head, he had pushed his hair to cover his forehead she had just touched. His face wrapped with his own hair and the black fabric, he could only lay his weak body across the couch. His face he buried into the two small pillows at the end of the couch; he had closed his eyes that were replaying the look in her eyes he had looked up to the second she touched him.

"Take some medication," she recommended as she started her walk back to the desk.

" am fine." his whisper of a voice was a word of affirmation for himself rather than what she had said.

The files across his desk, she had more things to figure out as she focused all her attention on that and not on the body laid across the couch, with his face buried into the pillows. As she started reading, her eyes kept glancing every time his coughing disturbed her silence. The pillow he used to cover his coughing with, he looked smaller than ever with how he had squished his body onto the couch.

" huh" she sighed as she returned to the documents she was reading and taking photos of. She needs a copy of these files. She had made sure to take a picture of every document and file on his desk. For the videos, she had to ask him for access as she didn't have any hard drive with her to copy them to and calling Ctrl for help was out of question. Ctrl was the last person she wanted Junpyo to be aware of. She knew it wouldn't be hard to get a copy of these videos from him. He had shown it to her by his own choice, she was sure he would get her a copy if she asked. Why she felt confident he would give her, she didn't question that.

While she was collecting all of that in silence, Junpyo's closed eyes provided his body covered with all kinds of sourness and some rest. The complete silence of the study room was also helping with the small nap. When the clock hit 10 pm, was when his eyes slowly opened up to some of the disturbing sounds he heard. His eyes, which had opened slowly, were starting to make out some of the things on the table in front of him. . The lines and curves he saw turning out to be objects, not only objects but dining objects; his eyes slowly moved up to the girl placing the items on the table.

"Get up and eat" her clear voice had instantly awakened his eyes that opened up fully. His body still lying on the couch, and his baffled eyes had lowered their view from Jandi to the mug that was placed on the table right in front of him. The smoke coming from the round mug, just the smell was enough to have woken him up if not the sound. Next to the mug, the cut pieces of chili peppers along with ground ginger, and the smoking hot ginger tea on the side, Junpyo's baffled eyes scanned again and again before his eyes lifted back to Jandi, who placed the spoon on the table and pushed it his way.

" wh" he couldn't get a word out of his stunned lips as his eyes returned to the food in front of him. The utter shock on his face, Jandi finally noticed as she changed her focus from the food to him. With the silent stares they shared, her pessimistic mind was quick to make its own assumptions about why he was still laying down. The fact that he might not want to eat anything she touched wasn't something she had contemplated until she looked at his shocked face and his body that wasn't moving to sit right. Not even his head had moved from the pillow his head was resting on.

" Do you not want to eat it because I coo"

" On ho" her sentence wasn't even finished as he protested whatever claim she was about to make. His head lifted for the pillow he was lying on, he quickly pulled his legs down from the couch and sat up. His eyes still glued to the warm food, he now had a better look at the meal made for him. His childlike amazement at whatever was in front of him, Jandi was left confused as she watched him scan every item that was on the table.

The colorful soup topped with the green basil that was sprinkled to make it look as enticing as it looked. The slice of lemon that was placed on the side of the mug, his eyes were getting their own test of the most beautiful soup he had ever been served

" It's just boiling vegetables" Jandi standing up from the floor she was sitting on broke the silence.

" Using that kitchen," Junpyo asked pointing behind him.

" Do you have another one ?" she asked as she started her walk back to the files she was organizing before she couldn't ignore his dying coughs that had turned scary enough for her to not do something about. The medicine she wanted to shove down his throat to silence him, she knew he needed something before she took anything. The evidence she had gotten from him, it was a favor for favor as she decided to get him something to eat. How getting him something to eat turned to making soup and tea, God knows.

" You made this there?" Junpyo, looking at the girl walking, asked.

"There was nothing else in your house" she responded without looking back. She was right. There was nothing in the house that would be good for a sick person. It was all snacks or a fridge filled with uncooked vegetables and fruits. the desk she got to, she sat down and was back at organizing the files as she looked at Jun Pyo who hadn't even taken a bite and was still looking at the food in front of him.

" You have to eat it before it gets cold. '' Her voice, it was as though that was the permission he needed as he moved closer to the table and picked up the spoon she had placed by the side. Her eyes from the document in her hands, shifted to him as she saw him take his first sip. Her curious eyes had stayed on him as he turned her way. He didn't say anything, he had just stared at her with the same childlike look he was looking at the food with.

" you don't have to like it"

" You need it before medication" she added, turning her eyes back to the files in her hand. He didn't say anything as he turned all his focus back to the food he started eating faster.

" If you added ginger and chili it would be good for" She couldn't help but stop as she saw his quick reaction to her suggestion. All the ginger and chili peppers were added to the soup he was eating like it was the first meal he had had after being starved for days. She wasn't sure how it tasted but looking at the way he was eating, he made it look beyond appetizing. Maybe she should have had some before she served him, she thought to herself. Her dinner she would eat when she got home, she was still on what she had for lunch. Maybe it might have been a better decision to have eaten here before she left. But then again, it would take a lot for her to eat his food. it was her logic, which was weird. For most, cooking for him would weigh more than eating his food.

While she busied herself with the files, Junpyo didn't take much time to finish the soup and was enjoying the hot tea.

" I have organized all the documents"

" the video is also done" her voice broke the silence.

" Could you get me a copy of the videos?" she asked hoping her food would be used as a leverage to get him to agree to give her what she wanted.

" sure" his response was short. He hadn't even turned her way as he gave in to her demand.

"Here" she brought his attention back to the desk that she had organized. All the documents were arranged by categories, and his pens and pencils were back in their place. The desk was as clean and organized as the cleaners that come after him do it.

" I am going to leave" Walking from the desk his way, Jandi brought his attention back to her.

" It's late already" she added as she picked up her backup that was placed behind the couch he was seated on.

" I " he didn't finish as he placed the tea cup and stood up. His right hand pulling his hoodie down he had brushed his hair away from his face as his eyes landed on her. His hands sent to his back, he didn't know what to say or even do as he watched her put her backpack on.

"Thank you" his almost gone voice, both his hands behind his back, he looked a tiny bit polite for once as Jandi didn't respond to acknowledge or dismiss his gratitude. Maybe it was his sickness and weak body that made him look courteous. Either way doesn't matter.

" The copy of the videos" As she started walking she asked. She wasn't sure why he was following her as she started her walk to the doors of the study room. Maybe he is following her to give her direction. This part of the house wasn't something she was familiar with. Maybe he was following her to make sure she didn't do or take anything, she made that assumption as well.

" I know" he responded as he followed behind. The two steps of a gap he left between them was intentional. Does he just say Bye? Does he walk her to the door? He has to, right? But it would feel weird if he did. Or would it be weirder if he didn't?" his fidgeting fingers were all his confusion was sent to He knew she didn't like spending even a minute with him so maybe she wouldn't want him to walk her but she wouldn't know where to go.

"Go straight " he found a reason to walk her out as she didn't know how to get from the study room to the living room. The long hallway, Jandi had finally taken the time to notice the paintings and art pieces across the long hallway. It was a very long hallway it felt like it was even getting longer with every step she took.

" left" he commended and she followed. The room she entered, the grand piano at the edge, was the only thing she had time to look at as they left the room in seconds.

"Right," She turned right to walk into the back of the living room which she knew. During the quiet walk across the living room, she noticed the flowers across the room as her question about who even bought the fresh vegetables that were in the fridge was now a point of curiosity. Maybe the people that clean after him. He probably had people that came in and stuck his friends and pantry even though one of the pans and stuff she used looked like they had ever been used. Do they just throw out everything and restock? What a waste. She was lost in her own thoughts as she got to the elevator and pressed for the door that opened up.

The steps she took to enter, he had stopped a few steps away from the elevator. His hand in his pocket, she was finally facing him as she stood in the glass box that was asking for the password. Her right hand typed the words she remembered while her eyes stayed on him. His messy hair cuddling his face on both sides, he really did look sick.

"Medication and sleep" she had suggested but it was taken as a command as he just shook his head to accept. The few seconds of silent stars they shared while her sharp eyes focused on him, Junpyo was sure he could read not just the room but also her thoughts. Maybe he was seriously sick and was imagining things.

" I know" his almost gone raspy voice reached her ears.

" You still hate me," he added with a small smile. She didn't respond or react to what was said or his smile. Her blank stare was her response and her goodbye as the glass door closed. His eyes had stayed on her as the elevator went down and until she was out of his view. The elevator that was taking her to the first floor. Jandi was busy calculating how long it would take her to get home as she stepped out into the lobby and quickened her steps.

" Miss" one of the security guards grabbed her attention as he gave her a big smile while pointing at the side exit and the car waiting right outside the door in the parking lot. It was the same car as last time.

" Hope you have a wonderful night" The security men, both of them, gave her a smile as Jandi just stood there. It was the same driver and the same car waiting for her. She really was in no way to turn down a free ride. She had cooked for it and tried reasoning with herself as she changed her quick steps to the side door. That was the fastest way to get home and share all the evidence she has.

"Good night" She gave them a small bow which they returned with big smiles.

While she was on her way to the other side of town, Junpyo had headed to the kitchen where everything she used was cleaned and put away as there was no trace of anything except the smell of the delicious dinner that was made for him, which was a first in this place. His hands that opened the fridge found the tupperware that had the leftover soup she had placed a sticky note on that said.

Eat me.

His eyes fixated on the two words, his adorable smile had gotten bigger with every second he spent looking at the two words. His phone he brought from the study room, he had taken a picture of the leftover soup in the glass tupperware along with the sticky note on it. The mug, cup, and plates he had brought from the study room, he had placed them in the dishwasher he had opened for the first time. He didn't have to run it. The people who would come in the daytime, always after he leaves, would be the ones to do so as he headed to his bedroom. His day clothes changed to one of the thick pajama sweaters and sweatpants, he had decided to take a minute-long shower, which he knew was not a great choice. But with the sweat from the hot soup and tea, it was better to take a minute-long shower than deal with wiping his body. The medication he would need to survive whatever type of cold he had gotten was taken with some of the water he placed by his nightstand. The light and window closed, and the room temp and humidity were set to the perfect level as he pulled the blanket from the neatly made bed.

Finally, he had given his body what it had been begging him for as his body was placed in the warm and soft blanket that covered his massive bed. His cough he silenced with his pillow, all the pain and soreness were for a second forgotten about as his body rested on the heavenly mattress of his bed. To set the mood back to the silence he enjoyed a few hours ago, he had commanded the sound system to start playing the soft rain sound that would take him away to the unconscious world where everything that had happened during the day could be a lovely dream or a nightmare.