The hotel floor plan and escape routes she was given to study should have been the only tabs on her computer, but the flier she had pinned to her wall had occupied her mind since she received it. Jihoo's family history and the page filled with his interviews were the tabs she kept reverting back to from what she was supposed to be studying. Laying on her bed, her right hand was busy clicking back and forth between the two topics, one she should focus on Vs. the one that had all her attention.
His victory interview at the national debate competition she had played quite a few times, she was surprised by how he sounded different when compared to the smiling school president she knew. The tone of his voice was different when answering questions about the political future the journalists were asking him about. Trained how to give a politically correct answer ever since he was in first grade, she couldn't help but admire his ability to charm the interviewers to not even pose serious questions. He was going to make a great politician. His grandfather, who had arranged the marriage between his parents, was ever so careful to pick the right woman to be married into the family. The careful selection has led to phenomenal children, one in particular who the grandfather couldn't wait to see take over the blue house.
"Are we good for tomorrow?" opening her door without even a simple knock, Ctrl walked in. The computer she flipped shut was sent to the desk by her side. Ignoring that, he started walking to her bed.
" We are," she whispered, giving him a smile. The blanket she started adjusting, he came to help, or so she thought.
" Did he send you to check on me?"
" Who? Bom? No" Jumping on her bed, he started adjusting himself on top of the blanket.
" I know you are mad about that school, but this could be it" pulling her blanket from underneath him; she was busy pushing and pulling.
" I have a feeling about this" he added
" I just want us to be done so I don't have to go to that school anymore. '' Her gentle pull is not doing the work. She put some energy behind her arms pulling the blanket.
" Are you going to tell us about the boy you beat?" pushing the blanket her way, he asked.
" His family is very dangerous, you know" he sent his squinting eyes her way. Her pulling arms coming to rest, she buried herself in the warm blanket.
"We didn't leave any evidence so we are safe but if they figure it out, we are done with"
" Did he bother you?" he asked, trying to use his friendly smile to get a response but it didn't help.
" If we just finish tomorrow and be done with it, then I don't have any reason to see him ever again" burying herself in the blanket she tucked herself in.
" You really hate that school don't you?" He didn't need an answer to his question. Since the first day, she wore that uniform, she has never been shy about how much she hated that school. Boxed in the house, the school he has never been to, Ctrl could only imagine what it would feel like to be in the same school as the one that had caused her so much pain. Considering all she has done, Ctrl was sad to have been the one to tell her one bad news after another. For once he was excited to share some good news as he didn't even wait until she had changed her uniform. The video files he had saved from when they hacked the security video system looking for Woobin's bullying evidence, he had done an excellent job of going through it all to find interesting files. Some videos from last Friday were deleted but the file markers were still in the storage. The specific time of the deleted videos being where his suspicion started, he had created a timeline and the location of the deleted videos. Whatever happened last Friday could be the last clue they will ever get before she graduates out of that school and is done. That was it.
Whatever they find tomorrow is it. That is the end of all the work they poured into the school.
While her pessimism about all of it was used to diminish his theories, Ctrl spent the evening figuring out why his intuition was keeping him awake about these videos. The school documents and the computer he had access to, he spent the night going through it all to find nothing about Last Friday, which only fueled his curiosity. He can't wait until tomorrow.
" Okay, now I can see," the voice in her ear whispered as she adjusted the glasses she pulled from her pocket and put on. Her bangs she started brushing back down were used to somewhat cover the glasses she had on. Wearing reading glasses wasn't weird enough for anybody to be suspicious of her. The earpiece in her right ear was adjusted to be hidden by her hair.
" You need a haircut" he commented, getting a smile out of her. The man responsible for her badly chopped hair was him. The dare she had lost, and his confidence in being able to cut bangs is what led to the mess she had to walk with. Lucky for him, she didn't care much about her hair. The only time she does was when she is out in a mission and she had wigs for that.
" I want to shave it off, '' she whispered as she headed out the bathroom to join the hallway. She knew her words would get a reaction out of him.
"Why, Why would you do that?"
"I mean you would look fierce with short hair but why?" he went on.
" I actually want to see you with long hair. Like flowing long hair"
" long hair and one of those spring dresses. You would look so cute" His fantasies were beyond wild but she enjoyed them. Her defense mechanism was seeing life as the dark hell hole she lived in, while his is seeing it as a glassful of optimism and joy. The way he romanticized every aspect of life was how he could survive the world around him.
" me with long hair, white dress, dancing on the meadow" she had to interject. The left turn she made had landed her on the main hallway of the 4th-floor building that housed the security camera storage room.
" Maybe in another life" he forced a smile on her face which none of the students walking beside her noticed. A couple of her hair strands covering the view he was used to, he kept assessing the great hallway and campus he will miss looking at. This might be his last time looking at these millionaires too. The eight screens on his wall, he assigned the biggest in the middle for the video that was live streaming from the grand hallway of the school he wished he could step in at least once.
" It's like you don't exist," smiling ear to ear, he added. It was interesting to see how nobody has even bothered to glance her way even by mistake, let alone say Hi. He wasn't that surprised, though, her goal was to stay as invisible as possible, and the always perfect Jandi had delivered on what was expected from her.
"Miss INVISIBLE '' he started laughing as Jandi moved the candy in her mouth from one side to the other, and tried to hide her smile. Even though she might not say it out loud, she was a bit happy with her ability to stay under the radar for years. She will leave this school as invisible as she began.
" Did you find out what they had that day?" he asked as he pulled his coffee to his lips and sat back.
" I checked the records but couldn't find anything odd about last Friday, I will check on my lunch break" she reminded him of the time. This was morning recess. The half an hour break students had was enough time she needed to break back into the security video storage room. The second hard drive he wanted to check, he had guaranteed her he only needed 10 minutes tops, so this break was the perfect one for a quick task.
" I doubt it's anything significant" she repeated her pessimism about it all.
" Somebody probably attacked somebody or something" she added the reason most videos mysteriously disappeared from their storage. It was a common thing.
"Wait a minute" Putting the coffee in his hand, he interrupted. He leaned closer to the screen as he made out the two men walking in the hallway from the other side. The lack of uniform would have made them stick out from the rest, if not for the small bow they were getting from every other student. But what drew Ctrl's attention was just their presence as he quickly started going through his memory to find out why they seemed familiar.
" So this is them?" he asked as he sat back and brought his coffee to his lips.
" The F4" he added, forcing her eyes to look through the crowd and notice Junpyo and Yijeong walking her way from the other side.
" are they going to hand it over to new little devils when they graduate or rule from the university?" The kind one out of all, Ctrl was the only one who had a tiny bit of mercy for the current members of the F4 who had taken over the evilest ones that were before them. Those are the ones he was saving his pure hatred for.
" Who cares" She wished she could turn away and change direction but she couldn't. The people she wanted to avoid at all cost, her worry was all about not wanting to see them and not that Junpyo could give Ctrl the hint he needed to ask more questions about what was going on with her at that school.
" You really hate them" Even he couldn't help but smile as he waited to get a good look at the two boys coming into clear view. The coffee he was sipping paused as his eyes were immediately forced to focus as he caught his full face as Junpyo's right hand rose up and brushed his hair back. His well-moisturized skin, sharp jawline, and cheekbones, the two beautify marks right under his right eye, the three piercings on his right ear . . .the man had slowly zoomed his camera view to assess the boy he had seen before. The boy he had seen a few times when Bom
was stalking his older sister, never looking like this. He used to look like a little boy but no more.
" He looks so different from the pictures" he whispered, reminding her the pictures he was talking about were from when they were talking about the Shinwa siblings hours before they beat down Woo Bin.
" He looks way better in person. '' He couldn't help it, his eyes were focused on the boys that looked like catalog models. The black turtle neck topped with the cozy-looking dark green sweater; his black jeans matched his coach loafers: even Ctrl would buy the cloth Junpyo would promote if he ever became a commercial model. Ctrl was in agreement with everybody else that anything would look good on this boy. The two stylists that were tasked with keeping Junpyo's closet with clothes that fit his style, Junpyo by default could never be seen wearing just anything. Every item in the closet was hand-picked to fit not just his style but the season, what's in trend, and the status he needs to present everywhere he were the one responsible in making sure he looked good no matter the occasion
Forget his clothes, his luscious hair he keeps brushing was straight out of a commercial for some fancy shampoo. Two years she had wasted in this school and over a dozen times he had accompanied her through the screen, he had never seen this boy before. He had never seen somebody so commonly dressed but luxurious looking before either. He wouldn't be able to describe it but even the boy's walking was not typical. How does one walk so glamorously like this? Some people are just born like that, they don't even have to try, Ctrl concluded. Everything they do just looks exquisite. I guess when you don't have to worry about anything and have everything, the way you walk on earth is different.
"Wait " after he finished admiring, he sat up as he made out Junpyo's eyes looking straight ahead was, in fact, coming for him.
" oh god" he whispered and leaned in closer to the monitor right when Junpyo's eyes landed on her eyes hidden behind the glasses she had on. Ctrl had assumed Junpyo was just looking at her as a passer by, but was lost for a second to question why the boy's eyes stayed on her for longer than a second. His fingers clicking to zoom in on the video, Ctrl sat back taking in every inch of the dark eyes and irresistible face looking straight at him. His zeroed-in focus as he kept sipping his coffee was disturbed the moment he recognized that Junpyo was really looking at her. Not just looking at her but LOOKING at her.
" Is he watching you?" placing his cup down, he sat up. Forcing Jandi to look up, adjusting her glasses which gave him an even better view.
"He is looking at you" almost jumping from his seat, Ctrl exclaimed as her eyes finally caught the ones that never missed noticing her in these great hallways.
"HE IS LOOKING AT YOU," he repeated again as he made out Junpyo's eyes that were focused solely on her. It wasn't their focus that had startled Ctrl but the way the boy was looking at her.
" Huh" ctrl breathed as Junpyos's dark eyes had done their job, past the screen. His hypnotizing eyes, which stayed on Jandi, were as enchanting as ever as the man zoomed in and Jun pyo's face filled his big screen.
How genetically lucky do you have to be to look this handsome?
" it's nothing" holding her left hand up to pretend like she was brushing her lips, she responded.
"NO NO " the Ctrl replied
" This is not nothing"
" omg '' Ctrl almost threw up the coffee he sipped when he made out hao Jun Pyo's enthralling eyes and started scanning her up and down. There needs to be a better term than checking her out, because what Junpyo just did was different.
" Huh" Ctrl took a deep breath, holding his heart and calming himself down. If Junpyo's eyes could do this to him through a screen, he could only wonder what they can do to someone in person. But that thought was shut down in seconds as he remembered what a stone-cold robot Jandi was to be startled by something like this. Nothing that surprises or scares him has ever even fazed her. He could imagine how unaffected she probably was by the enchanting eyes that were clearly intrigued by her. Every second of the day, she was in total control of her emotions and that is if she ever felt them. He could imagine how not bothered she was by the boy who had kept his eyes on her since he made her out of the crowd.
" Does he know you?" he asked as he went on taking screenshots. He needs proof for the non-believers that are gonna question everything when he tells the story later on. She shook her head to protest.
" am an escort so guess?" she gave him the only answer she thought he would need to know why these rich assholes would be intrigued by her presence. The long monologue of Woobin he remembers, Ctrl was reminded how these students really think she did all the things Woobin claimed on that stage. That perfectly explained why Junpyo would be looking at her.
" he hasn't lifted his eyes away from you for a second '' Ctrl knew he should buy her reasoning but his intuition wasn't accepting it. Maybe it was the soft song on the radio playing behind him, added to the beautiful view of the zoomed-in face. Maybe his own habit of fantasizing about things but his intuition was convincing him there was something hidden behind the fixed gaze of Junpyo, that had captured him.
"His whole attention is on you" Ctrl leaning even closer to the screen went on smiling ear to ear as he finally got a crystle clear view of Junpyowho who was steps away from her.
" Huh" he took a deep breath and sat back as the two girls in front of her walked away and she was face to face with the two walking her way. The words he wanted to whisper were silenced as he caught the stare down between the two. The coffee mug brought to their lips was paused mid-air as his whole being was forced to take in what was happening right in front of his eyes.
" What is going on?" he whispered for himself. The girl who communicates through her eyes, he could only imagine what she was saying to the boy she had forced to focus on her, and only her.
As though it was a competition she had forced her eyes to stay on Jun Pyo, which the latter had accepted. The girl who never looked his way for more than a second was staring right back at him, of course he would notice and accept her challenge. The boldness she always hides was all over her face as Junpyo caught the annoying way she was staring right back at him. There were certain emotions she only displayed when she looked at him. Yesterday was anger and pure hatred, today was annoyance. He found it interesting. How somebody who doesn't know him at all could hate him this much. Somebody who wasn't even supposed to be in the same building as him, did not even dare look at him. Somebody whose tuition his family was paying for, why somebody like that would dare do this was interesting.
" huhh" The man glued to the screen and swallowed his own words as even his body reacted to Min's little smirk. Not even giving him a second to process the smirk, Junpyo started biting his lower lip as his examining eyes softened their scrutinizing focus on the girl in front of him. Considering himself as her older brother, Ctrl had no idea of what to make of the way this boy was looking at the little girl he had helped raise. Thankfully it was him and not Bom. Her beloved hyong would never ever accept this nonsense.
" Ohh" , almost dropping his mug, he tried to silence all the involuntary noises coming from his mouth with his right hand as everything went in slow motion as the two passed paths. Ignoring Yijoeng in between them, the fraction of a second long look the two exchanged was something. But what forced the involuntary reaction from the man was the teasing way Junpyo had bit his lower lip while his daring eyes lowered their curiosity to her lips and then back to her though it was an automatic reaction to what he just did, she immediately sent her eyes down to the floor as the two boys walked passed her. While what happened would be whipped away from her memory in seconds as something insignificant, the man in her ear needed a minute or two to take in what just happened as she fastened her steps to where she was supposed to be headed to.
" What is going on?" He interrupted her before she even began to explain what just happened.
" He is the leader , remember"
" He is the one who told them I was an escort and all. He has a weird way of looking at people"
" He has a girlfriend and 1000 other side chicks, '' she added, knowing Ctrl will go there. He always does.
" He is the main devil on this campus. if you knew what he does . . huh" a small smile escaped her lips as she recalled all the reasons she hated his guts.
"Maybe he knows something," Ctrl concluded, forcing her to contemplate the possibility that maybe she should fill them in on the fact that he knows it was her on the bike and the one who beat his friend.
"Ughhh" she shook her body in disgust as the little smirk he sent her way was replayed. The whole scene along with the tingly feeling it brought needed to be buried away immediately and before she even knew it, her mind that is set on defense mode, buried it deep down.
" If you are known for sleeping around, then he could just be curious. '' The man behind the screen quickly searching for Junpyo 's identity went on as he tried to make sense of what he witnessed. Even though he didn't fully buy it, the boy could just be curious. These spoiled kids would pay hundreds of thousands for a night with a weird person like her, just for bragging. He doesn't know much about people, but rich people did have weird interests. He didn't have to go to this school to know about their bragging habits, but considering what happened over the weekend, he was sure these people could just be curious about her identity just for the sake of pure entertainment and nothing else. That was the only thing left to explain why Junpyo would be looking at her the way he did.
" I would rather be skinned alive.' Eun shook the foreign feeling out of her body again as she brought her right hand to open her locker and look for her small stationary box. She needs her gloves and some backup tools before starting her task. She had better things to get down to than to worry about that asshole, and that was what they focused on. As he promised, their whole project was done in under 15 minutes. He had taken all the files he could, from thursday to saturday morning for every camera in the school. His whole day he would spend on going through it all, he was the only one excited about it as she left the security system room and joined the 4th floor hallway. Her gloves took off quickly, she quickened her steps to the vending machine. She needs something to drink before her next class.
" Bom said to remind you they will be coming in Thursday to clear everything" Leaving the videos that were being downloaded to take their time he reminded her of the team that was coming on to take away all the tools they had buried around the school. That was it. She was going to be officially done with the school on Thursday. All the hidden boxes across the school, all the things they had broken into, everything is going to get cleared out on Thursday. That was the day they will make her records on the school squeaky clean with no links to her true self. That was how they disappeared like ghosts.
"Huh" she sighed, focusing all her anger at the vending machine that had taken her money but wasn't giving her the drink.
" god," she banged the machine with her right hand but it was no use. Bending down she tried putting her hand through the glass to see if she could reach any of them.
" Why does this always happen?" she kept on tapping.
" Get your money back and try another one" was Ctrl's solution.
" oh" she pulled her arm back as she heard a loud bang and her tonic water fell down reaching her hand. Her eyes from the drink, lifted up to the tall body that came out of nowhere and was standing next to her. His shoulder used to tab the glass frame was slowly pulled away from the machine as he kept his eyes on the kneeling girl.
" oh my '' Ctrl could thank the fact that she hadn't taken her glasses off for being blessed with yet another beautiful sight. It wasn't just him that needed a second to take in the view of the boy standing by her. Her body frightened by the loud bang was in more shock as she glanced up to find the boy whose family she had been studying, whose photos and interviews she had spent hours on standing right there. He literally came out of nowhere and appeared without giving her even a second to prepare to see him let alone talk to him.
"Hey," Jihoo's smile scared both for very different reasons. Her eyes ordered to divert their gaze came down to the drink she started pulling out before she started standing up. The cold bottle was a perfect tool for her hands to channel her anxiety which was starting to itch at her skin. Her body fighting itself to regulate back to its clam state commanded she creates a separation between their bodies and stook took a step away from him before she brought her eyes back to him.
" are you okay?" his question wasn't where ctrl focused on but Jihoo's right hand that rose and reached for her arm. It was a natural reaction. The frightened look on her face that appeared before she whipped it all the way, he had caught it. Wanting to ease her fear was an instant reaction. Maybe the loud noise was surprising. Her shoulder slowly leaned back and moved away from his hand, he was easily reminded of how she doesn't like being touched.
" I am fine" her anxious hands were thankfully the drink was as cold as it was. It helps cool her anxiety down.
" Nice glasses' ' His hand that had failed to reach her was shifted to point at her glasses before he sent it back into his pocket. His tender eyes were in complete opposition to the dark ones that were examining her in the hallway, ctrl noted. There were no hidden messages or undiscovered curiosity, Jihoo's eyes were honest about their worry about the girl in front of him, waiting for him to say all he had to say and end this conversation. Something was off.
" So did you decide?" he asked giving Ctrl the clue he didn't need. It was very obvious these two know each other. This didn't seem like a first interaction. His brain unable to function because of what he was witnessing, Ctrl sat in silence. He needs to let this play out and save all his questions for later. What has been going on at that school? That was all he could ask as he spent some time just being enamored by the handsome boy and his warm smiles being sent right to him. Before he had any cognitive ability to even make out the student president pin on Jihoo's uniform suit and realize the gravity of what was happening in front of him, he had taken in the kind eyes of Ji Hoo to the fantasies he loved to imagine.
" No" , the shocked state she was working to calm down, that was the best response she came up with. She needs to block all his questions with simple answers so this conversation could end as quickly as possible.
" it really isn't that bad"
" You get allowance by the way" he added the benefits he hadn't considered even mentioning last time. For a student like her, mentioning that she will get paid might make it more appealing than he had thought.
" You will get free access to all events and school trips" he went on adding, mistaking her eyes that lifted for an interest in what he was saying.
" There is an island trip coming up for seniors, you would get free access to that"
" You organize events?" she asked. Her body regulated back down to its regular state, and she was quick to shift her sharp mind to why she was there. She needs to find out what happened last friday.
" Yes, we organize all student events" The change in his gaze was only noticed by ctrl.
"School-wide events too?" she asked as her hands separated and her right hand holding the bottle sent to her side.
" depends, but I sit on the school board so" how happy he was about the interest she was showing about what he does, even Jihoo wasn't aware of it.
" Huh," she sighed, finding the only reason that might convince her to join the school council. The access Jihoo had to the school board documents. If she was to find out what happened last Friday, she needs to have access to his files and documents. She could just flat-out ask him what happened last Friday, but that would be too suspicious. If she had to join whatever it was he was asking her to join so she could get an answer, would that be too bad?
" They give me too much power" He brought her attention back to him.
"You have more power than you know," the moment she said it out loud she was surprised by her inside thought that was just whispered out. Her filter that was always on was lifted for a second , providing Jihoo a tiny peak at her true thoughts. The comfort he provided her whenever she was around him was now leading to her filters to even start fading.
" Do I?" His question accompanied by a smile was challenging her to keep it light-hearted which she chose not to.
" Who does your father do?" she asked, watching as the smile on his face faded away.
" I am not my father" His words were as clear as they get as even his voice had changed when he responded to her question. The serious look in his eyes had gotten all her attention as she recognized the change. Unable to understand what he meant or why he would react to such a simple question this way, she stood confused on whether she even should say anything else.
" class is about to start" His eyes lowered to the floor he broke the silence.
" I'll see you later" he added, keeping his eyes away and heading away from the corner they were standing by. Totally bewildered by the whole interaction, she kept her eyes on Jihoo walking away until he disappeared out of her sight. What just happened to him? She was trying to answer that question when Ctrl S voice whispered in her ear.
" I am not even going to say anything" Ctrl spoke, reminding her that he had just witnessed what happened.
" This is not
" We will talk when you get home" he interrupted her
' He is not
" We will talk at home," he interrupted, silencing her. Her quick steps to her locker only took minutes. Exchanging their goodbyes the glass along with the earpieces were placed back into her locker before she headed to her next class.
Two classes, Literature, and computer science were wasted in complete silence as she spent the whole time thinking about the pros and cons of joining the student council she had up on her laptop screen. She needs to find out what happened last Friday. That was the only reason she needed to convince herself to join the school council or at least show interest. That was it and not the boy that had been causing her tiny mental dilemas. His kind gestures that have saved her quite a few times, the blood covered body he helped her carry, the fact that he was ready to file a police report, the way he came to her defense in front of his friends...none of them were the reason. Not even his disarming smiles or the nice walk across the garden. Or the way he seems to make her feel safe without even doing anything when he is around. She wasn't conscious of what was happening to get to that one. She was only doing it because she had to find out about last Friday. That's what she convinced herself as she finished her lunch and headed to the student council office on the fifth floor.
The golden sign on the wall, her eyes zoomed in on the big sign. The door she assumed would lead to a conference room or an office had opened up to a parliament-like big empty room. This was where the council sits for meetings, she took a few steps in glancing at the whole room. Her eyes coming back to the front, landed on the student president's seat. She could easily imagine him, sitting on this chair and leading their meetings. Her slow steps across the wooden floor were silent as she sent her hand to the wooden semi-circular tables where council members would sit. If she was a regular student, if she was provided another life to be just a normal person, would she participate in school activities? She questioned as she led her thoughts disappeared into what ifs.
Maybe she would have joined the book club like he suggested or even the drama club so she could just read all the plays and help from behind the scenes. She could easily be in the student council too, but she was lost in her thoughts to notice the steps she took that had landed her by his chair. Her right hand extended, started softly brushing against the student president's plank. His name engraved underneath the student president, her fingers traced as she whispered his name. The gavel that sat by the mic lowered down, she was surprised by how official everything looked. The school really had all the money in the world to make these kids feel like they are real council members. She could only imagine what it feels like to sit on this chair and lead these meetings. This was just a practice for the children who were going to become insanely powerful and make decisions that will impact 90 % of the population. This was their playground before they were handed real-world power. For the name she was whispering, this was his first run at being the most important one as he practices for when he will become the most powerful man in the country.
" I rarely use it. '' The voice she heard from her back forced her hand to drop the gavel she picked and turn around to the door she had walked in. Her hand retrieved back to her side, she took the little jump down from the stage his chair was on.
" It feels weird to" he started his walk her way. He had spent enough time standing by the door just looking at her examining his desk. Her fingers tracing his name, and his desk, he had caught it all.
" I was expecting you in my office"
" This is just for meetings" The steps she was taking to meet him halfway were halted a few steps away from the table he chose to stand against.
" It looks very official" was all she could say as she hoped he just got here and didn't see her examining his chair.
" We have a meeting later, if you want to see how official it is" his smiles were back as his eyes caught her hands she sent to her back. She does that when she is either surprised or anxious, he couldn't pick on. Her fidgeting fingers that start playing with each other, he had caught that too.
" Did you decide?" he asked as he crossed his arms and leaned against the table he was standing by. He needs to focus on the main reason he has decided to eat lunch in his office. He had stayed there waiting for over an hour.
" What will I be doing if I join?" she asked, noticing the small smile on his face. That was the hint he needed to know he had a chance to convince her. He only needed that much to sell it.
" Depends on what you want to do or don't want to do"
" I don't want to speak or present things"
" Can I ask why?" his arms opened up, and he started walking her way.
" Why what?'
" Why you don't speak" he walked past her and headed to his desk. He needs to grab the files he had come to get before he was distracted by her presence. He also needs some time to process that though that crossed his mind when she asked him what she would be doing. Her position was at his mercy to be tasked with whatever he wanted her to do.
" What will I be doing?"
"You don't like answering questions about yourself, do you?"
" Why do you keep asking?" she leaned forward to see where he had picked the documents in his hands. The computer he placed back down was her first target. She needs access to the computer and everything on it once she joins this council.
" because I want to know you," his eyes landing back on her he gave her the clue that should have been the red flag for what she was getting herself into. Keeping her identity hidden was her mission. Not letting people know her was her only job.
" Since we will be working together and all" he added as made out the confusion and her guard she was raising.
" You will be working underneath me"He wanted to see her reaction. That was the only reason he lied. She was supposed to be working with the whole office but he was curious about what she would think of being with him.
" You will spend a lot of time working with me" he added not knowing he was making the choice easier for her. There was no response or question. She just stood there in silence, letting that be her answer.
" come by my office after last class" he started walking her way and handed her the card he pulled from the file he was holding. His office address was here, his finger pointed.
" I will have everything ready for you," he added, giving her a smile. His folder tightly held he started his quick steps to the door.
" Welcome to the team" he shouted from the door.
Just like she was asked, she headed to his office on the 6th floor after placing all her items in her locker. The beautiful office of his with the grand view of the school, she was focused on that for the first few minutes. While she stood by the window, admiring the view. One of the secretaries had completed all the things she was supposed to have Jandi fill out. All documents were filled, and she was given a quick tour of the offices before they returned back to Jihoo's office. The computers and systems she wanted access to, she was told, will take some days. Her email and accounts were set up though as she was even handed a new macbook laptop with all the documents she will need to familiarize herself with. The two secretaries, Jandi and Jihoo, who joined them an hour and half after they started her orientation, spent another hour going through everything.
Around 6:30 pm was when she walked out of the office and headed to the locker. The empty hallway was what forced her to notice the amount of time she spent there as most students had left and were enjoying their the field and laptop were in her backpack and she headed to the main driveway. All her energy on the quick orientation she received, the elevator ride down from the fourth floor, the long walk across the lobby, her steps out the empty building to the driveway, Jandi was busy trying to remember all the important information they had thrown her way. Her eyes focused on the sidewalk she would take the long walk to the gate. She hadn't even noticed some of the students in the garden or the car standing by the driveway she was walking away from. Thankfully she could blame her phone that vibrated and took all her attention.
Thank you for joining - the text she received form Jihoo had all her attention as she walked across the driveway.
" You don't listen do you?" her eyes from the phone screen they were locked on turned to the direction of the voice she was able to recognize this time. The smile on her face along with the glow were wiped away when her eyes landed on the tall figure leaning against his car. His crossed arms and the cool stance he had standing against his car, were ignored as she focused on the new item added to his outfit. The dark glasses were the perfect addition to his outfit. He looked different with the shades covering his eyes she hated the most. For a second she had wished he could just have dark glasses on every time so she doesn't have to see them. Now why does she have to run into him and ruin her day. She had a great morning completing her task. She joined the student council to find out what happened last friday. She was on track and had a successful day which was immensely ruined by just the sight of the one in front of her.
"Is Jihoo next?" he asked, shifting his eyes to the folder in her hand. The big student council mark on it was the only thing he needed to know she really had gone when he told her not to.
" hasn't he been helping you?"he added, giving her the time she needed to figure out why he was doing this. The information he had about her was enough to force her to stop and listen to what he had to say. He had a big advantage over her and even if he didn't she would be giving him the attention he requested. He was too big of a deal not to. His intentions she couldn't figure out, she was willing to take every opportunity provided to figure out what he wants. He hasn't done anything or told anyone about his friend she had beaten. That was the biggest red flag eating her about what this one wants. Why was he keeping that to himself? Unless he has something planned for her, why keep it a secret and not use it against somebody who hurt his friend?
Her eyes quickly shifted to his arms he uncrossed. His legs she saw moving; she expected them to come her way but no.
" Get in the car," he ordered, giving her heart a reason to jump a pulse. Not even shifting his eyes back to her he started his walk across the car to the driver's side.
What did he just say? Focused on processing what he had just said, she stood still unable to accept what she had heard. Was he going to attack her for what she did? Was this it? Her eyes focused on the man who got into the driver's seat; while she stood there in the empty driveway. The weapons she doesn't have in her backpack, she was reminded of the only thing she had with her, the knife on her thigh. That was all she had if today became it and she had to fight for her life. Her phone she had decided to just charge at home was at 35% but could be beyond useful. She might need to dial the number and have Ctrl trace her if anything goes down. At least that way they might be able to recover her body even if they couldn't save her from what this boy might be planning to do.
" I hope you are not waiting for me to open the door for you" His raspy voice pulled her back to what was happening in front of her and the choice she had to make. The window he had lowered to make sure she heard what he said, she zoomed her eyes on his face. Quickly regretting his covered eyes that might have given her the clue she needed to know what he was plotting. She didn't have a choice to say no. There were a lot of reasons holding her back from saying no, one being her curiosity about what was happening. Her anxiety lurking in was masked by her fake bravado. As the engine of the car started so did her slow steps to the car. Hidden behind all the questions eating at her and her anxious nerves getting ready to kill anything, she reassured herself that it might not be the worst way to go considering she had lost her purpose to live anyway. Taking the son of the biggest corporation might be the best way to go.
" Jihoo is the gentleman one, '' he added with a smirk. He knew she wasn't waiting for him to open the door for her, she didn't seem like the type. Even if she was, he wouldn't have done so. He doesn't even do that for his mother, let alone some random girl. That was the type of flattery Jihoo extended to girls.
The door she slowly opened was followed by her backpack she pulled off her back and landed on her lap as she slowly got into the car. Her ready to fight mode activated, she had been slow as she landed her body against the leather seat and closed the door. The first thing she took note of was the fancy smell of the car. That was what she noticed before the comfortable feel of the seat she adjusted herself on. Her backpack placed on her lap was used to cover her right arm, which was ordered to be on stand by right against her thigh holding the knife. Her fingers she stretched and prepared were ready to pull and, in seconds, be ready to draw blood. She got her weapon. Next to do is assess her environment to find if he had any. The only thing she saw around her was the cigarette packet, the half drunk lemonade and his phone by the cup holder that separated their seats. Maybe he has something in the glove compartment or in the back, she knew to always assume the worst.
15 minutes to destination - the GPS automatically set form his phone whispered as Jandi was fighting not to turn his way but was forced to as she noticed any sign of movement. His arms extending to the steering wheel got her attention as the car started its slow movement out of the driveway. His tight grip of the steering wheel wasn't where she focused by the watch he had on and the ring on his fingers. The pieces of jewelry were quickly forgotten about as her eyes shifted to his left arm that was sent to his hair. Her head that tilted his way, her eyes got the perfect opportunity to make out his neck that was left open as always. That was her target. If he does nothing, the knife she had never found a reason to use was going to land against his skin. Before he made out her questioning eyes she shifted them to the rearview mirror. There was nothing but some papers and a laptop on the back seat.
Her eyes returning to the front, she decided to focus her eyes on making sure they took mental pictures of where they were heading to. The gas pedal he stepped on, it didn't take much for them to leave the camps and for the car to head straight into traffic. His driving skills she was aware of, she noticed how smoothly he was driving with just one hand. Then again, the car was as good as it gets so it makes it easier to drive so casually as he was doing so. The smooth drive trying to get her to relax, her whole being was ordered to be on stand by and not be distracted by anything. Not even the cool breeze that started brushing against her skin from the window opened by her side.
The tallest trees they were driving against, the fresh air coming in was beyond soothing for the cold afternoon that was turning to evening. The neighborhoods around campus she knew very well, she recognized every turn he made except the last one. He is heading to the fancier side of town, she had thought before she started going through all their addresses to see if he is taking her to one of their houses. This part of town she rarely visited, she had no idea what could be waiting for her as he stepped on the gas and increased their speed away from the fanciest neighborhood she knew.
The shift of the road as they started reaching the different district he was heading to, it was so easy to tell what part of town they were in. The sparkling clean wide open roads, the tree and flower cuddling pavements and sidewalks. Even the smell of the roads was different as she focused her eyes on any signs she might be able to use for a marker. There were no buildings but tall trees and an empty road. Was he taking her to a secluded place? She was wondering as she noticed where they were headed and he made the right curve. The thin road they were heading to was part of a park which he always used as a shortcut. The tall trees now becoming even more dense, her eyes were sent to the window by her side as she started taking deep breaths of the park they were driving through. Her eyes focused on the leaves dancing to the direction of the wind, she should have known the cool breath and the green trees would force her to escape her reality and fade off into wonderland. She should really just move to a forest somewhere and live out the rest of her life. She wondered as the silent car was beyond smooth with every turn and drive. The golden hour that was coming their way, she was taking in the orange rays landing on her arm. Lost in her little world, she hadn't caught his eyes that had turned her way. The road he knew by heart, he didn't need his eyes locked to the road to get them where they were headed.
Her head turned to the open window, her eyes focused on the trees and her hair flowing to the direction of the wind was ignored as he focused his attention on her tense looking body. Her fisted left hand sitting on top of her backpack, her crossed legs she had hidden by bending them to be hidden by her backpack ...how uncomfortable she was, was all over her body that wasn't even sitting against the seat. He knew she hated him but was she really this scared of him? Why would she be? The last time she had no problem galring right at him and even walking away from him.
His left hand switched to hold the gear, his right hand was sent to the radio he turned on. The Indie playlist on his phone started with the smooth sounds of the guitar of the artists he has been obsessed with for the last couple of days. The sound that started filling the space, she hadn't even recognized it. The isolation of the tall trees can provide her, if she decided to live in the forest, the peace of mind she could finally get if she was allowed to wake up and walk onto wet grass every morning. The type of sleep she could have with a window open to let in the fresh breeze of trees and the beautiful whisper of birds that could wake her up. She wasn't aware of how she was floating into dreamland. The soft song playing in the back has done its trick as by minute seven of their drive, she finnlay rested her back against the leather seat. Adjusting her body to sit facing the window. Her left hand opening its fist, Junpyo noticed every change before he returned his eyes to the empty road and the golden warm horizon ahead. The long drives he had always enjoyed, he leaned against his window taking note of how odd it felt when there was someone next to him. No words exchanged. The silent drives that give him some peace of mind and silence all the dark noises, he could only be curious about where it had disappeared to.
Oh what would she do to leave behind the concrete jungle and live in a tiny house in the middle of nowhere? A tiny cabin next to a streaming waterfall and a nice garden for all the vegetables she would grow. The nice cookouts the family could have when they come to visit her, or even having them live with her. Bom who only wanted to work with his cars, she knew he would never consider moving to no forest. All he cared about was his cars and garage. Since they have failed at what they were living for, maybe they could just disappear and leave out the rest of their lives in their own ways. He could open his garage in some small town, she could live on a farm next to a small village and make money selling vegetables. That would be the dream. Lost in that world, she hadn't noticed how the tall trees were turning into smaller ones, or the golden rays of the sun that were becoming more visible as they left the dense trees behind.
A quick drive to join the main road and one right turn and they were in the part of town she had never seen. The small stores across the road weren't even the first sign; the expensive cars they were driving past was all she needed to recognize they were around his people. The cherry trees across the road that didn't even have dust let alone any garbage, the neatly laid stones the pedestrians were walking on, the famous artist designed the decorated sign of the town above the main road, these people really lived in a different world. His car slowed down as the speed, her eyes shifted from her window to the front, to make out the signs of the store they were passing by. The big signs she expected from stores were a no no on this side of town. The names she barely could make out, the fancy signs were as simple as any design could get. The small cafes, bakeries, and restaurants was where she focused to find one she could use as a direction guide.
Her eyes focused on the name of the stores were turned to him when the car made a slow turn right to join the parking lot. Is he taking her to an open place, where there could be witnesses? She questioned as she returned her eyes to the parking lot they were driving through. The line of parked luxury cars they were passing, she focused her attention on trying to see any sign of a name. The building covered by the vines and tall trees, there was no sign she could make it. The car slowly turned left. She made a VIP Valet parking sign behind the small cherry tree and the uniformed two men standing by the desk. As they made his car, one stood up and crossed the pavement. The car slowed down when he got to them, the one who had stood up was quick as he opened Junpyo's door the moment the car stopped. Confused by what was going on, she had sat there watching him jump out the car, not even taking the car keys.
" welcome sir" she heard the boy holding the door open for Junpyo give the letter a smile.
" Here you go miss" the voice from her window brought her attention to the one that opened her door and stood with a small bow. Her confused eyes turned to Jun Pyo followed him as he walked across his car and started heading towards the stairs.
" Miss' ' the man brought her attention back as she slowly got out of the car.
" You could leave the backpack," the man with a smile added as he extended his hands to her backpack. Junpyo walking the first steps to the stairs of the building, hadn't even turned around to check on her as he went on with his steps.
" thank you" the man taking her backpack and placing it back on her seat gave her a big smile before extended her hands to direct her to the stairs Junpyo was taking.
"Thank you" she gave him a small smile and bow. That was when the two men knew she was unlike any of the people they served. Her weird outfit that wasn't decorated by any luxury item was new, her badly chopped hair and makeup-less face, her Nike sneaker, and her old backpack. That was all the clue they needed. She wasn't part of the people they worked for but her acknowledgment of their existence, the smile and the bow she gave them were the most obvious. She was one of them. Her quick steps up the stairs were to catch up with Junpyo, who walked past the door opened for him. Her quickstep past the door, she extended another bow, and thanked the man that held the door open for her. His smile had grown into a full one as the security made out what she was wearing and the hands she held as she gave him a bow. She had done a full curtsy since he was older than her. His fingers pointing at her were sent to the other security guard who was focused on her shoes. Even the servers were dressed better than her as all have turned around to look at the girl that was walking through the hallway.
" Welcome sir" The greeting he was getting was followed by a small bow her way which she returned back to all. Her eyes from the staff were sent to the cafe they entered. She finally got her answer as she started looking at the magnificent design of the cafe. Known for its open garden cafe, she hadn't even seen the best part of it as she was amazed by the grand room they were in. her eyes on the modern design chandelier hanging down, she followed Junpyo's steps to the counter.
" There is an order for woo bin?'' The name she heard was what brought her curious eyes that were being enthralled by the room to what was happening by the counter.
" yes sir"
" We have it ready" the girl behind the counter sent some signal to the one heading to the room behind her.
" We also added you regularly to that '' his hand brushing his hair back reached to the smoothie she extended his way. His tab they have charged for the order, Junpyo was getting ready to leave before he was paused.
" Would you like anything? '' the girl forced his attention to Jandi next to him. Jandi, still confused by what was happening, turned to Junpyo then back to the girl with a big smile waiting to accept her order. Was she being offered a drink he would pay for?
" Our special for the day are these drinks'' the girl slid the daily menu towards jandi. The only response she got was Jandi's shaking head. She would die before she would even drink a drop of water he paid for. The fact that she was wearing a uniform with his last name, goes to school paid by his family was enough of a burden she carries with her about how much she owes his family. There was a dollar on the price she owes them and she doesn't plan on adding even a penny to that. The goal was to eliminate it.
" Thank you for coming" the girl gave them a small bow as junpyo started their walk back the direction they came from and jandi followed behind. Her eyes that returned to the paintings across the room were again pulled away to jun pyo who walked past her and headed to the counter. The bottle he picked up was raised to the girl behind the counter.
" I got it. '' The girl gave him a smile as she started tapping the cash register and adding the item to the bill she was processing. The home-made juice bottle was thrown to Jandi as he walked past her and continued his steps to the entrance they came in. The cold bottle that landed against her chest was held by her hands before it flew down.
"Enjoy" was all she got from the staff that walked past her as she stood still processing what was going on. The bottle lowered to her side as she quickly followed him behind. She could just leave it behind in his car. That was the easiest part; the most confusing one was why on earth he just did that and what is he planning on doing after. The fact that her saying no was being ignored was what was starting to sting as she started taking note that he does what he wants with little to no consideration for her choice. Then again she was a nobody. Her place, she was quickly reminded of as she noticed how he hadn't even considered walking slowly considering he was the reason she was here. His steps leading the way, his utter disinterest in even making sure she understood what was happening and just doing what he wanted, she was quickly reminded of what he thought of her that would explain his behavior. "Jihoo is the gentleman one" she remembered his words along with how Jihoo had made sure to take slower steps to walk beside her. Made sure to accept her choices and even let her walk through the opened door first. He really was the decent one.
" Have a wonderful day," the door held open for them. Jandi gave the two security men a small bow. Her small bow was extended to the valet, who had the car ready for them with the doors open. The waiter placing the ordered items in the back seat had also given them a small bow.
" Have a wonderful day" the one who closed the door behind her gave her a small smile. Junpyo, getting into the driver seat, placed his smoothie on the cup holder. His right hand coming to her side, she was quickly alarmed as she pulled her legs to her side. His eyes from the small jump she made returned to the glove compartment he opened. His hand pushing through some of the documents pulled the new bills that were thrown in there. Her eyes from her backpack she held against her body to protect her when she noticed his arm coming her way, were sent to the compartment he opened. The money notes scattered around with the documents was a nice reminder of how money was really nothing to these people. With the few thousand notes he pulled out, he close the compartment and pulled himself back to his seat.
" Thank you, sir. Have a wonderful day" the valet parking that received the bills gave junpyo a small bow.
" Oh Miss your skirt" her attention from the money that was passed along returned to the one by her side. The man opened the door. Her eyes following him, she caught his hand that reached her skirt that was caught by the door and started pushing it towards her lap. The small trace of his fingers against her legs were ignored as nothing as she gave him a small bow and started fixing it herself.
" There you go' the man closed the door while extending a big smile her way; the interaction between the two was being closely observed by Junpyo. Her whole body reacted and jumped when he reached her direction, he had noticed how she was letting the man adjust her skirt, even his hand touching her leg with no objection. But none of that was as amusing as the smile she was getting from the man and the bow she was giving him. Thanks to her hair cuddling her face, Junpyo couldn't make out if she was smiling at the man, which he doubted. His menacingly dark eyes were finally noticed by the man with all smiles at Jandi.
" Sir" the smiles quickly disappeared and the man gave junpyo a quick bow as he started walking away. The bottle in her hand was placed down, and she adjusted her backpack and focused her eyes on the road. The car in the valet parking turned around, and all he had to do was drive away. His hand on the steering wheel, he hasn't failed to notice the small bows she got as the car started driving away. The men's attention on Jandi was misinterpreted for something else other than just being in awe of somebody like her being at their cafe.
" is it that easy to get them?" he asked as the car left the parking lot.
" You must have some talent," he added, amusing himself . She was confused by what he was insinuating and didn't care. All she wanted to know was where they were headed.
" am i the only one that doesn't see it" She didn't even care about what he was mumbling about as she focused on the road. They had picked up something ordered by woo bin so she was busy questioning if he was taking her to meet the boy who he might have told. Had he told him where they were getting ready to attack her. Is he really going to get her attacked? Why get her a drink then? Is this some masochist stuff? She was beyond confused but received her answer minutes later when they pulled into the parking lot of the fancy hospital she always heard about but had never been to. She was right. He was taking her to woobin. Her hands slowly pulling her burner phone out, she chose one of the three numbers saved on her phone. She texted 1 to Ctrl. Hoping to God he has his phone by his side, she rested her phone by her side. The car heading to the Vip parking lot was forgotten about as she tried to calculate how long it would take for them to reach her if anything happens to her here. All Ctrl would do was trace her for now. If she called again, that would be emergency-code red and all hands on deck.
The car parked on the second floor, Junpyo jumped out, followed by her. While he opened the back seat and grabbed the box the waiter had placed in his car, she put her backpack on. The bottle she left in his car wasn't even registered as he noticed her phone in her hand. His steps she followed, she was thankful he never cared even to make sure she was following behind. It gave her enough space to notice the camera across the parking lot and the number they were parked on. The elevator they heeded to, she noticed the sign above it before entering.
" Yeah" his airpod she didn't even notice on his ears, she was finally made aware of when he started talking.
" tell her I am at the hospital"
" I am not coming" the call was quick as he pressed it to end. Another proof of how he was rude to everybody. It was part of his nature. The silence in the elevator was followed by their quiet steps across the 5th floor hallway. The luxurious rooms they were passing by, she took note of the big door they were heading towards. The two black-suited guards by the door, she quickly scanned. The guns she could imagine held against their belts, she knew the front door was the last option for an escape route unless she wanted to die. The fifth floor they were in, jumping off the video might not be an option depending on what was underneath the window. Unless the room has no other door, these two men might be the ones she had to fight if she wanted to escape whatever was waiting for her in the room. Focused on exit strategies she wasn't prepared for what was waiting for her as they walked in. The living room they walked into had a wall-to-wall glass view of the hospital garden and the lake from the golf course on the other side. Junpyo placed the box on the table in the middle of the sofa set and started heading to the adjacent room. Walking to the window, she made out the tall tree she could land into , if this window became her existence. That was it.
Her right hand placed right by her skirt she took slow steps into the room Junpyo walked into.
" We just gave him his medication so he is going to be out for a while. '' The nurse explaining to Jupyo gave Jandi the answer she needed as to why Woobin was lying with closed eyes.
" I know" Junpyo's confirmation surprised her. He knew woo bin would be sleeping.
" He needs painkillers that knock him out for his spine '' As the nurse walked out of the room he gave her the explanation for the heavy medication. The bat she had landed against his back, the spine joints, and the muscles she had caused damages to needed serious medication. Crossing his arms, he stood leaning against the couch in the middle of the room. Her steps taken forward she came into the room, her eyes focused on the bandaged woo bin sleeping. The machines surrounding the massive bed, his right leg elevated by a pillow , she wished she could see the actual bruise, not the bandages.
" broken leg, broken arm, broken nose, i think they said 23 broken bones in total" his eyes trying to read her focused attention scanning his friend, Junpyo wasn't sure if she was shocked or glad to be witnessing what she had caused.
" they had to clean out his guy cuz he inhaled some disgusting stuff" he whispered the first thing that got a reaction out of her. Her little smirk was noted as she started walking to the body. His arms still crossed, Junpyo lifted his body away from the couch he was leaning against. Her step she halted by the foot of the bed, and he was stopped from rescuing his friend she was heading towards. The doctor's note she brought up, and she started reading the file. She really has done her job and returned the favor bone for bone like the mother wanted to.
" Was that all cus he burned your shoes?" he asked, finally getting her attention. Her scrutinizing eyes turned his way. He knew he could get a reaction out of her mentioning that.
" do you think that's fair?" he asked as she stood there trying to understand what he was asking. Her hands placed the file on her hand back to the table, she returned her eyes to Woobin. She doesn't even have the energy to entertain the ridiculous question Junpyo is asking her. Does he not consider them human enough to have the right to fight back?Was what happened to them so insignificant compared to the bruises on his friend?
" He's going to kill you and all of them, when he finds out" he whispered something that forced another smirk. So he hasn't told him yet. He hasn't told woo bin yet. Which means he wants something. That was the only reason why he hadn't done so. He wants something in return, they always do.
" Why did you do it?" he asked as she changed her focus to him. Her arms crossed, she stood there staring right back at him. What does he want?
"Oh, you're here" The voices that came from behind her startled her as she turned around to make out the old man that walked followed by two guards. That was Woobin's father. That was an infamous leader or the organization they hadn't been able to infiltrate for years. The man who ruled the underground world she lived in was standing steps away from her.
" He wanted some snacks, I got him the ones he likes," Junpyo answered the dad he extended a small bow to.
" Who are you?" the dad asked, finally focusing on the new person in the room.
" Oh she is a classmate, she goes to our school" Junpyo answered as he made out the odd way the old man slowly scanned the girl. The two suited men that followed the dad, helped him sit down on the chair by the bed. One of them headed to the fridge by the corner, Jandi made out the one standing behind the dad. He is the primary guard. If anything happened, the dad she would aim for she knew he would be the one she would have to fight. The knife, the only weapon she had was useless to the guns she knew were hiding behind their suits. With all the weapons around the room and the men around her, she knew she could be killed with their bare arms let alone their guns. She could fight back and jump off the window but they probably have people in the parking lot waiting for them. This really might be it she tried silencing her anxiety with all the blood she could try to spill before she takes her last breath. Her life at his mercy, her eyes returned to Junpyo. It was so clear to see how much he knew she was at his mercy and was enjoying that fact.
" Do you know my son?" the dad asked as Junpyo's smirking eyes stayed on her. Her hands went to her back, he took note of her nails that started attacking her fingers. She is scared now, he smiled.
" Everybody that wears that uniform knows him" she heard another voice and turned to the door behind her. The man giving her a big smile started quickly scanning her up and down. His flirtatious smile had all her attention as she tried to make out if he belonged to the family. Two men by the door, another two bodyguards in the room. The dad, Junpyo, and now this one was what she was up against. Her mind that should have focused on that and started calculating the probability of making it out alive was distracted by the sleazy smile and curiosity eyes scanning her.
" and all of them are going to learn not to mess with him once we find who did this" his smiling lips went on sipping the coffee he was drinking as he started walking towards her.
" leave that to me" the dad took the tea his bodyguard handed him.
" Are you a scholarship student?" The coffee cup passed to his left hand, he sent his right hand to her chest. Pulling at her uniform, he adjusted her name tag up to his view. Junpyo standing away from the couch he was leaning against didn't even know why he reacted when he noticed Woobin's brother's hand that had grabbed her name tag and pulled her his way.
" you're cute," the brother whispered, giving her a wink. His finger brushed her hair away from her face and gave him access to her brown eyes that were staring right at him. Junpyo's confused eyes from the interaction shifted to her hand, hidden behind her. Her nails digging into her skin had drawn blood as Junpyo's smiles all faded away when he registered her not only tense but shaking arms.
"She's actually leaving" He took the first step toward the two. One step was all he took , before she moved away from the brother and stormed out of the room.
" What's wrong with her?" the brother asked Junpyo, who had the same question.
" Is Jihoo coming for dinner?" the dad asked, forcing Junpyo to stop his quick steps towards the door she ran to.
" Yes, he's on his way," his quick response followed by a small bow Junpyo walked out of the room. Her fast steps he was aware of and he wasn't surprised to find she wasn't in the main room. Walking past the main door, he ignored the bows from the two guards and focused on the small figure by the elevator. Her frantic hand pressing the button he knew he had to be quick. His steps were turned into little jogs.
" Hey" he called out but didn't get any reaction. Her right hand that held her her skirt tightly, the blood marks around it was all that had his attention.
" hey" he called again as he increased his speed to land steps away from her. Slowing his run he focused his eyes on her body that isn't reacting to his voice.
" Hey" he got no reaction.
" Hey" , his right hand that landed on her shoulder got the reaction he wasn't prepared for. Her quick jolt away from him was terrifying on its own as Junpyo leaned back. Her panic-stricken eyes staring right at him were enough to leave him paralyzed by what he was witnessing. Her alarmed body ordered to the runway, he only had seconds to take in the frightened state she was in before her legs were headed to the Exit stairs sign. Her hair flying away from her face, she had run away at a scary speed towards the door she opened and disappeared to.
"What" his words he couldn't even form , Junpyo stood there processing what just happened.
The elevator that opened up, he got in and pressed the lobby. He wasn't even sure what he was doing or what was happening. He just had to find her. For what? he doesn't know yet.
The lobby he walked into had no sign of the girl. He quickened his steps to the parking lot to find not even a sign of anybody being there. The front desk that provided him the answer to where the girl with the uniform had run to. He chose to head to the parking lot and get his car. It will be easier to find her with that. His phone thrown to the passenger seat, he slowly drove the car out of the hospital gates. The security man pointed him to the direction he saw the girl run to.
The right turn he was told to make had some cars and pediatricians but no hint of the girl he could make out easily thanks to her uniform. He went on driving straight.
"Come on" his frustration was quickly shut down as he started thinking about which direction she might choose. She was too smart so he knew she probably had memorized the roads they took to get here. That being her best way out of this town. One left turn , followed by a right turn to join the main road, he was happy to be proven right as he saw the girl he was looking for. His car slowed down, and he chose to stay by the right lane as he made out with the car that was slowly driving by the sidewalk she was walking on. As the car following her which stopped by the curve came to full view, Junpyo stepped on the brakes and zoomed his eyes on the person that jumped out from the driver's side. The car he would recognize anywhere, he was only shocked by her quick steps that stopped the moment Jihoo walked to her side.
Of course, it's Jihoo. Her savior has arrived as always.
Fully stopping his car, Junpyo thanked the cherry tree that had hidden his car from the two people that had all his attention. Her steps had stopped, she sent her hands to her back before lifting her eyes to his best friend. Jihoo's moving lips were ignored as Junpyo's full attention was on the girl that had darted away from him like she saw the devil. His right hand that had touched her shoulder had forced her eyes to return to him, frightened as though they saw all the evil of the world in him. Her shaking legs that ran away from him like she was running for her life, her nails that were forcing her to bleed out the anxiety eating at her, Junpyo was beyond puzzled and disturbed by what he witnessed. The change he witnessed the moment the brother touched her, he could guess she probably had some issue with people touching her. That was the only way to explain her being terrified of such a simple touch. How does somebody who sleeps with people for money be scared of touch?
Maybe she was triggered by something. His questioning mind instantly started hypnotizing. She is a gang member so was she ever attacked? Is that why she doesn't like being touched by people? Or considering what she does, it could be a worse experience with clients. Any sexual assaults might explain why she was easily triggered and frightened. Just the mere thought had caused something in Jupyo who's right hand tightened its grip on the steering wheel while his eyes focused on her hands still fighting each other.
Their chat was concluded quickly as he noticed Jihoo start walking to his car. He wasn't ready to witness her slow steps that followed his best friend behind. Her hands left the battle against each other and were sent to her shoulder after she pulled her sleeves and covered them. Was she a little calm now? He questioned. Jihoo's smiles at her Jun Pyo avoided and focused on the passenger seat Jihoo opened for her. Of Course Jihoo would open the door for the girl he had been saving for weeks. Where is he taking her even? The question was quickly wiped away when Junpyo was forced to witness the small glance the two exchanged thanks to the wind that brushed her hair away from her face. It was too common so Junpyo didn't know why he was bothered by his best friend's smile that was aimed at her as she got into the car.
Leaving him to his own dismay and the strange emotions he was forced to sit with, Jihoo's car quickly joined the road and disappeared out of Junpyo's view.