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.

42. Chapter 42

Hello, beautiful readers. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and will have a productive week ahead. Thank you for being so understanding of my late posts. Sometimes, my weeks get so hectic I need more time to sit and write.

I hope you enjoy the long chapter, and I can't wait to read your comments as always. All the lovely comments of yours are what got me to write these long chapters. Thank you for all the messages and comments.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful Week!

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He is here.

Bom turned his attention from the dinner he was enjoying to his burner phone and the text he got. Having finished the cold noodles he had grabbed on his way, he was enjoying the chicken skewers he had gotten for free from the lady he always bought his late cold noodles from. The evening he spent working on the vintage car they had salvaged, he had only added his hoodie when he got the call from Jandi. Their goal, for now, was to tag the man, to leave a GPS tracker in Woobin's brother's car to find where he lived. Once that was done, the team had a choice to make on who would be assigned to gather as much information as possible on their new subject. A whole team would be prepared as they would need several people. One to follow his daily routine, one to infiltrate his house and leave all the smart devices Ctrl would need to find any information. One to get close to him to get passwords and access private information. With the type of family he had and their tight security, Bom knew if this man proved vital to them, the mission they had to plan and execute needed to be airtight, with little to no room for error. He might not know much about what was waiting for them, but one thing was for sure: he had the utmost confidence in his team's ability to get the job done. That was what all lived for.

In the zoomed-in photo of Woobin's brother that was placed in the middle of their wall-to-wall board, Bom had decided to be the one to join Jandi only because he was beyond curious to see this man's face. The GPS tracker Jandi had turned on had led him to park his car across from the storage-looking building the fancy cars had driven to. He kept his eyes on the only gate exiting the building. All the fancy cars he saw go in, none have left so far. His dinner wrapped up; he had sat leaning down and listening to the radio he turned on. The window opened, and he let the cold air come into the custom-designed car that had taken him 4 years to perfect. All types of weapons, including the loaded gun hidden across the car; he had checked to make sure everything he needed was there before he left the house. Although the goal was to tag the man, they always had to prepare for the worst, including going out with a bang if they had to. Woobin's family he was well aware of; he knew his weapons wouldn't be enough against the type of armed security that family has guarding their building and houses. Which made it odd why the sons didn't walk around with security.

His left hand resting out the window, holding the cigarette he pulled from his lips, he turned his focus to the dark clouds that had taken over the night. While he sat there, the evening had turned to the next day. The tiny drops of rain hitting his car were warning signs of the night as the lighting that hit right at 12:45 am got his attention. The loud lighting hitting the city was the perfect mood setter for the night as even the nice breeze had turned into a violent wind, swinging trees left and right. The rain he was waiting to pour down hadn't started when his phone buzzed. The Bluetooth piece he had in his left ear, he pressed once to accept the call.

He heard Jandi's soft breathing.

" Stand by. They are getting ready to leave," Jandi whispered as Bom turned the car on.

" I think he is dropping her off and coming back. This might be a great chance." Jandi gave him a notice that there was somebody other than the man.

" huh," she caught his cough, which was a reaction to the picture he received. Woobin's brother's coat over Junhee's shoulder, Jandi had gotten a nice photo as she followed them from behind.

" Dark gray Porsche,"

" Last digits 3425," her soft voice brought his attention back to the car.

" Got it." A minute later, he caught the car slowly driving from the parking lot across the street. Her job was done for the night; now it was his turn. His seatbelt buckled, he started backing up while keeping his eyes on Woobin's brother's car. The Porsche he was following from behind, he turned his car's camera on to capture everything. The distance he had left between him and them, he was okay when one or two cars had gotten in the middle. He planned to follow and place one of their GPS trackers on the vehicle. He had several ideas on how. That and, if possible, see the face of this man. That was all for tonight.

Woobin's brother he couldn't see clearly; he was curious about what he was saying to get the type of smile he was getting from Junhee. The two being watched were beyond oblivious to the car following them. He planned to have it stay that way, but plans had to change. On the freeway they were getting ready to exit; after he followed them for 20 minutes, the opportunity to get his job done arrived. Their car slowed down as it drove into the emergency lane; he had driven past them as he saw the emergency lights flashing and the two walking out of the car. The two he left behind, his rearview mirror was used to see the confused look on both. The man he couldn't see; he noticed him walk back to his car and start looking for something. The freeway he knew very well, he sped up to the exit he would take to join the highway back again behind them.

This was the perfect opportunity to leave the tracker on the car. Knowing he had to take this chance; he sped up, breaking every traffic rule and joining the freeway. The vehicle he could see from a distance, he stepped on the gas pedal. Thankfully, there were only a few cars on the highway he had to drive around to get to where he was headed. He slowed down as he made out Junhee standing by the car while the man looked like he was making a call a short distance away from her and the car.

The GPS tracker from the glove compartment was placed in his pocket. The smooth switch to the emergency lane, he slowed the car as he parked it a distance away from them. Only Junhee looked relieved to see somebody pull over to help them, while the man he couldn't quite make out seemed to be busy on his phone. Woobin's brother, who had walked a distance away to avoid the loud sound, hadn't seen the car that pulled behind him or Bom, who wasn't ready for the rush of the cold air that welcomed his body when he got out of his car.

" Our car's engine light," Junhee, walking his way, started explaining. The lavender suit she still had on from her long day, even at night, Junhee had a glow about her that was unexplainable. This woman hadn't changed, not even a little bit. The only thing that had changed was how she looked a bit older than the last time he had seen her. The natural makeup that had stayed on her face for more hours than it should, Bom was able to see past it and recognize the dark circles of her exhausted eyes. He had spent enough time watching her from the shadows to know what was hidden behind it all.

" Do you know anything about cars?" she asked, her famous smile he wasn't fond of sent his way.

" Oh," her reaction wasn't for finding somebody who could resolve their issue but for his body that came into the street light, giving her a complete view. This was an unusual sight from the suited men she was used to seeing daily. The natural looks he was born with, the violent life he lived had shaped it making him this striking. His daunting eyes scanning her up and down, she waited until they reached her welcoming eyes. It was odd how she wasn't even remotely scared of him.

" Oh," she repeated, pointing at the mechanic jumpsuit he wasn't entirely wearing. The jumpsuit tucked into his boots, the arms dangling with every step he took were tied at his waist while his t-shirt was topped with the black hoodie he had on. The dark colors covering his body were perfect for the vibe he was giving off.

" What a coincidence," her smiles were ignored as Bom sent his eyes to the man away from them.

" He is calling insurance," she explained with another small smile.

" The flashlights for the engine started flashing, and'' Junhee, leading the way to the driver's side, held the door open as she pointed at the engine light. Her warm smile she was known for; she had given him another one as he walked past her. The door she helped open for him, she couldn't help but notice how tall he was as he slid into the driver's seat. All the oil, gas, and chemicals he was working with, he smelled like what she would expect a mechanical to smell like. His right hand turned the engine on; his focus was on Woobin's brother he glanced at. He still couldn't get a good view of the man a distance away.

" he said it was in the car shop for an oil change today, but everything was working fine.'' Her eyes from whatever he touched were lifted to the tattoos that peaked when the sleeves of his hoodie moved up on his right arm. She quickly decided it wasn't her place to question what type of activity this man was involved in that led him to get them while living in a society that associated them with very violent men. His hands, by default, would become her next target as she noticed the scar on his left hand. His rugged hands looked hard, with broad fingers that looked overworked but still powerful enough to break bones. The visible veins covering them, this must be what they mean when they say 'a working man's hand'. What Bom could do with his bare hands, it was better if she never became curious about any of it. Her eyes, forced to look away, landed on his shoulder, which he lowered to look for the button to open the hood. His neck caught her attention, and she noticed the smudge of oil that was at the end of his hair before the peak of the muscles covering his shoulder became an interesting sight.

" Who is that?" Woobin's brother shouted, disturbing her attention. The driver he was trying to get a hold of, Woobin's brother had given up as he decided to call for their security team.

" He is a mechanic; he can help us," Junhee responded.

" See," she added as she saw the front hood of the car click open. Walking out of the diver seat and past her, she followed Bom. The inside of a car she rarely saw, Junhee was curious as she followed and stood next to him. Her expensive pastel lavender suit next to his black hoodie and dirty garage pants, the two staring at the car couldn't look any different. The sleeves he pulled to cover his fingers, she saw him reach for something.

" What are you doing?" leaning closer, she asked. Her proximity getting a reaction, she leaned back away to ensure she was out of the personal space. The man didn't say much; even his face was hard to read, but she could understand his reaction.

"Checking the oil filler cap," the answer to her question came seconds later as he walked past her. Her eyes following him, she was surprised by the voice that came out of him, which, to be honest, matched his dark look. The deep voice all the girls fan over, which Jandi never understood, had caught Junhee off guard. From his dark hair to the military-looking boots he had on, she scanned as she watched him walk to the gas tank. His eyes on Woobin's brother, Bom, had finally gotten a complete look at the man he couldn't seem to place. The face doesn't look familiar. Maybe it was the dark street light.

"Check the engine light," he ordered as he tightened the cap on the gas tank. Junhee quickly got into the driver's seat to do what she was asked.

" How can you let a stranger?" Woobin's brother, before finishing his sentence, changed his focus to Bom walking to the driver seat she got into.

" Who the hell are you?" Woobin's brother asked while giving Bom what he wanted. His face was now in full view. The man staring at him, Woobin's brother, was surprised by how Bom was examining every inch of his face.

" turn it off and on." Bom, keeping his eyes on the man, ordered Junhee.

" He could be a thief or worse; how could you?

" Oppa, he is helping us," her words didn't mean much to the man staring back at Bom.

" Omg, it worked. It's gone." Her excitement was cute.

" What did you do? So I can check next time."

" You don't need to know. Don't you have drivers?" Woobin's brother, walking around the car, dismissed her question.

" The gas tank cap wasn't fully closed." Bom gave her the answer.

" Thank you so much." Woobin's brother didn't match the gratitude she extended as she got out of the driver's seat.

" You need to stop being nice to people," Woobin's brother, coming to her side, stood next to her. His right hand pushed her gently; she was placed to stand behind him. The two men staring at each other knew what he was doing as Bom smirked inwards. It was hilarious how this jerk thought his standing before her was supposed to intimidate or scare Bom. Was that supposed to be protecting her? Bom kept his smile to himself; he knew enough to know this woman didn't need a man like this protecting her. Why all the men that were supposed to protect were all scum was a question for another day.

" This world is filled with evil people. You could get robbed or worse if I wasn't here."

" Oppa"

" I didn't say anything wrong. Do you know how many women get attacked?

" He looks like a gang member. Are you really a mechanic?' Woobin's brother asked, crossing his arms and moving closer to Bom.

" Omg, I am so sorry," pushing Woobin's brother away, she started apologizing. With her sincere eyes, she apologized again as Bom turned around and started walking back to his car. He is done with these two.

" Why are you apologizing to him?"

" He helped us."

' Just give him some money," the chitter of the two he ignored; Bom was happy to have placed the GPS tracker on the car. He had gotten his job done. Now, he has a whole mission to plan and a team to put together.

" Just get in," Junhee shoved Woobin's brother into the driver seat, which she shut before she started her soft run to the man walking to his car.

" I am sorry for what he said. He doesn't mean any harm. He is just tipsy," she continued apologizing.

" Thank you so much for your help. I don't carry any cash, but if you have any payment service," She stopped as she didn't know if it was appropriate to offer money. His eyes turned her way; he didn't seem interested in money either. She was glad he didn't look offended by what was said or was he? She couldn't tell what he was feeling. His blank face was hard to read.

" You shouldn't let him drive drunk," Bom opening his door, forced her attention to the man waiting for her.

" I know. I will drive."

" Junhee, let's go," Woobin's brother shouted from the window he opened.

" You should be careful of strangers," Bom warned, returning her attention to him.

" Don't worry, I am a good judge of character." her smile only got more significant the longer Bom's eyes stayed on her. She was still too nice. Too friendly. Too blinded by the rose-colored world she lived in. Too beautifully gullible. The woman he had followed around until he knew her daily routine, he had never talked to her to confirm any of his quietly made assumptions about her. Even if she knew, she wouldn't have minded his assumption. It was better for her when he didn't know how the things he listed were things she used to her advantage. She was more intelligent than most and knew precisely how to use how people saw her to get what she wanted.

" Thanks for your help." She gave him a slight bow before turning around and heading to the Porsche. His right hand pressing the key to start his car, Bom's attention was on the woman walking away. As though she knew she was being watched, she turned her face around and gave him one more smile. Her glowing smile wasn't enough; her right hand was held up as she waved at him. A sight that had stayed with him as he drove the car from the emergency lane and sped away, leaving them behind.

Done - the text she got; Jandi returned her burner phone into her bag as she left the bathroom. Their job was officially done for the night. She could have gone home and should have gone right then and there, but she had decided to stay. The excuse given to Bom was that she would stay to see if Woobin's brother would come back and keep track of the people he was hanging with. That was what she told Bom, who had changed where he was heading to his shop after she called him. She was told to stay just to watch from afar and head home when it was done. She was trusted to get herself home as Bom had their mission to plan, which would occupy his Saturday. He needs a good sleep tonight.

Her bag placed across her shoulder, she walked into the red light-lit hallway that connected the bathrooms on the first floor to the private spaces. The corner section they had all to themselves was a blessing to her as it was across from Woobin's brother's private area for his friends and all the girls with them. Although she couldn't hear them, at least she had an excellent seat with a direct sight of him. Which she had used to her advantage as she had watched every drink he had sipped, every smoke he had, every girl he was chatting with, and even every laugh that covered his face. Who she had ignored because of him were the F4 boys she came with, especially the two that were having a blast. As she finished the hallway, her right hand tracing the rail of the first-floor balcony, her eyes were sent below to find Woobin on the dance floor. Her interest in him was short-lived; she turned her focus to the whole dance floor.

Her attention was on the intertwined bodies below, moving to the song's beat screaming from the speakers. The flashing lights breaking the darkness, she carefully watches the movements of those whose bodies have been intoxicated with enough alcohol and whatever else they have consumed. Her steps slowed; the sight below was a fascinating one she never understood. She could never relate to being held this close to anybody, let alone dancing along while being held like that. The couple in the middle, her eyes were on the girl wrapped in the guy's arms. Her eyes closed, her relaxed head resting against his shoulder as they swung left and right to the slow melody of the song that started; Jandi could only wonder what level of intoxication gets one to experience this. It has to be alcohol or drugs. There was no way people would feel such strong emotions that would have them acting this way. The beating sounds that have become softer melodies once the night hits 2 am; what would it take for her to feel this safe and secure with anybody who is not part of her so-called family? To be this relaxed in someone's arms. All the thoughts that led to the dark thoughts she had accepted about her cursed life were shut down as soon as they formed. When her thoughts started souring, everything was shut down, and she was reminded of her job. Her right hand returned to her side; even her legs had picked up their speed as she headed to the F4 table.

The table she was walking to, her favorite thing about this place had been the dim light. She felt more comfortable examining everything to her liking without being noticed. Unfortunately, there will be no examination of anything once she got to the table to find nobody but Junpyo there. Sitting with his head resting against the leather sofa, he looked undistracted from what he was watching. With a perfect view of the dance floor below, Junpyo focused on that as he continued to take small sips of the drink he was enjoying. Slowing her steps, she headed to the right edge of their semi-circle leather sofa. All the bottles, glass, and snacks spread across the glass table, she scanned as she sat down. Woo Bin, who she saw on the dance floor having the best evening; she was curious about where Yijeong and the girl who was glued to him had gone.

Surprisingly, the awkwardness she expected from sitting there with him wasn't as bad, but she still decided to focus on her target. Her eyes she was forcing not to look at Jun Pyo; she sent them to the table across.

" He is not back." Junpyo let her know he was aware of who she was there for. He didn't notice her eyes that turned his way. He kept his on the dance floor he had been staring at for the longest. His unruly hair, she had only looked at his face for a second before she followed his eyes to what had his attention. The soft song playing and the flashing lights showing the bodies moving seemed to have grabbed his attention as well. What his eyes were focused on, she could tell that wasn't what he was thinking about. His mind seems to be someplace else. It had been since they got here. That one glass he had in his hands, she didn't like how she was aware that he was still on his first drink. Even though it had been hours, he didn't seem to be in the mood to join his friends who had finished bottles with the group of girls that had joined the table.

The small amount of alcohol she saw him consume wasn't the only surprising thing; the lack of any girl crawling over his body was new, too. Every time she saw him someplace after midnight, there was always a model-looking woman attached to him. But not tonight. None of the girls that were around their table had been able to catch his attention even for a minute. Why? She was curious. Her eyes turned his way, she regretted it as soon as they were caught by his. Her curiosity she hated; she had only that to blame.

The only two sitting at the table, the silence between them now reaching minute 5, Jandi had chosen to break it just to prove to herself she wasn't bothered by sitting there alone with him or prove that she wasn't scared to talk to him. She also had something important to ask him that had been eating her since Yijeong mentioned it. But before she asked, Junpyo had stood up, getting her attention. Her eyes following him up, stayed on his face as he placed the glass down and picked up his cigarette box and phone. Choosing to go the other way, he avoided her eyes as he spoke.

" I'll be back," was all he said before he left. His right hand brushed his hair away; she followed his steps until he disappeared from her view.

Now left alone, she had all the time in the world to think about what she had been fighting herself not to even waste a second on. Jihoo and the kiss at the magical room he had taken her to. The moment her mind went to it, her right hand was placed on the lips he had kissed. The softness of his lips she still recalls, the flickering lights around her were slowly dragging her back to the enchanting room. Although not long enough, Jihoo had made up for taking her first kiss while he was drunk by at least making sure this one happened in a beautiful place she would never forget. The mix of giddiness, anxiety, and confusion that filled her body was such a new experience. A new matter she wasn't remotely aware of how to deal with, which was why she was happy when Jihoo said he wouldn't be joining them at the after-party.

The 10 minutes she wasted before she even left the mirror room, she had made the bathroom her first stop. She needed cold water to help regulate her body. The cold water gushing down, she placed her hands underneath it until the coldness spread across her body that was hot. Her eyes were on her own reflection; she had made the mistake of looking at herself. The ugly reflection she sees it only takes minutes before any thought about him genuinely liking her is erased. Who do you think you are? The dark voices in her head had made sure she remembered her place and had outweighed any logical explanation as to why he would like somebody like her. There was a reason she often avoided mirrors, even when dressed and looking like this. The voice inside created to protect her had done its job as it convinced her she deserved nothing, let alone Jihoo. What a wild fantasy! She had to even laugh at herself. That was the only way she could keep her beating heart from losing its rhythm: by lying to herself and dismissing all the emotions he had triggered. After another 10 minutes in the bathroom, she needed every second to calculate her response to any and everything Jihoo would say or do once he returned.

This new territory she was in, where she wasn't even in control of her emotions, beyond anything else, was scary. But what she should have been terrified of was how much she was okay with anything he did, including him kissing her. And to be honest, she liked it more than she would accept. What should have terrified her was that Jihoo wasn't just a friend anymore.

During her walk back to the main gallery room, she was glad when she found Yijeong and Woobin. The girls they had invited to the after-party she was being introduced to them when she heard Jihoo's voice behind her back. Her startled look his way, Yijeong was the one to catch the odd look the two exchanged as Jihoo reached their group and stood next to her.

"Are you all heading to the after-party?"

" Yes, you joining us"

" I wanted to, but I have to leave. " Jihoo, turning his apologetic eyes to Jandi, announced the change of plans. His mother he couldn't say no to; their car was still waiting for him in the parking lot as he was given a few minutes to say bye to his friends.

" My mother wants me to talk with these people, " he explained, but it was useless. His friends were all aware he wouldn't have most likely joined them. He never did. There was no ruining his perfect image by attending wild parties where God knows what happens. It had taken only one incident a couple of years back for his mother to limit what events he could attend at night. The drive in silence, right when they got into their secured house, was when Jihoo's mom started her long rant about having to be called by the police to come and rescue him from spending the night in jail. The race car he had attended with his friend, he was aware it was illegal but assumed Junpyo's lawyers would get them out of trouble as they always do, but that time, his mom had been the first to respond. The perfect son image he tarnished that day; every little thing he did after that day was under a microscope. It was all to make his parents happy and be proud of him. That was all they asked for. He sometimes stays out past his curfew at midnight, but technically, all staff was expected to report on him if he came home after midnight without his awareness.

" It is for your benefit," the sentence his mom keeps using, he knew was true, but at times felt like emotional manipulation. Her love for him that overflows with her need to protect him from everything; he knew his mother was smart enough to use whatever worked to keep him in line. With the crazy dynamics of his friends' parents, Jihoo couldn't help but accept his parents as a blessing. No matter what they did, they were at least fully present and cared for him. It was okay with him if they cared too much. Because that meant he was loved. All he had to do to keep getting their love was just do what they said. Just do what his mother says, and he will be loved, a realization he made very young. There was no such thing as unconditional love in his world. All the love he gets comes with conditions and terms he has to meet. That is what he was taught and accepted as how the world worked. Doing everything for everybody was how he learned to get people to care for him.

With the big plans the whole family had for him, most of the responsibility of raising him sat on his mother's shoulders, and she had raised him precisely as she wanted and wouldn't let anything deter the plan they had in place. The one and only child of the family, he was the most precious thing she would do anything to protect. Lucky for her, he was still just a puppy, still under a leash. A leash held by the one who loves him the most and he loved the most. A leash his friendship with Jandi will challenge.

The expectation Jandi didn't put on their friendship, just being a breath of fresh air from the people he was surrounded with, had been what made her such an important person to have around him. She was unlike anybody he knew and, most importantly, unlike any of the girls his mom introduced him to. The foundation she was trying to lay down, Jihoo was too smart to know what his mother was planning with all the girls his age she kept introducing him to. Just like every aspect of his life, his marriage was something he had no complete control over. It was a family affair. Whoever will stand next to him as the Mrs has to be somebody his whole family approves of. Whoever she was, she had to be accepted by all for the family to give her their last name. Another reason that had made Jandi so appealing, she was a great way to deal with the fear that he had no control over his choices. Choosing her was one choice he could make that was his.

She had no connection or relation to the suffocating life he had to live for everybody else. Being a nobody from nowhere had made her so likable to the point his affection for her had made her open a tiny window to let him breathe and just be. She didn't care about anything. Not even his family, which she never asked about. Jandi has done it so he doesn't ask about hers, but Jihoo didn't see it that way. Every single person he meets who only sees him for his family and who he will become, even when they talk about his future, she never seems to care about it because of what she could get out of it if she stays by his side now.

She cared because she had been able to see all the good he wanted to do. All the ways she challenges him, Jihoo can't explain how she seems to have the right way to motivate him to be better with just a word or two. All the time he spent around her, it was easy to see how special she was from the start. Too special for him to be scared about where their friendship is going. His feelings for her he understood tonight, all of it was new to Jihoo, who doesn't know much about how to impress girls, let alone date one. His friend he would have to rely on, Junpyo, was the only one he would trust to give him good advice. His innocent heart still jumping up and down from the kiss that was 2 seconds long; what Jandi would do was beyond instrumental to who he would become.

" You can go with them to the after-party if you want." He offered to make up for having her wait for him and his promise to drive her home. He did not like changing plans after making them, but he had no other option. The only thing he wanted to do tonight, he had spent over ten minutes arguing with his mother before her reasoning outweighed the quiet time he wanted with Jandi. Technically, his mother wasn't aware of what he wanted to do. He just kept saying he wanted to spend time with his friends. She had easily won him over by saying he could see them every other day. He knew well enough not to mention Jandi. Even saying a girl was out of the question. The only reason he was even allowed his friends was their last names and the connection his family values with his friend's parents. Junpyo, whom his mom does not like at all; she tolerates him because of what he will inherit. Jihoo, being his best friend, was accepted as a strategy. It was part of her plan to get Jihoo to the most important political position in the country.

"that's a great idea." Yijeong, closing the gap between him and Jandi, took advantage of Jihoo's offer.

" This will be a great way for us to get to know Jihoo's girl, without you disturbing us."

" Is that okay?" the worried look in Jihoo's eyes was adorable.

" yeah." Her small smile was hard to read.

"Can I talk to you?" Jihoo had requested Jandi, but his best friend responded by leaving them alone.

" We will wait for you in the back parking lot. We are taking a limo," Yijeong informed Jandi. The left turn they all took, the two were left alone. The few strangers around them were none of their worries as both were reminded of what happened in the mirror room when their eyes returned to each other. One glance at each other and both were taken back into the dark room only lit by the artificial star sparks. What those two seconds have done, it was all over their faces as both silently accepted the thing between them wasn't friendship.

Jihoo, who had fought to step out of his passive personality tonight and be assertive, was finding it hard to know what to say let alone do. Should he talk about it? Should he ask her what she felt? Was she feeling bad about it? Should he apologize? Should he not even mention what happened? Should he just keep talking about why he was leaving? Why did he even ask for this? He had his headache to deal with, and her piercing eyes waiting for him to say something weren't making it easier. Especially not when she was this dolled up and letting him get away with even kissing her. Why is this so hard?

" She said it's a very important person; if not, I would have stayed," he started apologizing again.

" It's okay." Her mind was calculating options and had concluded that this was the best outcome. Not only had she found a way to get into the afterparty, but she also didn't have to worry about Jihoo being suspicious of why she was there. This was the best way to get her job done without any distractions. Jihoo was a major distraction. And that was how she ended up in the limo's back seat.

" I will make it up to you" his hand that came to her shoulder had aloft landed as he kept apologizing. How his touch was accepted with no hesitation, she had let her reaction tell him how she felt about him.

" I will call you tomorrow and we can" his phone buzzing got his attention. Jandi glancing at his phone had seen the number saved as Mom blinking. The image of that phone repeated in her head even as she watched him walk away. His smile and waves at her had been to remove what her intention was telling her about the tight relationship between Jihoo and his mom.

As she sat by herself, the flickering light and soft music helping her stay in own fantasy world of over romanticizing the evening she had had, the minutes went on kept replaying what happened that night. From the moment she got to the gallery to the moment Jihoo said bye and left, every second of the night was analyzed as if it was in competition to be the best night. The smile that escaped her lips right when she got to thinking about the kiss for the hundredth time, this time she had focused on the look he had given her before he did it. The hint of peach appeared on her cheeks, she did not think it was even possible for her to blush. Her face she can't see, she wouldn't believe it even if she saw it. Not even Mrs Kim she could trust and feel comfortable around this topic; the only name that came to her mind was Eun. She was a girl and around her age. She should know something about what Jandi should do about what happened tonight. When she thought of Eun, Jandi was reminded of what Yijeong said about his art being displayed. Her mind, unable to accept why Junpyo would do anything to help Eun, she decided to ask. The fact that he had gone out to smoke was an advantage as she needed some fresh air.

Her right hand helping her pull the dress up, she took fast steps away from the private areas into the lobby leading down to the door; that was the direction she saw him walk. The door down the hallway, she opened it to be welcomed to a very dark space. The waiter who passed her, she scanned the closed rooms as she continued her walk. These must be very VIP private rooms, she guessed. She couldn't make out a single sound from the soundproofed rooms. Ignoring them, she continued straight to the door on the other side, luckily she walked into a brighter room with an exit door sign. Where did he go? She questioned as the exit door opened to the stairs.

Maybe he is smoking on the roof; she took a guess. After 5 floors of stairs and an even scarier hallway to walk through, she faced the exit door to the roof. Her right arm subconsciously was sent to her thigh, ready to defend if attacked. She opened the door slowly to be welcomed by the aggressive wind. The only thing covering her body was the soft fabric of the dress. She was supposed to feel cold, but her body, trained to put its needs in the back seat, was left to deal with the cold in silence as she stepped past the door that gently closed behind her.

Her eyes scanning for any sign of a human; she was startled when the lighting hitting the other side of the city sparked the dark clouds. Her eyes that took advantage of the lighting had found the person standing by the edge, facing the back of the building. Her steps she knew to silence, none of them were heard as she started walking to the body standing at the edge. Her eyes from his flying hair were sent to the white smoke coming from the cigarette in his left hand. It didn't look like he was smoking but just had it sitting in between his fingers. What type of cigarette is this? She asked a question she couldn't stop being curious about every time she saw him smoking. It wasn't like the ones the men around her smoked. Does this spoiled billionaire have his own cigarettes made? She smirked at how that could easily be true considering who he was.

Her arms crossed, she enjoyed the better view she got once she got close enough to make out the color of his clothes. The dark blue cardigan topping the dress shirt, she guessed his sister might have something to do with how he was dressed. This wasn't his usual black outfits that cover him head to toe, his casual look was something she had come to recognize. How is he not getting cold? The moment the question crossed her mind, the training she received on human anatomy came to mind. Men having more muscle than women was one of the reasons why they didn't get cold as much. Thinking of him as a man, a new concept, her eyes focused on his broad shoulder, which was a clear sign of it. He didn't seem like he had strong muscles, considering his diet, she wondered. But right when she thought about needing to see him without his shirt to conclude if he had enough muscles, she almost cursed herself to shut her thoughts down.

Startled by her thoughts, which she seems to be losing control over whenever she thinks about anything related to this man; Jandi tried to silence it all by speaking up and getting to the point of why she was there.

" Did you ask Yijeong to display his piece to cover for Eun?" she asked, disappointed by the reaction she didn't get. She had wished to see him startled by her presence, but no. He didn't even turn her way. The only movement from him was his left hand that was brought to his lips. Her steps slowly continued; she walked to his right side and stood by the same edge. The three-step distance between them was enough. Her eyes were directed at what he was staring at; she found the dark sky and the moon peeking from the clouds. Her eyes turning to the left, she tried reading his profile. The cigarette he inhaled, why she couldn't seem to understand how much he smoked was a direct result of how anxious he was to be around her was a mystery.

" Did you pay for her sponsorship as well?" not accepting his silence as an answer, she tried asking it differently. Both her hands sent to the rail protecting them from falling over; she let the cold metal she held help stop her fingers from fidgeting. The silence from him, she didn't question it any further as she let it turn the violent cold into a pleasant one with every minute she stood there looking at the night sky. The city at a distance, there was something about seeing it clouded by the night sky and decorated by lighting that she found oddly fascinating and calming. Maybe it was the dark clouds and the heavy rain they were holding. Rain was her favorite weather. Being underneath it, watching it, listening to it, no other weather gave her the calm and peace she gets from rain. Looking at the sky now, she couldn't wait until she got home. Taking a warm shower while the raindrops fell, being wrapped in her warm blanket, and sleeping while watching the rain droplets going down the window above her bed, she really couldn't wait until this event was over. Maybe she should just leave now to get home right when the rain started, she thought. That was a great idea, but before she did, she needed answers.

" Why did you do it?' her soft voice asked. Her eyes on the beautiful view of the city in the distance making her feel relaxed and at ease. Junpyo, who had done everything not to let his wandering eyes even look her way, knew he had to answer this time. He knew he shouldn't even be here, let alone be left alone with her. He knew his weakness very well. The table he had left so he wasn't alone with her, she had followed him to an even more private space. To make matters worse, she was standing a few steps from him. The dim light of the dark clouds that have turned her into the princess of the night; he knew not to look at her. Although he has decided to accept the fact that the best he could be was to be a friend, which by itself would take mountains to climb for him to reach, it was still hard to silence his wild thoughts. It was hard to accept how hurt he felt by the boundary she was setting around him. It hurts but at least for tonight, the pill he had taken hours ago was helping. He should be glad and take that chance if she allowed him to be a friend. Although he hated it, he had no other option. Not being close to her wasn't an option for his weak heart which has made her his newest addiction.

" It's just a change of deadline; she owes me an art piece." He responded with his eyes still on the sky.

" Why did you do it?" only her eyes turning his way, she asked.

" how do I phrase this so I stay the bad guy" his smile, and his eyes that turned her way were blessed with the sight they had been asking for. The empty roof they were standing in, there was no distraction from her perfectly painted face Eun had used as a canvas. His smile that turned into a smirk; it was at himself. Even he couldn't believe how seriously she was taking his breath away. From his disturbed breathing, he took note of how every inch of him was reacting to her and she hadn't even done anything. Nothing but just stand there and look at him. How is this happening to him? He was beyond glad he took that pill earlier. Her dress he was trying not to even think about, he now knows he has to place a filter in front of his eyes whenever he looks at her from now on. For his own benefit, he needs some type of invisible blinder that shielded his eyes from seeing her as she was after this.

" Unfortunately, sometimes I want to help people," he added, turning his eyes away; he can't look at her smile. He had to turn away when he noticed the start of a smile. Her smile was his weakness, which he discovered the first time he saw it. It was too powerful and could do so much to him including have him lower his guards. Her small smiles that make her seem trustworthy, a safe place, he knew was an illusion. His feelings for her were beyond delusional that they were making him feel safe around her. To trust and open up. Delusional to the point, she seemed like the safest resting place for all his worries. He really was losing his mind.

" I did it so you would owe me a favor."

" What?"

" Why are you surprised?"

" You think I am kind enough to do this for free?" He was embodying the character she had assigned to him as he asked.

" Since she is your friend, you owe me one. Actually, two now." He was glad to see that she knew he was joking. Her eyes she sent to the sky, he could tell she was trying to silence her smile. Has she always been this stunning to look at? When did she become so irresistible to the point her half smile was doing wonders to him. Fully unaware of what she was doing to the man next to her, Jandi was trying hard to accept he did it just because.

The few seconds of silence were enough for her to accept that he not only paid to buy Eun's art but had Yijeong cover for her so her scholarship wasn't declined because of the deadline she missed.

" How is she doing?" he broke the silence.

" She is doing good"

" Am I allowed to ask where you stashed her?" Jandi knew this man knew too much and was too smart for her to give him any more hints.

" Maybe she is staying with her family. Why do you assume

" She doesn't have any family members that live in this city?" Junpyo, throwing the cigarette down, stepped on it. Eun's file he has read cover to cover. Jandi, by now, should know that Junpyo checks everything.

" Is she staying with you?" she didn't answer. Her brain was busy trying to rationalize the fact that he probably knew the home address she had put on the school files. Jihoo used it when he stopped by last time. OMG, if Junpyo ever decided to use it, she couldn't even think what would happen if Junpyo showed up at the restaurant. She had stopped herself because just the thought had triggered her anxiety.

" Are you really not going to do anything to the teacher ?" he asked another question that wouldn't get an answer. His eyes on her were trying to figure out what she was thinking about as she kept staring at the sky. Why the dark colors decorating her eyes hadn't made them scarier, he questioned. Slowly, his eyes would zoom out to be captivated by the side profile he had of her. How is she this beautiful? He had dealt with so many girls to know why but this was something foreign. Even his physical craving was different than usual as all he wanted to do was be close to her. The word " close" was masking serious words he couldn't name yet and would have to experience to realize.

" Are you waiting until it all dies down so it is hard to connect it back to her? " he returned his focus to the conversation and what he had discovered about why Jandi hadn't made a move on the teacher when both her team and his private investigator had found where the teacher had moved to, a new apartment in the outskirt of the city.

" This version of me you have created in your head is interesting." As usual, she tried dismissing his claims.

" The version that is a gang member who carries a knife around and beats people." he couldn't help but smile at how quickly her eyes had turned his way.

"That's the version of you you keep from Jihoo." he caught the discomfort the name he mentioned brought.

" is it because you like him too much and don't want him to see"

" Can you not talk about him?' she interrupted. There were parts of her life she didn't want to mix. Jihoo was placed in a special box and not allowed to get tangled with the messy, dirty and ugly part of her life. He was in the happiest box she kept decorated and isolated from the rest.

" You know he will still like you." he got the reaction he expected as her eyes turned his way. She doesn't seem happy about how he continued talking about Ji Hoo. Even wasting a minute thinking about Jihoo finding out about what she does was impossible since it quickly leads to realizing that she really shouldn't be spending any time with Jihoo, let alone get familiar enough with him to the point he was allowed to kiss her. Having a crush on him was out of the question and she knew better. It was a luxury she couldn't afford. Thinking about him knowing her means realizing she can't allow that to happen and needs to end their weird relationship as soon as possible. With every day, he was getting closer to her, and there was nothing more terrifying than that. If she could, all she wanted was to keep him as the handsome boy she had a crush on. Whatever that meant, her feelings for him she can't seem to ignore easily; it hurts to have to think about not being able to spend time with him.

" He won't"

" I think I know him more than you. I would say trust me, but you don't." his smile had an effect as her eyes slowly turned and caught it. Somehow, something had changed with how he interacted with her once he had accepted his defeat and was willingly got into the box she would cage him in. Even for her, Junpyo was starting to seem less scary and intimidating once she had boxed in.

" Jihoo doesn't do anything without thinking about it. He is very responsible. If he does something, he has thought about it very well." Junpyo's dark eyes were letting her know he was aware of and was speaking about what Jihoo had done in that magical room. How he knows about everything, she wasn't curious. What he was saying was more important. And there was a reason he was telling her this.

" He doesn't do anything on a whim. You should trust him when he does something."

" I don't trust anybody," the atmosphere was to blame for the subconscious thought that had slipped past her lips. Her statement had startled her, and trying to organize her thoughts, Jandi wasn't ready for what door she had opened for this conversation.

" My therapist would say that is a trauma response." Lucky for her, his eyes were on the moon he had been fascinated by the whole evening, not her. These so-called therapists she didn't even want to walk past; even their title was a trigger. The dark clouds screaming with thunder, even the sky was warning about where this conversation was leading.

" You can't trust the actions of others or their intentions," his raspy voice had turned soft, somehow able to pull her out of her thoughts and recognize what he was saying was true because it was a shared experience and not because he had a special power to see past the gates she has around her. All the work she had done to build her guards and stay in her own world, it was beyond scary how he had slowly been removing layer after layer and was coming right for the thing that defined her whole existence.

" You know why that is?" he asked, glancing her way. Somehow, it seemed like he already knew the answer to something she would never ever admit.

"When we are children, we depend on our caregivers for everything. We learn about the world from them. They were supposed to love us and protect us. When they fail to do that or fail to do it after something major happens to us, we stop trusting them and the world" his right hand brushing his hair; weirdly enough, he was calmer than expected. Not just him; even Jandi wasn't as triggered as one would expect her to be. Her hands tightened their grip around the rustic metal bar she held. Apart from her fingers, which are the first sign of her anxiety, everything else was surprisingly calm. Even her mind was beyond clear as it had only one topic crossing it. He has grabbed her sole attention.

" We learn to see the world as one filled with untrusty people that can harm us at any given time. We learn to lie about who we are just to be safe. We hide our true self. All to protect ourselves so we are not hurt again." That was how he got her to lose the battle before it even began. How he was able to use simple words to describe the dark thoughts she hides even from herself, there was a reason she couldn't quite seem to figure out why she couldn't stop talking to him like she claimed she wanted to. If she was honest with herself, one of the most dangerous things about this man was how curious he makes her about him and how he is able to understand all of this. She can't quite figure out why and she doesn't like not knowing things. Her focused eyes zooming on his left profile; she chose to stay on his eyes. Waiting for them to turn her way and tell her everything he wasn't saying. She has learned to trust them.

" Why wouldn't you trust people when everybody kneels at your feet?" she asked, hoping his eyes would turn her way, but they didn't.

" Because all of them kneel at my feet."

" If you are expecting me to feel sorry for you because people want you for your money" she didn't finish it. She didn't have to. She should have been curious about why she was so quickly defensive about not wanting to feel sorry for him.

" haha. You're the last person I expect to feel sorry for me." Her eyes lowered to his smile, she questioned if there was something hidden behind what he just said and how he had said it.

" I am the most spoiled person; what do I have to complain about, right?" his eyes were finally turned her way. And just like she expected them, they told her he knew what he said was what she was about to say. He was fully aware of how she saw him.

" You talk a lot."

"Haha," her words weren't expected at all, and he had to hide his face as he started laughing.

" That is new." his statement reminded her of everybody who had told her how much he doesn't talk to people. From Jihoo to Junhee, all have mentioned how he doesn't usually talk to people. But here he was saying everything.

"It's funny how you didn't even try to dismiss what I said."

" Maybe because I don't care what you think"

" and not because I am right." He crossed his arms as he stood straight up, she had to raise her eyes to keep them on his face. He had just realized something; she could see it in his eyes and she was annoyed that she couldn't tell what it was. She doesn't like it when she doesn't know what he was thinking. It made her feel uneasy. A symptom of not trusting people. Her need to know everything the other person is thinking, she needs it so she can have an escape strategy. The fact that every space she is in was considered as unsafe; every person she interacted with was seen as able to harm her; the constant state of unease and being harmed she lived in was the root cause of her anxiety that can't be silenced easily but escaped from. Most of the time by attacking the ones hurting her, and she has chosen to do so by digging into his.

" Why do you have therapists?'

" Because I'm sick" his uncrossed hands, she watched as they were sent to his pockets. The wind brushing against her was associated with the coldness of his hands she had glanced at.

" it takes two doctors with degrees all over their walls to figure out why am this fucked up" The awkward smile of his, his eyes that stayed on her had caused the red flag that was waved for her which she had ignored. The wind brushing against her, whatever his eyes were whispering to her had a melody of its own as it took over the silence between them.

" You don't seem that fucked up to me" her soft voice, she wasn't sure of what she said as his reaction to it had left her confused.

" haha" his smile getting bigger, his eyes were quickly turned away from her. Her observation skills, her eyes shifted to his right hand that was sent to his hair. She watched as his hands kept brushing his hair. His head he shook, she really had no idea why what she said was getting such a reaction.

" You shouldn't be nice to me" his whole body turned her way, he brought his convincing eyes her way. The plea they were presenting to her, she chose to ignore.

" Is that a trauma response too?' she asked, crossing her arms as she also turned her body his way.

" Why don't you accept people being nice to you?" She knew she had the upper hand, what she didn't know was, unlike her, being honest was his best weapon.

" I said you shouldn't, not people" If the red flag her intuition was giving her wasn't enough a lighting had hit the city. The spark of light that cut through the dark sky behind him, even the universe was giving her a warning sign of the thin line she was on as she stood there. His hair brushed behind his ear, which started moving and his cardigan were the only thing in motion, as she was forced to stand still with her eyes on him and only him.

" Why not me?" she knew she shouldn't have asked. She knew better than that but something had gotten the best of her.

" Because you're Jihoo's girlfriend" he chose to respond with the name that would end the conversation. What he was choosing not to say was so obvious but she was lost to pick on any of it.

" And you hate me" he added something she understood very well.

" We should go back before the rain" Junpyo pointing at the dark clouds knew she didn't have a comeback to what he said. And he was right as she turned her attention to the door and started walking. This conversation was over.

Jandi leading the way, she was okay with it until her mind paused its thoughts and recognized why her body was feeling weird. It was all thanks to how he was behind her. Why his being behind her was making her tense was odd and she found her answer when she turned around as she caught his eyes looking at her in that weird way he does. With his hands in his pocket, Junpyo didn't have to do much other than stay steps behind her to put her body on edge. It wasn't his fault but he was blamed. Neither were aware of how the tension that binds them was a natural occurrence when they were this close and one has anytype of provocative thought about the other. Right now, the culprit was him but he wasn't aware how he could do it with just the way he was looking at her. For now, he was blind to that power he had. And once he becomes aware of it, only God could help her then. The black dress that perfectly hugged her body he has been trying to avoid, it wasn't his fault he couldn't escape from admiring it as she started walking in front of him. How every step she took seemed sensual thanks to the fabric softly moving to highlight it, no one would fault him for giving into his thoughts. When zippers had become so enthralling to look at, it was puzzling as his eyes had repeated their slow scan of the zipper line that goes down her back. The subconscious desire to be the one to slowly pull it down to unravel what the fabric was hiding, the second it had crossed over to his consciousness his lower lip was where the energy was sent as he bit it.

As though that was not enough to stir his inner peace, the wind had brushed her hair away exposing her neck. Her glowing skin forbidden to his touch, it was worrying how his right hand, which was forming an instinctual need to caress it, had reacted to her exposed neck. Her face turned around, her chin almost resting against her shoulder, he was given a sight that would halt his reality. The second time it happened tonight. Her bewitching eyes that blinked had pressed a button turning everything else to happen in slow motion as her face turned around. How such a simple action had left his mind blank, he really was losing his mind. How she could make him crave things he will never have with just a blink? Jandi was accumulating powers she wouldn't be aware of anytime soon too.

More focused on getting away from him, she turned around and she rushed to the door. Her right hand pulling the handle, she tried again and again. It seemed to have been locked. Before she tried one last time, her body was sent to be on high alert as his towering body closed the gap between them. Her back he made contact with wasn't even processed as his right hand heading to the door handle was what needed an immediate reaction. Her hand she pulled away had escaped right before he touched hers. His body that didn't even make contact with hers, her whole body was reacting just to its proximity.

How her small frame could fit into his embrace perfectly, neither could take note of since they had more dire things. His body she could feel less than an inch from her, she knew exactly what triggered the minor shock her body experienced. It was his hair that brushed against her neck as he lowered his head that was brought to her right shoulder. He had to lean to reach the door but that wasn't the only reason he did it. His warm body, the energy emanating from it was not only felt all over skin but demanded a reaction which it got. His scent instantly polluting all the air she was breathing, the moment it filled her lungs, her body was ordered to shut down as she clutched herself in. The only part of her brain working was ordering everything to shut down before the diluted air reached her mind and reached the hidden box that had imprisoned all the emotions she had deemed useless. A box that was created once she hit puberty. A box filled with all types of hunger and thirst only he could satisfy if she ever lets him. The intoxicating scent of his that seems to know the exact locations of where she kept the dust covered 'useless box", Danger. Danger, was all the voice in her head was screaming. Her unconsciousness he had lifted, her heart had jumped a beat when she was made aware of the existence of the emotions she had thought were beneath her.

As though he was aware of what was happening to her, Junpyo had used another weapon of his; he wasn't aware of how it worked against her as much as it did on other girls. His voice she had claimed to hate, he expected her to not be affected by it.

" press down and then pull left" his deep voice had whispered, forcing her eyes to shut. The warm air he breathed reached the sensitive skin of her neck, it had sent the electric shock wave down the left side of her body. From her neck to the tip of her toe, the wave of his raspy voice had transported through every nerve of hers sending her brain an SOS signal. Thankful, his right hand pulled away and he had slowly left her personal space as he took a step back.

The girl that wasn't moving, he had gotten his answer about how the tension driving him wild wasn't something only he could feel. That he wasn't going insane with the wild thoughts that had made his night sleepless. At least once, he had gotten some form of confirmation there was something he can't quite name going between them. The way she reacts to him, he knew to trust his intuition that it was because she could feel what has been driving him crazy. The cost he had to pay for that confirmation was heavy as all the physical craving burning at his skin was immediately eliminated. Her shaken body froze a step away from him; all he could see was how she instantly seemed so small and fragile. So frail, to the point the strong wind seemed able to take her away. The string that tightened around his heart, the soreness that took over him was new. Never has he felt anything remotely close to what he was feeling as he stood behind her. Only God knows what happened as every inch of him was begging to just want to hold her, embrace her until all of it stopped. Enclose her and hide her away from it all. All her pain he keeps poking at; he has no idea what was waiting for his already weak heart that can't see her like this. His protective nature was reaching a new high, she was pulling something new out of him.

Her sadness he was already willing to carry on his shoulders, all the pain she kept hidden so she wouldn't lose her sanity, what all of that would do to him was deadly.

" I," his regretful voice was ignored as she moved. With her quick steps, she swiftly opened the door and started rushing down the hallway. She was running away from him, and he had stood there watching her until the door she stumbled against closed seconds later.

The cigarettes he doesn't have anymore, he had chosen to stay behind to let the cold wind help calm him down.. He needs to find a way to stay away from her at least for tonight. The 20 minutes he wasted, he wasn't aware of the people looking for him as his phone silenced hadn't been able to catch his attention.

" You're back." Yijeong gave her a big smile, which wasn't reciprocated.

" I am going to leave. It's getting late." She gave the whole table a fake smile.

"What time is it? Oh, it's almost 3."

" Oppa, wait," the girl had grabbed Woobin's hand. His phone, he read the time on, had almost slipped from his grip and hit him.

" Oh thanks," the two smiled at each other; Jandi didn't have any mental capacity to be amazed by it. Her mind had only one goal: getting home. She had no emotion left, all of it was shut down. Not even amazement. Her body knew how to protect itself. The cold water she washed her face with, the time she spent in the bathroom aggressively whipping the lipstick away from her face and taking her jewelry off, had been enough to reorganize herself. The mini-tasks she had given herself, that was how could manage her anxiety. The first step was leaving this place. Then she needs to find a taxi to get home. A quick shower would be followed by sleep.

" Where is Junpyo? He said Jihoo told him to make sure you got home." Yijeong started looking around

" What?" her hand sent to grab her coat paused, Jandi asked.

" Jihoo asked him to take you home." Yijeong was too drunk to recognize why she seemed so shocked.

" that is why he wasn't drinking, '' Yijeong added, grabbing his phone and dialing Junpyo's number.

" You don't have to call him. I will just take a taxi service." Jandi quickly picked up her jacket and started moving away.

" No please wait "

" It's okay. I prefer the taxi"
"Why is he not picking up"

" Hey, wait," Yijeong standing up tried but Jandi was quick with her steps.

" It's okay"
" I will take a taxi. Let him get drunk with you" Turning around she was almost running as she headed away. The stairs leading down were her goal. She didn't even look behind as she focused her eyes on the exit hallway out of the dance floor. The dancing bodies that had filled the floor, she decided to find another route than walk through them. For many reasons, it was better to use another door than the main entrance.

Her bag placed across her shoulder was moved to her back as she flipped her jacket around and put it on. Her marching steps matched the beat of the song she was leaving behind. The focused Jandi was on as she zipped her jacket up. Her eyes still surrounded by the heavy dark eyeshadow that had now created a different shape thanks to the face she had tried to wash, she could thank the dark hallway she walked into for hiding her face away from the waiter that passed her.

The exit sign she could see at a distance, she chose to keep her hands by her side as she continued her walk through the almost dark hallway. Her eyes noticing the thick metal doors, and the private rooms she was walking past Jandi was fully aware of all the illegal stuff that goes on at these undisclosed places that are a playground for the rich. To be honest, nothing happening behind these closed doors would come close to what she sees in the underground she lives in. But she knew riches and fame always tend to make these filthy people want to play dangerous games to satisfy their desires that can never be fulfilled. The whole world she wants to burn to ashes to get rid of these people, the hauntingly dark space she was walking across was a reminder of her goal which she seemed to have forgotten about thanks to the two boys who have started infiltrating her world.

" huh," she sighed as she turned her focus to finding an exit and just focusing on getting home. But the universe had other goals as the last metal door she was about to pass was opened.

The waiter walking out carrying the plate of empty bottles, her ever-quick eyes had taken advantage of the small gap between his leg and the door as she peaked inside. After a quick scan before the door shut, her eyes were raised back to the waiter. He gave her a smile which she matched. She continued her walk as she replayed the image her mind had taken. The disco light had made it hard to see what was happening but her eyes had only needed a second to catch the girl's body that was lying unconscious on the couch. The two men sitting next to the body, singing along to the song that was screaming, the sight wasn't new to Jandi. It wasn't new but that doesn't mean it was a sight she could walk away from.

The image that kept replying in her mind had slowed down her marching. Her consciousness was always her weakest point as she tried to remind herself of Bom's words. Their goal wasn't saving people but revenge. The best use of their talents wasn't to be wasted on saving one person at a time, it was to stay in the shadows and eliminate those causing the harm.

The image of the girl still replying in her head, Jandi used her right leg, that was reminding her it was ready to break some bones, to push open the exit door. Not just her leg, her teeth were ordered to bite her tongue and test her blood rather than the blood her hands were starting to itch for as she quickened her steps up the stairs. The image that triggered the deadly beast she was trained to be, she knew she had to get away to calm it down. The lit hallway she walked into, the exit door to the parking lot in the back was her goal. The gush of wind that welcomed her when she stepped out, she took a deep breath closing her eyes. The image that kept playing was now even in a clearer view as she was forced to take in the things her observation has picked on. The main one being the torn dress that exposed the girl's thighs. Her legs that were not even willing to take another step, Jandi stood there taking deep breaths. Fighting against herself. Trying to silence the darkness that was peaking in and trying to take control over her.

" huh" she kept taking deep breaths as she made a choice. Her six senses that never fails, she decided to trust herself as she let the Jandi not that many get to see, take over.

Her bag moved to the front, she opened the exit door and quickened her steps to the same directions she had taken to get here. The stairs down to the dark rooms, she started calculating options of what she could do. All of it would be removed as she walked into the dark hallway to catch the only man whose side profile she had seen sitting next to the girl walking away. Her legs paused, she stood by the wall. Thankfully the hallway was dim enough for her to hide against the wall as she watched the two men walking in the direction of the club section.

Her intuition was always best to trust, she had gotten her answer to why she couldn't even physically walk away from what she had seen. As she turned her shaken eyes from the man to the one he was talking to. Her heartbeat had immediately started rushing as opposition to her breathing which was slowed. Her hands turned into fists, her whole body was triggered as she watched the smile on Woobin's brother laughing at what the man was saying.

That was the only clue she needed.

With her sharp eyes, she fastened her soundless steps out the door the two men walked past. The burner phone she pulled out of her bag was placed in her jacket pocket, just in case she needed to get back up. The dance floor and the loud sound she ignored, she found the two men walking around the edge to head upstairs. She knew where they were headed as she stayed mixed in with the crowd on the dance floor. Her eyes didn't miss anything. she carefully watched the laughs the two were exchanging. None of the people brushing against her had even registered as her killer eyes focused on their target. The two men picking up their coats, she was glad it had taken them only a few minutes before they came back down. Hiding behind the bar, she had let them walk past the dance floor. Once they headed into the dark hallway, she chose to follow behind. The two laughing hadn't noticed her as she followed them out of the parking lot. Hidden behind the other cars, she had taken pictures of both cars they got into.

The cars leaving the parking lot, she stood up once she saw them leave one after the other. She stood there until the two cars disappeared out of her sight.

Beep - the loud sound that got her attention, she turned around to the car that was driving to the path she was standing by. With the two steps back she took, the car drove slowly past her. Her eyes rather than on the driver were on the body in the back seat. The girl's face she couldn't shake off, she had gotten a better view as she saw the bouncing head move closer to the window by her side. She had seen enough unconscious bodies to recognize the lifeless body that was driven past her. Her eyes shifting to the plate number, she repeated it, and again until it was imprinted. Her eyes on the back seat, Janid wasn't aware of her fingers that were scratching at her skin to draw the first blood. The body she was watching get away, she knew what would become of it. The question was what she would do to save it. The car driving past the gate, she watched as it slowly started joining the main road. What could she even do?

The universe had given her the answer as she turned around to the loud bang she heard from the exit door. Her scary eyes, Junpyo brushing his hair, had looked up to find them on him.

"I thought you

" Where is your car?" she interpreted asking. Not only the look in her eye, but even the tone of her voice had changed.

" There" he pointed to the VIp section in front of her.

" Keys" Her right hand was extended his way. Junpyo didn't waste a second, let alone ask any question as he threw his key her way. The way she grabbed his keys was nothing compared to the way she was rushing to his car. She looked alarming.

With her fast steps, he followed behind as he now got a full view of her body which had weird energy around it.

"Are you okay?' his question didn't have the answer. The car she unlocked, her eyes were turned to the noise it made when she pressed the unlock button. His steps he had to fasten to match hers, he headed to the passenger side as she took the driver. The door she shut behind her, the engine was turned on before she even sat down. The car she knew how to maneuver, before her seat belt was on, it was starting to move. The slow press she had made on the gas pedal was followed by the sharp turn she made to get the car out of the parking space and head to the gate. Junpyo, buckling his belt, focused his eyes on her face. Something had happened in the last ten minutes.

Her eyes that didn't seem like they were even blinking, she stepped on the gas. Seeing her driving his car that always gets him, Junpyo couldn't help but notice her hands on the steering wheel. The wheel she was smoothly twisting to make all the turns she needed to join the main road. The way her eyes coordinate with her hands as she glances at all mirrors before she makes quick turns, there was something about the way she drove that made her so impressive to watch. The gas she pressed once she saw the car, his attention was lifted to where she was trying to get to.

" What is going on?" now concerned, he asked but got no answer. Her red hands, the moment he noticed them tighten their grip, and somehow that motion made him aware of what they wanted to do he turned his attention to what she was looking at. There were only two cars and one truck in front of them.

"Woo," he had leaned back as the speed she increased had brought them closer to the truck. A quick glance at the mirror on his side than the rearview mirror she stepped on the brake as she made the smooth turn to join the lane on the right. Her right feet on the gas, she had dashed past the truck. Her eyes that hadn't missed their focus, she had joined the next right lane as she stepped on the gas. His car responded to all her demands, this was what it was built for. The cars that turned right, it seemed like she was following it as she cut a car to follow it. The driver screaming at her ignored , and she had made a sharp turn right. The car ahead of them, Junpyo got his answer as she slowed down her speed, choosing to stay behind the only other car on the road. The black Benz. It wasn't a car he recognized. The Benz wording away, she matched it as she increased their speed.

" Please put your belt on" His hand that was sent to her side was immediately pulled back as her terrifying eyes turned his way. The anger fuming from her body was enough to warn him to not even dare.

The freeway they joined, they didn't drive long as the car exited and was headed down smaller roads. The last turn the car made, she had slowed down as she saw it pull up to a building. Junpyo was the first to notice the motel sign. Driving into the parking lot, she chose the parking space on the other side. The engine she still had on, Junpyo carefully watched as she leaned forward to see the man get out of the car they were following and walk up the stairs to the building. The lobby they could see from where they were asked, he was heading to the front desk. Unlike he expected she hadn't done anything but sit there, looking at the car. What she was staring at he would get his answer as the man returned and opened the back seat. The girl he pulled out held close to him, Junpyo's eyes immediately turned to Jandi. Her horrifying eyes, his shocked eyes were lowered to her crossed arms and her fingers scratching her skin.

" What the fuck is going on?" Junpyo asked as he returned his eyes to the two walking up the stairs. The girl the man was holding, both Jandi and Junpyo knew enough about drugs to realize why the girl was taking steps and walking along even though she looked out of it. Junpyo's shocked and confused mind needed time while Jandi was busy weighing all the options of what she could do.

The man came down the stairs not even 10 minutes later, Junpyo didn't know what was going on as he watched her take off her jacket.

" hey," Junpyo's attempt was useless as the jacket was thrown on her seat and she got out of the car. Unable to even get his confused body to respond, Junpyo sat there as he watched her quickly walk to the man coming down the stairs.

Junpyo, holding the jacket she threw down, had kept his eyes on her as he watched how she started acting drunk once she got to the stairs. With her wobbly steps, the man had come to her rescue before she fell. Unable to believe his eyes, Junpyo watched as her right hand was sent to the right pocket;where they both saw him put the paper he walked out within. The way she had smoothly grabbed the paper wasn't comparable to the flirtatious smile she was extending to the man as she thanked him for helping her. The steps she tried correcting she started going up while the man stood there watching her.

The way the man had scanned her up and down, Junpyo was also a man and knew what that look meant. His subconscious reaction to it, he had slowly gotten out of the car. Her jacket in his hand, by the time he got to the store, the man was already by his car. His attention on Jandi he went up the stairs to find her in the lobby. The elevator she was heading to, Junpyo didn't ask as he quickened his steps to follow her.

" What are you doing? " he asked right as the door closed behind him. The man behind the desk had looked to see them and concluded they were together and had already booked a room. Her lack of response didn't matter as his attention was brought to her bag she moved to the front right when the elevator opened. The paper in her hand she glanced at the boldly written room 207. That was her target as Junpyo looking around them followed behind. He had to stop as she stopped right in front of room 207.

The backup passcode on the receipt she had stolen. She entered the numbers. The clicking sound of the door, Junpyo watching everything she was doing, saw how she placed the paper in her bag before her right hand was sent to rest by her thigh. The knife he knew of, Junpyo watched as her left hand slowly opened the door. The room they walked into, even the light was turned off as he followed her fast steps to the adjacent room. The body laying on the bed, that was when the jacket in his hand almost dropped from his grip. His brain needed a minute to compute what was going on, he stood there as Janid walked to the body on the bed. The sleeve of her dress pulled, she rested her right hand on the girl's head, she wasn't that warm. Jandi's right hand was brought to the girl's nose, she analyzed if she was breathing correctly. Every sign she was looking for, at least the girl was alive was all she could conclude.

Her right hand slowly moving the blanket away, she focused on the legs. The torn dress, Jandi was collecting the few pieces of evidence she would need to decide what she wants to do. When the body moved , her eyes were shifted to the neck now exposed thanks to the hair that was away.

" What the Fuck" Junpyo's words were to faint to even reach his own ears. His eyes from what had frozen his body in total shock turned to Jandi that got off the bed and took the three steps he was staying away from the bed.

" Stay here" The command she gave him wasn't using words but her ready to kill eyes. In the room she left him in, he was left to face the body lying on the bed, half covered by the blanket.

His eyes that coudn't even blink away, a mix of horror and anger was taking over him as his eye spick on things they had missed like the marks around her wrist. The razor marks he had covered with tattoos, he would be one to recognize them as another sting had aimed for his heart as he questioned what type of life the unconscious girl laying there must have lived to have these marks. What it takes to want to die, he knew the weight of those emotions to not feel beyond sorry for the stranger he was left to watch. Not even an inch, he was standing there when Janid returned minutes later. The car she wanted to tag the man had left before she even made it down. At least she had pictures of the car and mental images of his face.

The Jandi that returned wasn't the same as he watched her walk past him and quickly head to the body that was now showing signs. Her quick steps to the bed, she had swiftly lifted the head of the girl up. The nauseated looking unconscious body, Jandi's dress was limiting her from moving freely as she tried sitting the girl up. Her dress pulled up to let the small slit reach her thighs, Jandi pushed the girl to sit up as she started checking for signs.

" huh" Jandi's frustrated voice at how hard it was to pick the girl's body up was able to get him out of the trance he was in as Junpyo rushed to the bed and easily lifted the girl up. The slow movement of his, he had placed his hands across the girls waist as he held most of her weight while they carried her up from the bed.

" Bathroom" Jandi commanded as they turned left. Her lead he followed, he lowered the girl at the bathroom stool Jandi was lowering her to. Holding only the girl's head up, Jandi had kneeled down to be the one to hold the girl.

" Toothbrush" she asked, sending her eyes to the packaged amenities by the sink. Junpyo leaning on the toothbrush handed her the plastic wrapped tool before he stood up. The plastic she pulled away, the toothbrush was sent to the girl's mouth. The tooth brush she was slowly pushing in, he knew what and why she was doing what she was doing. His right hand sent to the girl, he grabbed the girl's hair that was getting everywhere and held her head up, to make it easy for Jandi. Whatever she had consumed, Jandi knew exactly what she was doing as she pulled the toothbrush out at the right moment before the girl started throwing up.

" Can you" Jandi didn't finish her sentence as she took over the girl's hair and Junpyo quickly shifted to the bathtub next to them. How he knew what she was asking of him, neither had the time to realize they don't need words to communicate, not even words were necessary sometimes.

The water he turned on, he kept his hand underneath it until it turned cold. To help regulate her body and make her alert until they figure out what to do, he knew a cold shower was what Jandi had in mind. Jandi slowly pulled the girl to the bath, Junpyo helped pull the faucet closer to the girl's head Jandi brough to the bathtub. Her head she was softly brushing, and Jandi was even more gentle as she washed the girl's face. Her sole focus was on what she was doing, she wasn't even remotely worried that Junpyo was witnessing all of this. To be honest, she didn't care about him using this as another clue. She has more important things to worry about. Things that could finnlay solve the greatest puzzle of her life.

The towel used to wrap the girl's head. Junpyo had decided to take the body as he softly picked the girl up. The warm body he was holding, he was sure her body was reacting to whatever she had consumed. Walking back to the bed, he gently placed her down.

Jandi, who didn't walk to the bedroom, had closed the bathroom door as she pulled her usual phone out of her bag. The faucet she turned on was quick as she dialed for two numbers, neither of which were Bom or Ctrl, who she was expected to call in case she needed anything.

" She needs to see a doctor" the second she walked out of the bathroom, Junpyo pointed at the sick looking body. Jandi, picking her jacket Junpyo had placed on the bed, wrapped the girl up with it.

" Let's go" she said as her attempt to lift the body up was taken over by how easily he lifted the girl up.

" How are we going to walk with a body out of" his question was silenced as she glanced at him. He doesn't need to ask how and why, just follow. The room they walked out of, Jandi seemed confident as Junpyo glanced up at the cameras. The red dot he expected to see, they didn't seem to be working as they walked past them. And he was right. Jandi has been here enough times to know these cameras never worked and even if they did, Ctrl would do his magic and erase any evidence before sunrise, if she asked.

The back exit she was leading them to, he was confused by how she knew every turn and where every door would lead to as she got them out into the parking lot. The rain drops now starting to drop, neither were concerned about what was attacking them as they continued walking to his car. The loud thunder and lighting, the body he was holding, for a second was forgotten about as Junpyo landed his eyes on Jandi leading the way. The raindrops plastering her dress to her skin, the question that had started his fascination with her had returned as he was now lost on who on earth this girl is.

The dots he will connect throughout the weekend for now he chose to just watch her body getting drenched by the rain that had turned heavy once they saw his car. The body placed in the back seat, Junpyo knew he was expected to be in the passenger seat. Their wet bodies, he was the one to turn the heater on as Jandi started driving the car out of the parking lot. The rain he wasn't fond of touching him, he had to silence his itching skin to get rid of the water drops that had sinked past his cloth. His issue was nothing compared to what he had witnessed tonight, and he chose to silence his anxiety by the only method he didn't like. His right hand sent to the glove compartment had pulled the tiny plastic bag as he pulled one of the blue pills and swallowed without any water.

The rain attacking the city, Jandi didn't seem concerned by the wet road as her speed across the road was the same as when they were driving here. Where they were going, he didn't question for a second even when she started making turns he couldn't recognize. The bridge they crossed, his eyes had been on the beautiful view of the city he was leaving behind. Somehow his side of the city looked more enchanting from here. Maybe it was the rain. Another 20 minutes on the freeway and she had exited to the side of town he had never seen. The empty streets on his side of town, here there were still people walking around. Those working night shifts, those staying late to serve those sending their last money being entertained and filling their stomach with alcohol, this side of town was still lively.

The rain making the bold blue and red lights of the signs around, the people they were driving past looked just as enthralling as the lights did in the rain. The different type of night life he was used to, she had made two left turns before he was given a chance to see the cheapest services one can get from the dressed up women standing against the wall. A sight that would stay with him, the smaller roads they were taking were now getting dark as Jandi slowed to eventually park the car at the corner. The darkness covering from anybody noting the brand of his car, Junpyo wasn't for a second worried about where they were as he slowly moved out the car following Jandi. The rain that welcomed them, it was even harsher now as he couldn't even open his eyes as he opened the back seat. The girl he pulled to his side before lifting her up, he followed Jandi who had made sure to lock his car this time.

Their walk to the building ahead, he was told to watch his steps as the rain hitting the dusty floor was sending the dirty water to his shoes and pants. Unlike him, the open heels she had on had left her feet exposed to the cold water hitting it. The small sign of the clinic he saw, he got his answer to where they were as he walked past the door she held open for him. The warm hallway, he followed her lead as he scanned the medical signs across . Most seem to be about sexual transmited diseases and such as he questioned what type of clinic is this.

"You're here' his attention was brough to the man in the white coat that peaked from the room ahead.

" Who is this?" the man asked his cheery attention to Jun Pyo. What type of doctor is this to be curious about him and not the body he was holding. How these people have seen worse to be desensitized to it, he couldn't even see that as a possibility.

" Bring her here, '' the doctor commanded. Junpyo did what he was told as he took the girl to the examination room and placed her on the bed.

" Alcohol?" the doctor putting on his gloves asked.

" No, some type of tranquiliser am guessing," Jandi answered pointing with her eyes to the marks across the girl's body.

" I see' the doctor and her seem to be talking about something else as Junpyo watched the two before both were told to leave the room.

The waiting hallway, the bench was where he was expected to sit while Jandi left to the other side. Junpyo, taking the cardigan off, has used it to get rid of any water that was over his body. Every sign on the wall, he read carefully he had even gotten the board with all the employees and the mission of the clinic. He got his answer as to why she had driven here as they were anonymous and didn't ask any questions and provided service for free. Why would she know of such a place? The moment he started thinking about her she had returned from the corner she disappeared to.

" You can leave '' she looked different was all he took away, ignoring her words. Her rain wet face she had completely washed. All her makeup was gone. Her wet hair she had also tied away, her bare face was in front of him as she waited for his response.

" She will be okay," she added, hoping that will get him to leave. He had seen enough and she needed him to leave so she could deal with what he had seen and the assumptions he was going to make about her based on tonight on top of the dilemma of what to do with the girl.

" Please leave" her hands held behind her back, she didn't have the energy to use anything else but plead to get him to leave. She needs him to go away. Why he was the last person she wanted to spend another minute around was alarming. The discomfort was all over her as Junpyo stood up from the bench.

" I will owe you for what you did tonight. "Her right hand coming from her back held out his car key. Her eyes that were only glancing his way for a second and looking away, Junpyo was confused by what had changed. She seemed like she was trying hard to seem bothered but looked disturbed. She didn't seem like the Jandi he was used to seeing. Well he had seen so many versions of her today, none of which he had seen before. The girl that had frozen to his closeness at the roof, the one ready to kill that was driving his car, the one filled with care that was washing the girls face and now this. None of them seemed as important as his need to understand the one in front of him now.

" huh" he had been the only one to sigh as his fingers that touched hers picked on the coldness of her hand. The point of contact between their hands,the tiny sensation at the surface of her skin had forced her to look up at him.

" Will you be okay? He asked, his eyes taking the opportunity and demanding an honest answer. The worry in his eyes couldn't be anymore blunt. All the red flags being waved for her, she didn't need them as she knew to look away from his eyes. She needs to get away from him.

" That doesn't matter" her dismissive attitude that was always used to cover up for how she can't seem to lie to his eyes, Jandi had tried walking away but her right hand was held forcing her to turn around.

" it matters to me" his tight grip on her hand wasn't even fully registered as she turned around, her eyes brought back to him. Her body put out on high alert, it was all thanks to her heart being taken back to the deadly strange place he keeps pulling her into.

" It's all that matters to me," he added, loosening his grip. He doesn't need to hold her, his melancholy eyes were holding her in captivity already.