She remembers the words as clearly as if someone had just uttered them minutes ago. 

What if they left all of this behind? Leave it all and start again somewhere else. A place where they knew no one and no one knew them.

At the time, Haru didn’t know how important those words would be – 

Not until she badly wanted those words, the promises, to come true. 

The bang. 

The drop of the body. 

The color red. 

These memories never did bother her as much as it has recently. It was this place. It’s the trigger. 

From behind, Haru hears the soft footsteps upon hardwood floor coming up behind her but they hardly stir her from her thoughts. Remaining on the floor, with her legs pulled up against her chest, Haru kept her eyes on one spot in the hallway. 

The cold spot beside her is filled by the sudden presence of the number one most annoying guy.

But, what a surprise.

He’s not trying to drag her off to bed this time. 

“…How old were you?” Jongup wonders aloud. 

“Nine.”

There’s a bit of silence before his voice fills it once more. “Was it that spot there?”

“What’s with the curiosity suddenly?” 

“Just trying to figure out what you’re planning.”

“This is a mental assessment – you want to know if I’ve lost it.” Haru retorts. “I’m fine…it’s my old man that can’t seem to deal with it well.”

“Then, why are you out here just staring at that spot in the empty hallway and at this time of night?”

“Don’t question me.” She answers before realizing she may be proving his point. “…I’m just thinking about where it went wrong.”

Jongup, startled by her soft tone, takes a second to register it. This just may be the first time Haru was seriously revealing her thoughts. 

Quick footsteps run out of Haru’s bedroom and hurries toward the stairs – successfully interrupting the silence. The two turn around from their positions to find Barom fixing his button-down shirt, seemingly in a rush.

Oh, right, he had dozed off when she left her bedroom.

“Relax.” Jongup calls out.

Barom snapped his head up and stared at the two.

“I didn’t escape.” Haru places her hand up to give him a wave.

He drops his head back and releases a sigh of relief before walking back towards them. “I lost my cool a bit.” He mutters quietly. 

Haru chuckles as she stands to her feet. “Let’s go, sleepyhead.” She taps Barom’s shoulder before heading back to her bedroom. 

***

This wasn’t exactly what she expected once waking up in the morning. 

So, it was only right that she’s a little ticked off.

“Where are we going?”

“To a meeting.”

Looking away from the car’s window, Haru shoots a look towards her dad. Both her and he knew she wouldn’t take his words at face value. So, she didn’t bother to push for an honest reveal, rather, she’ll just wait and see for herself.

And, upon arrival at the room at the back of the club, what did she see?

A long table with old men and it could mean only one thing.

“You took me to a gang meeting?” She hissed in her dad’s direction while the group noticed their appearance. 

“It’s better to expose you to it now.” He simply says while taking his seat at the head of the table. 

“Sir.” A chorus of voices acknowledge him. 

With little to no interest, Haru pulls out her phone and scrolls through the news while standing behind her dad with Barom and Jongup on each side of her. Her fingers freeze – she didn’t need to scroll any further as the top ten stories are about Nabi.

Panic hits her hard. 

Opening the articles one by one, she reads the content. Only when she made sure her name or existence wasn’t mentioned or insinuated did she release the breath she was holding. Jongup nudges her from the side and motions her to listen onto the meeting. 

Slipping her phone away, she places her attention forward. 

Pari, Mogi, Beol, Beolle, Nabang, and Geomi – all six gangs under Nabi were present. 

“Before you say anything, Boss,” a voice speaks up, “we know what this is about and you have our loyalty.” 

The comment draws her dad’s attention but his expression allows no room for deciphering. 

“Let’s also address the other big elephant in the room.” Eight joins in. “We were not responsible for the kidnapping of your daughter, Haru. In fact, we found the people who did it and punished them – or the ones Jongup didn’t find – rightfully.”

Well, that’s interesting. Is he going to make it believable?

Haru looks from Eight’s face and down to the man he’s standing behind – he must be back-stabbing Jieun’s dad. 

Eight leans forward and slides the folder forward and it makes its way towards her dad. “All eight men responsible are in there.”

“Haru.” The traitor’s dad calls out. “Jieun and you attend the same school, correct? Are you two friendly?”

“I guess you can say that.” Haru replies calmly. 

“Did you like her gifts?”

Haru’s eyebrows rose. “Was it her idea?”

“Well, we suggested them and she agreed.” He responds with a small smile. 

So, she did know about them after all. 

Her dad takes the file and without looking at it, hands it back to Jong