[CHAPTER 27]

"Revelation"

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

The atmosphere was awkward. Almost too awkward in fact as the three of them exchanged silent glances at one another. 

"Um... you're Hongbin's friends right?" Hakyeon finally took the courage to say something.

"That's right," Jaehwan said with a friendly smile.

"From overseas right?"

"Kind of?" Jaehwan tilted his head since he didn't really know where to begin.

"I-I see..."

The silence appeared again. 

This is so awkward. What do I say? Hakyeon sighed. Where do I begin? Ah!

"That's right!" Hakyeon remembered. "Where's Hongbin? What happened to him? Do you guys know where he is?"

"Calm down," Jaehwan said. "We know where Kong is."

"Kong?"

"Our nickname for him."

"I see," Hakyeon said as he thought about how befitting the nickname was for the younger.

"He's back home right now."

"Home?" Hakyeon felt rather confused and even a bit sad," if he went home, why didn't he tell me anything? He could have said something before he left without a word. Do you know when he'll return?"

"Um... that's... well, it's not that easy," Jaehwan said truthfully.

"What do you mean?"

"Hyung, let's just get to the point. There's no point in stalling this conversation any longer. We don't have a lot of time," Wonshik finally said something. 

"Okay..."

"Cha Hakyeon," Wonshik called out.

"Hmm?"

"Until recently, you and all the people you know have forgotten about Hongbin, right?"

"Y-yes! How'd-"

"There's a reason for it. To simply put, Hongbin's existence was erased from your memories."

"W-what?" Hakyeon was very confused.

"Hongbin and us, we did something we were not supposed to. We broke the law and now, he's being punished by it. That punishment was to erase your memories of him."

Hakyeon was still confused. Nothing made sense. Erase my memories? But how?

"We're from a distant universe called Moirae's Edge. Our duties are to monitor humanity and their fate. About three years ago, Hongbin came across a book within our facility that belongs to you."

"A book?"

"A book about your fate. Your past and your present self is written within the book. Believe it or not, but every mankind has a book entitled to their life."

My life... 

Both Jaehwan and Wonshik begins to tell Hakyeon about everything regarding to both the facility and their discovery of Hakyeon's fate. They told him everything that was supposed to be kept a secret. Hakyeon thought it was almost too ridiculous at first, as if it was some kind of story from a nonfiction novel because it sounded too unreal. He didn't know where to begin in believing but as he looked at the serious expression on both Jaehwan and Wonshik, he knew that they were not joking around. The truth was almost too much for him to digest though. It was just too much information all at once that it was hard to comprehend everything all at once.

And the most shocking news wasn't just the fact that Hongbin and his friends might have came from another universe or whatnot, but more so of the fact that Jung Taekwoon is alive.

Taekwoon.... the name suddenly sounded rather haunting to Hakyeon rather than a ring of nostalgia.

"Why would he do this to me...?" Hakyeon asked as he felt like crying almost.

"We believe it's because it was his mission to study you and humanity for the sake of the facilty. He was assigned by the higher ups in order to find out why only your life didn't have a predetermined ending. At first, when Hongbin found your book, your story already had nothing written about how your life would end. We thought that was all to it and we became curious as to why your story looked so strange. But eventually, we found out that your life was that way since the beginning and the council placed Taekwoon in order to forcefully write your ending for you," Wonshik said.

"It was a cruel thing they did. Just because they didn't know how your story would end, they decided how to end it for you instead by placing Taekwoon by your side. You... did so much for him and loved him so much too," Jaehwan sympathized with Hakyeon.

"So you guys know everything about my past?" Hakyeon asked while trying to remain calm. It was rather hard to do though because he realized that the Taekwoon's 'sacrifice' was all an act. In fact, it was an act so that Hakyeon would end his story by himself.

Both Jaehwan and Wonshik nodded.

"And Hongbin too?" he asked again.

"That's right. It's our job to make sure all books are recorded within the records and all answers are to be found about human fate. It's because Hongbin found your book, that he grew to be invested with your story," Wonshik said.

Then the only reason why he approached me is because... he was curious? Hakyeon was beginning to doubt everything around him.

"But he loves you!" Jaehwan shot up from his place.

"Huh?" Hakyeon was taken back by Jaehwan's sudden outburst.

"I've never seen Hongbin behave like the way he did whenever he talked about you. Even while we were reading about what was going on between the two of you here on Earth, both Wonshik and I were shocked to see Hongbin act like a different person. The Lee Hongbin we grew up with... was like a child without a soul. He had no interest in anything, he had no motivation nor did he believe in anything. He trapped himself inside of his room for as long as we could remember and the two of us were at a lost of how to help him. We didn't want him to just live without a soul or without a purpose. Everyone within Moirae's Edge are born with a single goal in mind and that is to watch over human fate and abide to the laws of fate. But Kong, he was different and we grew worried. We thought we would never be able to help him out of his shell but he changed ever since he encountered your story. He didn't think he would become so invested either about knowing who you are and why your story behaved so strangely unlike everyone else."

"We've been with Hongbin for a long time, we've seen how unmoving he can be and having zero ambition. He doesn't care whether the world ends one day or even if he dies. He's a very capable person and he's smarter than he looks but he doesn't care. That's why he's different from us and we got worried. I thought that he would change after entering Moirae's Edge but it wasn't the facility that changed him, but it was you who changed him. That's how much you've influenced him. You were able to do something neither of us could do," Wonshik said.

Because of me...? Hakyeon thought to himself as he thought about Hongbin and their first encounter.

It's true. 

Even since the beginning, Hongbin felt as if he didn't need to care for the world and didn't have many inputs on what he thought. At first, Hakyeon thought that the younger just simply had such an attitude because he was visually appealing but it wasn't the case. Hongbin really didn't care. He had no ambitions nor did he have any purpose. Whenever Hakyeon would ask Hongbin about why he didn't go to school or what he wants to do for his future, the younger would never have an answer. Hongbin simply didn't care.

Hakyeon's existence affected Hongbin greatly and for the first time ever, Hakyeon realized how much he's influenced the younger. Hongbin's world revolved around a man named Cha Hakyeon. And now that they were forced to separate, Hongbin reverted back to how he was initially. 

"What do I need to do?" Hakyeon asked in determination. "I want to help Hongbin. I want to help you guys too. Tell me what to do."

Jaehwan and Wonshik looked at each other then smiled in reassurance that Hakyeon was on their side. 

"InGuk will be giving us a signal when it's the right time. For the time being, we need to also make sure that you are safe and that there's no major change that might happen to you after knowing the truth. Though your story is in our hands, we don't know how it'll affect your fate now that you know the truth. There's also another problem..." Wonshik said.

"Problem?" Hakyeon asked.

"Jung Taekwoon."

"Taekwoon..." Hakyeon couldn't help but feel his chest clenched in pain as the name rung through his mind. 

~

"Um, come in," Hakyeon said as he invited both Jaehwan and Wonshik to stay in his tiny apartment for the time being while they were on Earth.

"Thanks," Wonshik said as he made sure to take off his shoes before stepping into the living room.

"So this was where Kong was staying~" Jaehwan got really excited and went straight into exploration-mode. "He doesn't tell us anything, always so secretive. Wouldn't have hurt to have told us he got such a nice view."

Jaehwan popped out onto the balcony and looked outside at the beautiful view of the main city. Hakyeon's apartment complex have always been the best place to see the city with especially since the neighborhood was a bit higher up than most of the city. 

"It's beautiful," Jaehwan continued. He couldn't stop looking at the mesmerizing scenery ahead of him. 

"Hyung... you're not crying are you?" Wonshik noticed. 

"Haha, of course not," he wiped his tears away before the others could see it. 

Jaehwan turned around with a smile on his face but it was obvious that he really did cry a bit, even if it was for a moment. 

"Cha Hakyeon," he said.

"Yes?" Hakyeon answered.

"Thank you for remembering Hongbin."

"I-" Hakyeon was speechless. 

Hongbin was very special to both Jaehwan and Wonshik just as he was special to Hakyeon, himself. Though the younger rarely talked about his friends, he he knew that the three of them have gone through just as much. Sometimes, friendship doesn't need words. Both Jaehwan and Wonshik have stuck around with Hongbin for a long time without giving up on him and here they are again, in front of Hakyeon and hoping to find a way to save Hongbin from the otherside. 

"I should thank you two instead. I'm sure Hongbin is glad to have the two of you as friends," Hakeon said. 

"Heh," Jaehwan and Wonshik looked at each other and smiled. "You're right."

Both Jaehwan and Wonshik was helping Hakyeon with setting up the table for that night's dinner. The amount of food increased and even the table had extra sets of cutlery for both of the guests. Though it was a very sudden meeting between the three of them, strangely enough, they didn't feel very awkward at all. Maybe it could have been that both Jaehwan and Wonshik have read Hakyeon's story for a long time, they know pretty much everything about him while Hakyeon have heard stories of the two from Hongbin as well. The three of them talked about a lot of things while they ate together, and it was all mainly about Hongbin. 

~

Bam!

"I won't forget this. I won't forgive them," Taekwoon slammed hard at his desk.

"Sir, are you okay?" his assistant asked. 

"Get out," he commanded in frustration. "I want to be alone."

Confused and frightened, everyone cleared themselves from Taekwoon's office. Never has he felt so infuriated about something and even though he's tried to keep his poker-face whenever he was around people, he couldn't hide the anger he felt inside.

First, Hakyeon's book was taken from him and now he felt as if everyone was against him, using him then throwing him away. 

Taekwoon walked into the room where the vault was located, the door was still left open after he found out that it was empty inside. The moment he found out that Hakyeon's book was taken from him, he knew right away who the culprits were. He knew that it was strange that both Wonshik and even Jaehwan was around his office at the same time but he really didn't think that his intuitions were right. Everyone of Moirae's Edge was born to believe in the facility and it has always been this case since the beginning of time yet now, one by one, they were beginning to change. 

He couldn't believe that both Jaehwan and Wonshik would rather throw away their achievements for something as foolish as 'friendship'. The two of them worked so long and hard to get to where they were and they were nearly there to become the next Supervisors of their department. Even Taekwoon took many years in order to get placed in his position. If it wasn't because he left Moirae's Edge in order to study the fate of Cha Hakyeon, he might never have gotten this chance. After returning to the facility, he thought that everything would be over because all has ended and even Hakyeon's story had ascended. 

That's what he thought. 

Then one day, Jaehwan introduced his friend Lee Hongbin to him and right away, Taekwoon had a strange feeling from the boy. But he couldn't pinpoint as to what it was in the beginning. He noticed that Hongbin would look at him in a rather strange way from time to time, Taekwoon wanted to ask but at the same time, he didn't know where to begin with asking. Hongbin was smart despite the fact that he was placed in the Keepers department. If he wasn't thrown into such a department, maybe Taekwoon would have taken a more liking to the latter. 

After all, everyone knew that those within the Keepers are those in which the Goddesses have casted away to do their biddings for them. 

But Taekwoon didn't understand how Hongbin ended up in such a department at first because the younger would continue with his duties without a question, just like everyone else in the facility. He never questioned about the Goddesses and only did what was told. Taekwoon almost had doubts that the Goddesses might have made a mistake until one day, when Taekwoon was going to talk to Hongbin about something regarding some of his research...

He never thought that he would come across the book of Hakyeon's within the library of fates once more. Hakyeon was supposed to be dead and his book should have no longer existed yet here it was once more, in front of him and within his hands. The outer appearance of the book was rather frightening, more so than Taekwoon could remember it. He couldn't help but open the book itself once more to read about what was going on. As he read Hakyeon's story, he began to remember everything that happened between them and how he approached Hakyeon for the first time. 

All of Taekwoon's actions had a purpose though, and it was in order to help the Goddesses write Hakyeon's ending once and for all. But then, Taekwoon grew furious as he realized that there was another unexpected character within Hakyeon's story. Hongbin found a way to enter the latter's story and eventually even made Hakyeon fall in love with him. Hakyeon was beginning to move on from his past and sorrows with Taekwoon, rather, he grew fond of Hongbin instead. 

Taekwoon didn't understand how the younger was able to find a way to Hakyeon's story or why Hakyeon was still alive. The forced ending in which Taekwoon and the council tried to write for Hakyeon became blank once more. 

"Why is he still alive?!" Taekwoon shouted at the three statues of the Goddesses. No one told him nor were anyone aware. "I did all that you guys told me to so why is this happening again?"

Silence. No replies. 

But then, Taekwoon understood. Though no one has ever been able to meet the Goddesses of the facility, Taekwoon knew they were real because he, himself, was an exception. He could hear them just like how the current Chairman, Park Hyoshin, could as well.

Those who were able to hear the Goddesses were said to be chosen for greater achievements. And that's why Taekwoon did everything he could in order to please the facility, even if it means breaking someone he once cared for. 

He knew that Hongbin broke the law and as he thought long and hard about how the younger could have possibly achieved the access to the otherside, he remembered that Hongbin and Jaehwan were friends. Only Jaehwan had the access to the chambers and tools in which allows one to enter someone's story. 

In order to prevent Hongbin from meeting Hakyeon any longer and posing a possible threat to the facility, Taekwoon turned Hongbin in to the council. As a punishment, Hongbin was erased from Hakyeon's memories whereas Taekwoon was the only one who remained.

He really thought he had won it all but little was he able to predict that the same thing is happening once more and this time, the outcome might not be within his favor. Taekwoon knew he had to do something. He had to take actions to his own accord. Even if he doesn't have Hakyeon's book anymore, he can still catch them through other methods. Such as the many other stories within the library itself.

Taekwoon opened the drawer in his desk and took out another book. It was a familiar book and a familiar name. 

He placed it onto his desk and stared at it for a long minute. He obviously knew he shouldn't but he couldn't wait any longer. If going to Lee Hongbin doesn't help him solve his problem, then he has no choice but to take things to an extreme measure. 

He opened the book and flipped through the pages. He opened a box on his desk and revealed the same pen in which Hongbin have used in the past in order to get inside of Hakyeon's book. The council left it in his care after confiscating it from Jaehwan and was hoping that Taekwoon would keep it safe. 

I don't want to do this but you leave me no choice. If you won't put an end to it, I'll put an end to this myself. 

He erased parts of the story with words of his own and then, he rewrote the character's memories to his own accord. Once more, he lived again inside of the story but it wasn't Hakyeon's story that he revived himself in but it was someone close to Hakyeon instead.

Han Sanghyuk.

A/N: Just to let you guys know that I actually write my fanfics at work now because my room is so small and my desk is tiny af. Plus when I get home, I get really tired so I don't have the motivation to write a chapter. I usually write each chapter bit by bit in my office in between lessons when I'm not teaching. If you guys don't know, I work as an 'English Conversation' instructor or Japanese calls it 'EiKaiwa' company. So when I don't have lessons, I'm still in front of the computer LOL They blocked all social media but at least they didn't block AFF (even Wattpad is blocked) Anyways, the speed in which I update each chapter depends on how busy I am in the office tbh. If I'm too busy, I barely have time to even write a paragraph haha~