CLOTH OF GOLD

 

01

“All that glitters, is not gold”

 

Reality, it is no more than the product of the decisions that we make throughout life. Nevertheless, there are some events and situations which we cannot take control. External forces that do not depend of our will and take us to new realities. Something commonly known as destiny.

Ahyoung didn’t know well where this nature law came from; but what she certainly knew was that destiny seemed to look down on her in the worst way in the world. Everything good she had kept at her still short life, had been taken away with lighting speed and the strength of a tornado.

If she had learnt any lesson from this, it was probably that justice was the fakest utopia that humanity has ever invented; aside from love.

She was there, once more, controlled by destiny and not by her will. The place smelled like weed and had a disgusting and messy look, although it was actually a mansion filled with luxuries. A long hallway extended in front of her, with around fifteen young people scattered on the floor. The carpet had stains of vomit and alcohol; there were also, bottles and cans thrown everywhere, even an empty used syringe.

Ahyoung walked carefully, looking at her surroundings. Taking her time at analyzing with detention each one of the faces that were in that room.

However, none of them related to the guy with chipmunk cheeks. She had searched everywhere at that party, without the fortune of meeting him.

The girl cursed in her mind and dialed her best friend’s number from her cellphone. He didn’t pick up. A knot formed in the middle of her stomach. The nervousness filled her body.

Ahyoung walked downstairs and again looked around the big hall. Once more, she didn’t recognize any of the faces there. She wanted to run away from that place filled with teenagers that started to behave like a bunch of wild animals.

The girl stood at one of the corners of the kitchen, where Jungkook had accorded to meet. She was there motionless, resting her back on a kitchen counter, without knowing what to do. Panic was most of her emotions.

“Excuse me. Did you listen to what I said?”

A palm grabbed delicately her shoulder. The girl blinked a couple times to realize that there was a young man talking to her. His black diamond hair made a perfect contrast with his pure white skin. It was him, Park Jimin, the reason why she was there. Ahyoung couldn’t help but feeling relieved when she recognized his angel face.

She stared at his thick pink lips and admired his whole features. He looked better in person than in photos, that was an undeniable fact. Jimin’s eyes looked hers in an apologetic way.

 “I hope you can forgive my friend, he’s drunk. I can come along with you to the bathroom and help to clean your feet”

The brunette looked down and found someone standing by her feet, which were stained with vomit. Destiny, she was starting to believe that it didn’t hate her that much after all. Thanks to that little crappy- yet great coincidence- Park Jimin was right in front of her eyes.

 

“Yes, thank you”. She mumbled.

Jimin curved up his lips in a weak smile in response, making his little brown eyes shorten.

“Hobi hyung!”

The young boy shook his friend and helped him to get up from the floor. He sat him at the nearest coach and gave him some indications that Ahyoung couldn’t hear, since she was a little far away from them. Then, he turned to her again.

 “Let’s go. The bathroom is upstairs” He extended his hand to her.

The girl nodded, without takin Jimin’s hand. Certainly, she was really distrustful about men. Yet, she still didn’t know why Park Jimin looked different from others.

“So, what’s your name? My name is Jimin”

“I’m Ahyoung”. She beamed a little smile. “Jimin. Oh! You’re the host of this party”

 

She pretended to be surprised, even though she already knew who he actually was.

 

“Ahyoung Noona. Beautiful name”

 

Ahyoung was pretty sure that he was a couple years older than her. Either way, she wouldn’t refuse to being called like that. His chubby cheeks made him look adorable anyway.

The girl walked through that smelly hallway along with Park Jimin. She thought he would stop at the first door which had label with the word “bathroom” on it; nevertheless, he continued walking till the ending, and stopped in front of a big wooden double door.

A bedroom with navy blue decorations greeted her eyes. A big bed situated on the middle, on the right a desk with a laptop on it, and at the left corner a red sofa and a TV with a videogame console below. Ahyoung couldn’t help but smile thinking about her little brother, and how much he loved videogames at an early age.

“This side”

Jimin turned to the girl when he realized that she was standing still at the door’s frame. Her eyes lost in her thoughts.

“Is something wrong?” He tilted his head in confusion.

 

Ahyoung shook her head. When she got there, she didn’t have plans about being alone in a bathroom with an unknown man, which one is exactly next to his bedroom. Much less when Jungkook wasn’t anywhere to be seen and he didn’t answer her calls. Yes, Jimin was totally enchanting and friendly. But he was still a man, after all.

The brunette sighed. Did she have another option? Definitely she should come back with information. It was her job, and her boss wasn’t very considerate about times, she didn’t want trouble with him.

She followed his steps till they stop in the bathroom. Ahyoung calmed down seeing that he had left both doors opened. Everything in that place looked extremely luxurious. Even the toilet had some colored buttons. She sat on it like Jimin told her.

“It’s okay. I can clean it by myself”

She put her hand on the black-haired boy’s shoulder when he kneeled to clean the vomit on her feet with a towel.

“I’ll do it. Don’t worry. It was Hobi’s fault after all”

Jimin continued with his task in silence. Ahyoung stared at him thinking about how to start a proper conversation topic. Yes, maybe she was overreacting and the guy in front of her was a complete blue prince that came out from fairytales. She should relax a bit, not every man could be s.

“I don't know if you’ve been told this before but, your house is really big”

“Yes, I know it”. Jimin chuckled.

“I don’t pretend to be rude but, can I ask what your parents job is?”

“Woah! I didn’t think you were one of those material girls.”

“No, I’m not. I’m sorry if the question offended you. It’s just that I’m not good at starting conversations. I couldn’t think what else we should talk about”

“Don’t worry. The question doesn’t bother me at all. But it’s cute to see you blushing”

 

Jimin stood up and washed the towel on the sink turning his back to her; so, he could not see how the girl’s cheeks tinted more and more red.

“Mi parents own a financial consortium. It is so cool being rich and so, but it also has disadvantages. I don’t get to see them often, because they are always busy.  It’s supposed that I will have to take their place when I become an adult, that’s kind of stressful also. Well, I’m legally and adult already” Jimin chuckled.

“That’s true” Ahyoung repeated his action.

“You got the point at least, right?”. The brunette girl nodded.

“The way you tell me all of this, it sounds sad. How long haven’t you seen your parents?”

“A couple months”. He shrugged.

Ahyoung admired his figure from head to toe. Wide shoulders and strong biceps. A well-built body in the gym. He dressed in elegant clothes, not very common in his age, or in the occasion. A pair of black pants, made to measure, fit perfectly his well-built thighs.

“At least you can communicate with them. By phone calls or video chatting”

“I know they are in Hawaii, that’s all”

 

The look in his face denoted that he was being sincere. Ahyoung worried about it. Hawaii, yes it was a good reference, but it wasn’t enough. She needed to know much more about his parents. Her cellphone vibrated indicating her she had a new message. It was from Jungkook, her best friend.

 

<>

 

Ahyoung immediately stood up showing rush to leave.

 

“Are you leaving already? So soon my Cinderella?”

Jimin protested before she could even say goodbye.

 

“Yes. It is just that...”

“I don’t pretend to sound desperate, but I wished you could stay a little longer”

The young boy extended his hand and held hers softly. His sweet smile that made his eyes disappear made her heart jump.

She shouldn’t stay, she knew that Jungkook was waiting for her downstairs. It was a vain illusion to think that she could start any kind of relationship with Park Jimin, that would never be possible. But, her heart, told her that staying wouldn’t be bad. At least for a little longer, with the kindest guy she had ever met.

“So, what would you like to talk about?”

Jimin beamed a wide smile and tilted his head in a careless movement. It took him two steps to get close to her face, only some centimeters from distance.

“Let’s talk about how beautiful you are”

He pressed his thick lips on hers softly. Ahyoung found herself kissing him back, even though her senses told her to be alert. Jimin rounded her waist delicately deepening the kiss. She tried to move to his rhythm but failed. He totally dominated the situation, like an expert, on the other hand, her moves were weak and silly.

The boy’s nimble fingers zipped down her dress in an instant. The girl pulled back surprised by his actions and recognizing his real intentions. But Jimin held her with his strong arms, not letting go and drawn small kisses on her collarbone going up to her neck. Ahyoung’s body tensed up feeling uncomfortable about the situation. Desperation ran through her veins. She wouldn’t do it, not with a guy she just met.

“Jimin, please stop” She begged with a weak voice.

“Is it your first time? I promise I won’t hurt you”

“Just let me go”

 

Ahyoung made a fist with her hands keeping in the anger that reflected on her chest. She had made a big mistake, she trusted a man. The brunette thought Jimin was different, when all of them were the same. They just wanted . Love was a stupid fairytale, a whole lie. A tear ran down her cheek, but she wasn’t crying of sadness, but of anger to herself.

Jimin didn’t listen to her and kept kissing her neck. He pulled down one of his hands to touch her thighs under her dress. That was when Ahyoung reacted and kicked his balls with her knee. The boy screamed in pain and fell on the floor.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you insane?”

“I told you to let me go, but you didn’t stop”

Jimin closed the door of the room, avoiding her to escape. Ahyoung gasped when she felt how her feet were separated from the floor and she was being dragged against her will to the bed.

“Beautiful Ahyoung, you shouldn’t have hit me. Now the only thing you’ll scream will be my name”

 

Ahyoung pulled her body with all her strength to set free, but it was worthless. Jimin had taken both of her wrists strongly. Tears kept running nonstop over her face while she kept trying to defend herself sending kicks with her feet.

“Chim Chim! There you…are”

The door blew opened, appearing three young boys behind it. Ahyoung could finally inhale air to her lungs feeling relieved that, whoever they were, they have saved her from being ual assaulted. However, they didn’t seem to get what it was really going on.

“Sorry for interrupting” the second guy said bowing a little embarrassed.

Nevertheless, the third of them, stopped him from closing the door.

“Jimin let her go. There are tons of girls you can hook up tonight at this party. If she doesn’t want to do it with you, leave her alone”

His voice was deep and intimidating. The brunette looked up to see the man that had spoken on her side. She gulped. A pair of black fierce eyes stared at her analyzing her features slowly. He had walked in the room.

“Mind your own business, Suga” Jimin growled.

Suga, the alias fitted perfectly to his looks. White skin like powdered sugar.

“Let her go”. He demanded.

“Stop being a ing boring old man. Even so, how do you know she was not enjoying it?”

Jimin smirked and released the terrified girl. Her lips were trembling and she was sobbing. Ahyoung finally stood up and faced her savior.

 

“She’s crying, you idiot. It’s freaking obvious” Suga tensed his jaw.

“It’s not my fault that she dresses like a . It turns you on by just looking at her”

Suga didn’t say another word. He just glared at Jimin. The girl gulped. Ahyoung had met many cruel people, evil, and even some psychopaths out there throughout her life; but that young man, got to intimidate her without even carrying a gun or hit someone. His deep stare had made her shiver.

She ran away from the room drying her tears with the back of her hand. She didn’t even had time to thank that guy named Suga for his help. She just wanted to go home as fast as possible. But for her bad luck, Jungkook wasn’t at the meeting place.

Panic centered in her chest, which was going up and down quickly. Her breathing became heavy and her head felt numb and dizzy. She took her cellphone and dialed her best friend’s number once again, meanwhile she walked to the entrance door.

No, it wasn’t a good moment for Jungkook to not pick up her calls. She tried to call him over and over again full of angst, with tears cornering her eyes once more.

“Come on. Pick up, please” She mumbled between sobs.

 

“I could take you home if you want to”

The brunette gasped after hearing again that deep voice. Suga stopped in front of Ahyoung shrugging with his hands in his pockets. Now he was closer, she noticed that he wasn’t tall. Their eyes met for a second, but she couldn’t decode nothing.

It’s said that the eyes are the windows of the soul; but, his soul seemed to be locked behind two black blocks over his pupils. The girl couldn’t tell if his intentions were good or bad, from one side he looked scary, from other way, nice.

Ahyoung kept quiet.

“I know Jimin. He’s more than mad for what just happened. If he finds you, he’ll finish with what he was trying to do a while ago”

Suga became impatient, after waiting for some time without getting a response from the brunette. His expression was weird, he seemed angry, but calmed at the same time. The girl couldn’t tell his reaction exactly. The only thing she knew was that she wanted to run away from there. His presence had gotten her goosebumps on the back of her neck.

“Have fun with your ”

The young man turned his back to her and she watched him walking away on the sidewalk. She doubted for a minute about following him, but ended doing it anyway. 

“Why should I trust you?” Ahyoung finally spoke. Suga stopped and turned to her.

“Do I look like a bad guy? Like a psychopath?” He chuckled. The girl didn’t find it funny.

“No. But to me you are still a stranger. Why would you help me out?”

“Altruism” He rolled his eyes.

 

He was a person of short answers.

 

“Altruism? That does not exist”

“I thought that ungrateful girls didn’t exist either”

“I…”

“Come on. I won’t even try to touch you. I promise”

 

Ahyoung had no choice than to follow him. Still, she had the hope that Jungkook would answer her calls, so she kept calling him frantically. Again, he didn’t pick up. The situation was starting to worry her.  

“Come on. Kook, please pick up the damn phone”

 The brunette whispered while she was feeling nervous about being next to that guy called Suga. She kept a considerable distance and walked behind him without saying a word.

“Do you want me to take you home or not?”

“It won’t be necessary. I’ll take a taxi”

“Dressed like that?” He frowned.

“Yes. What did you mean with that?”

“I’m not trying to sound closed minded but, there are high probabilities of men trying to abuse you”

“And I should accept your offer because you are such a respectful and pure man and you won’t me like your stupid friend, aren’t you? What kind of cheap trick is that?”

Suga laughed at her comment.

“What are you laughing at? I didn’t say anything funny, ”

“If I wanted to touch you, I would have already looked at your in a lustful way. Have I done that?”

No. Actually, he didn’t even look at her at all. And if he did, he would look directly to her eyes. He didn’t seem interested in her. He hadn’t even asked for her name, or tried to exchange phone numbers like other guys did when they met her.

 

However, it was enough with her recent experience of that night to learn the lesson about not trusting the appearances. Even so, he really had saved her from being , without a reason more than the supposedly ‘altruism’. Ahyoung thought about his behavior for a minute. Maybe he didn’t help because of her, but because of an emotional bond with Park Jimin.

“Wait!” The girl ran to catch up with him. “Are you perhaps gay?”

Suga ignored her question and continued his way. Ahyoung didn’t know what to do. She preferred thinking that he was a non-openly gay guy that was in love with his friend Jimin and that he wouldn’t do anything bad to her. Suga opened the passenger’s door as if he knew she would accept his offer right away.

Ahyoung explained him where she lived and felt relieved Suga knew the directions, because she didn’t even know where she was.

On the way to her ‘home’, Jungkook answered the messages she had sent to him explaining that he had some delicate issues that came up. He texted her to get back safe.

“We arrived at our destiny, little lady”

Ahyoung jumped from her seat when she heard his deep voice. He hadn’t said a word since they got in the car. Even when she tried to start a conversation to calm her nerves, he only kept answering nodding or denying with her head.

“Thank you so much”

“You’re welcome”

“I’m being serious. You have saved me from that crazy friend of yours. I think saying thank you is not even enough”

The tears filled her eyes once again and her cheeks turned warm. It wasn’t her intention to get so sensitive about the situation; however, at that moment she realized of how thankful she was with that human being that was sitting beside her. If he hadn’t appeared on time, probably she wouldn’t be close to her place, safe.

“Altruism” Suga casually answered looking at the roadway.

“Thanks Suga, for your altruism”

 

Ahyoung said goodbye with a bow. She started her walk to the building where she really lived, since she told Suga to leave her some blocks away. She felt really lost. Not because she didn’t know where she was, but because she couldn’t get that mysterious guy’s behavior.

“Let’s suppose that he is gay, and that he got crazy of jealousness for watching me next to Jimin. Either way, why would he offer himself to bring me home? Why would he help me out? And why he speaks so coldly yet his actions show kindness? Ok, on the other way, supposing that he is a heteroual guy, the respectful type, so difficult to find. He didn’t even ask my phone number, or even my name…”

“I’ve already told you to quit that bad habit of talking to yourself. If someone listens to you, you can be taken to a madhouse”

“Jungkook!”

Ahyoung ran to her friend and hugged him strongly. She leaned her head on his chest and after a couple seconds, broke in tears. She cursed, blaming herself for being so dumb for trusting in a complete stranger, just because of the fact he looked kind.

Jungkook felt confused, he didn’t understand what was going on. His heart became heavy when he heard her sobs. She rarely cried, even in sad situations, she would always stay strong. He hugged her back gently, providing her protection and safety with his arms.

“What happened?”

He took the girl’s chin delicately and pulled it up so he could see her in the eyes. Ahyoung looked away. After that, she hit his arm.

“Why did you do that?”. Jungkook whined.

“You left me alone. A crazy almost me. Then I had to accept the offer, of a weird and terrifying stranger to bring me back home”.

“Wait! Did someone try to you? Gosh! Ahyoung, nothing like that had ever happened. I’m so sorry. It’s my entire fault. Did you get hurt anywhere?”

Anxiety reflected in the Young boy’s eyes, who held Ahyoung’s sad face between his hands.

“Calm down. I’m totally fine, fortunately”

“Who was that jerk? It was that stupid called Jimin, right? I swear you I’ll kill him right away!”

That sentence, coming from a boy of his age meant that probably he would punch him so hard till he gets unconscious. But, coming from Jeon Jungkook, it actually meant the literal fact of murdering the rich guy. And Ahyoung knew it that well. Jungkook kneeled and punched the roadway. The anger was running through his veins, causing them to be shown on his arms and temples.

“You’re not killing anyone Jeon Jungkook. The boss said that if we got plentiful information, he would ruin that family’s business. That is enough revenge for me”

Ahyoung held his shoulder lightly, trying to make him come to his senses. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.

“No, Ahyoung. It is not ing enough”.

“Please calm down Kook. He didn’t go that far. Fortunately, a guy that was there at the party got there on time and stopped him. He even brought me home safely”.

“Tomorrow I’ll send Jackson to beat him up. I won’t kill him, okay? But I can’t let this go like nothing happened. And I apologize by the way, for leaving you alone”

“I don’t want us to get in trouble with the boss. Like I said, making him poor will be better than beating him up” Ahyoung sighed. “Anyway, what happened that you had to leave? Your text looked urgent”

“Yuri was murdered”

“What?”

 

Ahyoung had gotten used to listen that many people that she knew died in many violent ways. But Yuri, she was one of her closest workmates, both were in the “covert seducers” team. Otherwise, Yuri had so much more experience than Ahyoung. She was an incredible actress and a master of deception.

“A damn drunk man stabbed her at the bar where her mission was assigned. She was still alive when I got her call. But a group from Cloth of Gold showed up in front of me at that stupid party. I had to deal with them and couldn’t get on time”

“I can’t believe it” The girl covered with both hands. Her pupils trembled, forming little tears.

“Ahyoung I have a bad feeling about this. It wasn’t an accident. Someone killed her. You know well that Yuri is very careful with the missions she’s given.”

“Do you think this has something to do with those es of Cloth of Gold? What were they doing there?”

“I don’t know. I don’t even know what to think about anymore”

Jungkook kicked a rock lazily. He looked exhausted. He was coming back probably from burying that girl’s body in an abandoned field. On the other way, Ahyoung’s eyes were lost in the night lights while they were walking together to the building where they lived at. She was sick of it, tired of being locked in that world full of violence, deaths and abuses just for getting money and power.

It was totally disgusting, but the worst of it was that, she was one of them.