JR's POV

 

Dear Mr. Kim.

We are glad to be able to inform you about the well-being of that person. You will find a proof picture enclosed, as always.

Please note, however, that you still need to do as we say to secure her condition. This time, we want you to get rid of a person you should be acquainted with. His name is Kang Dongho. We will give you three days to fulfill the order.

If you choose not to do so, you are aware of the consequences.

Sincerely,

X.

 

If I have to be honest about my feelings right now, I can only say that I don't know. It feels like I know nothing. My thoughts are a mess. I

notice Ren's presence so close to me, and it helps me to calm down a bit, to think straighter. Kang Dongho, that's Baekho's real name.

A person I have to kill- Baekho. X - Baekho. It doesn't fit at all. How are those pieces supposed to belong together? Has Bakeho, by

any chance, had contact with X sometime? And now they want to punish him, because he did something wrong? My hand starts to

tremble nervously, and Ren grabs it tightly. His hands are so warm.

 

"JR." He exclaims with his typical, always calm voice. I'm glad he's not the one to panic over something like this. My fear and

desperation is great enough for both of us.

 

"JR, it'll be okay. You don't have to do it." Ren looks at me with those big black eyes, just that right now, they glow like a rainbow.

Another miracle about him I can't seem to explain. But I like those merging colors...

 

"Of course I have to. Though I don't want to. I couldn't. It's, I mean it's Baekho. He's my friend, my comrade, we went through so many

fights together, I -"

 

"Hush." Ren's lips form that soft sound as one of his fingers seals my lips. I fall silent right away.

 

"I will figure it out for you." It's the same tone he used when he told us about Minhyun's location. The tone I believed instantly. But this

time, considering the circumstances, how could I? I mean, what could Ren do? He was nothing but a slightly strange boy with no social

attachments. He was my strange boy. No way I'd let him get harmed because of me.

 

"What can you do..." My question so full of doubt ends with a sigh. Ren, however, looks as positive as before.

 

"No matter what, promise you give me two days. Two days. If I can't make it work out till then you may start to worry." Oh, how grateful

I'd be if I could believe in his words. They were like a last glimmer of hope in my current desperation. His glare is dead serious and

filled with an urgency that makes me end up saying:

 

"Okay. Two days."

 

 

Ren's POV

 

Two days may be short, but I still have the nights. And I won't fall asleep before I get those X bastards. I want to hurt them for making

JR cry. But then, he would probably disapprove. My focus is on freeing his sister.

 

I did not tell JR much about my plan, since he wouldn't understand anyway, but I got him to show me the picture of his precious sister,

so I know about her looks now. And that's all I need. A clear picture of a face and a silent place - just like this one. I am sitting on a

bench in a park, it is empty because it's late night. I already ran around the city the whole day, trying here and there, but I would never

get that face on my screen. Never. But as I said, I won't give up. So I try again. Taking a deep breath, I summon the picture of the pretty

pure girl in my head, then close my eyes. The city is now wrapped in shadows, I can barely make out the buildings around me.

Nevertheless I keep searching for that one face - though I really have to restrain myself from searching for JR. I'm still very worried

about him. Hundreds of people rush by my vision, and I almost fear that X doesn't even reside here in Seoul. I'm screwed if they don't.

Show me her face! I try and try but feel useless the more time passes.

 

My search already lasts some minutes when I flash my eyes open.

 

Got her.

 

 

 

JR's POV

 

I haven't seen Ren after he left this morning. Not even once. Being apart from him is like -missing a part somewhere. I need to clear my

head.

 

Unconsciously, I pass by the hospital where Minhyun is being treated. He had an eye surgery recently, because it wasn't clear if he'd

maintain his full eyesight. His mom seems to have paid a lot for it, so much I can't even imagine having. But I don't know about the

result yet, so why not stop by? I regret that decision soon after. Because as I enter the room, I realize I'm not alone. Baekho is standing

beside the bed, laughing while talking to Minhyun. Immediately, my expression freezes, and I stop in the doorframe, the door already

opened. They notice.

 

"Hyung!" Minhyun calls out, happy to see me, while Bakeho averts his gaze and lowers his head. Weird.

 

"Minhyun-ah!" I say, approaching him from the opposite side to not come near Baekho.

 

"How's your eye?" I ask carefully, but seeing his relieved smile, I'm glad.

 

"It's fine. They say I'll be able to see normally again soon." He says, and I feel lighter all of a sudden. At least he is fine... Meanwhile

Baekho still doesn't face me. But I do now, and he seems to get uncomfortable under my glance.

 

"JR, I'm sorry. You know, for blaming Ren..." Baekho isn't normally like this, so he is being sincere here.

 

"Say that to him." I say dryly. It's really not because I'm angry at him or Aron, but more like, because of a certain letter.

 

"Uh, I will, I promise." An awkward silence arises. Both of us have no idea on how to continue the conversation, and Minhyun's glance

just wanders from me to Baekho and back again. Then he asks:

 

"And who, if I may ask, is Ren?" I flinch hearing his name out of Minhyun's mouth, but then turn towards him. I have no idea what kind

of expression I wore at that moment, because all he says is:

 

"Ah, I see." And then chuckles. I think he might have gotten it wrong.

 

"It's not like- ah, you'll meet him one day anyway." I underline the him. Minhyun squints his eyes (well, the eye that isn't covered with

bandages).

 

"Arasso, but make it soon for real, JR. I hate it when I don't know a person you two talk about so intimately."

 

"Yah, what's with that intimately? I don't know that guy either!" Baekho blurts out, and I can't help but laugh at him. So does Minhyun. It

really feels good being like this, I wish we could be forever that way. But my laugher dies out soon after, looking at my friends being

happy and knowing that I was told to kill one of them- it is too much. My heart hurts, but I don't lay down my 'happy' facade. In my

thoughts, I'm with Ren, my sister, and X.

 

 

Ren's POV

 

The apartment I'm looking for is located on the fifth floor of an apartment dwelling stuffed with various people from various cultural

backgrounds. Definitely not a wealthy neighborhood, but anyway. It does seem kinda strange for an organization like X to reside in. Or

at least operate in, because I assume that this is not their main branch. Too many people around. This could come in pretty handy for

me. Dressed in my usual casual clothes (not the ones JR bought me, though I'd have loved to wear them) I don't stand out that much,

and blend into the surroundings. As if I was actually living here.

 

I casually enter the huge building, acting as if I knew exactly where I'm supposed to go, while in reality, I had have problems locating the

elevator. It is an old model, the one you'd fear to get stuck in, but my choices are limited. Taking the stairs would attract attention. I

mean, who'd take the stairs to go to fifth floor? Elevator is empty, but I get on with another girl, her skin is very dark and her hair is long

and black. She is an exotic beauty for real. Beside her, I must look pale. And boring. And plain. I shake my head, no time to think about

appearance now. JR isn't around anyway.

 

Ding    

 

I get off. Which number was it? My heart rate increases as I get closer to my destination. You want to know if I have a plan? To be

honest, no. But I will just act like a person residing here asking for something and getting into the apartment, looking out for the sister,

taking her with me... It'll work out, I'm sure  of it. There's only one single man with her anyway. If we act careful, he won't even notice.

One last deep breath and I knock, at first hesitantly, then with more force.

 

"Mmh?" As the door opens, a huge man stands before me. His expression is serious, almost a bit scary, but I can deal with trivial things

like that. I put on a smile, hoping it won't look fake.

 

"Hello, I just moved in here and I felt like meeting my new neighbors. Do you mind if I come in to chat a bit?"  He was clearly suspecting

me, examining me from head to do, just to say:

 

"Okay lady, come in." Being mistaken for a girl could be useful later, so I don't correct him. The stranger leads me into a small room

with a table and - there she is. My heart stops for a second as I recognize her face, unmistakably her face. Now don't act rash, Ren. I

introduce myself politely, and am stunned on how fragile JR's sister looks in real life. But she seems well, as promised by X.

 

"Want some tea?" She asks quietly, her voice is very soft and comforting. As she arises, I quickly follow her into the kitchen.

 

"Let me help you, 'kay?" I say in the sweetest tone possible (urgh), and she nods.

 

"Thank you." I then lean closer, after checking on the man that is now sitting on the table reading a newspaper.

 

"I know about you being trapped here. If you play along, we can get out of here." I whisper into her ear, and her eyes widen in surprise.

 

"Really?"

 

"Yes. Just behave natural." She nods again, and a small smile lights up her sad face. She must've had it rough.

 

"Your brother is well, by the way." I add, still whispering, and the smile widens.

 

Together, each of us holding a tablet with cookies and tea, we return to the dining room. Acting normal is easier than I expected it to

be, and we chat for quite a long time, drinking tea and eating the delicious cookies. Until it is finally there, our chance.

 

"Gotta go pee." The man says, he sounds annoyed, maybe our 'girl talk' didn't appeal to him. I exchange a meaningful glance with JR's

sister. As soon as he has left the room, we both shoot up, walking towards the door at a fast pace. I feel a bit dizzy. Must be because

we sat for a long time and I stood up too rashly, so I fall behind. Just then, a frightened expression on her face, and a loud, barking

voice behind me.

 

"Where do you think you're going?!" My vision blurs, and I panic. What the...? However, it's too late. Something hits me hard on the

head, I feel the impact but it doesn't hurt, though it still causes me to pass out. One million bright colors suddenly turn into black,

 

 

 

 

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Yeah~ we draw near the ! Whoo! Are you as excited as I am?

I think it all happens too fast, but maybe it's just me. I dunno how to write it differently, so please bear with it, dear readers ! ♥