DEUNGHAE POV

« Ok, I’ll trust you » HyeRim says

« Then go call the guys first, I have to answer to their questions »

After a few time, all NU’EST are gathered near my (ops, Ren’s) bed.

« What do you want to ask Ren? » I ask him

« Who is the man who did this to you? Why did he? Who is the stalker? How do you who he is? What do we do now? » he asks

« Ya Ren, you should have asked all these questions one by one! » JR says

« Remember that she had a bad time yesterday, and the day before too » Minhyun adds

« Don’t worry, it’s ok guys » I say to JR and Minhyun, then I tell Ren: « The man who did this to me is an ex member of InterLab, that’s how we know each other. Well, I don’t really know why he did that, let’s just say he likes to play with me »

« Play?! You call that playing?! » Ren yells

« You’ve asked and I’m answering you the best I can. If you didn’t want to know, you shouldn’t have ask » I say harshly, talking about this subject makes me nervous

« You’re right, sorry…. What about the rest? »

I look at HyeRim, but she only looks back at me: I must handle this alone. So I continue: « The stalker is the same man of last night, I can recognize his method »

« But who is he? His name… » Aron asks

I sigh, I don’t really want to tell the truth, well actually I can’t

« We can’t tell you the name » HyeRim saves me « If he’s listening to us he can’t know who we think he is. If he knows he can’t change identity » she lies

« Ah ok » Aron says

« Then what do we do now? » Baekho asks, he’s been silent until now, but he finally ask the right question, getting straight to the point

I’m about to answer when the doorbell rings, again

I stand up and start walking out when Ren stops me: « You’re weak, I’ll go »

As he goes down, we all gather on the top of the stairs. As Ren opens the door, someone rushes in yelling: « Where is she?! »

It’s Oppa. I knew he would find me. So I walk downstairs saying: « I’m here Oppa »

« Are you ok? Omo, your face…and your arms » HyunKi says examinating my wounds

« I’m fine, they’re just superficial wounds » I lie

« But in the picture you were all covered by blood »

« I know, I saw it. But it’s not a big deal » I smile

« What did you do to her? » HyunKi asks Ren

« Nothing, why do you ask me? » he answers, starting to get angry

« Because your hands were covered by her blood! »

« Oppa » I yell « Shut up! Ren saved me last night: if the man didn’t hear him coming, he wouldn’t have run away »

« Who is the man? » HyunKi asks me, and I see his eyes become evil

« Can’t tell you the name, he is also the stalker. Anyway you will now once you see what he sent us » and I show him the picture and the paper

« So it’s that b*****d again » he whispers with anger

« Yes, he is »

« So what do you plan to do? » he asks me

I look at HyeRim searching for help: we can’t involve him too. « We’re still thinking about it HyunKi » she tells him « We’ll let you know as soon as we decide »

« Can I trust you? » he asks, he actually doesn’t believe us

« Of course » HyeRim and I smile together

« Just go to work now Oppa, don’t worry » I add thinking “Please leave”

« Ok, see you later » he says walking out

« Do you really don’t know? » Aron asks HyeRim once HyunKi has left

« No, that was only not to involve him » she explains « We’re thinking to stay here until we catch the stalker »

« But there’s only one bed… » Baekho notices

« We know, and it’s not a problem » I assure him « Everyone is fine with this? »

They all nod. « But how do we catch him? » JR asks

« There’s no “we” » I say « “You” keep doing your schedule, as usual. HyeRim and I will do our work »

« If we need your help, we’ll ask you » she concludes smiling

« But… » Aron starts, but immediately stops seeing how we’re looking at him

« I think we should all go to rest » I propose

Everyone nods, probably understanding that I’m not in the mood to argue

In my room, I look at HyeRim: « We need a plan »

« Yes » she agrees « What were you thinking about? »

« I told him I’ll let him know when we can finish our game… »

« But you won’t end it alone, I guessed right? »

« Right. We must take him in a place where no one innocent gets hurt but also where it’s easy to catch him »

« We must ask the police help, we can’t do it only the two of us. »

« You’re right, but I don’t know if the company is ok. I mean, they called us exactly not to make this issue public » I say. “I want to end it alone, I don’t want anyone’s help” I’m actually thinking

« But more publicity won’t damage them, especially now that they’re going to realize a new album soon » she notices

« Mmm ok » I surrender for now

After an hour, the plan is ready and we decide to go to sleep. At 1pm we get up to cook lunch. When it’s ready, we wake the guys up

While eating, JR asks us: « So what do we do? »

« The plan is ready » HyeRim smiles

« And it consist in pretending nothing happened » I say

« What?! » they all ask together

« Yes, what was your schedule for today? »

« We should practice, but the company told us to stay home » Ren says

« I’ll think about that. We don’t need reporters to be around during the mission, so it’s better to settle this now » I say and I call the company. After a while I get the permission I need

« Ok guys. Everything is settled. You go practicing, I will care about the reporters » I announce

« Really? » they all ask

« Yes » I smile

They all smile back: after all that happened, they’re happy to start with their routine

In front of building B there’s a crowd of journalists. We’ve decided that HyeRim is going to the guys in, while I’m going to handle the outside. As soon as the reporters see us, they start asking a lot of questions

I smile and say: « Please everyone calm down. I’m going to answer to all your questions, but I beg you to ask them one by one… I’m not used to receive so much attention at the same time » I laugh

« Ok then. I think this is what everyone wants to know: what happened last night? » a woman asks

« What’s Ren’s part in it? » a young man asks too

« Well, last night we had a meeting at NU’EST’s dorm to handle a few things. I was heading there when someone suddenly hit me from behind. I couldn’t see his face, I only know he was a man. He started hitting me. But then he heard Ren calling me and left. I think everyone was looking for me, since I was late for the meeting. Luckily Ren found me. So, to answer your question » and I look to the young man from before « Ren is my savior »

« Do you really don’t know who attacked you? Or why? » someone asks

« I really don’t know, but I wish I do » I try to act sincere

« Aren’t you afraid to be here? » “Good question” I think

« Well, I don’t feel completely safe, but I can’t just hide for the rest of my life. And if he has found me once, he can find me again no matter where I am. I think he can find him even if I hide in the abandoned warehouse in the countryside for three days » I smile and laugh “Please, understand the message, please understand it” I pray. Only like this the plan will go on as we want.

« So what do you plan to do now? » someone asks me

« I’m planning to keep working as usual. But before that I think I should meet to the CEO, maybe he has to tell me something. Excuse me, I have to go » I bow and head to the main building. There I immediately meet coordi Lee

« Ms. Shin! » she calls me

« Annyeong haeseyo » I greet her « Can I talk to the CEO now? »

« Yes, he is free, I think he was waiting for you »

« Ok, then I’ll go first. Thank you » I bow and leave.

I knock at Mr. Han room « Come in » he says « Oh Ms. Shin »

« Annyeong haeseyo Mr. Han » I greet

« Are you ok? »

« Yes, I’m fine, thank you »

« At the phone you mentioned a plan… » he starts

« Yes. If everything goes as we plan we get take him in a place where we can surely catch him » I pause « But we need the police’s help »

« Is it necessary? I’ve called you to keep this secret » he says, as I expected

« I know. But the publicity won’t damage the guys. We are sure we can catch him, and if the public knows that NU’EST kept working even if someone was stalking them… well, I think the response will be good »

« Well, you’re not completely wrong » he admits « But what if you fail? »

« That can only damage Ms Mow, me and the police. Anyway, we’re not going to fail »

I stop talking. Now I can only leave him in his thoughts

After some minutes, which seem an eternity to me, he finally agree « Fine, you can call the police. But you can’t mention me or Pledis »

« Thank you very much. I won’t… then I’ll leave first » and I walk out smiling “Yeah!”

I go back to the practice room to tell the good new to HyeRim

« Now, we can only hope that he has understood » she whispers to me

« Ne »

At 8pm the practice ends. « We’re going first to clean up a little » Aron says

« Nope! » HyeRim says back « You come with us to our dorm and stay with us while we pack our things. Then we go all together to your dorm »

« Why can’t we go first? » Aron asks

« Because that man is dangerous » I say « You can’t be alone »

« But… » he tries to say

« Stop arguing! » HyeRim and I yell together

« From now on, until we catch him, you’re going to do as we say, understood? » I say seriously

They all nod. « The let’s go » I smile

Three days pass more quickly then we expected…