NAMJOON

I was sitting on the living room, re-reading the revised lyric sheet that I worked on the night before. I was waiting for J to come over so he'd be able to read it and tell me what he thought about it. I got the Wednesday shift at the FIS school in-house FM station. I was glad that our class picked me to host the afternoon FM show in school. The school gave a good feedback from the family day event. As the newly established host for the FIS Confession show, I was tasked to showcase a full song that I composed. The regular journalism majors made their masterpiece when they were first established as well. I wanted to make this good.

But my thoughts were interrupted when I heard a knock on the door. I ignored the knocking at first, thinking it was only J who was making fun of me. He perfectly knew where the doorbell was now. I continued to read over the lyrics on the sheet and bit through the pen that I had on my other hand. I reclined on the couch. Yoongi hyung had gone for a jog. Since it was Saturday, we were home. Papa was in Hong Kong and was not scheduled to be back for this week. He had a lot of work to be done, he said. Taehyung was somewhere upstairs, probably playing with his dog or sleeping. Eomma was at the clinic this early. She had a call from a worried mom about her little son. I heard her call Mrs. Wu to help her out.

Anyway, the knocking didn't stop.

"What the-? Arghhh... J, I swear if it's you...I'm gonna have to stick your fingers on that doorbell with super glue!"

I placed the music sheet on the table and got up from my seat and walked over to the door. I had my phone in my pocket, so if it was J, why didn't he call yet? And if it was him just playing a prank on me, I'm really gonna stick his fingers on that bell.

I unhooked the latch and turned the doorknob open. When I opened the door, I didn't see J. I saw a short man standing in front and smiling up at me. Yeah, he was that short. And somehow, my brain sort of tried to remember where I saw this man. He definitely looked familiar. He was wearing an all-white suit and he had a cane under one arm, but he was able to stand up straight... I raised my eyebrow at that. It felt like the man was feigning being crippled.

Me: Hi. Is there anything I can do for you...sir?

Mr. Dong: Hi. Good morning. I'm Dong Li Zhen. I'm looking for Min Kyung-hoon. Is he home?

Me: Uh...no. No sir. Appa is not home.

Mr. Dong: Oh. What bad timing. By any chance, did he leave a file for me?

Me: ....uhm... I..uh..don't know about that. Would..would you mind if I call him first?

Mr. Dong: Oh, not at all. Go ahead, call him.

I just stood there by the door, with the man outside. I raised a pointed finger at him, gesturing for him to give me a minute while I call my father.

I heard someone going down the stairs and I turned to look who it was. Taehyung appeared by the foot of the stairs. Well, his head peeked from the wall and grinned at me. He waved a hand at the man outside the door.

"Annyeong!"

I just chuckled and he went to sit at one of the couches in the living room. I took my phone out and dialled appa's number. I waited for appa to answer his phone. Something grazed my leg. It was V, Taehyung's dog. He hasn't been chasing us nor nibbling on my shoes anymore. He was barking at Mr. Dong.

Mr. Dong: Is that Taehyung?

Me: Huh? Yeah.

Mr. Dong: Oh. Tell you what, it's okay. I'll just wait and come back when your father is back in Beijing.

Me: .....

I was dumbstruck at that. I still kept my phone to my ear as it rang on the other end. Mr. Dong had his heel and raised a hand in goodbye. He walked toward the driveway, in between the hedges. His car was probably parked outside.

Appa answered his phone just when Mr. Dong disappeared.

Appa: Namjoon, you called?

Me: Appa. Yes. Someone was here just now. Looking for you.

Appa: Nuguya?

Me: A Mr. Dong. Dong LIi Zhen?

Appa: That buffoon. Don't entertain him next time.

Me: Waeyo?

Appa: Just don't.

Me: He asked if you left a file for him.

Appa: By goodness I didn't. Why would I sign that deal? It's rubbish.

Me: Deal?

Appa: Deal to buy his property somewhere in Shanghai.

Me: Oh.

Appa: Was that all?

Me: Yes.

Appa: Okay. Just don't entertain him next time.

Me: Arasseo, appa. Byebye.

And we hung up. That moment, Yoongi hyung appeared in the driveway, removing his earplugs as he walked casually towards the front door. He wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his arm as he reached the door. He had came home from jogging. I picked up V and carried him with my other arm as I pocketed back my phone with the other.

Yoongi: Namu. Did you see that man come in here?

Me: Oh yeah.

Yoongi: That was Hua Chen's dad.

Me: Was he? That's why he looked familiar.

Yoongi: What did that crackpot want?

Me: He was looking for appa.

Yoongi: Why?

Yoongi hyung had walked past me inside the door and he made his way to the kitchen. I closed the door and hooked the latch back up. I walked back to the couch and sat down. Taehyung was now snoring on the other couch. Yoongi hyung got a pitcher of water from the fridge and poured a glassful, then gulped it down.

Me: Something about a file. Appa said it was a deal for a property in Shanghai.

Yoongi: Huh?

Me: I think he's selling that property to appa.

Yoongi: What did appa say?

Me: Appa said not to entertain him next time. The deal was rubbish, he said.

Yoongi: Oh, good. I think he's been trying to get appa buy that property just as he's chasing Mr. Wu and Mr. Kim around, too.

Me: Pathetic.

Yoongi: I know right. I don't know why appa's boss still let's him in the office.

Me: Mr. Soo Kui?

Yoongi: Yeah.

And Yoongi sat down on the armchair nearest me. He smirked at the sleeping Taehyung. I had let V on the floor and the dog was now lying down by Taehyung's couch.

Yoongi: What time did this sleep last night?

Me: I don't know.

Yoongi: I heard him talking to himself again.

Me: I heard that, too.

Yoongi: Hahaha. Oh, what's that you're working on?

Me: It's a song I've composed for the FM station show, hyung.
Yoongi: Can I take a look?

Me: Sure. Actually, I'm waiting for J.

Yoongi: He part of this?

Me: Well, kinda. I'm just showing it to him and wanna know what he thinks before I actually start recording the melody.

Yoongi: Lemme read...

And I handed him the music sheet. There was another knock on the door.

"NAMJOON! Open up!"

"For godsakes J! You know where the doorbell is already!"

I got up from my seat and ran to the door to open it. This time, I was sure it was J who was outside because he just had to shout for me to open up. I opened the door and saw him grinning from ear to ear. Their bodyguard drove him here. It has always been like this since the kidnapping incidents. Our driver was off duty for the day. There wasn't any need for us to go out today, so eomma had sent the driver on a day off.

J: So, how is it?

Me: Why can't you ring the doorbell?

J: Sorry, sorry. I was excited.

Me: Yoongi hyung is looking it over now. C'mon.

And I led him inside after I closed the door again. He went to sit on the couch and peeked at the music sheet that Yoongi hyung was holding. Taehyung was still snoring and his dog had transferred to sleep at his feet on the sofa. I tried shooing the dog off the couch, but he growled at me a little, so I just let him sleep there.

J: You've already put the notes for the chorus?

Me: Yeah, I did.

J: The lyrics is cool.

Me: You think so?

J: Yes. I think so.

Yoongi: Yeah, I think it's cool, too.

Me: Hyung, can you help me with the first verse?

Yoongi: Hmmm...what about it?

Me: Maybe you can tweak the words a bit, because somehow I don't feel as if it's connected with the rest of the song...

Yoongi: Let me see...

Me: And...can you help with the melody, too?

J: Have you arranged the chorus percussion?

Me: I'm working on it.

J: I wanna hear it.

Me: Sure, let's go?

I stood up and took the sheet from Yoongi hyung. I led the way upstairs. Yoongi and J followed me. The dog opened its eyes for a bit before snuggling back on Taehyung's side.

Me: Watch your master okay? Make sure he's safe.

The dog sort of twitched its ears after I spoke to it. J looked at me like I've totally lost it. He laughed at me when I just rolled my eyes at him.

We reached the floor upstairs and I walked to my room. I opened the door and led the other two inside. Yoongi hyung immediately went to recline on my pillows on the bed. J had opted to sit at the bed that was near my desk. I sat on the swivel chair in front of my desk. Yup. I had personally requested appa to get me my own swivel chair. It was easier to work with my music when I was sitting comfortably. I also found it was easier to study when I can swivel left or right on my chair as I read lessons. I pulled out a notepad and gave it to Yoongi hyung. On top of the notepad was my draft for the lyrics.

J: Let's hear it.

Me: Alright.

Yoongi: Gimme that pen...

I handed him a pen as he read through the lyrics again. He started writing something on the notepad and I went to play the instrumental to the chorus that I was able to record so far. J nodded as he listened. He asked me to replay it a few times as he hummed something under his breath. He was sort of looking for the notes to add to transition to the verses.

Yoongi: What am I to you, girl...I do love you crazy, uh do you?

Me: Huh?

Yoongi: It's a good catch-phrase at the end?

Me: Yeah. Yeah, that does sound good.

J: It's gonna be the show's opening theme, right?

Me: Yup. And closing, of course.

J: It's good. How about if you...hmmm...

And he tweaked with some of the melody on my keyboard. We worked like that for thirty minutes before we heard Taehyung scream downstairs.

"AHHHHH!!! HOUSEBREAKER!!! THERE'S A THIEF!!!"

All three of us scrambled downstairs. I took whatever I could get my hands on on the way downstairs. The dog was barking like mad and Taehyung seemed to have stopped screaming. It suddenly fell silent. When we reached the ground floor, Taehyung lay on the floor. There was a masked person who was leaning over him and looked like he was about to carry my brother off. V was stuffed inside the pot of the bonsai sakura tree in the middle of the living room. He was small, so he couldn't get out of the pot.

WHAAAMMM!

Yoongi hyung's guitar came in contact with the masked person's back. The thief slumped on the floor over Taehyung, still groaning in pain. Another whack of the guitar and he groaned loudly. I kicked him and hit him with the thing I got on my way down the stairs. I only realized I took a milk bottle that was on the floor by my bedroom door. J started kicking the burglar and finally he fell unconscious on the floor. Yoongi told me to go and get some duct tape so he could tie the burglar. I ran to the kitchen and fumbled through every drawer for some duct tape and ran back to give it to Yoongi hyung.

J had made it his responsibility to call the police. He was stuttering on the phone, because he wasn't that good in the Chinese language yet. But he was able to get his message across. He went to check on his driver outside.

As Yoongi tied up the thief, I pulled Taehyung from under the guy and half-carried, half-dragged Taehyung to the couch. My brother was unconscious. The thief must have hit him in the head or something because he got knocked out. There was a slight bruise on Taehyung's cheek. Probably where the man's blow hit him.

Yoongi was putting a good amount of duct tape around the thief's hands and feet. He had tied the hands behind the guy. I doubted if he would still be able to get out of this state. Yoongi had also taken the mask off from the burglar's face. I looked around for the stuff the thief might have gotten.

There was nothing. Maybe he was just about to steal something when Taehyung woke up and noticed him. I laid Taehyung's head on the pillow and went to pick up V from inside the pot. I placed him on the floor and the dog immediately ran to sit in front of the thief's head, growling all the while. I went to check the back door. The lock was picked and it was possibly where the man got in. There was no wall around the house, so anyone would be able to just come in and out without a problem. But it looked like this guy had climbed the hedges in the backyard. He didn't pass the front door because J's bodyguard was there. I checked the backyard, but I didn't get out. I was afraid there was another one waiting just outside.

The top of one of the hedges had been chopped off. So, this was where the thief came from.

J returned from checking the front and his bodyguard had come inside with him. We let the bodyguard go in the back to inspect as we waited inside for the police to come.

The thief opened his eyes right when we converged around him. Yoongi hyung slapped him hard in the face and demanded what he wanted and if he had other companions. The thief just glared at him and spat on the floor. I punched him in the face and told him to respect my hyung because he clearly didn't show any respect. The thief didn't say anything. J had resorted to flicking the thief's head every now and then andsitting on his stomach as he pressed his palm on the thief's neck.

A few minutes later, the police arrived and took the burglar in custody. The police had asked us for anything we noticed before we heard Taehyung scream. There was none that I could think of, though. We were quietly working on the song upstairs in my room. Taehyung was sleeping in the living room with the dog. Yoongi hyung had called appa to report the incident to him. Appa had said he'd be on the first flight the next day back. We decided not to tell eomma until later that evening. She didn't need to hear another bad news.

With the police, an ambulance came and went to check on Taehyung. My brother came round after the police arrived. He refused to be taken to the hospital, insisting that he was fine. He just felt a little dizzy from being hit in the head. The medics had to check his vital signs and performed first aid on him, though.

There was nothing stolen. Yet. We told the police that. It looked like the thief just came in and was about to go about his business and was discovered by a just-woken up Taehyung who screamed when he saw the masked guy.

Then the police turned the thief's pockets and found a key. A car key. Yoongi's car key.

But Yoongi swore he had his key with him and he went upstairs to his room to get it, but then he remembered that he hung the key by the glass cases where his toy car collection was housed, just a few feet off the stairs. It was no longer there.

The police established that the thief was after the car.

Or was he after something more than just the car?

SIWON

Idiots! Why just send one person to do two people's job? Now one of his idiots are caught. I don't know if that idiot would sing to the cops on who ordered him to "rob" the Min's residence. Stupid! I can never trust anyone but myself!

I only said make it look like a robbery, why can't they do a simple thing? Do I have to call my men again for this? If that Dong didn't have such a small brain, he'd have thought of sending a backup in case something like this happens. He didn't heed my warning. He didn't heed my instruction.

Let him get out of this mess himself when his idiot "thief" sings to the police.

I'd have to make sure not to deal with thiese stupid Dong brothers face to face, for my own safety. I need a dummy person to act as me. But who? Where can I find a person who is willing to act as me? No. Not a good idea. This "me" might fail me as well. I better work on it alone.

"Boss, phone call for you."

"Who is it?"

"Dong Li Zhen. Secure line 2."

"Kamsa. I'll take it."

Now, what does this stupid man want from me?

"Hello."

"Mr. Lee...boss...one of my men is in police custody."

"What did I tell you before, Dong Li Zhen?"

"Mr. Lee, sir... Duibuqi. Zhende, zhende...I have made sure my man wouldn't speak."

"You can't be sure of that, Dong. I warned you already."

"I know, sir. I just...please...help me get him out. He has a family and...please. Mr. Lee."

"Everyone of us have our own families, Dong. Or haven't you considered that before you went through with your plan instead of heeding my instructions?"

"Sir. Please. Help me help him get out."

"Your plan, your worry. Get him out yourself. It's not my problem that he got caught. Now, if you don't have anything more important to tell me, I'm hanging up the phone. I am a busy man, Dong."

"Sir. This is the last time, Mr. Lee."

"Indeed. It's the last time. Because there will be no more next time for you."

"Do-do you mean you're not pushing through with our deal?"

"Exactly. How can I sign the deal when you can't follow simple instructions from me?"

"I know I am at fault sir. I just wanted to prove I can do it."

"But you can't. I know how far your intelligence can go. Just from your front door to your living room, Dong."

"Be that as it may, Mr. Lee. But please, help me get my man out."

"Hao le. I will have someone get him out there, but that's it. Any other inquiry from the police and it's all your problem."

"Yes sir. Xiexie. Ganxie....ganxie.."

"Of course. Now listen. And listen well, because I won't be repeating myself."

"Yes sir."

"Once your man is out, dismiss him. Ask him to leave and never show his face in Beijing again. It would be better if he leaves the country. It's only a matter of time when the police will find out he's working for you and the investigation can lead to me. If the situation comes to that, I swear, Dong Li Zhen, I will make you pay. If the police starts looking for me, fear for your family. I will make you pay.

"Understood sir."

"Oh yes. And I will need your daughter for my plan."

"Yes, sir. I will tell my daughter, sir."

"I'll have someone call you when my plan is to take place. And make sure that nobody else knows. Except you and your daughter. Or else, you know what will happen."

He didn't wait for Dong to answer. He replaced the receiver and thought long and hard about the most effective way to carry out his plan. He needed Wu Zun away from his family. He also needed Kim Jaejoong away from his family. He knew he couldn't make Min Kyung-hoon be away from his family now because of the failed "robbery" incident. He'd have to wait until Min Kyung-hoon was back in Hong Kong and away from his family. It would be best though, if he could get his hands on Soo Taeyong. His ace of all aces.

If he got the London-bred brat, he'd be able to have Soo Kui wrapped around his finger and do everything he said. But he'd have to find some new people to trust. The Dongs were proving to be stupid choices. He didn't want any more stupid things to happen just because these people did their thing and not follow instructions.

He made some calls to Beijing. He needed more men to execute his plan. It was almost time to strike. Soo Kui's deadline for the Wu daughter to decide was drawing nigh. When Wu Yinzi decides, it was only either refusing to get with Taeyong or accepts Taeyong. But, whichever her decision would be, there was a plan after that.

If she accepted, she'd have to go. Soo Taeyong can't assume the company presidency.

Not while I'm still alive.

If she refused...and if she's gone, he'd have to erase the guy who Soo Kui would pair with his daughter. That would either be Wu Luhan, Kim Seok Jin or Min Yoongi.

Unless it's my brother, you kids would have to go.

Min Taehyung, thank yourself for saving yourself from this plan. I have no more use for you. Not when the police will be watching your family from this moment. That's strike two for the Min family and for sure, the police would start putting two and two together.

Why did that stupid man chose to pick up the car keys? The police would start speculating that the carnapping and kidnapping incidents are one and the same.

Min Yoongi. Why did you have to have a nice car? your Mercedes E Class...Yeah. I want it, but soon, I'll have something like it.

"Heechul. Book a flight for me to Japan. I need to be there by tomorrow evening."

"Yes, sir. Business class or First class?"

"Just business. Thanks."

"On it, Mr. Choi."

JIN

Where is J? He told me he'd be back home by ten. It's almost twelve.

Eomma was looking for her precious Hoseok again. He had asked permission to go to Namjoon's earlier this morning. The driver was with him, though. I just hoped he was alright. He hadn't called he'd be late. I tried calling him but he didn't pick up the phone. If not for eomma asking where he was, I wouldn't even bother looking for him. If I didn't know better, he was probably drowning himself in Namjoon's mini studio.

It was almost lunch and eomma wanted all four of us in the house. Appa was out, as usual. He was in a meeting with his new business partner. A vintner, or a winemaker.

Jimin and Jungkook had resorted to going back and forth the roofdeck, going out of the house and up the stairs outside, then back down the stairs inside the house. I was already dizzy and surrendered trying to stop them. Appa hadn't allowed them to go to the mall with friends, because the driver was with J. They had originally wanted to go to the mall with their friends this morning, hadn't J announced that he needed to go to Namjoon's for some school stuff. Appa allowed him to go with the driver. He was supposed to be back home by ten o'clock, though.

"Seok Jin? Have you called Hoseok yet?"

"I tried, eomma. He's not picking up. Maybe he set his phone to silent mode."

"It's almost lunchtime. He should be home by now. Try calling him again."

"I will."

Eomma didn't have work on weekends. She's a lawyer by profession, but she practices her profession by teaching Law students in uni. She would only be out of the house on weekends when she had a meeting or when she's doing groceries with us. She said doing groceries was the only normal thing she could do as a mom these days. She was busy with her teaching job, making sure that her students get the best education. I couldn't let eomma down when I hear her talking about education, so I make it my goal to always study well. I just don't know why J seemed to just shrug it off and do whatever he wanted.

"Hyung! I think the biggest Koi is dead."

Jungkook startled me when he suddenly nudged me by the shoulders. He had appeared behind me suddenly. I was in the sitting area, and I sat facing the wall. I needed a blank space to stare at when I was thinking.

Me: Jungkook! Don't do that again.

JK: Do what?

Me: Startle me!

JK: Okay. Well, we just passed by the pond outside and the biggest Koi is no longer moving.

Jimin: Hyung! I think the Koi's dead.

JK: I'm already telling him that.

Me: So? What's that got to do with me?

Jimin: I think it swallowed something and it choked to death.

Me: So? Go fish it out and bury it.

JK: It was the biggest and I heard that it's a lucky fish.

Jimin: Especially if someone gave it and not bought.

Me: I know that. Why are you still here? Go and fish it out.

Jimin: I'm...kinda...scared?

Me: What??

JK: He's scared to fish it out because it might not be dead and will wiggle its tail and jump at him.

Me: Poke it with the net.

Jimin: *shudders and chuckles*

Me: Sheesh. Fine.

I got up and let the two lead the way out. The fish net was on the ground and Jimin went to pick it up. That moment, J came walking towards us. The driver had parked the car just in front of the house and was walking towards the back to the driver's quarters.

J: You won't believe what happened!

Me: What?

J: Hey, what are you doing?

Me: I think that fish is dead. I'm gonna fish it out and bury it somewhere.

J: Eeeehhh...

He had shuddered, just as Jimin did, and went to stand behind Jungkook who was laughing.

JK: You're just as scared as Jimin hyung. Hahaha.

J: Shut up. Wait til you hear what I have to tell you. You'd be sacred yourselves.

Me: What is it? Spill.

I reached out my hand farther to fish out the Koi who looked really dead. It was floating belly-up. I had to swirl the water for the fish to float nearer. I held on to Jungkook's shoulders, with my free hand, for support.

J: We caught a housebreaker in Namjoon's house. Someone tried to steal Yoongi hyung's car. He took the keys, but Taehyung discovered him and screamed. He got knocked out when the thief hit him.

I almost dropped the net in the water. I sighed and finally caught the floating dead fish before I could respond to what J had said. Jimin dropped his jaw and scooted near us and sat down by the pond's edge. Jungkook scratched his head as his mouth formed an "O."

J: Sorry I couldn't tell you earlier. The police were over and had to ask us a few questions. Taehyung was knocked out by the thief after he screamed, they needed to perform first aid on him because he refused to be taken to the hospital.

Me: Wait. Wait. Can you slow down? Tell us slowly, juseyo.

I placed the net with the dead fish in it by the edge of the pond and sat down beside Jimin. Jungkook also sat down on the tiled floor. Then J relayed his story again. He had to take three deep breaths in between, before he continued. It looked like he was in between trauma and adrenaline rush. My brother needed to see a doctor after this. He can't just be left alone without proper debriefing by a specialist. Because of eomma's law background, I kind of got the gist when a witness is put to the stand. It was always with the permission of a psychologist or a specialist of some sort, just to make sure the witness doesn't feel too pressured when relaying their story.

J finished telling the story with a sigh.

J: *sigh* I'm just glad no one got hurt too badly.

Me: Let's go tell eomma.

J: Huh? Why?

Me: Don't you think she shoud know?

J: Alright. How about appa? Let's tell him first?

Me: Appa is in a meeting. Let's go.

Jimin: It's a little suspicious, don't you think?

Jungkook: What is?

Jimin: Yoongi hyung's car got stolen before. Now someone breaks into their house and gets his car keys?

The net fell in the water, with the dead fish. I had accidentally swiped my hand and hit the net.

Arrrgggghhh!!

Now I have to fish out both the net and fish.

J: Yeah. Yeah, it does sound suspicious. Don't you think the thief is working with the same people who stole your car, hyung? And the one who kidnapped Dong Li?

Me: Possibly. All the better to tell eomma now. She could help.

Jimin: Let's go tell her.

And he ran back inside the house. Jungkook and J followed him. I gave up trying to fish out the net with the dead fish. I'll just have the househelp do that later. I shook my hands to get rid of the dripping water and walked towards the door, back to the house. Eomma was facing J, with her hands on her hips. She looked every inch the lawyer.

"Where were you, Hoseok?"

It sounded like, where were you at the time of the crime?

"Eomma! Someone broke into Namjoon's house. We caught the thief, and tied him up and-"

"SOMEONE BROKE INTO THE MIN'S HOUSE?WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOU DID WHAT?"

Let the interrogation begin.

Hi. It's been a few days since I updated. Siwon is working fast now. And something is about to happen soon. From then on, the story will take on a fast pace, because I don't want it to be dragging. Better to drop the bomb soon, so everyone's on the edge of their seats. Hehehe. I hope you liked this chapter.  → ♥♥♥ 我爱你们！ 吴爱你们！♥♥♥ 

Anyway, I don't know if you're into the new group UNIQ. But I find them interesting. Especially Wang Yibo/王一博. I have a thing for rappers and maknae line. LOL. That's what I noticed so far. Anyway, I think he resembles Jang Geun-suk. He's like a younger version. Especially when he smiles. Don't you think so?

I'm actually thinking of inserting him somewhere in this fic... LOL. I think I have the right plot already. Hahaha. Please forgive me for fangirling to much. Xiao Yi (Yinzi) and Xiao Yi (Yibo)... I'm still JungYi, BTW. xP