BAEKHYUN

 

 

I called the police, telling them to come right away because someone had shot our window. The police asked if it was a gunshot, but I couldn't tell. All I knew was that I heard a loud crash from upstairs and Lay ge shouting something that our window had been shot.

 

"BAIXIAN! GET EVERYONE UP HERE. NOW!"

 

Now, that was Suho shouting. This house was full of people who excel in shouting. But this was something serious, so I didn't dawdle. I immediately grabbed Xiao Yi's hand and pulled her to the stairs, all the while telling the others to follow me.

 

We reached the second floor and we converged outside Suho's room. He was holding a strip of paper that had something written on it. Chanyeol had blocked the door to the room, but I could see that there were glass splinters on the floor and that one of the windows was broken. Tao was holding a baseball on one hand.

 

Suho didn't say anything, but he handed us the piece of paper.

 

"Eeny meeny miny moe. Catch a Wu kid by the toe. You are next."

 

It was a warning. A threat. Someone wanted one of us and they were making it clear that they knew where to find us. Whoever was the one who threw this piece of paper with the baseball was probably the same person who was in the suspicious car. They threw the ball to let us know that they meant business. That they were not playing.

 

Lay: Where's the police? I'm kinda dizzy...

Suho: Baekhyun, you called the police?

Me: Yes.

Suho: Are they sending someone here now?

Me: Yes.

Suho: Okay. No one go downstairs until the police come. No one touch anything else, too.

Tao: But I touched the ball.

Suho: Put it down. Now.

 

And Tao immediately put the baseball down. It rolled back inside the room. I couldn't say anything else, except "yes" at Suho. I still had the note in my hand and I don't know what I was doing, but he suddenly took the paper away from me again. He glared at me, telling me not to tear the paper to pieces. It was supposed to be evidence of the threat.

 

I didn't know I was about to tear the paper to pieces though. I was hoping the police would hurry up.

 

Kai: Shouldn't we...call papa...?

Sehun: And mama...

Suho: Alright. I'll call papa. Lay, can you call mama? Nobody stay near the windows. Let's go inside papa's room.

 

He crouched low and made his way to papa's room. He opened the door and let us all inside. Lay was fumbling with his phone as he tried to dial mama's number at the same time trying to crawl inside the room.

 

Me: How do we know if the police came?

Suho: I'm going downstairs. I'll ask the househelp to come up and stay with you.

Me: I'm coming with you.

Suho: Fine. All of you, stay down and don't go near the windows. No one make any loud noise. The last thing we need right now is to attract attention from outside that we are inside this room. Do you understand me?

 

"Yes, hyung."

 

Suho: Good. i'm going downstairs with Baek. I'll have the househelp stay with you in short while. Lay, after you call mama, can you call papa too? I'll be handling the police when they come.

Lay: Okay. I got it.

Suho: Okay. Let's go, Baekhyun.

Me: I'll be right behind you.

Suho: Pssshhhh...this is not the time to be a coward. *sigh* Don't mind me. Let's go.

 

It felt like he was talking to himself, and I just had to raise an eyebrow at that. I followed him downstairs and when we reached the ground floor, he beckoned to the two househelp who were crouched low on the floor in the kitchen. He told them to go upstairs to papa and mama's room and stay with our younger brothers and sister.

 

Suho and I waited in the living room. We sat on the carpeted floor and avoided the windows. He started to have a blank look on his face as he stared at the coffee table in front of him. I nudged him by the arm and he looked at me as if he was surprised what we were doing on the floor. Then he closed his eyes and covered it with his arm as he leaned back on the couch.

 

Suho: Why did this have to happen now when it's just us?

Me: Calm down, ge.

Suho: I'm trying to be.

Me: Deep breaths...

Suho: You're breathing as fast as me.

Me: I know. I know.

Suho: If we get out of this alive, remind me to have fun in Thailand when we finally get there.

Me: I will, ge.

Suho: Where is the police?

Me: They should be here by now.

Suho: What's taking them so long?

Me: What if they got cornered by those bad people on the way here and...and...

Suho: Shhh...don't. I'm freaking out here.

Me: Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I just...

 

Chanyeol came scrambling down the stairs. He looked worried and out of breath.

 

Chanyeol: Hyung! Hyung! Help!

Suho: What is it?

Chanyeol: Xiao Yi's hyperventilating. I don't know what to do?

Suho: Calm her down. Let her sit up and let her breath slowly.

Chanyeol: Okay.

Suho: Haven't Lay called mama? She would know what to do, too.

Chanyeol: Mama Wu's not answering her phone. Lay hyung's on the phone with papa now.

Me: Mama? Why? Something happened to mama?

Chanyeol: I don't know.

 

And he didn't say anything more. He clambered back up the stairs to administer first aid to Xiao Yi. I had wanted to go back up and check on little sister, but Suho needed me down here, too. Chanyeol would ask Suho, the future family doctor. Well, he was considering becoming a lawyer too, but instincts tell me he'd go the medical way.

 

Me: Why mama's not answering her phone?

Suho: I don't know. I hope nothing bad happened. Wait.

 

And he took out his phone from his pocket. He dialled mama's number.

 

No answer.

 

We started to really panic.

 

The police hasn't arrived yet and our mother was not answering her phone. I could just imagine Tao and Sehun's faces knowing mama wasn't answering our calls. Maybe that was why little sister hyperventilated.

 

Beep! Beep!

 

Suho's phone beeped. Mama was calling him. He pressed the answer button right away.

 

Suho: Hello. Hello. Mama...ma....

Me: Speaker phone...come on...

Suho: Ma? Yes...hold on...

 

And he pressed the speaker phone option.

 

Mama: I've got three missed calls from Lay, and two from you.

Suho: Ma, emergency.

Mama: What is it?

Suho: Someone broke our window.

Me: With a baseball and a note with a threat on it.

Mama: A WHAT?!? Don't move. I'm coming home now.

Suho: Ma...we called the police now and-

Mama: JUNMIAN, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. KEEP TOGETHER. LOCK EVERYTHING. DON'T LEAVE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTER. I'M GOING HOME.

Suho: Yes mama.

Me: Ma, please take care. Someone might...intercept you...

Mama: I'm not afraid of them. God forbid, but if they mess with me, they're gonna get more than just world war three from Wu Youmei. Now, you stay with your Suho gege and your siblings.

Me: Yes, ma.

 

And she hung up. Mama was coming home. I don't know, but hearing her voice somehow calmed me.

 

 

---

 

The police arrived at last. I was hesitant to go out the door and verify if it was indeed the police. Who knew they were only posers and just wanted to surprise us. But as Lay and the others were still upstairs and checked from the other window, they confirmed that the people outside the gate were indeed police.

 

I followed Suho out the door and stayed behind him as he opened the gate. The officer who had buzzed in was different from the one who was here earlier, but he had two other police cars as backup. There was also a forensic expert or whatever you called it. This one asked to be brought to the broken window in question and show the baseball and note. Lay had peeked from the stairs and Suho told the forensic expert to follow Lay.

 

Suddenly, there were media people outside the property. They were trying to get information from the police who were outside. When they saw us by the gate, some of them flashed their cameras in our face and tried to get through the police barricade and ask us. Suho immediately asked the police officer to come in and talk inside. The police who were left outside barricaded the entrance.

 

Suho answered most of the officer's questions and informed him that just a little earlier, a suspicious car was found in the vicinity. Although we didn't get the car's plate number, we described what it looked like. There wasn't a security camera in the area, so it was sort of impossible for the police investigators to ID the car.

 

Mama arrived a few minutes later. She must have freaked out much when she saw the horde of people outside the gate. The police tried to keep her away from entering the gate, but she flared out and scolded them.

 

"What do you think you're doing? This is my house! My house! And my children are inside! Now, don't tell me I can't go inside and check if my children are alright!"

 

She had deliberately drove right through the front of the gate. She had stormed inside the gate and demanded to see us. When she saw us talking to the police by the table under the tree, she ran and hugged us.

 

I couldn't be more happy seeing mama. Suho broke down and cried as well.

 

Mama sort of panicked when Suho told her that Xiao Yi had hyperventilated. She immediately excused herself and went inside the house.

 

"Yinzi! Yinzi! Oh my god... Have any of you called your papa? "

 

I tried to walk towards the gate to peek outside. I wanted to see if there were any suspicious faces outside who culd have been one of the suspects just watching the goings on.

 

Suho: Baixian! Come back here!

Me: I just wanted to see if there's anyone who looks suspicious outside.

Suho: Come back here!

 

I went back to sit on the chair while listening to Suho and the officer. There was another officer who came to stand behind us and had a notepad open. He wrote stuff as the officer talking to us dictated some information to him.

 

"Notes. Sounds like the same person responsible for the carnapping and kidnapping incidents."

 

"Yes, exactly. This one left a note in the most trivial way. Go and have this analyzed for handwriting. We might have one and the same suspect."

 

"Right on it."

 

"Mind the media outside. They're going to try squeeze out whatever they could out of us. Don't give them any solid information as of now. It might give the suspect ideas on how to escape."

 

"Uh-huh. First, the Mins...now, the Wus. Tsk, tsk. Fengtai royalty are being targeted."

 

"Oh yeah. Try to get Wen to dig deep into this. There's probably more to just carnapping and kidnapping involved. Check the connection between the Mins and Wus. And while you're at it, include the Kims. That Kim kid was the first victim."

 

"Right. I just realized that. Might be business related."

 

I listened to their conversation. Suho did the same. He sort of had that blank look on his face again. I waved a hand in front of his face. He looked at me and asked.

 

Suho: Huh? What did you say?

Me: I didn't say anything.

Suho: Oh, right.

Me: You look like you're in deep thought.

Suho: Yeah. Just that... Why us?

Me: Beats me. Why the Mins? Why the Kims? Why us?

Officer: Well, leave it to us, kids. Thank you for the information. We'll have a team stay here for a while. Just making sure you're safe. The Mins are on the same situation right now. Police right outside their property.

Suho: Thank you, officer.

Me: Do you, by any chance, know if Taehyung is alright?

Officer: Who?

Me: The youngest Min. The one who got knocked out?

Officer: Oh. Yes, he is alright now. We had a medic administer first aid on him. There's a doctor in the house now, as well.

Me: Did he incur any major injuries?

Officer: Not that I know of. He took a blow in the head and fell on the floor. He got unconscious for a few minutes. No x-ray results yet, though.

Me: Thank you. They're our friends.

Officer: Tsk, tsk. Do you have any enemies in or outside of school?

Me: Huh? Enemies?

Suho: It's not in our nature to pick a fight.

Me: Unless you meant rivals in getting the skateboard championships?

Officer: Ah, not that kind, kid. You didn't have any major brawls with someone from school or outside school?

Me: Nope.

Suho: There was that one time.

Officer: Tell me about it.

Me: What time?

Suho: The one with Hua Chen and her cousin?

Me: Ahhhh...yeah. They've been spreading rumors about Luhan and Sehun.

Officer: Anything connected with the Kims and Mins?

Suho: Not really.

Me: There is.

Suho: Huh?

Me: Hua Chen dated Yoongi hyung, remember? And...I think Jungkook mentioned that his Jin hyung was sort of an acquaintance at the party in Hong Kong. Remember?

Suho: Yes, I remember now.

Officer: Well, that's new. A love triangle? But to the extent that some people had been kidnapped and car stolen. This could be more than young love.

Me: If I were you, you go ask Tao. He'll have more information for you.

Officer: Who?

Suho: Our younger brother. He's sort of the sleuth in the family.

Officer: Hmmm... I'll keep that in mind.

Suho: Uhm...can we...go now? I mean, I want to go inside and be with my mom.

Officer: Sure. Thank you again, boys.

Suho: You're welcome, sir. Baixian, let's go.

Me: I think I'm gonna have to call Taehyung.

Suho: For what? Let him rest.

Me: I just wanna ask him something.

Suho: Fine.

 

He bowed slightly to the police and he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the front door and dragged me inside the house.

 

The scene inside the house was like this: Xiao Yi was sitting upright on the couch and Chanyeol was beside, fanning her. Mama was sitting on the coffee table, facing Xiao Yi and talking softly to her. Little sister looked a bit calm now. But she was still sort of breathing a little deeply for normal. Mama had her stethoscope on. Possibly gone to check Xiao Yi's blood pressure. Lay was going back and forth upstairs, ushering the police investigators. Chen and Kyungie were peeking out the windows outside. Kai was sitting on the armchair and absentmindedly mimicking Xiao Yi as she tried to breath slowly and deeply. Sehun was sitting beside mama and holding a glass of water.

 

Suho: Where's Tao?

Me: Huh?

 

Suho might have scanned the room and didn't see Tao. Mama looked up and looked around her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

 

Mama: ZITAO!

 

No one answered her. Mama got up from the coffee table and walked towards the stairs. Suho had gone to sit beside Sehun and talked to Xiao Yi to calm her down.

 

I took out my phone and started to dial Taehyung's number. I wanted to ask him something. The officer earlier gave me an idea and I just wanted to know if Taehyung noticed something.

 

"WU ZITAO?! NI ZAI NALI?"

 

Mama had gone up the stairs. I had a feeling Tao was somewhere upstairs, in the midst of the investigation. If I didn't know better, he would have wanted to be where the forensics and investigation team were.

 

"Baixian. Help me look for Zitao."

 

That was an order from Wu Youmei. I nodded my head and tried to search for Tao while holding my phone to my ear as I waited for Taehyung to answer the call. I went to the back door to check if Tao was outside. There were two policemen who were scanning the whole backyard for anything that could help the investigation. But Tao was not there.

 

I went back inside the house and sat down on one of the kitchen counter stools. The househelp were back downstairs and were busy with their chores. Mama must have told them to carry on and not worry anymore because the situation had been under control.

 

 

---

 

 

To make a long story short, Tao was found upstairs in our room, looking up something on the internet. I was able to talk to Taehyung and was kinda surprised at what I found out. But I wasn't really sure about it, so I went to talk to Tao about what I found out.

 

Mama had stayed with Xiao Yi for the rest of the day. Little sister had calmed down now, but she didn't wanna be left alone. When mama needed to go to the bathroom, someone had to be by Xiao Yi's side. Sehun and Chanyeol kept her company as well. They stayed in mama's room for the rest of the day.

 

Since I shared a room with Tao, I wasn't that surprised to find him there and going about his business. The police investigators had left and media people had been asked to leave the area for our and their security. Two police teams stayed outside our house to watch us, in case the people responsible for the threat would be back.

 

Tao looked up at me from his laptop. He was perched on his bed and his head was too close to the screen.

 

Me: Why are you hiding here?

Tao: Huh?

Me: Mama was frantic earlier. She couldn't find you.

Tao: Oh sorry. I forgot to tell you. Mama already knows where I am.

Me: Yeah, she does. Or she'll still be going around the house looking for you and asking the police to go on a manhunt.

Tao: Sorry.

Me: Yeah, yeah.

 

I plopped on my bed and stared at the ceiling. My bed was against the wall, while Tao's was in the middle. Kris' bed was on the other side. The arrangement of the beds were exactly like how it was in our own house. I'm gonna miss this house, though. Once we're back in our house, I'd have a room for myself. I'm gonna miss my roomies. Hahah.

 

Me: Say, Tao. I called Taehyung earlier. I kinda found something out.

Tao: Found out what?

Me: Something that the investigator said earlier made me realize something. So, I called Taehyung.

Tao: And?

Me: He said that before he fell asleep, someone came over their house.

Tao: Shui ne? Who?

Me: Ding Dong...bell...orz

Tao: The witches' father?

Me: Yeah. Well, just one of the witches.

Tao: Same difference. *snorts*

Me: Yeah. Anyway, he told me that Dong went to their house looking for their dad. He didn't remember after that because he fell asleep. He just woke up seeing a masked guy looking over him and hit him. He fell unconscious and just got round when his Namjoon and yoongi hyung were tying up the thief.

Tao: What did Dong want from their appa?

Me: Beats me. But here's what's suspicious.

Tao: Okay, spill.

 

He removed his eyes from staring at the laptop and turned to look at me. I lay down on my side and played with the bed covers as I told him what the investigator said earlier.

 

More than a love triangle and business related.

 

Tao squinted his eyes and bit his lower lip as he nodded at what I told him. He went to looking at his laptop screen again and tapped a few keys before he turned to look at me again.

 

Tao: That kinda makes sense.

Me: Do you think so too?

Tao: Yeah. Why would that witch try to hook up with Jin and Yoongi...and Lu ge? Almost at the same time? More than a love triangle issue. But they're kinda stupid to orchestrate a plan like this.

Me: Yeah. That's a good point too.

Tao: Maybe there's someone behind these and are working with the Dongs...

Me: Hmm...Possible, but...nahh. Can't be.

Tao: Yeah. Well, it was kinda weird that Dong went to Taehyung's house and a few minutes later, someone comes in and tries to rob them. Kinda suspicious you know. Like Dong acted like a lookout or something.

Me: But he knew there were people inside the house?

Tao: Well, like the police say, it could be more than just robbery. They might have wanted to kidnap someone.

Me: Taehyung?

Tao: Yes.

Me: Why would Dong want Taehyung?

Tao: Beats me.

 

And he shrugged. He went to face his laptop again. I got curious what he was onto, so I got up from my bed and went to sit beside him on his bed.

 

Me: What are you looking at? Hmm...

Tao: Trying to decipher the plate number of the car.

Me: Oh? You have a picture?

Tao: Yeah. I was able to take one from my phone. I kinda zoomed it and...see?

Me: Cool. But the numbers aren't that clear...

Tao: I know. So, I'm thinking of enhancing the photo.

Me: This taken from your phone?

Tao: Yup.

Me: Good job, bro.

Tao: Xiexie.

Me: Did you give the investigators a copy of this?

Tao: Not yet. I wanted to check for myself first. I want to be able to do something to help.

Me: Getting a photo of the car and plate number is good enough, didi.

Tao: I know. But...I just wanna...

Me: Haoba. I'd rather you secure a copy for the investigators, too.

Tao: Alright.

 

The family spy had something that would help us identify the person who owned the suspicious car. It was also possible that the same person was the one who made a way to throw or launch the baseball through our window.

 

I asked him if he had a program on his lappy that can enhance the resolution of the photo. He said he was still looking for a good program. He was wary of downloading just any. As the family researcher, I helped him find a good computer image enhancer program.

 

While we sorted through the list of choices, an alert came up on Tao's lappy system tray.

 

Min Taehyung has tagged you in a post.

 

Tao immediately clicked on it and the screen re-directed to his Facebook account.

 

I was literally knocked out this morning. A thief broke into our house and tried to steal Yoongi hyung's car. Why is it always his car? The thief hit me in the face and I fell. I was unconscious for about fifteen minutes. Hyung, I took a blow for your car. You should let me drive your car soon, okay? I also extend my sympathy to the Wus. Someone apparently broke their window with a baseball that had a note on it. It's kinda scary. The note reminded me of the one found on Jin hyung and Yoongi hyung's cars. Everyone, stay safe.

 

A lot of our schoolmates and Taehyung's Korean friends had "liked" and added comments. Tao went to comment on the post and tagged Taehyung on his comment.

 

Your phone, bruh.

 

Tao then dialled Taehyung's number and called him. He asked me to go over the choices again for the image enhancer. I chose what I thought the best I and hit the download button. Tao and Taehyung started talking. My panda didi placed Taehyung on speakerphone.

 

Tao: You okay now, bruh?

Taehyung: Yeah, I guess so.

Tao: Listen, I just wanna ask you something.

Taehyung: Yeah..

Tao: You saw Dong at your house this morning?

Taehyung: Yeah, I did. Namjoon hyung opened the door and he spoke with Dong.

Me: Namjoon there?

Taehyung: He is. Hold on... Hyung! Namu hyung!

Namjoon: Mwoya?

Taehyung: Baek hyung lookin for you.

Namjoon: Where?

Taehyung: On the phone orz.

Namjoon: Oh, yeoboseyo.

Me: Hey, Joonie-ya.

Namjoon: Stop with the Joonie orz.

Tao: We just wanna ask about Dong.

Namjoon: Hmm..? What Dong?

Me: The witch father.

Namjoon: Oh. That.

Me: Yeah. Taehyung said you spoke to him this morning.

Tao: What did he want?

Namjoon: You on an investigation or something? 'Cause I feel like you sound so spy-ish.

Tao: Well...

Namjoon: Yeah. Yeah, I kinda spoke to him. Waeyo?

Me: Did he ask for anything in particular?

Namjoon: Well, he was just looking for appa and about a file...

Tao: Anything suspicious?

Namjoon: Nah. Appa just told me to not entertain him in case he comes back. He wanted appa to sign a deal on a property or something. Pshhhh...

Tao: Oh...I was thinking he said something else...

Namjoon: Wait. Yeah, I remember. It was rather weird. He saw V and then he suddenly told me he'd wait for appa to return to Beijing and come back then. He left right away.

Me: V? The dog? What's with the dog?

Tao: He got scared of V?

Namjoon: Oh. No, not the dog. Hahaha. I meant, Taehyung-i donsaeng. Not Taetae the kangaji. Hahaha..

Taehyung: His name is V! I am Taehyung!

Namjoon: Ah, whatever. You're V to me.

Me: He saw V?

Taehyung: Yeah, he did. I greeted him and went to sleep on the couch. I really don't remember what happened after that.

Namjoon: Well, Taetae kept barking at Dong.

Tao: He was going to kidnap you, Taehyung-ah.

Taehyung: Mwo?

Me: Shenme?

Namjoon: Huhh?

Tao: You said that when Dong saw Taehyung, he left.

Namjoon: Yes, he did.

Tao: Suspicious, don't you think? I think he wanted to see if Taehyung was home and told someone....then asked someone to break in the house and make it look like a robbery, but then actually wanted to carry Taehyung off somewhere.

Taehyung: Me? Why me?

Namjoon: Come to think of it. What you're saying makes sense. When we got to the ground floor and saw the masked thief, he was leaning on V and looked like he was about to carry saengi off.

Taehyung: Hyunnngggggg....why would someone want me?

Namjoon: I don't know. Yoongi hyung smashed his guitar on the thief's back. Now, don't go asking for him to lend you his car.

Taehyung: I took a blow and got knocked out for his car.

Me: Carry off Taehyung...carry you off somewhere... and the note on the baseball said we were next. At least someone from us.

 

"Namu. Eomma's calling for you."

 

Yoongi's voice called from the background.

 

Namjoon: Ayt. Baekkie, talk to ya later. Eomma needs me.

Me: Sure, thanks dude.

Namjoon: Yeah, no biggie.

Taehyung: If you're next, then...must be someone who knows us and you at the same time.

Tao: Yeah, that's what I kinda figured so far.

Taehyung: And you think it's Dong.

Tao: Well, there's the thing with the witch and Lu ge...didn't she used to date your Yoongi hyung?

Taehyung: Yeah, but after he found out that the witch was two..no, three-timing him, he dumped her.

Tao: And Jin hyung was sort of her first choice, ne?

Taehyung: Yeah. I remember that. Let me call Jimin. Wait. Let's do a three-way call.

 

I was in the midst of an alien conversation. These two understood each other. I sat on Tao's bed, still listening in on the convo. Taehyung had called Jimin and the three of them were now talking to each other. I greeted Jimin and he greeted back. I went to lie down on the bed and just listen to them. Somehow, what they were talking about made sense.

 

Chanyeol knocked on the door and poked his head in. I didn't budge. Sehun and Xiao Yi came in with him and sat on Kris ge's bed. Tao was still talking to Taehyung and Jimin on the phone. Still on speakerphone.

 

When the three who came in heard Taehyung's voice, they suddenly voiced out loud and asked him how he was. At the same time. Taehyung got sort of overwhelmed by the question, he kinda stuttered.

 

Taehyung: I..uh-I'm okay now. I g-guess.

Chanyeol: Dude. That *** hit your face?

Taehyung: I wasn't expecting that. But then again, who would have expected that?

Xiao Yi: Are you sure you're okay, V?

Taehyung: Yep. Just my jaw still feels a bit numb.

Xiao Yi: You should have gone to the hospital, you know. Stubborn.

Taehyung: Eomma can take care of me.

Xiao Yi: Pshhh...you're just stubborn.

Jimin: Aaahhheeeeyyyyyy! I'm still on the line. Am I listening to a lover's quarrel?

Xiao Yi: Bzzzzzzzzzz...

Jimin: Oh, Kookie! Kookieeeeee!

Taehyung: You're looking for a punch in the face, ne?

Tao: Juseyo. No fighting on the phone.

Jimin: Ahh...Kookie...listen...

JK: Hyung-ah, mwoya?

Tao: Ah, bi zuile!

Xiao Yi: I was only saying he was stubborn for not going to the hospital with his injury.

Jimin: Ahihihihiiii...you heard that, saengi?

JK: Yeah. Psshhh...don't touch me, juseyo.

Taehyung: Jimin i babo.

Jimin: You're changing the topic, Taetae. Come back here, Kookie-ya!

JK: No!

Chanyeol: Don't flirt with my sister on the phone, jebal.

Taehyung: I wasn't, hyung.

Sehun: We're next, you know. Someone from us is expected to be taken.

Jimin: WHAT?

Tao: You weren't listening earlier?

Jimin: No. I was...well, just a little. What do you mean, Sehun-ah.

Sehun: There was a note. Eeny meeny miny moe. Catch a Wu kid by the toe. You are next.

 

The way he said it sounded creepy. The room fell silent all of a sudden. Xiao Yi had sat beside Chanyeol and edged closer. Sehun placed an arm around her for comfort. I had to sit up and hug a pillow. Tao suddenly got busy with his laptop, trying out the image enhancer that we downloaded just now. His phone was in his lap as the rest of us spoke to the other two parties on the other line.

 

Jimin: So, there's a note.

Sehun: Yes.

Jimin: It sounds creepy.

Sehun: It is creepy.

JK: Do-do you know who it is that's n-next?

Sehun: No. Any one of us.

Taehyung: Not Xiao Yi, I hope.

JK: No, not her.

Chanyeol: Me?

Me: What would they need from you?

Chanyeol: I don't know. My pearly whites?

Me: Oh please. Be serious, Wu Can Lie.

Chanyeol: I am serious, Wu Baxian. Maybe they found out my smile is an asset and they need my teeth to have the same smile as me?

Me: Seriously, Chanyeol.

Chanyeol: I'm just trying to lighten the mood with all that's happening.

Jimin: Well, it's better that we think of happy thoughts, then.

Taehyung: Like what?

Jimin: The skateboard finals?

Taehyung: Not exactly happy.

Jimin: Why not?

Taehyung: I haven't practiced in a long time. I don't know if I can still perform well.

Jimin: We can practice at school after class.

Sehun: Limited time practicing in school. We need longer practice time outside. On weekends.

Me: Yeah. I can't go out early in the morning for my rounds.

Tao: Hey guys!

 

He was smiling really wide. He rubbed his palms together and wiggled his brows.

 

"What?"

 

Tao: I think I got the plate number of the suspicious car.

Me: Oh? Let's see that.

Tao: Look.

 

And he showed us the enhanced photo. Yes. The plate number was legible this time. Jimin asked what it was we were looking at. Tao told him that we had ID'd the car that was suspiciously lurking around our house and that the person in the car possibly was the same one who broke our window and thrown the ball with the note.

 

Chanyeol: Quick! Go and search that plate number on the MV database.

Tao: Don't we need access to that or something?

Me: Yeah, but you can call the motor vehicle registration department.

Tao: And what would we say? Kinda suspicious for a kid to call.

Jimin: Jungkook's got a voice changer app on his phone. He can call.

Tao: Perfect. Jungkook? You there?

JK: Hmm..yes.

Tao: Can you call the MV registration?

JK: Okay...I can try.

Tao: Gomawo.

Me: Ask whose name the plate number is registered under and if they ask why, then you tell them that you want to make sure that the car is not stolen, because the owner is selling it.

JK: Ahhh...alright. *clears throat*

 

Tao gave Jungkook the plate number and we waited while Jungkook made the call. It was a Saturday afternoon. The office was probably closed and no one to answer. But someone answered. Looked like they had staff for the weekends. We heard Jungkook ask the person on the other line about the plate number and slowly read it to the person. He paused for a few seconds, before he added that he was buying the car and he wanted to know if the car was legally registered. It looked like he got the information he needed, because he asked Jimin to give him a pen and paper. Then after about a few minutes, he thanked the other line and hung up.

 

"Guys, you won't believe it. It's registered under Dong Zhou Ming."

 

Dong Li Zhen's brother.

 

"Luhan's the next?"

 

"Why Lu ge?"

 

"Because of that witch?"

 

"I think it's Sehun."

 

"Why me?"

 

"Isn't that Dong Zi's father?"

 

"So?"

 

"She likes you, doesn't she?"

 

"What does that have to do with me if she likes Sehun?"

 

"Taehyung-ah, maybe the witch also likes you?"

 

"Xiao Yi, be careful okay?"

 

"I will."

 

"Hey, no flirting with my sister, Jungkook."

 

"Yo oppa...orz"

 

"I just...want her to be careful."

 

"We all do."

 

"OPPA!"

 

"Those witches!"

 

"What witch? You're all so noisy in here! Mama wants all of you downstairs."

 

 

Suho had come in the room unannounced.

 

 

"Hyung. We just found something out."

 

"What?"

 

"Tao got the plate number of the car. Jungkook called the MV registration and guess what?"

 

"What? What?"

 

"The car is registered under Dong Zhou Ming."

 

"Who?"

 

"The witches' father."

 

"Witch?"

 

"Ding dong...bell!"

 

 

Chen had come inside as well. As soon as he heard the word "witch," he caught on. Suho's eyes widened and almost fainted on the floor. Chen caught him and pushed him to the nearest bed and let him sit down.

 

Suho: Does...have you...Ughh...Wait...

 

We all looked at him as he clutched his chest and leaned on the headrest.

 

Tao: Uh...my phone's about to die soon. Skype, guys.

Jimin: Okay. Wait. Kookie-ya... Skype juseyo. My phone's dying too.

Taehyung: Hold on. Let me open my laptop. Send me the photo as well, I wanna see the car.

Tao: Okay.

 

"Skyping? With who? Xiao Yi? Ajajajajaja!"

 

Came J's voice. Jimin's and Jungkook's face swam into view as Tao straightened his laptop and maximized the videocall screen.

 

Taehyung's name flashed green from the contacts. Tao added him to the convo.

 

Taehyung: Hey.

J: Wasssssssuppp? What is this? Skype meeting?

Tao: Yes. It's time for a stakeout again.

J: Oh. Like the one before? With Yoongi hyung and Lu ge?

Tao: Yep.

 

Suho had relaxed and pointed at the screen.

 

Suho: Guys. This is serious. We are dealing with a serious matter.

Taehyung: Who? Dong?

J: Isn't he a crackpot? What's so serious about him?

Suho: His car was found lurking outside our house.

Taehyung: And his brother came over our house this morning, before you came, hyung.

J: Whhhaaaaa---?

Jimin: Hyung, they were trying to kidnap Taehyung.

J: Haaaaahhh?

Suho: I'm going to call the police and tell them what you boys found out.

Tao/Taehyung/Jimin: NOOOO!

Suho: Why not?

Tao: Not yet...?

Suho: Zitao. I'm gonna tell mama you're doing this...

Tao: *pouts*

Suho: Not gonna work on me.

Tao: *blinks and pouts*

Suho: No. I'm telling mama.

 

"Tell me what? Your father just called. We're going to your grandpa Wu while they're still in London. Now. What is it that you want to tell me, Junmian?"

 

Everyone fell silent. Even the ones on the other end of the screen.

 

Taehyung's mouth fell open.

 

Jimin, Jungkook and J stared at the screen.

 

Sehun blinked.

 

Xiao Yi gulped.

 

Tao cowered.

 

Chanyeol's grin was suddenly frozen. He looked like a stupid puppy. OTL. =_=

 

Chen pretty much looked like Taehyung with his mouth open.

 

And I had the derpiest face of all.

 

Let's not describe it, okay.

 

Kai appeared at the door, behind mama, and belted out.

 

"Mianhae, mianhae hajima. Naega chorahaeji jianha... Ppalgan yeppeun ipsullo..Eoseo nareul jugigo ga...Naneun gwaenchanh-aaaaa... Neoui nu, ko, ip..nal manjideon ne songil jageun sontopkkaji daaaaaa...aaaahhhhhh!"

 

 

Leave it to Kai to ruin the moment.

 

---

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누구 때문에? 호르몬 때문에? xD Still  not over the War of Hormone MV. But I'm actually listening/switching between Tae Yang's Eyes, Nose, Lips and War of Hormone....and the Chinese version of UNIQ's Falling In Love. Anyway, I can't do a double update, but this chapter is a bit long, so I hope you liked Baek's POV.  → 사랑해요! ♥♥♥ 我愛你們！吳愛你們！Oh yeah...anyone of you listen to Kis-My-Ft2 as well? I have their "Good Night" song on loop, too. It sets the mood for some of the next few chapters. You might want to listen to it. ^_^ They're good. They're Japanese.