The weather was worse than he expected. Leo guessed Onew and Taemin would probably spend the night at Jae Ren's.

The weather was controlled most of the time, but some natural calamities even the best magic user can't control. With Sanctuary being a Shadow Realm recycled from Prehistoric times, the weather was naturally harsher so it happened occasionally.

"Are you regretting it, Leo-ssi?"

That meant he would be alone with Key.

"Somewhat." He admitted. There was no point in lying. The shape-shifter seemed to see through him easily. Key explained earlier it was because of centuries of meeting all sorts of people. "A little relieved, actually."

"Because you won't spend the night there. It would probably make your decision harder to make." Key guessed. Though his guesses always seemed to hit the mark.

Was that true? He kept asking himself that question whenever the older made a remark.

"Even though Onew hyung is more than capable of keeping him and Taemin dry from the rain, Taemin would probably ask to stay instead. Of course, he'll have no choice to agree." Key said.

"Why?"

"No one can resist the maknae in our brotherhood." He laughed. "It's a fact." He said. Key watched as Leo stared outside the window. "If you miss them this bad already, do you think you can handle living without them?"

"I'm not given a choice either way."

"That makes it easier for you, doesn't it?"

Leo, from a force of habit, gave him a look. Though he already knew Key was immune to it.

"I'm just saying, Leo-ssi. You're already sulking after a week of not living with them, and you even see them at school." The older shrugged. "What is this person to you who you're leaving your friends for?"

"I... don't know."

"Seems to me like you do."

Leo rolled his eyes. He was unused to being the one played at for once. "I don't know anymore. It's been too long."

"So when you meet her and you find out what you feel, you'll then decide what to do? Isn't that selfish?"

Leo sighed. It was selfish, he knew. But what choice did he have? This was something he felt like he couldn't pass up. After being an emotionless shell for so long, he wanted to feel something.

Like right now. He felt like guilt was eating him alive.

"I'm terribly sorry about this, Jae Ren." Onew apologized again. "I forgot about the scheduled storm today. Now Taemin wants to stay." As compensation, he was helping with dinner while the others lounged in the living room.

"It's all right. Even the others seem to be enjoying his company." Jae Ren was surprised, too. It seemed like they liked hearing his stories. "There's only one extra bed, though. One of you will have to sleep on the couch."

"I understand."

"He's really a happy fellow..." She couldn't help but comment. "I feel a little happy around him, too."

"Taemin's like that. And the fact that you two use the same magic helps. It acts like a calming agent, especially when you don't feel it often." He explained. "It helps, doesn't it? With Leo?"

"Yes. It does." She nodded. "I'm still worried, though. He's going to be with the person who killed my parents."

Onew stopped from chopping carrots to look at her. "I'm so sorry, Jae Ren. I was ordered not to tell you. Even Taemin. How did you find out?"

"Jaekyun left me two things. A guide notebook and her journal. The date was written in red on each." She answered. "But thank you. It wasn't really your fault. Even N didn't tell me."

"You aren’t bothered?"

Jae Ren had to admit she should’ve been bothered. Lately, she had been too tired for such an emotion. "I can understand why no one told me. It's not something you can say straight to someone’s face."

"My, haven't you matured." Onew chuckled. "You can still talk to him, you know. He's at my house. Key's probably giving him a hard time right now."

"Key? The informant?" That took Jae Ren back. It felt like such a long time since then. Too much kept changing.

"Yes. Even someone like Leo can't fend someone like Key off." Onew snorted. "But... I can feel he's confused. I admit that I don't know why he's hesitating to stay."

"Jaekyun made Leo with emotions for Seohae." Jae Ren explained. "It doesn't say why she didn't remove them when Seohae left."

Onew understood. "So he loves her. I'm sure Jaekyun tried." He was sure of that. There must've been something that hindered the process.

"No." Jae Ren didn't want to believe that. "It's artificial."

He nodded, knowing she was in denial. Leo was in an internal battle of staying for his family or leaving for someone he supposedly loved.

"If he loved you instead, would you have had accepted him?"

Jae Ren stopped.

"No. I can't."

"Because?"

The warlock knew there wasn’t any particular reason, but he had the need to confirm/

"Right now, I'm just looking for my place in the world. I don't know what to even think of love.”

Onew felt a wave of nostalgia overwhelm him with her words. He couldn't stop smiling. "For a while, you sounded like Jaekyun, Jae Ren." But I'm not sure if that is a good thing. "Haven't you already found where you belong, though?" He meaningfully glanced at the living room. They probably couldn't hear them with Taemin's strong presence.

"Being unwillingly tied to me feels like I'm holding them hostage." She admitted. "I sometimes can't sleep with the guilt, knowing I was the reason Jaekyun... did those things to them."

Onew didn't like the sound of her determination laced with sadness. He understood what she was trying to say, though he didn't know if it was possible. "Is it too late to at least convince you to consult them first before you do anything rash?"

"Yes. I've planned it already. Don't tell them, please. This is something I have to do."

He didn't see the point of what she was trying to achieve. Reluctantly, he promised he won't tell.

He had a feeling there was more to her plans. She was just unsure to make a move yet.

But he was certain she was making plans. For what, he did not know. He just wish she wasn't the same as Jaekyun who never included her own safety in her plans.

She inherited her recklessness. Onew couldn't help but think.