10 | Her Past

 

 

"What's going on?"

 

"S-Seohyun. She-She's missing."

 

"She's missing? Are you kidding? Wait, can you stop first?! You are making me dizzy!"

 

Upon hearing the firm command from the other girl, Yoona momentarily stop, facing the latter seriously. "This. And this. There's a stain of blood." she shows Seohyun's phone and her own suit jacket. "I've seen this in the ground, to where her car is park. The plates of the food she cooked was also there - broken into pieces. She's no where to be found. I don't know the whole thing that happened but I have a strong feelings she's kidnapped." she hissed frustratingly at the end of her sentence.

 

"Then where are you going?" Jessica snatched the jacket and check on the blood. She frowned to realize it was some real blood.

 

"School's Security Room. I'll try to see if they have recorded the event earlier." Yoona says, snatching back her jacket. The, She moves forward, heading to the place she mentioned.

 

Jessica was a bit hesitant, however, she decided to follow. "Wait! I'm coming with you, Yoona!"

 

There wasn't a moment after and Yoona and Jessica entered with a serious face to the staffs inside. With Yoona's explanation  she was being granted to review the video recorded an hour ago. As an expert security officer, Yoona did not fail her own skills and was able to spot the particular video which shows a kidnapping event of Seohyun. 

 

In the video, it was so clear that black van stopped and three masked goons jumps out from it. One of them was fast enough from grabbing Seohyun on and lifted her up, bringing her hurriedly to the van even for the struggles from the girl. The two other men were on look out before they joined inside the van. 

 

Yoona keeps on pausing the video, zoomed in so she can try to see any symbols or anything that might help her to locate the kidnappers. Unfortunately, all of them are wearing protective masked, and intentionally did cover their entire  body including gloves. Not to mention, the plate number of the van is blank.

 

"This is hard, Yoong. They seemed to be professional about this." Jessica mutters after series of review on the video.

 

The address girl audibly sighed and almost want to punch the monitor. If hadn't control herself. "What am I going to do? This video is far from... " Yoona did not continue her words upon realizing Seohyun's phone is vibrating against the table. She casually picked it up and frowned to see Donghae calling.

 

"Who is it?"

 

"I'll answer this first." Getting up, Yoona put the phone against her right ear. "Mr. Lee." and answers the call.

 

[Seo - Wait who's this? Miss Im?]

 

"Yes. Um... " Yoona trailed off to continue. "... What can I do for you? S-I mean, Boss is not around." as she decided not to mention the current situation.

 

[Where's she? You guys should be back by now.]

 

"Yeah, b-but... " Yoona bit her lip, as she pause and tried to think of an excuse. "...She's... AH... She's still not planning to go back.Boss is not yet over - she's talking to a possible new composer." she sighed audibly with her lie.

 

[Chincha?]

 

"Yes."

 

[Hmm, Okay. That's quiet convincing. Just tell her don't work so hard. And go home early as much as possible. I'm hanging up now.]

 

The call ended but Yoona was left a bit strange with the tone of Donghae's voice. They're so sweet to her ears. She is quiet thinking the boy has feelings for her boss. That made a little tug on her chest. Heck, she quickly shrugs it off and put the phone down. Going back to Jessica, the latter has been replaying the video all over again. 

 

She approached the table back and took her seat next to her. "Who do you think could do this?" ask her in concern. The thought of Chairman Seo crosses her mind, she felt irresponsible over her boss. If she only has her phone with her, she should have trace her location already. Unfortunately, Seohyun dropped it. "I hope she's okay." 

 

"I don't know Yoong. Though I know a lot of kidnappers with the kind of job we have, I haven't really encountered a kidnapping case going around the Seo." says Jessica, a bit noticing how concern is Yoona for the latter. She hadn't seen this side of hers to a stranger, except for her brother.

 

"I might..." As Yoona picked up her suit jacket on top of the table, she pause for a while as she recalled Nicole, giving her an envelope. That instincts hit her - as she rummage underneath the pocket of her jacket. It didn't take long and she picked it up.

 

"Isn't that the new mission I gave to Nicole?" ask Jessica, knowing well.

 

Yoona quickly opens it and she saw a picture inside. "Who's this?"

 

"That's Seo In Guk. Apparently, he's... Wait... Seo?" Jessica gasped, as she realized something. "Could it be-"

 

"He's what?" Yoona interrupted strongly.

 

"He's Nicole's new mission for it was reported he had enter South Korea illegally. His travel documents was found fake. But hold on, he is a Seo. Which means? He's related to Seohyun? What do you think?" Jessica exclaims. Somehow the mission makes a sense to the kidnapping event.

 

"I don't know, but we have the same theory. So He came from where?" Yoona surely got interested.

 

"California, U.S.A."

 

"The Seo Family is currently residing there, right?"

 

"Yeah~" Jessica shrugs her shoulders. "But-"

 

*RIIINGGGGG~

 

Yoona's attention momentarily shifted to Seohyun's phone again. As she picked it up, it's Hyoyeon's turn calling her boss. She had a quiet groan as she decided to answer it.

 

[7pm Seohyun-ah. I'll be waiting here.]

 

Without even waiting for a response, the other girl on the next line ended the call, leaving Yoona speechless and troubled. "Damn. I almost forgot about the club she's planning to go tonight."

 

 

 

 

[Unknown Place]

 

 

Opening her eyes very slowly, one girl made a few more blinks smoothly, before she finally can see the dirty ground. Her head was apparently looking down, whilst hands are very tight tied at the back in a sitting position.

 

As she slowly gained consciousness, her mind flashes back to the events of her life - never thought she could experience the same thing all over again. And one of them is very unforgettable. 

 

Flashback...

 

"Wake up!"

 

*splash*

 

20 years old Seohyun gained her consciousness, panting while trembling in fear. One man is apparently standing in front of her, smirking towards her. She's being tightly tied to a pole behind, which is making her hurting more.

 

"Please... Just bring me back to my family. I did nothing wrong." She cried, as she continue to catch on her breath. Tears are flowing non stop.

 

That man in a mask crouch down and snickered. "Do you know where are you right now?"

 

She frantically shake her head. But she exactly knows, she's not in a good place. The last time she remembers, she's with Taeyeon. They're laughing so freely  in a park outside her residence when she was being abducted.

 

"Of course, who would know? You lose your consciousness when we kidnapped you." The man patted her cheeks before getting up and approaches a chair in the corner.

 

Seohyun noticed, there are only few things in the room. His table, a laptop and a bag on top of it. A camera stood in a tripod, in the corner and a three container of water (?) in the corner as well. As she looked down to her feet, she frightened more when she just realized the water that was being splash to her body earlier seems to be not an ordinary one. The smell made it sense - it's a gasoline. "You are... "

 

The man chuckled devilishly. "Yeah, you're right with your thoughts right now. But before I could actually do this to you. Let's call your parents through skype, shall we?" he said. Right then, the camera seems to lightened after he clicked something on his laptop. A ringing can be heard around. "Aww, don't cry my dear. You're going to heaven anyway."

 

Seohyun's cries are still echoing the entire room. Her hope to survive had is weakening, with her situation right - she's about to die. Closing her eyes tight, she began to see her childhood. Though not all of them are happy, she was glad she was able to enjoy it. She was glad, at some point, she was able to feel the love from her parents, though the two are really busy with their business. Heck, she's more than glad she had friends. They're the reasons why she always smile. Of course, she was glad she meet Taeyeon. Her very first crush that made her feel always so special - every time she's with her. Taeyeon is such a warm friend. She always find herself secure every time she's with her. All of the memories came rushing into her, which is making her more hurt and crying so hard. However, she felt so regretful, she haven't confess to her Unnie. If she can't survive this, then there's no more chance. She felt so miserable now. If there's just a miracle, she would be so happy. 

 

"Don't you want to...  ask why I am doing this?"

 

She didn't answer. Her mind is busy reminiscing her childhood that she even refuse to hear anything.

 

"Alright, let's just say... your family. No, not just your family. But mainly the Seo family including your grandparents - they are the richest. A lot of bad elements wanted to do this, but the fate  was in me. I am the lucky one to do this to you. Right, money. This is just about the money. And you are my money. Why? Out from your cousins, I've heard that you're the only heir of the company, so yeah... you're sure my only way to a good life. Hehe, don't get me wrong. All of us here want some money, right? SO just understand." He ended his speech when the voice from the next line of the call is already echoing.

 

"Oh Gosh, Seohyun?" 

 

Upon hearing her mother's voice through a speaker, Seohyun slowly opened her eyes and slowly looked up, instead to the man in mask. The latter faces the monitor towards her, there she caught her eyes, her mother, and father, crying. "Omma!!! Appaaaa!!!" screamed in, as she violently move on her seat. Unfortunately, won't let her untie from the tight rope around. She could simply cry in misery. "Appa... Omma... please... s-save..."

 

"Listen! Mister and Mrs. Seo!" The man shouted, cutting the young girl's words.

 

"What do you want from us? Let our daughter go, PLEASE!!!"

 

"Simple." The man got up and stood behind the camera. He turned it to the right, and continued, "Can you guys see the container? That contains the gasoline. If you guys can't give me a 100 million dollars in 24 hours, you'll see your beautiful daughter, burning to death. At exactly 11pm, tomorrow, let's see each other in the place I am sending through text message. Understood?"

 

"For our daughter, We'll do whatever you want us to do."

 

Mr. Seo's voice echoed this time.

 

"That's good. And one rule, no police. No other person except the both of you and the money." The man added firmly, before turning the camera back to Seohyun. Without any doubt, He approached her and slapped her hard twice. In which, Seohyun's cheeks turned so red, and cut was seen underneath her eyes. 

 

"SEOHYUUUUN!!! HONEEEY!!!"

 

"YAH! DON'T HURT HEEEERRR!!!"

 

He just laugh so loud. "That's only to make her stop from crying. Tomorrow, 9pm. If the money isn't here yet, it's not only that - you guys can see a good show. A fire show? Are you guys excited? Hehehe..." He then approaches the laptop again and turned off the skype.

 

A couple of minutes later, Seohyun's tears was still visible, yet, she had stop from sobbing. She gritted her teeth and clench on her fist, angrily. She's afraid  and mad thinking that the man would also hurt parents. It will really kill her, if he will also include her parents. "Just kill me please... don't include my parents." She sniffles, as she looked back at the kidnapper, intensely.

 

"No. Not yet, my dear. Later, you will-"

 

"JUST KILL MEEEEE!!!"

 

End of Flashback...

 

 

Though she indeed survived because her parents give the money to that man, she knew by now, she got kidnapped again for twice. She hated it somehow, because her parents always gives the money to those who will kidnapped her. It hurts her also that every time she's back at home after another traumatic experience, her parents would scold her for being so careless and ground her for 2 months. One of the reasons she's rebelling and she doesn't want any bodyguards. Because in the end of these, nothing will change. They will be concern indeed, but they're more concern of their company and money. It is more than disappointing when someone would betray you.

 

Sometimes, she wonder, if she's not a real Seo. Because being one of the member of the family is dangerous. However, she's a real Seo. And apparently, it only hit her again, she's still the heir of Seo's FAB. And apparently, the other businesses of the family.

 

No wonder, she's back in her situation again. The bad elements must have again with her current position now in FAB.

 

"Long time no see, cousin."

 

Snapping back her thoughts, she slowly yet nonchalantly looked up, finally can see who is her kidnapper this time. "Yeah, you must be so careful when you get here?" In her knowledge, this cousin of her is a being jailed because for kidnapping her a long time ago. "Are you going to kill me now?" She added, coldly. "You said the last time, you're going to kill me once you got your hands on me for the 2nd time."

 

"Yup. But... not before I could get what I want."

 

"Money?"

 

Her cousin chuckled. "What's up with you? It's not about the money, this time. That's so lame. I've already get what I want the last time."

 

"What?" Seohyun has no more fear to face her situation, wherein, s