THIS CHAPTER WILL BE IN V'S POV

I'LL SORT OF LET YOU KNOW ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND

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SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:00 SHARP I ARRIVE AT MY JOB. I DON'T WORK IN SOME IMPORTANT COMPANY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S JUST A REGULAR CAFFÉ. IT'S THE ONLY PLACE THAT WOULD HIRE ME WHEN I FIRST STARTED APPLYING FOR A JOB AT AGE ELEVEN. SUCH AN EARLY AGE RIGHT? I REALLY NEEDED THE MONEY AT THE TIME. I STILL DO BUT NOT AS MUCH SINCE MY FRIENDS HELP OUT. THE REASON I NEEDED MONEY WAS BECAUSE OF MY PARENTS. ONE WEEK AFTER MY BIRTHDAY AND ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY WHEN THEY WERE HEADED BACK HOME THEY WERE KILLED. AT A RED LIGHT SOME MAN THAT HAD JUST ROBBED A CONVENIENCE STORE DIDN'T HAVE A GETAWAY CAR SO HE OPENED THE DOOR TO MY DAD'S CAR AND PULLED HIM OUT FORCEFULLY. MY MOM HAD GOT OUT THE CAR ALSO AND RAN OVER TO THE THIEF AND BEGAN TO HIT HIM WITH HER PURSE ONLY TO BE STABBED IN THE THROAT. FATHER HAD TRIED FIGHTING THE MAN BUT HE TOO GOT IMPALED. APPARENTLY THE THIEF, LATER KNOWN AS LEE SEO JIN, DID NOT GET VERY FAR. HE ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A TREE CAUSING ONE OF ITS BRANCHES TO FALL ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR AND HIM GETTING SEVERELY INJURED. LEE SEO JIN RECEIVED A 25 YEAR TO LIFE SENTENCE. THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WAS LEFT WITH ONLY 2,000,000 WON AND A TWO STORY HOUSE. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE HOUSE I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN APPLYING TO ALL SORTS OF PLACES. NONE OF THEM WOULD HIRE SUCH A YOUNG KID. THAT IS UNTIL I CAME ACROSS THIS CAFFÉ THAT IS OWNED BY THE WORLD'S KINDEST ELDERLY WOMAN. SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WORKED IN THE CAFFÉ AT THE TIME. NOW, HOWEVER, IT IS THE TWO OF US.

I ENTER THE KITCHEN AND SEE THAT EXACT LADY, KIM MI SOOK, TAKING SOME PASTRIES OUT THE OVEN.

"GOOD MORNING GRANDMOTHER."

"OH GOOD MORNING DARLING."

"HOW ARE YOU THIS FINE DAY?"

"I'M DOING ALL RIGHT."

"THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. I MISSED YOU THESE TWO DAYS THAT I WAS OFF."

"YOU MISSED ME?"

"OF COURSE I DID. WHY WOULDN'T I?"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN SICK OF HELPING AN OLD LADY LIKE ME YET."

"I CAN NEVER GET SICK OF YOU. WERE YOU ABLE TO RUN THE CAFFÉ ON YOUR OWN?"

"YES I WAS ABLE TO HANDLE IT. GO CHANGE INTO YOUR UNIFORM CHILD."

"YES MA'AM."

I DO AS SHE SAYS AND HEAD TO THE BACK TO CHANGE INTO MY WORK UNIFORM. AFTER THE MORNING RUSH HOUR, WHEN THE CAFFÉ IS JUST ABOUT EMPTY, I HAVE A SEAT AT ONE OF THE UNOCCUPIED TABLES. JUST AS I'M ABOUT TO SHUT MY EYES THE BOSS SITS IN FRONT OF ME WITH A SLICE OF ANGEL FOOD CAKE  DRIZZLED WITH CARAMEL SAUCE AND A CUP OF HOT COCOA. I SIT UP STRAIGHT.

"IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO FOR YOU?"

"NO, I JUST BROUGHT YOU SOME BREAKFAST. YOU SEEM TO BE LOSING WEIGHT."

"OH THANK YOU."

I BEGIN EATING.

"SWEETIE?"

"YES GRANNY?"

"YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, RIGHT? AS IF YOU WERE MY OWN FLESH AND BLOOD."

"I DO. I LOVE YOU MORE THOUGH."

THAT MAKES HER SMILE.

"IF SOMETHING WERE TO EVER HAPPEN TO ME-"

"GRANDMOTHER DON'T START WITH THAT AGAIN. I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT THAT."

"TAEHYUNG DARLING, GRANDMOTHER IS VERY OLD. YOU KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE A HUSBAND, MUCH LESS ANY CHILDREN. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO ME I'D LEAVE EVERY CENT I HAVE TO YOU. EVEN THE CAFFÉ."

"W-WHAT? WHY?"

"ALTHOUGH YOU ARE NOT MY FAMILY BY BLOOD I CONSIDER YOU FAMILY. MY ONLY FAMILY. YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE I HAVE TAEHYUNG."

"BUT GRANDMOTHER-"

"I ALREADY PREPARED MY WILL."

"GRANNY YOU WOULD TRUST ME WITH THE CAFFÉ?"

"WITH ALL MY HEART. I'VE SEEN YOU GROW UP INTO SUCH A GREAT YOUNG MAN. I KNOW I'M MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION."

I GET UP FROM MY SEAT AND WALK OVER TO HER. I SMILE AND BEND DOWN TO GIVE HER A HUG.

"THANK YOU GRANDMOTHER."

SHE PATS MY BACK.

"JUST PROMISE ME ONE THING."

"ANYTHING BOSS."

"TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF."

"I WILL."

SHE STANDS AND GOES BACK INTO THE KITCHEN. ONCE CUSTOMERS START COMING IN AGAIN I GET BACK TO WORK.

WHEN I GET OFF WORK AT 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON I GO STRAIGHT HOME. ON THE WALK HOME I START THINKING ABOUT KOOKIE. AT HOME I EAT THE FOOD JIN-HYUNG MADE FOR ME WHICH CONSISTED OF A BOWL OF RICE AND SOME BULGOGI. AFTER MY MEAL I HEAD UPSTAIRS TO MY ROOM. I GET MY PYJAMAS AND GO WASH UP. BY THE TIME I'M DONE IT IS 6:21.

"EVERYONE SHOULD BE HOME BY NOW."

I HEAD DOWNSTAIRS TO CHECK ON MY HOUSEMATES. THEY ARE ALL IN THE LIVINGROOM WATCHING A MOVIE. JIMIN, WHO IS LEAVING TO THE KITCHEN, IS THE FIRST ONE TO SEE ME. 

"YOU'RE BACK TAE?"

EVERYONE TURNS AROUND AND LOOKS AT ME.

"YEA."

"WHAT'S WRONG?"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"

"USUALLY YOU ANSWER WITH A SMILE AND NOD. YOU LOOK SO SAD TODAY."

"IT'S NOTHING. I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT GRANDMOTHER."

"DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?"

"NO. SHE STARTED TALKING ABOUT HER DYING AGAIN."

"WELL SHE IS OLD TAEHYUNG. SHE'S PROBABLY SICK," NAM JOON-HYUNG SAYS.

"DON'T SAY THAT HYUNG."

"IT'S TRUE. SHE MAY BE ILL BUT DOESN'T WANT TO TELL YOU," YOON GI COMMENTS.

"NOT YOU TOO YOON GI-HYUNG."

JIN STANDS UP AND WALKS TOWARD ME. HE PLACES HIS ARM AROUND MY SHOULDER AND RUFFLES MY HAIR.

"I'M SURE SHE'S PERFECTLY FINE," HE SAYS.

"THANKS HYUNG."

"ARE YOU GOING TO TALK TO THAT JEON KID AGAIN?"

"YES HO SEOK-HYUNG I AM."

"I THOUGHT YOU WERE STRAIGHT," YOON GI COMMENTS.

"I'VE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT. I THINK I AM THOUGH."

"IT TOTALLY DOESN'T MAKE YOU SEEM GAY THAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TO THIS JEON JUNG KOOK EVERY NIGHT FOR THREE DAYS STRAIGHT."

"OKAY I'M GOING BACK TO MY ROOM."

AS SOON AS I ENTER MY BEDROOM I MAKE SURE TO LOCK THE DOOR.

RIGHT WHEN I LOG INTO THE CHATTING WEBSITE I RECEIVE A MESSAGE FROM NONE OTHER THAN KOOKIE.

KOOKIE: HI V. ARE YOU ON YET?

V: I JUST LOGGED ON

KOOKIE: OH PERFECT :)

V: YEAH

KOOKIE: SO HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

V: PRETTY GREAT. YOURS?

KOOKIE: I DID THE USUAL AND JUST STUDIED.

V: AND YOUR PARENTS?

KOOKIE: THEY ARE NOT HOME RIGHT NOW. THEY WENT TO CHURCH.

V: IF THEY ARE NOT HOME THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING INDOORS? LEAVE!

KOOKIE: I CAN'T DO THAT.

V: WHY NOT? YOUR PARENTS AREN'T HOME

KOOKIE: I CAN'T LEAVE BECAUSE THE HOUSE HAS A SECURITY SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T ALLOW SOMEONE TO LEAVE UNLESS THEIR FINGERPRINTS ARE RECORDED IN IT. THE ONLY FINGERPRINTS IN THE SYSTEM ARE THE ONE'S OF MY DAD, MOM, THE PASTOR, AND THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

V: MAN YOUR PARENTS ARE COMPLETE PSYCHOPATHS

KOOKIE: NO THEY ARE NOT

V: ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND KEEPS THEIR OWN CHILD LOCKED UP?

KOOKIE: THEY ARE JUST PROTECTING ME V.

V: PROTECTING YOU FROM WHAT? THIEVES? GIRLS? MOLESTERS?

KOOKIE: ALL OF THEM I SUPPOSE

V: I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF THEY PLANTED IN YOUR HEAD BUT THE WORLD OUT HERE IS NOT AS DANGEROUS AS THEY MAKE IT SEEM.

KOOKIE: REALLY?

V: YES REALLY. I SOMETIMES WALK HOME ALONE AT 11 O'CLOCK AND NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME.

KOOKIE: THEN WHY WOULD THEY KEEP ME IN HERE IF THE OUTSIDE WORLD IS NOT THAT MENACING?

V: I WOULDN'T KNOW

KOOKIE: WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO EAT TODAY?

V: IN THE MORNING GRANDMOTHER MADE ME A CUP OF HOT COCOA AND SOME ANGEL FOOD CAKE AND EARLIER I ATE A BOWL OF RICE AND BULGOGI THAT JIN- HYUNG MADE.

KOOKIE: I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD A GRANDMOTHER

V: SHE'S NOT REALLY MY GRANDMOTHER. I JUST SAY SHE IS BECAUSE SHE PRACTICALLY SAVED MY LIFE

KOOKIE: HOW?

V: WHEN I WAS ELEVEN AND MY PARENTS DIED SHE WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO GAVE ME A JOB AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE AND BECAME MY GUARDIAN. BECAUSE OF HER I WAS ABLE TO KEEP MY PARENTS HOUSE.

KOOKIE: I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR PARENTS HAD PASSED. I'M SORRY.

V: IT'S BEEN SEVEN YEARS SO I'M NOT THAT SAD ANYMORE

KOOKIE: SO THIS ELDERLY WOMAN IS YOUR GUARDIAN?

V: YEP

KOOKIE: HOW SWEET OF HER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY OF YOU

V: YEA I LOVE HER TO DEATH

KOOKIE: I WISH I KNEW MY GRANDPARENTS. THE ONLY FAMILY I HAVE IS MOM AND DAD.

V: IT'S SOMETHING, RIGHT?

KOOKIE: IT IS

V: MY FRIENDS THINK I'M GAY BECAUSE OF YOU

KOOKIE: WHAT?

V: EARLIER YOON GI-HYUNG QUESTIONED ME ABOUT MY UALITY SINCE I'VE BEEN TALKING TO YOU EVERY NIGHT THESE PAST THREE DAYS

KOOKIE: WHAT IS IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND HOMOUALITY?

V: WELL TWO OF THEM ARE GAY SO IT'S KIND OF NORMAL FOR THEM TO THINK ABOUT IT

KOOKIE: TWO OF YOUR FRIENDS ARE HOMOUAL?!

V: YEA

KOOKIE: THAT MEANS YOU ACCEPT HOMOUALITY

V: I DO. LOVE IS LOVE KOOKIE. I HONESTLY DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH HOMOUALITY OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT

KOOKIE: BUT IT IS A SIN

V: YOU HAVE YOUR BELIEFS AND I HAVE MINE

KOOKIE: WELL YEA BUT STILL

V: WHEN ARE YOUR PARENTS COMING BACK?

JUNG KOOK LOOKS AT THE TIME. 7:16PM

KOOKIE: THEY SHOULD BE HOME IN ABOUT AN HOUR. WHY?

V: I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE LEFT WITH YOU

KOOKIE: DO YOU HAVE SCHOOL TOMORROW? 

V: YEA :(

KOOKIE: YOU DON'T LIKE SCHOOL DO YOU?

V: NOT ONE BIT

KOOKIE: DO YOU HAVE TO STUDY EVERYDAY LIKE I DO?

V: YOU HAVE SCHOOL EVERYDAY?

KOOKIE: TECHNICALLY YES

V: YOU MUST BE A GENIUS

KOOKIE: I WOULDN'T CALL MYSELF A GENIUS

V: WHAT'S 1,000,000 MINUS 753?

KOOKIE: WHAT?

V: YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS LEFT TO ANSWER

KOOKIE: SERIOUSLY?

V: EIGHT SECONDS

JUNG KOOK STARTS DOING SOME MENTAL MATH

KOOKIE: 999,247?

V: WOW~ YOU REALLY ARE A GENIUS!!

KOOKIE: NO I'M NOT

V: ARE YOU LIKE THE KOREAN ALBERT EINSTEIN?

KOOKIE: NO

V: WHAT'S YOUR IQ??

KOOKIE: 143 I THINK

V: SEE YOU ARE SMART!!

KOOKIE: WHAT'S YOUR IQ?

V: I DON'T KNOW

SOMEONE KNOCKS ON TAE HYUNG'S BEDROOM DOOR

V: HOLD ON SOMEONE IS KNOCKING ON MY DOOR

KOOKIE: OKAY

I GET UP FROM MY BED AND OPEN THE DOOR. IT'S NAM JOON-HYUNG.

"WHAT IS IT HYUNG?"

"JUST CHECKING UP ON YOU."

"UH OKAY."

HE SMILES AND WALKS AWAY.

WEIRD.

V: IT WAS JUST NAM JOON-HYUNG

KOOKIE: IS EVERTHING OKAY?

V: YEA HE SAID HE WAS JUST CHECKING UP ON ME

"JUNG KOOK SWEETIE WE'RE HOME~"

KOOKIE: MY PARENTS ARE HOME EARLY!!!

V: CALM DOWN

KOOKIE: WHAT IF THEY CATCH ME?!

V: JUST EXIT, SHUT YOUR COMPUTER, AND GO TO BED. WE'LL TALK AGAIN TOMORROW. GOODNIGHT KOOKIE :)

KOOKIE: OKAY. GOODNIGHT V.

A/N: HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS CHAPTER MY DARLINGS??

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UNTIL NEXT TIME~