Unsurprisingly, the moment Haru arrives, she immediately finds a seat farthest from the crowds of people. There was no way in hell was she planning to socialize– no matter what Jongup insisted. If she was going to get up, it would be to get some food from the snack table or to leave this goddamn place. 

Though Jongup said that this event is to promote brotherhood among the gangs– she didn’t see a point to all of it. Geomi is creating trouble and she hardly thinks a night of food and drinks will improve their relationship. 

From her seat at the corner table, she looks out into the hall. If someone looked in, they wouldn’t have realized what kind of get together this was. They wouldn’t think the people they were watching were members of the fiercest gangs in Seoul.

This event was certainly too gaudy, refined, and pretentious.

It just didn’t fit. 

Scanning the hall to prove her point, she finds her sight landing on someone she really didn’t want to run into again. Haru personally feared for the girl’s safety as she didn’t know what forms her anger would take if they were ever going to confront one another. 

Avoiding the young girl’s eyes, Haru gets up and heads for the bathroom. Well, look at that. This would be the reason that got her up on her feet. Once finding the bathroom, the solitude comforts Haru momentarily before she leaves the stall to find there is another presence waiting inside. Waiting for her. 

Jieun looks back at Haru while the latter begins washing her hands in the sink. 

“…Did you get my text?”

The soft voice comes from behind and Haru looks into the mirror. 

“I did.” Haru curtly responds.

“Did it help?”

“It did.” She honestly reveals. “But, why?” Spinning around, Haru faces Jieun directly. “That would mean getting your dad in trouble.”

Jieun’s eyes drop down to her hands that she’s wringing in nervousness.

“You knew about the flower and the backpack.” Haru goes on to mention. “So, why?” Why was Jieun suddenly helping now when all she did in the beginning was target her? 

“I did know about them but I didn’t know how much I would feel bad about it afterwards.” Jieun didn’t know the extent of trouble she was getting Haru into. Jieun didn’t know how much it was going to harm her. 

“So, the text was done for the sake of your conscience?”

“It was done for the sake of our friendship.” Jieun responds and finally lifts her eyes to meet Haru’s, hoping her sincerity would reach the girl in front of her. 

Haru falls quiet. She didn’t know what to believe anymore.

“For what it’s worth… I really did consider you as my friend, Haru– I still do.”

“You know…,” Haru clicks her tongue and tosses the paper towel out. “So did I, Jieun. Until you kinda got me beat up for it– it was like a reward for trusting you.”

“Haru–,”

Thankfully, the conversation is cut short when Jieun’s phone starts ringing. She fumbles for her phone in her purse and Haru takes it as the end of the conversation.

“Just wait a second,” Jieun requests but Haru has already started for the door 

Haru just reached for the door when she answered the call. 

“We’re leaving?” Jieun asks the person on the other line. “Already?”

Opening the door, Haru steps back out and tries to calm herself. That short meeting did nothing but aggravate her… and she was already in a bad mood to begin with. Stepping back into the hall, she moves past a window before something out the corner of her eye sends her halting.

Looking out, she focuses on the red flashing lights in the distance that are approaching. Fast. 

And, the realization hits her. 

Rushing away, she searches for the familiar faces in the large hall. Pushing through groups of ignorant people, Haru reaches out and grabs onto Jongup’s arm. 

“Haru, where have you been? I have been looking for–,”

“The cops are here.”

“We’re not doing anything illegal.”

Haru points at herself frantically. “What if they’re here for me?”  Besides, every instinct of hers is telling her that if Youngjae is a part of it, she should never be too careless. 

“They’re not allowed to touch you.”

“Do you really want to find out?”

Jongup freezes as the situation settles in. “Come on.” He starts away first and Haru follows closely behind. He alerts the other gangs to start hiding whatever they have to if somehow a search will be carried out. 

Grabbing Barom on the way out, the three hurry to the back entrance–, 

And, it’s not a good idea anymore.

“Turn around.” Jongup mutters the order. 

Three pairs of feet backpedal before a call of her name sends the three sprinting away fast.

“Hey! Wait right there!” 

Running as fast as she could in a pair of heels, Haru tries to keep up with both Jongup and Barom.

“I knew I had to ing run.” She snarls through her pants. 

Another group of blue suited officers enter the main hall