“With how many agents will we work with? I need to know the number of possible idiots I’ll work with.” MeiLing asks. I’m the one asking that normally, but I’m still a bit under the weather.

“Just a few of them.” WuFan answers.

“Very few people know about our presence here. The president himself made it like that because our mission might involved people of a higher reputation and he doesn’t want those people to be able to hide everything.”

“Are we all getting infiltrated?”.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Chae SeungWon is recruiting people and I’m going to apply for it. It’s obvious that I’m going to get accepted. I’ll concentrate on finding things about their company.” JunMyeon explains his mission.

“There will be a fake ambush de on the president and I’m the one who is going to save him so that he can get me in the security sector.”

“Why do you get to do the cool things? What about us?” MeiLing whines.

“You’ll do your favourite thing.”

“And that would be?” I ask.

“Deceive people.” We smile immediately.

“MeiLing, you’ll be a teacher in Chae SeungWon’s oldest son’s high school. You need to win that boy’s trust.”

“Easier said than done.” She sighs.

“The boy goes to the school counsellor and guess who is going to be the new counsellor,” JunMyeon asks, ironically.

“You know I don’t like to deceive kids.”

“You’ll disappear from his life after the mission.” She nods to WuFan, but I know she still doesn’t agree with it.

“You’ll have a more difficult task, ChaeHyung. You’ll have to win the daughter’s trust so that she wants you to be her babysitter. She is an extremely difficult child and her nannies don’t last long.”

“Understood.”

“Vince sent the necessary information to your email address. We’ll get started tomorrow, so get ready.” JunMyeon warns us.

“You girls are going to be roommates.” We smile brightly. “You’ll see in the documents that we already have a story set for you.”

“What about you and WuFan?” I asked.

“I'll live a few blocks away from you just like WuFan. It would be obvious if all of us lived in the same condo. I want you two to be together because you work the best together. You're not like me and WuFan who are used to work alone. I'm not saying that you're not capable of it, but it would be more beneficial for us if you stick together." JunMyeon explains, knowing that we would find a reason to argue back even though we love that we are going to live together.

"You're right. We started training together and we work the best together."

"Now that everything is settled, we should go to our flats and mesmerize our new identity." We agree and go on our own way. MeiLing and I get in a cab and give the taxi driver our address. It's strange to hear Korean everywhere again. JunMyeon and I would talk Korean when MeiLing and Wufan weren't there. He didn't want me to lose the language because it makes part of my past and my identity what he isn't wrong.

"I'm so glad that we decided to learn each other's language otherwise this job would get more difficult."

We keep talking about trivial things until we arrive at our destination. I pay and thank the driver with a tip that he appreciated a lot. We take the lift to get to the fifth floor. Our flat looks pretty similar to ours in the U.S. It doesn't surprise me though. I know what JunMyeon is trying to do and I appreciate it a lot because it makes the situation just a tiny bit more bearable but I know that it won't help what would happen eventually. Knowing about my night habit, MeiLing let me have the room that would allow me to see the moon.  After we put our stuff in its place, we get our tablets and go to the living room.

"Ready to learn about our new identity?" I ask, knowing that it is MeiLing's favourite part of her job.

"Why do you think that the Cameleon is my favourite animal?" We laugh. We open the email and read it silently, each one absorbing as much information as possible during the first reading. "I think I'm ready. And you?" I nod and turn it off.

"Who should start?" I ask.

"It's your land, so make the honours."

"Hello, my name is Han MinHyo. I'm 28 years old." I bow playfully and MeiLing laughs. “I’m an orphan and was adopted by an American family. I spent most of my life in Chicago. I’m a writer who has published a book.” I stop there, really surprised about that last detail. “How the hell does JunMyeon know that I published a book?” I ask myself out loud.

“You published a book?” MeiLing asks me surprised and confused. I laugh nervously. “How do I not know about that?”

“I was embarrassed to tell you,” I admit.

“What is the name? What is it about?”She asks all excited.

“You’re not mad?”

“I’m just surprised. I know that we don’t tell each other everything. It’s good to have secrets.” I agree. I know that there are things about the past that I don’t know about her and it goes the same way for her.

“The name is Brown Eyes and it is a romance book.”

“I definitely need to read it.”

“Let’s continue. I came back to Korea because my book is going to be translated and the publisher wants to work with me.”

“JunMyeon is going to die when I see him. How dare he expose me like this?”

“He isn’t actually exposing you.” I look her, offended that she isn’t on my side. “What I mean is that it’s difficult to fake that you’re a writer. For a publisher to accept to translate your book from English to Korean it has to be a good book.”

“You just saved JunMyeon from a beating. What about your new identity?”

“Hey. My name is Joo KyulKyung and I’m a psychologist. I studied psychology in Spain and will start working at Seoul Foreign School as a counsellor. I’m originally from China, but I got the Korean nationality when I turned 18 because my deceased father is Korean.” She makes a strange grimace. “This is why I’m scared of JunMyeon sometimes. He literally knows everything about us. I really studied psychology during my stay in Spain for that mission.”

“At least you didn’t meet him when you were a teenager. From the beginning, he considered me as his little sister and was constantly on overprotective brother mode.” I reveal to her.

“It is understandable though. WuFan was the same with me and we didn’t even meet in the same circumstances as you two did. I was the little sister of his best friend.”

“I still find it unbelievable how the four of us are on the same team. We are like a group of siblings.”

“True. I really like our team and I will be devastated if they ever decide to separate us.” She admits and I agree with her.

“Me too. JunMyeon’s presence is really crucial for me. He was by my side ever since I moved to the States and helped me adapt to the new environment.” I admit.

“I can’t really imagine my life without WuFan too. I consider him a real brother and he was more present in my life than my real family. He was the one I would run to if I ever had anything troubling me.”

“I can’t imagine being in a team without all of you. Who would be my partner in crime if I didn’t have you? Who would we prank on if we didn’t have WuFan? His reactions to our pranks are amazing. And what would we do without JunMyeon? I don’t know how he does it but we would have lost our jobs a long time ago if we didn’t have JunMyeon on our side.” We laugh loudly.

“Sometimes I ask myself what I would be doing if I didn’t follow WuFan to the States.” I immediately remember a conversation the boys were having.

“I still can’t believe that you won’t be here next year.” JongDae hugged LuHan sideways. I looked at JongIn looking for an explanation.

“What do you not understand?” He asked, not understanding my question. I took my notebook and wrote it down. I showed it to him.

“LuHan hyung is in his last year of high school. He’ll go to university next year.” His explanation truly confused me. I asked him in the notebook if he could explain to me how the school works. KyungSoo, who was sat next to JongIn, read it too and decided to answer for him.

“We are in high school and we will spend three years here. Your brother is in the first year of high school. The four of us are in the second year. LuHan hyung is in last year of high school.  After high school comes university. In high school, you learn several things at the same time. In university, you concentrate on one topic and learn a lot about that topic. You can choose what you want to study at university. For example, you choose to learn medicine to be a doctor or law to be a lawyer. Do you understand now why he’s going away next year?” I nodded and thanked KyungSoo with a smile.

“Do you know what you want to study, hyung?” ChanYeol asked.

“Yes. I want to study Forensic Science. It means that I will help the police find out how a person died by studying the deceased’s body.” He put it simply for me to understand.

“I never expected it from you, Hyung.” 

“It’s something I’ve been passionate about.  Why do you think I’m the number one in Biology, Chemistry and Physics in my grade?”

“It makes sense now.” JongDae agreed with him.

“What about you, guys? Does anyone of you know what you would like to do in the future?” LuHan asked us. I shook my head and the reason was pretty obvious for everyone. Therefore, none did further questions.

“I would like to be an elementary teacher. I love kids.” JongDae answered first. My intense gaze made it clear that I didn’t know what he was talking about. “I want to teach children between the age of five and thirteen. The kids at this age go to what we call the elementary school and I want to work there.”

“I want to write books,” KyungSoo answered.

“You do look like you would be a writer or do something to do with literature,” ChanYeol commented. “I want to be a police officer. Last year I witnessed how a man was abusing a woman and called the police. It made me want to protect those who aren’t able to protect themselves.” He told us the story behind his decision.

“I still don't know. Maybe I'll become a dance teacher. I really like dancing."

They kept on talking about their future and I simply looked down at my hands. A future is something that I never thought about. Last month I would even be able to know if I would be alive the next day. To think about the future equalled to dream and that was never an option for us. At least they would do everything to stop us from dreaming. To dream brought us hope and hope could bring us some kind of happiness. They didn’t want us to feel any kind of positive feeling, thus they would do everything to destroy our dreams or our hope. They would hesitate to beat us up if they saw any kind of smiles on our faces. Even in this situation, it was very difficult for me to think about the future or have any aspiration. Even though JongIn’s father was giving me a lot of freedom, he didn’t hesitate to remind me that he could end with everything in a snap of fingers.  Everything in my life was so uncertain that I didn’t dare to desire anything.

“Hey. What’s wrong, HyeJin?” I looked up and all the boys were looking at me. “Why do you suddenly look sad?” JongIn asked, worried.

“It’s alright if you don’t know what you want to do in the future right now. Many of our classmates also don’t know what they want to do.” ChanYeol tried to cheer me up.

“ChanYeol is right. You still have a year to think about it.”

“I wonder if they manage to accomplish their goals,” I tell to myself

“What did you say?”

“I was wondering if my friends managed to achieve their goals.” 

“Why don’t you try to reach them now that you’re here?” MeiLing proposes. I shake my head several times. “Why?”

“I never told this, but I left South Korea with JunMyeon in bad terms. The police thought it would be best if people thought I was dead.” I tell her.

“But what if you come across someone from your past?”

“I’ll act like I don’t know them. They know that I have heterochromia iridium. That’s why I’ll be using my contact lens during the whole mission. I know it won’t be easy to pretend, but it isn’t like I’ll have to work them or something like that.” I try to convince myself that I’ll be fine if I ever meet them.

“You’re right. Let’s concentrate on the mission for now. I really don’t like the part of using Chae HyungWon. From what I’ve read, he seems to have real problems and I feel like I’ll be using it in my benefit.” MeiLing confesses her worries.

“I know what you mean, but it is part of our job. I’m luckier than you because I have to deal with a seven-year-old. She won’t remember me when she grows up. It won’t be the same for her brother, but maybe you can use this opportunity to help him whatever his problem is.” I try to see the good part of the mission.

“Go to sleep, girls.” JunMyeon’s voice echoes in the room. MeiLing and I get the scare of our life.

“JEEZ, JUNMYEON! You scared the hell out of me.” MeiLing yells with her hand on her heart while I was looking around for the hidden camera.

“There’s no use in looking, ChaeYoung. I can’t find the camera in my flat neither.” WuFan’s voice says.

“Before you ask, I can’t hear what you’re talking about. I forgot to give you the controller of the mics, but I still can see you. You should go to bed because tomorrow both of you will be busy. You need to go to school tomorrow, MeiLing. And you, ChaeYoung, will meet the publisher of the book.” JunMyeon informs us about our schedule.

“I swear to God I’ll beat his one day,” I whisper while getting up.

“Even though I can’t hear you, I still can read your lips, ChaeYoung.” I show him a fake smile and go to my room.  I go to bed and lie down. I really don’t want to sleep because I’m sure I’m going to have a nightmare or dream about some memory. But apparently, my body wants to rest because it doesn’t take me long to fall asleep.

“Hey.” Two girls linked our arms, giving me no chance to escape. I smiled slightly and bowed to them. Their friends were behind us.

“I know you’re new to the school and didn’t really make friends out of your class. Would you like to hang out with us?” The girl with short hair asked. They didn’t give me the opportunity to answer because they started dragging me. I tried to get myself free but either they were really strong or I was really weak. They dragged me to an isolated part of the school. As soon as we were alone, their smiles disappeared and they threw me to the ground. I tried to stand up, but the girl with dark hair pushed me again.

“HyeJin, right?” I nodded slowly. “You think you’re special, right?” I looked at them confused.

“Do you think that no one noticed how you’re on boys of your classroom all the time? Do you think you’re that special because ChanYeol oppa and JongDae oppa are paying attention to you?”

“KyungSoo oppa and JongIn-ah too.” Another girl added.

“I don’t know who you think you are but you’re nothing to them. They are only with you because they pity you so bad.” The girl with short hair snapped and I shook my hair. JongIn was my brother. He would never deceive me like that. However, I started to doubt about the other boys because of her words, but I didn’t want to believe her. No one could lie so good about their intentions. “Do you really believe their words? How come that you become so good friends when you just arrived a week ago?” She smiled once she noticed her words were affecting me. “You’re really stupid to think they would befriend you for no reason.”

Tears started rolling down as I started overthinking. I really wanted to ignore her words, but it wasn’t the first time a person of the opposite would lie to me to get something from me. I just really couldn’t truly believe her words. I learned to read people’s eyes and none of the boys never looked at me with an emotion other than affection. It was hard to fake that emotion.

“You’re the stupid one here.” Another female voice spoke. We looked at the girl who joined us and I recognised her. Her name was Lynn and she was the girl who helped me at KyungSoo’s request.

“What?”

“You’re all so jealous that she managed to befriend the boys you like. I can’t believe you went so low to bully her. Would you like me to do the same to you?”

“You don’t have any reason to bully me.”

“Neither do you to do that to her. The boys can become friends with whoever they want. It is their lives and hers. It is none of your business” Seeing that Lynn wouldn’t stop defending me, the girls walked away without even sparing a glance to me.

“Are you okay?” She approached me to help me up, but I moved away afraid. “I’m not like those girls. I just want to help you out.” I still moved away. 

I stood up slowly because my legs were shaking. Suddenly I felt as if I was back there, the familiar feeling of fear and loneliness squeezed my chest. I bowed slightly, thanking her for her help and walked away. Neither did I go to the bathroom as I had planned nor did I join the boys in the cafeteria. I went back to my classroom that was empty as I expected. I sat on my place and put my head on the desk, facing the window. I was still crying and simply couldn’t stop. I had so much hope that this opportunity would give me a better life. Why couldn’t people be nice to each other simply because they want to? Why do they need to have second intentions?

I closed my eyes as soon as I heard someone open the door. Some students enter the room silently. Steps were approaching me and someone sat in KyungSoo's place. I felt a presence in front of me and suddenly a hand started my head softly. I opened my eyes slowly and looked up. ChanYeol was smiling softly at me, still my hair. I looked around and the others, including JongIn and LuHan, were also smiling at me.

“Your adaptation has been a little rough, right?” I never heard JongDae talking so sweetly to anyone. I simply stared at him.

“There’s a reason why I accepted to be responsible for you. When ChanYeol’s mother explained your situation, I felt pity and sadness. Pity because you have lost your family in an accident. Sadness because you were alone without any of memories. I will probably never be able to know how you really feel about the whole situation, but I was so sure that you must be feeling lost in a world so unfamiliar and new to you. That’s why I wanted to be with you. I didn’t even have met you yet, but I wanted to ease your situation so badly. I was ready to adjust myself so that I could help you as much as I could. I was so excited to meet you. To make a new friend and to explore the world again with that friend.”

“When we first met, you seemed so scared. I instantly saw you as my little sister who I need to protect and to cherish. Don’t ask me why, but I simply want to get involved with you. The same happened with ChanYeol, we become friends when we first met and we never separated ever since. I simply had the same feeling with you.”

“I had the same feeling. When I saw you contemplating my headphones as if it were an unidentified object. Your eyes held so much curiosity and I wanted to ask all your questions. You decided to gift us your friendship and we know how difficult it is for you. You don’t know how important that choice is. You might not even really know what friends are, but we know. That’s why we decided to be yours. We have had experiences with fake friends and we don’t want you to have the same. We simply want to be by your side in your journey. Never let anyone make you doubt about our true intentions.”

All of them were smiling at me and I felt the urge to cry again. For doubting about their intentions with me when they gave me any reason for it. They may change their opinion later on, but for now, I’ll simply cherish all our moments together. I hugged KyungSoo and started crying again. He hugged me back and my back.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, only for him to hear me.

“Everything is okay. We will be by your side as long as you allow us to.”

I’m neither happy nor sad that I didn’t have a nightmare, but reminded a memory. I really don’t know if I wish to erase all my memories of that part of my life. I have never been that happy than when I was with them. However, since I couldn’t have them by my side now, reminding myself of those times is also hurtful.

“We have arrived at your destination.” The taxi driver’s voice brings me back to reality. I give him the money of the ride. He tries to give me his tip, but I stop him. He thanks me and I smiles. I get out and enter the coffee shop where the meeting with my publisher would happen. I go to the balcony to make my order. A group of High School students is in front of me and they seem excited about something.

“Kai is so handsome. I hope my boyfriend will be as handsome as him.” One of them sighed dreamingly.

“I find TaeMin much better.” Those two names catch my attention immediately.

“I stopped trying to choose one of them. They are simply too hot for me to choose. I accept that the seven of them have won my heart with their voice and dance moves.” They grab their order and go to a table.

‘They can’t be talking about them, right? It would be too much of a coincidence to be my Kai and TaeMin.’ My heart is beating fast due to the wave of emotions that hit me.

“Hello. What would you like to drink?” The waitress asks with a charming smile.

“I would like a hot chocolate, please?” I order. “Excuse me?” She looks at me, waiting for my question. I know I’m going to sound crazy to her, but I need to have an answer. “I know it is going to sound strange, but do you know what those students were talking about? They seem to be talking about an artist. I just came back from oversea and I would like to learn about famous artists here.”

“They were talking about an idol group named SuperM. They are really famous. You should listen to their music.” She suggests and I nod. I grab my drink and sit on a table next to the window. I take my phone out of my bag and research that idol group on the internet. As soon as the page downloads, I feel my eyes fill up with tears. I press the picture and make a zoom on a particular person of the group made of seven people.

“You’re still as handsome as ten years ago, JongIn.”