… 10.13.2016

Daniel opened his eyes as he yawned. The bright rays of the morning sun shining projecting heat onto his skin. He had been exhausted from the game the night before, and finally had a day off without other schedules. 

Today he could rest. 

No. Today he would rest. No distractions. No worries.

Just time for himself.

Truth be told something had happened last night right after he had gotten back to his apartment.

But he wanted to ignore it. He didn’t want to know what she had to say to him. Jiyeon called. It had rang twice he counted both times. Waiting for her to be sent to voice mail.

 Was she going to apologize for being harsh? 

Did she pity him? 

Maybe she wanted to be friends.

None of those were things he wanted to have to think about. 

Well he had to face it at some point he just didn’t want to face it last night. Not when he was tired and upset. A mix of emotions full of confusion and frustration.

He glanced at his phone finally picking it up.

His jaw dropped.

There was way more than just Jiyeon’s calls. 

JOOYOUNG: 30 missed calls

Why was her manager calling him now? 

Had something gone wrong?

He quickly dialed the number. The call was picked up instantly. 

“Daniel-si?” The voice was filled with despair. 

His eyes intensified. Something was wrong.

“What’s wrong?” 

A sob came out from the phone as Daniel could hear her spastic breathing... she was hyperventilating.

“It’s Jiyeon, last night… last night she was kidnapped.” Daniel froze.

He thought he had heard wrong. 

Like something had been mixed up, lost in translation as he converted it from Korean to English in his brain.

“She’s gone, the police are looking for her.” Jooyoung continued. 

He hadn’t heard wrong. 

Jiyeon… was gone?

Who could do such a thing?

No one really knows nor can explain how certain emotions spur on people actions in the moment. Often causing a person to make lapses of judgement calls and do dumb things. 

Minutes ago Daniel had decided to empty his mind of thoughts of her. To take the first step to moving on. Presently the only thing he could think of was her.

Without thinking he ran to grab his duffel bag, he filled it with clothes and quickly changed. If she was kidnaped he didn’t care what she had told him. Her warning to stay away. He was going. 

He didn’t care about anything anymore, he was terrified for her. 

Who would do this? Where was she? Was she ok?

“I’m coming, tell me everything.” He replied quickly throwing the duffel over his shoulder and running out the door. 

…

Jiyeon opened her eyes. But there was nothing but an empty darkness. She felt a cloth over her eyes and realized she was blindfolded. 

She tried to move her hands but something rubbery dug into her wrists. She was zip-tied. She couldn’t move her hands or her legs. Her feet began wiggling uncontrollably as her fingers tried to feel around her. 

The floor was cold. 

“Hello?” She could hear her voice echo around what couldn’t be too large of a room. 

“Hello? Anyone?” She raised her voice this time hoping to get the attention of someone.

Where was she?

Why was she here? 

Who had kidnapped her?

She began to panic. Would she die here?

She heard a door creak open. 

“Who are you?” She cried out.

Two sets of footsteps walked towards her. Jiyeon shuddered as she heard them approach her. Unsure of who her assailants were.

“Hello.” It was a cold voice she didn’t recognize it. It was in Korean. 

“Who are you?” She repeated her question.

“I’m just a translator.” 

“What do you want?” She struggled against her bonds. Wincing in pain as the zip ties dug into her skin. 

“Simple.” 

She shuddered again as his voice neared her face.

“You did a bad thing.” 

Jiyeon tried to scoot back, her back bumping against a cement wall.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jiyeon denied it.

It couldn’t be… was that why? Her threat?

She felt a hand forcefully grab her cheek.

“You know now don’t you? Why you’re here?” His fingers began to trace her face.

“It’s too bad you’re such a pretty thing.” 

“Who do you work for? The kid? The Directors?” She inquired snapping her face free from his hand.

“You must be scared. Japan has a special way of dealing with its threats.” He began to trace his hand down her blouse. 

“Especially female ones who are naughty.” His hand was on her upper chest now.

“Get away from me.” She growled shaking her entire body to try and break free. 

He began to chuckle. As she heard him back away.

“Funny you’re not begging to be let go.” He paced back and forth by the sound of it.

“I know better.” She replied with the strongest voice she could muster. "I know that when i'm free you'll be sorry."

Inside she was terrified, but she didn’t want to show it. Obviously whoever had kidnapped her, was looking for that. Terror, fright, hopelessness. She needed to remain strong if she was going to survive.

The blindfold… it all made sense now, they wanted to hide their identity from her. So that she wouldn’t know who her kidnappers were. It meant she had a chance of being released.

“I’ll get to the point. My employer wants you to delete the video you took.” 

“Will you let me go if I do?” Jiyeon questioned gritting her teeth. 

“We’ll think about it. Humiliating the Japanese is never a good idea.” 

“My manager took the video.” Jiyeon replied.

“But it’s your phone.” 

They had caught her. Indeed it had been her phone that the video had been taken on. Jiyeon realized that they held all of the leverage. Her only advantage was perhaps knowing the passcode.

“If you’re so smart why can’t you unlock the phone?” Jiyeon taunted.

Suddenly she felt a foot collide with her side. She fell over, unable to bring herself back up with her hands tied together. She cried in pain as she collided head first with the floor.

It was a Japanese voice.

“Tell this to hurry up!” 

It was the boy. The teenager who had tried to humiliate her.

Now she knew who it was. This was a problem. 

“You idiot.” The Korean man yelled at him in Japanese.

"Now we have to get rid of her."

For the first time it dawned on her. She was about to die. Tears flowed from her face half from the aching pain in her arm and her head, part from the realization… she would never confess to him.

He would never know.

…

Daniel had just landed and was on his way to meet Jooyoung. 

Thankfully, his popularity was primarily in Korea, because he had rushed through the airport unnoticed not bothering to wear a mask.

He took a rental car to the police station Jooyoung had told him she was at. He was barely able to keep it in, he was afraid, so afraid. 

What if something happened to her? 

He’d never forgive himself. On the way he had finally listened to her voice message.

"Daniel help..."

He could sense the fear in her voice. The terror of being in such a situation.

What if he had answered the phone? Could he have saved her? Could he have figured out a way?

He needed to find her,  he didn’t care how long it took. He needed to find her for his sake almost as much as hers. 

He arrived at the police station and saw Jooyoung waiting outside. 

He ran over and embraced her, he could tell that she wasn’t in a good place. She had a devestated face and looked terrified. 

“It’s ok. We’ll find her.” He comforted her. “I promise I’ll find her.” 

She had already explained the situation that had unfolded in front of her on his way to the airport, however, the problem was that there was no leads. A van with an unknown driver. It wasn't one of their vans.

“Please anyone you can think of that could’ve had motive.” Daniel begged her. She suddenly stared at him.

“I wonder… she had just interacted with a boy who had felt disrespected. I helped her record a video and we threatened him… what if that’s what this is about?” She suddenly spouted out.

“Did you tell the police?” He inquired.

“I can’t, what if I’m wrong they’ll sue our organization. We’re talking about the son of a rich Japanese clan.” 

“Jiyeon is kidnapped!” He snapped, how could she think of anything other than Jiyeon’s safety? However, seeing her tenseness he immediately apologized. 

“I’m sorry.”

“No you’re right.” 

“Who is this?” Suddenly another figure appeared behind her.

Daniel didn’t recognize him, he was a tall lanky man of about 30. With round glasses.

“He’s a close friend of Jiyeon, he’s here to help.” Jooyoung introduced them.

“This is Hideki Saito, he’s the Vice Chairman of Oricon.” 

“Pleasure to meet you.” He reached his hand forward he spoke Korean.

But Daniel wasn’t interested.

“Where is Jiyeon?” He asked.

“The police is trying to find her.”

“How about the executives and the boy she told me you must know where he lives.” He murmured.

“Yes. But I can’t reach him or his family. The parents are major shareholders of Oricon… and have connections to the Yakuza. If you’re right. This could be very bad for her.” He had a concerned face as well. 

Daniel realized what he was getting at. 

The police wouldn’t dare investigate them. 

Jiyeon… they didn’t care if something happened to her. They just wanted to pretend like they were looking for her.

“I don’t care!” Daniel suddenly exclaimed. “Where is he? Jiyeon could be dying. And the police don’t care do they?”

“I… wish I could tell you that. The problem is…” The vice chairman had a grim expression on his face. 

“They think she ran away. She ran off with the driver because of her varied conditions.”

“What?!” He yelled.

“They asked for her medical records… she was meeting with a counselor.”

“So?” He didn’t understand.

“They think she could be mentally unstable. They think it's possible she hired someone and ran away..."

This was how they were trying to already paint it. A suicide. Whoever had kidnapped her clearly knew what they were doing… He couldn’t let them hurt her.

Daniel huffed as he stormed off.

He needed any sort of lead. 

“Jiyeon’s phone isn’t there a tracker?” He suddenly asked Jooyoung.

“Yes. But… it’s only shared with people who she allows and in all of her years she’s never shared it with anyone. Come to think of it she’s never even changed her phone it’s old and probably doesn’t work.” Jooyoung replied.

It was a long shot. 

But maybe. He checked the tracking with her phone… he remembered his time with her before. They had shared locations to make sure he didn’t get lost wandering alone in Seoul.

It was off.

“It’s ok. I’m sure the police will find her soon.” Saito tried to comfort them. Before leaving heading back to the police station after an officer contacted them.

Jooyoung left back towards the officer.

But… it occurred to him. He had switched his phone when he came to Korea again.

He quickly dialed his parents.

“Omma!” 

“What? Yes.” It was his mother’s voice. 

“Please don’t ask any questions but this is really important… please. Please go into my room and open the bottom drawer of my desk and tell me if my old phone is there.” He was begging her. 

Noticing the desperation in his voice he could hear her start moving.

“Sure I’m going right now.” He could hear the door open to his room. 

There was the sound of a drawer opening.

“Yes. It’s here.” 

He almost lept for joy. But realized it was too early to be celebrating.

“Please. Please unlock it, the password is 2112.” 

He heard the sound of a phone unlocking.

“Yes?” 

“Omma. I know what I’m about to tell you is going to startle you, but please stay calm and listen to me carefully.” He explained. 

“what?” His mom was clearly concerned now.

“Open the Kakao app.” 

“Ok…” There was a momentary pause. “Who is this girl? You have so many messages with her.” 

“Omma. Open the location sharing its the map on the corner look for the girl.” He was literally on his knees trying to beg her now.

“Yes. It says… she’s in Japan?” 

“Omma thank you. Thank you.” He was almost crying as he breathed out heavily. He had found her. Thank god.

“what is is? Why do you sound so worried? What’s wrong Daniel?” 

“I promise I’ll tell you soon. But send that location to me. Please.”

“Ok son. You better promise to explain.” 

Daniel saw the location was shared to him through his old phone. He jumped for joy as he ran back into the police station.

He saw Jooyoung she was standing next to Saito. 

It occurred to him that perhaps… he shouldn’t share it. The police were they really on his side? 

“Jooyoung-si a moment?” 

She turned and walked over to him.

“It sounds like they haven’t found anything.” 

Daniel nodded his head. 

“Jooyoung… I don’t trust the police. But I trust you. Please. Please just trust me.”

…

“Start talking .” Jiyeon was barely conscious as his foot collided against her ribs again. was filled with blood. She had never felt this type of physical pain. Her entire body throbbing. 

“What’s the passcode? huh?” He yelled again, the teenage boy unafraid after realizing she had already identified him.

Jiyeon knew if she told them she would die. She didn't want to die. Not now. Now when she still had so much regret.

“You know what? Would you rather I play with you?” Suddenly instead of kicking her she could hear him kneel beside her.

“Such a pretty .” She felt his hands trace her face. She wiggled her head desperately trying to escape his grasp. But he gripped it hard his fingernails digging into her skin.

She felt tears flow from her eyes her face burned from the pain. She screamed. 

It hurt so much.

He suddenly slid the blindfold down from her eyes to . Retying it so that it was tightly bound around .

"Shut up!" 

She began to scream but it muffled every attempt. 

“I guess it doesn’t matter because you know who I am.” He taunted. Pressing his finger against her forehead. 

“Once I find that passcode I’m going to kill you. Then my parents can paint it as an accident.” He revealed his plan. His disgusting breath colliding against her face.

“So, you’re dead anyways.” 

She could see the room now unfinished cement walls and flooring with tiny broken windows peeking out too high for her to see through them. It seemed to be an abondoned building, which meant one thing. 

She would never be found. What was the chances of anyone finding her here?

Suddenly she heard the door open.

In walked a tall well built muscular man dressed in all black. She assumed he was the Korean man she had been talking to before. 

“Turns out we don’t even need the passcode. We can just destroy the phone. There’s a better solution to our little dilemma here. The only question is how happy you are?” He said in a joyous but dangerous voice staring directly at her.

What did they mean?

“It turns out after a little digging with our resource… This pretty girl suffers from depression.”

Jiyeon shook her head in disbelief.

How could they know that?

“Who could've guessed from such a beauty... depression don't make me laugh." He mocked her.

"But it does mean for us, if you were to be found dead from natural causes.” He grinned evilly leaning down towards her face.

She shook her head as she felt desperate tears began to fall unable to respond to his threats.

No… they couldn’t… could they?

Help me. Please…

“Now its sinking in isn’t? How hopeless your situation is. Pretty soon Korea will be crying about the girl who committed suicide in Japan after a failing career filled with scandals.” He revealed.

Jiyeon couldn’t believe this. All the suffering she had felt. It all lead to this?

She screamed to be let go. She screamed trying to let any sound emit through the tight gag.

The boy began to laugh uncontrollably completely psychotic. Overjoyed by her pain.

“Beautiful… your pain is beautiful.” He grinned towards the Korean man with delight. 

Jiyeon slammed her hands against the wall trying to release them. 

Desperate to escape. Desperate to see him again one last time.

It was hopeless. She was alone. She would soon die.

And everyone would think it was an accident.

…

Daniel shouldn’t have been driving. Thankfully he had an international license that let him drive there. But his heart was racing as he raced towards the location.

Jiyeon I’m coming.

Jiyeon please wait for me.

Jiyeon stay alive.

He finally reached the general vicinity. It was the type of place you would imagine someone would be held hostage at. Abandoned buildings, leading to a dock, that looked out upon a giant river. 

But the problem was there were so many buildings. He stepped out of the car and instantly ran to the closest abondoned building. He had a cap over his face to try and hide suspicion.

He was running through buildings checking in cement scraped rooms with nothing in them except cobwebs and broken pieces of glass. He was cursing madly in frustration. He couldn't find her anywhere.

Time was ticking down. 

If only he'd answered her phone back then. 

The words echoing through his speaker. 

"Daniel help..."

He might've come sooner. He might've found her already. He had been so caught up in his self pity... that he might never find her.

"JIYEON!" He screamed her name out.

It was hopeless he’d never find her.

…

Jiyeon closed shut. Sealing it from the hands of her assailants.

Ignoring the beating they gave her. 

Her already limp body aching everywhere pain surging through her veins.

This was her only chance to survive.

They were holding pills in their hands. Certainly enough to kill a person.

“Open your mouth.” He yelled as he slapped her again his other hand holding her face still. Her skin began throbbing with pain.

Tears were flowing down her eyes. Feeling her whole face swelling up.

But with one hope. 

One hope holding her through it all.

Daniel. Even in her darkest moments he had saved her. 

Could he do it again? 

She doubted it.

She suddenly couldn’t hold her breathe in longer as she opened her lips slightly. The man took advantage of it, forcing his fingers into and several pills with it.

“Swallow it!” He yelled as he pushed her against the wall her head colliding against the cement.

She screamed louder than she had ever before.

If she just did as she was told… she might feel no more pain.

No more pain of separation. The hateful comments she felt everyday in her mind would finally be over. 

Everything.. it would all be gone.

She had accepted her fate back then… that it was over.

Why did she fight back so fiercely now?

Jiyeon stopped resisting now. It hurt so much. All of the pain physical and emotional.

She had no problems swallowing pills back then… so why now? Why did she resist so violently with no hope in sight?

“Come on. Just give up.” He taunted her.

Jiyeon. Did this time. 

She swallowed.

It wasn’t instant. It wouldn’t settle in for some time. She lay back against the wall compltely defeated. Knowing she had just swallowed her last meal.

Both her captors laughing as they grinned at her clearly satisfied with this outcome.

“Good job.”

“Now you’ll die in peace. And when your wounds heal your family will find you overdosed in a hotel room." The Korean man explained.

Jiyeon began to breathe heavily. Weeping. The combination of the sleep inducing pills with her throbbing pain ripping her insides apart.

Her entire body felt like a fire it was on fire. Her stomach jumping in circles inside of her. 

She rolled over gasping for breath, sweat pouring down her forehead. Screaming from all of the pain her hands slamming the ground to feel anything. 

“That’s right. Feel the pain. You should’ve never crossed me.” The boy mocked from far away heartless towards her struggle.

“You’ll never… get away.” Jiyeon tried to continue... 

But it was hard. It was hard when you were alone.

Her eyes closed at that moment.

“JIYEON!” It was her imagination speaking now. She had gone insane.

But in her imagination it was Daniel. Come to save her once again.

…

Daniel punched the taller man in the face... He had finally found her, he had heard a glass shattering scream come from one of the buildings. A twist of fate. Luck. Luck had let him find her. He knew it was her immediately. He shuddered at how in pain she sounded.

He had entered the building rushing in and finding scattered bags left around. Searching everywhere for the source of the sound. 

That’s when he had seen them. A tall muscular man and beside him what Daniel described as an overweight son of a rich CEO.

Then there was her...

She was weeping and screaming in pain as she rolled on the ground her arms flailing helplessly.

It tore him apart to see her like that.

Horrified he had no clue what they had done to her. But he didn’t care. He was furious.

She didn't deserve this after all the pain in her life.

He went after the taller man first. Catching him off guard, punching him in the face with all of his force. The full force of a professional athlete. The man collapsed immediately. His head slamming against the hard ground.

She didn't deserve this after everyone called her names and scorned her for something she had never done.

Daniel didn’t care if he killed someone. He was releasing the rage that burned inside of him towards everyone who had hurt Jiyeon. What he had done to her… he deserved death.

The other boy freaked out upon seeing what he had done to his accomplice and began running away. Fleeing like a coward.

Daniel caught up to him quickly and kicked him against the doorway. The boy slammed against the wall. A high pitched scream that Daniel wasn't prepared to hear. But Daniel wasn't done with him.

The boy began shriek as Daniel walked up to him. There was blood on him everywhere. A look of pure terror in his eyes.

“What did you do to her?” He screamed pointing towards Jiyeon. 

“HAhahaaha.” Suprisingly the boy began laughing even after expressing the terror. A complete psychopath.

Daniel didn't know if he even understood him.

"What did you do?" He growled, but there was once again no response. He punched the boys face again. His nose began dripping blood. 

The sight only infuriating Daniel even more. He had lost control.

Daniel kicked him in the chest once more. 

Jiyeon.

Remembering her state, he darted back to Jiyeon. She was barely breathing, no longer moving frantically as she had done before her eyes now closed.

For once. For once in her life she seemed to be at peace. Like she had embraced death after everything.

But he wasn't ready to let her go... he couldn't lose her.

"Jiyeon!" He yelled desperately. 

He lifted her in his arms immediately and ran off carrying her bridal style, her tiny face knocking against his chest at each step forward. The touch of her skin only making Daniel more desperate to save her. 

Right as he saw daylight. He heard the sirens wailing. He had made Jooyoung to promise to call the police if he didn’t respond for ten minutes. He had been constantly texting her while looking for Jiyeon. Then he had stopped when he had heard the noise from the building.

He ran outside the building Jiyeon still in his arms as he pointed back as police men rushed towards the building. Jooyoung was screaming as she saw Jiyeon’s lifeless body in his arms Hideki Saito was behind her.

“I’ll call an ambulance there's a hospital not far away.” He immediately explained in rushed Korean.

“No.” Daniel laid her on the ground gently. He felt her heart, then placed his hand over .

He had taken medical classes at University. He knew that her heart was slowing her insides slowly suffocating. They didn’t have time. She couldn’t breathe. 

“Drive to the hospital.” He pointed towards his car and Saito leaped into the driver's seat. Daniel and Jooyoung jumped into the back resting Jiyeon in the center.

The car sped off. 

A timer ticking. 

A race against death.

Seeing her in this position he felt so helpless once again… she might die in his arms… if he had been there sooner…

He suddenly couldn’t find a better solution. He leaned down towards her tiny mouth, her swollen face destroying him internally. He needed her to live. For his sake.

He began to blow into . Praying it might help reciprocate her breathing. Unsure of whether he was helping or not. 

His lips pressed against hers and he released breath after breath into her lungs. He didn’t care if Jooyoung was watching. 

He continued to do so all the way to the hospital. Tears pouring down his own face. Dripping from his face down towards hers.

Please live Jiyeon. Please… Please…

“I love you. Ok? Don’t die.” He screamed towards her blank emotionless face.

Angry, upset, scared.

"I love you. So please. Please stay alive." He shook her body hoping to stir her into consciousness. 

But she didn't move. Her eyes glued shut.

They arrived at the hospital and immediately Saito yelled towards the nurses on standby calling them forward as they rushed towards them.

Daniel scooped her from the seat and carried her towards the stretcher that had been taken out.

The nurses beckoned for him to lay her down.

Doctors were rushing to help them.

He asked Saito to translate his words to the doctors.

“I saw sleeping pill bottles.” He explained recalling the scene of the crime. 

Saito translated.

“I think they stuffed it into .” 

The doctors nodded understanding his explanation. 

They began wheeling her off towards the emergency room. He wanted to follow, but they motioned backwards beckoning for him to leave. He wanted to resist, but he knew he was useless.

Daniel sank to his knees. Tears still rushing down his face. Struggling to process that he might've lost the one he loved forever.

“Daniel-si.” Jooyoung was behind him surprisingly calm.

He turned to look at her his body still trembling from worry.

“You did all you can. You should be proud.” Jooyoung was crying now too.

“I can’t lose her. I can’t.” He wailed as Jooyoung embraced him.

“I know. I know.” 

Jiyeon… please be ok.

He had done all he could. It was up to her to hold on. 

He recalled Jenny's words at that moment.

An illfated relationship. Was that what they were? 

Was there no way for them to ever be together?