32. Negandum Veritatem

 

Negandum Veritatem: "Undeniable Truth"

 

 

 

"Although they both do not want it..."

 

 

You cannot hide the negandum veritatem.

 

 

"... the facts cannot be made false."

 

 

 

= = = Soundtrack: Big Bang - Tell Me Goodbye = = =

 

It felt like the earth just swallowed me whole.

 

"And you still have the guts to call me 'Hyung' after trying to kill me two years ago? After you split from the Lee House, and made no attempt to save Jinhee-yah when she shielded me from your bullet, I NEVER thought of you as a brother any longer. " Taemin-sshi talked back with spite in his voice, something that I've never heard from him. 

 

"As if you were actually much of a brother, Taemin Hyung." Kai-yah said with the same level of hatred, but with a hint of sarcasm as well.

 

What is happening?

 

Never had I seen these two associate with each other for Kai-yah to call Taemin-sshi with respect, even if he did it so sarcastically now. They are not in one brotherhood, so there's no way these two could have been related.

 

Now that I think of it, those two look alike somehow.

 

Unless...

 

"Truth be told, Taemin-ah is the son of the current CEO of Lee Media Association, one of our closest affiliates."

 

Seunghyun-sshi's statement regarding Taemin-sshi's identity...

 

"His dad owns a huge media company. It's LMA if I'm not mistaken..." 

 

Changjo-sshi's explanation about Kai-yah...

 

"Do you have anything against illegitimate sons, Shirin-ah?"

 

... And Kai-yah's question to me not long before.

 

Suddenly, it all made sense.

 

Memories of the seemingly distant past I had with the ReapedSouls began coming back to me one by one, and everything became clear to me.

 

"He had already turned his back on me the moment he saw me with Jinhee-yah two years ago. I don't see any reason why I should still see him."

 

Taemin-sshi had said this sadly when Jaejoong-sshi told him the words "He will be there, Taemin-ah." and it caused him to be all sad.

 

Jinhee. Jinhee.

 

"Seo Jinhee had been my girlfriend for a year before my brother had the chance to meet her..."

 

Seo Jinhee?

 

"He stole her from me, Shirin-ah... He stole her!"

 

Then it must mean that Taemin-sshi became the boyfriend of Seo Jinhee even if Kai-yah already had feelings for her. With what Taemin-sshi had said back then, Jinhee-sshi probably went with him, leaving Kai-yah betrayed. Then, after everything that has happened... Seo Jinhee died.

 

"You already had your shot at a love story with Jinhee-yah. So don't wreck my love story with Shirin-ah, Taemin Hyung."

 

= = =

 

"Stop..." Shirin murmured as she finally fitted the puzzle pieces together in her head.

 

Tears began building up in her eyes as a new resolve was built strongly in her.

 

She wanted no fight between two men who made their own unique marks on her heart. And the fact that they are half-brothers strengthens it. She wouldn't be able to take it if any one of them becomes mentally or physically hurt... no matter how much she feared Lee Taemin and liked Kim Jongin for the past few days.

 

Despite that, the two superiors of the rival brotherhoods still glared at each other, oblivious to who had already discovered the secret that they had been sharing... and both despising.

 

It was only when they are about to charge towards each other that a loud female voice interrupted their offensive stances.

 

"I SAID STOP!"

 

Stunned, both men turned to the source of the sound... just to face a crying Shirin.

 

"Shirin-ah..." both men couldn't help but be awestruck at the state the girl they both loved was in. She had her guard down, tears flowing uncontrollably, and her hands balled into fists at her sides.

 

"What the hell is going on?! If you're brothers... you shouldn't be fighting like this! No matter if you're just half-brothers!" Shirin shouted despite her tears. It felt like she was drained of all strength as she fell to her knees in front of the two men. Both brothers had made a move to go to her, but once they saw the other's attempt, the both stopped and glared at each other.

 

"Please stop this..."

 

= = =

 

With angry eyes, I looked at both Kai-yah and Taemin-sshi, who had snapped out of their glaring contest and just stared at me softly.

 

"I'm sorry for hurting you like this, Shirin-ah." Kai-yah said, walking towards me bravely and holding me in his arms. Taemin-sshi was both shocked and furious at this, and with murderous thoughts, he reached towards his back pocket and gripped the gun handle that was exposed to his touch.

 

From the corner of my eye, I saw his moves, and fear immediately gripped my system. I remembered his words in my dream, and at that, my mind had decided to act against his motions.

 

"Yeah. Mianhae, Shirin-ah... But I would rather that it was me holding you than him."

 

Just when Taemin-sshi exposed his gun, I took Kai-yah's gun that was in my reach and pointed it to Taemin-sshi, too... making him unable to pull the trigger.

 

"Shirin-ah..." Kai-yah whispered from behind me, surprised at the bold move I managed. He still kept his arms around me, however.

 

"You can shoot me. But not Kai-yah. I won't let you hurt him."

 

I have anger directed to them, true. But when it comes to Kai-yah's safety... I won't take any chances.

 

"Kai-yah, get back to your car... Ppali. I'll follow you soon after." I instructed Kai-yah in a hushed voice, keeping my eyes on Taemin-sshi's seemingly unmoving frame. He hesitantly followed my words and hurriedly ran out of the warehouse.

 

Taemin-sshi shifted a bit at this, but knowing what he's trying to do, I took the chance to risk myself... but block his advances.

 

"Shirin-ah, please don't make me hurt you." Taemin-sshi pleaded to me with his hand still gripping his gun. I, however, carefully took steps to get me out of the warehouse with my gun still pointed at Taemin-sshi, and when I heard the purr of Kai-yah's car getting louder, I knew he was close.

 

If I was still part of the ReapedSouls, and I saw Taemin-sshi like this, I would've been shaken to the core and downright afraid. But somehow, the fact that I left him and the ReapedSouls gave me a new strength and resolve.

 

I may have found myself in a state of liking him before, but it has been pushed aside by the reality I faced and the man that helped me through it all.

 

"Taemin-sshi, don't make me go against my better judgement and shoot you." I threatened in a low voice before hastily hopping in Kai-yah's vehicle, letting him take me away once more. 

 

As he increased the speed of his car, he let his arm peek out the car window, and as I looked back... I saw about fifteen men enter the group warehouse.

 

= = =

 

"Kai Hyung! Shirin-sshi! Something bad has happened!"

 

Kwangmin-sshi's worried voice had set the tense atmosphere when we finally got to the main group warehouse of the SkullBeaters. Kai-yah and I had looks of concern on our faces, but we calmly made our way to Myungsoo-sshi's office nonetheless.

 

"What monstrosity did those bastards plan on embarking this time?" Kai-yah muttered under his breath before taking my hand and lacing his fingers with mine.

 

"Hyuna Noona reported that the ReapedSouls had decided to go and trash up Club Paradise about an hour ago. I don't know how they have gotten the location of our club, but surely, they're set on attacking it about three nights from today." Kwangmin-sshi answered in a shaky voice, which both Kai-yah and I found surprising.

 

"Truth be told, Shirin-sshi. I'm starting to fear The ReapedSouls now. They've been braver this time around."

 

I wondered why Kwangmin-sshi directed this sentence to me, but nevertheless, I found his statement quite unnerving. It is true that most of the time, only the SkullBeaters initiate the fighting, with only the ReapedSouls quiet and defensive. Now, it feels like the tables have begun turning.

 

We arrived at Myungsoo-sshi's office not long after, finding the SkullBeaters' leader in deep thought and solemnity. L.Joe-sshi stood by his side, also sporting a serious face, and Youngmin-sshi was leaning on the desk with his head facing the surface of the wood. Hyuna-sshi was nowhere to be seen.

 

"So, how much firepower do you think we need for this?" Kai-yah began talking, which snapped the three men out of their thoughts. They welcomed our presence and asked us to sit down on the couch on one side of the room.

 

"This would be massive. The ReapedSouls leaders had just sent six batches of weaponry to their weapon base in Apgujong." L.Joe-sshi answered softly, but we all heard it clearly.

 

"We're obviously at a disadvantage here. Club Mirage is already in the possesion of the ReapedSouls, which drastically decreased our funds. Kyuhyun Hyung had just told me that stocks dropped, so he couldn't supply us with that much weapons." Myungsoo-sshi added, and for the first time in my life after I switched brotherhoods...

 

... I actually felt afraid.

 

"I don't really know what made them act and decide this quickly. There is certainly something which started the fire." Youngmin-sshi said suddenly, and for someone who is as analytical as him... it unsettled me to know that he doesn't have a clue on what is going on. I looked at Kai-yah who is now being consumed by his thoughts, too. I'm pretty sure that he's trying to ransack his mind for a good justification for the rival brotherhood's actions.

 

But somewhere in the back of my mind, a possible reason lay.

 

And I brought it to the light.

 

"They want me back."

 

= = = = = 

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