36. Concursum Fata

 

Concursum Fata: "Convergence of Fates"

 

 

 

"Now that she has found out who she really is..."

 

 

To the concursum fata that waits at the end, she goes.

 

 

"... she returns to the battlefield with a new strength."

 

 

 

= = = Soundtrack: Infinite - Be Mine = = =

 

 

The next days had passed me by while I was still in the presence of Younghae Halmoni. I helped her do whatever she liked, and I stayed in the house during the mornings, only going back to the SkullBeaters' property whenever dusk comes. Kai-yah hadn't been contacting me much, actually. He didn't call or text me about anything at all, and that I discovered when I got back to the SkullBeaters' property after a few hours at Younghae Halmoni's place, and the revelation of my genuine past.

 

I would bet everything I had with me that he was still pretty hyped up over the war preparations.

 

After all, just about two days from today, one of the biggest wars between the SkullBeaters and the ReapedSouls will be beginning.

 

And the reason for their brawl?

 

Me.

 

I shuddered at the thought reminding me of the event I had left behind as I took a drinking glass from the cupboard in the kitchen and filled it with water. I placed the glass to my lips and let the cool water flush out the worry in my system. Kai-yah had instructed me to stay here, told me that he could handle the preparation even without my help, and said that I shouldn't worry about him or the seige.

 

But I guess I couldn't help but do so after my cellphone, which was placed on the kitchen counter beside me, just rang.

 

I half-heartedly took the phone and read the text message, smiling a bit as I saw who texted, but my smile disappearing when I read the message it contained.

 

From: Kai-yah :]

Message:

Yo, Shirin-sshi. It's Kim Hyuna here, not Kim Kai. Mian.

Kai-yah is taking a shower so I sneaked a message in.

Just wanna tell you that the preps for battle have been rushed.

Looks like the war would start tomorrow instead of the day after.

Just in case you have plans of sneaking back, I'm open for it.

Text me in the attached number, and I'll try to answer quickly.

Don't tell Kai-yah that I texted you. He knows nothing about this.

 

[Attached Number]

 

The preparations for war had been rushed? Why?

 

It could probably be done if something bad had happened between the rival brotherhoods, triggering something that would create the urgency for rushed preparations. This could be the case, and I couldn't help but wonder: who started the gunfire... or the suspicion of it?

 

Is it them?

 

Or us?

 

In any case, I decided to look at the attached number in my phone and quickly saved it under a name. I dialled it and waited for an answer. I presume that all of the war preparations would most probably be done by nightfall. I can leave here by afternoon and get there at the break of evening, just looking for a place to stay the night and the morning of the next day in before going to Club Paradise by nightfall. 

 

That sounds like a plan.

 

I looked through the window of the kitchen and smiled as the sun shone on my face. It's still morning.

 

Then, good.

 

I could still have chance to talk to Hyuna-sshi.

 

After three rings, the familiar female voice echoed in my ear.

 

"Yobosaeyo? Shirin-sshi?"

 

= = =

 

"You're leaving already, child?"

 

Younghae Halmoni's concerned question was the first thing that went out of her lips as I entered her house dressed in smart casual clothing, prepared to leave. Hesitantly, I nodded, and painfully, I looked at her.

 

"Where are you going, then?" She asked me again, and this time, I felt like I should answer her with words... so I did.

 

"I'm going back to the city, Halmoni. I'm going back to life that I am living... and would have to live in." I replied sadly, and with a look from Younghae Halmoni that spelled a silent pleading for me to stay, I huffed a sigh.

 

I guess I should really say it clearly now.

 

"Younghae Halmoni, I'm part of a brotherhood."

 

Younghae Halmoni's eyes widened at my remark, and she had slightly opened, seemingly taking the information in. In her eyes, I saw a hint of worry and slight confusion. Perhaps she's curious about how I became a member of a brotherhood, and she's worried for my safety.

 

"How could that be, Shirin-ah? When I met you before... were you already part of a gang?" She asked me once more, and the moment I nodded, tears began building up in her eyes. I immediately rushed to her and held her in my arms.

 

"Yeh, Halmoni. But I've kept myself safe this far. I don't think they could hurt me, though. I'm my father's daughter after all..." I jokingly answered her, which made her wipe her tears and nod.

 

"Is there going to be a gang war?" was her next query, and I answered right away with a nod. She nodded as well at my reply, perhaps letting the information sink in. She was about to open to ask another question, but even before she could say something, I told her the details of the next war... pretty certain that THAT would be the next thing she's going to ask about.

 

"It's going to be by nightfall tomorrow night, but I have to get back to the city today so that I could grab hold of some weapons, and to train a bit for the fight, of course. A colleague of mine will be picking me up here, and I'll be bringing my stuff with me."

 

After just a few more nods of understanding, she looked at me solemnly.

 

"Shirin-ah, please take care of yourself. I have already suffered a lot with your mother's death, and it would really kill me if you follow her, too." She said in a serious voice, and knowing her reasons why she is this worried about me, I took her hand and smiled.

 

"I will, Halmoni. If ever I get myself injured or anything, then I'll make sure that I recover. I won't die, Halmoni. I've been through a lot already."

 

= = =

 

The purr of the yellow Ferrari's engine had indicated me of the beginning of my return.

 

"Hop in."

 

Just those words from Hyuna-sshi strengthened my resolve on ending the war with me being in it. I got inside Hyuna-sshi's car and tried to build another wall of decisive resolve. I huffed a deep breath and looked at her, signalling her to get on with the driving, before I felt the wind on my face and the meadows in my sight.

 

"So, I guess you have no place to stay for tonight, right, Shirin-sshi?" She asked me, and I just let myself reply to her with a soft "Mhm."

 

"Then, I'll bring you to my place. It only has one bedroom though, so I hope you don't mind if you sleep on a couch just for tonight." She told me, and noticing that she was kind of hesitant on saying the last part of her sentence, I laughed in slight amusement.

 

"I certainly wouldn't mind sleeping on a couch if it's warm and soft. I'll be fine there, Hyuna-sshi, thanks." I said, another chuckle escaping from my lips. Not long after, Hyuna-sshi began laughing with me, too.

 

After we had subdued our laughs into smiles, I asked Hyuna-sshi the serious question.

 

"Why are you doing this, Hyuna-sshi?"

 

I didn't expect an answer right away, but she just smiled at me again before increasing the speed... and replying.

 

"Even though I might look like an absolute , I actually have a heart too. I know how much you wanted to be in the war, because you wanted to resolve everything by your own hands... especially if you're the reason why this war was happening in the first place."

 

As the road stretched out in front of us, I huffed a deep breath and took one last whiff of the suburbian air around me. I know that I won't be able to get this again once I enter the city borders... so while I still have the opportunity, I'm using it to the fullest.

 

"So, does Kai-yah already know about my return?" I asked her after I had the air of the meadows inside of me, and Hyuna-sshi just shook her head.

 

"Nope. I told him nothing about this. This was ALL me, so I plan on taking responsibility." She said jokingly, which made the both of us laugh again.

 

"Oh yeah, before I forget. I blocked off all research connections in the place that Kai-yah sent you to, so that even if he himself tried to do research, he won't know that you've already left." Hyuna-sshi added, and with sudden excitement rushing through my veins, I cried out.

 

"Kim Hyuna, you're such a GENIUS!"

 

"Nan arayo. I know. You don't have to flatter me." She said confidently, and as our laughs echoed again in the air, she increased the speed of the car again.

 

Not a single car besides our own was travelling down the road, and no police officer was monitoring the traffic flow [as if there's anything to ACTUALLY monitor], so it's most probable that no one would realy care if we went fast here.

 

"But, Shirin-ah, you better be used to calling Kai-yah as Kai Oppa." She suddenly told me, which made me snap out of my cheery disposition and look at her weirdly.

 

"Mworagoyo?" I asked her, looking at her like she's crazy, and got a chuckle in return.

 

"Remember this, Shirin-sshi. Kai-yah is actually older than you by a year, now that I remembered a research about you that he asked me to do once. I never told him about your age, though. But once he discovers that you're actually younger than him... he would never stop pestering you to call him Oppa. Believe me."