Recap

Hailey flinched as she started to become scared. Did he figure out that I’m a fraud? She thought and opened to speak when she was interrupted by the click of a gun.

Sungyeol had now stood up and placed his gun on Hailey’s forehead.

“You’re one of Layla’s aren’t you?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hailey froze. Who’s Layla?

“Not speaking isn’t going to help you.” Sungyeol threatened.

This wasn’t the situation Hailey had thought she would be in. She thought that if she could just get inside the building everything would be smooth sailing from there, obviously not. Judging by Sungyeol’s tone of voice from earlier, Layla didn’t seem to be someone in his good books.

“No, I’m not. I don’t even know who Layla is.” Hailey replied praying that it was the right response.

Sungyeol gave her a sharp look, “You’re not one of Layla’s runaways? Then who are you?”

Hailey was hesitant to speak, “Ok, I’ll confess. Yes, you’re right, I’m not hurt,” she paused and inhaled, “I want to be in your gang.”

Sungyeol slowly removed his gun from Hailey’s forehead and sat back down.

“Why?” he questioned somewhat interested as to why this innocent looking girl wanted to be acquainted with trouble makers such as himself.

Hailey had already gone astray from her intended path. This part was never in her plan. “Fine, just don’t kill me ok?”

Sungyeol scoffed. He carelessly chucked his gun behind him and it landed with a loud crash. Sungyeol leaned forward and placed his elbows on his thighs, his chin rested on his clasped hands as he listened to Hailey’s explanation.

Hailey swallowed and took a deep breath. She didn’t give the male in front of her any eye contact and stared blankly at her fidgeting fingers.

“People tell me I look a lot like my mother. She was sweet and caring but one day she abandoned my father and I. From then onwards my father hated me, since I looked like my mother, every time he saw me, it would remind him of her. He was an alcoholic and would beat me up whenever he got drunk. I suffered for around two years and ran away from home when I was eight. Now, ten years later, my father hasn’t even looked for me. I want to see him but I’m afraid. I’m afraid that I’ll be too weak to face him. Joining this gang, maybe, I will gain the courage to go up against him.”

Hailey stopped and looked up. Sungyeol’s eyes were once again, totally mesmerising. His face was expressionless and Hailey couldn’t help but wonder what kind of things were running at the back of his mind after she had told him her life story, well, part of it anyway.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

“She’s doing what!?” He yelled at the innocent Jongup who was now shrinking back, “I can’t believe you would let her go like that? What happened to our promise? Does the words, don’t endanger her not mean anything to you?”

A certain blonde gentleman raged and made haste paces around the bakery.

Jongup had his head hung low in guilt. He knew that he should’ve gone undercover instead of Hailey.

“Daehyun, I’m sorry.” Jongup apologised but he knew that Daehyun wasn’t going to let him go that easily.

“I don’t mean to sound like a big jerk but she’s in danger. You’re not protecting her very well are you?”

Jongup was about to lose it.

“I should’ve taken her back to my place ten years ago.”

Jongup couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Is that how it is now?”

He was now slightly angry at his blonde friend.

“Where were you these ten years huh? Back then, you suddenly came in and told me to look after a complete stranger. Since we were such close friends I did as you requested because I knew she was important to you. But then you disappeared and never came back. What have you done these past years for her? So don’t you ever tell me I’m not protecting her when you haven’t done anything!”

Daehyun was taken-back by his friend’s sudden confession.

“I haven’t done anything for her? I basically rescued her from the streets and took her to a home.”

Jongup inched his face closer to Daehyun's. “That’s right. My home. You were her neighbour, you knew how her father treated her but you were afraid to approach her. You were scared that you would make her cry. Well let me tell you, every time she cried I was the one who stayed with her, to comfort her. I did what you should’ve done a long time ago.”

His words lingered at the back of Daehyun’s mind like a song on replay. Daehyun knew that every word Jongup said was true. He was her neighbour, he could’ve comforted her when she needed it but he was afraid. He was a coward.

“You’re right. Forget it.”

“Why are you back anyway?” Jongup asked.

Daehyun ran his hand through his hair, “I wanted to confess to her. After these ten years, I think I’ve finally built up the courage to tell her how I feel.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sungyeol couldn’t help but to sympathise with Hailey. He had experienced a similar family situation himself and knew what it felt like to want to see them and the feeling of fear when you actually did. 

“Fine, you’re in. But you need to prove your loyalty first before we can tell you any of our plans,”

Hailey nodded continuously in response. She was surprised at how quickly Sungyeol had agreed to let her stay, just like that. No long discussion, no fighting, and no irritating questions.

Sungyeol lead her out of the room and into a large area filled with nothingness.

“She’s one of us,” Sungyeol called and out of nowhere, people started coming out behind curtains and places Hailey could have never imagined would be big enough to hide a person.

The room was slowly filled with people and Hailey was standing right in the middle of it.

“Everyone, this is our new member…” Sungyeol started to say but stopped as he noticed he didn’t know what to call her.

“Hailey.” Hailey responded with a slightly cheerful tone but soon regretted the fact that she had used her real name.

“…Hailey,” Sungyeol continued, “Please welcome her,”

Sungyeol clapped a few times but his gang members didn’t seem to be that welcoming and an awkward silence filled the room.

“Well, I guess you should meet our leader.” Sungyeol suggested and guided Hailey past the crowd.

They arrived in front of two large doors bordered with golden rims. It looked just a bit too fancy and grand for an entrance to the leader of a gang.

“Wait here,” Sungyeol said and entered the room.

Hailey stayed outside patiently and took in the sight around her. The ceilings were high and everything just seemed so different from what she was used to at home.

A moment later, the twin doors creaked opened and Sungyeol gestured for Hailey to go inside. The moment Hailey went in she felt an intimidating presence being emitted from the across the room.

Sungyeol stopped in front of Hailey and stared down at her and she almost became lost in his gaze. He mouthed the words, ‘good luck’ and walked out.

Hailey gulped and she slowly approached a black, leather chair that was facing away from her.

“H-hello,” she stuttered.

The chair turned ever so slowly. Hailey held her breath and anticipated when the face of the leader would finally be revealed to her. She tilted her head to fill her curiosity but the chair had stopped turning. It was as if the leader knew what she was doing and started turning in the opposite direction.

Finally the chair had turned fully and Hailey bowed down quickly to greet the leader. She waited for a reply and stayed in that position for a while. There didn't seem to be a response so Hailey stole a glance at the chair but to her surprise no one was even there.

Hailey shot up and scanned every inch of the area. A black glove suddenly covered her eyes, using the skills she acquired from the one week training with Jongup; Hailey easily manoeuvred herself away from the black glove and turned around the face the attacker.

A slight gasp escaped when she saw the person standing in front of her.

It was a female.

“Oh, that wasn’t too bad,” the female praised sounding impressed, “Sorry to scare you like that. You must be Hailey. Well anyone Sungyeol recommends to be in this gang must be pretty decent. So I’m guessing he didn’t choose incorrectly.”

Hailey stayed silent. The female looked too young to be the leader of a gang. Hailey was expecting a middle-age and rather masculine male but the leader standing in front of her was young, petite and to be honest quite pretty.

“Where are my manners? I’m the leader of Fire, Min.”

Author's Note

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