Sandara grimaced at what she saw when she opened the apartment’s door. Everything was converted into a research facility. The two plush green couches in the living room just opposite to her was replaced by black leather ones. Sandara took a step inside, closing the door behind her using her leg and was stunned at what more she saw. The kitchen was nowhere to be found, and in the place where it would be is a series of computers. The biggest computer was propped up to the wall, and down to it, six computers are lined up horizontally, showing the same thing on their screen. Then at the floor were crates. One of them was opened and Sandara caught sight of a blade, as long as her arm and was glowing.

A glow in the dark sword? Sandara thought, her eyebrows twitching. I’m excited to use a glow in the dark grenade.

“Don’t you just stand there and gape, Sandara!” She jerked, and turned to where Seven was standing. He wore nearly-pure black attire. He wore tight black jeans, black shoes, a black leather jacket and a white shirt beneath the jacket, to show something viewable in the dark, maybe. His hair was neatly combed away from his face, and sort of reminded Sandara of Top. Top doesn’t like bangs, and he makes sure his hair is away from his face. He intimidates anyone that way, and just the thought of him, makes her shiver.

“What do I do?” Sandara asked, walking further into the apartment with her hands in her back.

“Change into the clothes Seungri chose for you. It’s placed on your bed. Then, get back here. I’m going to tell you something.” He said, smiling forcibly at her and ruffled her hair. It was a gesture Sandara would have found cute, if someone who’s not very intimidating does that  to her. Seven looked like he’s going to get the living hell out of her, and ruffling her hair just made her intimidated.

Without any further reaction, Sandara made her way towards her room. At the door, she noticed, a large name plate adorned the door with the words, Snow White. Sandara shook her head, slightly amused and entered her room. She remembered her father calling her sometimes Snow White as a joke and it never fails to amuse her.

On the bed was a pile of clothes. Hastily, Sandara started to change without looking at the clothes. She was about to put the button-down on when a note slipped from the inside, and she picked it up.

Noona,

1.       Tuck the button-down.

2.       Button it until half of the black tube is seen.

3.       Wear the boots.

4.       Curl your hair.

5.       Add lipstick to your lips.

Seungri

Sandara did what she’s ordered to do. She tucked the white button-down in her tight, glossy black pants, buttoned the shirt starting from below up until the middle as per instructed by Seungri, wore the boots just at the foot of the bed, curled her hair using the hair iron and added a little color to her lips. Sandara traveled to the west side of her room to look at herself in the mirror. She would’ve looked seductive, if her s were a little bit bigger than they should have. She didn’t give any justice to the idea Seungri created. Her body didn’t give any volume to the tube, nor the button-down. And much worse, she looked like she’s just cosplaying some celebrity.

After the last twirl, she went out of her room. Everyone was waiting inside, and Seven was ordering people around.

“Seven,” She called, softly, remembering something she found earlier. He turned to her, stopping his conversation with Tablo. “Yes?” He asks.

“I found a blueprint inside my purse. Someone had maybe slipped it inside. I wonder why.” Sandara said, handing him over the blueprint she found. “It’s the blueprint of the warehouse in Samcheong-dong.”

Tablo sighed. “You should tell her everything, Seven.” He said, crossing his arms. “Enlighten the girl with what you have done.”

Sandara looked at Seven with curiosity, and confusion, but he avoided her stare, looking around the room besides her. Then after what seems to be an eternity, he looked at her with a pained expression. “I hate to recall everything.” He says. “But I guess it won’t hurt to enlighten you about what I did.”

“I’ll bring you both teas.” Tablo excused himself, and Seven gestured to the couch. Sandara followed him from behind, and when he sat on the couch, she sat on the other side, the one contrast to him. He took his time looking around, a nervous habit of his and only when Tablo returned did Seven relaxed. Tablo placed the tray on the center table, and sat beside Seven, crossing his legs and placing one arm on the backrest.

“You’re not going to sign an NDA with this,” Tablo said, his expression poker-faced. “But it’s better to at least keep silent about this until this we have infiltrated the warehouse.”

Sandara nodded, clenching her hands on her lap and asked, “What is this that you want to tell me?”

“Well,” Seven bit his lower lip, leaning forward. “I’m the son of your father’s butler.”

“Huh?” Sandara gasped, clueless and dumbfounded, with her eyebrow raised. “I thought Top is the son?”

“We’re brothers. I’m the oldest.” He answered, and continued, “I was there on the day your father and my father got involved in an accident; I was seven that time. When Michelle Park’s guards went to the accident area to collect their bodies, I was already hidden behind a tree just near to the car.”

“Why would they collect the body?” Sandara interrupted.

Seven swallowed. “Your stepmother packed apples that day as a snack for the three of us. My father drove that day, and your father offered one of the apples. When my father took a bite, something happened to him. He turned into a monster. He suddenly had this strange black tattoo all over his body, a series of swirls forming clouds. It was like someone drew them all over him. Then, his brain activity gone haywire. He just muttered, ‘Kill him.’ under his breath and then, swerved to the left, into the countering lane, purposely. A truck bumped into us, and the car was tossed back to the original lane. The truck made a great damage, and my father and your father died. I was lucky because I was on the other side and just earned a few wounds.”

“After the guards picked up the bodies, I ran away for help. That’s when I met Tablo Hyung and his family. They took me in, and I contacted Top, who was barely at the same age as yours. I told him that he should never speak of my name inside the house, and luckily, he understood. We have contacted each other ever since. I was the one who told him to keep you from the company until I told him so. Later on, he made the chief housekeeper as our ally. Bom was a good addition to the group, since she’s your best friend and she knew you more than Top did. I was the one who told her to steal the company’s storage key, duplicate it and give the master key to you. The story about your father giving the key to Bom’s mother, and to be given to you when you reach the right age is all bluff. We made the story up to make you feel that your father wanted you to see the company for yourself.”

“Actually, we only planned up to that. Top reported that Bom had let you attend the masquerade party, which is not really a part of the plan, but we let it slide.  We thought you’ll be fine in the party, but we had our hopes too much high. It turns out you danced with G-Dragon, who’s your stepmother’s apple of the eye. I didn’t know you escaped until we coincidentally saw you lying unconsciously on the floor. After we brought you home, Top called me again. He’s very nervous, and was stuttering as he told me what you did to the party. Then, he told me that Michelle Park wanted you dead, but not just simply dead. She wanted   your heart inside a jar.”

“I told Top that you’re with us and instructed him to go to the deli across YGE’s building the day after tomorrow. Then, I asked you to also go to the deli to ask for the price of the flavored cream cheese. Top acted like the way I instructed. I told him to tell you that it isn’t his intention to kill you that it’s just his job so you can have a hint about what’s happening and slide the blueprint for the warehouse inside your purse. I didn’t instruct him to kill the K-9, but I admit that was very smart of him. He used the dog’s heart as a fraud for yours.”

Sandara didn’t know she was holding her breath that long until she sighed. She was used by them, but she didn’t feel angry with them. She doesn’t feel any hatred towards Seven or Top, neither Bom. But to her stepmother, just the thought of her makes her blood boil and her teeth grind.

“Tea?” Tablo asked, offering her a cup. Sandara looked at it, and accepted it, muttering, “Thanks.”

She took a sip, and placed it down back to the table. Sandara knew that Seven was looking at her expectantly, hoping she would at least say something. After heaving a sigh, she said, “I don’t know what to say, but I know what I feel.”

“I’m sorry.” Seven muttered, bowing his head down. “I thought that if we tell you about our plan, you’ll just act more rebellious against your stepmother. Bom told me that Michelle has a place in your heart, because you thought that the reason why she’s keeping you from the outside is to protect you.”

“She always had a place in my heart, until today. She killed my father, and ordered Top to kill for the sake of having the company all by herself. She wanted to marry Jiyong because of his money.  She’s nothing but a gold digger and selfish .” Sandara said, and surprisingly, she didn’t cry. And plus, calling her stepmother a has been one of her dreams.

Seven smirked at her with pride. If there’s something he’s proud of because she called her stepmother a , well Sandara should’ve called her that more often. It’s rare that the person around her becomes proud of her.

Seven was about to say something when Seungri interrupted, running abruptly towards them. He’s dressed in all black, much more all black than Seven. In a fast yet understandable way, he said, “All the preparations are ready. Choice has now sent the coordinates to the police, and had told them to be ready for backup.”

Sandara thought about Choice, and asked, “Does Choice do all those things?”

“He’s a former FBI agent, so he knows a lot of those things. He still has a good reputation with the police, so they kind of trust us with the infiltration.” Seven answered.

Sandara cocked her head to the side. “Why did he leave the FBI?”

Seven shrugged. “Look, Choice knows what he’s doing, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Then, as if on cue, Choice appeared behind Seven. He still looked like his old self, and unlike the others, he’s wearing casual clothes. He’s also wearing headphones with a microphone attached to it, bended so it’s pointing directly to his mouth. “Seven,” He said, and it’s the first time Sandara heard him speak. “Everything is ready.”

Choice handed Seven six pieces of earphones, all of them black. “I’ll continue to contact and give you details with this. I’ve hacked the security cameras inside the warehouse.”

Seven accepted the earphones and began to distribute them to everyone. Sandara didn’t know that the others were already standing beside Seungri if she didn’t watch as Seven hands the earphones out. She accepted hers, looking at it quizzically and wore it on, carefully hiding it in case.

Choice tried talking to them through the earphones. “Can you hear me?” He asked.

“Yeah,” Seven answered, and surprisingly, Sandara heard it too.

“I should get one of these during exams. This can be pretty helpful.” Seungri said.

“Seungri, you’re a cheater.” Daesung commented.

“Areumdawo sarangseureowo, keurae neo.” Psy sang.

“Hey!” Tablo and Mithra shouted, almost knocking Sandara’s eardrums off.

“Keurae baro neo.” Psy continued.

“Hey!” This time, Seungri and Daesung shouted, but much softer than Tablo and Mithra’s.

Then, suddenly they stopped singing and Sandara looked up to see what happened. They were all looking at her expectantly, and Psy’s eyes were pleading.

Sandara laughed, bowing her head down shyly, but still gave in. “Oppa gang-namseutayil.” She sang, grinning ear to ear and every one danced. She wondered why it wasn’t this happy all the time back at her own house. If ever they were this happy, she shouldn’t have the thought of escaping to get outside.

Psy continued the rest of the lyrics while the others danced into the beat.