I sat miserably at the kitchen counter while Taemin and Junhyun played some stupid videogame. That’s all they ever seemed to do. “You guys want to go hiking?” I ask them, face buried in my hands. “You’re going to make me lose!!” Taemin shouts back. “How about to the store?” I ask. “We just came from the store.” Junhyun calls. I roll my eyes. “How about the arcade?” I mumble, flipping the saltshaker on the counter around and around in frustration. This was my one day off and the kids were being soooo boring! I walk over and turn off the television earning groans and scowls from the boys, but I didn’t care. “I’m your father and we’re not just going to sit round all day! Go get ready.” I demand. Taemin and Junhyun drag themselves upstairs to change out of their lazy day clothing.  I set their controllers on top of the television and begin to pick up their mess. Just then my phone rings. I pull it from my back pocket and put it to my ear, attempting to keep it in place with my shoulder so that I could continue cleaning. “Hello?” I begin, pulling scraps of food from behind the couch cushion. “Alex, you can’t trust Joon and EunGyul anymore.” A voice begins. When I realize who it was my eyes widen. “Rachel? You haven’t called me in like a month!” I snap at her. “It’s been two weeks.” She says bluntly. “Who cares how long it’s been! You haven’t called and when you do it’s to warn me?” I snap. “I’m not warning you…okay I am warning you. Just stay where you are and if Joon calls or EunGyul don’t pick up okay?” she asks. “No. Not until you tell me what’s going on.” I conclude. “Nothing if you do what I say.” She says. “I thought you didn’t want to talk to me.” I tell her. For a while she doesn’t reply. “Alex, you know how I feel….I just don’t want you to get hurt. You’ve got a kid to worry about.” She says softly. “Rache, you know that’s not what I meant…you literally said you didn’t want to talk to me.” I remind her. “Alex, of course I want to talk to you! You’re like the only person I feel like I can trust right now. At the time, I just…I couldn’t tell you anything.” She says. “Well what’s different this time? Why can you all of a sudden talk to me now?” I ask her. She could probably sense the hostility in my voice. “Have you heard back from Tae’s stepfather yet?” she asks out of nowhere? “Why is that important?” I ask her. “Well, maybe you could let Taemin stay somewhere else for a while, then we can meet up and talk.” She says. “There’s no one else I’d trust with my children. I have Junhyun here too you know.” I tell her. “I understand that...Jisoo! Leave them with Jisoo for now. I really need to talk to you.” She continues. “Rachel! Why can’t you just tell me now? Why are you making things difficult?” I ask her, realizing that I was shouting. “I’d really rather tell you in person.” She says. I exhale. What else could I do? I did want to know what was going on with her and all, but I couldn’t just leave my kids. I notice two little pairs of feet gathered at the top of the stairs and bite my tongue. How long were those two standing there? “Taemin! Junhyun! You’re taking way too long!” I shout. The boys come raging down the stairs all fully clothed. “Wait in the car.” I tell them, handing Junhyun the keys.  They race outside and down the driveway. ‘Nosy little trouble-makers.’ I think to myself. They both reminded me so much of myself in so many ways. I take a deep breath. I wasn’t just making decisions for myself anymore. I had two other people to worry about now and if Rachel sensed danger, no matter how much I wanted to scream and shout at her for her absence, I should probably listen. “When should we meet up?” I whisper finally into the phone.

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

I park my car at my mother’s company wondering why in the world Rachel would want to meet up here. “Where are you?” I text her. She replies quickly. “I’m under the big tree.” I roll my eyes. “Why do I even bother?” I ask myself, hopping out of the car. Was she aware of how many ‘big trees’ were around here? Out of the corner of my eye I see a woman dressed in all black with a floppy hat covering most of her curls. “Are you aware of how obvious and suspicious you look?” I ask her. Rachel lowers her sunglasses to get a clear view of me. A smile spreads across her face and she rushes towards me. Before she can lay a finger on me I press my pointer finger against her forehead. Her smile disappears. “Explain yourself.” I say to her, removing my finger. “And take this off. It’s embarrassing.” I add, removing the floppy, straw hat from her head. “Well, first…I have been at Chief’s this entire time.” She begins. My entire body fills with rage. “YOU’VE BEEN WHE….” “And so has Joon, EunGyul, and Haneul. But for good reason!” she quickly adds. “RACHEL DO YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS…” “…He is and how much she hates me and wants to kill me? How could I miss it? But the important thing is that I think Joon and EunGyul are helping him get to you and Jisoo.” She adds all in one breath. “WHAT IN THE WORLD MAKES YOU THINK THAT? ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW PROTECTIVE JOON IS OF JISOO?!” I snap. “Alex, you’re shouting again...” she says through gritted teeth. I grasp her shoulders. “WHY DO YOU ALWAYS GET INVOLVED IN THESE TYPES OF THINGS?” I ask her completely pissed and frustrated. “I didn’t do it on purpose okay? I just…Haneul was in trouble and I had to go save her and I overheard Chief talking to Minji and then I saw Joon and EunGyul…” “RACHEL YOU AREN’T MAKING ANY SENSE!!!” I snap, shaking her. “THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I DIDN’T TELL YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!” she shouts back. “IF YOU KNEW I’D REACT THIS WAY WHY WOULD YOU?!” I shot back at her. “I WAS HOPING YOU WOULDN’T! I TOLD YOU THAT THERE WEREN’T MANY PEPOLE I FELT LIKE I COULD TRUST ANYMORE! YOU WERE IT! YOU AND HANEUL WERE IT!” she concludes tears forming in her eyes. A crowd was beginning to form around us so I let go of her shoulders. “Now I’m not even sure if I can talk to you anymore.” She says, eyes sharp. I take a deep breath and look up at the sky. It was taking everything in my power not to pick up this argument again, but I didn’t want to draw any more attention than I already have. I grab her wrist and pull her towards my car. “Let’s go.” I conclude. Rachel tries to pull away. “Never mind. What’s the use of talking to you? Mr. Know-it-all?” she snaps.  “Don’t make me anymore upset than I already am.” I tell her through gritted teeth, trying to contain my anger. “Where are we going?” she asks once in the passenger’s seat. I slam my door shut and start the car. “Back to where this all began.” I tell her. Her eyes widen and she grabs my arms. “Don’t! Alex this is what I’ve been worrying about stupid! If you do this I’ll never talk to you again!” she shouts. I pull out of the parking lot. “Alex! I’m serious! What about Taemin? And…and Junhyun! You can’t leave them!” I push her hands off of my arms. “You knew what you were doing when you called me. You knew how I’d react when you told me the truth, yet you still told me. Don’t get mad when I do exactly what you knew I would.” I tell her speeding down the freeway. “I thought you’d make the right choice!” she says. “THIS IS THE RIGHT CHOICE! HE ISN’T GOING TO STOP UNLESS I KILL HIM!” I shout at her. “Kill him? Do you think that’ll stop everything? Who’d stay with your kids? What about Your brothers? You’d leave them?” she asks. I don’t respond, too much was going on. I couldn’t think straight. “What about me?” she asks. “You wouldn’t risk all you’ve worked for just to get rid of Chief.” She ‘tells’ me. I scoff. She thought I wouldn’t? “Watch me.” I conclude.