The sound of gunshot silenced everything.

 

And Kwon Yuri, eyes still closed in fear, couldn't feel a thing. Fear corrupted her mind, not letting her think clearly.

 

But after few seconds, she noticed she didn't feel hurt at all. Not in her chest, her body or her head, nothing. For a split second she thought she's in the afterlife already, not feeling a thing.

 

But she was wrong.

 

When she opened her eyes, she saw something unexpected.

 

Jessica was no longer holding a gun, and Donghae was pointing his own to the blonde girl, rage showing clearly on his face.

 

Jessica could only say one word:

 

Why?

---

 

"Why? That's a rather odd question from you, Jessica Jung." Donghae replied sarcastically. No one could describe how Jessica felt at that moment. She was very sure that her 'possession' finally returns to her, but to find him turning his back on her now never crossed her mind for a second.

 

"No, Oppa. I'm really asking you seriously, why did you stop me from killing her? And you even shot me! Why did you do that?" Jessica asked, she already knew the answer, but she still refused to believe it. She wouldn't accept the fact that Lee Donghae was no longer the man she once knew. 

 

As Yuri heard Jessica's words, she examined the floor, looking for Jessica's gun. It was lying on the floor, about five to ten meters from Yuri's sight. And then it hit her; the gunshot was from Donghae's gun. He fired his gun at Jessica's, disarming her, and leaving everyone unharmed.

 

"To prevent you from making unnecessary sacrifices. It'll only get us caught." 'It will only get you caught', Donghae corrected to himself. He didn't want Jessica to rot in prison as well, after all. Despite everything she's done, Donghae couldn't bring himself to hate her, she still is one of the few people he ever considered a friend. But to let her kill Yuri was unacceptable. He couldn't let that happen, not after what he promised to Chung-Hee.

 

"Is that it? That's the only lie you could think of? Wow, that's really pathetic of you, Oppa." Donghae was taken aback by Jessica's insult. She already knew his purpose was to protect Yuri from harm. But to make sure, she asked him again, questioning where his loyalty lies.

 

"Did you know...Seonsaengnim ordered me to kill this girl too? She's seen to much of what we do, of course Seonsaengnim wanted her dead already. What do you say about that, Oppa?" Yuri's ears tinged. She knew she was in the brink of death; one move and a bullet from Jessica's gun would pierce through her body before she can feel it. All she can do now is count on Donghae. 

 

"Is that...true?" However, Donghae himself couldn't form an answer to Jessica's question. All he could do was stare at the ground.

 

The ice princess sighed with depression. She never thought what she feard most would come true. Tears are b in her eyes, disturbing her line of vision. She tried her best to hold her tears from falling but to no avail. They're already running down her cheeks. She couldn't help it, she was heartbroken. If the answer to her next question is a 'yes', she might just kill herself with her gun. She turned her back and looked at Donghae, tears running freely on her face.

 

"You really love her, don't you?"

 

"Jessica... I..." Donghae lowered her gun, his heart also pained. He knew how much she idolized him from since the day they met, and he didn't know it would be painful to trick her and break her heart this way. What he regretted more was him, planning to take her where she couldn't even have her freedom anymore, using her sincere love to trick her.

 

"Let me repeat my question if you don't understand. Do you love me...or do you love her?" Jessica pointed at Yuri who was still showing her back. Yuri then turned and shook hear head at Donghae, her face pleading. She's telling him to not answer that he loves her for his own safety. Donghae gazed at the two desperate girls, and he couldn't stand their sad eyes anymore. He couldn't choose. Any normal day he would've chosen Yuri over Jessica, but after what he just realized, he couldn't bear to see Jessica like this. His heart just couldn't take it.

 

"Please answer truthfully, Donghae." Jessica pleaded. She couldn't tell if she'd be relieved to hear Donghae's answer either because that means she could either kill him without remorse as ordered, or maybe that she could kill him with her own hands, not letting anyone have him.

 

"I...love..." Yuri's head shook faster. She bit her lip in frustration, Donghae should surrender for now and let things go for a while so that the plan could proceed successfully. However, Donghae has completely forgotten about the plan. His mind was filled by the answer. He took a deep breath before answering the question; an answer that came from the bottom of his heart.

 

"I love Yuri... I truly love her."

 

The three fell silent. Donghae looked at Yuri, panic showing in her face. But her eyes showed love and relief, and that alone convinced Donghae he made the right choice. Time seemed to have passed slowly as they couldn't think of the next move. Jessica sighed, realizing now how pathetic she'd been. She mentally slapped herself for not realizing that Donghae's confession before was real. She asked herself why she couldn't figure it out, but she already knew the answer: she loves Donghae way too much.

 

The sound of police sirene was audible now. The forces Yuri called for emergency has arrived. Jessica was even more surprised, but she kept a straight face in front of the two.

 

'He'd planned this far to bring me here and to turn me in.' Jessica thought. Jessica's heart shattered into pieces, but the tears have stopped falling. She was crying for someone who doesn't care for her anyway, so she choked back her tears. Now, Jessica stared at Donghae with a cold expression, and Donghae could read her expression perfectly.

 

"But that doesn't mean I hate you, Jessica. It's just that I don't like you that way. And I also don't want you to get caught. Run, Sica, quickly. Run before they get here. I won't say a word about this, please listen to me..." Donghae suggested. His intentions to turn Jessica in and decreasing the powers of his ex-organization is now completely lost. He didn't have the heart to do it, not after what he did to her. This was the least he could do.

 

"And go where? Home? The organisation? I don't think that'll help erasing the pain." Jessica answered coldly. Suddenly, Jessica picked up her phone from her purse. Panicking, Donghae raised his gun and pointed it to Jessica once more.

 

"Drop the phone, Sica! Don't make that call or I'll shoot you!"  Donghae threatened, his voice shaking.

 

Jessica ignored him and used her phone anyway while walking towards Donghae slowly. The gun touched her chest, and she moved it to where her heart is.

 

"Shoot." Jessica commanded, slowly.

 

"What?" Donghae asked, his body trembling.

 

"I'm asking you to shoot, right here, in my heart." Donghae gulped. He never guessed that Jessica would turn bold like this. His body trembled greater to the point that even Jessica could feel it.

 

"Why? Is it that hard for you to put a bullet through my heart? Just do it, just pull the trigger. You already crushed it anyway." Jessica continued pushing Donghae. She knew that Donghae couldn't do it. He's too soft to kill someone he cares about, despite not loving her.

 

"Jessica, I swear to God..." Donghae muttered. He couldn't do it, not to someone he spent half of his life with.

 

"Just do it already! Pull the trigger, goddammit! Kill me so I don't have to feel this way anymore!" Jessica shouted, tears finding their way down her cheeks once more. started to tremble, and she said, "What's the point of living if the reason I live all this time turned out to be complete, utter lies?" Her voice croaked as she kept on pushing Donghae. He couldn't stand it anymore; what she said hurt him as well. He lowered his gun and stared into her eyes.

 

"Jessica...mianhe..I didn't mean to.." Donghae apologized.

 

"Don't you dare apologize! I know whatever's going to come out are just lies and you don't mean a single word. Do you know how much pain it caused me? Turning me down, ignoring all my advances, lying to me blatantly all these years? You even tricked my feelings to bring me here! All the love I had for you all these years are nothing but trash you keep on throwing away!" Jessica exclaimed, sobbing. She couldn't resist it any longer. She took the opportunity and grabbed Donghae's gun. Before he could react, she already held it firmly in her hands. "And yet I kept on loving you. Even now. I just can't live without you." Jessica chuckled, and brought the gun to her heart. Donghae's eyes widened and shouted, "Jessica, no!" He tried reaching her before she could do anything stupid.

 

Suddenly, Jessica's phone lit up. A voice was speaking from the other end, finally answering her call. She put it on loudspeaker so that Yuri and Donghae could listen.

 

"Randy." Jessica called his name, saying it with a different accent.

 

"Yes, miss?" the receiver of the call answered with clearly spoken English.

 

"Bring the boys out."

---

 

As soon as she said it, multiple gunshots rang outside, like a war was taking place in front of Jeju Kwon Mansion. Shocked, Yuri closed her ears. The gunshots were too loud to her ears and she couldn't stand it. Based on what Donghae could hear, he assumed that a massive gunfight was taking place outside. What he couldn't tell was who the police was fighting.

 

Then Donghae realized Yuri was squatting down while covering her ears, her body trembling in fear. He immediately ran to her and tried to calm her down. Jessica looked at them with resent. There she was, watching the love of his life caring for another girl. She was done crying; it was time to take action. She decided that she will kill Kwon Yuri before she could escape. And if Donghae is protecting her... she'll kill him too.

 

Before Yuri passed out completely, Donghae managed to catch her head from falling to the floor. "Yuri, Gwenchana?!" Donghae asked her in a worried tone.

 

"I--I'm scared...Donghae." Yuri's eyes closed shut. The gunshots reminded her of the day Chung-Hee died, and that had traumatized her. Realizing this, Donghae turned to Jessica.

 

"Damn it Jessica! What the heck are you planning?!" Donghae shouted. Jessica's mouth formed a perfect circle. She was shocked, Donghae never cursed at her no matter how annoyed he was.

 

Jessica turned to look at Yuri's face, which was terribly sweating. She looked terrible, but Jessica didn't like how she's showing it. It was like she's trying to get Donghae's attention badly. Jessica cursed her for turning Donghae to someone she couldn't recognize anymore. All she wants to do now is point her gun and shoot.

 

"Donghae, didn't I mention you earlier in front of Jeju Bank? I'm not alone here. If you called the police to capture me when I get here, I also have my insurance policy. You didn't really expect me to come here without any type of security, did you?" Jessica sniffed, feeling a little proud that she managed to think one step ahead of Donghae, who was also a leader. At least she didn't lose at everything, she thought.

 

"I'd have to say i'm impressed, though," Jessica added, "You managed to bring me here without me suspecting a single thing. It's a shame that I have a backup-plan in case anything unwanted; such as this; happens. Too bad you're facing Jessica Jung."

 

Donghae couldn't help but to admit that the reason this plan got this far was because he was being chased by Jessica. If anyone else was sent to get him, he would be dead by now. But when Jessica blew up his cover, his life was in a dangerous position.

 

"Looks like my boys are still busy taking care of things outside. Well, I wouldn't let them kill you with their filthy hands anyway. Now, let's see how smart you are when you're trying to protect her." Jessica raised the Donghae's gun and fired a few shots at him. Donghae evaded the bullets while picking up Jessica's gun. Donghae's face hardened, he knew Jessica wasn't the same person that would show her soft side in front of him anymore. 

 

Donghae pulled Yuri to the back side of the couch to shield themselves from the gunshots. Jessica approached to the couch slowly, every step she made couch spurred both Donghae's and Yuri's heartbeat. She pounded the floor hardly for every steps she made with her high heels to intimidate Donghae. 

 

"Jessica! Stop doing this! I don't want to kill you!" Donghae shouted from behind the couch. Yuri was still covering her ears, paralyzed by the sound of gunshots from outside. Donghae knew he had to Yuri somewhere safe before she passes out completely, and that'll only slow him down and endanger her life even more. He hoped that this'll persuade Jessica to back down a little.

 

"You already did, like around five minutes ago actually." Jessica replied coldly as she kept walking to the couch. Donghae bit his lower lip, he knew Jessica isn't the type of woman who would back down easily. He hit himself in regret; he should've just said that he loves her and proceed as planned instead of fighting for their lives. He mentally slapped himself for being an idiot.

 

He could hear her footsteps getting louder, which means that she's only a few metres away from them. He searched the room and found a kitchen table right across them. He glanced at Yuri. "Yuri, come on." Yuri nodded. She knew she could only count on Donghae, he's the one who could finish it. Donghae took Yuri's hand and dragged her to run behind the kitchen table slowly. 

 

"1, 2, 3 go!" Donghae and Yuri picked up the pace and run as fast as they, Jessica noticed their movement and tried to shoot them four times. Fortunately, none of those bullets hit them, she missed them and the couple made it to the back side of the kitchen table. The two sighed in relief, they managed to evade Jessica's shots perfectly. But still, they're in a pinch, and moving location didn't help a lot.

 

Again, Jessica walked slowly to where they are. Donghae didn't want to hurt Jessica, but he knew it's the only way he could escape alive. Looking at Jessica's gun, he strengthened his resolve. He stood up and shot 3 times towards Jessica who was in front of him. Jessica reacted quickly and jumped to a nearby pillar. When she's about to counter, Donghae already hid behind the kitchen table again.

 

"Now you finally found the guts to kill me! Too bad it didn't come earlier when I asked you to!" Jessica shouted, a bitter smile on her face. "Finally decided to just help me stop the pain in the end?" Slowly, the anger inside her began to grow inside Donghae as well.

 

"You didn't give me a choice, Sica!" Donghae shouted back. He looked at Yuri who was closing her eyes in pain, trying to catch up with her breath hardly and terribly sweating. She could only lean on the table because she's all out of energy. Even staying concious is a hard task. 'She really need some rest.' Donghae thought.  

 

"You're a cruel man, Lee Donghae."Jessica came out from her hiding place and started to shoot at the kitchen table at random places, trying to persuade Donghae to come out like she did. After that, Donghae attacked back by shooting several numbers of bullets, Jessica evaded those at the right timing, the two was still unharmed, but they knew this a dead match already, no one would expect mercy from each other, Jessica was to fulfill what she was ordered by her master, while Donghae must protect the girl he loves.

 

"You know Donghae, I think you would make a great drama artist." Jessica exclaimed while staying behidn the pillar, Donghae's brows raised, he couldn't understand Jessica's statement, or should he say, her compliment.

 

"Why's that?" 

 

"You really are two-faced, all this time I showed you concern, care and even help you in several missions. I always thought you're grateful for those things I did, and your thanks meant everything to me. Now I know you really played well in your acting, you have no feelings involved, you are truly someone heartless when you're playing your role." 

 

"It's not like that! I'm really thankful for what you did...but I can't play this role anymore, I did this for someone I care about, but that person wouldn't even look at me, you know him as well as I do, Jessica." Donghae interrupted with the reason for his escape, hoping that Jessica would pull down her weapon, but his statement just worsen the condition of Jessica's heart.

 

"So...am I an outlet of your anger towards Siwon?! Is that it?! You want the others to feel your pain?!" Donghae facepalmed himself, regretting of what he said earlier, Donghae thought it wouldn't hurt to tell his reasoning, but he just hurt Jessica more, now he pissed her off by this misunderstanding.

 

"Why me?! I never did anything wrong to you, and you don't have the right to toy with my heart! Or is it me that grew too close to you that you feel you can use me?! Answer me, Lee Donghae! Tell me if I'm wrong!" 

 

Donghae stayed silent, he never meant anything like Jessica said, but part of him admitted that he may have used her feelings from a long time, she was right, Jessica was a victim to Donghae's pain that was caused by his loneliness upon  Siwon's distrust. From Siwon to Donghae, and finally from Donghae to Jessica. Donghae couldn't help but to approve Jessica's judgement, he too, was trying to get close to Siwon, but Siwon ignored him, and he was too concentrated to him, forgetting that Jessica'swere there for him all the time.

 

Donghae exhaled, he knew he couldn't avoid any longer for Jessica's charges. 

 

"Sica...mianhe, you were right...I was selfish and..maybe unconciously, I may have used you as well. But believe me, I didn't mean to do something like that to you--"

 

"Didn't you hear of what I said? Don't apologize to me, unless you mean it." Jessica cut Donghae's words before he could finish, she couldn't let herself fall for Donghae's tricks for the several time, she told herself.

 

"No, I really mean it. You may not believe it but...I am truly sorry of what happened between us, it was all my fault and I have no objections about it. I always ignore you...just like what Siwon did to me. Maybe I was becoming into him before I know it, and you were the victim of my anger..Mianhaeyo, Jessica." Donghae added. He felt that he was possesed by Siwon's soul, and making the new him. If only it was the old Siwon, he wouldn't mind, but Siwon has really lost the meaning of true humanity which forced Donghae to stop his tracks to a path where he couldn't follow. 

 

"...I don't want to hear anymore of your excuses, if you're not with me, if you're here to protect that wretched girl, then you're my enemy, it's as simple as that." Jessica reloaded her weapons from the spare she brought inside her purse. Donghae sighed, he realized Jessica's pain wouldn't be easy to be healed, if it weren't for Yuri, he might end up the same way.

 

All of the sudden, Donghae could hear sound thumping on the ground, he could sense a bunch of people were invading the house, but he couldn't tell whether they were Jessica's men or the polce forces, because his sight was closed by the kitchen table in exchange of his protection.

 

"Miss, we have finished the whole squadron outside. Now, what's our next target?" the man with the name Randy who spoke on the phone with Jessica reported.

 

"I understand, Randy. Our target is behind that white table, there are two of them, one is armed, beware." Jessica's minions nodded at the same time, they started to take their positions to find a hiding place, surrounding Donghae and Yuri. 

 

Donghae knew he couldn't fight those trained men, he may escape like he did in Japan if it's only them, but with Jessica around, he's in a difficult position. He realized he couldn't hide there all day, but he couldn't fight those men as well. He closed his eyes and began to think of what he should do next.

 

Suddenly, he saw something rolling to him, a green ball-like item with a claw at the top of it. He didn't know where it came from, but the ball is directing to him. He took a while to examine what it is, then the next moment he realized it was a grenade, but he couldn't tell what type of grenade it is.

 

"Donghae, why don't you just surrender yourself and that girl? You might feel relieved from the fear you're feeling right now." Jessica remarked, true, he was trembling in fear and Yuri was trying her best to catch up with her breath. With the impossibility to fight back, the grenade might be his only chance. 

 

Donghae hesitated at first, but he gripped the grenade firmly, he knew he couldn't miss this, if he failed, that's it for him, he thought to himself. He pulled the fuse of the grenade and he kept sitting behind the table, without even looking, he threw the grenade backwards to where the villains were located. 

 

"Fire in the hole! Back off!" Jessica and his men took a few steps backward to avoid from being hit by the explosion, but that grenade wasn't the type that exploded, instead, a green smoke came out of the grenade and spread gas in the air, making Jessica and her boys difficult to see where Donghae was at the moment. 

 

"Psst." Donghae and Yuri noticed that whisper from their right, when they caught where the sound came from, they saw a handphone light swinging in the air, but they couldn't see the phoneholder's face, they looked at each other to trust that person or not, but they realized there were no other way. They nodded at each other and started running to that phone's light, without any of Jessica's men noticing. Donghae pulled Yuri hand to help her running, her condition was no longer possible to run on her own.

 

Donghae stumbled a little when he followed where that light was going, the smoke really covered up his vision, then he realized that he was walking on the stairs, he stepped on those stairs one by one, carefully and slowly. Finally, he reached the upstrairs. He found an empty room to truce and resided himself for a while, as far as it went, Donghae's brief escape from them has been successfully accomplished, but if it weren't for the smoke grenade, he might not survive at this moment, he thought again who gave him the item in such important timing.

 

"I see you made it." A voice sounded from Donghae's back, Donghae hurriedly pull the gun from his jeans pocket and point it at the person who's talking, thinking that person might be another enemy. 

 

"Whoa, easy there. You pull that gun on me again, I throw you back down easy." The guy lowered the gun from his sight. Donghae couldn't trust him, but he decided to put away his gun. Something about his gaze gives off the feeling that he's not someone to play with.

 

"Who are you?" Donghae asked.

 

"I am the guy who just saved life. Both of yours. You're welcome, by the way."

 

"I didn't ask for it." Donghae scoffed, he knew someone saved him from the certain death, but to think that someone is this arrogant, he wouldn't thank him sincerely as easy as that.

 

"Okay, you wanna go back down there? Be my guest. Let's see how you can escape by yourself when you're surrounded by a whole squadron downstairs."

 

"Watch your words. I could shoot you right now." Donghae pulled out his gun again, but this time he was taken aback by the guy's sudden action. He grabbed Donghae's gun, pulled it towards him, disarmed him in a flash. Now he has two guns pointed at Donghae, when Donghae has none.

 

"Look, here's the deal, you do not disrespect me because as you can see, I could easily kill you. You're lucky I don't blast you right here, right now for being a brat." The guy said, his deep, husky voice in full effect. Donghae's spine tingled because of fear. He was right, this guy isn't to be messed with.

 

"That makes the two of us." Donghae insulted back, he didn't want to lose to him, despite that he couldn't do anything about him.

 

But the stranger ignored Donghae nonchalantly. "You," the guy pointed to Yuri, who has been watching silently in fear, "Kwon Yuri, right?" She nodded slowly.

 

The guy scratched his head while mumbling, "Ah, how troublesome...I already told him he was sending the wrong guy, why can't he listen?"

 

Donghae then built up the courage to ask him another question. "Who are you? Why did you save us?" The guy looked at Donghae, and it was enough to intimidate Donghae yet again.

 

"One question at a time, will ya? The point is, I can't let this young lady get hurt, and you, who seems to be a pathetic protector of hers;." Donghae and Yuri looked at each other in confusion. 'Who would send someone to save us?'

"Okay, but who are you?"

 

"Can't just spill my name in public, idiot. That's classified."

 

"Okay, fine then, what do we call you?" Donghae was getting more irritated. The guy smirked and reached his hand out, and pointing his index finger in front of Donghae's eyes' pupils.

"The codename's is T.O.P. Get it memorized."

 

 

Author's Note : 

Jjang! The new chapter's out! Sorry if I missed my weekly update, it was finished on Sunday last week, but me and my editor worked so hard to fix the Jessica and Donghae's arguments, we talked about it many times that we changed a lot of their conversations to become more stingy, if it weren't for my editor, it won't be as good as this, at least. So how do you like it? Another character from Big Bang, T.O.P. hehe :P maybe I should post bigbang tag as well in this story, I didn't know much about them but I've read many wonderful stories of them, their names aren't unfamiliar for me anymore. I hope you enjoy reading the new chapter, and I do hope your wait was worth it (if you were waiting :P) haha please comment and subscribe! Comments and critiques are most pleasant to see as well. 

 

Your author, 

kanghose