(Narrator's POV)

 

Kris followed the maid, the dread consuming his mind. He walked quickly, though he wished he could delay this as much as possible. Still, the maid was walking briskly, not allowing any time for him to delay. How he wished he wasn't walking down this hallway.

 

As much as he wished though, he found himself standing in front of those two mahogany doors. It felt like ages since he had been here. Ever since Soojin came into his life, Kris had kept his distance. 

 

There was a part of him that was wary. Mr. Kim was not one to back down so easily. Kris knew he had waltzed over countless boundaries, and he honestly thought Soojin would've been the tipping point. Even he acknowledged how far he stepped over. Yet, Mr. Kim had done nothing. He had just let them be, and to Kris, it just didn't add up.

 

Not to say he regretted standing up against the old man. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have befriended Soojin, and Kris didn't want to know what that would be like. She was kind, interesting, brave, and unlike anything he'd encountered in a girl.

 

At his school, even at (in his opinion) an early age, girls were all the same. Makeup, clothes, and trying so hard to be liked. Empty giggles, overly dramatic whines, and they always wore strong perfume. Some had even had plastic surgery already. They were just entering middle school, and these petty issues were already their top priority. 

 

Soojin has no interest in any of that. He had never seen her in anything other than her bare face. Her clothing was simple and comfortable, suitable for her work. She was so real, down-to-earth. Despite her age, experience had molded her. She was wise beyond her years, often surprising him with her profound thoughts. She was the one person he had met that was always herself. Even Jessica and Xiumin put up the own defensive masks every once in a while.

 

"He will see you now," the maid told him, and he gulped. 

 

Tentatively stepping into the office, he saw Mr. Kim absorbed into piles of paperwork, not glancing up until the door closed behind Kris.

 

"Ah, Yi-" he paused, stopping himself, and confusing Kris even further. "Kris, so glad you could grace me with your presence." His mouth curved into a suspicious smirk before he let it broaden into a smile.

 

"You asked for me, so..." Kris began, but couldn't conjure anything else to say, so he let it die off, and the room was silent for a few seconds.

 

"Come with me to my building," Mr. Kim said suddenly, putting the paperwork aside, giving Kris his full attention. "I want to take you around the office."

 

Kris' eyes widened. "W-What?" 

 

There was a pleased smirk on Mr. Kim's face. It seemed he still found other's discomfort amusing. "The office. My building. KWu Industries? What's the matter? What happened to your smart tongue?"

 

Kris glared at him, but held his tongue. Mr. Kim laughed. "Aha, there it is. But no comments? Fine then, go change into something suitable. You look like you fell out of a tree."

 

Kris flinched, but nodded, hastily exiting. Did he know? Or was it complete coincidence that he said anything about trees? This whole situation was unsettling. Kris was relieved that his friends were safe, and the director had kept his word, but he had a feeling in his gut that something was wrong. He wished he could just let it go, but Mr. Kim wasn't to be trusted.

 

He went back into his room, pulling out fancy clothes he hated to wear. As he was buttoning a simple white dress shirt, Soojin walked in, setting a small pile of his clothes on his bed.

 

"Where are you going?" She asked him, immediately going to him to help him roll up his sleeves. Since he could never do it right, she had made it a habit to do it for him.

 

"He's taking me to work," he told her softly. She stopped, looking at him with wide eyes, still holding his arm.

 

"What? Why?" She said, looking confused.

 

He shook his head. "I don't know," he muttered softly, his face troubled.

 

Soojin stared at him for a while, then went back to his sleeves. "Are you worried?"

 

He sighed. "Of course I am! He disappears for two years then, all of a sudden, he just wants me to come to work with him? It's strange and I can't help but think he has other motives."

 

Soojin finished, and let his arm drop. "I honestly don't know, Yifan. Just hope for the best. Maybe he's cooled off. He's had two years anyway. Are you scared? Ey, I thought you weren't scared of anything." She playfully hit his arm, trying to loosen him up.

 

He looked up at her and gave her a weak smile. "Yeah, you're right."

 

They both knew he was lying, so she put her hand on his shoulder, giving it a supportive squeeze.

 

"Now go, you don't want to be late,"she urged him, nudging him towards the door. He took a few steps, but then stopped, turning to her hesitantly.

 

"Soojin..." he started, looking unsure of what to say.

 

A few moments passed before Soojin grew restless. "What is it?"

 

He slowly walked back to her, paused, then pulled her into a tight hug. She was surprised, and it took her a few seconds before she began to hug him back. 

 

"What if something happens, Soo?" He stuttered, and she realized he was choking out a muffled sob. "I don't... I don't want you, or anyone, to get hurt. I'm... I'm so scared Soo."

 

"Shh," she said softly, rubbing his back gently. "Don't stress about it. Everything is going to be fine. Don't get so paranoid."

 

"You know him Soo!" He exclaimed, pulling away and looking exasperated. "He's a monster. Don't you remember what he did to you? Your hair took so long to grow back..." He trailed off, his voice softening. 

 

Soojin ran her hand through her hair slowly, pausing for a few seconds. She then sighed, saying, "Yes, I remember well. I remember the velvety seats of his car, the pungent smokey smell, my dad's pitiful gaze as they dragged me away," she looked up at him with an unreadable expression.

 

"I remember my hair falling to the floor, the sting on my cheek, the darken, 

 

She sighed and continued. "I haven't forgotten. I also remember this insane kid that didn't know me in the slightest, but stood up to this monster anyway. Whether he was brave or stupid, I'm not really sure," she paused and gave him a small smile, and he let out a chuckle despite himself. 

 

"Still," she continued, laughing. "I think he was pretty brave. And because of that, I could be brave too. I've been through a lot too, Yifan. I will be okay, so go. Don't let him see you're scared. You can handle it, and if you can't, I'll help you handle it. You're my best friend. I'll always be there for you."

 

Yifan took one last deep breath, and gave Soojin one last hug before making a move to the door. 

 

"Your my best friend, too Soo..." He thought, as he turned to walk out the door.

 

 

 

*Notes*

So I updated later than promised.....  surprise surprise, eh? 

 

Thanks for waiting guys:) next chapter should be done by this weekend:)

 

See you guys next update;)

 

 

 

 

(Narrator's POV)

 

Kris followed the maid, the dread consuming his mind. He walked quickly, though he wished he could delay this as much as possible. Still, the maid was walking briskly, not allowing any time for him to delay. How he wished he wasn't walking down this hallway.

 

As much as he wished though, he found himself standing in front of those two mahogany doors. It felt like ages since he had been here. Ever since Soojin came into his life, Kris had kept his distance. 

 

There was a part of him that was wary. Mr. Kim was not one to back down so easily. Kris knew he had waltzed over countless boundaries, and he honestly thought Soojin would've been the tipping point. Even he acknowledged how far he stepped over. Yet, Mr. Kim had done nothing. He had just let them be, and to Kris, it just didn't add up.

 

Not to say he regretted standing up against the old man. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have befriended Soojin, and Kris didn't want to know what that would be like. She was kind, interesting, brave, and unlike anything he'd encountered in a girl.

 

At his school, even at (in his opinion) an early age, girls were all the same. Makeup, clothes, and trying so hard to be liked. Empty giggles, overly dramatic whines, and they always wore strong perfume. Some had even had plastic surgery already. They were just entering middle school, and these petty issues were already their top priority. 

 

Soojin has no interest in any of that. He had never seen her in anything other than her bare face. Her clothing was simple and comfortable, suitable for her work. She was so real, down-to-earth. Despite her age, experience had molded her. She was wise beyond her years, often surprising him with her profound thoughts. She was the one person he had met that was always herself. Even Jessica and Xiumin put up the own defensive masks every once in a while.

 

"He will see you now," the maid told him, and he gulped. 

 

Tentatively stepping into the office, he saw Mr. Kim absorbed into piles of paperwork, not glancing up until the door closed behind Kris.

 

"Ah, Yi-" he paused, stopping himself, and confusing Kris even further. "Kris, so glad you could grace me with your presence." His mouth curved into a suspicious smirk before he let it broaden into a smile.

 

"You asked for me, so..." Kris began, but couldn't conjure anything else to say, so he let it die off, and the room was silent for a few seconds.

 

"Come with me to my building," Mr. Kim said suddenly, putting the paperwork aside, giving Kris his full attention. "I want to take you around the office."

 

Kris' eyes widened. "W-What?" 

 

There was a pleased smirk on Mr. Kim's face. It seemed he still found other's discomfort amusing. "The office. My building. KWu Industries? What's the matter? What happened to your smart tongue?"

 

Kris glared at him, but held his tongue. Mr. Kim laughed. "Aha, there it is. But no comments? Fine then, go change into something suitable. You look like you fell out of a tree."

 

Kris flinched, but nodded, hastily exiting. Did he know? Or was it complete coincidence that he said anything about trees? This whole situation was unsettling. Kris was relieved that his friends were safe, and the director had kept his word, but he had a feeling in his gut that something was wrong. He wished he could just let it go, but Mr. Kim wasn't to be trusted.

 

He went back into his room, pulling out fancy clothes he hated to wear. As he was buttoning a simple white dress shirt, Soojin walked in, setting a small pile of his clothes on his bed.

 

"Where are you going?" She asked him, immediately going to him to help him roll up his sleeves. Since he could never do it right, she had made it a habit to do it for him.

 

"He's taking me to work," he told her softly. She stopped, looking at him with wide eyes, still holding his arm.

 

"What? Why?" She said, looking confused.

 

He shook his head. "I don't know," he muttered softly, his face troubled.

 

Soojin stared at him for a while, then went back to his sleeves. "Are you worried?"

 

He sighed. "Of course I am! He disappears for two years then, all of a sudden, he just wants me to come to work with him? It's strange and I can't help but think he has other motives."

 

Soojin finished, and let his arm drop. "I honestly don't know, Yifan. Just hope for the best. Maybe he's cooled off. He's had two years anyway. Are you scared? Ey, I thought you weren't scared of anything." She playfully hit his arm, trying to loosen him up.

 

He looked up at her and gave her a weak smile. "Yeah, you're right."

 

They both knew he was lying, so she put her hand on his shoulder, giving it a supportive squeeze.

 

"Now go, you don't want to be late,"she urged him, nudging him towards the door. He took a few steps, but then stopped, turning to her hesitantly.

 

"Soojin..." he started, looking unsure of what to say.

 

A few moments passed before Soojin grew restless. "What is it?"

 

He slowly walked back to her, paused, then pulled her into a tight hug. She was surprised, and it took her a few seconds before she began to hug him back. 

 

"What if something happens, Soo?" He stuttered, and she realized he was choking out a muffled sob. "I don't... I don't want you, or anyone, to get hurt. I'm... I'm so scared Soo."

 

"Shh," she said softly, rubbing his back gently. "Don't stress about it. Everything is going to be fine. Don't get so paranoid."

 

"You know him Soo!" He exclaimed, pulling away and looking exasperated. "He's a monster. Don't you remember what he did to you? Your hair took so long to grow back..." He trailed off, his voice softening. 

 

Soojin ran her hand through her hair slowly, pausing for a few seconds. She then sighed, saying, "Yes, I remember well. I remember the velvety seats of his car, the pungent smokey smell, my dad's pitiful gaze as they dragged me away," she looked up at him with an unreadable expression.

 

"I remember my hair falling to the floor, the sting on my cheek, the darken, 

 

She sighed and continued. "I haven't forgotten. I also remember this insane kid that didn't know me in the slightest, but stood up to this monster anyway. Whether he was brave or stupid, I'm not really sure," she paused and gave him a small smile, and he let out a chuckle despite himself. 

 

"Still," she continued, laughing. "I think he was pretty brave. And because of that, I could be brave too. I've been through a lot too, Yifan. I will be okay, so go. Don't let him see you're scared. You can handle it, and if you can't, I'll help you handle it. You're my best friend. I'll always be there for you."

 

Yifan took one last deep breath, and gave Soojin one last hug before making a move to the door. 

 

"Your my best friend, too Soo..." He thought, as he turned to walk out the door.

 

 

 

*Notes*

So I updated later than promised.....  surprise surprise, eh? 

 

Thanks for waiting guys:) next chapter should be done by this weekend:)

 

See you guys next update;)

 

 

 

 

(Narrator's POV)

 

Kris followed the maid, the dread consuming his mind. He walked quickly, though he wished he could delay this as much as possible. Still, the maid was walking briskly, not allowing any time for him to delay. How he wished he wasn't walking down this hallway.

 

As much as he wished though, he found himself standing in front of those two mahogany doors. It felt like ages since he had been here. Ever since Soojin came into his life, Kris had kept his distance. 

 

There was a part of him that was wary. Mr. Kim was not one to back down so easily. Kris knew he had waltzed over countless boundaries, and he honestly thought Soojin would've been the tipping point. Even he acknowledged how far he stepped over. Yet, Mr. Kim had done nothing. He had just let them be, and to Kris, it just didn't add up.

 

Not to say he regretted standing up against the old man. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have befriended Soojin, and Kris didn't want to know what that would be like. She was kind, interesting, brave, and unlike anything he'd encountered in a girl.

 

At his school, even at (in his opinion) an early age, girls were all the same. Makeup, clothes, and trying so hard to be liked. Empty giggles, overly dramatic whines, and they always wore strong perfume. Some had even had plastic surgery already. They were just entering middle school, and these petty issues were already their top priority. 

 

Soojin has no interest in any of that. He had never seen her in anything other than her bare face. Her clothing was simple and comfortable, suitable for her work. She was so real, down-to-earth. Despite her age, experience had molded her. She was wise beyond her years, often surprising him with her profound thoughts. She was the one person he had met that was always herself. Even Jessica and Xiumin put up the own defensive masks every once in a while.

 

"He will see you now," the maid told him, and he gulped. 

 

Tentatively stepping into the office, he saw Mr. Kim absorbed into piles of paperwork, not glancing up until the door closed behind Kris.

 

"Ah, Yi-" he paused, stopping himself, and confusing Kris even further. "Kris, so glad you could grace me with your presence." His mouth curved into a suspicious smirk before he let it broaden into a smile.

 

"You asked for me, so..." Kris began, but couldn't conjure anything else to say, so he let it die off, and the room was silent for a few seconds.

 

"Come with me to my building," Mr. Kim said suddenly, putting the paperwork aside, giving Kris his full attention. "I want to take you around the office."

 

Kris' eyes widened. "W-What?" 

 

There was a pleased smirk on Mr. Kim's face. It seemed he still found other's discomfort amusing. "The office. My building. KWu Industries? What's the matter? What happened to your smart tongue?"

 

Kris glared at him, but held his tongue. Mr. Kim laughed. "Aha, there it is. But no comments? Fine then, go change into something suitable. You look like you fell out of a tree."

 

Kris flinched, but nodded, hastily exiting. Did he know? Or was it complete coincidence that he said anything about trees? This whole situation was unsettling. Kris was relieved that his friends were safe, and the director had kept his word, but he had a feeling in his gut that something was wrong. He wished he could just let it go, but Mr. Kim wasn't to be trusted.

 

He went back into his room, pulling out fancy clothes he hated to wear. As he was buttoning a simple white dress shirt, Soojin walked in, setting a small pile of his clothes on his bed.

 

"Where are you going?" She asked him, immediately going to him to help him roll up his sleeves. Since he could never do it right, she had made it a habit to do it for him.

 

"He's taking me to work," he told her softly. She stopped, looking at him with wide eyes, still holding his arm.

 

"What? Why?" She said, looking confused.

 

He shook his head. "I don't know," he muttered softly, his face troubled.

 

Soojin stared at him for a while, then went back to his sleeves. "Are you worried?"

 

He sighed. "Of course I am! He disappears for two years then, all of a sudden, he just wants me to come to work with him? It's strange and I can't help but think he has other motives."

 

Soojin finished, and let his arm drop. "I honestly don't know, Yifan. Just hope for the best. Maybe he's cooled off. He's had two years anyway. Are you scared? Ey, I thought you weren't scared of anything." She playfully hit his arm, trying to loosen him up.

 

He looked up at her and gave her a weak smile. "Yeah, you're right."

 

They both knew he was lying, so she put her hand on his shoulder, giving it a supportive squeeze.

 

"Now go, you don't want to be late,"she urged him, nudging him towards the door. He took a few steps, but then stopped, turning to her hesitantly.

 

"Soojin..." he started, looking unsure of what to say.

 

A few moments passed before Soojin grew restless. "What is it?"

 

He slowly walked back to her, paused, then pulled her into a tight hug. She was surprised, and it took her a few seconds before she began to hug him back. 

 

"What if something happens, Soo?" He stuttered, and she realized he was choking out a muffled sob. "I don't... I don't want you, or anyone, to get hurt. I'm... I'm so scared Soo."

 

"Shh," she said softly, rubbing his back gently. "Don't stress about it. Everything is going to be fine. Don't get so paranoid."

 

"You know him Soo!" He exclaimed, pulling away and looking exasperated. "He's a monster. Don't you remember what he did to you? Your hair took so long to grow back..." He trailed off, his voice softening. 

 

Soojin ran her hand through her hair slowly, pausing for a few seconds. She then sighed, saying, "Yes, I remember well. I remember the velvety seats of his car, the pungent smokey smell, my dad's pitiful gaze as they dragged me away," she looked up at him with an unreadable expression.

 

"I remember my hair falling to the floor, the sting on my cheek, the darken, 

 

She sighed and continued. "I haven't forgotten. I also remember this insane kid that didn't know me in the slightest, but stood up to this monster anyway. Whether he was brave or stupid, I'm not really sure," she paused and gave him a small smile, and he let out a chuckle despite himself. 

 

"Still," she continued, laughing. "I think he was pretty brave. And because of that, I could be brave too. I've been through a lot too, Yifan. I will be okay, so go. Don't let him see you're scared. You can handle it, and if you can't, I'll help you handle it. You're my best friend. I'll always be there for you."

 

Yifan took one last deep breath, and gave Soojin one last hug before making a move to the door. 

 

"Your my best friend, too Soo..." He thought, as he turned to walk out the door.

 

 

 

*Notes*

So I updated later than promised.....  surprise surprise, eh? 

 

Thanks for waiting guys:) next chapter should be done by this weekend:)

 

See you guys next update;)

 

 

 

 

(Narrator's POV)

 

Kris followed the maid, the dread consuming his mind. He walked quickly, though he wished he could delay this as much as possible. Still, the maid was walking briskly, not allowing any time for him to delay. How he wished he wasn't walking down this hallway.

 

As much as he wished though, he found himself standing in front of those two mahogany doors. It felt like ages since he had been here. Ever since Soojin came into his life, Kris had kept his distance. 

 

There was a part of him that was wary. Mr. Kim was not one to back down so easily. Kris knew he had waltzed over countless boundaries, and he honestly thought Soojin would've been the tipping point. Even he acknowledged how far he stepped over. Yet, Mr. Kim had done nothing. He had just let them be, and to Kris, it just didn't add up.

 

Not to say he regretted standing up against the old man. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have befriended Soojin, and Kris didn't want to know what that would be like. She was kind, interesting, brave, and unlike anything he'd encountered in a girl.

 

At his school, even at (in his opinion) an early age, girls were all the same. Makeup, clothes, and trying so hard to be liked. Empty giggles, overly dramatic whines, and they always wore strong perfume. Some had even had plastic surgery already. They were just entering middle school, and these petty issues were already their top priority. 

 

Soojin has no interest in any of that. He had never seen her in anything other than her bare face. Her clothing was simple and comfortable, suitable for her work. She was so real, down-to-earth. Despite her age, experience had molded her. She was wise beyond her years, often surprising him with her profound thoughts. She was the one person he had met that was always herself. Even Jessica and Xiumin put up the own defensive masks every once in a while.

 

"He will see you now," the maid told him, and he gulped. 

 

Tentatively stepping into the office, he saw Mr. Kim absorbed into piles of paperwork, not glancing up until the door closed behind Kris.

 

"Ah, Yi-" he paused, stopping himself, and confusing Kris even further. "Kris, so glad you could grace me with your presence." His mouth curved into a suspicious smirk before he let it broaden into a smile.

 

"You asked for me, so..." Kris began, but couldn't conjure anything else to say, so he let it die off, and the room was silent for a few seconds.

 

"Come with me to my building," Mr. Kim said suddenly, putting the paperwork aside, giving Kris his full attention. "I want to take you around the office."

 

Kris' eyes widened. "W-What?" 

 

There was a pleased smirk on Mr. Kim's face. It seemed he still found other's discomfort amusing. "The office. My building. KWu Industries? What's the matter? What happened to your smart tongue?"

 

Kris glared at him, but held his tongue. Mr. Kim laughed. "Aha, there it is. But no comments? Fine then, go change into something suitable. You look like you fell out of a tree."

 

Kris flinched, but nodded, hastily exiting. Did he know? Or was it complete coincidence that he said anything about trees? This whole situation was unsettling. Kris was relieved that his friends were safe, and the director had kept his word, but he had a feeling in his gut that something was wrong. He wished he could just let it go, but Mr. Kim wasn't to be trusted.

 

He went back into his room, pulling out fancy clothes he hated to wear. As he was buttoning a simple white dress shirt, Soojin walked in, setting a small pile of his clothes on his bed.

 

"Where are you going?" She asked him, immediately going to him to help him roll up his sleeves. Since he could never do it right, she had made it a habit to do it for him.

 

"He's taking me to work," he told her softly. She stopped, looking at him with wide eyes, still holding his arm.

 

"What? Why?" She said, looking confused.

 

He shook his head. "I don't know," he muttered softly, his face troubled.

 

Soojin stared at him for a while, then went back to his sleeves. "Are you worried?"

 

He sighed. "Of course I am! He disappears for two years then, all of a sudden, he just wants me to come to work with him? It's strange and I can't help but think he has other motives."

 

Soojin finished, and let his arm drop. "I honestly don't know, Yifan. Just hope for the best. Maybe he's cooled off. He's had two years anyway. Are you scared? Ey, I thought you weren't scared of anything." She playfully hit his arm, trying to loosen him up.

 

He looked up at her and gave her a weak smile. "Yeah, you're right."

 

They both knew he was lying, so she put her hand on his shoulder, giving it a supportive squeeze.

 

"Now go, you don't want to be late,"she urged him, nudging him towards the door. He took a few steps, but then stopped, turning to her hesitantly.

 

"Soojin..." he started, looking unsure of what to say.

 

A few moments passed before Soojin grew restless. "What is it?"

 

He slowly walked back to her, paused, then pulled her into a tight hug. She was surprised, and it took her a few seconds before she began to hug him back. 

 

"What if something happens, Soo?" He stuttered, and she realized he was choking out a muffled sob. "I don't... I don't want you, or anyone, to get hurt. I'm... I'm so scared Soo."

 

"Shh," she said softly, rubbing his back gently. "Don't stress about it. Everything is going to be fine. Don't get so paranoid."

 

"You know him Soo!" He exclaimed, pulling away and looking exasperated. "He's a monster. Don't you remember what he did to you? Your hair took so long to grow back..." He trailed off, his voice softening. 

 

Soojin ran her hand through her hair slowly, pausing for a few seconds. She then sighed, saying, "Yes, I remember well. I remember the velvety seats of his car, the pungent smokey smell, my dad's pitiful gaze as they dragged me away," she looked up at him with an unreadable expression.

 

"I remember my hair falling to the floor, the sting on my cheek, the darken, 

 

She sighed and continued. "I haven't forgotten. I also remember this insane kid that didn't know me in the slightest, but stood up to this monster anyway. Whether he was brave or stupid, I'm not really sure," she paused and gave him a small smile, and he let out a chuckle despite himself. 

 

"Still," she continued, laughing. "I think he was pretty brave. And because of that, I could be brave too. I've been through a lot too, Yifan. I will be okay, so go. Don't let him see you're scared. You can handle it, and if you can't, I'll help you handle it. You're my best friend. I'll always be there for you."

 

Yifan took one last deep breath, and gave Soojin one last hug before making a move to the door. 

 

"Your my best friend, too Soo..." He thought, as he turned to walk out the door.

 

 

*Notes*

So I updated later than promised.....  surprise surprise, eh? 

 

Thanks for waiting guys:) next chapter should be done by this weekend:)

 

See you guys next update;)