Chapter Fifteen     
no rest for the wicked

Following Daehyun inside his house, her eyes sometimes flickered to the kitchen making her unfocused on following him. He noticed and followed her line of sight where he saw his sister was preparing dinner. He took her hand and went to the kitchen while calling his sister. This, however, made Nara uncomfortable because she only wanted to look and she thought he didn't need to encounter the figure she was looking at directly like this. But she couldn't do nothing more than following him like a puppy.

"Daerin-ah," he called.

Daerin turned around revealing her half burned face, half of her hands and legs also had those burns. Nara gasped at the sight but tried her best to not look surprised so the girl wouldn't feel intimidated by her reaction.

"Oppa, welcome back." Daerin smiled and hugged Daehyun tightly. Her sight moved to see the girl beside him and smiled with so many hints toward him. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"N-no- we're just-" Nara said, but interrupted.

"S-she is the girl I've been telling you about." Daehyun cut her off as he sighed afterwards that she has to know this very early that he had been talking to his sister about her.

Daerin slowly nodded in acknowledgement and smiled to Nara kindly yet sadly. "I'm kinda sad you met someone else first before my brother, but as long as you never hurt my brother, I will still forgive you." She said defensively. "Daehyun oppa is the definition of perfection isn't he? He is smart, handsome, kind and very devoted."

"Yah, I'm already hurt but not forgiving her isn't necessary. It's alright." Daehyun told his sister defending the girl beside him slightly. Nara looked at him before flickering down to her toe and stayed quiet while listening to the siblings' playful argument. Daehyun's touch on her shoulder knocked her off from daydream and thoughts as she shook her head and looked at him. "Oh?" She asked.

He smiled watching her reaction and gestured to the dinning table. "Let's sit, my sister is cooking dinner for you too."

"W-wha- It's okay, you don't have to cook for me, Daerin-ah." Nara said with an awkward smile to the younger female trying to assure her that she would be fine. But it seemed like it wasn't convincing enough; and like some wise words said, the older might have to give in toward the younger.

"It's alright, unnie," Daerin grinned joyfully at her making sure that it would be fine. "I'm cooking this with my heart. If you can't date my brother, at least be close to us and I think we should start it off with having dinner together. I'm not forcing you, more like asking a favor."

Nara's awkward smile faded into a guilty expression as she finally "okay" her.

"Daerin, you're making me look pity here." Daehyun stated while rolling his eyes. His sister giggled in delight as Nara smiled a little and sat on the dinning chair next to him. "You're not a poor," Nara said to him with a weak smile. "I am. I'm... I'm not aware of your feelings, I'm sorry about that."

Daehyun looked at her and nodded slowly before ruffling her hair playfully. "It's fine. I- I'm fine."

I bet you're not, she said in the back of her mind with worry and concern as she hid her true feeling at the moment with a fake smile.

"Thank goodness."

Sehun let out a relieved sight. Jackson was confused that he wasn't exactly angry at him for keeping the secret; his frown was visible on his forehead. "You're not angry?" He asked confusedly while studying the taller man.

Sehun look his head and drank the water on the bottle next to his finished ramyeon bowl. "Why should I?"

"Because... your girlfriend is with me the whole time and-"

Jackson was interrupted. Sehun then spoke for their own good after placing the bottle on the table; explaining why he wasn't angry at him for it. "Let me be honest okay? I have already trusted you ever since that event at the school clinic, I don't know why. Maybe because I know you won't do bad things. With you admitting this on your own made me a lot more impressed that you're willing to be honest with me before I find out on my own; it'll hurt more than knowing it from yourself you know?"

It made Jackson feel relieved; somehow he already pictured himself going home with bruises and blood all over his face. But he couldn't believe that it turned out differently. "You're kidding."

"No dude, I really am honest, I'm not kidding about it." Sehun said rolling his eyes while standing up and paid the bills before looking at him. "Now stop telling me and follow me. I need your help about something. I'll show you if you follow me."

Jackson was happy inside. He couldn't hide his smile after hearing Sehun turned his back on him to leave the shop, he then followed him behind after trying to hide the smile again. Maybe he isn't really bad and that's why she doesn't want to report him yet, he mused in his head, she wants to see more of his goodness she can trust that he had showed her like he showed him a few minutes ago. "What are you going to show me anyway?"

"Something about my girlfriend."

Another confused frown was seen on Jackson's forehead. Aside from being confused, he was curious. "What is it?"

"Something." Sehun replied and turned to him. "Did you bring your car?"

"Yeah?"

"Great, let's go. With car, it's gonna be faster. First let's head to my house, I'm going to get something. After that, we're heading to school." He said as he let Jackson lead him to where he parked his car.

"O...kay."

Daerin was serving dinner meals on the table and seemed to enjoy what she was doing. Daehyun was talking with Nara about various things; experiences on summer break, winter break and so many more. Daerin was happy that they were expressing themselves very well about eachother's stories, she was happier knowing that her brother was happily talking with his crush. "Dinner is ready," she announced. "Korean fried chicken with tomato sauce, fried rice noodle and kimchi. I have to say I'm proud cooking them, especially for a guest."

"Woah, Daerin-ah, you gotta teach me cooking these. They seems delicious like seriously!" Nara said praising the younger girl with an amused expression when looking at the foods. "I'm really hungry seeing all these mouthwatering foods."

Happy, Daerin smiled in delight and sat next to her older taller brother and replied. "Thank you, unnie! I'd be happy to teach you anytime. Enjoy your meal!"

"Mhm," Nara replied as she started eating. "It tastes even better than it looks like. Since when did you cook? This tastes like my mother's cook, I have to admit."

"Since our parents' death. I just returned from hospital that time. At first I'm scared of fire of the stove." Daerin chuckled telling the short story to the older girl as she also started eating.

Daehyun added. "And her cook tasted very bad."

"Well, I just want to cook because I pity my brother for loving alone the whole time and possibly cook on his own when I was hospitalized. So yes, at least I've tried my best. It results to a great cooking skill now, though." Daerin explained. Nara somehow felt her heart shattered and wondered if something happened to them in the past. Based on the burns on her body, she could say she might be stuck on a fire before.

"I'm sorry, but what happened?" Nara asked in concern yet curiosity.

Her question made the siblings quiet for a few seconds but the silence broke when the younger sibling begin to speak with a smile. "Our previous house was set on fire. Our parents died protecting me, yet I still got the burns as you can see on my face and body parts. Daehyun oppa was on his way home after buying a cake for our mother. Yes, it was our mother's birthday."

Oh my god... Nara frowned as her jaw broke open hearing the painful story and rubbed his shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that. I never know that your parents were dead and this awful thing could happen to both of you."

"I should've come home faster. I might save two lives already, you know." Daehyun said sadly as his mind recalled to the painful memory of the fire tragedy.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have bring this up. Let's continue dinner, shan't we?" Nara spoke while giving a supporive smile at both of them to comfort them and prevent them from being nostalgic about their dark and sad past. Well everyone does have a dark past, I think I do too. So is everyone. So is Sehun. Yes, maybe he isn't as bad as I think he is. She suddenly daydreamed, lost in her own thoughts again.

"It's fine, you should probably know too sooner or later." Daerin smiled as they continued eating. In the middle of finishing their meals, nobody talked in particular or specific but sometimes they broke the silence by asking about life, sometimes Daerin asked about Nara's boyfriend because she was curious about what made her love her boyfriend after all. After eating, Nara was about to grab her drink but it fell spilling the content to Daehyun's shirt. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" She said in shock.

"Oppa here," Daerin said offering tissues.

Daehyun took some tissues and wiped it on his shirt before he stood up to take his shirt off which he accidentally revealed his burns on his left ribcage below his armpit. Nara widened her eyes knowing he also had those burns. "You got them too..." She muttered while pointing to the burn on his skin.

He breathed out and went to his room to get a shirt and walked outside while trying to put it on. "I got them while saving my sister. I didn't feel the burn pain until we got outside, I was still trying to get inside to save my parents though but the entrance was blocked and the fire exploded a little probably because the fire finally reached the gas at the kitchen." He explained with a sigh; it was painful to recall, yet he had to let her know in order for her not to misunderstood. "I was thrown back a little after it exploded and I decided to take my sister further from the area to prevent another explosion. And the next thing I know was that people came with some firemen and I passed out afterwards."

"What's the reason behind the fire?" Nara asked curiously as she saw his younger sister was just quiet on her seat listening to the story.

"Something was wrong with the electricity when my mom was with my father and Daerin at the living room." Daehyun replied stating the fact.

Nara stood and approached him to give him a hug which was a very warm and comfortable one. For one moment, Daehyun's tears fell on her shoulder before he hugged her back tightly. "I'm sorry," Nara said comforting him with her best. "Sunbae, you're not alone. You're not the only one who lose your parents because me too. And you and Daerin are lucky to still have eachother. Me? I've got no one. My sister is dead too."

Daehyun cried a little louder as his eyes produced more tears that fell onto her shirt every single second. Daering was crying as well, quietly and calmly, trying not to distract her brother and his friend.

"Are you sure about this?" Jackson asked while watching Sehun trying to unlock the school gate with some keys. He was unsure about getting inside their school in the evening without getting permissions from anyone. "You know, we can just do this tomorrow."

"I'm certain, I have stolen all these back-up keys for this. Ofcourse I'm sure." Sehun said as he successfully unlocking the gate and opened it while gestured inside to him. "Doing this in daylight is a lot more dangerous. Trust me."

Jackson blinked and finally followed him inside without any more complains, they went inside the school area and went to the entrance door. Sehun once again had to unlock the door with the key he was holding. Jackson looked around to make sure nobody was there to notice. After unlocking the door, Sehun opened it and walked inside while saying "come on" to him.

"It's dark." Jackson stated.

"Are you scared?" Sehun smiled at the thought of a man like Jackson would be scared of dark. "Afraid there'll be ghosts?"

"N-no, it's not it. We might hit something and since this is a murder and stalking case, someone might be already stalking us from afar." He replied matter-of-factly while walking behind the taller man who used his phone to shine the area around them to lead their way.

"I know, that's why we better hurry." Sehun told him while heading to an office. It belonged to Matthew and apparently Sehun got the back up key as well. 'this is Matthew's office. He is hiding something from all of us."

After the door was opened, he slowly and carefully walked inside. Jackson followed but his feet hit the desk and made him whine.

"Be careful, hippie," Sehun said in a mocking tone. With his phone, he shone the desk and opened the drawer slowly as it showed him papers and pictures. "This, see it." He said while giving it to Jackson as he received it and started checking what he was given. Sehun walked over the lamp switch and turned it on and worked.

"Holy . Is this..." Jackson was surprised when he saw pictures of Nara and her datas. "Is this his properties?"

Sehun nodded slowly. "I saw him holding all these while talking to his partner in crime. They're planning something. And I know I'm right about him being the stalker all this time."

"But you still kill Mark. Nara won't listen to you if you only handing her these files because all she knows about is that you killed her boyfriend."

He's right. Sehun sighed while nodding once again. "I killed him for a reason," he said defending himself and trying to explain everything. "I'll tell you about it. But now we need to try. I'll talk to her and if she ignores me, you take your turn to convince her."

Jackson dropped the files on the desk as he grabbed Sehun's collar harshly. "Are you kidding? What reason? You killed my best friend, her former boyfriend, that's what matters. Now you want me to convince her about her former brother in law, my best friend's brother. How many family will you put into misery, man?"

"This is proof, he had been stalking her! Don't you get it? Nara is in danger. When I killed her former boyfriend, someone else was there and I'm pretty sure he is the black sheep. And I think it's Matthew." Sehun explained as the grip on his collar loosened bit by bit. "I'll explain myself later. Now I only need you to trust me."

Jackson let go of his collar and scowled, he was still emotional. He had been burying his anger before but it exploded when he sensed him trying to trap the brother of his best friend. "What's the plan?" He eventually looked at Sehun who looked at him back, when he was about to reply, he felt his phone vibrated.

From : Unknown Number

While you two are busy, someone's blood will be shed. Can you guess who?

Sehun widened his eyes as he captured the pictures of photos and datas in his phone as proof and then tidied the papers afterwards before putting it back into the drawer. "What is it? What's with the rush?" Jackson asked in confusion. Meanwhile Sehun was still continuing what he was doing, he turned the lights off and walked outside with Jackson still following him while shooting the questions. "Hey!" Jackson prompted.

Rolling his eyes, Sehun showed him the message and made him gasp. "Happy now? We need to leave now and make sure nothing bad happen. It could be my girlfriend, who the hell knows."

As they walked to the entrance door, it was locked but Sehun didn't recall locking it. With his back up keys, he tried to unlock it but they key won't fit. Something stuck from outside the door and the key hole. "Damn!" He cursed while kicking the door angrily.

"Let me guess, we're stuck here?" Jackson sighed frustratedly while placing his hands on his waist. "Great, we really are locked. Now what?"

Sehun panted while kicking his first against the solid wall creating an area of bruise on his hand. He was frustrated, he was afraid something might happen to his girlfriend. Grunting, he took his phone out from his pcoket and tried to call her but she wasn't answering the call.

"She isn't answering." Sehun informed while hitting the wall with his fist harshly. Screw this!

"Easy, dude, hurting yourself isn't exactly an answer." Jackson said holding his hand to prevent him from hurting himself. He took a deep breath and looked at him in concern. "She is still in hatred. I'll call her, maybe she'll pick up."

Sehun nodded at him and tried to text his girlfriend since it was seriously emergency and he needed to be in a safe place. A few seconds later, Jackson said she wasn't answering him either.

"Screw everything. Now what?!" Sehun asked before screaming in frustration.

Right after the question he asked, he received a new message.

From : Unknown Number

My my, now the hero and his are trapped in the devil's trap. Anti-hero will be in charge now. Bye bye ~

"Matthew trapped us here. I'm gonna kill that son of a with my own hands." Sehun informed and he replied the message with curse words. "But until then, we're gonna have to spend the night here. Or until we finally find any way to escape this bloody trap."

"Yeah and my mom is gonna kill me."

Right after Jackson spoke about his mother, his phone rang showing him the contact name mom on the screen. "Speaking of the devil," he said while showing Sehun his phone screen. "Here the devil comes."

Sehun chcukled quietly watching Jackson answering the call. "Hey mom," he greeted his mother with no pressure and with normal tone; so she wouldn't suspect him or worry about him.

"Jackson, where are you? It's 6 in the evening, you have to go home now!" Sophia scolded making him close his eyes to calm himself down and not to be panicked.

"O-okay mom but I'm- I'm doing a study group right now-"

Sophia cut him off with her ednless rant. "A study group, yes, where the last time you said you're doing a study group, you brought a girl and a boy for a slumber party. Now you're sleeping over at someone's?"

"No, I am serious mom. It's no slumber party anymore or whatever you call it."

"Yeah, go home and stop the study group for God's sake. I want to talk!"

Jackson shut his eyes again while trying to convince his mom. "Relax, I'll go home soon. I promise. I'm at Sehun's house right now, don't worrry."

"And what do you think you're doing at that murderer's house? I'm really mad at you, Jiaer. Really mad." Sophia said with a sigh as her words made him shiver because his mom became twice scarier when she was really mad.

"I'm working on it, alright? While I'm doing a study group, I'm trying to dig informations. It's okay, I'll take care of this." He spat to defend himself and his friend.

"Well, okay then, take care okay?" Sophia breathed out and spoke again more like asking a question. "Anyway, is she with you?"

"She who?"

"Nara."

"What do you mea..." He muttered as a frown was visible on his forehead while looking at sehun who was mouthing him "what is it?" with a confused questioning look. "Oh yeah mom she's with me, we're on the same group."

"Are you sure? Because she isn't here. Your sister said she went out to see your teacher at four, she should've be home right now." His mom said a little more calmer than before. But it made him even more nervous and worried knowing Nara was not at home which means she was still out or maybe captured by the stalker already he wasn't sure.

"Yes, mama. She visited her homeroom teacher this evening, I know it too."

"Alright, don't forget tot ake her to dinner." She replied giving him order to take care of the young lonely girl. "And why didn't you bring Yongguk? He is confused that you two left him behind."

"Keep him for the time being. I didn't bring him because he isn't in the same group with me. "He said explaining in rush. "You know mom, I'm super busy. I have to go now."

"Okay, take care and always be safe."

Jackson hung up and he was feeling frustrated after the call ended. Sehun looked at him as he started walking to a nearby classroom, there was a hint of worry in his eyes when Jackson looked at him; it was true and wasn't made up. Sehun wasn't really as sadistic as he imagined. After they figured out that it was Matthew who stalked her, Jackson less suspected Sehun being the stalker but still blaming him for mudering Mark; he and Nara still needed explanations for that. "What are you doing?" Jackson asked while watching him trying to grab a chair.

"From what I have observed based on your conversation with mommy Wang, my girlfriend isn't home. I can't let bad things happen to her, my guess said she isn't home, so I'm getting outta here." He replied while hitting the chair against the window as it broke into pieces. "Should've figured out that we can escape the harsh way. Apparently my mind works better when I'm emotional."

Both finally jumped out of the window and stepped on the ground with grasses before they ran to the gate and climbed as it was locked and since he didn't bring any keys with him anymore. They didn't realize there was a security camera that recorded their actions the whole time but not when they were inside Matthew's room.

At Wang's house right after Sophia called his son, people in the house were discussing about Jackson's lie to Sophia a while ago. "There is no reason for him to do a study group. I asked his classmate earlier if there is any homeworks or study projects for Nara's information. There is no study group." Yongguk said revealing the truth to Sophia. "And the reason of why I'm not in the group is not because I'm not in the same group. I'm their senior actually."

"And Nara never mention about study group, she only went out to see her homeroom teacher. That's all." Jacqueline said while walking toward the dinning table and sat on the chair. "My dumb of a brother has just lied to you, mama. He asked me where is she, but based on that conversation, I doubt he already show her. Especially when Yongguk said there is no study group."

Yongguk grabbed his jakcet and prepared to leave. "I'm gonna find him and then find Nara afterwards."

"No, you have to stay here." Jacqueline said.

"Nara is probably in danger." He spat," And Jackson might be plotting something with Sehun, who knows?"

And that was when Jacqueline slapped him. "You go out and find her. I don't care; but don't you ever dare say bad things about my brother. I just don't want friends of my brother get hurt, but now I think you really deserved it. What a pain in the ."

"Jacqueline!" Sophia held her back as she looked at Yongguk intensely. "Find her. And then find Jackson."

Yongguk looked down and bowed at the two, somehow feeling guilty after what he said yet emotional because Jacqueline literally slapped him. After that he left with his motorcycle to go and find Nara.

"He needs to learn about manner, mom. He is staying in our house!" Jacqueline said to Sophia with a frustrated sigh.

Sophia patted her shoulder and said. "Everyone are in panic right now. Jackson is out there being panic about Nara too, that was probably why he is so close to Sehun."

"Thank you for having me tonight."

Nara said while patting on Daehyun's shoulder and then hugged Daerin. Tonight she saw a different perspective of their life and figured out that maybe he was acting weird because he was looking for attention he never felt since a very long time. "And thank you Daerin for cooking dinner for me. I'll visit again another time."

"I'm so happy you came, thank you." Daehyun said with a smile. "Shall I bring you home?"

"No need, I'll be fine walking alone. And I'm sorry if I have to breath through your privacy. I didn't mean to." She said while sighing and then locoked at both siblings before saying goodbye. She walked on the quiet street under the dark sky and cold wind, somehow she shivered and felt nervous. Is someone watching me? She wondered inside her head as she walked faster and grabbed her phone to call Jackson or Yongguk to pick her up. But there are messages notifications showed up from Sehun and Jackson, it contained various things telling her she should get home now because her stalker is out there, last newest message was from Sehun asking where was her location at the moment. When she was about to reply the message, her head was hit and she collapsed on the ground; she passed out on the ground.

The culprit then walked away leaving her alone after spreading roses all over her body. I'm sorry, princess. But I love making people busy and distract them.

A few minutes later, a guy and a girl approached her body as the guy quicky,carried her while the girl was taking Nara's phone."She was truing to reply Sehun's message," the girl informed while putting the phone inside her pocket. "Why she suddenly collapsed?"

"We'll figure that out later." He replied and gestured to the girl on the car. "Right now we need to get her into a safer place than this. Our house."

"Okay." The girl replied while letting Nara's head fell onto her lap as she lifted her legs to make it comfortable and better for her to rest.

Sehun and Jackson were at a familiar maple tree park while trying to find Nara because who knew that she might be there. They had been visiting any places she could be staying but she wasn't in any of them at all. Sehun was already tired after two hours search non stop, Jackson was also tired that he might gonna need his mother or sister to give him a powerful massage on his back and arms and legs.  Sehun then slid against the harsh skin of the tree and covered his face with his palms in frustration. Also exhausted, Jackson also sat beside him. "Let's call it a day, man, don't overwork yourself like this." He said patting Sehun's shoulder gently. "We'll find another way to see and find her by tomorrow."

"I, uh, I will stay here for a while. If you wanna go home, go ahead. I don't want to make you sick for accompanying me." He replied with a fake smile and then looked around. "This place is making me nostalgic."

Jackson quietly watching him and looked around as well before patting his shoulder once again. "You still owe me an explanation. I'll come to you for it soon. Be safe and don't forget to go home."

You won't even believe my explanation. He looked at Jackson with a nod and weak smile before he saw him slwoly walking away leaving him. Nara, where are you now really? Stop making me worried like this, it's painful, all I want to do is hurt myself. He said inside his head. He wasn't sure where to look for her anymore; she could have been captured anytime and he wouldn't forgive himself if something bad happened to her. 

He looked at the maple tree and the bitter memory of his dark past zipped through, it was dark and made him the wronged. He was always the wronged who fell on misunderstanding; yet he was never able to explain himself. Then, after a lot of thoughts, he eventually stood up and turned around when he received a painful and powerful hit on his face. When he looked up, he saw Yongguk with angry face and gritted teeth as well as clenched fist.

"Tell me where is Nara you son of a !"

   Special (?) Author's Notes   

Just letting y'all know that exams are coming and I might not gonna update in 1-2 weeks to focus on study. So i'm sorry if you all are going to wait :( but i'm going back with a very gooood chapter.

Thank you for commenting, subscribing & upvoting! ^____^. Shoutout to those who loyally comments especially those who comments a lot like sweetcandy65, CuteSnowflake, Un1c0rns, NguyenThaoVi, LIUtheSONE and so many more (I knew there are so many of you who are old readers, please show yourself to be known by stay commenting and talk to me on wallposts/PMs)! :)
TO NEW READERS - WELCOME &  HAPPY READING! ^^

Sorry for any mistakes I made :)

Hope you guys have a great night. I love you all! <3

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LINE | carlaflc

**A FEW MISTAKES EDITED 13/10

Next on Sincerely, Your Dead Boyfriend — "Wrong Suspect, Darling"