Dark Secrets

Chapter 32: And We May Never Feel the Same (1 of 2)

Saturday evening and the SOS members are gathering at the rooftop of Caracciolo for another mission to accomplish.

“A doll that is possessed by a spirit of a young girl?!” Alessia exclaimed. “We’re all going to Belgium for this doll??!”

“It’s not that easy to obtain this raggedy doll, that’s why it’s a million-dollar deal.” George said. “The family is willing to spend that much to get rid of their worst nightmare.”

“Aside from the flight to Belgium we don’t need to worry about other expenses because we’re staying at the mansion with the family.” Ross added. “But going there is our least problem here, we all know that human spirits don’t possess inanimate objects, they attach themselves to their personal stuff but never possess them.”

“In other words, that spirit who possessed that doll is pretending to be a young girl but it’s actually an inhumane entity.” Adam added.

“This might not be our usual stuff and we maybe dealing with something beyond us here, so if anyone want out, we completely understand.” Mathew looking at everyone.

“Oh, I’m all in!” Troye smiled confidently. “It’s a new experience.”

“I need money so I’ll go.” Calum said as he turned to Michael.

“I’m Calum’s partner so I’m going too.” Michael uttered.

“I’m the President so definitely, I’m in.” Ashton turned to speak up.

“I guess I’m coming too since my boys are going.” Luke looking at Alessia as he’s anticipating for her answer.

“Fine, I’m going because of Troye.” Alessia lean her back on the chair as she averted Luke’s gaze.

“Count me in.” I uttered as I look at Troye and Alessia. “I want to make myself useful and I can’t leave my friends in danger.”

“You guys need a medic so I’ll file a week leave from my internship at the hospital.” Diso said.

“If 13 of us are coming then we could at least get €77,000 each.” Pluto making his calculations. “Not bad, that’s hundred million won.”

“As if you care about earning money when you’re already rich.” I turned to him. “Is that the reason rich people keep on getting rich?”

“I’m saving money for our future family.” he responded to me.

“Ooh. That’s it! Pluto is officially having a plan of making a family with Desa.” Troye teased us immediately.

“That’s his plan, not mine.” I quickly blocked his statement.

“Savage!” Alessia shouted in excitement. “Hahaha, that’s my girl!”

“Dude, aren’t you being rejected?” Diso make fun of Pluto too.

“She’s only saying that but she’ll fall in love with me eventually.” Pluto arrogantly uttered. “She said it herself, she’ll consider me once she’s ready to commit in a relationship.”

“Can I take it back?” I give Pluto a look to stop blabbering.

“Fine. I’ll shut up.” Pluto zipping his mouth.

“Ah, so it’s you and Desa huh?” Adam smiles at me and Pluto. “How about you Alessia, are you with one of our members too?”

“I’m in love with Alessia.” Luke raised his hand and profess publicly.

“I’m not against dating in SOS but make sure that it won’t affect our business matter here.” Matthew uttered.

“It won’t and it’ll never be.” Pluto said to Matthew.

“You’ll be the temporary president starting next month, right?” Ross asked. “Can you manage everything, if you get into relationship?”

“Technically, Desa and I aren’t in a relationship yet. I could handle the position of presidency for a year or two since Desa will be ready after her graduation.” Pluto replied.

“Oh, you’re only on your 1st year, right?” George asked me. “That means you’ll be waiting for her for 3 or 4 years? Considering she got a licensure examination after her graduation.” he turned to Pluto.

“It doesn’t matter.” Pluto shakes his head. “I can wait that long for the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

“He’s madly in love with you Desa.” Ashton raised his glass to me.

“You won the lottery, Desa.” Calum congratulating me. “You’ve got a Nevaeh waiting for you to be ready in love.”

“If I’m a girl I won’t make this guy wait for me.” Michael embrace Pluto. “I’ll be yours, you can take me now, honey.”

“Hahaha. If it’s you, no thanks.” Pluto took Michael’s hands away from him. “You’re even manly than me.”

“When you find the one you love you don’t care about anyone else.” Luke staring at Alessia with dreamy eyes.

“You got it right, Luke.” Pluto bumped his fist to Luke before he turned to me with loving eyes.

“These guys must be crazy.” Alessia sneered at them.

“Exactly my sentiments.” agreeing with Alessia’s statement. “Diso-sunbae, you lived in Belgium before, right?” I turned to Diso who’s silently drinking his wine.

“Mmm.” Diso nodded. “George and I both came from Brussels.”

“Ah, I know that we’re not going to Belgium for a vacation but I want to see your hometown, Diso-sunbae.” I continued.

“If we can finish the job early, I don’t see why not.” he shrugged his shoulders. “We’ll be in Belgium anyway.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re not after Diso’s hometown but the delicacies in Belgium. You’ll like it there because Belgium is known for their chocolates.” Pluto teasing me with sweets. “She can actually eat a box of chocolate on her own.”

“Desa eats well and I like it about her.” Diso replied. “She doesn’t pretend to eat a little like other girls do.”

“Why would I hold back myself when delicious food is right in front of me?” I responded. “By the way, Ace-hyung is a great cook. I ate a lot of kebab when I came to their unit for dinner.”

“Ace-hyung is actually like a mother to me most of the time.” Diso said. “He’s good with everything inside the house like he’ll be a good housewife when he got married.”

“That’s if he ever gonna settle down. Knowing Ace-hyung that’s actually mission impossible to make him tie the knot.” Pluto said.

“Well he’ll be tired from playing sooner or later. I’m still hoping that he’ll have his own family. He deserved to be happy not temporarily but permanently. I want to have a nephew or niece too like you.”

“Good for you, you got a brother so you’ll have a chance to be an uncle unlike me I’m an only child and I don’t even have cousins.”

“Even to your father side??” Pluto asked and I just shake my head. “You mean you’re currently the last descendant of both your parents?!” he exclaimed.

“Uh-huh. My Dad got two older sisters but they both didn’t have a child, only Dad got lucky for having me, unfortunately I’m a girl so I won’t carry his name when I got married.” sighing deeply. “I’m supposed to have a baby brother but Mom was already on her 40’s when he had him, he died less than an hour after Mom successfully delivered him.” I continued my sad story.

“Sorry, for your loss.” Pluto said with sad tone and look in his eyes.

“Auntie must have a hard time accepting your brother’s death.” Diso also looks sorry to me.

“Yes. I still remember how Mom cried all the time; I was 5 years old back then. She was too depressed so my Dad and I worked hard to make her happy again. Then the news about Aunt Lily came, after a year or two, the lawyer who settled her estate contacted Mom, that’s how we ended up migrating to Canada.” I responded.

“And after 11 years, you’re back here in Korea.” Pluto concluded my story. “Do you want to go back to Canada?”

“I want to … I want to properly say goodbye to my friends that I’ve lost because of the accident. I’m pretty sure they’re still stuck in that arena along with other souls but the thing is … I don’t know how to face them. I’m afraid that they’re mad at me for surviving them.”

“That’s not the reason if they’re mad at you.” Pluto shaking his head. “You’re living your life pathetically by blaming yourself for something you didn’t even do. You’re guilty of the crime you never committed and instead of living your life to the fullest for them who didn’t make it. That’s the reason they’re mad at you.”

“Whenever you’re ready to face them again, I’ll accompany you Desa.” Diso tapping my shoulder gently. “You’re not alone, I’m here for you, always remember that.”

“Me too.” Pluto handed me a glass of water. “I’ll protect you, Desa.”

“My big brother …” looked at Diso first before I turned to Pluto. “And my boy … best friend.” I smiled at them as I put my arm around their shoulders. “You guys make me feel special, thank you.”

“We’re a family Desa, you don’t have to thank me.” Diso responded.

“What do you mean you two are family?!” Pluto sneered at Diso.

“You heard Desa, I’m her big brother. Also, Uncle and Auntie, treats me and Ace-hyung like their sons, so technically we’re a family.”

“Then should I call you Diso-hyung too? Since Desa will be my wife?”

“You wish!” I push Pluto away. “I’m going to preserve Dad’s name so I won’t marry anyone.”

“Yeah you might succeed on maintaining your Dad’s name but how about your lineage if you won’t have any children?” Pluto responded.

“You got a point.” thinking about what he said.

“Don’t worry I’ll be the father of our children also I’ll let you carry your Dad’s name even if we got married, what matter is you’re my wife and I’m your husband.” Pluto grabbed my hand and kissed it.

“You!” I can feel my face getting hot because of his demeanour. “I need to go to the restroom.” I must be blushing; I need to get away.

After our dinner meeting at Caracciolo, Diso and I are about to walk at the station to catch the last train but Pluto insisted to give us a ride, so we accepted his offer anyway.

I’m at the backseat while the 2 men are at the driver and passenger seat, the two of them are talking about their old days when we passed by a street food cart at the corner side of the road.

They were talking in Korean when suddenly Diso mentioned a French food and they had their conversation in French.

“You lived in Canada for over a decade, you don’t know French?!” Pluto looking at me through the rear-view mirror when he noticed I kept my mouth shut when they’re talking in French.

“I tried to learn the language but I only know the terminologies used in class, I’m good with Korean and English, two languages are enough for me.” I said as I crossed my arms. “Is French the language in Belgium? I thought it’s Dutch.”

“Dutch and French.” Diso replied. “I can teach you if you want.”

“Nah. Pass. Honestly, I’m struggling with the Korean language even though it’s the first language I’ve learned. I’ve been taught English since 1st grade and that’s my language until I graduated high school.”

“We got the same problem. I’m just like you when I study here in Korea for the first time, fortunately, Pluto’s oldest brother was my classmate in high school. I got adjusted easily because of Zeus.” Diso glance at Pluto. “Zeus was the class clown even though he’s a genius.”

“That’s how my brother is, always making everyone laugh. He’s bright and cheerful, childlike … Don is actually more like the oldest.”

“I agree. He’s more mature than Zeus and your two older sisters.”

“I really want to have siblings. I was envy at my classmates before because of their big brothers and sisters. Someone is taking care of them aside from their parents.” I uttered.

“Well you have me now, Desa.” Diso looked back at me. “I’m also sharing Ace-hyung to you, so you have two older brothers now.”

“Mmm.” I nodded with a smile on my face. “Please take care of me.”

“Me too.” Pluto glance at Diso. “I’ll be in your care too, Diso-hyung.”

“Nah, I only like little sister. I’m done having a good-looking brother.” Diso shaking his head at Pluto.

“I’m not troublesome like Ace-hyung, I don’t play with women.”

“I know but still there are a lot of girls chasing after you, so NO.”

“Tch. I don’t care about them; I only love one girl name Desa Ha.”

“Here, we go again. Diso-sunbae, you said he’s shy, how can he be so shameless confessing his feelings every time?!” I leaned forward.

“I don’t know, since when did you changed Pluto?” Diso turned to him.

“Since I found out that she’s my first love. She’s the girl, I’ve been looking for Diso.” Pluto smirked.

“You mean the girl with a scar on her right palm?!” Diso glance at me.

“Yeah, I used to have that scar when I was little. We found out that we knew each other for a long time on our last night at Jeju.” I said.

“I see. That explains why you two suddenly become very close to each other.” Diso nodding his head. “But still she rejected you.”

“Why do you sound so happy when you said the word rejected?!”

... To be Continued ...