Secrets

Chapter 10: Can't hurt a friend

Il Jung's POV

Have you ever been in a position where there's this voice in your head that keeps screaming at you not to do something but there's another tiny voice telling you to go on and like in a trance you still do it? 'Cause that's what's happening to me and I just don't know what to do. I know it's stupid, but I never said I was wise. Plus, we humans make stupid decisions every once in a while.

I follow Hwa Sung and she takes a sharp turn at this alley. I stop, not knowing whether to continue following her. Now my entire being is screaming at me telling me to go back, but there's a tiny voice urging me to go, telling me to find the answers I've wanted for so long. Okay, not that long, but you get the drill. I turn around and realize I'm uh......lost. Now there's no turning back. I take the turn and see Hwa Sung standing in front of two burly men. It's obvious they are bouncers. She tells them something and they part way like she's burning coal.

Hwa Sung's POV

As soon as I entered the club, I wasted no time. I didn't want Soo-ah to get suspicious. I told the barman I'm looking for Marcello. The place turned silent like I said the queen of England was sent to jail. Come on people, he's just a guy.

A hot guy, my mind said. I rolled my eyes.

The bartender's eyes widened. He said that the "Big Boss" is a busy man, maybe I'd like to meet the "Small Boss". I didn't come here for this sh*t. I'm running out of patience here.

And time.

I stand up, grabbing the bartender's collar, " I don't care who the hell of the brothers you're sending. Just get me a David". He nodded his head and ran into a room. Everyone's eyes were on me. Thank God I decided to wear a hoodie, now no one would recognize me. I made myself a drink and as I was sipping, the bartender came back, stumbling. Marcellus was right behind him, his face looking thunderous.

"Where is she?"

The bartender pointed at me, while I was drinking like I didn't have a care in the world. The corners of my mouth lifted when he spoke,

" And who do you think you are, barging in here and demanding to see my brother?". By this time, I was grinning so hard that I actually started chuckling.They probably thought I'd gone mad.

"And what's so funny?".

" You know, it's very annoying that you seem to start almost every sentence of yours with 'and', plus I doubt your brother will be very pleased about what you did last week, Cellulose" I said, using my special nickname for him. His eyes were the size of saucers when he realized who I was. I knew that I had struck a nerve.

He started to.....................beg? Now this was priceless. I just had to tease him some more, 'specially with all these people around.

" I mean, it wasn't that bad. You don't have to worry about hand strains, 'cause you won't have your hands anymore after today".

He looked so helpless I almost felt pity for him. Keyword being: Almost.

"Look, I'll do anything, anything. Just don't tell my hermano(1)"

. I smiled. This was gonna be easier than I thought.

" I guess we could work something out.......".

"Gracias hermana(2), I love you", he leaned towards me and started kissing the back of my hand. " I don't think your brother would be pleased to hear that", I whisper into his ear. Almost immediately, I heard a thunderous, loud,

" What is going on here? ".

" Hey hermano(1)! I was just about to come call you".

"What did I tell you about bringing your w****s to work? ".

Marcellus looked at his elder brother like he made a grave mistake, and sure as hell he did.

" What the hell did you call me? ", I whispered because I know that if my voice gets any louder, I would not be able to help myself from killing this b*tch.

I guess he realized who I was from my voice because he apologized to me quicker than you could say 'Jack'. I can't be angry with him anyway since I need his help.

After he calmed down, he looked at Marcellus and I in disbelief. Yeah, I know we're not the best of friends but we're really not that bad either.

He broke into a really wide smile, " At least you two are getting along, loto".

Il Jung's POV

Waiting for Hwa Sung became boring and I was getting hungry and I noticed this grocery store just across the street. I decided to take the risk and go there, hoping she doesn't leave me behind. I entered and there was this man, looking 40s at the register. The store was really warm and nice plus there was no other customer.I ordered one cup of 라면 (ramyun noodles) and 김치 (kimchi) along with some 생선 (fish) and one 달걀 (egg). I know, that's a lot but hey, I'm a growing boy.

I quickly slurp my noodles with my wooden 것가락 (chopsticks). I'm done quickly so I leave the store after paying the bill. I go back to ask the man a question.

"I've noticed that bar over there. Who does it belong to?"

"You don't know? It belongs to David David, leader of one of the biggest mafia gangs in the world. I know what you're thinking, 'who names their kid David David'....................".

I blocked everything else he said and rush out. She could be in big trouble. I go back to my hiding place behind the dumpsters, finally filled and satisfied. I waited a while and almost dozed off. Twice! To my relief, Hwa Sung walked out of the bar, clutching a red file?

I watched as the two bouncers bowed to her like she's a queen, which honestly in my eyes, she is. I followed her and she entered into another alley. I crouched behind some dumpsters, watching her when a cat stopped by. Yikes! I'm allergic to cats. I quickly moved away. And fell on some bins.

Third Person's POV

Baek Il Jung held his breath as Hwa Sung turned around. She stood on her tippy toes to look beyond the dumpsters and a cat jumped out as if to pounce on her. She laughed and shook her head. How could she possibly think that someone followed her? She turned around and walked with a steady pace.

Baek Il Jung's POV

I released the breath I didn't know I was holding. Maybe following Hwa Sung wasn't the best idea. Now I'm only more curious.

Why would Hwa Sung go to a bar, owned by a Mafia Lord?

Isn't she aware or is she involved?

What was she doing there?

What's in that file?

Why did they bow to her like that?

Right now, I think you should concentrate on getting up.

Oh! Right.

I was helping myself up when, " Boo! ", I plopped to the ground on my butt, startled.

Hwa Sung's POV

I was right. There was someone there. I was just shocked that it was Il Jung. What was he doing here? I helped him up. I narrowed my eyes at him,

"Who sent you?"

" No one ", but how can I trust him. Even with his cute face, and his luscious lips, his dark eyes, unlike my weird eyes, his angular jaw that I could kiss all day..............

Snap out of it! I had to concentrate.

" Why did you follow me?".

Baek Il Jung's POV

"Why did you follow me?"

How do you explain to a girl that you like her but you don't really trust her?

"Actually I went for a jog and got lost". I decided to lie.

" Oh, really?"

I internally gulped as she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Yes", I said, trying to seem confident.

" Then what were you doing behind the dumpsters?"

Not wanting to give up, I said, "I saw this cat walking into this alley and as I tried to reach it, I fell".

She groaned, knowing she lost this round. I smirked. Her face turns serious, " I know that you followed me. I'm trying to keep my cool here. Just stop. Stop trying to find out more about me. It will ruin you. I already have a lot on my hands with the twins barging in my life like this. Don't increase my pain. This will only hurt you in return. Please ", she looked pleadingly, her eyes, glossy. I felt like she could see my inner soul with them.My heartstrings were pulled. I just wanted to hold her in my arms and comfort her till tomorrow, to tell her everything is going to be okay. I knew from that moment that she wasn't capable of doing anything wrong. Her eyes mirror pain. Wait, mirror? Until now I never noticed that Hwa Sung wore contact lenses. But why would she wear them?

Is something wrong with your eyes? , I wanted to ask.

" I don't show my real eye colour because.........well.........it's weird ", she said looking down.

Oh, crap! Did I say that out loud?

" Yeah, you did".

I should really stop thinking out loud.

"Yeah, you probably should", she said giggling.

Hwa Sung' s POV

Did I just giggle? Well that's new. I look at Jung through my eyelashes, which I know may seem flirtatious but it's what I do when I get shy.

Wait, shy? In front of him? Cha Hwa Sung is never shy. Must be the drink working.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that.

Shut up. Shut up . Shut up.

I'm just glad that I have a true friend, I think. Well, he is a stranger who seems to truly care for me. Friends. What are friends exactly? Friends, frenemies, relationship friends, friends with benefits, family friends.

What are friends exactly? Do they love you with their whole beings or do they expect something in return?

I have so many friends, but are they truly my friends?

Here I am looking at someone, not really knowing whether we're friends or not.

It depends, do you want to be just friends or maybe something more.

Get out of my head.

I can't hurt him. I just can't.

He holds his hand to me. I look at it, then at him, then at it for the longest time. I finally take it, hesitant. His hands are large, warm and comforting. I smile to myself, secretly sneaking glances at him.

Man Bok's POV

Talahai was pacing about in the room, a tap everytime the sole of his shoes meet the ground.

" Can't reach him", Taehyung said banging his phone on the table.

"Stop worrying so much. He's probably taking a late night stroll...... "

" Yeah! Where he could get missing on the streets of an unknown city, even worse, kidn*pped ", Taehyung was exasperated.

" Calm down. His phone battery probably died and he's on the way here", I tried reasoning but it was to no avail.

"How could he have just left without informing us? He's in big trouble if he gets back".

" No! Not if, when he gets back".

"No. If".

" When ".

" If".

"When".........

As those two idiots were bickering. Again. I looked out the window, wondering if Jung is safe. I just hope nothing happened to him. As I looked out, I saw a sight I never thought I'd get to see.

"Well, would you look at that", I muttered. I think I spoke a bit too loud. Both boys turned and looked at me. Now to make my choice.

To tell the twins and lose Jung's trust 'cause he is never going to live this down OR

To keep quiet and act like nothing happened.

Yeah, I think the answer is pretty obvious.

"Nothing", I croaked. Oh, boy. I'm so dead.

They narrowed their eyes to slits.

" He hesitated meaning......... ", Tae interrupted, "....... he's hiding something".

" Me........nothing ". Talahai leaned, " Then, what are you looking at?"

"Nothing, I swear".

" Then move aside", Taehyung looked dead serious.

"What?", I pretended to be dumb to buy some time for that pabo.

" Move aside", he said, pronouncing each and every syllable. I gulped.

I don't know about you but I'd like to keep my face how it is, an inner voice said.

Don't! Do this for Jung-ahh, another argued.

Oh Lord! What am I going to do now? I glanced out the window again and now they were facing each other and speaking.

I think you might wanna speed up things a little more, you know, BEFORE I GET BEATEN TO PULP, I mentally said. I had to do something fast.

" You guys must be out of your minds"

"What? ", they both raised an eyebrow in unison, " You're the one keeping things from us and you're calling us crazy!". I'm officially trapped.

" Well the thing is...... ".

Knock. Knock.

I sighed in relief. It better be him. Talahai went to open the door ,

" How nice of you to finally join us", I could feel the sarcasm heavily dripping from his voice.

"Sorry. I kinda got lost on the way".

One second. Two seconds.

" So..........uhh......are you gonna let me in or not?". I reached the doorway, Jung looking like a little pup, and Talahai looking like he's thinking about all the ways he could use to possibly t*****e Jung. From here, even Taehyung looked like he felt pity for the poor boy.

"Sorry? Sorry?!!! Nuh uh. Sorry ain't gonna cut it kid. Do you know how worried we were? Couldn't you pick up your phone?"

"I left it here", he mumbled so low I almost didn't catch him.

" I can't even........".

"Sorry, eomma", Jung smirked, trying to lighten the mood. Luckily, it worked. We were back to being buddies, like Jung didn't leave.

Like what I saw didn't happen.

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??? POV

" I'll avenge you. I'll make him pay", I whispered to the cold stone slab in the silent graveyard.

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Footnotes:

1: means 'brother'

2: means 'thank you, sister'