Secrets

Chapter 13: Be a good girl, got it?

Sa-na's POV

We run into the hotel, laughing our heads off. We made some pretty messed up friends and very pissed off enemies. I loved spending my time with Man Bok. It was refreshing and fun. Who knew he could be so fun to be around?

Don't judge a book by its cover, remember?

I smiled. He always seemed so prim and proper. Actually, he isn't that bad when we aren't trying to get on each other's nerves. I guess I just didn't know the real him. I heard a cough and I looked up to find Man Bok staring at me. I look into his eyes and I immediately realize something's wrong. His eyes seem more dilated and glossy. I internally shiver.

"Is everything alright?", I search his eyes for answers. He seems slightly thrown off by my question. I take note of that.

" Yeah, everything is alright. ", he stretches the alright, probably trying to convince me.

Hah! Good luck with that, I almost say out loud.

" So I'm gonna go now", I say, releasing the hold I didn't realize I had on him. I averted my eyes and without waiting for a response, darted to my hotel room.

Il Jung's POV

" Ready? ", I yelled at Hwa Sung through the door. I was pumped for the road trip. It was as early as 5:00 am, but how could I not be excited? Hwa Sung stayed the night . Presently, I'm outside our room, waiting as she packs the 'necessities'.

" Almost! ", she yelled back.

" You said that 10 minutes ago ", I pouted. When would she finish?

The door creaked open and Hwa Sung walked out with her bag. I swear that bag has everything inside it. She's like Mary Poppins. The Korean, younger, prettier version.

" I'm done. Sorry to have kept you waiting", she bowed. My anger melted when she did this.

"It's alright. Let's go", I grabbed her warm hands in mine and dragged her to our ride.

We decided to go to Haeddong Yonggungsa today.

I'm not a Buddhist and neither is Hwa Sung, but at least she knew the practices there. I didn't know what to do so I just followed everything she did. She burnt incense, kowtowed to Buddha's statues enough times to give me bruised knees. But I didn't complain. As long as I get to spend time with Hwa Sung, I can ignore any pain. She read some transcripts from a book she called Tripitaka. She claimed it was the Buddhist version of the Bible or Qur'an. It was beautiful. The monks were helpful and the fresh air made meditation easy. I turned to my side. Hwa Sung knelt in the cow face(?) pose, her eyes closed, earplugs in and a slight smile on her face. She looked graceful and calm. This is how she should always be.

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Cha Hwa Sung's POV

"Mirror on the wall,

Here we are again,

Through my rise and fall,

You've been my only friend,

You told me that they can understand the man I am,

So why are we here talking to each other again? "

Wae?!! I really regret introducing them to these songs. They're annoying me here. And trust me, their voices could wake the dead.

" Oh shut up!".

Glad to know I'm not the only one who's frustrated by their off-key singing. I smile at Il Jung-sshi. It was cute how he was clueless at Haeddong Yonggungsa. I'm pretty sure the monks had a good laugh. He was so clumsily cute.

"......... So will you? "

"Huh? ", I stare at him blankly.

"I said, will you help me? My partner refuses to help me. Now I don't know what to do. "

Who's his partner? I raise my eyebrow at Taehyung.

'Mi-na', he mouthed.

Oh.

" So what does that have to do with me? ", I smirk. I decided to be snarky.

" Please. You know I'm on probation "

" That would actually be beneficial to your brother and I. I mean, with you gone, I could get your dad to......... "

" Please help me. I'd do anything, huh? Huh? "

"I don't know", I place my hand on my chin, pretending to think.

" Just put him out of his misery. As much as it would please me". Everyone, meet Lee Taehyung.

"Alright, I'll help you get Mi-na to do the project and then get out of your hair".

" You can do that? ", he looks at me like I was his goddess or something. They all looked at me in disbelief. Like I was a miracle worker. I rolled my eyes. Was it really that impossible?

" You? Can make Jeong Mi-na care about an assignment? ", Man Bok questioned me.

" Doubt me? ", I narrowed my eyes at him.

" Yeah, I doubt you ", he barked at me. Okay, I know he doesn't like me but now he's just being flat out mean but guess what? I'm worse.

" Oh really? Wanna place a bet on it? ", I snark back.

" Ne(1), I bet ₩20,000", he mocks me. Does he hate me that much?

" Fine, just give me one day and I'll prove it to you ", I respond.

Just you wait and see.

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Jeong Mi-na's POV

I've arrived at the spot I'm supposed to meet someone.

Flashback

Ding!

My phone chimes to signify that I've received a message. I place the kettle of cha (tea) in the hands of that cheerful elf who calls herself Baek So-ra. She's too stupid to realize that her 'friend', Nam Young justs treats her like a piece of s**t. Anyway, who am I to tell her how to live her life? Funny how they both have the same surname. I shake my head quickly. I pick up my phone from the stand and unlock it. My eyes pop when I see the message displayed on the screen. My face pales as I read on. Oh, s**t was the first thing that came to mind.

My vision starts to get blurry. My head hurts and I feel dizzy. I knock a glass over. It spills its contents before it shatters into a million pieces, kind of like my soul. It produces an ear-shattering sound.

" Are you alright?", I hear So-ra ask, out of concern.

I feel the tears sting my eyes. I had buried this a long time ago. Long before I came here. The only question is, who would do such a thing?

End of flashback

So now I'm here. Ready to face my worst fears. To find out who the mastermind behind this is. When I arrive, I see someone leaning against the wall, glued to their phone. Is this him? The person cranks their head and I meet a cute yet familiar face.

"Hwa Sung? !! "

I was shell shocked. She's the girl that hangs with Lee Talahai. It's hard to miss her when everyone's talking about her. The cute girl with the Lee twins. The only girl with the hot nerds. If boys aren't talking about her, it's the jealous girls. If Nam Young doesn't bad-mouth her, Baek Woo or some jock is bound to be drooling over her. Even So-ra speaks of her at times.

What is she doing here?

"Mi-na, you're here? "

"Yeah. What are you doing here? "

"Actually, I'm here for an important friend"

"Really? Who? ", I ask, feeling curious. Was she also blackmailed?

" It's Talahai. See, we're really close and I'm always worried about him", she sighed. I wonder what the problem is. The blackmailer could wait.

"See, I've had trouble for some time and Taltal has helped me more than I could ask for. Now he's in probation because of me. If he gets a B, he's going to an all boy military school in Japan and it's all my fault", she held her face in her hands.

I didn't know this was the problem.

Because you decided to judge before you know him.

That's probably why he was so anxious about the project.

" Now that he's done so much for me, don't you think I should try my best to help him too? ", she looked up at me as if expecting me to answer.

" I guess". Why was she telling me all this?

"So you agree? Then why won't you help him with the project? ".

I really want to.

I can't show sympathy. It's a sign of weakness.

" So what? That's his problem, not mine", I smirk. She should be quick with the sob story. I really need to take care of the blackmailer.

"You're partners, right?", I roll my eyes.

" Obviously ", I snide.

" So you're meant to share the project, right? ".

Did she really think she could make me to do the project for her friend?

" Among other things ", she looks up at me with a strange smile on her face. What does she mean?

" So how about I make his problems yours too? ", she said to herself.

" W-w-what do you mean? ". Make his problems mine. What is she? Crazy?

" If you don't help sweet Talahai with his project, he will get into big trouble. And if he gets into trouble, you'll have to share it with him and man, there's nothing better to share than old, dark secrets among friends, right, Mi-na?", my eyes widen.

Does she know? Did the blackmailer tell her?

"What do you know? ", I breathed out, my heart pounding against my ribs.

" I'm talking about these", she said, throwing a bunch of papers at me. I almost gasp when I take a close look at them. Those aren't papers. They're photos, ones that were not supposed to exist.

My facade breaks. "H-how do you know? Who did you tell? ", I break out a sweat.

" I don't want to do this. I just want what's best for my friend. I didn't tell anyone, but I could, if you want me to". I know exactly what she's implying. I swallow and nod.

"Fine. I'll do whatever you want". I admit my defeat.

" I don't want anything. I just want you to be a good partner and finish the project with Talahai, that's all", she beams at me, but I know better than to believe her smile. She turns around and disappears into the night, leaving me to wonder, how does a person with an angel's face be a devil sent straight from the deepest depth of Hell?

Footnotes:

1: means 'yes'