70. You Owe Me

Mijin sat calmly at the coffee shop near her apartment alone. She specifically loved places like this since no one recognised her or knew of her in this area. Besides, after her dad had kicked her out of the apartment he had been leasing for Yeon, this was the fastest place she could have found that had been within her budget.

She looked around the crowded coffee shop and laughed at the idea of running away. That was Niel's way of handling things whenever he'd felt like he felt overwhelmed from their arguments, his tiff with his family or simply the pressure from assignments. He'd run away yet again after marking Elric. Serves then both right. To think that they were fated all this time...

Maybe if Niel hadn't been taking scent inhibitors they'd have already been together by now.

"Three wasted years of thinking he was mine...turns out Niel's lingering scent on me was the one that kept Elric entertained despite him not being able to take in my scent..."

Looking back, Mijin wondered to herself and how presently a lot of things made sense. She felt like she'd been conned from life...from love. She hadnt been able to take in Niel's primary scents either until that evening of their last fight when he'd scent manifested.

"Truly, I couldn't have kept them apart after all... but I loved Niel. I still do..."

A gentle tap on the shoulder took her away from her thoughts.

"You seem distracted. I called you twice..." Said Mora as she pulled a chair to sit infront of Mijin.

"You're late." Mijin responded in displeasure.

"Sorry. I had errands to run..."

"Why did you call for me?" Mijin inretupted. She felt like she was in no mood for neither plesantries nor excuses. "We agreed not to meet especially now that all eyes are on both of us."

"We held a family meeting yesterday with my family's lawyers for all of us to have the same story." Mora felt relieved when she saw Mijin's face light up in anticipation to hear more. "He will be released in two days as long as Stan's condition doesn't improve. Elric's mother's lawfirm is putting up a tough fight that this time, my parents can't bail him out till then. Moreover, his case...I mean him disclosing you as his accomplice was considered nonsensical since there is no direct evidence linking you in any of his abnormal and outrageous acts. The argument at the moment is that he is mentally imballanced and was lured by his accomplises into his herroneous acts not to mention, his blood was tested and they found traces of SC, the same drug that Yeon consumed that day and since both incidences are linked in nature, it was easier to use that simillarity for us instead of against us."

"I never asked you to update me Mora." Mijin did her best to hide her excitement at the news, relieved to have her hands clean despite her nerves almost breaking down the past one month from constant worry. She'd lay low and avoided calls from Mora's brother from prison yet despite her false composure, she'd snapped at her family members repeatedly, including Elric.

"We need to have the same script Mijin. This is the same drug that almost got you into trouble in the first place with Yeon being almost taken away by my brother... Seriously, you two need to sort out your shit..."

"Shut up. I didn't come here for a lecture especially from you. Your hands are as soiled as mine. You're the one who gave away that secret door at the back for those mugs your brother calls friends to jet in and take my little brother..."

"Hey, I never asked them to initiate his marking..." Mora spoke defensively.

Mijin sleered in response then shook her head. "...But you showed them a path that directly led to my little brother. Moreover, you've successfully painted me to others as the bad person. You even revealed to Yeon the nature of my relationship with your stupid brother. Why can't your family just leave me alone! Let me be! I kept my word and never contacted him after his marriage! He is the one always reaching out and you know this too!"

"Mijin...we are in a public place so watch your tone, will you?" Mora spoke causiouly as she looked around. Luckily, Mijins voice had been swallowed up by the crowed cafe's chatterngs that nobody hardly paid attention to them.

"Damn it! I should have just accepted and marked your brother when he begged me to. We should have eloped and all this wouldn't have happened..!"

"They would have caught you two regardless of how far or where you two chose to ran." Sighing aloud, Mora added exasperately. "Look Mijin, my brother and you are no longer fated, maybe that's why you ended up liking Niel in the nend. Can't you pacify him some more to take you back? You are a charmer and I've always admired the art behind your skill."

Mijin almost smiled but frowned instead. Mora was her exact replica in character so that meant she needed something from her. Nothing that came from her was free, be it advice or a mare act of compassion.

"There's no such thing as free lunch." Mijin pointed out, unable to endure her nemesis's facede.

"You're right. I actually wanted us to meet since I needed a favour from you. In return, I'll convince my family especially my father to stop having people tailing you. No one deserves to live like that"

"And what is it?" Mijin asked suspiciously.

Mora raised an eyebrow while looking unconvinced before she spoke. "You still have a lot you haven't fulfilled like the attachment you'd promised me at your place of work. Are you sure you can keep your word this time?"

"If you still have your eyes set on Yeon give up..."

"That's yesterday's news. In fact, what I want is not someone else anymore but you."

"What the fuck!" Mijin's sneered, disgusted by Mora's statement. "Are you fucking serious right now?"

"Of course. I've heard rumours of your skills endlessly and I wanted to have my own experience too. Besides, you're someoe I've constantly looked up to since we met..."

"Hey... I did tell you before to shut up. Don't insult me just because your fucking family loathes me..."

"I'm not asking to date you..."

"Mora, I once mentored you so show me some respect." Mijin's face was sinister as she spoke and Mora flinched upon seeing her intense look but wouldn't back down for it had taken her months to master up the courage to bring this topic up and now that she'd been duing Mijin favours, she believed the timing to be good.

"You owe me Mijin. I hid a lot of your secrets. I did everything you asked of me despite knowing you were using me. You promised me Yeon before since I really did like him a lot. If I had fully known of what my brother was up to that day with his friends, I'd have volunteered to have marked him..."

"I told you to shut up." Mijin spoke as she stood up, unable to stomach anymore of Mora's nonsense. "If you have nothing important to say, I'll leave. You're wasting my fucking time..."

"Wait...! You didn't let me finish. My request comes with information that could benefit you. You are looking for Niel after all right?"

"What? Do you know where he is?" Mijin regretted not being to hide her reactions at the mention of Niel's name.

"I do...but first, you have to fulfil my request."

"I'm not going to sleep with both you and your brother. It's disgustingly creepy and besides, I have a preference when it comes to girls. Not two faced like you and secondly, the less annoying they are, the better."

"You're one to talk. You have had your share of fun to the brim and all I'm asking is to be a part of it."

"Mora, I have no obligation to fulfil any info your requests."

"What about Niel? Don't you want to know where he is?"

"I don't care anymore. He is not mine to keep..."

"I saw him in the campus cafeteria with Elric!" Mora couldn't control her itchy tongue anylonger. She desperately wanted to see for herself what kind of reaction Mijin would show.

"I saw them leaving together! They got into Elric's car and left to who knows where, leaving quite a spectacle behind considering Elric's reputation..."

"So what?"

"What?"

"I said so what? Did I stutter?" Mijin's face was expressionles as she spoke. "You're telling me this for what? When will you ever stop gossiping?"

"Mijin, It's the truth! Ask anyone..."

"To think I actually thought we were alike... See, this is the reason why I can't stand you anymore. You reminded me why I started avoiding you in the first place. You just can't keep your mouth shut, running it to anyone who's care to listen."

"Mijin, that's Elric! You know what happens when someone entes his car..."

"...And why should I care?" Mijin raised an eyebrow, her eyes fixated on Mora's confused face.

"You have been looking for him...Isn't that right?"

"Was! That's the keyword. I was looking for him "

"...But...?"

"Here's another rumour for you to spread Mora and make sure to spread the word good and well that Niel marked Elric."

"No way! They paired?"

"...Yes... Something like that..." Mijin's eyes deviated a little before she glanced back at Mora. "Both Niel and Elric are none of my business anymore."

"What do you mean something like that? If you're going to tell me something, don't leave me hanging..." Mora spoke with so much anticipation.

"Elric made a move on Niel who got expremely furious, beat him to a pulp then marked him out of spite. Now they are paired and Elric's family is forcing responsibility on Niel. Who knows? Maybe Elric is threatening him to stay or be sued for assault or attempted mueder. Haven't you noticed him wearing a mask to hide the bruises on his face? Don't be fooled Mora. Those are not bruises from lovemaking. I witnessed it all firsthand until Elric lost his consciousless. Does that make you happy?"

Mora giggled while clapping her hands in excitement. "This is way to juicy to not spread out! I'll make sure to share this information well and fast."