CHAPTER TEN

KYUNG EUNSOO

I was heading back home when I felt a presence...again. I turned around but there was no one there. I've been getting that feeling of being watched, a lot lately. I increased my pace and soon I was home.

I locked the gates and the doors as soon as I got in. I checked the back doors and windows to make sure they were secure. Mum and MinAh just stared at me as I walked around the house. I went into my room and looked out of the window,but there was nothing suspicious.

I wanted to call Taemin to ask if he got home safe and if he was okay but I didn't have his number.

" Damn it".

LEE TAEMIN

I greeted mum as I walked into the house.

" Taemin.....why are you back so late?"

" I'm sorry mum. 5here was just a lot of work at the restaurant "

" How was it? Did you meet your friend? "

" It was fine. I did"

" Hold on...I'll warm up your food"

" No need mum. I had dinner with my boss and her kids. Oh....she gave me this". I said and handed her the kimchi container.

" Oh.....that's so nice of her. Remind me to give you something for her tomorrow okay?"

" Ok mum". I said and walked up to my room.

I sat in my chair and ruffled my hair. I grabbed the journal and placed it on my table. I got up and walked to my window. The car wasn't there but I felt like there were a pair of eyes staring at me through the darkness. I pulled my curtains shut and returned to my seat. I opened the journal and began reading.

There were just regular,boring day to day activities, so I just schemed through until my eye caught something.

" I don't think I can keep doing this. They are not what they say they are. They killed all those people and I'm scared of what they would do to I and the others if we decide to quit.

The operation of the company,goes deeper than the surface. Under the surface, the company was more like a ' hire an assassin' job. I'm sorry to the family of those people I killed today. For the first time in my life, I held a gun and shot five people. I don't want to do this anymore but I have to. I will protect my brother and I."

I stared in shock at the book in my hands. My dad.....killed people.

Uncle Byungchan knows something we don't. what the hell is happening? I turned the page and continued reading.

" I'm getting married soon. I'm scared but I can't leave her. Byungchan and I were given an assignment today. We were ordered to kill a mother and her two children. I was feeling so nervous and my fingers felt so cold.

Byungchan and I went over to the house dressed as cops. We gave her a note and told a lie about her neighbor complaining about her noise. She let us into her apartment and I locked the door.

Byungchan suddenly hit her in the back of the head and she fell to the ground. He hit her again and she passed out. Since it was late and she lived alone it was easier. I walked into the room and found two little girls asleep. I walked over to one of them and placed a handkerchief over her nose. She struggled for a while but soon went limp. I turned over to the second one and she was awake. She looked at me in fear with tears streaming down her face. I walked over to her as she backed away. She tried to run but she bumped into Byungchan. He held her by her neck and hit her head across the wall countless times, until her tiny body went limp. We moved them to an abandoned warehouse and burnt them. We returned to the company and showed them pictures and videos of the victims,but I'm pretty sure they had been watching us the entire time. There's probably no redemption for me,but I have to survive ".

My hands were trembling as I closed the journal. I felt so sick and disappointed. I couldn't believe it and I couldn't bring myself to read the rest of it.

...........

I walked out of the school gate and headed towards the restaurant. I woke up angry,confused,frustrated and irritated but as I got closer and closer to the restaurant, I started feeling excited. I had absolutely no reason to be excited but I couldn't help it and I didn't know why.

Work was a little slow today but there were a good number of customers. I kept staring at the door over and over again. I went into the kitchen to return some bowls when I heard the door open. I rushed out but it wasn't him.

" him....Eunsoo? No way"

I tried to bury the disappointment but it wouldn't stay down.

" I'm just with him for information "

Suddenly,those words sounded so faint and weak,and I knew I didn't believe them either.

" Taemin?"

I turned around and greeted him with a smile.

" Taemin oppa "

I walked over to MinAh and ruffled her hair before they went inside to change. They came out after a while and sat at the counter.

" Taemin oppa....happy birthday"

MinAh said and handed me a cupcake. I smiled and took it from her..

" Thanks"

" It's your birthday today? ". Eunsoo asked staring at me.

" Yeah"

" Oppa no wonder you don't have lots of friends. How could you forget your friend's birthday?"

" Shut up. How did you know? He has only been here since yesterday "

" Taemin oppa said it when mum asked for his age. He's a year younger than you are but way smarter"

" Ya!!"

She hurriedly left the place before I could throw the table cloth at her. I shifted awkwardly as I looked at Taemin.

" I didn't get a chance to tell you "

" okay"

KYUNG EUNSOO

I don't know what I'm feeling, but I hate the fact that I was the only one who didn't know. I placed my hand over my pocket and smiled.

" Good thing I got it"

We decided to close early today. We put on the TV as we cleaned the tables and suddenly I heard his name.....

' The suspect of the rice mill murder, Mr Kyung Dongjae has finally confessed to the crime. Along with his confession, the police retrieved CCTV footage of him fleeing the mill, within the same time the victim was murdered. Two witnesses, coworkers from the mill came forward,following his confession. The trial is set to hold on the twenty fifth of June 2022, at the Seoul high court."

I dropped the rag I was holding and headed towards the door.

" Eunsoo what are you doing?"

" Mum let me go.....I have to talk to dad"

" Eunsoo.....

" This doesn't make any sense "

I pulled my hand out of her grasp and walked out, into the streets.

" Ya!! Kyung Eunsoo "

I heard Taemin call out and I increased my pace when I heard his footsteps get closer and closer. He grabbed me by my arm and turned me around. I ran my hand through my hair trying to keep my cool.

" Ya!! What makes you think your father is innocent? People aren't always who they say they are or who we think they are"

" My father would never kill anyone "

" How sure are you? Do you even have a clue what that dead man's family is going through right now? What makes you think your father isn't hiding some disgusting things he did in the past? What the fuck makes you so sure he isn't just a cold blooded murderer?"

He yelled as tears rolled down his face. I walked towards him and grabbed him by the collar.

" Ya.....watch what you say. My father isn't a monster.....he saw something that night, that he shouldn't have. That's why they are doing this". I said and let go of his collar.

I turned around and clenched my fists tightly. I could feel my palms bleed from the pressure.

" Don't follow me "