Chapter 14: The Double Agent
The Prism's headquarters buzzed with activity. Ji-Yeong, Jong-Su, Chin-Sun (still disguised as Min), and Ye Joon were gathered around a table, discussing their next steps in their ongoing battle against the masked killer. The mood was tense, but there was also a strong sense of camaraderie among them.
"We need to be extra careful with our plans," Ji-Yeong said, his brow furrowed.
"We can't afford any more close calls like the last one."
Jong-Su nodded in agreement.
"We need to keep our moves under wraps. No one outside this room should know what we're planning."
Ye Joon leaned forward, his expression serious.
"Agreed. We need to be vigilant and make sure our security is tight."
As they continued to strategize, they were interrupted by their manager, Ho-Sook, who walked in with a worried look on her face.
"I need to talk to you all about something important."
Everyone turned to look at her, their expressions shifting to concern.
"What's wrong, Ho-Sook?" Ji-Yeong asked.
Ho-Sook took a deep breath, clearly troubled.
"I've been hearing rumors... that someone close to us might be working for a rival band. Feeding them information about our plans and strategies."
A stunned silence fell over the room. Ji-Yeong's eyes widened in shock.
"What? Who would do that?"
"I don't know for sure," Ho-Sook admitted. "But we need to find out. This could be why the masked killer always seems to be one step ahead of us."
Chin-Sun, still in her Min disguise, looked around at her friends.
"This is serious. We need to figure out who the traitor is and stop them."
Jong-Su nodded, his expression darkening. "Agreed. But how do we do that without tipping them off?"
Ho-Sook thought for a moment before responding.
"We need to set a trap. Feed them false information and see if it gets back to the rival band or the masked killer."
Ji-Yeong nodded slowly.
"It’s risky, but it might be our only option. We'll need to be careful."
Ye Joon agreed.
"Let's do it. We can't let this betrayal continue."
---
Over the next few days, The Prism members and Ho-Sook carefully crafted a plan to expose the double agent. They decided to leak false information about a secret performance and see who would take the bait.
They gathered in their rehearsal space, pretending to plan for the fake event. "So, the secret concert is scheduled for next Friday," Ji-Yeong announced loudly. "We’ll perform three new songs and invite some exclusive fans."
Chin-Sun nodded, playing along. "We’ll need to rehearse a lot to make sure it’s perfect."
Jong-Su glanced around, making sure everyone was paying attention. "Remember, this is top secret. No one outside this room should know about it."
The group went through the motions, rehearsing and discussing the fake event as if it were real. All the while, they kept a close eye on their associates, looking for any signs of betrayal.
---
A few days later, Ho-Sook burst into the rehearsal room, her face pale. "The news is out. Our rival band is planning a secret performance on the same night, with the same concept."
Ji-Yeong's expression darkened. "So, it’s true. Someone is leaking our information."
Jong-Su clenched his fists. "We need to find out who it is and confront them."
Ye Joon nodded. "Let’s gather everyone and get to the bottom of this."
Ho-Sook quickly called a meeting with all their close associates, bringing them together in the rehearsal space. The atmosphere was tense as Ji-Yeong stepped forward to address the group.
"We’ve recently discovered that someone has been leaking our plans to a rival band," Ji-Yeong began, his voice steady but filled with anger. "This betrayal has put us all in danger."
Gasps and murmurs spread through the group. Ji-Yeong continued, "We set a trap with false information about a secret performance. And that information was leaked."
He scanned the faces of their associates, looking for any sign of guilt. "We need to know who did this. Now."
One of their associates, a young man named Tae-Min, shifted uncomfortably. "Ji-Yeong, are you sure? It could be a coincidence."
Ji-Yeong's eyes narrowed. "We’re sure. The timing and details are too specific to be a coincidence."
Chin-Sun, still in her Min disguise, stepped forward. "We need to get to the bottom of this. For the safety of everyone here."
Another associate, Soo-Jin, looked visibly nervous. "I swear, I had nothing to do with it."
Ho-Sook stepped in, her expression stern. "We’re not accusing anyone without evidence. But we will find out who’s responsible."
Jong-Su, his voice calm but firm, added, "We’ll start by questioning everyone. One by one."
---
The questioning began, each associate brought into a separate room and asked about their knowledge of the fake performance. Ji-Yeong, Jong-Su, and Ho-Sook took turns conducting the interviews, watching for any signs of deceit.
Hours passed, and tensions ran high. Finally, it was Tae-Min’s turn. He sat across from Ji-Yeong, his expression guarded.
"Tae-Min," Ji-Yeong began, "how long have you been working with us?"
Tae-Min shifted in his seat. "About two years now."
"And in that time," Ji-Yeong continued, "have you ever had contact with our rivals?"
Tae-Min hesitated, then shook his head. "No, never."
Ji-Yeong leaned forward, his gaze intense. "We know someone leaked the information. And you were one of the few people who knew about it."
Tae-Min's eyes darted to the door, his composure slipping. "I swear, Ji-Yeong, it wasn’t me."
Ji-Yeong sighed, leaning back in his chair. "We’re going to find out the truth, Tae-Min. One way or another."
---
After the interviews were completed, the group reconvened. Ho-Sook looked at Ji-Yeong, Jong-Su, and Ye Joon. "Any leads?"
Ji-Yeong shook his head. "Nothing concrete. But Tae-Min seemed the most nervous."
Jong-Su nodded. "Agreed. We should keep a closer eye on him."
Ye Joon added, "We could set another trap. Something more elaborate this time."
Ho-Sook considered this, then nodded. "Let’s do it. We need to be sure."
---
Over the next week, The Prism members devised another plan, this time involving a supposed collaboration with a major artist. They made sure Tae-Min was privy to the information, watching his every move.
As expected, news of the collaboration leaked, and their rivals announced a similar project. Ji-Yeong, Jong-Su, and Ye Joon knew they had their culprit.
Ji-Yeong called a final meeting, confronting Tae-Min directly.
"We gave you another chance, Tae-Min. And you betrayed us again."
Tae-Min’s face drained of color.
"I... I can explain."
"There’s nothing to explain," Jong-Su said, his voice cold.
"You’ve been working against us all along."
Ho-Sook stepped forward, her expression hard.
"Why, Tae-Min? Why would you do this?"
Tae-Min looked down, unable to meet their eyes.
"I needed the money. The rival band offered me a lot to feed them information."
Ji-Yeong shook his head, disappointment and anger in his eyes. "
You put all of us in danger for money?"
Tae-Min didn’t respond, his guilt evident.
Ye Joon spoke up, his voice firm.
"You’re done here, Tae-Min. You’re no longer part of this team."
---
As Tae-Min was escorted out, the atmosphere in the room remained tense but determined. They had uncovered the traitor, but the battle was far from over.
Ji-Yeong turned to his friends and associates.
"We’ve dealt with the leak. Now, let’s focus on our real enemy."
Chin-Sun, still disguised as Min, nodded. "We’ll be stronger for this. Together, we can take down the masked man and protect each other."
Jong-Su placed a hand on Ji-Yeong’s shoulder. "We’re with you, Ji-Yeong. All the way."
Ye Joon added, "Let’s finish this. For The Prism."
With renewed determination, The Prism members and their loyal associates prepared for the next phase of their mission. They knew the road ahead would be challenging, but they were ready to face it together, stronger and more united than ever before.
Chin-Sun's journey impersonating Min had its fair share of close calls, but today was shaping up to be one of the more challenging ones. The Prism had a packed schedule with back-to-back rehearsals and a fan meet-and-greet event. Chin-Sun, now much more comfortable in her role, still had moments where her nerves got the best of her.
After a long morning of rehearsals, the group finally took a break. Chin-Sun's bladder had been reminding her of its presence for the last hour, and she hurriedly made her way to the restroom. The venue was bustling with staff and fans preparing for the upcoming event, and the hallways were a maze of people and equipment.
As she approached the restrooms, she saw the familiar signs for men and women. In her haste and distracted by her thoughts, she headed straight for the women’s restroom out of habit. Just as she was about to push the door open, she heard a loud,
"Min! What are you doing?"
Startled, she looked up to see a group of fans nearby, giggling and whispering to each other. Ji-Yeong, who had been talking to the stage manager, noticed the situation and quickly intervened.
"Min, the men's restroom is this way," he said, walking over with a calm yet authoritative demeanor.
Chin-Sun felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"Oh, right. Thanks, Ji-Yeong," she mumbled, pretending to tie her shoe to buy a moment to collect herself.
The fans continued to giggle, one of them whispering loudly,
"Did Min almost walk into the wrong restroom?"
Ji-Yeong shot the fans a polite but firm smile. "He's just tired from all the rehearsals. Give him a break."
As Chin-Sun straightened up, Ji-Yeong gently guided her towards the men's restroom. "You need to be more careful," he whispered. "One slip-up like that could blow your cover."
"I know, I know," Chin-Sun whispered back, feeling a mix of gratitude and mortification. "Thank you for saving me."
Once inside the restroom, she took a moment to splash cold water on her face. The close call had her heart racing, and she needed to calm down. The reality of her situation hit her hard sometimes—she was living a double life, and one wrong move could unravel everything.
When she emerged from the restroom, Ji-Yeong was waiting for her. "Feeling better?" he asked.
"Yeah, much better. Thanks again, Ji-Yeong," she replied, giving him a small smile.
He nodded. "Just stay focused. We're all counting on you."
As they walked back to the rehearsal space, Chin-Sun couldn’t help but feel the weight of his words. She had come a long way, but the pressure was immense. She found solace in the fact that Ji-Yeong and the others were there to support her, even if they didn’t always show it in the most obvious ways.
The afternoon continued with more rehearsals, and before long, it was time for the fan meet-and-greet. Chin-Sun had become quite adept at mimicking Min's mannerisms, and as she interacted with the fans, she felt more confident. However, the earlier incident still lingered in the back of her mind.
During a break between meeting groups of fans, Jong-Su approached her with a mischievous grin. "Heard you almost made a grand entrance into the ladies' room."
Chin-Sun rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t help but laugh. "Yeah, well, it could have been worse."
Jong-Su chuckled. "True. Just remember, you're Min now. Try to think like him."
"I'm trying," she said with a sigh. "It's just...hard sometimes."
Jong-Su patted her shoulder. "You're doing great. Just keep it up."
As the event continued, Chin-Sun found herself slipping more naturally into Min's persona. She smiled for photos, signed autographs, and even managed to give a few encouraging words to some nervous fans. Each interaction reminded her why she was doing this—to protect Min and help The Prism uncover the truth.
Later, as the event wound down and they prepared to leave, Chin-Sun caught Ji-Yeong's eye. He gave her a small nod, a silent acknowledgment of her efforts. It wasn’t much, but it meant a lot coming from him.
On the way back to their van, Ye Joon teased her about the restroom incident. "So, how's puberty treating you, Min? First the voice crack, now this?"
Chin-Sun groaned. "Please don't remind me."
Jong-Su laughed. "Hey, at least you're keeping things interesting."
As they piled into the van, Ji-Yeong took the seat next to Chin-Sun. "You handled today well, despite the hiccup."
"Thanks," she said, feeling a bit more at ease. "I'll be more careful next time."
He looked at her, a rare hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Good. We need you to stay on top of things."
The drive back to their hotel was filled with laughter and light-hearted teasing. Despite the earlier embarrassment, Chin-Sun felt a sense of camaraderie with The Prism members. They were all in this together, and that made the challenges a bit easier to bear.
As they arrived at the hotel, Ho-Sook reminded them of the next day's schedule. "Get some rest, everyone. We have another busy day tomorrow."
Chin-Sun headed to her room, exhausted but relieved. She had survived another day as Min, and though there had been a close call, she had learned from it. She was more determined than ever to succeed in her role and help bring the masked killer to justice.
Before drifting off to sleep, she replayed the day's events in her mind. Ji-Yeong's support, Jong-Su's humor, and even Ye Joon's teasing had all helped her stay grounded. She was grateful for their presence in her life, even if it came with its own set of complications.
The next morning, as she prepared for another day, Chin-Sun vowed to stay focused and avoid any more restroom mix-ups. She had a mission to complete, and she wouldn't let anything stand in her way.