EUN's POV
"From this moment on, you will no longer be the famous vocalist Eunji Byun. You will now be named as Shin Chien. A typical man who lives in a farm far away from the city of Shanghai."
I held my new identity card with my new name on it as I was reminiscing everything what Shane told me a while ago and what's more is we will die today—kind of.
Shane and Mr. Kim made up a plan with a few trusted people to fake our deaths in a car accident. All of the members were so depressed by the thought of leaving our beloved fans and families but we have no choice but to agree. It's for our own good and for them—they must not know that we still live, not until everything has been settled.
Unless the people behind these murders have been caught, we should stay hidden.
Ever since our last meeting regarding this matter, we're no longer allowed to see each other anymore and it's so depressing. We're still in Shane's house tho, we were just separated in different rooms and guarded by Mr. Kim's men.
I believe they are called the ANBUs, short for Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushi Butai. Indeed, they are from a special assassination and tactical squad from Japan. I'm quite familiar with them as I used to watch Naruto a lot.
I was just entirely surprised that people like them actually exist. They are currently roaming around the corners, blending with the darkness. I assume that some of them have been also dispatched to look for Sunho hyung.
Hopefully, everything won't take too long to end. I can't let my family mourn with my fake death.
My lips formed a thin line.
Tonight is the night I'll be leaving Korea for good.
I sighed and turned towards the door when it opened. Shane entered together with Sebastian. None of them said a word—a complete silence—until Shane attempted to save the dark atmosphere.
"I-It's time," she said, sounding all hesitant. She is beyond against the set-up, but this is what the higher ups have decided.
Our lives are in their hands.
An exasperated smile crept on my lips as I shifted my eyes on my cold bed and towards the window where I can take a glimpse of the mute and mystic moon.
I sighed once again and took my chest bag. Just when I was about to hang it across my body, a man emerged from Sebastian's back which left it hanging loose on my shoulder.
As my eyes grew in circles, my lips parted—he smiled.
"W-What the fucking hell is this?!" I could only curse in shock as the man in before me looks exactly like me.
Shane stood beside him and placed a hand lightly into his shoulder.
"Oppa, this is Hae Seung Oh," she said and somewhere in her tone of voice and facial expression is telling me to get furious.
"Hello, hyung-nim! I'm your number one fan! I-I finally got to meet you! I'm so happy—"
"What is this?!" I cut him off bluntly, groaning at Shane. "You're not gonna tell me that this person right here will die in my stead, right?!"
Shane sucked her bottom lip before pressing both of them together.
"SHANE?!" I groaned almost in a yell. She's about to answer when the man spoke.
"I-It's not Shane-ssi's idea, hyung-nim. It's ours," he started in a soft tone. "Have you, guys, completely forgotten about your fans? W-We're never gonna let all of you fight all by yourselves. You, all, have us."
He smiled and walked closer to me. "Don't worry, only the ten of us knew about this."
"Ten?" My brows met once again. "Are you telling me—" my eyes shifted to Shane and back at him. "No no no!" I shook my head. "You, guys, can't do this. You can't do this for us! You can't."
The man only looked at me and smiled. "Ever since I was young, my parents has always treated me like a nobody," he said, seemingly narrating.
"Maybe because I suck in academics, I have no interest in anything not until I came to know you and EcZo. You, guys, became my inspiration. I started doing good in academics and discovered my talent in dancing and singing. I worked hard for my dreams to be like one of you, guys," he paused as his eyes meandered down the floor for a couple of seconds.
He then looked back at me, eyes misted with tears. "My parents started to see me as somebody; I gained friends, I felt better about myself. Everything's going my way towards my dreams, not until six months ago, I have been diagnosed with a stage four brain tumor."
I felt a lump formed in my throat that I almost choked.
"Now, I only have six months to live. I undergo a lot of therapies, but none of them worked, so I decided to refuse everything," he smiled once again. The most genuine smile that I have seen my entire life.
"Let this be my dying wish, hyung-nim, jebalyo..." Tears started creeping down his cheeks. It's odd to see someone look like you cry—it's shattering my soul.
I'm so torn. My heart is sinking. This is too painful to handle.
My teeth grinded in rage.
I swear to God, I will train myself to be a fighter once I start my new life somewhere. I will catch the culprits myself and torture them to death for everything that they have done! Even the innocent are slowly getting involved.
I closed my eyes; rubbed my forehead, and looked back at him.
I don't know what to say. I don't want him to die and go against his wish at the same time.
What am I supposed to do then?!
I walked towards him and placed a hand on top of his shoulder. "Then..." I swilled. "Then I owe you my life, nae chingu."
He smiled and I gasped when he suddenly hugged me so tight, I could feel my bones cracking.
"Kamsahamnida! Cheongmal kamsahamnida."
I looked at Shane who's also looking back at me. Her eyes had already been misted with tears that she's evidently trying to hold back.
I tapped his back. "No, thank you. I will never forget you, Hae Seung."
Minutes after, he left with Sebastian. I had to stay for a couple of minutes with Shane for the ten of them to leave in a van. Truly, the other members also have their decoys, as one might say, and they are all our fans who have critical diseases.
It's beyond painful, but even if I'm against it, I couldn't do anything to stop the plan that has already been decided.
The others didn't know anything. Hae Seung was just able to convince Shane. I don't know what he did. Maybe it's somewhere in his looks—again, I don't know.
"I'm sorry."
I shook back into my senses when Shane spoke. I didn't even notice she's already standing in front of me. Her brows met and looked so frustrated.
"I wanted to keep all of you with me but," she bit her bottom lip and sighed. "J-Just give me more time, okay? I promise, I'll fix everything. I promise I'll—"
She stopped when I held her cold hand. "Relax, I'm not used to see you panicking," I whispered as I took a step forward.
"Don't worry about us. I know we're safe. Thank you so much."
I wasn't able to stop myself from pulling her into a hug. "I'll miss you, Shane. You take care while I'm not around, arrasseo?"
I felt her arms slowly wrapping around my waist. "I will, oppa."