Chapter 22
Today is the day where we will visit Penelope's brother Daniel. I have no news for his father yet, and he seems quiet these days. Yesterday, all of the club members had a meeting about the club's activity next week. We need to visit an orphanage that Na Hyuk suggested. We have a plan to hold a mini-concert.
I'm not into it, but I need to fulfill my responsibility as a music club member. We plan it briefly, but nothing is final yet. I'm an extra and new here. So, they mainly distributed their parts according to what they used to do. I'm guessing that they don't know where they will put me. Yejun and Penelope are our vocals, while Juno, Hyuk, and Yumi will play instruments. Yumi will also have a solo performance playing the piano. While Penelope has a solo aside from her duet with Yejun, she also proposes to play the guitar.
I don't mind what kind of performance I will do, but Yumi suggested that I sing while playing the piano. I'm confident, but I'm not entirely enthusiastic about the idea. I will just let them decide because my focus is not on that. I have so many things to do.
From Juno
Miss Jia, I know that you're busy, but I'm busy too. If you're free, kindly go straight to the hospital because I'm on my way. But I have a favor to ask, wait for me in the basement parking lot. I used my car, and I can't carry these foods alone.
Ps, if you ignore me, unlucky life will follow.
Pss. It's a joke. I beg you.
Psss. Wait for me, Please, My Lord Jia Kim.
-End-
I facepalm after reading Juno's nonsense message. He indeed became comfortable with me, sending this kind of message. I sigh and look at the window outside of the car. I told Mr. Choi to go to the basement of the hospital. I say to him that I'm waiting for Juno there. Mr. Choi just nodded his head and drove carefully.
"Miss, I can't leave you here alone." Mr. Choi is strict with me, but I don't blame him since he was the one who found me dying in the cubicle. But I'm fine now. I want to send him away because Juno is near the hospital. He is just a few meters away before the next intersection.
"It's fine. My classmate is nearby. I will wait here for him." I insisted to Mr. Choi, who nodded his face. I could see his sad expression. I bit my lip. I like it if I'm not dependent on people like I did in my past life, but I guess that's the reason why I hurt many of them. I sigh and stop Mr. Choi from walking.
"Alright, you can stay here too." I saw how Mr. Choi's mood lifted. I look at him, half smiling.
We waited for five more minutes before receiving a call from Juno, who is already at the stoplight near the hospital. I showed it to Mr. Choi, and he nodded. He was about to walk in the car when someone who wears a black jacket and face mask approaches us. I couldn't recognize his face, but I felt an ill intention from him for a sudden moment.
"Mr.Choi!" I shouted to warn him by the man walking in our direction while his eyes were glaring at me. When he realizes that I could see through him, I quiver, so he gets something sharp in his pocket. He gripped it tightly, and I recognized it as a knife.
It happens fast, He runs into me, and I fall to the ground. I didn't mean to meet him halfway, but I need to distract him so he won't target Mr. Choi, who has his back on me. I know little of self-defense, and I could use it with this creep.
I easily dodge his attack. I smirked when I saw how furious he was. He tried to stab me, but I rolled to the ground. His annoyance is evitable. This kind of prey is easy to read. I stood up and stared at him. At that moment, I recognized him.
"Han Seohyun?" I mumbled. He flinched and took off of his face mask, making me see his bare face looking furious.
"You bitch! Because of you, my plan!" I heard him scream like a lunatic—Mr. Choi is already in front of me, shielding me from Seohyun.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked him in a chilling voice. I saw his eyes blink after hearing me using my confident voice.
"Do you think I could forgive you after what you've done to my recordings? You son of a bitch!" Seohyun is losing his shit. He waves the knife and laughs like a lunatic.
"I already gave it to Na Hyuk. You will get nothing for me." I uttered in a frigid voice. My phone rings and I see Juno calling me. I was at the center of the basement parking lot. The entrance and exit were far meters away from my location. Juno said that he would park near the elevator, and that's the other side of the basement. If he plans to walk here, it will take him three to five minutes to see us. I did not take his call because I am preoccupied with Seohyun.
"Miss Jia, it's dangerous. I saw more people, and I think it's his minions.
I gritted my teeth while thinking of what to do. I can't just run and leave Mr. Choi here alone. My phone vibrates again. I hid behind Mr. Choi's back, answering Juno's call, and put my phone back inside my pocket. Try to think, Jia Kim. I whispered to myself.
Seohyun smirks, and after a few seconds, his minions show up. There are five of them. My heart is beating faster, but I hid my genuine emotions. Jia Kim will never admit her weakness. I will never show my fear with his lunatic idiot.
"Han Seohyun, do you think you will escape after this?" I taunted, trying to buy more time. I need to think because I don't want people to get hurt because of me again.
"Shut up, Jia! It's because of you! Do you think I didn't know that you planned all those things to catch me?" Seohyun's veins are popping out on his neck to his temple. I got goosebumps from his grave expression. His contempt was all directed towards me. I'm used to being hated, but I could never experience being hated to the point that someone wanted me dead... Not even Yejun or Penelope.
"I did what I was supposed to do to protect my friend. A person like you couldn't understand it." I said to Seohyun, but those words are also all I wanted to say to myself.
"Don't give me that bullshit, Jia! Before I kill you, tell me, what did you do to my recordings?" Seohyun's face is like evil. The hatred is written all over his face. I shudder because compared to last time, Seohyun is uncontrollable now. It felt like his rage was exaggerated.
"I told you I already gave everything to Na Hyuk. You're sick, Seohyun. Stop this, and I will help you." I grip my hand while my other hand is on my phone. I hope Juno can call for security. I sincerely wanted to help Seohyun. I want to raise him from drowning. If I could change his sad fate, I am willing to do that... But maybe it was my fault he remained to soak in the dark, cold deep water.
I bit my lower lip. Seohyun was never my friend, and I don't know anything about him.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Arrggghhhh! Give back my recordings Jia Kim. Hmm?" I narrowed my eyes because Seohyun is strange. What's happening to him? He looks like being possessed. His eyes are vital, and he seems like he is not getting enough sleep.
The next thing I know is when Seohyun's men attacked us. Mr. Choi is good at fighting. But the problem is me. I can only do self-defense, and I'm not used to many opponents.
I tried so hard to fight while Seohyun is like an evil watching us being mobbed by his men.
"Miss Jia!" I saw how Mr. Choi punched the man who tried his best to come near me to protect me.
I'm so tired, but I dodge the punch from my opponent. I kicked him on the stomach, and he twisted in pain. The sound of gasping is prominent. I'm breathless. I never fought like this my whole life, and I'm no longer active in sparring like my freshman. My stamina is failing me. Darn it! Juno Yang Where are you?!
I didn't think that my sudden loss of focus would take advantage of my opponent. They held both of my hands and pinned me on the cold wall. I try to get out of their grip, but it's not working. Seohyun's amused face goes near me. I heard Mr. Choi called my name, but his opponents are professional fighters, and there were three of them.
"Jia Kim. If you only quickly handed what I wanted." Seohyun's eyes are full of hatred towards me. He moves his hand and touches my pale neck. I shiver because Seohyun pressed his hand to give force to choke me slowly. I cough and have a hard time breathing.
"Per- son l-like y-you... Ugh, will never f-find happi-ness." I hardly speak while meeting his gaze.
"Yejun told me that he would kill me if I go near you. Hahaha! How ridiculous is that? I never have my eyes on you. Maybe he said that because you found out about my recordings, and it's only a coincidence. Ha! I know better! You installed fake recordings to set me up! I only have one device, and it was empty. There's another one, Jia Kim." My eyes widened after he said that. I didn't know about the second device. I admit that I emptied his recording and deleted it, but I didn't install anything in the club room.
"L-Lies! I didn't know what you're talking about!" I whispered. It was hard because Seohyun was pressing my neck.
"It has a camera. Imagine my surprise when I found another recording beside my device! I never used any video recording because I'm very meticulous... That day you set me up and made sure Yejun was listening outside of the door. I already knew that it was all you're doing, Jia Kim! You bitch! Seohyun's eyes are getting darker. His gaze is hazy, and I could feel his added force in my neck.
I'm about to pass out, and Seohyun's images are getting vague. I see him saying more words, yet I can't comprehend it anymore. Die... That's the only thing I understand.
"Cough! Cough!" I endlessly cough after someone drags Seohyun away from me. I touched my sore neck and saw many people helping us.
Some black suits men fight Seohyun's men. Juno quickly runs to support me because I fell on the ground floor. I can't control my cough. I'm breathing heavily, getting greedy of sucking air.
"Jia, are you okay?" Juno worriedly asked me. I nodded and saw Seohyun's men lying on the ground.
It was unexpected, but I see Yejun wearing his black slacks and navy-blue long-sleeved linen shirt with both hands in his pocket. He looks dangerous while Seohyun is kneeling before him. I remain on the ground while Juno is beside me. Mr. Choi also goes near me. There's a lot of bruises and wounds on his face. I bit my lip after checking on him. I feel bad that he's hurt because of me.
"Y-Yejun L-Lee." Seohyun's eyes change to desperation and fear.
"Didn't I warn you, Han Seohyun?" Yejun moves his upper body to lean closer to Seohyun. I see him tremble from fear, and his terrified expression pronounces on his face.
"I-I... Y-Yejun." Seohyun is stuttering and can't meet Yejun's gaze.
"I told you to just live quietly like a rat," Yejun said, showing an apathetic expression on his face. He moves closer to Seohyun's ear and whispers something. I didn't catch what he said.
Seohyun is frozen after Yejun whispers to him. He can't speak, nor his eyes are in a haze. I frowned and tried to stand up. I let Juno help me.
"Jia, I'm sorry." Juno apologizes while staring at my bruised neck.
Yejun looks at me with his unemotional face. I could feel the chilling breeze in the surrounding area. I hold my breath when Yejun is finally close to me.
He touches my cheek and speaks.
"Are you alright?"
End of chapter 22.