Dazzling Light | ATEEZ

Changes

7:54 p.m. | Polaris Office, Yongin

Polaris' office building in Yongin isn't as fancy as the headquarters in Seoul, though its subdued profile fits with their image as an adoption agency for orphaned teenagers and as a shelter for homeless youths. According to Seungyeon, Polaris' branch here doesn't provide housing, it's just a processing center. The kids under their care are shipped off to the Seoul branch, which has a dormitory for them.

When Yeeun and Elkie were treated in Naraolla Hospital and reunited with their families (Yeeun's policeman father, Jang Hyunseung, and Elkie's 80-year old grandmother, Jenny Hu), they thought they would have some respite before they were interrogated by the police, but Polaris had other plans for them. The strange organization worked with the local police to make a believable cover-up story.

Seungyeon asked the girls to add their own flair to it, so Yeeun made it as gruesome as possible. When she suggested they were locked up in a cage like animals, Seungyeon sent Polaris' agents to plant evidence on the site.

Their entire interrogation was staged; they had a script that they had to follow and Seungyeon watched their every move. Anything they say that contradicts what Polaris wants is refuted and excused as an effect of the trauma from their near-death experience. After that, they were taken to Polaris' satellite office and were told to wait in the lobby until their chief, Kim Bora, was done meeting with Wooseok and Yuto's parents.

The girls and their families were getting a bit agitated waiting, so Seungyeon got them some bottled water and sandwiches from the vending machine. It wasn't much, but at least they had something to eat before she escorted them to the meeting room.

Along the way, they passed by Wooseok's parents and Mr. Adachi, who all had grave expressions. They were being escorted by a dark-haired man with a slight build wearing a navy blue suit. Elkie, sensing this could be their best chance to talk to them, speaks up.

"What will happen to Wooseok and Yuto?" she asked.

Mr. Adachi turned to her with a solemn smile. "They'll be safe. But they'll never be the same."

"None of us will be the same again." Yeeun said.

Mrs. Jung looks back, her eyes red with tears but she's smiling. "I'm glad you're all safe."

"Not all of us." Elkie said, raw guilt in her voice and tears brimming in her eyes.

"Hyunggu was... Wooseok's best friend." Mr. Jung faced them. "It's unfortunate that... their friendship ended in such a way... I work in the same building as Mr. Kang. I don't know how I'll be able to face him every day, after knowing what happened between our sons."

So Polaris did tell their parents the truth. The cover-up story was for the press release. In a way, it was comforting for the girls, as they'll be able to share it with their families.

"Does Mr. Kang know already?" Hyunseung asked, turning to Wooseok's parents.

Mrs. Jung shook her head. "I don't know. We haven't seen them yet. You could ask Ms. Bora about it, though she's quite... cryptic." she said.

"You may have a discussion later, but right now, we need to see Ms. Bora. She's a very busy woman." Seungyeon said.

Hyunseung and Jenny looked like they wanted to argue, but they chose not to. The other Polaris agent leads Wooseok's parents and Mr. Adachi to the elevator, reminding them about 'terms and conditions'.

With that, the group disperses quietly.

Meeting Room 1, as Yeeun and Elkie learn, doesn't look anything out of the ordinary, and yet, the atmosphere in the room is just as heavy as that of a Gothic Revival library in the dead of night.