I hugged Jeonghan tightly more than what is supposed to be in a motor ride. I keep telling myself that this is not a goodbye hug. I just want to make the most out of the time I have with him.
The ride gave me a quick tour of Seoul. I tried to read the names of each establishments we passed so I could remember when we have the time to try them.
Yes, definitely. We will have next time to check out those restaurants. But why am I suddenly missing our home? Our clinic, the bakery in Chinatown, Jun's restaurant, and our condo.
I'm worrying too much.
I looked at the side mirror and checked on Hoshi. He's driving with Jun and Minghao at the backseat. I left my hiking backpack there that has my first aid kit (which Minghao mocked if I fit a stretcher in it).
Even if Minghao makes fun of me a lot, I can still feel his care for me. Now I'm starting to regret all of this.
What if I didn't say anything and just drove here alone? Jun could've stopped Minghao. Hoshi won't overthink Seokmin's reply. Jeonghan could've stayed in the restaurant.
"Are you worried?" Jeonghan shouted in the wind.
"No."
"I can't see but I know you're lying."
"You can still go home."
"Not a chance. How 'bout a plan?"
Good suggestion, but I don't have one. I don't even know what we're getting into. I've never been to the headquarters so I have no idea how it looks. I don't know how many people the mafia and Nico brought. I know nothing.
"Okay. Stop worrying." He shouted again.
"I said I'm not."
"We'll see later what we can do, wait, this is it."
I think I'm seeing things. I can see a peak of a mountain at the far far left. Well, this route leads to Blue House anyway, maybe that's it. But Jeonghan is pointing at a 13-storey building right in front of us. Currently, its rooftop is burning.
Did they just set up their headquarters near the Blue House?
We pulled over in front of the building.
"It's on fire." I said.
"No shit, li'l prince." Minghao got down the car. Jun holds the other end of his robe and Hoshi is doing jumping jacks.
"13 floors. Not a good number." Jun said.
"No way. It's Seokmin's car!" Hoshi pointed at the red car.
"BEHIND MY BACK!!"
We heard a loud command coming from the third floor. Thank goodness it's not burning, but the windows are broken. Then a silhouette of a man appread.
"That's Vernon, right?"
I immediately stepped forward but Jeonghan grabbed my wrist. The rest of them already went inside, leaving the two of us.
"Second thoughts?" I asked.
"Promise me. Promise you won't die on me."
"I promise, I will not die."
His eyes widened and I felt his palms sweat cold.
"Hey, Jeonghannie?"
"I love you, Joshua."
"I love you, Jeonghan."
He froze again.
"Jeonghan, I swear I'm not lying."
"Don't mind me. Gotta help our friends out there." He ran. He's right, so I followed him.
No elevator nor escalator, it's tiring to run up the stairs. As we go higher, gunshots became louder it's defeaning.
The building is an ideal workplace. It has an atrium in the center. It's painted white with mint green borders. Many plant pots are knocked down, ruining the fancy interior.
