Crimson Madness #1 ⚖️: Commencement || SVT CRIME AU

20: Calm Before the Storm

"What's with the two of you, eh? The two of you are going to live under the same roof for a while, you are ought to be empathetic and understanding with one another," Seungcheol proceeded to nag at me and Jeonghan. We sat in his office, as if we're students who got called for being troublesome.

"Well, I just simply can't stand her," Jeonghan responded, sassily as I shot him a glare.

"It's not like I can stand you too,"

"Halt the bickering, that is enough," Seungcheol stifle a sigh as he leaned on his swivel chair, giving me and Jeonghan a look.

   "Okay you know what," he trailed off as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I won't force the two of you to get along, but I don't want any trouble in my house. Jeonghan, you're older than her, you should know better. And you Nari," he diverted his gaze at me.

"I'm aware that Jeonghan can be petty--"

"Hey! I--" Seungcheol raised his palm to halt him.

"I'm not done speaking, am I?" he raised an eyebrow at Jeonghan who had no choice, but to fall into silence.

"As I was saying, Jeonghan can be sometimes a bit immature, but just shrug it off," he advised.

***

Jeonghan and I separated ways in silence as soon as Seungcheol had done scolding us. I got into a bad mood so I just decided to linger around the grass field. I stifle a sigh as I sat in front of the pond where I threw a pebble at.

Now, that I think about it. I think he hates me because I know his secret which is his wife and child. On social media, he's a happy, adorable, single artist who is living the life; doing talk shows, tours, fan meets, modeling and such.

However, I didn't expect to find out that he's actually a married man with a child. If it was shocking for me who is not a fan, what more if his fans find out about it? That'd be crucial, unless his fans are mature and understanding. 

I flinched upon hearing a loud gunshot, fired. Followed by the caws of the crows who flee in group. I stood up and decided to look around to find where did that sound came from. Faints of chatters and laughter could be heard which I followed.

It led me an outside shooting range where I saw Junhui and Joshua. "Oh hey, little red," Junhui smiled as soon as he saw me. He stood by the firing line, held a gun as he pointed at the target whilst Joshua sat down on a chair

"Hey," I smiled as I took a chair and sat on it beside Joshua.

"Have you gone to a shooting range before?" Joshua asked, as he turned towards me.

"Yeah, a couple of times," Junhui handed me an headphone.

"Wear this, wouldn't wanna damage a beautiful girls' ears," I scoffed as I did obliged.

I mean, he's quite right. 

"Well, have you shot a person before?" I was taken a back by Junhui's straightforwardness as he pulled the magazine of the gun he held, and focused on the target.

"No...n-never," Why would I shoot a person? I would go to jail for that, and I'm not that kind of person.

"Well, welcome to our world, little red. Where we either fuck or kill the person we encounter," Junhui fired the gun, causing a loud gunshot which made me cover my ears although I already wore the headphone. 

Joshua laughed before speaking. "Junhui, you're hilarious. Stop saying such lies,"

He turned towards me and reassured me. "Nari, don't believe him. That's not true,"

"It's true!"

"It's not. Shut up, You're making us look like maniacs!" Joshua scolded.

"Well, aren't we?" There was silence between the three of us as Joshua cleared his throat.

"P-Partly, but damn I wouldn't want to be titled like that! Would you?!"

"Hell no!" The three of us ended up bursting into laughter.

***

Right after going to the shooting range, We were called to have lunch. We just had some Chinese take-outs since all we want to do were activities. It's already afternoon, I heard some went for horseback riding, shooting range, archery range, while some went for a nap.

Meanwhile, I made my way to the pond again, and just sat on the grass to just think and such. I also decided to take a time off from my phone and just appreciate nature.

I did some readings earlier, but still I didn't even get to finish it even halfway because it is a lot. I need a break in order to avoid burn out which will hinder my studies. If I get to have a burn out, it would take time before I recover from it.

"Out for fresh air again?" I tilted my head, only to find Seungcheol with a cigarette between his lips, again.

"Yeah, just finished doing a few readings," he nodded his head.

"And you? is this also your spot?" I asked, as we burst into  a small laughter.

"Not really, I usually smoke by the shooting range, but I figured coming here just to see how's pond is going on,"

"Really? guess, you have a connection with it, huh," he sat down beside me, still smoking.

"Guess so, it is where I used to spend my time as a child," He stifle a sigh before laying down on the grass, staring at the sky.

"This place used to be fun,"

"All my cousins and relatives would be here to spend the summer or any other holidays, but sadly a stupid assassination happened and now that my dad's gone, nobody even bothers to check up on me," I laid down beside him, staring at the sky.

"Well you can make it fun again with your men. I mean, the seven of you seem to have a strong bond," he huffed out a smoke in the air.

"Yeah we do, but it's not the same with ones that you have with blood-related people,"

Wish I could say the same because ever since I was a kid, my mother's side didn't really see me and my dad as part of their family. They resent my dad for impregnating my mom who was in her second year of law school. Nonetheless, she finished law and became an established lawyer, yet they still hated my dad for it.

   And as far as I know, when my mom died, their resentment towards my dad have increased which is why we've had no contact with them ever since. 

I guess they hate my dad because he can be kind of spiteful, plus the fact that he's got illegal shenanigans going on. "Whatever, I'm contented of where I am right now," Seungcheol chuckled.

There was silence between the two of us. We just laid there on the grass, staring at the bright sky where birds flew. This kind of scene just made me feel solitude and comforting.

"Hey guys, Joshua made some sna--Oh, I see what's going on in here," Seungcheol and I sat up and turned towards Junhui who was grinning.

Seungcheol shot him a glare before getting up. "Don't be so malicious, Jun," I was about to stand up when he lend his palm. I looked at him in the eye and he just stared at me.

I chuckled as I took his hand which help me stood up. "Let's go now, guys. Before the snacks gets cold," Junhui singsongs as we trailed behind him.