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25.

"Renjun hyung?"

"Why are you calling me at... 3 in the morning? Go to sleep."

"Noona?"

There was a silence on Renjun's end which made Jisung's nerves go haywire.

"Hyung, is noona okay? Why isn't she answering her phone? Let me talk to her."

When Renjun still didn't answer, Jisung angrily took a sharp breath.

"Why aren't you answering!? First, tell me is she with you or not?"

"She is."

"Why the hell aren't you answering then!?"

"Language!" Two voices said at the same time. The monotone one belonging to Renjun and the sleepy one belonging to Jaemin.

"Is that Jaemin? Is he with you?" Renjun's voice asked. Jisung stared at his phone and then at the three sleepy figures on the sofa. "Yeah. Three idiots decided to sleepover at my house."

"Haechan and Jeno are also there?" 

"Unfortunately."

Renjun sighed internally, relieved that Jisung wasn't alone. One thing less for Jieun to worry about. "Pass over the phone to Jaemin."

"No. My phone, my noona. I'm coming to the station to pick her up."

"Jisung."

"You won't tell me how she is? Fine! I'll come and see for myself."

"Park Jisung stay right where you are! Do you want to add to your sister's pain and worries?"

"Come again?"

On the other end, Renjun silently cursed himself for the slip of tongue.

"When I'm not telling you, get the hint that I can't tell you."

"I'm her brother! I deserve to know!"

"True. But as her brother you should also know that she wouldn't want you getting involved."

Jisung's continuously rising voice had woken up both Haechan and Jeno and jolted Jaemin out of his drowsiness.

"Wha- Park Jisung why the hell are you shouting in the middle of the night?" Haechan asked annoyed.

"Technically it's morning-" One angry glare from Jisung and Jeno quietly gulped down his words. 

"Shut up both of you!"

Haechan gaped at the younger's words. He looked at Jisung to Jaemin to Jeno and the back at Jisung. "Did that punk just talk down to me?" 

Patting Haechan's back to calm him down, Jeno silently locked his gaze with Jaemin's. "What's wrong with him?" He mouthed, tilting his head to point at Jisung. Jaemin ran a hand through his hair. "Renjun." He mouthed back to Jeno who in return scrunched his face out of worry. I don't know who to pray for, Jisung or Renjun?

Meanwhile, Jisung was already on his way to the door.

"Ya! Where are you going at this hour?" Jaemin asked, grabbing hold of his arm.

"Police station. I want to see noona."

Renjun who had been listening to everything, face palmed himself. "What part of 'stay where you are' do you not understand?"

Ignoring Renjun's statement, Jisung kept tying his shoes. "I'll be there in an hour or so. If you want, go home hyung."

"I can't leave-" Renjun sighed. "You know what, come. She might actually feel better to have you by her side."

"Why are you-"

"Come to Neo Central Hospital."

~~~

Jieun had cried herself to exhaustion. Her injuries had been bandaged and she was now slumped in the chair, with her head on Renjun's shoulder. Renjun was sitting stiffly, glancing from his phone time and again to glance at Jieun's sleeping figure. The sight of her wounds was filling him with uncontrollable worry and anger.

"You two seem to be close." A voice softly commented.

Renjun turned his head sharply to look at the person. Taeyong was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and his ever sharp eyes on Jieun's figure. Renjun knew that the detective Taeyong, much like him, was known for being intimidating. 

But this time, behind Taeyong's expression Renjun saw something more than sternness. Something was bothering him and Renjun could sense that it was related to Jieun. He recalled his first meeting with him. Even back then, Taeyong had stared at Jieun with a gaze which was more than that of an officer's. 

He looked at the said girl briefly, to check whether she was still asleep or not. To his relief, she was dead asleep. He then looked back at Taeyong with a raised brow.

"What's it to you?"

Taeyong narrowed his eyes. "Careful kid. Do you know whom you are talking to?"

"Don't care."

Taeyong scoffed. "Kids these days... no manners at all."

"Better than some lousy, arrogant fools who can't do their job properly. Let alone catch criminals, you loosers aren't even qualified to protect the citizens."

"Watch your words! I could arrest you right here for disrespecting an officer."

"Yeah? Do it. See if Jieun would like it."

Jieun's mention caused Taeyong's eyes to falter from his face for just a second but that second was enough for Renjun to confirm something. He either knows something; something related to Jieun and is hiding it or he doesn't know but wants to know. Question is what and why.

"Do you-"

Before Renjun could ask anything more, Taeyong straightened himself. "If you'll excuse me, I have urgent matters to attend to, related to the case." Before completely walking off, he looked over his shoulder, back at the two. "When she wakes up, make sure she eats something with salt in it. She gets... her blood pressure might have dropped." 

Renjun's ears did not miss the abrupt tone of hesitancy in his words. "Why..." Ignoring Renjun, Taeyong walked off. "...do you know about that?" Renjun whispered, watching Taeyong's hurried exit.

Yup. He definitely knows something. Detective Lee Taeyong, I'm watching you.

Okayyyyy not the best chapter. I know. The next one will be more dramatic so I thought let's give you guys the 'calm before the storm' ;)

Also, Taeyong why you behaving like a suspicious person?