DANCE WITH THE DEVIL

CHAPTER 13

"Another video of me asking, why are you here?" Renjun asked, his eyes following the girl marching straight into his unit.

"You can just live with us, Renchi; the whole family won't mind," she plopped down on the sofa. "Besides, Chenle's studying architecture too; you can help him."

"And another video of me saying I prefer living alone?"

Areum huffed. "I need you and Jeno every single day!"

"Good pearl, this is the perfect time to wish Jeno Lee was here," Renjun sighed, sitting beside her. "So what's up?"

"Okay, so I'm thinking of applying for a job."

"Fucking finally!"

"But! Let me finish," she interjected. "Rench, what do you think about being a staff member at Racing Inc.?"

Renjun's face fell. "Out of my unit."

Areum burst into laughter. "I'm joking! Gosh. Besides, I can't even go outside my strict circle of tracked locations."

"Areum, you should be careful," Renjun said, his tone serious. "It's been a month since you were last seen in Nucleus, but you're already on the list. What if someone kidnaps you on the way here?"

She shrugged. "Mark installed a tracker on me."

To be honest, there wasn't a day that Areum Soleen Lee thought she could forget him. Memories of their laughter, the way he looked at her with those intense eyes, lingered in her mind, intertwining with her daily routine. She often found herself daydreaming about their stolen moments together, the way he made her feel alive amidst the chaos of their lives.

"Areum," Renjun said softly, snapping her out of her reverie. "I know you want to be independent, but you need to think this through. It's not just about getting a job; it's about safety. You know how dangerous it can get out there."

She met his gaze, seeing the genuine concern in his eyes. "I get it, Renjun. But sitting around and doing nothing isn't an option for me anymore. I want to do something meaningful, something that makes me feel alive."

Renjun sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just don't want anything to happen to you. You mean too much to all of us. And if you're determined to apply somewhere, at least consider a place that's a little less risky."

Areum felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. She knew he cared deeply for her, and that realization made her more resolute. "I appreciate that, really. But I've been cooped up for too long. I need to reclaim my life."

Renjun opened his mouth to argue but hesitated, his eyes softening. "Okay, but promise me you'll keep us in the loop? I'll help you with the application, and we can go through it together."

"Deal!" Areum grinned, feeling a rush of excitement course through her veins. "And besides, I need your smart brain when it comes to writing a killer cover letter."

As they bantered back and forth, Areum felt the weight of her worries lift, if only for a moment. But as the laughter subsided, the silence crept back in, and thoughts of Jaemin invaded her mind once more.

What was he doing right now? Did he look for her? Did he think of her?

The lingering questions gnawed at her, but she pushed them aside for now. She had a plan, and she was determined to take charge of her own life, no matter how daunting the path ahead seemed.