Long Journey || ATEEZ

A Sense Of Foreboding Can't Go Unanswered

And so, two weeks passed, and Hongjoong's life took up a routine rhythm as things swiftly turned back to some semblance of normal. He'd go to training sessions four times a week, then visit the gym with San whenever he wasn't. At training, he would do a variety of things. One day he'd be working on the pads with the others, other days they'd practise sparring, and sometimes they'd have sessions focused on utilising their Magik in fights. Hongjoong felt himself improving, and judging from the results of some of his sparring matches, he definitely was. Just the other day, he had even managed to beat Robert (though Hongjoong himself didn't particularly count it as a victory because he had only just managed to push the half-holin out of the ring).

Seonghwa had been getting busier lately, and was not at the training sessions often, meaning Hongjoong would have to face the other assassins alone. At first it had been mortifying, and extremely awkward, but as time passed, even the other assassins began to warm up to him, realising that he wasn't a privileged brat as they had first assumed Hongjoong to be.

"Hey," Eli had said coming up to him one day, "I'm just here to say I'm a bit sorry for how we all acted to you at first. You're not as bad as we thought."

Even Hyungseok had grown less aggressive.

Hongjoong had also started receiving lessons on handling and using guns. He knew why, of course, and a sick feeling would curdle inside him whenever his mind strayed to that reason, but he tried to deny it. He wasn't ready for that.

The day was Sunday, and the time early in the morning. Hongjoong and the other Cherries assassins (minus Seonghwa) had just finished warming up. Instructor Sayan had been called in to sort out some problem, so they had some time to themselves.

"So I guess Seonghwa's a no-show again," Hyungseok said bitterly. Though he had toned down on any outright bullying (if you could even call it that), he still kept up a passive-aggressive tone whenever he spoke with, or about Seonghwa or Hongjoong.

"He's probably off doing a job for Big Grey," Eli said, sighing. "Like always."

"What's the matter?" Hongjoong asked.

"Well..." Boram started hesitantly.

"It's just that they call us 'assassins', but we're never sent to, well, assassinate anyone," Seolhyun finished for her. "We've never been sent to kill anyone, unlike Seonghwa, who's always off doing jobs for Big Grey."

"All we're ever used for is fighting in gang wars," Robert added.

"Gang wars?"

"Yeah. Over territory and stuff," Eli shrugged. "It may not look like it, but there's a lot of bad blood between a lot of and certain gangs. Take High-End, for instance. They're one of the more powerful and rich gangs, and I think Big Grey has some kind of personal grudge against their leader, Sebastian Yoo."

"Just a couple of months ago," Boram piped up, "we were at war with them, actually. We were the main combatants."

"Which is why we can't help but hate Seonghwa a little," Seolhyun explained. "He's always doing the 'important' things, being called Big Grey's favourite, whilst we're left to fight petty wars over land."

"Oh," Hongjoong said understandingly, his eyebrows furrowed in sympathy for his fellow assassins. "I didn't realise."

"That's why we kinda hated you at first as well," Robert said. "You were a demon, and you know how much Big Grey obsesses over them, so we thought the same would be with you."

"Ah."

Just then, the double doors swung back open, and Instructor Sayan returned, followed by none other than Park Seonghwa himself. Upon spotting Hongjoong, he gave a little smile and small wave, and Hongjoong waved back welcomingly.