Scarlet(Red 3) JC [Revised]

9: Half Siblings

"They're going to kill Keeho tonight, Aerin."

Aerin straightened up in her chair at Jimin's words over the phone. Her heart pounded as she grasped the seriousness of the situation.

"I tried to stop him, but Seungcheol already took him inside, and Taehyung followed. You know them—they can do anything."

Aerin ran her fingers through her hair and groaned in frustration. She liked this guy, but all he did was illegal things, and she constantly had to cover up for him. But saving Keeho had a different reason: he was a valuable key to Jeonghan's destruction.

"Fine, I'll come. Is it the same club?"

"Yes. Come fast!"

Aerin cut the call, grabbed her keys, and rushed out of her house, her mind racing with plans to get Keeho out alive.

                                         _

"You should have listened to Jimin, kiddo!"

Keeho tried to sit up, but the woman in front of him insisted he lie back down.

"Who are you?"

That was the first question in Keeho's mind. After Seungcheol hit him with the bottle, he thought he would die. But when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a hospital bed. And this woman, whom he had never seen before, had saved him? But why? Why would a stranger do that?

"Heard of Nicole Martin?" the woman asked as she placed a tray of food in front of him. Keeho nodded; the name was familiar. The woman owned a luxury brand, as far as he knew.

"I'm her daughter, Aerin Nicole Park. Can you eat by yourself, or do you need help?"

Keeho stared at her blankly, still wondering why such a famous and rich woman would save a random stranger like him. And how did she even know what Seungcheol and Taehyung did to him? She said she needed him, but why? What exactly happened to him? Before he could say anything, she shoved a spoonful of food into his mouth.

"This is the first time I'm feeding someone, so eat fast."

Keeho slowly chewed the food.

"What did Seungcheol and Taehyung do to me?"

"They knocked you down and almost buried you alive. But as you can see, I saved you in time," Aerin replied.

"Why do you need me? How do you even know me? I don't think I've ever seen you—"

"Yoon Jeonghan, your half-brother?"

Keeho's eyes widened. He hadn't heard his brother's name in years. But how did this woman know about him?

"How do you know him?"

"You and Jeonghan share the same mother," Aerin said calmly. Keeho hesitantly nodded.

"Him and I share the same father, so we are half-siblings just like you two."

"No way... your father is the one eomma cheated on appa with?"

Aerin nodded nonchalantly. "Get well soon, Keeho. You are finally talking to me after three months. Now, I hope you'll make more progress." She softly patted Keeho's head.

                                            _

"Han, thank you."

Jeonghan turned back and raised an eyebrow. "For what?"