Devil in the Shadows

Jeon Somi

After dropping the kids at school, Jeongyeon and Jihyo set into a routine. They freshened up and stopped by Jihyo's parent's house. Jeongyeon is forever thankful to Mr and Mrs. Park. Even though it wasn't their place, they took care of Chaeyoung and Tzuyu very dearly. Mama Park was very depressed when she realized she can't have anymore kids after Jihyo, but by god's wish she was gifted with three kids in the form of Jeongyeon, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu. Both of them volunteered to look after the kids when Jeongyeon and Jihyo decided to join the special forces after high school. Even though Mama Park was never a fan of dangerous jobs, she knew Jihyo would choose her uncle's path. Mrs. Park's brother was a war hero and both Jihyo and Jeongyeon were very close to him.

"Papa P, do we have the place for our new office?" Jeongyeon asked while having lunch at the Park Residence.

"Yes my dear. I have talked to the owner. They are okay with the amount that we proposed. We can send over the documents after you two visit the place and confirm." He said pointing at Jihyo and Jeongyeon.

"Yes papa." Jihyo replied.

"What on earth is going on? You all don't tell me anything. Why do you keep stressing me." Mama Park responded, clearly upset.

"Eomma,it's about a business that we were planning to start." Jihyo tried her best to console her mother.

"Jeongyeon, tell me the truth. You both are not going to sell guns are you?". Mama Park held on to her chest.

"No..no.. we are planning to start a security service for the rich and celebrities. You know, like bodyguards and stuff." Jeongyeon explained.

"How is that any different from what you were doing till now?" Mama Park raised her eyebrow.

"I forgot how your mother can be scary sometimes." Jeongyeon muttered towards Jihyo.

"Eomma, it's just a contract job. Like for a few days or months and besides I will be here you know.... forever." Jihyo gave her mother a dramatic action.

"You better be or god knows what am gonna do with the two of you." Mama Park banged the table for a good measure to emphasize the point. Jeongyeon and Jihyo just nodded understandingly.

"Did you call Sana?" Jihyo asked as they drove to the city.

"Yeah. She is at the cemetery. We can go that way if it's okay with you." Jeongyeon said without looking at Jihyo.

"You know I would never say no to that. She was our best friend and the only one mature among the four of us."

"It's true. Without her we could have been a bunch of baboons." Jeongyeon chuckled.

"Let's go Jeongie. It's been two years since we visited. There's a lot to talk about."

At the cemetery.

"You both came" A young woman in her late 20s greeted both of them. She is slim, tall and beautiful. She wore a black dress, her brunette hair fell over her shoulders.

"How could we not?" Jihyo replied as she went in for a hug, which the woman gladly gave in.

"It's been two years,Ji. How are you ?" She asked.

"I am good, now that we are free." She smiled and replied.

The young woman walked towards Jeongyeon who stood there watching them. You could tell she is hesitant. Was it guilt on her face? She looked absolutely handsome in her plaid jeans and black t-shirt.

"Come here Jeongie. I ain't got all day." The younger woman opened her arms and Jeongyeon fell right into it. Tears streamed down her eyes. Who knew the tough bad wolf had a soft side. The one side only these two got to see.

"Shh..shh...it's okay Jeongie. Let it out. I am here, so is Somi." The younger woman held Jeongyeon as close as possible. Patting and rubbing her back to sooth down the overwhelming emotion.

"I am sorry Sana." Jeongyeon managed to let out.

"You have been saying sorry to me for 10 years now. Even though I have told you countless times that it's not your fault." Sana reminded her friend.

"But I didn't protect her. I was supposed to be her shadow." Jeongyeon ran her fingers through her hair.

"We are over this Jeongyeon." Jihyo said firmly. " I was the leader and I let her go. Nobody knows what's to come in our line of job."

"I was right there before you Jeongie. Don't you think I should be the guiltiest of you all?" A voice can be heard from a distance. Everyone turned their head towards the voice. A woman in her 30s stepped out. She had a small limp in her walk, a sign of an injury. She was wearing cargo pants and a black sweatshirt with a cap on her head. Her black glasses hiding her eyes and her long black hair let down.

"Momo..." Jeongyeon rushed to her friend and hugged her tight. Jihyo joined a second later.

Sana watched as the three best friends reunite and a tear fell out of the corner of her eye. She looked at the grave stone.

In memory of Jeon Somi, a loving daughter, sister and best friend.

They spend the entire afternoon at the cemetery. Jeongyeon stayed a little longer. She sat in front of Somi's grave and cried. The friends let her. They knew her.

It was an ambush. A mission gone wrong. Somi was the youngest of their team. Always the bubbly one. She kept them on their toes. Between Jihyo and Jeongyeon's banters and Momo's useless jokes, Somi made a difference. She wrapped the three big baddies around her fingers . She was so mature for her age. When a secret mission came, Somi was all on board but the members didn't allow it. They cared about her too much. If they knew that would have been her last one, they wouldn't have let her at all.

Somi caved her way into the team, begging and pouting. They left for the mission on a condition that one of them will always be with her. But unfortunately the mission strategy was leaked. Somehow the enemies knew. Momo was supposed to guard Somi. When she got shot in her leg Somi stayed. They captured her and Momo. Jeongyeon was the one to retrieve them. She was so close to saving them until someone pulled the trigger. Somi was shot in the head by a sniper. It was horrible. Jeongyeon watched her life leave her body. She blamed herself for not checking the perimeter thoroughly. Years of experience should have come in handy but when it's your loved ones, sometimes panic gets the worst out of you.

She couldn't look at Sana, Somi's sister, for years. Even though the latter tried to reach out to her many times. Forgiving her instantly for what happened, Jeongyeon ghosted them all. She took on secret missions alone. Not even Jihyo knew where she was. Five years later when Jeongyeon came back, she was different. A complete cold mess. But Jihyo knows somewhere that the old Jeongyeon is still alive. Maybe there will be someone who could bring her back.