Nothing to Ruin

Chapter 8: What Just Happened?

One glass of whiskey. The man across Wheein downed the shot without setback. His name and face were two things Wheein would never forget. Lee Heojeon.

One name. It was all Wheein needed to get done with her business here. Here, in this darkened place, where the only lights were colored ones that swirled around and about. People flocked here, each one with a purpose different from the others. Either they wished to get drunk, get with someone, or deal with someone whose thumb she cut in the past. Like what she was doing.

One gunshot. All it took to throw away months of investigating and sneaking behind Hanmi's back.

"Damn it. Why now?" Wheein asked herself as she ducked under the table and drew out her gun. She grit her teeth as chaos ensued in the bar.

A few feet across Wheein, Hyejin stood. She had been drinking away when she hard a gunshot. While people rushed to get away from the place, she remained calm. But her eyes widened when she recognized the woman who ran after the shooter. Her gasp drowned amidst the panicked screams of the crowd and objects shattering on the floor. Against the rush, she tried to find another way out.

Wheein reached an alley near the bar. Gun in hand, her heart raced and adrenaline pulsated through every corner of her being. "Take one step and you're dead!" She uttered through clenched teeth aiming her pistol for the back of the man's head.

The man stopped in his steps. He was well aware that Wheein was more than capable of fulfilling the threat. He raised his hands, while he worked the situation out in his head.

Hyejin found herself standing before the shooter from earlier. Seeing the man's face shocked the two of them. She drew her gun and aimed. "Why are you after this guy, Wheein?!"

Damn​ that voice. Damn this. Wheein knew who owned the voice. It almost scared her, how the owner of that voice was a part of this mess. "This is none of your business. Walk away," she replied.

"I don't think so." Hyejin walked forward, closer and closer towards the guy caught in between. Her eyes flashed with anger, a burning flame sparked by the truth that she had seen this person in front of her.

"What the hell are you doing? Fuck off before I send a bullet through the two of you," Wheein warned.

The guy laughed. These two idiots were quarreling. He could see a car behind Hyejin, and if he played his cards right, he could get away. Tension hung in the air, the concrete ground echoing with anticipation of the story threatening to unravel.

Wheein made the decision. She pulled the trigger and left a hole through the assassin's knee. She walked over to the wounded man who fell after a holler, making Hyejin flinch.

As she grabbed the guy's collar, he gave Hyejin glare. Full of vindication and patience ready to run out, she spoke. "Go. Away."

The vicinity buzzed with the sound of police sirens and a gathering crowd. Hyejin gripped her gun, her fingers trembling and her thoughts a tangled mess. If she left, she'd never find out what this guy was doing here. And there was a good chance that Wheein would not hesitate to kill her. She pondered for a short second. With a growl, she tucked her weapon away and took a step back.

Then, out of nowhere, another shot was fired. Wheein watched the scene unfold. The guy drew his gun up, aiming for a kill as Hyejin turned to leave. Wheein was almost too late to redirect the gun away from Hyejin's head.

Deafening silence followed after the gunshot resonated. Wheein held her breath as time stopped. The air in her lungs faltered, her sanity ready to snap. If this man.. She swore she would do something so unforgivable if..