Beauty And A Beast

Chapter 5

Tzuyu

I cock the gun as I slowly remove it from its sheath. The corridor in front of me is empty and dark but I keep on walking confidently because there definitely is a camera somewhere in here. And if they see me doubting myself, the whole plan gets ruined.

No pressure though.

I keep an icy mask over my features, preventing people from seeing what I'm feeling. I've gotten so used to hiding my emotions that is seems weird seeing expressive people on the road or at school.

Thinking about school, my mind slowly drifts to the Minatozaki girl. I guess Chaeyoung was right when she said that the transferees are Japanese.

And perhaps when she said that Japanese are gorgeous.

Everything about her seems perfect. Her wavy brown hair, her ocean blue eyes, her plum lips. She is stubborn in a way I've never seen anyone be. She's-

A loud thud pulls me out of my thoughts and has me raising the Beretta M9 in front of me. I keep on moving in the darkness, with not even a single oil lamp from the ceiling. The factory in which I'm in has been abandoned for a long time but, a few weeks ago, dad's spies informed us that someone is residing in here. And there is a high possibility that it's the Japanese Mafia.

The corridor starts to become smaller and I feel my shoulders brushing against the cold walls as I continue walking. It's not after a long time that I hear indistinct voices and spot a flickering light at the end of the corridor.

I move closer, trying to understand what the men and women are saying. And my guess is right.

They're speaking Japanese.

I take out my extra phone, the one that is only for my business with dad, and message him to tell him that he was right. And then, I get ready to do what I was told to do.

I take the small timed bomb from where it's hanging on my belt and take a few deep breaths. My dad's 'signature move' is when everything ends up in flames. That's what he always does, what he always orders me to do. And, right now, in order for everything to end up burnt to a crisp, a bomb is the only way. The abandoned factory is full of different gasses and oils anyway so spreading the fire won't be a problem.

I just need to leave the place fast enough.

With a few more shaky breaths, I activate the bomb and put it down on the floor, where no one can see it.

Now I have exactly three minutes to get out of here.

I start running as fast as my feet can carry me, checking the watch in my wrist that's set a timer for three minutes which could be the last three minutes of my life.

Or just three extremely stressful minutes of my life.

When I find myself outside the building and start climbing the wired fence surrounding it, one and a half minutes have passed. I successfully jump over the fence and start running to my bike-

"Oi! You!"

I turn to my left where a short man is aiming a gun at my direction. I manage to duck under his first bullet but his second scratches my cheek. I feel hot, thick blood run down my face as I lift my arm and pull the trigger.

The factory explodes just as I start my bike's engine and drive off.

★★★

"How many times do I have to tell you to be careful? People start asking when they see you like that!"

I don't reply to my brother's scolding. I haven't been to see my dad yet since my brother's words are much better than my dad's. And the fact that my brother uses words is also much better.

Mark is the heir to dad's whole fortune. All the money he's made out of killing people, illegal businesses, drugs and gambling, will go to Mark when dad dies. Because there's no other way he's giving his 'precious business' away.

And when dad dies, everything will stay the same for me. My job will be the same, with the only change being I will be killing for my brother's sake, obeying my brother's orders.

"God, people are already staring. Can't you hide it somehow?" he continues. "Can't you put some concealer or whatever make up can make it invisible?"

"Pfft, I'm not wearing make up." I scoff. "Besides, let them stare. The least they think you're my boyfriend and you're abusing me. The most, they think I'm a serial killer." I shrug. Mark chuckles and takes a sip of his drink.

"Will you be attending the Senior Trials?"

I raise my eyebrow in question. "The what?"

"Every year, the student council organizes a test for the seniors' fighting and survival skills, the Senior Trials. C'mon, don't tell me you've never heard of it!"

I shake my head. "I have no idea what the hell you are talking about."

"Okay, look, the Senior Trials is a competition consisting of three Challenges. The person who wins the Challenges and has the most votes from the students when they're over, wins 2 Billion Won."

"Two fucking what?" I exclaim. 2 Billion Won is an amount of money not even dad possesses. With so much money, I could leave Seoul. Hell, I could leave Korea. I could get away from my dad and his obsession with burning things and people.

"I'll think about it." I tell Mark finally.

"Please do. I'll be rooting for you sis." he replies with a wink.

★★★

I see a familiar figure walking alone in front of me as I head back to my condo. Her brown hair is falling free and wavy over her back, moving slightly against the night breeze. My lips quirk into a smirk when I fasten my pace and walk behind her.

"You always seem to enjoy my prese-"

I haven't even finished my sentence when she suddenly turns around. She pushes me to the nearest wall, air gushing out of my lungs when I hit my back on it. Before I know it, she is pressing the pocket knife with the purple hilt to my throat.

"Woah, chill Minatozaki. It's just me, your favorite gorgeous stranger."

"Still prefer cocky bitch." she grins.

"Is this a habit of yours? Putting knives on people's throats?"

"It's a new one. I think it's enhanced now that I met you."

I gently push the hand with the knife away. "You don't seem to like me that much. I remember catching you from falling the first time we met."

Sana puts the knife in her pocket. "I don't go by first impressions."

"See? We have something in common already." I say and start walking away. "I'd rather you don't send that knife flying to my back."

To my surprise, Sana catches up to me. "Oh, I'm sure I'll get many more chances to stab you in the back." she says. We walk in silence for a while.

"And what's a habit of yours? Cutting yourself?"

I look at her with a questioning look and she points at the cut on my cheek. "I fell." I lie.

"On what?"

"Oh, are you starting to care?" I give her a fake pout.

"You wish Chou. And don't do that, you're ugly." she points at my pouting lips.

"Oh, so you think I'm pretty."

"That's not what I said."

"You implied it though."

"What I implied is that it makes you look uglier than you already are." she states with a frustrated sigh and I notice her spinning the ring on her thumb while doing so.

Interesting. Just like the rest of her.

A/N:

Sorry if things are a bit slow, I'll be cutting to the chase as fast as I can, hope you're enjoying reading😊