𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗟𝗘𝗬 | ᴊᴀᴇᴊɪ

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸

The cityscape blurred past Na Jaemin as he was driven swiftly towards the location where his skills as an assassin were urgently needed. He sat in the back of the sleek, black vehicle, his expression composed, his mind sharp and focused. Despite the abrupt end to their vacation, Jaemin was a professional; once he was on a mission, all personal concerns were locked away, his entire being centered on the task at hand.

The car came to a stop in an inconspicuous alley near the city's bustling financial district. Jaemin stepped out, his movements fluid and confident. He was dressed in a dark suit, blending the persona of a businessman with that of a calculated hunter. His contact, a stern-faced woman named Min, approached him with a dossier in hand.

"Here are the details," Min said, handing him the file. "The target is a high-profile criminal involved in international trafficking. He's been hard to pin down, but we've finally tracked him to a meeting spot here in the city."

Jaemin opened the dossier, scanning the photographs and notes quickly. "Any particular reason this has been expedited?" he asked, his eyes not leaving the pages.

"He's planning to leave the country tonight. If we miss this window, we lose him possibly forever," Min explained, her voice tense.

Jaemin nodded, closing the dossier. "Understood. What's the extraction plan?"

"You're going in alone. Once the job is done, leave the area immediately. We'll clean up," Min detailed. "There's an escape route planned out for you leading to a safe house until things cool down."

Jaemin memorized the details swiftly. "I'll need equipment," he stated.

"Already in your car," Min replied, pointing to the trunk of the vehicle. It was stocked with various tools necessary for his mission—silenced weapons, a compact drone for surveillance, and other essentials.

With a final nod to Min, Jaemin geared up. He checked his weapons meticulously, each movement practiced and precise. Then, using the compact drone, he scouted the meeting area—a nondescript office building with multiple exits and minimal security visible from the outside.

As the drone relayed images back to him, Jaemin planned his approach. He chose a quiet entry, using a service door at the back of the building. Inside, he moved with ghost-like silence, his senses alert to any sound, any movement that was out of place.

He found his target in a secluded conference room on the fourth floor. The man was not alone; two bodyguards flanked him. Jaemin assessed the situation quickly, calculating the risks. He decided on a direct approach—the element of surprise was on his side.

In one fluid motion, Jaemin burst through the door, his weapon ready. Before the bodyguards could fully react, he incapacitated them with precise, non-lethal shots. The target, caught off-guard, barely had time to stand before Jaemin was upon him.

"Na Jaemin," the man stammered, recognition flashing in his eyes—a mix of fear and resignation settling in as he realized his fate.

Jaemin's expression was impassive as he confirmed the man's identity and executed the mission with clinical precision. The deed done, he wiped down the surfaces he'd touched, left no trace of his presence, and exited the building as quietly as he had entered.

Once out, he followed the escape route to the safe house. Inside, he finally allowed himself a moment to breathe. The adrenaline slowly ebbed from his veins, replaced by a cold realization of the life he led—a stark contrast to the warm, loving moments he'd shared with Jisung just hours before.

As he sat alone, Jaemin couldn't help but think of Jisung, hoping for the safety and normalcy he wished they could always have. He pulled out his phone, sending a simple message: "Mission accomplished. I'm safe." He hoped it would ease Jisung's worry, at least for the night.

In the solitude of the safe house, with the city's lights a distant glimmer, Jaemin pondered the duality of his life—between love and duty, between the warmth of passion and the chill of necessity. As he prepared for the hours of watchfulness that lay ahead, he held onto the hope that soon, he would return to Jisung, to a semblance of peace, even if it was fleeting.