Deadlock || ᴠᴍɪɴ

Chapter 11

Jimin and Rob decided to have an early dinner at the hotel restaurant.

During their meal, Rob told him that not only was Rubi a very good lobbyist, she also happened to be the president’s niece.

Getting close with her would clearly make it easier to obtain internal information about Smith-Backs Company. That was probably V’s aim. The system development company that he supposedly worked for was probably a front for the CIA.

Rob’s cell phone rang just as they had finished their meal and were about to head back to their room. It was an invite from one of his friends.

“Out? Right now?” Rob said. “Oh, I don’t know…”

“Why not? Go ahead,” Jimin said. “I’m a little tired, so I’m going to head up and take a rest.”

Rob nodded and looked at him apologetically before letting his friend know that he was going.

“Sorry,” he said, once he hung up his phone. “It was from an old co-worker. He was with the rest of the gang and wanted to know if I could join.”

“Don’t mind me. Go on and have fun.”

After seeing Rob off, Jimin returned to their room alone. He emerged from his shower with a towel wrapped around his waist, and let himself fall onto the bed without bothering to get dressed.

Although he had finally reunited with V again, he didn’t feel happy at all. In fact, he felt even more depressed than before.

V’s cold gaze had shattered Jimin’s heart. He knew that it was inevitable, since they were both meeting under false identities. But he wished he could have at least caught a glimpse of joy in V’s face over their reunion. If even for one second, he wished that V would look at him like he used to.

Jimin rolled over onto his back and gazed blankly at the ceiling. He could see V’s face before him, even with his eyes open. But the man’s face was as cold as ice. He was giving Jimin the cold shoulder – it was hard to see it any other way.

Jimin tossed and turned in agony, gritting his teeth at the storm of violent emotions whirling inside him.

—I miss him. I miss him so much. I want to see V so badly.

If they were alone, without anyone else, perhaps they could talk like the old days. Perhaps they could take their masks off and genuinely celebrate their reunion.

He remembered V’s hotel room number. If he left now, he would arrive in time to see him.

Jimin could no longer sit still. He changed back into his suit and burst out of the room. He got into a taxi in front of the hotel and told the driver to take him to the hotel where V was staying. He felt like his heart would burst from the alternating waves of anxiety and anticipation.

But as soon as he stepped into the lobby of the hotel, one thought stopped him in his tracks. What if V and Rubi were staying in the same room? If they were staying together and Jimin just barged in, he would look suspicious.

After mulling things over, Jimin considered calling the hotel front desk from his cell phone and asking them to call up to V’s room.

He made for a corner in the lobby to make his call and took one step before he was grabbed by the arm from behind. Jimin turned around in surprise and gasped when he realized who it was.

“V…”

V was stony-faced, looking down at him icily.

“Come,” he said shortly, breaking into a brisk walk. Jimin hastily followed after him. V stepped into the elevator and immediately closed the door. They didn’t exchange a single word as they reached the eighth floor and continued walking down the long hallway.