GASLIGHTER // BBANGSAZ

36|protect her at all cost 🚭❗

Minji awoke with a start, her heart racing as the remnants of her restless dreams faded into the dim light of the hideout.

She looked around, momentarily disoriented, before her eyes landed on the closed door of the room where Hanni was still sleeping. Her heart softened, a small smile playing on her lips. They'd made it through another night, but Minji knew that the safety they felt was temporary. The call from Hanni's parents was a stark reminder of that.

The threat looming over them was real, and they needed a plan-something foolproof, something that would buy them time.

As she got up and stretched, a cold determination settled over her. The private investigator on their trail was too close for comfort, and it was only a matter of time before more people came looking. Minji couldn't allow that to happen. Hanni was hers, and she would do whatever it took to protect her.

She started pacing, her mind racing with possibilities. They needed to shift the focus, to direct the authorities' attention away from them. The problem was that Hanni's parents knew too much. They knew she was alive, they knew about the private investigator, and they were actively looking for her. If they were going to pull this off, Minji needed a plan that would completely discredit Hanni's parents and divert all suspicion away from them.

An idea began to form in her mind, a dark, twisted plan that would leave Hanni's parents with no credibility, possibly even in jail. It was risky, but it could work. Minji's mother's death had always been a mystery, the details shrouded in uncertainty. And with the right manipulation, she could use that to their advantage.

Minji sat down, her mind working rapidly. She needed to find a way to link Hanni's parents to her mother's death convincingly. It would have to be something that couldn't be easily disproven, something that would throw the police off their trail entirely. If she could make it look like Hanni's parents were responsible for the murder, then all the attention would be on them, and no one would be looking for Hanni.

She thought back to the details of her mother's death. It had been ruled an accident-a fall down the stairs late one night when Minji was still in high school. But Minji had always known it wasn't an accident. Her mother had been involved in dangerous dealings, her life full of secrets that Minji had only begun to uncover. She'd suspected foul play, but there had never been enough evidence to prove anything. (That's what the police saw it as, well, until minji and hanni became their prime suspects.)

But what if she could manufacture that evidence?

Minji's pulse quickened as the pieces began to fall into place. Her mother had been a shrewd businesswoman, involved in a number of under-the-table deals, some of which had put her in conflict with dangerous people.

What if Hanni's parents had been involved? They were well-off, had connections in business circles, and it wouldn't be hard to fabricate a connection between them and Minji's mother.

She'd start by planting the idea that Hanni's parents had been in business with her mother, that they had a falling out, and that they were responsible for her death. Minji could use her contacts to forge documents, falsify emails, create a trail that led straight to Hanni's parents. It would take time, but if she could pull it off, it would be perfect.

Minji knew that Hanni's parents were desperate to find their daughter. That desperation could be used against them. She could make it look like they had been searching for Hanni because they were afraid she knew something, that she had evidence of their involvement in the murder. It would make them look guilty, suspicious, and it would explain their frantic search for her.

Minji's mind raced as she thought through the details. She would have to be careful, meticulous in her planning. Any mistake could unravel everything. But she was good at this-manipulating, controlling, making people see what she wanted them to see. She would have to dig into her mother's old business records, find people who could be bribed or threatened into supporting the story.

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that it could work. If she could tie Hanni's parents to her mother's death, if she could make it look like they had something to hide, then the police would turn their attention to them. And with the right push, they could even end up in jail, leaving Hanni and Minji free to disappear.

Minji sat back, a smile spreading across her face. It was a ruthless plan, but it was exactly what they needed. Hanni's parents had pushed too far, and now they were going to pay for it. Minji would make sure of that.

She stood up, feeling a surge of energy. There was a lot of work to do, but she was ready. This was her chance to protect Hanni, to make sure no one could take her away. She would start with gathering the information she needed, then she'd reach out to a few people who owed her favors. It wouldn't be easy, but it would be worth it.

Minji glanced at the closed door, her heart swelling with determination. Hanni was her world, and she would do whatever it took to keep her safe. Even if it meant destroying the lives of the people who had brought her into this world.

She moved quickly, grabbing her laptop and settling down on the worn sofa. She started researching, pulling up old business records, looking for anything she could use to build her story. Her mother had been involved in a number of shady deals, and it didn't take long for Minji to find a few that could be linked to Hanni's parents with the right manipulation.

She worked for hours, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she crafted a narrative that would make Hanni's parents look guilty. She forged emails, created fake financial records, and even doctored a few old photos to make it look like they had been involved with her mother. It was a meticulous, painstaking process, but Minji was relentless. She knew what was at stake.

By the time she was done, she had a convincing case. She'd created a story where Hanni's parents had been business partners with her mother, where they had a falling out over a deal gone wrong, and where they had her killed to cover up their own crimes. It was all lies, of course, but it was believable enough to hold up under scrutiny.

Minji leaned back, staring at the documents she'd created. It was perfect. With this, she could frame Hanni's parents for her mother's death, discredit them completely, and divert all attention away from herself and Hanni. She felt a surge of satisfaction, a fierce sense of triumph. She'd done it. She'd found a way to protect them.

She would start planting the evidence slowly, feeding it to the right people. A rumor here, a leaked document there. She'd be careful, methodical. And when the time was right, she'd make sure it all came crashing down on Hanni's parents.

Minji closed her laptop, a smile spreading across her face. They were going to be okay. She would make sure of that. No one was going to take Hanni away from her. Not now, not ever.

She stood up, glancing once more at the closed door. She needed to talk to Hanni, to tell her what she was planning. She needed her to understand why this was necessary. But that could wait. For now, Hanni needed rest. Minji would take care of everything.

Minji moved quietly, slipping out of the room and heading back to the small space where Hanni was still sleeping. She opened the door gently, stepping inside. Hanni was still curled up on the bed, her breathing slow and even. Minji's heart ached as she looked at her, so vulnerable, so trusting.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Hanni's face. Hanni stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked up at Minji, confusion and exhaustion in her gaze.

"Minji?" Hanni's voice was soft, sleepy. "What's going on?"

Minji smiled, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to Hanni's forehead. "Nothing, sweetheart. I'm just checking on you."

Hanni's eyes closed again, a small, tired smile tugging at her lips. "Okay... I'm so tired..."

"I know, baby. Just rest. Everything's going to be okay."

Hanni nodded weakly, already drifting back to sleep. Minji watched her for a moment longer, her heart swelling with love and determination. She would protect Hanni, no matter what. And if that meant destroying Hanni's parents, then so be it.

Minji stood up, her resolve hardening. She had work to do. She would frame them, destroy them, and make sure no one ever came after her and Hanni again. Because Hanni was hers, and she would protect her, no matter the cost.

_

Poor people.