Fallen for him

Part 35

Joong’s Father: (His voice ice-cold, with a hint of menace) "You’ve been keeping an eye on him, I trust? Joong. Has he shown any signs of weakness yet?"

Gunman: (Calm, efficient) "Yes, sir. Joong's with Dunk and a few others on vacation. They’ve been careful, but Dunk... Dunk is where we’ll find our leverage. He's the first weakness."

Joong’s Father: (Coldly calculating) "Dunk. I’ve been watching him. He’s too attached to that grandmother of his, isn’t he? An old woman, living alone... She’s the key."

Gunman: (Nods slowly) "Exactly. Dunk’s closest to her. If she’s targeted, it’ll destabilize him. He’ll make himself vulnerable, and Joong will be forced to make a move. He won’t be able to ignore it."

Joong’s Father: (Smirking darkly) "Perfect. We need Dunk broken before Joong even knows what’s coming. I want Dunk to realize the price of being close to Joong. He’ll lose what he holds dear."

Gunman: (Cold and assured) "We’ll hit her at night, when there’s no one around to interfere. Make it clean, but leave just enough evidence so Dunk knows it’s us. Joong will be forced to choose."

Joong’s Father: (His voice lower, filled with venom) "Once Dunk reacts, Joong won’t be able to hide anymore. He’ll have to come crawling back to me. This is only the beginning."

Gunman: (Without hesitation) "Understood, sir. We’ll move swiftly."

Joong’s Father: (His tone hardens) "Make sure you send him a message he can’t ignore. Dunk’s pain will be the key. And when Joong feels it, we’ll be ready."
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Joong was outside, laughing with his friends as they tossed a ball around in the yard. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over everything. Dunk sat with his grandmother on the porch, chatting and enjoying the quiet afternoon.

Milk : (Shouting from across the yard, grinning) "Hey, Dunk! Grandma! Come join us! We're about to play hide and seek!"

Dunk: (Smiling, glancing at his grandmother) "You’re on! Grandma, you up for it?"

Grandmother: (Chuckling softly) "Well, I’m not as fast as I used to be, but I’ll give it a try."

Dunk stood up, offering his hand to his grandmother. Together, they walked toward Joong and the others, ready to join the game.

Joong: (Grinning widely) "This is gonna be fun! Let’s see if you can hide better than me!"

The group scattered, their laughter filling the air as they began their playful chase, completely unaware of the danger lurking just out of sight.

The group of friends gathered in the afternoon sun, chatting excitedly about their next adventure.

Gemini: (Grinning as he looked at Dunk) "Hey, how about we check out that ancient temple nearby? We’ve got the whole afternoon free!"

Dunk: (Nods eagerly) "Yeah, it’s been on my list for a while. Should be fun."

Grandmother: (Sitting on the porch, smiling warmly) "You all go ahead. I’m too old for climbing up those stone steps, and besides, I need to cook for dinner tonight."

Joong: (Chuckling) "Are you sure, Grandma? We can always come back early."

Grandmother: (With a wink) "No, no. You all have fun. I'll be fine here, making sure there’s food for when you come back."

Dunk looked at his grandmother with a fond smile, then turned to Joong and the others.

Dunk: "Alright, We’ll bring back some stories for you."

With that, the group headed off toward the temple, their laughter and chatter fading into the distance. Dunk gave his grandmother one last look before following Joong and the others, leaving her behind to prepare the evening meal.

The group, full of energy and excitement, made their way down the winding path leading to the ancient temple. Joong, Dunk, and their friends chatted and laughed, the sound of their footsteps crunching on the gravel path blending with the distant calls of birds.

Tay: (Looking at the others, grinning) "I’ve heard the view from the temple is amazing. We’re definitely not missing this."

Dunk: (Smiling but with a hint of nostalgia in his voice) "Yeah, I used to come here with my family when I was younger. It’s always been a peaceful place."

New: (Jokingly) "Peaceful? I bet it’s haunted with all the ancient history around here."

First: (Laughing) "Haunted or not, I just want to see the view!"

They reached the base of the steps leading up to the temple, towering ancient stones bathed in the soft afternoon light. The air felt heavier with the history of the place, the kind of quiet that invited awe.

Joong: (Looking up at the stairs) "Let’s see if we can make it to the top before sunset!"

The group started to climb, their voices filled with excitement as they joked about who would reach the top first. Dunk lingered for a moment at the foot of the stairs, glancing back down the path toward his grandmother’s house, but quickly shook the thought off and joined his friends in the climb.

As they ascended the stone steps, the view opened up before them, the sprawling landscape stretching far into the distance. The temple stood at the top like a sentinel, ancient and proud, its weathered stone walls telling stories of centuries gone by. The further they climbed, the more the noise from the village faded, replaced by the quiet serenity of the place.

While all the friends made their way back down from the temple, laughing and chatting, the peaceful afternoon took a darker turn at Dunk’s grandmother’s house.

Inside, the old woman hummed to herself as she prepared a large pot of stew, the familiar scent filling the air. She moved slowly, taking care to stir the pot and chop vegetables, completely unaware of the danger approaching. Her hands were steady despite her age, focused on making sure there would be a warm meal ready for the group when they returned.

Outside, the gunman, hiding in the shadows, watched the house through a gap in the trees. He had been waiting for the right moment, and now, with the group at the temple, Dunk’s grandmother was alone. His eyes were cold and focused.

Gunman (whispering into his radio): "The target is inside. I’m going in. Make sure the others are distracted. No one can know."

The gunman moved silently toward the back of the house, checking every corner before slipping inside. Dunk’s grandmother, humming softly to herself, was too absorbed in her cooking to notice his presence.

The house was quiet, the only sounds the clattering of utensils and the crackling of the fire. The gunman approached her from behind, taking a moment to steady himself before moving in closer.

Meanwhile, at the temple, Dunk and the others began their descent, admiring the view as they walked down the ancient steps.

Joong: (Laughing as he stepped down, unaware of the danger) "That temple view was amazing! I’m definitely coming back for this."

Dunk: (Glancing back up the hill toward the temple, distracted for a moment) "Yeah, I’ve always loved this place. I’ll have to show Grandma next time."

The group continued down, carefree, their voices echoing softly in the air, completely oblivious to what was happening just a short distance away.

Inside the house, the gunman reached the kitchen. He was close now, and there was no turning back. Dunk’s grandmother still hadn’t noticed, but the faint sound of her humming made the moment even more unsettling, the warmth of the meal in stark contrast to the chilling intent behind the gunman’s actions.

The gunman raised his weapon, ready to strike at the moment when the grandmother would least expect it.