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Heeseung
The air in the dorm was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of sheets and the soft hum of the overhead vents. Aiko was fast asleep in Heeseung's bed, curled up under the blanket, her face serene. Heeseung sat on the edge of the mattress, watching her for a moment. He ran a hand through his hair, guilt heavy on his shoulders. He didn't want to do this—stealing her card felt like a betrayal—but he couldn't let her stay in the dark about whatever her mother was hiding.
He leaned closer, whispering, "I'm sorry, Aiko. This is for you."
Carefully, he slipped her ID card out of her jacket pocket, which was draped over the chair by the bed. His hands shook slightly, but he steadied himself, tucking the card into his pocket. He kissed her forehead softly before standing, the guilt twisting tighter in his chest.
Once outside, he met up with Sunghoon and Jake, both waiting down the dimly lit hallway. Sunghoon crossed his arms. "You got it?"
Heeseung nodded, his voice low. "Yeah. Let's make this quick. If she finds out..." He didn't finish the thought.
Jake smirked. "You mean when she finds out? 'Cause we all know Aiko's sharp. She's gonna notice."
"Not helping," Heeseung muttered, starting down the corridor. "Let's go."
The three moved quickly, avoiding the occasional patrol of guards. The facility at night was eerie, the usual hum of activity replaced by silence and shadows. When they reached Dr. Nakamura's office, Heeseung swiped the card, and the lock clicked open.
Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. "That was way too easy."
Jake grinned. "Don't jinx it, man. Let's just get in and out."
They slipped inside, the sterile scent of the lab hitting them immediately. Papers and books were scattered across the desk, and shelves were lined with vials, instruments, and other scientific equipment.
"Alright, spread out," Heeseung instructed. "Look for anything with Aiko's name on it."
Jake began rifling through the bookshelves, pulling out binders and flipping through pages. "Nothing here but a bunch of science jargon," he muttered.
Sunghoon opened a cabinet, only to find rows of labeled test tubes. "This place is like a mad scientist's dream," he said, squinting at the labels. "Mostly chemical names. No Aiko here."
Heeseung focused on the desk, opening drawers and flipping through stacks of paper. Most of it was unremarkable—research notes, data sheets—but then he spotted a locked drawer. His heart quickened. "Guys, over here."
Sunghoon walked over, peering down at the drawer. "Locked. Of course."
Jake leaned in. "Bet there's something important in there. Think the password's written down somewhere?"
Heeseung glanced around the desk, his eyes scanning for anything that stood out. A sticky note caught his attention, stuck to the underside of a monitor. It was blank. Frustrated, he picked up a notebook nearby, flipping to the back page—and there it was, scribbled in small writing: 041203.
"Got it," Heeseung said, punching the numbers into the keypad on the drawer.
The lock clicked open, and he pulled it out. Inside were several thick files, most of them labeled with codes or project names. He flipped through them quickly, his fingers trembling as he searched. Then he saw it.
"Aiko Nakamura."
His breath caught. He pulled the file out, opening it carefully. The first page listed basic information—her birthdate, blood type, and medical history. Nothing out of the ordinary. But as he flipped further, the contents grew more unsettling.
Jake leaned over his shoulder. "What's it say?"
Heeseung didn't respond, his eyes locked on a page titled "Blood Sample – Neomorph Connection." The words blurred slightly as he read the first few lines, his stomach twisting.
But before he could finish, Sunghoon hissed, "Someone's coming."
Heeseung froze, his ears straining. Sure enough, the sound of boots echoed down the hallway. A guard.
"Shit," Jake muttered. "We gotta go."
"Put it back," Sunghoon urged.
Heeseung hesitated, his fingers still clutching the file. "I need more time—"
"We don't have it," Jake said, already moving toward the door.
Cursing under his breath, Heeseung slid the file back into the drawer and locked it, closing everything as quietly as possible. They slipped out of the office just as the footsteps drew closer, pressing themselves into the shadows of a nearby alcove.
The guard passed by, oblivious, and the boys released a collective sigh of relief.
"That was way too close," Sunghoon whispered.
Heeseung nodded, his mind racing. He hadn't gotten all the answers he wanted, but what little he'd seen confirmed his suspicions. Dr. Nakamura wasn't just hiding something—she was deeply involved in something dangerous. Something connected to Aiko.
"Did you see anything useful?" Jake asked as they hurried back to the dorms.
"Yeah," Heeseung said grimly. "But not enough."
Sunghoon gave him a sidelong glance. "You gonna tell Aiko?"
Heeseung shook his head. "Not yet. Not until I know more. This is her mom we're talking about. I can't just go accusing her without solid proof."
