somewhere only we know ; kji

part 11 ; recognition

Everyone was running for their own safety, the screams got blocked out as my eyes searched for his. We were hiding under the information desk, dreads were crawling up my back as my heart started beating faster as time went.

And I heard another gunshot.

My hands instantly gripped Jongin's hand, his eyes were full of panic, but he tried to stay calm just for me. He knew if he showed his expression of panic I would be 10 times more scared than I was.

"Jongin-ah I'm scared what if we never got out here alive, what if-" words started pouring from my mouth before I even knew it.

"Shh, Keiko stop, look at me, we're going to be fine, we're going to be okay, I promise, we will make it out alive" he reassured me and hold both of my hands in his. "We are going to be okay"

"But-" my words were cut by a loud shout from the alleged shooter, he seemed to be so close from the desk. His voice were filled with anger and hatred towards something and full of determination.

"I know you're there, the EXO Kai, I saw you seconds ago" it felt like my heart stopped and blood stopped flowing to my brain. My mind went blank as air went out from my lungs like someone kicked my chest.

I looked straight into Jongin's eye in fear, my breathing got faster and probably not in a normal rate. He blinked a couple of times and crunched up his eyebrows together.

"Come out, or I will kill everyone in front of me" the alleged shooter's voice got deeper and laced with hatred.

Jongin was biting his inner lip, just like he always did when he was thinking hard. And it came to a realization, he was considering on facing the shooter.

"No- don't even think about it, let's just wait for the officials to take care of him" I grabbed both of his wrist and forced him to look at me.

"I promise I will be okay, he won't hurt me, maybe he just wanted to talk, maybe we could sort things out and I could grant whatever his wishes are. I will buy some time and distract him" he tried to reassure me but it will not work this time.

"No, he has a gun, you don't, don't even think about it-"

"I'm going to count until three, if you do not come out till then, say bye to your beloved receptionist" the alleged shooter shouted again and his voice sent shivers down my spine.

"One!" 

"I'm just going to talk to him, nothing else would happen, stay here and everything will be alright" he kissed my forehead and began to stand up.

"No- please stop" tears were starting to build up in my eyes, I can't afford to lose him.

"Two!" 

"I love you so much, I want you to know that" he smiled weakly and took a deep breath.

"Three-" Jongin stood up just in time with his hands in the air. He walked further away from the desk and towards the alleged shooter.

I couldn't breathe, my hands were shaking and I couldn't feel my face. I could hear faint conversation between the two of them but couldn't identify what they were saying. 

The thought of losing Jongin was too much and too overwhelming, and unconsciously my body did something wild. I stood up and saw the shooter. He was pointing his gun towards Jongin.

The shooter's gaze was glued into mine and it felt like I was showered with ice cold water. I couldn't move nor break our gaze. I saw pure hatred and anger in his eyes, determination to do something.

"Keiko?" he unexpectedly said. I can see in the corner of my eyes Jongin showing face of full confusion, he narrowed his brows together, looking straight into my eyes. I glanced to him and all I can saw was flashes of irritation.

The shooter's wearing a mask and a baseball cap that was covering almost all of his face so I couldn't identify him.

"What are you doing here?" the shooter spoke again and I found myself walking toward the scene. I can feel Jongin's heated glare towards me but something possessed me to walk up to them.

"What the hell are you doing" Jongin's voice was deep and laced in anger, nothing like I've heard before. I couldn't say anything, I just stared back at him and my mind was still processing the situation.

"You know each other?" the shooter's voice was full of surprise.

"You wanted to talk to me? Then talk to me alone, do not bring her in this" Jongin's voice is deep and full of hatred, his arms were still in the air.

"She walked here, she sure has something to say" the shooter's eyes never left mine and my mind was still blank, my tongue refused to move and let words out of my mouth.

Jongin walked closer to my side when the shooter pointed the gun towards him again. "Do not move" 

"Keiko, please go back, you don't know what you're doing" Jongin said with a low and stern voice.

"Wait, you- the way you talk to her- are you two together?!" the shooter shouted so loud I winced. "You took away my dream, my future, and you took away whom I really love too?"

I creased my brows together, my chest and head felt heavy from thinking so hard trying to recognize the person ahead of me. 

"You don't remember me, do you?" his tone was thick with hurt but he was trying to hide it with a laugh. He did the unexpected thing, he opened his half face mask and the cap. My body froze when his face actually could be seen.

"Park Ji soo?"