virtuous deception || pjm (editing)

xii

HYEJIN

After a few seconds, he pulled away, resting his forehead on mine. It hadn't been an intense kiss, far from it actually, yet the softness and care his kiss gave showed just as much passion. I could feel his hot breath on my face, still smelling faintly of mouth wash from his earlier shower.

"I'm sorry, I just-" I cut him off, leaning in and placing my own kiss on his lips, finishing as quickly as I had began. Yet Jimin learned forward, kissing me again, holding me tightly by the waist. His lips moved softly against mine, you could almost describe it as graceful; the way his lips moved fluidly between mine. I cupped his cheeks to keep him there, surprising him and myself.

We pulled away seconds later, both panting faintly. His lip quirked up again as he laid back, arms behind his head. His shirt rode up around his torso, exposing a sliver of his stomach which I attempted to not notice. He pulled me down, resting my head on his steadily expanding chest, before kissing me again. Soon enough we were inside the treehouse, me on a blanket on the floor and him on top of me, his warm hands running up my torso and mine running up the flexing muscles of his back. He pulled away, cocking an eyebrow to make sure it was okay and I nodded quickly, initiating the kiss again as he began to move his hands further, quickly closing the space between us.

((Sorry guys but I don't write smut. I can barely write a kiss scene. And I know that all escalated quickly but there are reasons for it. Anyway, yeah no smut today. Instead lets play Expensive girl as that is pretty much what is happening right now. AGAIN, I'm sorry at how quick it escalated.))

"I've wanted to do that for so long now." He whispered, barely audible above the late spring breeze. I couldn't find the words to say so instead I nodded, quickly pecking his cheek in response before moving myself down from the platform and gradually, down the tree, quickly making myself back inside the house.

-

Jimin and his mother had left to run a family errand and had left me here in the house. I grew bored and began exploring the house. Every nook and cranny was interesting, the Victorian style architecture providing character to every aspect of the house.

After exploring the top floors, I entered a room in the downstairs. It was the one Jimin had hidden himself in when we arrived. It seemed normal, an old office, gathering dust along the books and shelves. I guessed it to be his fathers due to its obvious disuse.

I marvelled at the collections of books, the first edition classics and leather bound copies. Every book was level with the next, perfectly aligned along the mahogany bookcases that lined the far wall, left of the windows. I trailed my fingers along them, settling it on a first edition of Lord of the Flies. It was the last book on its row and due to my fondness of the book, I took it out, noticing a gap in the book case. It almost felt like a handle.

I pulled on the gap, expecting nothing of it but instead being surprised by the bookshelf dislodging from its place in the wall, exposing a crack, which illuminated with bright white light. I should've closed it, left it as something I shouldn't have seen yet my curiosity got the best of me and I pulled the case out further.

Behind the bookcase, where a wall should've been, was a short metal corridor which began to descend into stairs at the end. I took a step forward, my shoes clanking against the steel floors before echoing against the steel walls and ceiling. Each step, I took slowly, spending a few seconds on each. When I finally reached the bottom, I checked around the corner, making sure I wasn't to be exposed. But the room was empty. Completely empty.

It was a full concrete room, cold and cloaked in a veneer of dust. There were clear desks, empty shelves and racks, and one solitude chair in the middle of the room, chains scattered at its feet. The room was colourless, besides the red splatters against one wall, diagonally left of the chair. Otherwise, there was no decoration, besides one filing cabinet, also red in colour.

Along the front of each of the five drawers, were fading labels, browning along the edges with age. The blue marker ink was light and patchy, obviously old and worn. Along each label were names. None were familiar nor did they interest me yet one label on the third and middle cabinet caught my attention. I'd almost missed it.

Lu. Industries

Without hesitation I pulled open the drawer, clawing through the files, looking for anything featuring that name. Towards the back was a thick folder, which displayed in bold lettering, Lu.Industries along the front. There was a red stamp on the front of the folder, as if marking it finished. I opened it and the first object inside confirmed my suspicion. A photo of a dead man, a bullet hole right between his eyebrows, bruising disfiguring half his face.

Flashback-
"You will do as we say, when we say it." A man bellowed, growing closer to both me and my mother, who were tied on chairs back to back.

"You're husband is dead, he didn't carry through business." A man, sharpening a knife said, no emotion lingering in his voice. He came closer to me, crouching in front of my chair. "No more daddy's little girl now, Hyeri" the man chuckled.

"You both will follow our story, you went bankrupt, you're husband killed himself, not wanting to be caught for his crimes-"

"HE COMMITTED NO CRIME!" My mother yelled from behind me, grief riddled within her anger.

"YOU WENCH, WE SAID LISTEN TO US." The man with the knife yelled louder, kicking our chairs. I let out an inaudible groan before he came over to me, pressing the cold metal against the bare skin of my neck. "Or your pretty little daughter pays the price." I could feel a sharp pain before a small trickle of liquid ran down my neck and into my shirt, beginning to pool at the hem of my vest.

"He killed himself and in your grief, you also killed yourself and your precious little Hyeri was never to be seen again, ran away due to abuse. You both will change your names, move into a little house between Ulsan and Daegu, and you'll start over again." The first man threatened.

"Or you'll end up like your husband." Another voice chuckled from the corner of the room. A man stood up, slowly making his way into the light.

Mr Park.

A man known for his perfect company and perfect family with a beautiful wife and two perfect sons. I remember playing with them when I was young. But then one day Daddy came home and told me I'd never see those boys again because there daddy wasn't a good man.

"Hello Hyeri" he crouched in front of me.

"Hello Mr. Park" I whispered.

"Still a pretty girl. You know my boys miss you. Jimin took quite a liking to you. Maybe one day you would've married." He paused, his grin twisting into a sour look. "But I don't want the daughter of a criminal as my daughter in law." He stroked my face. "Such a shame. A waste of a pretty face. Little Hyejin. Yes, your name shall be Hyejin, Lee Hyejin."

End of flashback

I quickly placed the folder back, running out of the familiar cold room. I ran upstairs, quickly gathering my things into my suitcase, leaving things I didn't need. I scribbled a note, leaving it on the bedside, where Jimin may find it.

I fled the house quickly, calling a taxi once I reached the end of the estate, hoping Jimin wouldn't spot me.

I can't be in love with Jimin. Not the son of the man who murdered my father.

***

Yeah that update really sucked but I needed it to escalate quickly like that. Yes they did it and THEY DID USE PROTECTION BECAUSE JIMIN IS ALWAYS PREPARED.

Anyway... yeah that update sucks but this story is officially off hold. And yeah, it is also nearing the end of this book. I'd say this book will have around 15-20 chapters in the end.

I also need to know, sad or happy ending. Or both? But if I do the sad and happy ending one will spoil the other. Idk. Just tell me if you at all want the sad ending. Or just a happy one.

Hope you enjoyed, bye guys.