Belligerent

08 - Dami *TW!!*

My heart was beating rapidly yet silently inside my chest. It was in a compelling state, that my nerves were trembling as well. The tension-filled atmosphere wasn't helping either. For someone who was used to seeing and handling arms, it still felt nerve-racking when you are set in the receiving end of a weapon. 

"Tell me where he is," a man said, followed by a cocking sound of a firearm. I stood silent on my spot for a few seconds and slowly turned my back. My eyes couldn't believe what they saw. It was a sudden familiar gaze that I had to blink a few times to see if my eyes were deceiving me. 
"It would be rude of you not to answer my question," Sangwoo's colleague, Jae said. 

"This is how you say hello to an old friend now, Jae?" I said, heaving a sigh. 

I could sense Jae not budging, still firmly holding the gun in my direction. Even though his body said otherwise, his eyes told a different story. I could assume he has not been sleeping well for the past few days but has been working. In our minds, we both knew the reason why. 
"Just answer the question, damn it," Jae said in frustration. 

"I have no grasp of who you are talking about," I said, shrugging and turning my back towards him. I could sense his frustrations once again before I heard the sound of a gunshot and a nearby glass shattering to pieces. I stopped and glanced at the now-broken glass a few meters away. Now he's really pissed. 
"I know that you know he's alive as well," Jae said. 

For a second, I felt my whole world stop. Everything went silent around me, besides the sound of nearby birds fleeing at the sound of the gunshot. There was a fine line between me and Jae that prevented either of us to hurt each other. He knew very well of that line. I sucked in a huge amount of air before facing Jae once more. 
"You must be Houdini for that to happen," I said. 

"Unless you helped him to be Houdini," Jae retaliated. Now it hit me. I looked at him unbelievably and snorted. "Who do you think I am? I'm not a psycho like everyone else in your little district of police," I said, stuffing my hands in my pockets. I felt my mind go crazy with so many emotions that I didn't know which one to register. I tried to remain calm towards the situation and looked at Jae. He lowered his firearm, but still holding onto it, as if for his dear life. 

"Dami I know what kind of person you are," Jae said, fixing his gaze on me. 
"Well, clearly you don't," I retorted. I was starting to get impatient with Jae as he stood there dumbfoundedly. 

"Just do this for Taerin's sake. Please," Jae finally replied. There was desperation in his tone and I couldn't help but feel the anguish. But at the same time, who am I to give people their wishes. I almost got my life on the edge because of that one, damning wish. The tension in the air subsided as Jae decided to put his firearm away. I looked at Jae's misery for the last time before walking off in his direction.

"I believe what's done," I said pausing behind him, "has been done, Jae," and walked off. 

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Jae's words kept ringing in my head on repeat for the rest of the day. I never expected his presence to be of great impact on my thoughts. Neither did I expect him to ask me to do it for the sake of Jun's sister. I hated the fact that he used his sister as his excuse to break through my walls. It was as if Jun's world revolved around Taerin's well-being. Believe me when I say there is absolutely nothing wrong with that kind of thought, but then again, people need to realize to let the poor person move forward. 

There's no difference if people take away that kind of coping.

"You've been staring at nothing the whole day," one of my trustee bodyguards' nudged me on the shoulder. I snapped out of reality and figured so. I heaved a sigh, "I can't help but to." 
"The company called yesterday," Han said, handing me the division's tablet. 

"They said they were willing to pay the ransom in exchange for the girl and a few more confidential information," he continued while I scrolled through the contract. "Did they confide any other more useful information?" I asked, gently placing the tablet on my desk. Han looked at the other bodyguards and gave them a signal for privacy. 
My eyes twitched as I watched them move out. "They only said to call them with this number once you have made up a decision," he replied, setting down a note on my desk with a number written on it before following the other bodyguards. 

As the door closed, I hesitantly took the note on the desk and unfolded it. I looked around for any loose cameras before opening a secret placeholder underneath the main drawer. I grabbed a burner phone and decided to call the number. 
The silence of the room was filled with the continuous dial tone and I couldn't help but feel anxious. 

It wasn't because I felt apprehensive enough to talk to shady people, but I feared that my emotions were going to betray my judgment during the negotiation.  
The call finally connected to the client. "A wise decision, even for someone like you," the other person on the phone commented. 

"This isn't a call for your filthy organization, father," I snarled. 
The line stood silent for a few seconds before I heard my father heave a sigh. 
"Just give the girl up and I won't make a fuss about it," 

"What business do you have with the girl," I countered. Silence. Even though my instincts already knew the answer, it was going to be an unpleasant surprise either way. We all pretty much wanted answers as to what happened that day. Though this time, it was clearly a race to who gets what. It wasn't a race to prove yourself innocent, it was a gamble to each their own. As for me, I could care less about the benefits behind it, all I wanted was to know what went wrong that day. 
I could imagine my father on the other line, sitting on his 'throne' or so his personal guards describe it, furrowed brows, his finger repeatedly fidgeting on the armrest. I stood up from my seat and slowly walked towards the window. 

"None of yours to know," He finally answered. I clenched my fists, "Then it's a no for me," I replied, hanging the line immediately. I sighed in frustration and gazed back at the window. I walked over to the liquor bar and made myself an old-fashioned. Hell, I didn't even like the taste of alcohol and yet my body seemed to have a mind of its own. Perhaps it pertained to a distant childhood memory. 
Somewhere deep inside of me was a battle between my morals, emotions, and conscience. I couldn't help but feel ashamed and pity towards Taerin. Even though she had absolutely nothing to do nor we assumed had knowledge over our own ordeal, there had to be at least something. Something we could use as a lead to our own investigation. 

My conscience hated using Taerin for my own benefit. 

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