Rise Up (Stray Kids Seo Changbin)

12

"So," Woojin uttered, offering her a wide grin as he placed a folder on her desk. "How's things going with Lily and the Rebellion?"

"I didn't go," she admitted, deflating against her office chair. His smile immediately fell upon seeing her pale face and he rushed to her side.

"Are you alright, Paige? You seem very pale. If you are sick, I will call the Society nurse or-"

"I'm fine," she assured him though it was obvious she wasn't. "I talked to Kyla earlier on and she seemed to be against working with the Rebellion."

"Well, of course. Would you blame her? She lost many friends to the Rebellion especially... Well, you know?"

"I doubt the Rebellion killed Janey."

"I was refering to August."

"Of course. I forgot. So that's why she's so against it... Wait, isn't August still alive."

"Yes, instead of killing him, they recruited him. But Kyla doesn't know that."

Paige nodded, her eyes drifting to the folder he had placed down only moments ago.

"What's in there?"

"The information about the area the Stray Kids members went missing. Minho... Erm, Lee Know gave me the coordinates and told me to hand it over to you."

"Where is he anyway?"

"In the cells like you requested."

She sighed, spinning in her seat slightly before he gaze finally met Woojin's soft one.

"Do you think I'm being too harsh? We were friends, to be frank."

"As an assistant, I'd say it's not but as a friend, I believe you are. You and Lee Know worked on that previous case together. I remember when I was promoted to this position you went on and on about him and how much you discovered when he was by your side. I think you once even asked me to act like him but I'm not quite sure what your exact words were. Although it might cause me to lose my position to him, I think you should give him a chance. At the end of the day, you guys are working towards the same goal, aren't you?"

"Are we?"

"We need Chan, Paige," Woojin stated, his features tensing.

"Do we? Not trying to be rude or anything but I've lasted this long without him and what are the chances he'd even agree. Maybe Janey was wrong about that one thing. Besides, my goal now is to crush Cassidy and whoever she works for. Chan can wait."

"I can't believe you," he scoffed. "I don't know if it's the sickness or you've finally become power hunger but whatever it is, snap out of it. I respect you, Paige. A lot. And I'm not going to stand here and watch you trick yourself into thinking your fine when you're clearly not. You're tired, exhausted even and you need someone to lessen the load more than you think. You need Chan. And I don't care if he sees things differently from you or if he's a mafia member and accepting him will lower your pride but you need to wake up and realise that you can't do this on your own."

"Then why don't you help me, huh? Here you are giving me a lecture about being tired and whatnot but never once have I seen you help me."

"Excuse me? Look around your desk. All of those cases were brought to you because of me. The only reason you are sane right now is because I've been doing all I could to make life easier for you. Do you know how many cases you never heard about because I sorted it out before you even got the news? I'm exhausted as well, Paige, and I'm getting fed up with having to keep this place from falling when it's not even my job. So I'll day this one more time and one more time only, you need Chan and you better get your butt out of that seat and figure out what to do before I quit."