Countdown | Stray Kids OT9✔

Chapter Eleven

My heart and mind screams that I need to buy nachimbong, but my wallets says no.

Chapter written on: December 2, 2019

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Sometimes the worst place you can be in is in your own head.

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I am so confused.

Who do I believe?

It's so much better to be back in my school where everyone calls me a killer than be here and be constantly thrown into a maze of questions after questions that never seem to have an answer.

"What are you doing here?"

I looked behind me and saw Woojin, striding towards me with his hands snugly in his pockets.

I let out a shaky breath before answering, "J-just getting some fresh air..."

"Are you sure you're getting fresh air? You look more suffocated than you want to be," He softly said, sitting on the balcony rail.

"I... am just confused at this whole scenario... Who do I believe in? Like, everyone is so confusing? They're mean and the next moment their kind to me? It's like everyone is constantly putting up masks in front of the others and then they just... don't," I ran my hands through my hair messily, frustrated,"See? Even my thoughts are confusing. Everything I do since I came here, I do it with much filled anxiety,"

"Anxiety isn't weakness. Turning up and doing things with anxiety, takes a strength most will never know," He said, his soft locks moving softly against the cold night breeze.

"At least that clears up something in my head, but... what about the others? I'm still confused about their behavior, it's killing me," I said, massaging my temples.

"Do you know the adult story version of the Little Red Riding Hood?" He asked out of the blue.

"The one where the Wolf is actually keeping Red and Grandma away from the Woodcutter who is really the one with the malicious intention of killing them, then the Wolf was actually misunderstood then the Woodcutter ends up killing the Wolf, Red and Grandma?" I answered, quite familiar with that version of the story.

He nodded,"Your situation is quite similar to that story,"

"You're confusing me even more, Woojin..."

"You're confusing yourself because you keep looking at the smaller details, try looking at the bigger picture. Stop making everything so complex, and look at the bigger picture. Everything that has happened ever since Minho appeared standing on your school's gate has a purpose, look into it, remember,"

"So, you're saying my situation is like Little Red? Some people here are like Wolf, who's kind intentions are masked by their roughness and mysteriousness, and... some are like the Woodcutter who's the real bad guy acting like the good guy to deceive me? Like the saying 'a wolf in a sheep's clothing' and vice versa?" I asked, things slowly coming down on me.

"Or some could be the Grandmother just dragged into this mess without knowing, but then Grandmother could be you.. But then again, it's Little Red who's the one the Woodcutter is after," Woojin said, grief flooding his eyes.

"But... How do I get out of this situation? What do you want from me? If I do get a way out, I don't know what I'll do next. I'm scared,"

"Things you want to happen won't ever happen if you keep doing things only in your comfort zone. So, stop living in fear and push yourself to do the things you thought you never could," Woojin said, looking at me directly in the eyes with such motivation that it causes determination to fuel within me.

He continued, "Can't see any solution laid in front of you? Keep calm, be quiet. Be quiet but be observant, be like a lion, a snake even. Keep low and wait for your enemy to lower their ground and then, you can pounce on them. But choose wisely. Observe. Think, who is the real enemy here?"

My jaw fell slack upon his words, things are slowly becoming clearer now.

"How will I make that person, whoever he is put his guard down?" I asked softly.

"Submission. Submission is the only way that your enemy can relax around you. If he's seeing that things are going according to his plan, that you, the vital part of his plan is submitting to him, then he can rest assured, but don't be obvious. Take advantage of his kindness,"

He took a deep breath before continuing,"But be careful, anyone is bound to turn their back on you when the mastermind became angry. You don't have a permanent ally here, not Chan, not Jisung, not Minho, not the others, even me,"

"What if..."

He cut me off, grabbing my forearm,"Stop thinking of the if's. If you really cherish your life, go and do it,"

"I may not be one of your allies, but I'm giving you this much hints because the main enemy has done so much evil to me, my family and as well as the other's," Woojin said, with despise written all over his face.

"I want you to revenge yourself, he has done things out of your knowledge. Do me a favor and avenge me too, yeah?"

"What if I fail?" My voice was so hushed it came out like a whisper.

"Just go. Do it. By this time, from my hints, you clearly have a clue who's the bad guy now, go to him and take advantage of him.... So,

Who's stopping you?"

With that Woojin left, leaving me processing everything he said. I gasped, realizing who I had to go to.

It's so clear now.

I left the balcony smirking triumphantly with one person in mind,

Han Jisung.

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Since I miss Woojin (every day), I made him the highlight of this chapter.

Didn't expect the ending, right?