The Chosen

Risky Relationships

"Oh no. Here he is again." Taehyun whispered to himself.

The door of the diner opened with a loud thud, revealing a figure who is exuding much confidence. Daniel, Jisung and Kuanlin wondered who he might be.

"Taemin-hyung! Good to see you again." Sungwoon greeted as he approached the newly arrived carefully as not to knock over the old woman – the same old woman in the bookstore earlier - that was walking toward another table.

Taehyun cannot help but sigh as he watched Sungwoon move toward Taemin. Daniel, on the other hand, was too perceptive not to notice.

"Do you know him, Taehyun-hyung?" Daniel immediately asked.

"Yeah. How could I not. He is Taemin, one of the members of Shiny, one of Essim's magical squads." Taehyun revealed.

"One of Essim's magical squad? Isn't Essim bannered by X-O and Velvety Red?" Daniel was confused.

"Technically, yes. But, hyung, some provinces have many magical squads. Take, for example, Essim province. As far as I know, Essim's magical squads include X-O, Velvety Red, Super Jr., and Shiny. Besides Two-Times, Jeewyphi province has Gots-Even. While Whygee has Plackbink, Icon, and Wheener." Kuanlin explained.

"Wow. You are knowledgeable with these stuffs, huh?" Taehyun praised.

"Well... I'm quite interested with magical troops. That is why we bought the book earlier." Kuanlin haphazardly reasoned out.

"I get it that he is famous, but why is Sungwoon-hyung all over him?" Daniel still had his question unanswered.

"Simple. It is because Taemin is Sungwoon's friend." Taehyun casually answered.

"WHAT?!" The three, other than Taehyun, gasped silently.

"And if that surprised you, listen to this. Sungwoon is also friends with Bulletproof Scouts' Jimin and X-O's Kai. The four of them are very close to each other." Taehyun blurted out.

"Are you even serious? But aren't they your enemies? HOW?!" Daniel still could not get over from the shock.

"There is no rule in the kingdom that states members of different magical squads must not be friends with each other. The thing is, with the ongoing war, they keep it a secret and only a few people can know." Taehyun replied.

"But Bulletproof Scouts and X-O are like literally trying to kill each other! How does that friendship work?" Daniel still cannot wrap his head around the situation; honestly, even Jisung and Kuanlin could not keep up with the facts.

"That is one thing even I do not know. What I do know is that when that article about the possibility of the Chosen being alive, the Five Pillars are temporarily on good terms with each other." Taehyun somehow agrees with Daniel, "And personally, even if he's friends with Sungwoon, I do not like him. It is not a pleasant experience every time I cross paths with him."

"Why?" Kuanlin finally reacted.

"You'll see."

Taehyun abruptly ended he conversation when he saw Sungwoon and Taemin coming near to his table. Daniel, Jisung and Kuanlin instinctively knew something was about to happen.

"Oh, look what at we have here. It's Taehyun. What are you up to nowadays, huh? Protecting your bookstore since you failed to protect your province?" Taemin arrogantly said to Taehyun.

"At least I'm not the one crying if someday, the Chosen will suddenly show up." Taehyun sneered back.

"In your dreams! As far as I'm concerned, Kai and Jimin are hunting them now." Taemin jeered.

"Well, my dreams will soon be your worst nightmares." Taehyun refused to back down.

The tension between Taehyun and Taemin was starting to become suffocating.

"Now, now, why don't you join us for dinner, Taemin-hyung?" Sungwoon offered.

"As much as I would like to eat dinner with you Sungwoon, I don't dine with losers. Maybe next time." Taemin threw another blow before leaving for another table.

Sungwoon finally sat back to their table, still smiling.

"How could you smile like that? After he insulted our troop, our province?" Taehyun snapped at Sungwoon.

"Hyung, he was just joking. You know him." Sungwoon told Taehyun.

"That's the point, Sungwoon! I do not know him! I still cannot understand how can you stay friends with the enemy!" Taehyun was finally filled to the brim with anger.

Taehyun stood up and, without warning, walked out of the diner. Meanwhile, Daniel, Jisung and Kuanlin were left speechless with the sequence of events that unfolded right in front of them.