I'm In Trouble

Clip 31

"What are you going to do about this, sir?" the man holding the clipboard asked as he pushed his glasses up.

"What else can we do? We need to find a way to silence him."

The man was silent for a moment as the tension in the air grew. "Even if it means hurting him?"

"Just a little wouldn't hurt. He has become too difficult to control. Sneaking into my office and maybe... Maybe he was the one who stole the keys too. In any case, I will not tolerate such behavior."

"Understood, sir. It will be arranged immediately." The man exited the room and pulled out his phone, dialling a specific number he had memorised and made his way towards an empty meeting room.

"Hello."

"Good morning. There has been a request."

"Ugh... Already? Isn't it too soon?"

"No. Someone has been becoming increasingly suspicious and the boss wants him silenced."

"Dead?"

"Preferably not."

"Name?"

"Choi Minki."

"You have got to be kidding me."

"Unfortunately, I'm not. Payment will be given by cash as usual. You know what you have to do."

~~~

"Thank you everyone for coming out tonight. I know I haven't been active in social media recently but I assure you that everything is fine," Minhyun said to his fans as he was just done with his encore. He bowed and waved, hearing the cheers from his fans as he headed off stage. He breathed out a heavy sigh and dabbed the sweat away with the towel a staff handed to him. He smiled wearily to them and bowed, thanking them for their hard work. Another show done. He almost done with his shows and knew that next would be pre production for his new album coming soon. Etc, etc. He sighed and plopped himself down onto the chair, feeling worn out as usual after a show.

"Minhyun, someone is here to meet you," his manager said after poking his head into the changing room.

"Who?" The person stepped in once his manager stepped away and Minhyun sat up straight, surprised to see who was there. "Jonghyun? What are you doing here?"

"Just here to congratulate you for another wonderful show."

"Ah... Thanks?"

"I was thinking, we should try to start anew with each other."

"Huh?" Minhyun raised a brow at Jonghyun in confusion. "If this is about the time I shoved you in the studio, I'm sorry. I didn't exactly mean to do that."

"I didn't think so either. So... What about a drink tomorrow night?"

"A drink?"

"Yeah. At the bar. Just you and me."

Minhyun tapped his knee and sighed. "Okay. I do owe you an apology for being so rude. I'll see you tomorrow night then."

"Great."

Minhyun was unintentionally suspicious but he guessed it was fine. Not like anything bad could happen over a drink.

~~~

Aron finished up his mermaid drawing and beamed. After two months, he was finally able to complete it. He blew away whatever wood dust there were and checked his phone. Minki should be arriving any moment now since they had promised to meet up more often. He laid his head down and unconsciously grinned like a fool. He was really happy to be with Minki and he wished for nothing more. He could rot away in his tattoo shop for the rest of his life for all he cared but being with Minki breathed a new life into him again. As if he was reminding himself of the hopeful youth he once was when he had travelled all the way here to open shop.

He took off his gloves and set them on the table. Just as he was about to get up, his phone vibrated. Thinking it was Minki, he swiped it up quickly but the message made him froze.

'The night has come.'

No.

No, not again.

Minki would be here soon. Why now of all times? Aron rushed to his CCTV and turned the screen on. He looked around nervously and decided to text Minki.

'Minki, where are you?'

'Almost there. Gimme another 5 minutes!' was the chirpy reply he got.

'I'll come to you instead. Why don't you wait for me at the bar?'

'Eh, but I'm already almost there.'

Aron knew he won't be able to stop Minki when he was already almost here. He could only hoped whatever they were up to would be done quickly before the younger arrived. His hand trembled as he reached for the off button. No. No, he can't keep doing this either. He didn't want to. How many times. How many goddamn times had he turn a blind eye away? His phone vibrated again and he looked at the unknown number's message.

'Who do you choose?'

"No, no. I can't... Minki ah," Aron muttered out and looked at the switch. He should turn it off. He should but his eyes turned to the screen at that moment and he saw Minki walking down the street. Aron couldn't do it. He got up and rushed towards the exit. He just had to get Minki inside before anything bad happened. The first bell. Up the steps. He was almost there.

Then he heard it.

Exactly like that day.

Screech.

Thump.

Aron felt his heart stop. He walked the rest of the steps up and pushed the door open.

Ding, ding, ding.

"Minki...?" His eyes widened as he watched the car drive away and on the ground was the one person he didn't want involved in this, unmoving and red pooling around him. "Minki!"

He rushed to the younger's side and fell to his knees, immediately calling the ambulance without a second thought. He was bleeding from his head where he probably hit the pavement but there were no other noticeable injuries which Aron wasn't sure whether to feel thankful for or just pure guilt. He barely felt like he was breathing as he sat on the street, panting heavily as the weight of his guilt was starting to crush him again just like before he met the younger. Everything just pushed down on him. He felt like throwing up, felt like crying and yet he couldn't. He could only hold Minki's hand and pray for the other to be fine.

Why him?