I'm In Trouble

Clip 35

Minhyun entered the bar, breathing in deeply and allowing the oxygen to course through his body one full time before putting on a wide smile and heading down. Jonghyun was already waiting at the counter and waved when he saw Minhyun approach him.

"Took you long enough," Jonghyun said and Minhyun laughed, sitting down.

"Sorry about that. Had a bit of a hiccup earlier. Hope you didn't have too much to drink without me," Minhyun replied and put on a playful smile as he ordered water.

"Not going to take anything?"

"No. I don't feel like it," Minhyun replied as the waiter served him the water. He looked at the glass but didn't bring it up to his lips. He sat there, clutching the glass. He could still feel it. Still hear it.

"Minhyun?"

He jolted and hurriedly smiled, twirling the glass in his hand instead. "Yes?"

"You were glaring at the glass. It didn't do anything wrong to you, did it?"

"No. I... I'm just going to cut to the chase, Jonghyun," He said, realising quickly that he couldn't keep up with his act anymore.

"Yeah?"

"You killed Kang Dongho's parents, didn't you?"

~~~

Aron dialled the number that he had in his pocket and waited. After the 5th ring, he finally picked up.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Kang Dongho sshi? This is Aron, the tattoo artist," Aron said clearly.

"Ah. Aron, I never thought I'll hear from you again."

"Me neither but I've had enough hiding and...being used. I called to tell you that I..." Aron paused, finding it difficult to actually say the truth after all this time but Baekho waited patiently for him to speak. "I saw the accident with my own eyes. No... It wasn't an accident. It would be wrong to call it that."

"A murder?"

"Yes, a planned accident."

"Are you willing to give me the details?"

"I planned on turning myself in along with all the footage I have."

"What..." Baekho was surprised. "Wait. You're not doing this willingly, right? You don't have to turn yourself in if that's the case."

"But I am still an accomplice. I would receive a message every time something is about to happen as a hint to turn my security camera off. If I do not... Well, they made it pretty clear what they could do to my sisters should I refuse."

"Sisters?"

"Let me explain from the start. I came here a year ago to open my shop as a passion. But roughly 5 months in, I unintentionally witnessed their murder in front of my shop. You see, it used to be an empty area where my shop is but after I moved in, I installed a security camera and it caught them on footage. I had no idea about it at that time but they found out and entered my shop. They threatened to have the entire place shut down and if I were to even slip a word up to anyone, they would kill my sisters. They even tapped my shop and phone which was why I couldn't talk about it freely. I did as I was told and this is all not as important to you as what I'm about to tell you next." Aron gripped the phone tightly and breathed in shakily.

"I happened to be leaving my shop that morning and I received the message a little too late as I had already locked the door downstairs. Someone was arguing with your parents outside my shop and I stayed hidden. I couldn't hear much of what they say but I'm pretty sure it's along the lines of betrayal and money issues. I thought they would leave so I stood and waited but I didn't expect a car to come crashing into your parents."

"What? No, wait. My parents died in the car."

"That's not true. They died outside the car and was transferred into it later on."

Baekho was stunned. He didn't know what to say so Aron continued.

"I watched the person get down the car and transferred them inside. I'm sure you started investigating because a lot of things didn't add up and the news had been tampered with too."

"Yes..."

"I'm telling you the truth now because someone important to me has just been hurt the same exact way your parents were but I saw it clearly this time. I saw the person who did it and I thought I could trust him but please, please, if you ever come across Kim Jonghyun, please leave him alone. Do not engage with him. Do not get yourself involved with him."

Baekho was blown away a second time as he gripped the handle of his bike. "S-say that again."

"Do not involved yourself with Kim Jonghyun. He is possibly one of their lackeys. He befriended me and he even lent me his car once because I received a message to do so. I should have known something was off then. He had me wrapped around his finger before I knew it. All his friendship talk is bullshit. He... He rammed Minki. I saw the goddamn convertible and his guitar."

Baekho breathed out with a small whimper. He got onto his bike and started it. "I-I have to go. Thank you so much for telling me everything. Please give me the footages instead of turning yourself in. Minki will be devastated if you do. I'll do whatever I can to fix this mess. Don't do anything stupid, Aron. For Minki's and your sisters' sake. I can do something about this so please..."

"Thank you, Kang Dongho. You're a nice person but I've already made up my mind. I hope you heed my advice and stay away from this but I guess luck just isn't on our side, huh."

Aron ended the call and breathed out. He felt immensely lighter as if everything he had bubbled up inside just burst over and now he was left with an empty shell of a person. Now he just had to fess up and this would all be over. He made his way back to the room and sat down, holding onto Minki's hand.