bodyguard ; kth

27 ; he's coming

click.

i carried out my normal routine of locking each door and window. i was acting extra cautious today after everything that had happened today. the boat exploding really shook everyone, including me. everyone became hysterical. jae kept blaming himself, saying that he should have checked the boat in the morning. jaie was crying, i mean when you nearly lose your son, it's hard not to cry.

my only concern was aera. it was now certain that the killer knows where she is. he's been following her every move all along, i was too careless to even notice it.

tonight, he will strike. it was a matter of life and death now.

i kept walking around the house, my gun was securely tightened to my waist. the killer wouldn't hesitate to shoot anyone that comes in his way. anyone being jiae, jae or even kitae. i knew the killer would do anything it took to make sure that in the end, aera was dead.

after that thought, aera's voice rang in my head.

"please protect me...protect kitae, if anything ever happened to him..."

i sighed, rubbing my tired eyes at the thought. she would rather die than let kitae get hurt.

i'm sorry, aera. kitae isn't my main priority, you are.

opening the door to the dark office, a small figure sat on the chair. i flicked the lights on, it was jiae. she sat on the desk with a blank look on her face. she held a glass in her hand. the tabletop was decorated with dozen other glass bottles. she's been drinking, a lot.

she broke the silence. "what do you think about today?" i could feel the tension in the air. she had tears in her eyes as she looked at me like she was searching for something.

i reached my hand out and grabbed only her drink, placing it gently on the table. i muttered in response, "whoever it is, they know what they're doing."

there was a long pause.

"yeah, you're right. he does," jiae quietly said as she buried her face in her hands. a second after those words were said, i realised what she said and instantly turned to her with big eyes.

oh, my god.

i rushed to her side and harshly turned her body towards me. "who is it?!" i yelled, shaking her drunk self. she didn't reply, her head swung here and there.

i gritted my teeth and asked again, "jiae...who is it?" tears started escaping her eyes as she started sobbing loudly.

"he almost got my baby!" she shouted, gripping onto my arms tightly. i couldn't get any answers from her if she was like this. i calmed down myself, taking a few deep breaths. then i placed a hand on her damp cheek, asking again in a more gentle tone.

"jiae, i'm going to ask you again...who is it?" i asked. moments later, she finally spoke, "i don't know, i was drunk when i met him."

i brought my hand and rubbed her back soothingly, i asked, "did you hire him to kill aera?" jiae sighed, soon nodding at her own shame. i wasn't even surprised, i should have realised earlier.

"is it all paid for?" i asked a second later. "y-yeah, i s-stole money from aera to pay him. i have to pay him until it's done. i signed a contract so it's sealed," jiae stuttered, avoiding eye contact.

"what do you mean till it's done? you mean, he keeps going until he kills her?" i said, a chill running down my spine. these were my assumptions coming true. jiae nodded again, lowering her face into her hands.

"i wanted to stop it and i tried telling him but he won't listen. once he is assigned to a case, he doesn't stop until it's done," she muttered into her hands.

"how about the letters?" i questioned, she lifted her head up and looked at me. a spark was in her eyes, she was getting even more agitated.

"the letters?" a snarky laugh escaped her lips, "you wanna know who's been writing the letters? well...you're looking at her. it was all me..the doll, the letters...everything.." i stared at her with my lips tight, eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"it made me think i could do it! i thought for once, i could be better than my sister...i knew the only way for that to happen was if she died but...i could never hurt my son, i could never hurt kitae." she cried to herself, tears streaming down her face. i crouched on one knee and placed a hand on her shoulder. jiae touched my hand, looking at me and whispered, "you have to stop him, taehyung."

i nodded.

"we will, you and me. tomorrow we're going back home and you're going to help me find the man you hired," i spoke as i rose from the ground but she stopped me.

"wait, don't you want to know why i hate aera?"

i paused, looking at her. to her surprise, i shook my head.

"you already told me...she has everything."

just as i finished my sentence, i sensed something and my body froze.

jiae, who was oblivious asked, "how are we goi-"

"shhh" i motioned her to be quiet. a sound was coming from upstairs. slowly, i made my way to the door of the office, leaning my head closer. there was the sound of heavy footsteps in the hallway.

someone's in here.

i quickly grabbed hold of my gun and turned towards jiae, who didn't know why i was suddenly acting weird. her expression turned remorse when she saw my gun.

"stay here and don't move, i'll be back," i softly whispered, carefully opening the door quietly. jiae nodded timidly, looking terrified at the situation.

i carefully stepped out, trying not to make any sudden sounds. my feet gradually making its way to the stairs, my eyes scanned anywhere and my breaths were coming out slowly. i moved closer to the wall, listening for any sounds.

as i quietly made my way up the stairs, i saw buddy sitting outside aera's bedroom door. he seemed agitated like he saw a stranger closeby.

without wasting another second, i hastily opened aera's door. she was in bed but after seeing someone with a gun, she screamed while hiding her head in her pillow.

"aera..it's me," i said softly, putting my gun behind my back. i was relieved to see she was alright. i heard someone down the hall, i whirled around and pointed my gun at the noise.

"it's me, son!" my father stood there near his bedroom. he also carried a gun in his hands after hearing the commotion. i lowered my gun, calming down.

"what's happening?" aera asked from inside, sounding terrified. buddy started barking louder and louder. i was about to head downstairs, i heard people yelling downstairs. it was jiae.

"no, stop! i'm the one who..." B A N G ! !

a loud gunshot noise penetrated through the air of the house.

everyone jumped in shock including buddy. i spun on my heels and dashed down the stairs before yelling, "dad, stay with aera!" as i left, aera exited out from her bedroom. she yelled, "taeby, wait!" she wanted to follow me but was stopped by my father.

i reached the bottom floor, quickly looking around my surroundings. my gun gripped tightly in my hand. i felt a cold breeze rush through me, i turned my head to see the main door wide open.

shit...don't tell me he escaped.

something moved near me and i whipped my head around. jiae was laying on the ground, her eyes lifelessly stared into thin air. i crouched beside her and checked her pulse.

jiae was dead.