TRUST || STRAY KIDS

PART X - BREAK DOWN

It was tense. Who would have known she's good in poker? No tricks used. She should have expected as she was invited to the biggest poker game. Although she was being friendly by talking with her without any hostility on her voice, but her sarcastic remarks really ticked her off. Just like what she wanted. Then, one time. She really got on her nerve, talking about her late father falling for a bitch, or more precisely, her stepmother. She knew she'll lose half of her coins to her to make her hidden card played.

"You know?" she started, putting the first stake in the table for like the 10th round. "My stepmother used to call me a monster. Or even worst, a nightmare."

"Really? Why?" Hanna did the same, putting the stake on the table, listening to every words.

"I don't know. Maybe that's her sign of love for me? Giving me nickname," she chuckled, while giving the next card on the deck to Hanna before she took it for herself. "Have your mother given you any cute nickname for you?"

"My mom?" she giggled flatly. Her eyes slightly wavered by the mention of her mother. Still, she didn't let it to show though.

"Right, I forgot. Your mom dead," she leaned back, looking straight at her with a soft smile plastered on her face. Hanna's head shot up to look at her with rage on her eyes wanted to kill her right here, right now. "Don't you ever feel guilty? Your mom loved you so much, but you decided to kill her. Just because blinded by Jackson offer." They basically already not doing any game right now.

"Shut up," she warned sternly under her breath.

"If I was your mother, who raised you with love, showering you with wealth, I would say this," she leaned closer, resting her head above her hands. "I disappointed in you." Her eyes widened and her breath unstable.

That's the only word she hated. Disappointed. Her mother was literally like best friend with her, always on her side. Supporting with anything that she needed. While on the contrary, her father was like enemy. He always disappointed with her. It started after she got admitted into the school her father not wanted. Hearing him said that already became her daily life. Before bed or even after she wake up. The first word he always muttered was 'disappointed'. Her father expectation was too big for her and she can't handle it. At one point, she decided to meet with Jackson through her connection and blabbering about wanting her dad to disappear. Jackson found her wish was interesting and offering for help. However, her head was clouded with emotion and can't think clearly.

A day after she accepted his offer, news about a terrible car accident appeared on TV. Saying stuffs about no survivor, while showing the identities of the corpse. Her father, followed by her mother. She knew it was his doing. Her rage led her to his residence, threatening to kill him if he's unable to make her mother come back. Jackson, as a psychopath, only laughed and slapped some reality to her. Reminding her that it was her who wished her father gone. Who would have known her mother was in the same car with him? She was a mess. As she was an orphaned now, Jackson picked him up and used her to his liking. He started of teaching her with poker if he wanted to be a good use for him. Eventually, she forgot about her mother, focusing everything on getting huge load of money. And today, her wall finally crumbled.

"Or, I should have agreed on your father by disappointed in you for not getting accepted," she smirked, enjoying how the girl across her break down.

"Shut the fuck up!" she screamed on top of her lungs, trashing her mountain of coins on front of her. She didn't flinch though once Hanna destroyed her mountain coins.

"Do you want to know something?"

"Please! Don't say anything! Don't talk! I don't want to hear it!" she tried to close her ears but failed, since now her mind filled with toxic sound from her parents.

"I don't know you're stupid or what, but money obviously can't bring your mother back," she took one coin and flipped it mid-air before catching it. "It will only destroy you more, until you can't know yourself anymore." Now, she only screamed. The last resort to block off the voices. Once she calmed down, Y/N started again. "Do you want to know who you should blame?" Her eyes now looked at her, as if begging to save her from the pitfall. "I think you know who started the accident in the first place." Hanna looked at her widened before turning on her heels and opened the door behind her showing Jackson already sitting on his rightful throne. It was a mess for a second, she tried to strangle Jackson to relieve her break down. It only lasted in a second though, before some of his underlings took her away and brought her somewhere.

She sighed and took the bag, filled with 100 million won cash before going to the next room where Jackson waited. She looked at the boys who successfully beaten their own room master and seated in their own chair. While Jackson, he was still trying to recover from Hanna's sudden attack. His eyes pierced right through her once she walked to her seat. Of course, not only Jackson, the boys also looked at her with some questions emitted from them.

"You're really one hell of a girl. A dangerous girl," Jackson growled, rubbing his neck where Hanna's hand gripped him. "What did you do to her?"

"I don't know. You should have asked her when you have the chance," she answered sassily, eyes not leaving his eyes. Jackson saw her as a challenge. A threat.

"Should we play the final game?"

.

The game was endless, including the tension. It didn't seem to lower any minute. As if a block stayed inside their lungs, they breath was heavy. They couldn't basically breath under the high tension. Since Jackson got alerted by her, rather than the others, he got to many blind spots. That only left them with perfect opportunity to carry out her hidden plan. Chang Bin going all out with Min Ho switched Jackson's card with the trash card making them have the upper hand.

In the end, they still win though. Jackson lost all of his wealth to them. He raised their stake in the middle of the game, exceeding their goals. In a sudden, cops intruded the mansion capturing Jackson and the gang. It was not her doing though, and it did make her startled. Someone called the police with the report of murder. It was obviously not Hanna since she believed his underling took her to some basement or room to isolate herself and think clearly. She glanced at Min Ho and Chang Bin, hoping they knew something. However, only Min Ho who noticed her glance and shook, indicating he also didn't know anything about this.

The police interrogated them first though before letting them go. Chang Bin was approved to take the money with him legally as he testified that Jackson stole his family wealth. The others also testified to help Chang Bin as a friend and not mentioning about their dirty work as fraud people. A basic survival instinct.

The mood was supposed to be happy since they won a huge load of cash. However, questions filled their mind and couldn't let their happy feelings get the best of them. Mostly wondering about what happened in her room with Hanna. What did she do until she was a mess and started to attack Jackson? On top of it, how Min Ho and her casually talked with each other as if there's nothing between them from beginning.

"I think you still owe us an explanation, you know?" Jae Hyun leaned himself to the couched. She looked at Min Ho and then changed her gaze to him. She explained everything about her secret mission. Of course, the other felt betrayed because they didn't know anything about it. But Min Ho countered them by saying he also felt betrayed by being left as an outsider on the back up plan. It was her plan from the beginning, and yes, she felt guilty. She knew the consequences she has to carry in order for the plan to be successful. It's very possible that they'll lose trust in her because of this.

"Still, I can't believe you didn't tell me about this. Did you ever think of me as your childhood friend?" Chang Kyun looked at her, eyes piercing right through her soul. She put a sour smile and looked away.

"Sorry," she apologized. "I need some of you not know about this plan to make the realest emotion." They could only sigh, speechless. "But, there's something still on my mind. Who called the police? None of us would call since we're in the same room." Realizing it now, they also finally trying to figure that out.

"It was me," Seung Min confessed and all eyes turned to him. "Well, I asked someone for help though, before the game. However, about how the timing could match our game was out of my hand. I didn't know about it either."

"Who help you?" Min Ho asked.

"Hyun Jin."