TRUST || STRAY KIDS

PART XVIII - THREAT

It's been weeks since she last contact Ryu Jin. Probably she caught up on how she tried to distance herself. Ryu Jin also not trying to call her or anything. It did feel sad but she has to cut off the toxic relationship before it got worse. She didn't even see her on campus. Chan did say that probably she's ditching classes. Before, Chan slightly told her about Ryu Jin. About how Ryu Jin treated Ye Ji once she was still in Korea and how she admitted she's the one who sold her to Hyun Jin's grandfather. If she ever accepted the old man's request, Ye Ji might be back become her slave. Right now, probably Ye Ji felt happy and afraid at the same time. Happy she finally escaped Ryu Jin's grip and afraid about the constant poker game she has to face.

Yesterday Chae Young contacted her, telling her that Ryu Jin might scheme something. Since she's the one who offered the deal, she'll be killed if she suddenly canceling the deal. That's why she's trying other plan to get the deal still intact. Thanks to that, she has a safety to worry about. Didn't know what but probably bad news.

Chang Bin once asked her about her plan to the family. To be honest, she still hasn't made up her mind. It put on hold for a while. There's still no strong reason for her to save Ye Ji since she's not related with her at all. Also, Chan asked her to stay away from his family problems. Somehow Hyun Jin also stopped bringing up Ye Ji once they met. Maybe Chan talked with Hyun Jin about it. Well, Hyun Jin also stated how Ye Ji didn't clearly say that she's tortured there and wanted to go home, just have to constantly gamble all the time. Still, she held onto her suspicion list just in case she has to get involve with the family.

After talking with Chan these past few days, he seemed to be a nice person without any behind meaning. Since sometimes Mina contacted her asking about how she's doing and all, she also blurted out about Chan. In her descriptions, he's a perfect boy every mother wanted to be their son-in-law. Good looking, smart, calm headed, protective, rich. Too perfect to be true. However, that's the reason why she hasn't put him off her suspicion list. Someone too perfect can't be that perfect for no reason.

For Felix, their relationship was okay. Greeting each other if they coincidentally met, even though just a nod rather than voicing their sound. Still, none of them tried to start a fight and that was good enough for them. Even if he just transferred for a few days, the brothers became the trending topic on the campus page. Aside from his good looks, his demeanor was cold. Probably trying to shoo people away from any annoying situation. He never told her anything though, either about his family or himself. This made him became the least in her suspicion list. He looked like someone to reject any sketchy offer, except it's a death or alive situation.

"Are you still thinking about Ryu Jin?" Seung Min asked her, noticing she dozed out for a while. She shook her head and took a deep breath. "Don't think too much. She won't do anything for now."

"I'm just scared she might use something against me. I blabbered too much to her," she sighed again, resting her head on her hand. She thought hard on remembering the thing she has said to her. It's long already, so she's forgotten some of it already.

"Hey," Felix deep voice sometimes really startled her. His voice mismatched with his face. "Whatever she's about to do, we're going to help you out." That was.. something unpredictable. A word of reassurance out of his mouth. She blinked a few times before nodded.

"Y/N," Hyun Jin called making her turned her head towards him. "How did you do this question again?" She looked over and told the same formula for the second time. It was supposed to be her and Seung Min usual tutoring at the library before Hyun Jin and the other joined them. Chang Bin and Min Ho were relaxing, to be more exact. They took a comic book and read it beside them. Since the library permitted them to eat and drink inside, Chang Bin and Min Ho ate a chocolate pie which sometimes distracted the boys.

"I'm still amazed at how you can solve a chemistry problem while you're actually studying money," Hyun Jin still looked at her confused after she finished with the explanation. Felix also wondered about that too, actually.

"Accounting is not my main choice," she shrugged.

"So, your main choice is?" Chang Bin asked, now curious.

"Science tech," she answered rather proud. What a significant difference. One was a science field while the other a social field. But she still managed to get good grades on top of it. Chang Bin knew though, how she fought to get good grades on the first semester. At first, she didn't even reach the minimal score and almost got the lowest score on each class. But she spent all her time studying on the library each day, learning about everything from scratch. It was a dedication, really.

"No wonder you can solve these questions," Seung Min hummed. She giggled softly before her attention darted to her phone who showed a new notification. She quickly furrowed her eyebrows once reading the sender. Ryu Jin. She got up quickly after seeing her message, earning the questioning looks from the others.

"Something wrong?" Chan asked. She wasn't able to talk as panic took over. As fast as she could, she took all her belonging and tried to search for a contact. They could hear her silent curses. The boys now very confused.

"Hey," Seung Min grabbed her hand, finally able to meet her eyes. Afraid eyes, to be exact. It was the first time for him to saw her in that state. "Are you okay? Who're you trying to call?"

"Chang Kyun," she said simply before finally put her phone to her ear and left them after. Seung Min could only follow her with his eyes, worried. Whatever that was, it must be very terrible. He knew once she tried to call Chang Kyun despite talking to them. Probably something related when she's a kid.

.

"So, tell me now," the girl smirked and put her phone away after sending the message. "How was she when she was a kid?" The older girl didn't reply to her immediately and looked away. Eyes trembled horribly.

"She's a monster!" she finally muttered some words. Her constant act of scratching her left hand surfaced once she's on edge or remembering something terrible. "No.. she's a nightmare. A nightmare you can't cure." The young girl slowly smirked after watching how terrified she was. If she knows about whatever the reason her sister left Korea, it might help her on doing the deal.

"So tell me quickly," Ryu Jin started to get annoyed. "What did she do to you?"

"You don't want to know," the older girl shook her head vigorously, her pupil dilated. "Once you know there's no turning back. She'll stuck to you like parasite!" Ryu Jin just poked the inside of her cheek with her tongue and scoffed.

"If I know what she did to you, I can prevent it to happen to me," she emphasized it again. However, the older girl kept getting restless as she tried to think about it. Her calm smile, her intimidating eyes, her soft voice yet deadly. No one will be able out of that hell. She constantly shaking her head, rejecting on thinking about that. Ryu Jin just sighed and finally stood up. "Whatever. Looks like you won't tell me anything. Meeting you is already good enough." Ryu Jin was about to go back but the older girl stopped her.

"You can't do anything to her," she warned. "She's not someone you should mess with. It will only hurt you more in the end!"

"Yeah, whatever," Ryu Jin took her words lightly and left.