New World | SOOKAI

Chapter 28

"Head to the end of the hall n' take a right" Jack said behind us, his voice void of his usual charisma which only worried me further.

We did as he instructed and came into a small living room. An old 3 seater couch was pressed up against the south wall, 2 dark brown leather reclining armchairs on the north, and on either side were wooden and glass cabinets decorated with many vintage, decorative items and framed photos. Yeonjun and I stood to the side as Jack eventually walked past us to one of the armchairs and took a seat in it heavily while keeping his old but sharp eyes on the pair of us.

There was a deep, awkward silence between all of us as I saw Jack try to read the situation, but I'm not sure he came up with much.

"We're gonna have to be quiet. The wife's upstairs, restin'." He nodded to the couch behind us "Take a seat."

I did as instructed but Yeonjun kept standing, deciding to lean against the doorway instead.

"I prefer to stand," he said casually. Yeonjun may have been related to Jack, but he obviously didn't know him as well as I did in terms of personality.

Jack raised an eyebrow at the blonde "Oh ye' do, do ye'? I don't know who the fuck you are, lad, but yer' in my house now. And you will sit."

I sat there feeling forgotten like I was in between two animals that were fighting for dominance, their gazes locked onto each other firmly. Yeonjun eventually pushed his slouched position away from the doorway, holding Jack's gaze as he sat down beside me and popped his neck at Jack for emphasis, not liking being told what to do.

Jesus, Junnie, just behave.

There was a further moment of silence between everyone before Jack broke his gaze from the slightly disgruntled vampire to my left to look at me.

"So.. what's this big secret then, kiddo? Have ye' come to tell me yer' running away to join the circus?"

I couldn't even answer as Yeonjun perked up beside me "Are you implying that I'm a clown?"

"Well yer' certainly dressed like one," Jack replied immediately after.

Okay, I've had enough of this already.

"Can you two just stop? I can't even get a word in!" I raised my voice and immediately regretted it, not wanting to disturb Jack's wife upstairs.

Further unbearable silence. Ugh. What a stupid idea this was. Maybe I should have made Yeonjun wait outside. It was almost hilarious at how similar the two of them were but I wasn't laughing. I finally looked up at Yeonjun who was now looking off the side, trying not to further engage himself with Jack's taunts. I then looked at Jack who was staring directly at me, he was twisting a large gold ring on his middle finger almost impatiently now.

I shuffled closer to the edge of the couch, resting my elbows into the top of my thighs as I stared down at the faded, yellow carpet at my feet. I could suddenly feel the terrible anxiety Soobin once had with telling me who he was and how badly I reacted to it. Maybe if I tried to not be so.. direct about it. I lifted my head to Jack and began to speak.

"I've come to tell you that I won't be returning to work, Jack. I've undergone a few... lifestyle changes. Working during the day is no longer an option for me."

You would make a brilliant politician, Kai. Really.

Jack shifted in his seat, leaning back against it as he continued staring at me.

"Lifestyle changes, huh? Is this because of that Soobin o' yers'?"

Yeonjun was suddenly glancing at me from the side, looking a bit concerned. I probably should have mentioned to him that Jack knew of Soobin. I hadn't known it would make this potentially difficult for Yeonjun.