"Wow, I look good in black."
I checked myself in the mirror here at the reception area of a karaoke hub. Jeonghan and Hoshi described Woozi's associates' get up as all black polo, jeans matched with black leather shoes.
So that's how I dressed up to blend in with the mafia soldiers who're going to have fun tonight.
"I told you I barely lived! Haha!" The soldiers' voices echoed as they entered the lobby.
"Hey friends!" I motioned for a hug.
"Who the hell are you?" They stopped in front of me and rejected my hug.
"I'm a newly hire associate!"
They looked at each other and eventually reached their hands for a bro handshake.
"OW." They bumped my shoulders which almost shook my lungs out.
"Newly hire, I see!"
"Hey, a junior!"
They just accepted and invited me inside their reserved room with this silly disguise. Anyway, they ordered food and drinks while others chose a song from the list.
"New soldier! What's your name?"
"I'm George!" I decided to be George tonight. George as in Georgeious.
"George! I'm Seokjin, we're boss Hansol's associates."
"Ohhh, yeah yeah, the uhm what department?"
"The drug smuggling dept."
"You guys are under the capos, huh?" Another man approached.
"How about you?"
"I'm Jungkook, from the arms dealing dept."
"Oooh damn. Under the underboss?" Seokjin stood back when Jungkook bragged.
"Yeah yeah, under boss Gyu." Jungkook crossed his legs and raised his brows at us.
Judging by the way they speak, they're proud of being part of the mafia even though they're just the run dogs of their bosses. Well, good for me. The prouder they are, the more they'll speak.
"So, George, right? How's your first day?" Jungkook handed me a drink.
"Oh about that. I just got hired today. Like literally this day. I'm starting tomorrow."
"That's weird. Boss Woozi usually sends his soldiers to work right on the spot." Seokjin butted in.
"Maybe because of his new counselor?" Jungkook explained.
"Maybe. It's a first time in history for Woozi to hire a counselor."
"Yup. I heard he's a lawyer too."
"Dang! George, tell us something more when you worked with them."
"Sure sure." See, they effortlessly spilled an info. They continued
"I wonder what will happen to your dept with the new counselor. It runs smoothly before so.. Our counselor's very reliable when it comes to documents and campaign." Seokjin also picked some drink. His throat's gonna dry from all the talking he does.
"Boss Seungkwan, right? I saw him in the Rose Quartz operation." Jungkook said.
"Yup. The operation was all boss Hansol's idea. Waah! That battle made me prouder of myself. You should have seen me shoot. I also got a new gun!" Seokjin brought out his pistol and Jungkook examined it.
"Oh. That's sexy! Speaking of guns, can we have the same gun as boss Woozi?" I asked.
"What? The silver pistol?"
"Yes. How'd you know?"
"Boss Hansol has it."
"Also boss Gyu."
I see. Their two bosses have it. Makes a total of three silver pistols.
"Ahhh. Only the capos and underboss have it?"
"No no. Boss V also have one."
Who's V? He's not a capo? Anyway, this makes it four pistols.
"Ehhh. Can we have it, too, then?"
"Don't dream about it. Those are of high calibre." Seokjin brushed off.
"Ooohh. I want one, those are beautiful."
"Right? Also to have your initials engraved on it. I want 'SJ' in my gun too." Seokjin caressed his own gun.
"So where did they bought it?"
"That was a gift." Jungkook put his arm on my shoulder. "Since you're very clueless, I'll be your mentor. I'll teach you the mafia way."
"Hey, I talked to him first. I'm already his mentor!"
"Shut it, old man."
"Who are you calling old, you punk?"
"All right. I'm so happy to have two amazing mentors!" I clapped.
"Anyway, those guns are a matchy matchy gift." Seokjin said.
"That's cute."
"Cute? That's insanely awesome. To receive a matching gun with boss SS. Wow!"
"From what department is boss SS?"
"You didn't get a chance to meet boss SS since you're new. He was our former mafia boss. The big boss." Jungkook answered.
"Former? Where is he now?"
"He's dead."
I gasped. "What happened?"
"Okay, this is fishy. His death's a classified information. Only a few people know about it." Seokjin butted in again.
"Ooh. Fishy."
"Right? Hayy. I didn't got a chance to receive a gift from boss SS."
"Huh? You will never receive one." Jungkook slapped his head.
"Duh! I am worthy of his gift."
"Why? What's with the gift?" I asked.
"Seriously? I mean if you get something from the BIG boss, that's amazing, right?" Seokjin slapped my back, again, I almost spat my lungs out.
"Also, having a silver pistol in the mafia is a big deal for the retired bosses. We don't know what's exactly the deal, though. Since they say it's none of our business." Jungkook clarified.
I think I get it now.
I heard mafia doesn't have a boss until now. Then, Woozi got furious when he saw this gun. And SS was the former mafia boss. Joshua's dad's name is Seung-Su. If Joshua has the SS silver pistol, it means
The waitress knocked on our room to place our food and drinks. Since they are my proud mentors, they offered to pay for me. That's great! I ate, drank, and sing as much as I can. It's always the best when it's free.
"Tell us about the new counselor of boss Woozi, all right?" Drunk Seokjin shouted as he's being carried by his fellow associates.
I just waved good bye and went to the other side of the road.
It's late at night so I readied my pocket knife in case someone tries to take this beauty away.
Which I think is very possible at this moment.
While walking through the dark sidewalks, I feel another footsteps, but not on this very ground I'm walking on. I can feel it from the roof of these houses.
I walked faster and I felt it's pace became faster too.
I went to the dark alley to confront that person. Not only because I'm brave, but because I think I know that person. He's the only person I know who can do this.
"You already knew it's me, right?" A man jumped down from the building, parkouring his way in front of me.
"Minghao." I readied my pocket knife in front of me.
"I'm The8 now."
"That's hot. I already know it, though."
"I see. What do I expect from an informant."
"So what can an informant do for a fixer?"
He walked closer. His steps are like of a cat, very graceful, precise, and silent. I stepped backwards as he walks. This ex of mine is not gentle. I know that very well.
"The jasmine." He reached his hand. "Also, that kid."
"I ask payment for such, you know, business. Half a million for the jasmine and a million for 'that kid'" I made an air quotes.
"Are you attached to the kid now? Based on that price, you clearly don't want to give them up."
"Don't be jealous, I'm still available for you."
He dashed and tried to grab me by my neck. Luckily, I dodged it but he kicked my feet and made me stumble. I jumped up right away and swayed my pocket knife in defense.
"Rusty." He said.
"Yeah. I don't have a sparring partner so."
"Off topic, but you've already heard about the Rose situation, right?"
"Yeah."
He cornered me with his blade on my throat and said
"Are you really abandoning the group we created?"
