Taehyung had had his suspicion for a while now and he was finally about to conform it. He stood silently, waiting for their newest buyer to arrive. Being one of the top dogs, he was barely required to oversee them but he couldn't let this one slip. In order to keep things calm, he had let the procedure go on its own while he stood hidden behind one of the few windows on the upper floor that adorned the rusty room.

He crossed his arms across his chest as the car arrived and parked itself across the alley. A young woman with sunglasses walked out and discreetly walked into the building. She looked around the room timidly and fiddled with the handle of her suitcase. Taehyung could see her lightly flinch as one of his associates walked into the room.

"State your name." His deep voice resonated across the almost empty warehouse.

"Yubi. Kim Yubi." She replied timorously.

Another one of his associates frisked her with a metal detector. He asked her to remove the glasses and she obliged. Taehyung leaned to get a better look and sure enough, it was her. Kim Yubi. Or as Minjee would call her, Cherry.

Taehyung took a deep breath and turned away, not bothering watch the whole transaction. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He silently took a hidden exit out of the room and waited patiently yet again in his sleek black Porsche. He could see why Minjee chose her. Out of all her associates, she was the least suspicious. Even when Taehyung was on the verge of taking over her company, he had barely bothered to look her up. On normal cases, this would have slipped his vision but this time, he had been waiting to catch something abnormal. Anything that would lead a way to Minjee.

He hadn't been able to sleep ever since Mr Wook's dinner party. He should have known M would show up at this one. He was so used to going as M's representative that the thought of M showing up himself hadn't crossed his mind. A mindless blunder. His breath had caught in this throat when he had witnessed his mentor's piercing gaze. He had dreaded every second Minjee spent with the man. This is a signal, he had thought. A warning that yelled directly into his face. The knowing sly smile, the unnatural back thumping, his keen interest in Minjee were all a huge "Beware!" sign board and he couldn't help but notice. He had known the possible dangers he'd get into once he got into a relationship with her. But it wasn't until the wake-up call did he know the depth of the seriousness. He was vigorously shaken out of his delusion that he could protect her when the time came. It wasn't until he saw how close she stood next danger that he knew he was putting her in trouble. Even then, he had had hope. But now as Kim Yubi's image flashed before his eyes, he wasn't sure he had any left.

He watched as the woman got back into her car. He waited a little while before revving up his engine and as she reached a considerable distance; he followed subtly. The car parked in front of café, few kilometres away from the main city. He watched from a considerable distance as she pushed through the door. Awaiting her arrival was Minjee, perched atop a tall stool at the further end of the café. He waited for a few minutes and observed their supposedly clandestine interaction.

He heaved a frustrated sigh and buried his face in his hands.

"Stupid stupid Minjee. What have you done?" He thought to himself.

***

"Are you sure?" Jimin asked softly with the phone pressed to his ear.

"Alright." He said in reply and slid the phone back into his pocket.

"Everything good?" Kira asked, rubbing her hands together for warmth.

"Mhm." Jimin smiled at her, his irises vanishing completely.

Kira felt herself smiling back automatically. As of now, they were fugitives in the eyes of their family. They had gotten bored enough to sneak out alone in the middle of a very boring family gathering at Jimin's place. They walked side by side heading nowhere in particular.

"It's too cold out here. Let's get in somewhere." He said blowing hot air onto his gloved hand. "There." He pointed at a bar which had lights on even though it was only early evening.

"No." Kira said backing away. "I am not drinking with you."

"Oh, come on!" It helps keep warm." He countered.

"I'd rather freeze to death then."

"Dramatic Minnie." He said shaking his head. "We'll get a few and get out sober. I promise."

Kira still wasn't convinced. After being the victim of enough embarrassing incidents, she had learnt her lesson. She continued to stare at him with narrowed eyes.

"Please?"

"Fine." Kira sighed in frustration. "But if something happens-"

"You can come over and steal all the comics you want from my personal collection."

"Nice!" Kira smirked. "With that offer on, I just might get drunk."

It seemed like one of the only bars in the near vicinity and was already crowded despite the early hour. They took their seats on the high stools by the counter. They ordered their drinks and waited patiently for it. Kira looked around the bar, observing the different types of people that occupied it. Her eyebrows crunched down as they landed on a familiar pair of hazel brown. She was almost sure she'd imagined it and blinked as if to refresh a computer screen. "Tae?"

"Huh?" Jimin asked absently.

"Isn't that Taehyung?" Kira asked, just to make sure it wasn't just her.

Jimin's gaze followed hers and she saw a similar wave of expressions washing over him. He looked back at her with his left eyebrow dramatically tugged upwards. Together, they looked again and noticed something they'd both missed out on. Taehyung wasn't alone. Sitting across him was a richly dressed woman, her healthy hair tumbling over the chair's backrest.

"Who is that?" Jimin asked, genuinely curious.

"I don't know. A client?"

Jimin rolled his eyes. "Why would you bring a business associate to this place? Something seems fishy."

"Oh, come on. What era do you live in? A meet-up can happen anywhere now. Discussions over drinks are very common these days." Kira argued.

They observed the duo from afar. Taehyung mouthed words rapidly and flashed his trademark smirk. The woman next to him threw her head back in laughter and leaned over. She casually slid her fingers across the table and locked it with his. Taehyung eyed their intertwined hands and smiled warmly at her. Jimin's jaw hung low, gawking at the far seated couple.

"Please tell me you saw that." He gasped.

Kira kept quiet, suddenly at loss of words.

"We're going over." He said, lightly jumping down the stool.

"Jimin, no." she said, horrified. "Let's just..."

"What, sit and watch as they start making out next?" He tugged her elbows and she struggled to maintain balance.

"I- I don't know. Maybe this is all a part of something we don't understand." Kira did not no why she was defending him. It might be the surge of shocked numbness flowing through her as she let her rational side do the thinking. She wanted to believe in her words because if not, she had no idea how she was going to react.

"Are you fucking serious right now?" Jimin fumed. He held her arms and strongly pulled her along with him. She moved helplessly, her mind torn between being curious and drowning in denial.

"Having fun, are we?" Jimin chirped as they approached the couple.

Taehyung seemed not to hear them for a few seconds until he noticed her meekly struggling figure. He looked confidently at Jimin and then at her. For one faltering second, his helpless brown irises seemed fixated on her. Kira suddenly felt as though she forgot how to blink. By the time she'd figured it out, it was gone; now replaced with monotonous certainty.

"I was. Until you showed up." He said casually.

Jimin let out an airy laugh. Kira seemed rooted to the floor; her body seemed like an entity that wasn't her own. Frankly, she couldn't process the situation. Was this real? Did she miss something out? Was she that blinded? Or was he just a good actor? She desperately wanted to say something but they seemed to get stuck in her throat.

"Are you for real?" Kira heard Jimin say but it was only a distant echo. She heard him reply just as snarky as the last time but it appeared distorted, his words barely reaching her ears.

The woman showed signs of discomfort as she tried to pull her hand away. Taehyung held on firmly, adamant not to let it go. She said something and got up, excusing herself to what Kira assumed was the washroom. Jimin's voice was getting louder by the minute and she noticed a few annoyed glances aimed at the table.

"Stop." She said.

Neither of them heard it. She licked her cold chapped lips and spoke again. "Stop it. Please."

Two pairs of eyes were now trained on her, expecting to hear more but she was absolutely quiet. Her gaze was fixed on Taehyung's and he stared back, equally intense. Jimin's protests stopped midway and he remained quiet. "Stop. I know what you're trying to do."

Taehyung propped his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his slender palm. "Do you?"

"This is some sort of an act isn't it? That day with Mr. Lee freaked you out and you're trying to 'protect' me from whatever it is that has shaken you."

Taehyung smiled; his lips lopsided. "I guess I was wrong. I guess there is something I'll miss in you after all. Your optimism."

Kira closed her eyes and shook her head. "Whatever this is, we can figure it out. Together. I know you're scared."

"Us? Together? You don't get it, do you? It was never there from the beginning. It was all just-"

"An act?" Kira completed it for him.

"Bingo." He said. "You're learning."

"How dumb do you take me to be?" She cocked her head to the left. "You mean to tell me that it was all pretence?"

"It was fun while it lasted. Thank you for cooperating." A ghostly smile was plastered eerily on his face.

"Taehyung, you can't possibly convince me-"

He held his hand out, cutting her in between. "I don't have to convince you of anything, Minjee. I already have what I want."

Kira couldn't help but chuckle. Taehyung watched as if it was the most natural reaction she could give. He picked up the glass of diluted honey gold liquid and sipped it. The woman was back but she stood uncomfortably by the side, not wanting to get involved in the outbreak of the scene. Kira's eyes met hers for an instant second and she saw something she despised seeing: pity.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a life to get back to." He grimaced, motioning the woman to take her seat.

Jimin's shoulders hunched up and she anticipated an oncoming outburst. Before he could utter anything, she gently placed a stern hand on him and ushered him to walk with her. His protests continued until they walked out of the moderately lit bar.

"Minnie, what the hell? We shouldn't just let him do whatever the fuck he wants. Who does he think he is, messing with my sister? He-"

"I don't think it's real."

Jimin looked at her, eyebrows drooped down in anger. "What do you mean?"

"He hasn't been the same ever since we came across M himself. You told me to stay away from him, right? Maybe Taehyung is just trying to push me away."

Jimin walked silently beside her, essentially not knowing what to say. He flipped out his phone and dialled someone, their conversation barely audible to her as she got lost in her hurricane of thoughts. Few minutes later, a familiar car slowed down by the footpath.

The window rolled down to reveal a face she most wanted to see at the moment. "I'll take her from here." Jin smiled. Jimin must have called him. She hugged her cousin lightly and got into the passenger seat. She sat staring blankly out the window as the cityscape blurred by.

With the light crowd of people chattering away in view, she knew exactly where they were. Ice cream in hand, Kira focused as the waves left behind wet trails on the pointy heap of rocks. They were now seated on the low walls that bordered the sea from the city. Their legs dangled, teasing the water to jump up and touch them. She'd narrated the whole incident to him along with a detailed recap of her interpretations.

"I know him." She concluded.

"I'd like to believe that. People change, Kira. In this case, the evidences are too precise to let go. You know the games he used to play, right? Who's to say this was real in the first place. What if he really is as sadistic as he claims himself to be?"

Kira listened silently, her eyes skimming across the gentle laps of the sea.

"This wasn't just a game." She said in a low voice; mostly convincing herself than him.

***

Jimin waved them goodbye as the car rolled farther away from him. He waited for it go completely out of sight and as it did, he slowly retraced his steps back towards the bar.

Taehyung sat exactly where they had left him; but now, he was void of the lady companion. Jimin sat across him and observed him. His eyes seemed significantly darker but his lips were pale. Noticing Jimin's presence, he straightened his posture.

"Is she gone?"

Jimin nodded in reply. Taehyung stared at the light gold liquid that gleamed under the steady yellow light of the bar.

"I don't think she bought it." Jimin voiced his concern.

Taehyung let out a small smile. "She knows me too well. No, she won't give up that easily. She's stubborn. But I have to do what I can."

"Are you sure it'll work?"

"It'll take time but it has to." Taehyung said slowly.

"It's the right thing to do." Jimin said, reaching his hand across to the other.

Taehyung nodded, looking away. "Right thing to do." He repeated.