003 ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ જ⁀➴𖣠 I CAN'T FOOL YOU.

Suyeon cocked the gun back, shooting her last bullet from the cartridge. It hit the target in its shoulder. She pressed the magazine release on her pistol, the magazine falling and landing right in the palm of her hand. She quickly slid the ammo into the magazine and shoved it back into the pistol's space. Putting down the hammer and cocking back the gun once more, she placed her left hand around the other's wrist, stabilizing her shot.

Then, she shot–one, two, three, four, five. She hit pressure points but missed the head. Suyeon slowly lowered her pistol. Damn it. She bit her cheek, shaking her head. Her headphones played loud music, but her safety glasses couldn't hide her displeasure. Licking her lips, she felt the presence of someone watching her. So, she pulled out an earbud, turning around.

It was Heeseung. "Giving yourself a hard time thinking about your newest job?" Suyeon didn't reply, hoping that he'd magically leave on his own. However, he joined her on her left, lifting a gun. She pursed her lips with annoyance, listening to the booming of his gun. Suyeon stared as he shot every bullet into the metal target's head, causing her to roll her eyes. Once Heeseung stopped messing around, he wiggled his eyebrows. "How'd I do?"

"...Do you ever not show off?" Suyeon narrowed her eyes. "Sometimes, I can't take you seriously. Not only are you only a year older than me, but you don't act like you own a hitman company."

"I get that a lot," Suyeon didn't believe that. People were too afraid of Heeseung, everyone except her, and would piss their pants trying to speak to him. "Are you still thinking about how you're going to kill Jay?"

"Yes," Suyeon ripped out the other earbud from her ear, holding onto it. "I'm sure he's chasing me, so no matter where I go, he'll appear. That's fine with me, but..."

Heeseung cocked his head. "But?"

"But, killing him will be the hard part," Suyeon muttered. "I just have to make sure he doesn't find out or he could easily lodge a bullet in my head while I'm sleeping."

"Aren't you hotel hopping?"

"Yes, but a hitman is a hitman," She replied. "There's nowhere to hide."

Silence ensued between the both of them, Heeseung swallowing hard. "I know you'll come out on top, Suyeon, so don't worry," Heeseung tried to reassure her, but Suyeon hated how sappy he suddenly got. She fixed the safety glasses on her face, spinning back to face the target. "I mean it. I don't think he's got anything on you. You put on a good act last night being clumsy."

Suyeon nodded, swallowing. However, something clicked in her head, and she faced him again. Furrowing her eyebrows, she asked, "How did you know that I was acting?"

Heeseung's eyes switched gazes for a split second, and he put down his gun. "You told me. Don't you remember?"

Suyeon didn't. Maybe she was tired, or it slipped unconsciously. "I don't, but I probably did tell you," She rubbed her temples, shaking her head. "Anyway, you should go. I need to focus."

On the other side of Seoul, Jongseong put on his trenchcoat, getting ready to go for a drive. His boss told him that Suyeon would be out and about today for food, so Jongseong needed to look for her. He's already decided that he's not going to let her slip away this time and that if he needs to strike her–he'll do it without a word.

He realized that maybe he was going too fast. However, that was what he's always done, getting jobs done quickly. It helped him keep pace and get the money flowing, but now, he's at a full stop. Jongseong needed this money more than he needed anything else. Not only may he be considered as the best hitman (if he wasn't already) but he could finally tune up his car.

He checked the time: 8:36 AM. Was it too early to strike? Probably.

But, he did anyway.

He rode in his black Porsche with the roof down, easily cruising down in Seoul. He went slowly, eyes searching every street and corner for some kind of indication of her. "Where could she be..." Jongseong tapped the wheel impatiently, eyes everywhere. Doing another lap around the same block, he continued thinking. "What does a hitwoman like to eat around the area? Korean food, obviously. Right?"

Talking to himself was definitely his spiral into insanity.

But, he wasn't that insane after all. He suddenly saw a pearly gray Dodge Challenger pull into the parking lot of an old Korean restaurant, and in the mirror of it, was Suyeon's face. Ding, ding, ding!

"Bless the gods," Jongseong whipped his car around in an illegal u-turn, suffering loud beeping in return. Jongseong could care less–his target was only a five-second drive away. He wanted nothing more than to use his car to hit her, killing her in an instant, but Suyeon lingered in her car, checking her makeup.

That meant Jongseong was too early, and had no choice but to park. Suyeon already noticed him pulling in the moment those loud honks trickled into the open air. She wasn't going to let him get to her, once again, that easily. She saw his car drive by and shove into an empty parking spot. She memorized the look of it to search up, although she was certain it was a Porsche–a pretty black Porsche. There was no use in trying to remember his license plate; all hitmen know that if you keep a consistent one, you'll get shot. You change it out after every job.

"You've delayed enough, Jaesu," Suyeon told herself, grunting. She reached over to the passenger and grabbed her weapons–a pistol and her trusty dagger. Placing them in their slots and covering herself with her coat, she turned off the engine and got out of the car. "Let's get this show on the road."

Jongseong adjusted his mirrors and saw Suyeon exiting her car, slamming the door behind her. He waited for her to be out of sight before turning off his car's engine, cracking his knuckles. He was ready to get all that he needed–the first thing, more information about her whereabouts.

"Jaesu, you're back!" Suyeon smiled and bowed to the old lady who ran the restaurant. "Is it just you again?"

In her peripheral vision, she saw him walking up. "Make it two."

The old lady raised her eyebrows but didn't make any fuss. In her head, she acknowledged it as the first time Suyeon had been with someone besides Sowon–and she knew that because Sowon was nowhere to be found. She'd gone there since she was young, and the old lady watched Suyeon grow.

"Take a seat," She pulled out the chair for Suyeon, and the girl gladly sat. Just as she did, the door's bell rang, and in came Jongseong. The old lady bowed and spared him a glance, assuming that was Suyeon's company. "Your usual?"

"Yeah, make it two orders of the broiled pork, though–one for to-go," The old lady nodded, sparing Jongseong one more glance before strolling into the kitchen. Suyeon and Jongseong were the only other people besides an older couple, furthering the fact that Suyeon forever lived in secrecy.

"Would you look at that," The facade was on. Suyeon didn't look up from her phone, and instead let him take the seat in front of her, exactly like she thought. He leaned forward, whistling slightly. "The girl who flaked on me."

"I don't quite understand what you mean, sir," Suyeon turned off her phone, placing her phone down on the wooden table. Jay stared and it and swallowed, thinking of pickpocketing her the moment she put it away. Suyeon followed his gaze and gave him the satisfaction, sliding it off the surface and placing it into her coat pocket. "You're the one who flaked on me. I waited for you, but you never came back."

Jay flashed a grin. "Then why'd you leave me a note?"

Suyeon chuckled, brushing back her hair. "In case you were–but, I just couldn't be certain," Suyeon replied, narrowing her eyes. "But, it looks like destiny brought you right back to me. I'm starting to think I've got a stalker on my hands by how uncanny your arrival is."

"I reassure you, I'm not," Jongseong's eyes widened briefly–he needed to stray away from this side of the conversation, or else he'd get caught. "It's warm here. Allow me to help you take off your coat."

Suyeon narrowed her eyes, forcing herself to stifle a laugh at his lame attempt. Momentarily lowering her head with a fake smile, she untucked her sweater, allowing herself to conceal her weapons. Jongseong took her shuffling as a yes, standing up. He quickly placed his calm fingers against the collar of the coat and stripped it off of her, sliding it into a fold. In the process, his right hand slipped against the pocket of her coat, and quietly his fingers placed it into his vest pocket. He put it on the chair next to her and sat back down, fixing himself.

Suyeon knew he had already taken it. She didn't need to see some kind of indicator to know. "Tell me," Suyeon leaned forward. "What do you do for a living, Jay?"

"What's making you so curious?"

"The fact that you're pursuing me–for whatever reason that may be," Jongseong hoped to clarify, but Suyeon wasn't done. "You portray yourself as quite the socialite, that's all–you'd surely be busier if you were. You wouldn't be here entertaining me."

"I'm not entertaining you. I'm trying to be friendly–since you sparked my interest," What a load of bullshit. Suyeon nodded slowly, finding this act of his to be quite smart. He's indirectly answering the question, not leaving a lot of space for more. "But, if you are that curious, I'm an office worker. A marketing manager."

Then, Jongseong shot the question back at her, even if he knew her occupation. "What do you do?"

Suyeon didn't hesitate. "I'm an accountant."

"Where?"

"I don't recall asking you that question, Jay," Suyeon snickered. "I don't think you're in a place where you can ask me just anything."

"That's my way of getting to know a woman. How else can I get close to you?" Jay made up a good excuse, and if Suyeon was a fool, she'd easily fall right into it. "I aim to flatter you, Jaesu."

"I don't think it's working," Suyeon laughed. "You're going to have to try a little harder than that."

Jay could only stare at her, wholeheartedly amused. He wanted to kill her, so, so bad, but being in the same room with her, conversing–something compelled him to not. "Jaesu," Suyeon hummed in response. "Where can I find you?"

"And you claim you're not a stalker."

"No, no, that's–"

"I'm just joking," Suyeon felt the same way. Jongseong wasn't just a normal hitman to her. His trickery and manipulative ways were the reason he was an A-Grade hitman, because in this conversation, Jongseong felt like her friend. "You can find me just about anywhere, Jay."

"I need more than that," Jay snickered in an attempt to mimic her actions. "You can't be broad. Give me a location or a time I can find you."

"Hm..." Suyeon hummed in thought, tapping her lips. "How about we have dinner? Instead of some time or location, let's... have dinner."

Jongseong raised his eyebrows. Was she doing it again? Was she putting on an act, or was she genuinely falling right into his trap? Maybe Suyeon was falling for Jongseong. Right? "Dinner?" He repeated, starting to stifle a smile. "I... I guess so. Why not?"

"Your food is ready, Jaesu!" The old lady came out with a bowl of soup, some side dishes, and braised pork. The two bowed, and the old lady extended her arm to give her the boxed pork. "Here. Pay when you're ready."

"Thank you," Suyeon repeated, taking it from her grasp. She glanced back at Jongseong, who stared at it curiously. "I didn't know what you'd like, so I got my usual."

"Oh," He nodded. "Okay."

"You're paying, right?" Jongseong widened his eyes, staring at her in panic. He was paying!? Suyeon chuckled at his surprise, standing up with her braised pork. Grabbing her coat, she started to make Jongseong believe he was fooled again. She hung it teasingly in her grasp and walked past him slightly, remembering something. "Oh, right, dinner."

She patted his left shoulder, gaining his attention. On the other side, Suyeon reached a swift hand into his vest and pulled out her phone, dropping it into the bag. "How about this Friday at seven? Busy?"

"Nope," Jongseong flashed a smile. Damn it, he thought. I wanted to watch that new movie coming out. "I'm available. Where should we meet?"

"The new restaurant that opened up across the street from here," Jongseong nodded. "I'll see you there, then."

"Okay, bye, then," Jongseong waved, laughing awkwardly. Suyeon went up to the old lady and did a 'check' signal, indicating he was paying. The old lady grinned and nodded, going back to reading receipts.

The moment the door's bell rung, signaling that Suyeon left, Jongseong reached for his vest pocket–

"Huh?" He whispered, feeling nothing. He panicked, fully putting his hand in and driving it left and right. Nope, Suyeon's phone was gone. "Damn it. How'd she know?"

Then, he looked down at the food, cocking his head. "She's... an interesting character," Jongseong saw Suyeon's true colors showing. He reached down with his spoon and took a sip of the broth, laughing to himself. "Accountant, my ass. Anyone can see that she knows how to kill."

And, he awaited Friday.