❝ FIRST FREEDOM AND LIE ❞

8

You were in your room, dressing up as today was the day when you'll finally visit your stepmother in the hospital after a week.

"I accepted the offer..."  You thought. "Meaning I'll get to visit my stepmother and maybe step outside for a while."

The credibility was low, but Y/n still had a glimmer of hope, like a little flame burning brightly in her heart, filling the void left by the past.

"Where is she? Why is she taking so long?" Rindou groaned as he looked at his wristwatch. The men are waiting downstairs, except for Mikey who handled some business.

"She's probably still changing. They always take long. Get used to it." Ran answered as he lit up a cigarette.

"I don't have time for this." Rindou said.

"Neither do I," Koko said in ennui. "I better not see some minions in that damn hospital." 

"Security. Twenty-four seven." Ran answered while making gestures after taking his cigarette out.

"I'll check her." Rindou grunted as he went upstairs.

Rindou knocked on your room, but there was no answer.

He knocked again, no answer.

He started to panic, thinking you fled, so he opened the door, swaying it open as what he saw made his eyes widen.

You looked back and hurriedly covered your body with your hands as your eyes widened; you were just wearing a towel around your body as you were changing.

"Shit," Rindou cursed under his breath as he quickly closed the door.

Rindou quickly went downstairs as the men saw his flustered face.

"Such in a rush, Haitani." Kakucho commented as they noticed the haste in Rindou's walk.

"She's dressing up, just wait for her." Rindou cleared his throat.

"And...?" Sanzu and Ran asked suspiciously.

"And what?"

"Bro probably saw her naked." Ran snorted. 

"I don't find any amusement in that at all. You've never seen a woman, Rindou?" Ran added then walked out of the mansion. "Just call me when (Y/N) is done." 

They heard quick footsteps on the stairs, and you walked downstairs.

"Took you long enough." Rindou groaned his eyes as you furrowed your brows at him, remembering what happened a while ago.

"Where's Mikey?"

Koko asked, his voice catching everyone's attention as silence ate them. Ran, Rindou, and Sanzu were all in one vehicle while the others were in the other vans.

"He'll catch up later." Ran answered.

And there, you arrive at the destination.

You looked outside the window, and you saw the hospital.

They parked just in front of the building, where they can really see you and the entrance of the hospital.

"Can I go now?" You asked in a bored yet rushed tone.

They looked at each other before nodding.

"Wait, Y/n." They said before you opened the door of the van.

You sighed.

"Come back after an hour."

You nodded in hesitation, having no choice but to follow, you went out of the van and loudly slides the door shut in front of them.

You walked to the hospital entrance, but you can still feel their stares from the window van.

"Gosh..." You rolled your eyes as you went inside the elevator.

You noticed that the hospital has more security and guards today than usual.

"I'm not going to escape damn, you all are doing too much." You sighed, glaring at the securities even inside the elevator because you know that these were all Bonten's.

The elevator dinged, and you walked out, finding your stepmother's room. You didn't waste time to make a run for it.

Finally finding it, you opened the door and she was still laying there, unconsciously.

Tubes stuck on her body, still bruised up body. It's like nothing has changed since your last visit last week.

"Hey..." You grabbed a chair and sat beside the bed, looking at her with pity.

A part of you believed those filths were somehow involved by this, yet your guts tells a different route.

You laid your head down on the bed, feeling your headache as you grew fatigued, stress and overwork taking over your body.

"If I tell you a story I bet you won't believe it." You chuckled as you talked to your mother as if she was awake.

"Guess what? I got kidnapped but they let me go like 'ok you're free now'" You laughed.

"I'm like an inch away from death. Damn, I don't understand this whole sorcery. I'm so close to believing that they're sort of a ritual group." You scratch the back of your head as you looked around awkwardly.

"But still, this is like a whole dream," Y/n groaned. "More like a nightmare."

"But don't worry, I think this will be the way to know some information about my beloved, and maybe... just maybe... I'll finally meet them!" Y/n laughed, tears prickling in her eyes as she was caressing her stepmother's hand, missing her presence already.

"That's why... please wake up, mother; we still have to meet my parents and live in our little apartment."

"But I'll buy us a mansion soon. Maybe I can scrub some money off of those filths." She raised her hand as she laughed but she jolted and was cut off as the door opens.

"O-oh, it's you." Y/n cleared her throat, her face red from embarrassment.

"Y/n? Where have you been?!" Draken asked as he walked to you.

"Kidnapped."

"Just went out." You said nonchalantly, still not forgetting what happened the last day.

"Went out? For a fucking week?"

"Why do you care?" You answered, still looking at your stepmother.

"Right." Draken nodded, but still not believing you.

"Why are you here?"

"When you weren't there, I was visiting and looking after Ms. Eri," Draken scratched the back of his head. "I hope you don't mind."

"Kind of."

Silence fell in the room, only the ticking of the clock was heard.

"If we're not going to talk about something and just stare at each other into thin air, then I'll be going now." You said as you placed a goodbye kiss on your stepmother as you stood up, walking to the door until you heard Draken talk.

"I'll drive you home."

"That's not possible." And there, you went out of the room.

You went out of the hospital, opening the glass entrance door but someone called you.

"Y/n, let's talk about this." Draken said.

"Can we talk about this for a moment? Look... I-I don't know if this is because of what happened the last day—"

"Just— just please Ken, please I don't need any of your pity." You said as you turned to him.

"...What happened to you?" And there, it clicks on Ryuguji's mind, the way you talk, the way you act, the way you were easily getting mad, something was off about you.

"I..." Your words stopped, getting caught in your tongue as you widen your eyes, recalling that it was almost time, that Bonten's van was just parked right in the parking lot in front of the hospital, and that they could obviously see both of you.

"Are you okay? Y/n, tell m—" Draken tried to hold you but you only stepped back; your face turned pale as you shook your head.

"Listen to me, just go." You said as you staggered back and walked away quickly from him, going to the parking lot.

"Huh?" While Draken was left perplexed.

You ran to the van, catching your breath as the door opened, you looked up and your breath hitched as you were met with Mikey. Your eyes widened, trying to compose yourself as to not be obvious. You stepped inside the van but then were caught off guard by Mikey's question.

"Nervous?" Mikey asked.

"Uh, yeah. Nervous about my mother's state." You reasoned out.

As soon as you entered the vehicle, you kept your head low, so you didn't notice the side glances and smirks from the men.

"So... what happened in there?" Sanzu was the first one to ask.

"I-I visited my mother, and I bought some food in the cafeteria." You whispered, almost trembling, you knew that they saw what happened earlier.

"That's it?" Mikey said.

You nodded.

"Hmm. Almost believable." Mikey hummed as he tilted his head and faced you.

His fingers pressed on your cheeks, forcing you to face him; he looked down when he observed your lips trembling; you bit your lips, hoping he wouldn't notice.

"Stop that," Mikey's thumb went to your lips, pulling it down. "Don't bite your lips."

You felt a sense of tension arising, but for your sake, you ignored it.

"So now, tell me, what else happened earlier?"

"I-I said nothing..." You said, furrowing your brows as you looked down, not wanting to look at his eyes.

"Hey, don't look away." He said as he only lifted your face, making you look at him.

"Shh, you don't want the others to hear your lies too, right? Be thankful I'm the only one who can hear. You don't know what lies beneath their skin." You glanced around, they were all busy talking, occupied with their phones.

"But you know, I also don't like it when someone's lying to me." Mikey's voice was low.

"Make sure you're not lying to me, fucking remember that." He said, your lips on a pout as you felt tears prickle in your eyes, but not letting them fall.

"We're here now, sir." The driver said, and you took the chance to pry your head away from his grip, looking back at him with a frustrated expression before going out of the vehicle.

You quickly opened the door and went inside the mansion; before they can call you, you already ran upstairs, and they heard the echo of the door slam shut loudly from upstairs.

They'll let it slide... for now.

The men were in their lounge, just sitting and talking about business to kill some time. 

"Are you really sure that's him?" Ran asked. You can't be sure by anything these days.

Mikey closed his eyes and sighed, remembering what happened a while ago.

"What took you so long?" Sanzu asked as Mikey entered the van.

"Had some things to handle." Mikey only shrugged.

"Where's Y/n? Did she go inside now?" Mikey asked.

"Yeah, it's been like an hour now." Ran said as he checked his wristwatch.

Minutes have passed, and the others are busy with their own business, occupied with their phones as Mikey saw you go out of the hospital entrance.

But his eyes narrowed and he paused when he noticed you with a familiar man, who he couldn't see since he was hidden behind the wall, just in front of you, and he could only see his back.

Mikey's brows furrowed as you rushed to the vehicle, and as the doors opened, he noticed your pale face as if you had seen a ghost.

"Nervous?" Mikey asked. Almost a question that just came out of his mouth, and he wasn't totally planning to ask that.

"Uh, yeah. Nervous about my mother's state." You reasoned out.

"So... what happened in there?" Sanzu was the first one to ask.

"I-I visited my mother, and I bought some food in the cafeteria." You said.

"That's it?" Mikey asked.

You gulped before nodding, and the van drove off.

Mikey looked outside the window as they passed by the hospital entrance.

And there, his eyes widen as their eyes met on the window.

A shocked expression on both of their faces.

"Is that...?"