DRIVER : Shouldn't you do something?

OK TAK : Wait a minute.

That man slid his mask down to his chin as soon as he bent down to Seol Ah. Ok Tak, on careful scrutiny and getting recalled of Namjoon's name in the contract earlier, caught on spot that it was him.

"Is she his manager?" He wondered to himself. Seeing her no more resisting and Namjoon carefully getting her inside the car, he felt relieved.

DRIVER : Sir?

OK TAK: (-seeing Namjoon getting into the driver's seat-) Head back to SK entertainment, please. She's gonna be fine.

DRIVER : Ah, ye. As you say.

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Seol Ah had her head hung low, numb from feeling anything then. Namjoon noticed that and wanted to divert her mind in any way he could.

NJ : Seol-ah~

SEOL AH : Yeh! I mean, yes?

NJ : I know it's not your work hour now. But, would you mind managing the recent tweets?

SEOL AH : Sure. I will get them done. (-forces a smile-)

She got up to leave with a slight bow to the guest.

OK TAK : (-the moment she left-) I am so sorry. I feel, I shouldn't have brought it up.

NJ : Oh, no it's alright. Well, actually I want to thank you for helping her out. Things could've been worse if not for you.

Ok Tak's guilt, however the console, persisted as he didn't match eyes with his hyung any longer.

Namjoon, trying to change the mood, spoke again.

NJ : Ok Tak-ah. I know, it's selfish. But, I still need a little favor from you.

OK TAK : (-willingly-) Oh, of course. What is it?

NJ : It's highly confidential. You'll have to keep it all to yourself.

OK TAK : My words for it.

NJ : Well, to tell you in gist. My lawyer and I are planning a sting operation against Seong Pd. And we would need the proofs you have and your testimony as well.

OK TAK : (-after processing it all-) If my help brings any success to get him behind bars. I will do whatever it takes.

NJ : Will you be fine though? I mean, if he, by chance, knows about your alliance with us?

OK TAK : (-brief silence-) In that case, maybe I want to have the choice of backing out if things don't go as planned. I feel extremely eccentric about this, but I can't help think about my job.

NJ : Of course you have the choice. I don't want to force on you. It's just that your help would bring a great deal of difference to the operation.

OK TAK : I will cooperate my finest till its in our favor.

NJ : Thanks so much, Tak-ah. I really owe you one.

OK TAK : If that's how you're gonna talk. Then, I owe my life to you and Yi Seob hyung.

NJ : Yah, forget that already. (-chuckles-)

They conserved a little more about here and there until, Ok Tak urged up to take his leave.

NJ : So, it's going to be late office hours, i.e., around 6. Remember to bring along all that you have.

OK TAK : (-smiles-) Ye, 6 it is. I will be here. Take care, hyung.

NJ : (-smiles back-) Onh, be careful. You too.

Namjoon shut the door behind Ok Tak and walked back casually. He was occupied pondering over the 'tomorrow' he mentioned to Ok Tak.

It was the first official meeting with the special team, that Attorney Wang has taken the full responsibility to hire for the sting operation.

He was feeling nervous about the day next.

Absent mindedly as he walked in through the lobby, Namjoon was slightly taken aback at Seol Ah coming out of her room.

SEOL AH : Did Ok Tak-ssi leave?

NJ : (-casually glancing at the front door-) Yeah, just now.

SEOL AH : Ah~. I-.. I am done with the tweets.

NJ : Onh, thanks. (-attempts to leave-)

SEOL AH : (-speaking up before he moved-) Um.. I was saying.. Are you.. Like, are you busy with something right now?

Namjoon, although, wanted to draw a line and keep his distance from her till the case was dealt with. For some reason, it was weighing on him heavier than he expected.

It was then he realized, that Seol Ah has become his new comfort. She has become his dependency.

How much he hated this feeling to take over with any kind of human interaction‐ which might sound superfluous‐was unimaginable. Yet, it unerringly bloomed in him like a season that's bound to change or a time that's meant to pass.

However, the care he embraced in his beating heart for her, brought in him, the strength to maintain the stretched space.
To, not involve her anymore than she already was, into his matters and especially the case.

Whom did he fear to hurt more, Chae Ri? Or Seol Ah?
- It was himself. He wanted to save himself from the death well he has been diving in, the past year. From the one, he had just elevated himself to the ground state‐ after going through the scariest nights and the darkest hues of desolation.

NJ : Huh? "Right now"? (-a second later-) Nothing, I guess. Why do you ask?

SEOL AH : (-hesitates-) How about we do some activity to kill the time, we have to absolute nothing?

NJ : 'Activity'? What kind of activity?

SEOL AH : I don't know. I invested a little. You add a little too.

NJ : Alright-

SEOL AH : How about Jenga?

NJ : (-dry cough-) I thought, the 'activity' was supposed to be my suggestion(?)

SEOL AH : Sorry, I was just helping you out. (-zips her mouth-)

NJ : Right, that's your most beloved thing to do. 'Help me out'. (-mocking her-) Am I privileged in that matter?

SEOL AH : I guess you are. I hated you in the beginning.

Namjoon smiled looking elsewhere at the extra information that it was 'in the beginning'.
Of course, he wasn't the cheeky sort to go 'Not anymore?' with a brazen grin to her words.
He liked to be professional as far as he could.

NJ : (-awkward-) Umm...

Well, maybe a little awkward this time.

NJ : How about we toss for it? If it's heads, we play Jenga. Tails, I decide.

SEOL AH : Sounds fair.

Seol Ah, nervously, pulled out a shirt button, she had kept in her pockets that earlier came off in a minor incident with the wardrobe.

SEOL AH : I don't have a coin. But, this will do since it has two colors. And, mine's black. (-forces a smile-)

"Rational Seol Ah : Miss, he didn't ask you of a coin either. He would've gotten it himself."

"Sensitive Seol Ah : I was anxious, okay!"

Namjoon, stared at the button lying on his opened palms. He experienced a peaceful blankness in his conscience.
Didn't know how to react, but wasn't troubled about it too.

NJ : (-calmly-) Mine's white then. (-avoids getting carried away-) Here, it goes. (-tosses up-)

Both their gaze followed its entire projectile path as it, typically in a slow and enticing pace, landed back onto his palm.

His other hand had the result covered as they glanced at each other.

NJ : Ready to lose? (-removes his hand slowly-)

With the result flashed out to Seol Ah, her smile dropped as she looked up at Namjoon.

SEOL AH : Hope you were. (-snorty grin-)

Namjoon's eyes from staring at her, finally viewed at the outcome. He frowned lightly to see the color black on top.

Soon, he was distracted by Seol Ah celebrating her win and giggling just at how cocky Namjoon tried to appear at probabilities.

Namjoon, contagiously grinned slightly waiting for her to settle down as he unconsciously shoved the button in his pockets. Just like, he would normally do to a coin.

He was too busy with Seol Ah that he failed to process it was a button, and that it belonged originally to her.

NJ : Okay, fine. But, why Jenga though? Isn't that a little overrated now?

SEOL AH : Umm.. no reason. It looks fun, from what I had seen. Never played though.

NJ : You never played Jenga?

SEOL AH : (-sarcastic-) I don't see a purpose of me lying about it.

NJ : (-chukcles lightly-) I will see if we have the board.

With that said, he walked to the store with Seol Ah proceeding towards the lounge.

Little did Namjoon know, it was all her small attempted gesture to cheer him up from the stress he was receiving to go back and forth the court.

From the suggestions by the internet, two of them stood out to her most. One was to carry the 'stressed person' into doing the thing they love to do the most. With the second being, carrying them into playing some games to free their minds off from a difficult and/or a particular situation.

Music being the thing, in her knowledge, the most loved thing by him ‐ she had to drop it since the reason of his stress had connections with it.
Thereby, opting to the second.

In a few blinks, they were seated around the floor centering the table in the hall.

NJ : Now guessing you know the basics. Quick rules! 1. You can withdraw any block when the top most level is incomplete. (-gives a demo-)

NJ : But, you must go for the top levels whenever there's a completely stacked 3 tiles on top. Cheat on this is nobody really follows this unless it's Olympics-serious.

Seol Ah was watching carefully as she obediently nodded her head. Until the last remark made her grin a little.

NJ : Number 2 : You can use only one hand to pull out a block although you can switch to your comfort whenever you require.

SEOL AH : Got it! (-warms her hands-) Who gets to go first?

NJ : The one who builds the tower. So, it's me.

He focused on the tower next, feeling around to go for a loose one.

He poked a middle tile and pulled it out as if it was suspended in air. The whole movement was very smooth, bringing utter fascination to Seol Ah.

SEOL AH : Waah! You seem like a Pro at this.

NJ : (-hums in denial-) It's Jin hyung who is a Pro at Jenga. (-stacks the tile on top-)

SEOL AH : Oh, did you play this alot with the members?

NJ : Kind of. We used to play many other games as well for Armys. Even had a show exclusively to us, Run BTS. (-smiles-) We did a lot of activities, had a lot of fun there.

Seol Ah noticed his smiles, the glimmering ones forming prominent cheek dents as he reminisced about those times. When these smiles were genuine, one could also feel his dimples in ecstasy.

Consequently, a smile of realization surfaced over Seol Ah's lips as well.

Namjoon never really divided into his old and present self.

It was, and always him.

His past only casted a shade to his inner self, his inner shine. But deep down, beneath those sheaths, he was still the same.

He was still Namjoon.
What did change, however, were his situations and environments he was surrounded by in those times, she thought, he was the happiest.

NJ : (-snapping her back-) C'mon. It's your turn now.

SEOL AH : Ah, yes! (-aims nervously-) It's incomplete, so I can pull out from anywhere, right?

NJ : (-nods-) Ah huh, anywhere. Keep your hands steady though.

A moment of tight breaths, she directly went for the one‐ hard to pull out and then obviously the entire 18 storey tower came crashing down. Her hands were still in the same position holding on the tile she had pulled out.

Namjoon burst into a big laugh looking at the betrayed mien she was seated with, shooting glares at the broken storey.

NJ : (-laughs-) Don't worry. It was your first time, we'll let it slide.

SEOL AH : (-keeping the tile down-) You know what? Give me the penalty. I don't want you to go easy on me just because it's my first time.

Namjoon blankly stared at her for a moment. His mind thinking how that last comment of hers would've sounded so wrong without the current context. He cleared his throat resisting his thoughts from wandering around other directions.

NJ : Alright. (-picking the manual-) This has some tasks and it says here for your tile, "Forhead or lips, where would you prefer a kiss on?"

SEOL AH : Umm.. (-thinks-) Maybe, forehead? Not to sound cheesy, but I think a forehead peck while the person is asleep is really cute.

Namjoon felt a hot wave run down his entire body at the recollection of a similar hap. The questionable peck he had placed on her forhead on the night of the incident, rewound back after a long time.

SEOL AH : Do I have to build the tower this time?

NJ : (-nervously-) Huh?! Ye-yeah.

Having Seol Ah never come to him asking for an explanation, he believed she didn't remember it ‐ all to his relief.

Very quietly then, he hid the manual under the table, not wanting to read the actual penalty. Which was, to kiss the chosen part on your opponent in case of two players, and the one to your left when in group.

Soon enough, they were actually into the game‐sighing and growling with each tensed pull out.

The night, that was previously thought to be spent in anxiety, actually swam through quite cheerfully. Giving the minds, a break and a refreshment from all the hectics.

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The very next day, a typical medium sized book could be seen in Seol Ah's hand as she was peacefully seated around the artificial garden. Through the last night's game, she had earned herself, the exclusive access to Namjoon's library. It was no less than an achievement for her, if you might wonder.

She was occupied shifting through the tinted sheets when a distinctive noise disturbed her to look inside the hall.

There were a few formally dressed men, all foreign to her, except the familiar face of Attorney Wang‐ all guided inside by Namjoon.

She immediately stirred up to look into the matter. Gradually, as she walked inside till the dining table, her speed decelerated watching them all vanish into Namjoon's studio.

Trying to remember if he had mentioned about a meeting to her before, she was interrupted by Ok Tak following them a little late.

He, not bothering her much, awkwardly bowed to her while walking the route as by others. However, Seol Ah stopped him.

SEOL AH : Ok Tak-ssi!

OK TAK : (-looks at her-) Ye?

SEOL AH : I-... Thank you for taking the trouble to help me out that night. It was really kind of you.

OK TAK : Oh, please don't mention it. Honestly, I only did what felt right to do then.

SEOL AH : I didn't do anything stupid, did I?

OK TAK : (-nervously-) Ah, of course you didn't. Don't worry about it.

SEOL AH : (-smiles-) Yeh. (-awkwardly-) By the way, is there some kind of meeting planned here?

OK TAK : Oh, yes. About the case, Wang Byeonusa-nim thought it would be best to have it here. (-smiles and bows slightly-) See you then.

Seol Ah replied to his bow with the same gesture, but was left still in confusion and pure wonders.
She lazily marched to her room with a sting inside, that some secret was being cooked.

Rush of questions rambled on her as to why he wasn't sharing it with her if her doubts were the actuality.

Busying herself to complete the novel she had her hands on, Seol Ah diverted her mind till it was the dinner hour. And, it was only him and her in the house.

SEOL AH : (-at the dining-) There's something I wanted to ask you.

NJ : (-munching peacefully-) Yes. Go ahead.

SEOL AH : Why were all those people here today? I have a feeling that, it is not just about the plagiarism. Is it?

NJ : (-halts eating-) Them.. (-silence-)

SEOL AH : I am sorry. But, do you not trust me enough? Do you still think I would go and reveal everything to the public?

NJ : Right there. That's it. No more words. I wasn't telling you for a reason. And it's definitely not because I don't trust you.

SEOL AH : Then, what is it about? Why can't you tell me?

NJ : (-calmly-) I don't know how you are gonna take this. But, we are going for it. Not just for or because of you, but for Chae Ri and countless other victims too.

Seol Ah knew exactly what he was trying to say by now. It was as if 'Chae Ri' was the code word to cue directly on Seong Pd's nasty deeds.

SEOL AH : So, you are planning to accuse Seong PD of assault?

NJ : Yes. We are going to have a sting operation to have solid evidences that he cannot escape.

SEOL AH : I see. (-not looking at him-)

NJ : Seol Ah, I am sorry. I didn't mean to hide this from you. But, because you would be reminded of it again, that I didn't involve you.

Seol Ah, irresistibly, threw her gaze at Namjoon with an expression of disbelief.

SEOL AH : Do you think, there's a second I forget about it?

Namjoon freezed.

He was spine pricked at the cracks her tone was teased with.

SEOL AH : (-moistened eyes-) Do you really think, I would be reminded of that night with this and I am not so every day, every hour, every minute that I am awake?

NJ : Seol Ah, I didn-

SEOL AH : No... it's alright. I can't expect you to know if you haven't walked in my shoes in the first place.

NJ : (-in a low voice-) I am sorry~

SEOL AH : Right. That makes me feel so much better.

She, holding on her outburst, rushed to her room leaving the food and Namjoon, feel all soggy and useless.

He could never really feel her true emotions, no matter how much he tried to empathize with her.
It's easy to say you understand, but it's impossible to do until you've been through the same.

Seol Ah, unlike other times, didn't tear up reaching her room.
She couldn't decide whether she wanted to cooperate or just keep away from the chaos‐ to her peace.

Whether or not, she was upset‐ although didn't permit her behavior of a while ago. To leave the served food left untouched, to leave him in the middle of a dine‐ all the principles of her upbringing 'not' to do, seemed to flush down by her irascible nature she has owned upon ever since the incident of SK entertainment.

Feeding on her self-conceit, after a while of calming down, Seol Ah stepped out once again.

Although, she had null expectations, she was a little disappointed finding his absense at the dining table.

With a lengthy sigh, she reconsidered her reactions that could have been a little more understanding towards him.

If he couldn't compare to her sentiments and situations, neither could she do to his. It cycled either ways with equal status.

Brooding over her sensitive side of earlier, she walked over to her food rested on the dining with a lid on top to keep it warm.

Very unlike Namjoon, he left a note for her on the lid that she keenly stared for a moment, before plucking it to draw closer to her view.

SEOL AH : (-reading it-) . . .

________

A light weight chapter.
Felt the need after the heavy informative ones. ;)

50 % chance - Next Sunday Update.

From August, I will be back to 2 updates a month.