NJ : (-tensed-) What did they say?

AT. WANG : (-sighs-) They say, they are going to wait since Julia-ssi did not alert them for help yet.

NJ : But, he might have stopped her from doing that. She could be in danger.

AT. WANG : I tried to argue that, too. But, it's apparently their protocol.

Namjoon supressed his exasperation. Having anything happen to Julia in the process of carrying out the plan was the last thing he'd wished for. His tongue poked against his inner cheeks, a habitual thing Seol Ah noticed.

NJ : Right. So, how long are they going to wait before aborting?

AT. WANG : Ten more minutes.

Seol Ah spoke in an anxious reflex.

SEOL AH : That is still a lot of time. Clearly he is aware that this is all a set-up. He could do anything to her.

Namjoon was quick to pick his phone in the next instant, and texted Ok Tak a 'Code Red'.

Back in the agency, Ok Tak got on move by the second he received the message. Instantaneously, he proceeded towards the PD's office-floor.

While on his way, he took notice of the unusual positions of guards around the corridor and the main lobby.

Ok Tak kept walking his way, calmly. In a few seconds, Julia rushed out from a left-turned corridor ahead of him. He, casually, bowed to her as he took the left-turn—the direct aisle which led to the PD's office.

Upon seeing a lady guard on the floor trying to get up, he paced up in help.

OK TAK : Are you all right?

Before the lady could attempt a reply, a shout from inside the PD's room came blasting out.

SEONG PD : THAT BITCH!

LADY : (-gets up-) Please, check on sir! (-follows Julia in a run-)

Ok Tak, hoping Julia to escape without getting caught, rushed to the PD.

The map of the scene took him a while to process the probable recent history. He observed a pepper-spray on the floor. Meanwhile, Seong PD by his study, rubbing his eyes as he held his office landline to his ear.

SEONG PD : CATCH HER NOW! (-slams the phone back on the table-)

OK TAK : Are you all right, PD-nim?

SEONG PD : (-unable to watch-) Who? Ok Tak? Oh, wait a minute. I need to talk to you. (-leaves to wash his eyes-)

Meanwhile, Julia recalled the instructions during a probable mission-termination episode. Among which, one followed : if Ok Tak does not greet, she must follow the front exit. Conversely, if he does, she must opt for a second route : the emergency exit in the back.

She retrieved her steps and ran the opposite direction. Julia was well-acquainted with the blueprint of the building, memorized from a previous meeting in the Black mansion. And her additional study during her frequent visit inside the agency aided her practical navigation.

In a moment, all the guards were in move to capture Julia.
The latter informed her change of action to her team effectively whilst running.

What appeared like a clear exit, only jumpscared the secret agent by the last stairway. There stood one man — a brawny figure — with a formidable mien at the foot of the stairs. His face so stiff, it was hard to imagine any expression could mould those features.

Julia's steps halted at once, she experienced a brain-freeze. The stairway was too narrow to dodge the arms of the guard—should he stretch them out. Her chest motioned in heavy pants as she tried to think of a different path to reach the ground floor. His words of alert in his earpiece, snapped Julia's attention back to him.

With the man now climbing up the stairs, her heart raced in a dreading anxiety. She retraced her steps towards the way she came in earlier, to figure out a different route.

However, her gear decelerated once again, noticing the army of guards catching up from either side of the corridor. She looked back at the stairway, the man still approaching her in a slow pace. She then darted her gaze at both sides, calculating their distance.

The height of the floor was quite high for her to attempt a direct jump from the railings. She was getting cornered from all three directions. There were no paths left to be walked on foot.
Julia, then, took a sharp breath and ran head-on towards the group which was farthest to reach her.

While the man by the stairs hasted upstairs, the guards by the corridors were dumbfounded at her action and looked at each other in pure confusion. The fluster buying her enough time and distraction, Julia climbed the railing few feet away from the staircase. No later than that maneuver, her fear flight had plunged her body free. With a few seconds of airtime, she latched on a pole of pillar at a distance, just seconds before the brawny hand could catch on her backpack.

She had a swift and smooth slide down the furnished pillar, that specifically supported the second floor in the intricate and maze-like design of the building's interior. Nonplussed, the guards for a moment simply watched her land. As if her touching the ground floor resumed their freeze, they got on move again and surged through the stairs in a chaotic herd.

She had already picked up her pace towards the backdoor. However, a troupe of two—an unseen man and the lady from the PD's office earlier— who'd reached directly by the elevator, blocked her final exit. She observed, her team had not yet reached outside, the glass doors letting her a clear vision.

There was not a second she could waste for the soundwave of others behind her, was slowly gaining amplitude. She had to act fast.

Julia smiled. And forwarded her hands to them in an act of surrender. The lady guards tried to clasp her wrist, but got electrocuted by the ring tasers Julia had on her fingers.

The body in shock lost the ability to stand its own weight and almost crumpled on Julia. She shifted the weight and yanked the lady towards the man standing right beside. Everything happened so fast, the guard couldn't quite register it all, and stumbled to support his motionless colleague.

Leaving them on the ground, this time, Julia finally exited the building.

Outside nonetheless, the staircase brawn ultimately grabbed her by the hair. Her last encounter with the couple-guards earned him enough time to catch up with the edge, she had earned with her stunt.

Julia winced in pain at the hair-pull. But, before he could render her completely immobile, a tennis ball came straight, hitting his head from his left profile. His reflexes made him immediately flinch away at the impact, losing his grip on Julia in the process.

The sting-team vehicle reached in the perfect tick of the clock. And within the next instant, the car scooped her inside as they roared off from the premise. The movement appeared as if the speed never dropped to zero.

The flash action caused the guards to crowd at the exit. They were left with irritated frowns and fear, apprehending the consequences in the PD's office later.

With a cold sigh, the head of the security department — the chief — proceeded towards the director's office to report.

Already busy devising how to break the disappointing news, he didn't register Ok Tak leaving at the same time.

Seong PD, inside his office, leaned on his armchair as he answered the knock at the door. A freshly poured wine-glass cupped on his right hand, his suit and tie, lying careless on the couch.

Having the director in that state, the chief knew he had stepped in at the wrong time. The former didn't spare him a glance, as he walked further and positioned himself in a formal posture.

CHIEF : Director, I regret to inform, we were unable to bring her into your custody. I deeply apologize. (-eyes down-)

Seong PD, out of exceeding vex — trying to figure out who might have sent her — crushed the wine glass into his hands.

The chief although flinched in concern to the crack, he didn't hold the ball to question, or speak back to his boss. He gulped nervously, staying put in his position.

SEONG PD : Find out who was behind her.

CHIEF : Affirmative. I will try to report to you as soon-

SEONG PD : (-cutting him off-) By tomorrow!

CHIEF : (-heavy heart-) Yes, Director. I shall bring you the reports by tomorrow.

SEONG PD : Ask someone outside to clean this up.

He lazily pronounced the words while walking away to the wash basin. The chief bowed formally to the superior in his leave.

.

.

.

Black mansion, Time : 20 : 01, few hours later from Julia's escape.

.

.

.

SEOL AH : (-mild frustration-) Ugh, how did he know? Who told him?!

Namjoon and Attorney Wang shared her irritation, albeit quietly. The attorney ran the last check through all the crafted footages. Finally, giving up, to find nothing usable in court.

AT. WANG : This was highly confidential. Could be someone who already knew both our plan and Seong PD, from close.

NJ : Who could it be though?

Seol Ah looked at his direction, pondering about it herself. The attorney then focused both their attention.

AT. WANG : Someone from the operating team could've been the mole. Maybe working undercover or a corrupted officer perhaps. Could be someone we cannot think of. Could be-.. (-suggested of a name-) ...someone who already works for Seong PD, but was helping us.

Namjoon formed a crease in his forehead at the implications.

NJ : Are you trying to mean, Ok Tak bailed on us?

AT. WANG : Possible. He very well could have. He had all the sources and opportunities. Namjoon-ssi, we cannot trust anyone right now.

The singer did not spare a second of hesitation halt his retort.

NJ : But, he helped us with so many things. (-in complete denial-) I believe in him. He wouldn't do that. What motive could he have from all this?

The attorney took note of his defensive tone, but he also resolved to keep the bitters bare before Namjoon, nevertheless.

AT. WANG : Suspection is harmless if one is not guilty. And you can't be emotional with this. You can almost never see when the most trusted friendship turns into a gruesome betrayal. Wise is, being prepared.

NJ : "Almost". And Ok Tak is.. No! No, he wouldn't do that.

The softness in his tone as he spoke the last sentence flashed his hurt open. Namjoon was constantly trying not to come in terms with the chances that the Attorney could be right.

Seol Ah's concerned gaze was fixed at Namjoon. He sat low-spirited, trying his best to mask his dismay.

Soon enough, Ok Tak joined the assembly. Although, he hunched the grim mood in the Black mansion, he wiggled his concern through the crooks nonetheless.

OK TAK : Did Julia-ssi make it out, safely?

Despite being one of his prime suspects, Attorney didn't let it be obvious. He wished to avoid alerting the actual mole behind the failed mission.

AT. WANG : (-casually-) Yes, she did.

OK TAK : Oh, that's a big relief. And what about the video? Didn't you get anything at all?

AT. WANG : We did. But, that cannot be used against him.

OK TAK : (-feeling bad-) Ah, I see.

A few minutes in silence, Ok Tak finally mustered up the guts to speak out his heart. No matter how gross of a person he was feeling himself to be even thinking about it, he was helpless in his position.

OK TAK : Joon Hyung. (-grabbing his attention-) I know this is very selfish of me, but I am really sorry. I- I can't...

NJ : Don't apologize. (-faint smile-) You have done whatever you'd promised and was in your power to do. So, thank you, Ok Tak-ah. Hyung is really grateful to you.

OK TAK : Thank you for understanding, Hyung. (-seconds later-) Oh, but Attonery Wang, are the evidences I provided you not enough to get him down?

The attorney looked at him for a moment before addressing his doubts. His suspicions wavering a little, being reminded of Ok Tak's story.

AT. WANG : Ok Tak-ssi, I am afraid that would not be sufficient. It has been long since those have occured. Besides, we have none of the victims' testimony, and now not yours as well.

Ok Tak pursed his lips, feeling awful at the attorney pronouncing his cowardice in more clarity.

AT. WANG : The moment we present your evidences, the court will ask for your claims. About the whole process that you had gone through in collecting those. At this point, I am going to be the decision maker, and I say we cannot risk it anymore.

The affirmation in the Attorney's words fell on Namjoon in a striking realization that he held no chance against his adamance, then. Thus, he did not try to protest further.

AT. WANG : I am sure, he is after finding the grounds of the whole set-up. And it's worse if he already knows it is us. Either way, we are aborting our secret mission here.

With the official announcement of the terminated operation, Seol Ah was slowly gripped by the comprehension. The one, that Seong PD was not going to pay for his deeds. He was going to be out and free. To add, he would spill more dirt on Namjoon should he find out about their ploy : her only fear about the whole risk-bearing plan. It was turning into reality.

SEOL AH : (-tries not to break down-) Wh- what about the plagiarism case now? Are we going to lose it, tomorrow?

For the first time, Attorney did not have a straight and quick answer. He also hated to give them false hope, anymore, for something so uncertain and completely in the court's boundaries then.

SEOL AH : What about, Chae Ri-ssi? No news about her yet?

AT. WANG : The last update was, she is not in Netherlands now. Although, we are still hoping she hasn't flown out of Europe at least.

SEOL AH : So, we haven't located her still. Is that what you are saying?

AT. WANG : That's right. We don't know where she is.

Seol Ah sighed in a disappointment, a kind of unease creeping up her mind.

Namjoon attained his unusual silence. It had a peculiar feel that one could tell apart from the usual. And Seol Ah was the narrator. For all the time she had grown to know the real Namjoon under the shades and curtains of a busy figure. He was like an abandoned book that only an aficionado is able to discover and read. Seol Ah was such. She could read his unreadable countenance. She could analyze those unfathomable gazes and twitches.

Gradually, with a few of words of encouragement and greetings, the guests of the house stirred up to leave. Everyone proceeded to head to their nests with the close of the day.

Standing on the idol's behalf, the manager saw them off. Seol Ah returned to the hall to watch a defeated soul walk away to his room.

The wooden floor appeared to glue down her feets, as he was soon cut-off from her view. Yet, she rooted there for the next few minutes with a wistful stare towards that empty direction.

Her phone beeping a text notification glowed up to her distraction. She read the message.
The only message, she has ever recieved from him. From Namjoon.

"I am sorry."

And she had no replies to send back his way. She had an empty mind.

With a heavy heart, Seol Ah walked herself to her room quietly. Her cellphone clutched in one hand and the other in a fist.

She was numb.

She was blank.

She was absolutely calm but hated that peace. She was seated still but hated that immbolity. She felt peculiarly serene, but despied the tranquil.

If only she had taken his warnings. If only she had stayed home that night. If only she was not the reason why Seong PD was provoked to meddle with Namjoon after over a year.

If only she was never his manager.
If only she had never decided to fund her channel in the 'shortest time possible'.
If only she was a little more selfless. Could this have been better?

Could everything have had a difference?

Where was the fault?

Who was to blame?

A faint knock screeched through her ears and drew her attention towards it, as she forwarded from her bed to answer it.

Opening the door, there was Namjoon. Forlorn and crushed. He was reclined to the wall beside her room.

Namjoon raised one of his hands to her. Seol Ah's eyes focused towards it to find the infamous handcuffs. It hanged from his fingers looped around the edge.

NJ : Cuff me.

The hoarse and gravelly texture of his voice with the compliments of a demanding tone held the dominance to make one weak in the knees. Futhermore, the murky tenebrous hall‐ moon being its only source of reflecting light through the wide glasses ‐was not helping.

Seol Ah, however, managed to avert herself—imagining what could happen if she tied him like last time.

She absolutely disliked the concept of tying him down like done to an animal to tame and train them. Thus, she made her mind to face the consequences whatever those may be.

SEOL AH : I will not.

Namjoon closed his eyes, lightly panting. If anything, the talk of persuasion was draining him more. Nonetheless, he kept his cool.

NJ : Seol Ah, don't be stubborn. There's not much time or patience left in me till I destroy everything. (-quietly-) I can't control my strengths. Please~

SEOL AH : Then, don't hold yourself. Destroy whatever you want. Take it all out.

He met eyes with her glistened ones. The fury he was supressing could exceed the carrying capacity any moment. Yet, he dared to waste the last bits of his sanity to look at her.

SEOL AH : (-softly-) I will clean everything after you. That is my work. To manage the things you make out of order.

NJ : (-looks away, controlling-) Why is that your work- F*ck it!

The curse was sounded beyond his will. The most suppression he could muster against that was to make it sound lower. Almost like a whisper.

He knew by then, she wouldn't budge from her words. The next best option was to lock himself in the artificial garden, till the beast of rage dissipated from his body.

However, as he attempted to walk past her, she held his forearm ‐ stopping him.

SEOL AH : Please don't lock yourself.

Just the reminiscence of his howls from that rainy night, was enough to cause her eyes to form tears. Her numbness seemed to fade away with the hurts slowly veining back to her senses.

SEOL AH : It's not your fault. You've tried more than enough. ChaeRi-ssi too would, one day, know your true intentions. So, please... now let yourself free from the guilt, too.

She couldn't muffle her anguish anymore. And thus, broke into a hysterical sob as it gradually gained sounds.

Namjoon had tears, inevitably, form in his eyes, still faced backwards to her. He silently asked himself if it was really fair for him to take his fly away from the remorse. If it was really fine to crave for his freedom.

Could he be that selfish, he questioned in his mind, deliberately looking for some leniency.

However, he had already digged too deep into the cave of no returns. He wouldn't be able to walk back even if he wished so, anymore.

SEOL AH : (-grips firmly on his arm-) Please~

Seol Ah's hold felt as if he was in implicit need for someone's embrace. Someone to hold him from falling into the most dreaded well of annihilation.

However, with her cry catching intensity, her strength was falling short around her grips.

Almost having a brink of touch, Namjoon immediately turned around and pulled her into his arms.
The moment might appear as him trying to solace her cries.
It was actually the other way around. He didn't want to let go of her hand, let go of her. He was scared to fall, scared to hurt himself any further.

Seol Ah's face burried into his chest, she softly clutched onto his clothing, crying even more.

SEOL AH : (-muffled voice-) I don't resent you, Joon-ssi. Chae Ri-ssi wouldn't do, too. (-sniffles-) So, please forgive yourself now.

His grips around her, rather than tight, it was secure. It is not how strong one's hold must be; what makes the difference is, how secure one can make it.
People would probably suffocate at one's strengths holding on to them. What they need is actually the warmth of one's security and care.

Namjoon, in that hour, was very careful to use his strengths on her. He was scared he would end up dumping his uncontrollable vigour on the fragile figure and suffocate her. His explosive thoughts and sentiments were dialing down. Little did he realize, he had started to tame his overflowing strengths that he otherwise couldn't control.

The spiritual power of human embrace could be believed to create magic in the however scientific world. It was indeed a wound of magic that the furious Namjoon, who once brutally slammed the guitar into pieces was now able to stand motionless. That same ferocity, holding someone in his arms; hushed and pacific.

Seol Ah's bawl dropped down to quiet weeps and sniffs, still greedily holding onto the warm hug that she feared would drift apart soon.

SEOL AH : (-quietly-) Don't lock yourself...

Namjoon closed his eyes as he stabilized himself bit by bit, and reached one of his palms higher to caress her head. His strokes were gentle enough to sooth a baby to sleep. The other hand was tightly held into a fist, while that forearm attached to her back. All the agigated nerves concentrated into that fist as it was still quite hard for him to shed all the overwhelming emotions.

NJ : (-in a croaky voice-) I will not.

The two drenched into the night of pain, hurt and an uncertain future. They attempted to cease that warmth for a moment.
His fist softly uncoiled on her in an open palm.
Amidst those wrung emotions, they fell short to realize that their casual affinities were catching the cold of intimacy.

The subtle changes; it's hard to define them individually since every minute, every second, there is change. Change in everything. If not visibly for the whole ball of wax, there is for time. It changes, it invariably varies every second for a new equilibrium.

What are the changes awaiting their mornings?
Perhaps, their new equilibrium?

______

🧘🏻‍♂️
Patience children.

🗣See ya, on the coming 14th!
(Yes, not a sunday and that's the whole purpose of mentioning the date beforehand.😙)

~MJ's out🤸🏻‍♀️