It felt like an eternity passed as the system within Hyun seized control of his movements, and he charged at Soo-jin with his robotic arm. The intent to kill was evident in his glowing ruby irises.

No.

No!

Not like this!

This wasn't how I wanted it to be! This wasn't the date I–

"This is why I never wanted to reciprocate your affection." Soo-jin spoke calmly, still remaining in her spot.

Hyun reached out to her with his robotic arm, his eyes trained on her neck. The system within him was planning to break that pale and fragile neck.

"Rebel Lee Soo-jin. You are to be terminated." Hyun said, his tone cold and lifeless.

Soo-jin adjusted the bracelet on her wrist as it started whirring to life. The bracelet was no ordinary bracelet but a complicated contraption. Something shot out from her unique bracelet, landing on Hyun's body.

Error.

Anomaly found on the body.

Virus detected.

System breach detected.

Administering shock mode.

"Uugh!" Hyun collapsed onto the ground with one knee, his body jerking uncontrollably.

System malfunction.

Extending duration of shock mode.

At least, he regained his sense of control and he glanced up at Soo-jin in disbelief. She approached him, her expression softening as she knelt down.

"Hyun..."

"...Soo-jin, you...a rebel–ugh!"

Shock mode halted.

Soo-jin let out a helpless sigh, her hand stretching out to caress his cheek. "I'm sorry. This is really why...I didn't want to accept you into my life."

Entering unconscious state.

Hyun could feel the system in him powering down, and at the same time, he felt a wave of drowsiness overwhelming him. His vision began to blur, his eyes growing heavy.

"What...is this..."

"Don't worry, Hyun," Soo-jin spoke softly, her hand moving from his cheek to his back. "I'm not a rebel to be your enemy, I'm a rebel to save people like you."

"...?"

Hyun could only show a confused expression before he lost consciousness. The hand remained on his back the entire time, and he felt his head landing on her shoulder.

The next moment, Soo-jin took out her phone and dialed a number.

"Hihi, thanks for calling Yuyu's tools and repair shop! I have a shitty customer who is harassing me, so I'll be right back, yeah?"

"Yuna, I know you are just gaming. There's another cutie for you."

It was a code.

Soo-jin knew Yuna would be tracking her down now, preparing to send a van towards her.

"Another one? Yum. Which bar is it now?"

Which safehouse do we meet?

"Butterfly."

The one in the east.

"Come on, give me hints on this cutie. Looks? Height?"

How long will it take?

"Grey. Black. Glasses."

Two hours.

"Be there as soon as I can, my honey~"

***

Soo-jin arrived at the safehouse which was filled to the brim with electronic equipment. Of course, it was hidden at the bar just like they said, but the bar was a disguise for one of their bases of operations. The two ladies carried the unconscious Hyun to the couch, and his eyes were closed the entire time.

If one didn't know better, they would assume he was dead.

"Hm? Isn't he the cute puppy you were grumbling about?" Yuna questioned, leaning in as she hummed in approval. "Now that I've seen him up close, he isn't just a cute puppy. His looks are like a national treasure!"

Her appearance resembled that of a tomboy and she wore a tattoo that covered her entire right arm.

"Just be quiet and stop the system within him from rebooting."

"Are you sure we can trust him? I know you said he has been chasing you for a month now, but that doesn't mean you know him well enough," Yuna said, nudging her head towards the left as she groaned. "Oh, the couch, there–ugh–we go. God, he's heavy. I bet it's all muscles and metal."

"..." Soo-jin paused, removing her hands and taking a few steps back, observing Hyun. "I don't know why, but I trust him. I really do, Yuna."

"Then I'll trust you. You know, Soo-jin, you've never been wrong in your instincts regarding people."

"Thanks, Yuna."

"Yeah, well, you better be beside the puppy when he wakes up," Yuna advised, sitting down and typing away on the keyboard. "The chip won't make him feel good."

"I know." Soo-jin nodded, settling down beside Hyun on the couch.

Hyun started to frown and shook his head from left to right, looking extremely uncomfortable. Soo-jin reached out, grabbing his head and slowly allowing him to rest on her lap.

"Relax, Don Hyun. We won't hurt you."

"Are you some sort of A.I. or robot, Soo-jin?"

"...what?"

"What were those words? They lack any kind of affectionate tone!" Yuna berated.

"Do you think I'm the type to comfort people? Yuna, you know how I was my entire life!" Soo-jin barked. "What the hell do I know about giving people warmth or love?"

"Call him more affectionately, and then stroke his head."

"...just focus on your work."

"Well, I can focus on my work and the two of you," Yuna shrugged, smirking. "Too bad, I'm teaching you how to comfort people now."

"..."

Soo-jin lifted her hand, flicking strands of his hair gingerly. "Hyun, relax."

"Softer, gentler–and I told you to stroke his head! What is that? You are treating him like some sort of poison!"

"Damnit! What do I call him then? Hyunie? Hyun-ah? Hyun my darling?!"

"Soo-jin."

She stiffened, blinking rapidly at Yuna. "Wh-what?"

"I know you are capable of being affectionate to the person that you like."

"...!"

"If you didn't like him in the slightest bit, you wouldn't have accepted the date," Yuna smiled, giving Soo-jin a knowing glance. "I have known you long enough."

"I..."

"You know how to treat him gently."

"I...I can't let these feelings develop any further. You know that."

"Would you prefer to hold onto that regret for life?"

"..."

Soo-jin hesitated, biting on her lip. Her hand shook slightly as she combed through his hair gently and her expression softened.

"Hyun-ah. Don't worry, I'm here. I won't let anything hurt you."

She called out with such affection, it could make one's heart melt.

Yuna smiled to herself, hitting a button on her keyboard.

"Ungh!"

Hyun stiffened completely, his body curling up as he embraced Soo-jin. The pain coursing through his body made him tremble and Soo-jin comforted him the entire time, still stroking his head.

A few minutes passed and just like that, his body started to relax and his breathing became less hurried. His chest moved up and down in an even manner.

"He'll be waking up anytime soon. After that, it's all on you to explain the situation to him."

"Thank you, Yuna."

"Don't need to. This is the reason why we became part of the rebellion force in the first place, right?"

"...uggh..." Hyun groaned out, his eyebrows scrunched up as he opened his eyes. "What is...? Why is it so soft? It smells kinda nice–"

"Hyun." Soo-jin called out softly, her mesmerising eyes meeting his ruby-coloured ones.

At that moment, Hyun finally realised he was laying on her lap and hugging her half-heartedly. His eyes widened in surprise and he froze on the spot.

"Hyun? Why are you so stiff? Do you still feel pain?"

"I thought he was a wolf disguised as a puppy. It turns out it's the other way around." Yuna muttered, raising her eyebrows.

"Wh-where am I? Wh-why..."

"Does it feel uncomfortable? As I thought, you should get–"

"Nope, I do not need to get up," Hyun readily said. "I am perfectly fine just laying here."

Yuna snickered, covering her mouth.

Soo-jin blinked rapidly and she nodded, her hand going back to stroking his head. A red tint lined Hyun's cheeks as he leaned into her touch inconspicuously.

"Maybe he is both, hm." Yuna was still assessing him.

"Right now, you are in one of our safehouses."

"Wha–!" Hyun exclaimed, nearly bolting up if not for Soo-jin soothing him. "I shouldn't be here! Why did you bring me–"

"Don't worry, Hyun. We have already shut down the system within your body and it won't be rebooting for quite a while. For now, you are free of its control."

Hyun was flabbergasted.

"Is it...really true?"

"Yeah, it is. Yuna is one of those geniuses who pulled off such a feat." Soo-jin smiled, gesturing to Yuna.

This time, Hyun slowly sat up and turned to face Yuna. She sat on the chair, one leg on it while the other dangled from the chair.

"Hiya, wolf puppy. You are a free man now, you won't have to do those unsightly things ever again."

Hyun lifted his hands, gazing at it as his hands trembled. "I...I don't have to kill them anymore. Not anymore, I..."

Soo-jin clasped her hands around his, pulling them away. "The one at fault isn't you, Hyun. It's those bastards who forced you under the experiment and made you into a machine for them to control."

Hyun widened his eyes and he recalled what he did before he lost consciousness. He was about to attack Soo-jin.

Seeing her unharmed and smiling before him right now, his face twisted with misery.

"De-detective."

Without giving her a chance to react, he reached forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"...Hyun?!"

"Th-thank god, I didn't hurt you. I didn't hurt you at all."

"Do you think I'll let you harm me? You underestimate me."

"Yes, yo-you won't. You are strong and smart. Sexy and pretty. You are everything. You are Lee Soo-jin."

"Wh-what the hell are you spouting now?"

Yuna stood up from her seat, watching the couple with a helpless smile and left them alone in the safehouse.

They were oblivious to the missing presence among them as the two enjoyed the warmth of the other. Soo-jin had her eyes closed, patting Hyun on the back.

Meanwhile, Hyun buried his face into her shoulder, his arms tightening around her.

"Detective."

"Hmm?"

"I like you."

"I know. You have been telling me that everyday ever since you first met me."

"It's different now."

"What?"

"Right now, I do like you. I like you so much."

"...!"

Hyun withdrew from the hug, his hand cupping her cheek. "I really thought you were going to disappear from this world. All because of me."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"That's right. You can't go anywhere, you can't leave."

"What?" Soo-jin chuckled, tilting her head. "What if I have to leave?"

"Then, take me with you."

"..."

Hyun grinned, leaning in and giving her a peck on the other cheek. "You promise, right?"

"I didn't give you permission to kiss me." Soo-jin raised an eyebrow, pinching his fingers softly.

"Come on, Soo-jin. Promise meeee. I know you like me, that's why you finally accepted me after a month! Promise me, promise me, promise–"

Soo-jin smiled in an exasperated manner, leaning in and giving Hyun a peck on his lips. "I promise, Hyun–aah!"

Hyun lunged forward, pressing his lip onto hers.

"Mhmm–you–mmm!"

"...mngh."

"You...cheeky brat."

"Only for you."

The two of them laid on the couch, exchanging kisses and giggles for a long period of time. It wasn't until their lips turned sore that they finally stopped.

...not before they shared one last round of bright smiles.

***

Three months passed.

Hyun started working with the rebels, freeing cyborgs under the control of the system like Soo-jin had done for him. Unfortunately, there was a flaw behind this method.

The system within them was always upgrading. Thus, it meant that it would reboot without warning and when the symptoms started to show, it was a race of time to get another chip within them to stop the reboots.

Sometimes, it failed and chaos ensued. The aftermath of the accident was always painful to handle, especially for the cyborgs. Eventually, the rebellion group knew they had to come to a decision to stop it once and for all.

They had to destroy the system itself.

However, destroying it was as good as a suicide mission.

Thus, this cycle continued on and on.

Six months passed, and the situation grew worse and worse. Luckily for Hyun, nothing had happened so far and whenever he showed symptoms, the upgraded chip miraculously succeeded for him.

"I...can volunteer. Our investigation has shown that the chief is in cahoots with those who created the cyborgs. His pitiful state of being ordered around by the higher-ups are all a disguise." Soo-jin raised her hand in the meeting, her expression calm.

"Definitely not!" Yuna hissed.

"You can't, Soo-jin."

"But–"

It wasn't just Yuna and Hyun protesting. The entire meeting room was protesting along with them and it left Soo-jin stunned.

She sighed in resignation, lowering her hand and shrugging. "Alright, fine, I won't suggest it ever again."

"Good."

"Great."

"You guys are too overprotective of me."

"Of course!"

Her position within the police force was important, and none of them could afford to lose her, especially Hyun.

Hence, the discussion was never brought up ever again.

***

Two years had passed.

The relationship between Hyun and Soo-jin had been kept a secret this entire time from the police force. The only ones who knew about their romantic relationship were the rebels. On the outside, one was still a con man committing petty crimes and the other was an uptight detective.

There was one bad habit that Hyun never got rid of.

His habits as a conman.

"...?!"

"...uh oh."

Soo-jin was chasing down a bunch of gang members and her team encountered Hyun in the alleyway interacting with them. Her eyes widened in shock and Hyun was equally stunned, swallowing nervously.

"You damn bastards! You are surrounded, put your hands where I can see them!"

"Damn it!"

"Boss!"

"We have no way out."

"Hah, Don Hyun! You slippery brat! I know we'll catch you again someday!"

"Chief, you've got it all wrong. I was just having a friendly chat with these gentlemen. You see, they owe me for something I–"

"Keep your mouth shut. I swear, this is the day I'll arrest–"

"Hands up in the air, you damn conman!" Soo-jin exclaimed, stepping in front of her chief and gesturing to Hyun with her eyes. "We won't believe your lies again! There's no point in buying time."

You idiot! You can't let yourself get caught by the chief!

Hyun paused before he smirked, raising his arms in the air. "Of course, detective."

"You...you gave up pretty easily."

"Yes, I surrender. I would do anything and everything for you."

The gang members and the police officers groaned. Some of them whistled at Hyun's bold words.

Soo-jin covered her eyes with her palm, approaching Hyun with a tiny blush on her cheeks. "You idiot conman."

"Yes, I am your idiot conman. All for you."

"Keep those lips of yours shut."

"So you can kiss me?"

"...why the hell are you here?"

"Personal reasons."

"We'll talk when we are home."

"Mhmm. The bed sounds good too."

"..."

"Lee Soo-jin! Bring him here!"

Soo-jin lifted her head, frowning in confusion. "Chief. We should be heading to the police station, no?"

"This time, we won't be going to the police station. Especially not him. We'll be heading to a different place, it takes precedence."

Soo-jin and Hyun felt uneasy.

"Where are we going?"

"The Knight headquarters."

The two of them felt their blood running cold.

The chief was finally exposing his true colours, and he didn't know that the two of them were the actual spies in the police force all along.

***

"The chief only has one reason for bringing all of you here. They are running out of subjects to experiment on. Now, they are turning to the police force." Hyun whispered to Soo-jin, narrowing his ruby-coloured eyes. "He is probably taking me along as a security measure."

"Yes, there's no doubt about that. You can never take a step inside there, Hyun-ah."

"Are you crazy? I won't let you go alone inside there–"

"You have to. If you were to step inside there and your system reboots, it'll put all of us at further risk," Soo-jin interrupted, her hand sneaking behind and squeezing his. "Most of all, Hyun. I do not want to put you in a position where you'll have to be burdened with the deaths of innocents. I do not want to see you in such pain."

"...if you do not come out of there alive, I'll bomb this entire place down to the ground."

"You..."

"When it comes to you, I'll never lie. Not once, detective."

"..."

"Come out alive."

"Alright. I'll be going now."

Her fingers lingered on his fingertips before they parted. Hyun watched as the figure of Soo-jin grew smaller and smaller as they entered the huge skyscraper.

It didn't occur to Hyun the tragedy he would have to face after this.

If he did...

He would have held onto that strong and beautiful detective, the smart and pretty woman, the love of his life.

His world and his heart.

His life.

He would have never let her go.

***

Bloodstains.

It led him step by step.

One after another, just like a path guiding him to the nightmare he couldn't bear to face.

Each step he took felt unsteady.

Lee Soo-jin's blood.

Lee Soo-jin's blood.

Lee Soo-jin's blood.

The system rebooted just like she had expected but somehow, he managed to keep it under control due to the extreme anxiety.

...or was it pain?

He didn't know.

All he could see was her blood.

Droplet by droplet.

The burning buildings and cars behind him didn't matter.

The injured civilians didn't matter.

The debris that he tripped over didn't matter.

None of them mattered.

He found it difficult to breathe.

"On the inside, you are still human, aren't you?"

"It's the crazy bastard."

"You need to do better than that to capture me."

"The one at fault isn't you, Hyun. It's those bastards who forced you under the experiment and made you into a machine for them to control."

"I promise, Hyun."

"I love you."

The memories of the past two years flashed across his mind. The droplets of blood only grew bigger and bigger.

She was losing a lot of blood.

It's all hers.

It's all...

"Hyun-ah..."

Hyun snapped his head up, seeing her lying against the crumbled wall of a building. The destroyed robots laid a distance away from her, and they were completely wrecked.

How...how was it like to breathe again?

He couldn't process what happened next.

The slow walk towards her injured body that was beyond recovery.

Her weak voice and her hands were losing warmth.

"Take this..."

All for the sake of this item.

This stupid item to free him of the system's control.

All because of him.

"With this, you are...free."

Even if he was free, what was the point?

What freedom was there to enjoy if she...wasn't here?

She promised him.

She wouldn't go anywhere.

If she did, she would have to take him.

"I'm sorry."

What was she sorry for? If anything, it should be him for staying behind due to his cowardice.

It was his fault.

His fault.

His fault, his fault, his fault.

"I'm happy to be able to see you for one last time."

She was...selfish.

She was selfish.

So very selfish.

She can't say it.

She...can't say it.

Not anymore, please!

He clutched her hands.

"If we meet again, in another lifetime, I'll make it up to you. Everything that I am, I'll give it to you."

Her hands were losing warmth more than he could memorise it. Her warmth, the texture of her nails, the shape of her hands.

Her warmth that never failed to comfort him even in his lonely nights.

No more.

No more!

No.

No...

Her eyes closed, the serene smile adorning her bloodied face. His trembling hands reached up, combing his hand through her entangled hair and he wiped the blood from her face.

"Detective."

"Detective..."

He called and called, and yet, she wouldn't respond.

Not even a twitch.

She just...laid there.

"You promised to stay. You said you wouldn't go anywhere."

"You are my entire life."

"My entire life and yet, you left me behind. Then what..."

"What about me?"

What am I supposed to live for now?

His blank eyes looked over to the item he held in his hand. It was covered in blood, and the system in him came to life again.

Lee Soo-jin's blood.

"Ah..."

He let out a choked cry, his hands trembling as he dropped the item to the ground.

Lee Soo-jin's blood.

"Ahhh..."

Reality had finally caught up to him.

"AHHHHHH!"

He hugged the cold body to him, his tears streaming down his face as the wretched wails escaped his lips. He couldn't feel her warmth anymore, he should have imprinted it into his soul.

He should have kept her close.

He should have been by her side.

The death of innocents on his hands? The world branding him as a murderer?

What did it matter?

He lost his world.

He lost...everything.

All for his stupid cowardice.

He killed her.

"...jin...?"

The earbuds within Soo-jin's ears crackled to life.

Hyun took the earbud, his eyes were completely lifeless. There were tear stains still on his face.

"Soo-jin! Lee Soo-jin! Answer me! Answer–"

"She's dead."

"...?!"

"Hyun? Wha-what...no, no, impossible! She was just...she–"

"I'll blow up the headquarters. The suicide mission you all wanted."

"Hyun! Wait, don't be reckless, we can still–"

"Hah...hahaha. Hahahaha! Reckless? Reckless. It doesn't matter what it is. Everything is meaningless."

"Don Hyun."

"I lost my entire world. It's only right they lose theirs."

"There are innocent people in the building that–"

"So what? This world...took it all from me. My limbs, my life, my decisions, my freedom. My...my only source of happiness. My Soo-jin."

The tears flowed out again and Hyun laughed bitterly.

"I'll set myself to self-destruct. Tell those to escape while they still can, Yuna."

There was a crazed look in Hyun's eyes as he walked towards the headquarters. Yuna screamed into the earbud, but Hyun crushed it, tossing it aside.

***

Self-destruction commencing in 5.

"Hyun-ah. When you are finally freed from the system, let's travel somewhere. Somewhere peaceful and quiet."

Self-destruction commencing in 4.

"How about here? I heard the sight of the flower field is something out of this world."

Self-destruction commencing in 3.

"Do I look like the type to enjoy flowers?"

Self-destruction commencing in 2.

"Why not? As long as I'm with you, anything becomes enjoyable."

Self-destruction commencing in 1.

"There you go again, swindling me. I know you are forcing yourself. Don Hyun, you know, I feel so...happy as long as you are beside me."

"Lee Soo-jin. You should know I feel the same way. Always."

Farewell. Product XXXX. Model XXX-XXXX.

"What if I have to leave?"

"Then, take me with you."

Hyun closed his eyes, a smile lining his lips as he remembered that conversation from two years ago.

She didn't have to take him along.

He'll join her without fail.

"Lee Soo-jin. No matter who I am, where I am or what I am...again and again, I will look for you. Again and again, I will return to your side."

The headquarters was blown into bits, and the servers controlling the cyborgs were destroyed. Hundreds of innocent lives were claimed that day.

Don Hyun was deemed a heartless murderer, someone who smiled as he claimed those innocent lives.

However, if one looked closely, his smile was anything but happy.

It was a desperate prayer.

A prayer to reunite with her once again, so he could pull her into his embrace.

...and never let her go.

***

《 start 》

들판의 꽃들은... (The flowers in the field...)

그들은 사실 사랑의 언어입니다. (They are actually languages of love.)

나는 너를 영원히 사랑할 거야. 그것이 내가 그녀에게 보여주고 싶은 것이다. (I will love you forever and ever. That is what I want to show her.)

그녀는 그것이 너무 창피하다고 생각할까? (Will she think that is too embarrassing?)

아니길 바래... (I hope not...)

《 stop 》