★★★★★ ━━ ❪ @CH_TWENTY_FIVE ❫

in yung...

" he lost it and hurt civilians! he clearly violated his contract. he can't control his emotions. that's a huge flaw as a counter! he's emotionally unstable, we have to get rid of him "

JEONGHAN couldn't help but agree with GIRAN's words. however, he doesn't show any emotion on his face.

WIGEN, SUHO, WOOSHIK, GIRAN, and JEONGHAN were all discussing whether to terminate MUN's counter contract due to his recent actions.

GIRAN and WOOSHIK agreed to kick the teenager out, but WIGEN, SUHO, and JEONGHAN were uncertain.

" it doesn't have to be MUN, we can find another partner "

WOOSHIK adds on to her statement.

" we should give him a chance to explain "

SUHO tells the other counters, his reason makes GIRAN scoff.

" what's there to explain? it's clear he was mad that his friends were beaten up by those bullies. he had a valid reason to be angry "

JEONGHAN says straightforwardly, directly making eye contact with the silver-haired woman.

" this isn't just about us or the counters. it's directly related to the lives of innocent civilians "

" those kids were not innocent! they did that on purpose. you saw how bad MUN's friends looked, would innocent people do that on accident? "

the long haired male argues, his previously calm facade slowly crumbling.

noticing this, SUHO, who was beside him, pats his back, indirectly telling him to keep his composure.

JEONGHAN takes a deep but quiet breath as he maintains his glare towards the woman across him.

he was not going to allow her to kick out someone who only wanted to protect his loved ones.

he himself did not have many people who fought for him when he was alive, but that didn't mean he couldn't fight for other people in the afterlife.

the noodle shop

JUNWON looked like all the counters did; anxious, nervous, and all the other words that meant the same.

she didn't even notice that MOTAK had returned, his voice just passing through her ears.

" i can't lose my job as a counter. she promised me i'll meet my parents if i do well "

MUN's words shocks all of them, including JUNWON.

" WIGEN said that? that's what she promised you in return for taking the job? "

" yes, that's why i can't get fired "

he can't get fired.

no, he can't get fired.

why did she promise that for fucks sake?

he can't get kicked out.

he can't. i won't allow it.

" i'm going up there. "

JUNWON tells them, her voice full of determination that even the older ones knew they couldn't knock down.

" no, JUNWON, wait- "

the girl had already fallen on the table, her head being cushioned by her dark green sweatshirt.

" aish, i was going to go up there too... i'll go now too i guess "

" hey MUN- and he's gone. "

" an anti-bullying committee? up there? how creative "

" this isn't good, i should go up there too. how dare they talk about firing my baby? "

" i'll go with you! "

" wait- gosh! why are they all going up there?! geez. "

*hits forehead on the table*

in yung ( again- )

a loud noise coming from the two large, white doors interrupts their discussion.

JUNWON enters the room, her face is stoic and her steps heavy.

she makes eye contact with her yung partner before bowing in respect to all the other afterlife partners.

" i'm sorry for interrupting you guys, but i can't let you kick out such a great person from our team. i won't let you "

she can sense her fellow counters behind her. in the corner of her eye, she sees MUN with his head down as he goes beside her.

" hold your head high "

MS. CHU tells him, going beside him and firmly holding his hand.

" i'm here too "

MUN's eyes widen as HANA walks in, not expecting her to come for him at all.

MOTAK loudly and dramatically makes an entrance too. he makes a sound as he appears with his knees and fist on the table.

" oh gosh... it's been years and he still hasn't gotten the hang of it "

the counters' leader murmurs with embarassment.

the older man steps down from the table as MS. CHU approaches the center.

JUNWON steps back, pulling MUN along with her.

MOTAK, MS. CHU, and HANA move to the front, ready to defend MUN like they're his lawyers.

the short haired girl shoots a glance to her classmate ( who was already looking at her ) and gives him a nod, silently telling him that they got his back.

" for MUN's case, shouldn't we just wait and see? it was so urgent that WIGEN jumped the gun without persuading him. it's not right to just give it to him and take it back "

SUHO restarts the conversation, giving his mother a nod of acknowledgement.

" can you guarantee he won't lose it again? counters' mistakes can cost us our lives. if they let their emotions get out of control and kill someone, we'll die too "

JUNWON mentally sighs at her reason. she couldn't help but picture JEONGHAN being put in that situation, and she hated it.

" WIGEN nearly died because of him. you saw that. "

GIRAN says to SUHO and JEONGHAN directly.

HANA raises her hand to speak, but MS. CHU beats her to it.

" you're hurting our feelings here. we also risk our lives to do this, so what's your point? did MUN make a mistake? did WIGEN die? are we dead? are you dead? as you can see, no one's dead. we're all alive, that's what matters! "

the leader speaks, her voice full of emotion as she remembers all of the struggles she and the counters have gone through throughout the years.

" JUNWON almost lost her life, CHEOLJUNG died while trying to save her. that happened less than two weeks ago, but we're still working! while risking our lives for you. "

JUNWON's hand trembles at the mention of the late counter and his death. it's so subtle that only JEONGHAN and MUN notice it.

the curly haired boy frowns at the sight; wanting to hold her hand but being too afraid to do so, he simply watches in displeasure.

" WIGEN, you can't do this to MUN. even if he's in the wrong, you should take his side and stand up for him at least once. he saved you! "

MS. CHU points to the older woman, pausing before moving closer to GIRAN.

" must you be so cruel to a kid? 'if he kills someone, it'll cost you your lives?' you're all coldhearted. have you ever thought that he might save your lives? that's what i've observed about him "

JUNWON recalls all the amazing things that her classmate had done during his time as a counter.

saving the kid, catching the evil spirit, managing to reach the top of the wall, and that team photo they took together...

MUN was an incredible person to JUNWON, she admired and respected him.

she glanced at the boy next to her, noticing the tears his bright puppy eyes held back ( ones that she oh so badly get rid of ) as he watched MS. CHU defend him with everything she had.

all the counters knew that MUN was special, someone that the team needed.

while the older ones got to live in exchange for fighting evil spirits, all the boy wanted was to see his parents once. a wish so simple, but so meaningful.

JUNWON was determined to make his wish come true, even if that meant she had to do everything in her power to do so.

from JAE.

im back 🧍🏻‍♀️ so sorry for disappearing again 😭 i'll try to update at least once a week with my very busy schedule 🥲 i hope you enjoy this chapter and let me know if you notice anything bc it MIGHT have been intentional 👀

▻ 𝗆𝖺𝖽𝖾 𝖻𝗒 © 𝗝𝗝𝟬𝗡𝗚-𝗢𝗦𝗧 ™
𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒. 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟
★𝔦𝔫𝔤 . . . 𝓚𝐈𝐌  𝓜𝐈𝐍𝐉𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐆 ?!