Chapter 8
Hoseok
We arrived at the mansion and everyone went to get a quick shower and change of clothes before we would meet up to discuss what happened tonight. It was another close call if it wasn’t for Cherry… maybe too close.
I wanted to truly believe that Cherry was on our side, but I still am not so sure. She could have been playing us – preparing all of that beforehand so she could win our trust and backstab us when we least expect it. It would not be unheard of. Gangs are known to send spies into other gangs.
I walked out of the shower and quickly dried off. I headed to my bedroom and put on some sweatpants and a T-shirt. I grabbed my gun and put it in its place. I looked at the mirror and sighed as I started heading out. I passed by Namjoon’s door and I could hear Namjoon and Myung talking. They were not fighting but their voices were loud enough.
I was sure that beneath Namjoon’s anger at someone attempting to kill his wife, there was concern and fear. In less than a week, there has been an attempt at kidnapping her and now killing her. I have known Namjoon for a long time and I can only begin to imagine all that is going through his head. I shook my head as I hurried away, wanting to respect their privacy.
I reached the board room and walked in to find Jimin and Taehyung there already. ‘Hi hyung,’ Taehyung greeted as I sat down in my own designated place.
‘Hi Tae, Jimin,’ I greeted as I looked at both of them. ‘Tonight, was another close call,’ I added.
‘Yeah. Thank goodness Cherry was there. I’m beginning to think that we’re lucky to have her,’ Jimin said but I chose to say nothing. Tae sighed and nodded as he tapped his fingers against the desk.
‘Do you think she’ll stay? Joon-hyung asked her to give him a week,’ Taehyung commented. I shrugged not really knowing or caring, or did I? I did not even know that. The door opened and Jungkook and Yoongi walked in.
‘Namjoon and Cherry are on their way. They’re with Jin, doing Cherry’s stitches,’ Yoongi explained as he sat down.
‘Is she okay?’ Taehyung asked and Yoongi nodded.
‘Yeah. The bullet went through and through. It will leave a scar, but luckily there is no real damage,’ Jungkook replied.
‘That’s good. She has enough scars,’ Jimin commented.
‘It still makes me sick whenever I remember the scars on her back,’ Jungkook replied as he shuddered. My mind recalled the image of her back which was full of whiplash marks. The scars were of different shapes and sizes, some were deep and others seemed to bulge out of her skin. Whatever the scar, it was clear she went through a lot of pain.
‘And you know what makes them worse?’ Yoongi began, ‘the fact that she got them not because she was caught by an enemy but by her own people and for what? Disobeying rules?’ Yoongi said in disgust.
‘I keep wondering how she ended up with the Scarlets and how long she had been with them. She’s so damned mysterious,’ Jimin said with what looked almost like a pout.
‘Does it really make a difference? She left for whatever she reasons she must have had,’ Taehyung commented. ‘If I were her and Bangtan treated me that way, I would leave too,’ he said.
‘You would turn your back on your family?’ I asked and he shrugged.
‘Come on Hoseok-hyung, just try to imagine it. Your so called family, whether blood related or not, treating you that way,’ Taehyung pressed. I sighed not knowing what I would do. Then again, I could not even begin to imagine it. Bangtan has always been so respectful towards its members and even people outside of our organization. There were rules we followed; never kill an innocent person, never use or threaten an enemy’s family and always respect our women.
Maybe that’s why Namjoon was *ed off at me for my behaviour towards Cherry. I didn’t even know why I did it. It almost felt as if it was out of my control. She knew exactly what buttons to push and she pushed them without hesitation. I wanted to trust her but couldn’t. There was something about her that pushed me away. Maybe it was the fact that I was a person who needed to know everything and did not like to not know things. I hated how mysterious she was.
The door opened and the three of them walked in as they settled in their seats. Namjoon still looked *ed but at least a little calmer. ‘Cherry how are you?’ Yoongi asked.
‘I’m good Yoongi. It’s nothing,’ she said as she moved her arm about. Namjoon sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.
‘We’re being targeted and they’re trying to use my wife to get to me,’ he said as he clenched his hands into fists.
‘Let’s try to break down what happened tonight,’ Jin began as I nodded. ‘Gabriel is an old friend but somehow he ended up with the Scorpions. Cherry how did you figure out the drink was poisoned?’ Jin asked.
‘When he came next to us, he had a drink in his hand. It looked identical to Myung’s,’ Cherry began. ‘He set it down and after a few seconds, he picked up one of the glasses but it was not his. It wasn’t obvious but there was a slight difference in the liquid so I smelled it and confirmed it was poison,’ she said.
‘How could you identify it through smell?’ Jungkook asked, looking puzzled and she sighed. For the first time, she looked uncomfortable as she shifted on the chair.
‘It’s a rare type of poison but very common with Scarlets,’ she said quietly. I felt my eyes go wide and I could see everyone’s eyes on her, demanding more information.
‘WHAT?’ Namjoon yelled a bit. ‘Are you suggesting that Scarlets could be involved?’ he asked and she shrugged.
‘I think so,’ she said. ‘It makes sense. Like I said last time, the Scorpions are relatively new and amateur in what they do, but if they have a Scarlet in their pocket, then that makes them more dangerous,’ she said.
‘And how are we supposed to know that you’re not the Scarlet working for them?’ I asked. She turned to look at me and I could see the anger radiating from her face.
‘I just saved Myung and got shot while doing that,’ she reminded me but I scoffed.
‘Maybe you’re invested in your acting,’ I said, leaning forward. ‘Maybe this is all part of your big plan. Come here, pretend to be an ally and then strike us down when we least expect it,’ I said.
‘Hoseok, stop it,’ Yoongi said but I shook my head. ‘I’m sure she has a lot of secrets but I don’t think she’s an enemy,’ he added.
‘Yoongi, maybe we shouldn’t throw the idea completely out of the window,’ Taehyung said as he looked at Cherry, almost apologetically. ‘I want to trust you so badly but things seem just too perfect,’ he added.
‘Namjoon gave me a job to do. I did my job, nothing more, nothing less,’ she replied drily. Her face was hardening and her hands were in a tight fist. I was sure that if I were close enough, I would hear her heart racing.
‘I still don’t trust you. Scarlets are monsters and you’re a cold-blooded killer. I never killed an innocent person in my life but you, you don’t care who you have to kill as long as you get paid do you?’ I yelled.
‘Hoseok stop it,’ Namjoon said but I shook my head. My eyes were fixed on her and I saw her look down, as if my words stung. I turned back to Namjoon who was looking at me sternly.
‘Namjoon, the last time I trusted someone outside of our circle, I lost my wife and son. I won’t let you lose yours,’ I said. I saw Namjoon’s face soften at my words. He knew how much I suffered with their loss. He knew how many nights I spent crying and looking for clues about who murdered them, but we never found anything. We had suspected it was work of Scarlets but we had no proof. That’s how good they were. I had lost everything I held dear to me.
‘Hoseok,’ Yoongi said softly as I turned to look at him while shaking my head. ‘I know it’s hard but she wants to help. Can’t you give her a chance to at least try?’ he asked.
‘No,’ she replied as she stood up. Her hands were shaking and I could see the turmoil on her face. I had hit a nerve with what I said as she stared at me. There was no anger, not even hate – it was almost as if she held understanding in her eyes. ‘He’s right. I am a monster. I am a cold-blooded killer. It’s all I have ever been and I don’t fit in here,’ she said.
‘Cherry, please, we can figure things out. It’s only been less than a week and we need to get used to each other,’ Namjoon said but once again, she shook her head.
‘Cherry, the tension is high right now and Hoseok finds it hard to trust you but it doesn’t mean we don’t want you here,’ Jin said.
‘Yeah, hyung is right. You did save Myung and our nephew twice already,’ Taehyung added.
‘No. I’ll figure this out for you and then leave. Thank you for your hospitality but I’m made for the shadows, not family. I never was and never will be,’ she said as she grabbed her sword.
‘Where are you going Cherry?’ Jimin asked, almost sounding worried.
‘For some air,’ she said and left the room. I sighed and Namjoon stood up and turned to me.
‘You don’t even know why she left the Scarlets. She left because she refused to kill an innocent person and got punished for her disobedience,’ He said.
‘What?’ I asked. He nodded and I sighed. ‘*,’ I mumbled. I realized why she had changed so much the moment I called her a monster and a cold-blooded killer.
‘You saw the scars and you heard what she said. I know it’s hard for you to trust her but is it really that difficult for you to give her a chance at least?’ Namjoon asked.
‘I am scared to do that Namjoon. You saw the way she kills, no remorse, no feelings. I’m the shooter of this group, I’ve killed people but every time I did, it still affected me, even if I knew I was doing it to protect this family,’ I explained.
‘Being a Scarlet,’ Yoongi began as everyone turned to look at him. He was playing with his lighter as he looked at us. ‘It’s all she’s ever known. Her own family discarded her Hoseok,’ he said.
‘I’ll… I’ll try to talk to her when she comes back,’ I said even if I had no clue what to say. What was I supposed to say? Sorry for misjudging you? Sorry that whenever I see you, I wonder if you’re the one who killed my family? Sorry for making you feel worse than you already do?
Yesterday, I spent the day with my best friend. It felt so good to spend the day chatting. I finally got around to writing this chapter. The tension continues to grow but we know why Hoseok finds it hard to trust her - he lost his wife and son, possibly at the hands of a Scarlet. Now, she's thinking of doing this and leaving. I look forward to your comments. - Tae's Misfit
"I never thought love was worth fighting for but then I looked into your eyes and I was ready for war."
