40 Diary 40: The Disappearance of The Siren

A few years ago...

"What are you doing hyung?" Bobby asked the focused Idol who sits on the comfy bed.

Min Soo is holding a pen while caressing his brown-dyed hair in frustration. He holds a pink notebook in his hand, full of scribbles and handwriting coming from Kim Min Soo. Bobby sits next to him, genuinely concerned about Min Soo's health. Min Soo is losing his sleep to compose the next album theme. 

Sure he works it out with the leader, Park Seo Jin, and the good-looking Lee Kwon Si. However, due to conflicting schedules; the three could rarely meet and discuss the concept for their newest album. The Mystica has always been known as a boyband group that takes a fantasy supernatural concept approach.

In this case, mythical creatures lore and abilities. Min Soo's codename is The Siren, the name was given to him due to the heavenly majestic voice that could attract anyone around him dangerously.

Lee Kwon Si is Elf due to his handsome features along with his elegant look, while the leader himself is a Unicorn due to his fierce and proud personality.

Bobby which is a pixie resembles the cutesy look and the fact that he's the youngest. However, despite his young look; Bobby is perhaps the mother of three young adults in the condominium. He's a skilled cook, a caring one as well. Bobby always cares for other people's wellbeings, perhaps it has something to do with his family upbringing.

Seeing Min Soo's stresses always riles him up, Bobby would offer to cook him some decent meals and drinks to keep him healthy. Like a mother would do, Bobby also takes care of the other members, despite being the youngest of them all.

"Let me whip you a homemade curry" Bobby offered.

"Huh? No-".

"I insist" Bobby cuts Min Soo off before he could continue.

Min Soo sighed when the youngster immediately went to the kitchen, he works fast with his hands. Cooking is Bobby's specialty, the man always had an inkling for cooking, he can cook all kinds of dishes including desserts and appetizers. As the young man works on the curry, Min Soo asked him a question about his family.

"So how's your family Bobby?" Min Soo asked kindly toward his maknae.

"My family is doing great since I debuted in here" Bobby grins. "My dad is not around most of the time because of his overseas work, so it's up to me to take care of my younger brother".

Bobby reminded him of Tae Min, his friend with benefits partner; the two have been sticking together for almost half a year. By now, Min Soo already knows all about Tae Min including his family. The man is a successful model, but behind that facade is an exhausted man who wants to have a good time.

Tae Min is like Bobby, the man takes care of his siblings and his parents single-handedly. The reason for this is because of his deceased mother, who died in a car crash during one of her jobs. She worked as a policewoman, thus his mother is always in constant danger whenever she is.

While Tae Min's father is a regular salaryman with a stable salary. But he had problems, surely because of how many kids he has. Tae Min is the oldest among the four siblings, he has two younger sisters and one younger brother. Since he has so many siblings, the man helps his family. 

"You like helping your family out at home?" Min Soo asks.

"Yeah, they're the ones who raise me" Boby smiles.

The moment he speaks of his family, Min Soo can feel his temper is being tested. The flashback of his family mocks him for his singing ability angers him. Min Soo never truly feels at home at his own house, he prefers to stay with his bandmates to his family. For him, his family was never been his priority.

The thought of him pleasing his family makes him nauseous, Min Soo hates the family who looks down upon him. His singing was called girly, useless, and other things that they throw at him are venomous. 

"Family isn't that nice" Min Soo whispers to himself.

*  *  *

David returns to the camp, only to see nothing or no one waits for him. There's no sign of Min Soo and the merchant around. His panic grows, the man clicks his tongue as he looks through the bushes when he sees no signs of them

"Sniff their traces," David tells Crow.

Crow nods obediently without complaining, the lone wolf sticks his nose to the ground. 

Sniffing the wet soil, Crow could explain in detail that the Aquos elements were produced by none other than Min Soo's magic. Crow leads the scouting with his nose, the man then walks toward a certain cart mark on the wet soil. The merchant must have moved to somewhere else, the trace is still fresh.

"What on earth is going on here?" David looks at the fainted bandits and the whimpering dog.

The dog whimpers and nudges the two gentlemen to somewhere, it is as if the greyhound wants the two of them to follow him. Crow growls slightly at the dog, he kneels as he intercepts the dog barks, he nods in agreement.

The bounty hunter Crow has always been a keen hunter, the man can understand animals' language, thus assisting him in his hunt.

"The dog knows where he is, he saw something bad happened to Min Soo" Crow adds. "It seems like the bandits found them, but that's not all".

David clenches his fist, his navy eyes turn furious as he grabs Crow's shoulder with force.

"The dog said that a fat merchant is a fishy man, he did something to Min Soo then he fainted" Crow explains what the dog told him. "This dog wants to follow him but he got hurt".

There's a sign of the dog being hit by something concrete on its body, the grey fur was somewhat bathed in crimson. The bleeding itself isn't severe, but it's enough to make the dog whimper in pain.

"Lead the way, let's find him fast" David snarls as he tightens his grip on Crow's shoulder.