12

Acid Lake is calm this morning. Jein strolls out of the cabin, stretching his aching back. It's been a long time since he participates in any combat. Last night was quite intense for him.

Jein checks the caravan, pulling something from the floor. He pushes a few buttons and a chrome color box slowly emerges from the floor.

If Joon knew about this shit, he will make it a big deal!

He takes out one of the guns from the box and caresses it carefully. Then he checks whether it got any damage or not. He checks the bullet console inside the gun. The console is made of some material called Drex. It is a mixture of many kinds of metal, but the most important element is...

This gun is powerful if it's activated by a powerful kilowatt of thunder.

If the information is true, not only we can end all this, we might save Cosmos City. But still, I wanna know more about Byul and what makes her connect to this event.

He's in deep thought when he hears footsteps and without a warning, he points the gun at the person.

"Bae!" mug drops from Joon's hand, shocked by his action. Jein held his breath, rubbing his chest. Luckily the gun wasn't activated yet. Or else, he might kill Joon right on the spot.

"You should make a habit of saying 'Good Morning' from now on, Joon. You never know, one day you might kill someone by failing to do it," says Jein. He keeps the gun back in the box.

"What more that you keep from me, Jein?" Joon's voice suddenly became sullen and serious.

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean.. that caravan, that blaster, that gun, safe house? And? What else, Jein?" asks Joon.

He felt betrayed when he realizes that Jein kept these secrets from him. He thought they had cleared everything before they decided to live together a few years ago. But judging by last night's event, Jein lives a double life behind his back.

"I practice shooting every morning before you even get up from bed. And oh, I keep the token knife that I got from my last mission in the last drawer in the kitchen. I killed at least four people with it," says Jein, he never budges, not even a second.

"Why Jein?"

It's only one simple question, but it's hard for Jein to answer. He glares at Joon who seriously looks pissed off right now.

"You wanna know something?"

"What? Tell me!"

"I did this because of you. Because I love you and I don't wanna lose you,"

Joon feels his heart being punched over and over again.

"I did all this because I wanna protect you. I don't know why, but my heart always says that one day, I'm gonna lose you. I'm always afraid of that moment. You know, when I found out that you went missing with your dad, I can't even breathe! Every day I waited for a phone call, wondering if it was good news or bad news. I can't even live properly, not even once! When they found you, I don't know why but I feel like I'm alive back. That's how much I love you..." Jein stares at him with teary eyes.

"From that moment I decided that I will stop making weapons, not only because I hate it. I just realize God must punish me because I make something that kills goddamn-how many lives in this world! Now I can feel how hurtful it is to lose someone you love. And when you said that you wanna live with me, I couldn't have been happier! But the feeling of losing you never get faded in my mind. When I heard about the attack, I prepared myself to protect you, no matter what cost I will pay. I'm afraid that you might hate me or misunderstand me, that's why I keep this from you.." Joon couldn't believe what he heard from Jein. He understands how much Jein wants to protect him. But to keep this from him, that's too much.

"Jein, how long have we been friends? Why do I feel like you never trust me? I understand your noble intention, but at least you should tell me if it's not all of it, just a bit of it. I don't mind at all of this, but you need to understand this is all about trust!" Joon fumes up. He is always calm. To see him get pissed off like this is something unpleasant.

"I'm sorry.." that's the only thing that he can say right now. Joon sighs as he studies Jein who probably feeling guilty right now.

He walks slowly towards him and held him in a huge hug. Jein holds him so tight as if they will never see each other again.

"Promise me, no more secrets after this?" Joon demands a promise from Jein. He can never get mad at him, seriously. Because he knew Jein's intention only to make sure he is safe. And...

Because he loves him too...

Jein nods as Joon wipes tears from his eyes

"Stop crying, you develop some wrinkles on your face.." Jein smacks his shoulder lightly.

"I'll go and grab you some tea okay?" said Joon.

"Wait, I just confess!"

"Yeah... I heard that too.." says Joon, flashing his dimple. He leaves Jein hanging and waits for his answer.

"At least say something, Joon..." the man keeps walking away.

"You hear that I say I love you!" and he keeps walking.

"Joon, I say I love you!" Joon smirks but never turns back.

"I love you, you asshole!!!" Jein screams as he stomps his feet on the ground. Joon pretends to ignore him and enters the house. He holds his heart. It jumps up and down inside his rib cage. He is a blushing mess.

He walks slowly into the kitchen, more like hopping in happy mode towards the counter. Carefully pour some tea into the mug when...

"JOON!!!" Joon quickly ran outside when he heard Jein scream out loud.

"Jein, no!!" he tries to charge forward when one of the aliens locks him in the eyes.

"Arghhhhh!!!AHH!!!!" Joon feels like his brain is squeezed tight. He held his head, battling with extra excruciate pain ever. Droll and tears rolling, he feels like he is on verge of life and death now.

The alien takes off with Jein, leaving Joon struggling there alone. Yoon, Justin, and Byul who were shocked by the scream ran toward him as soon as possible.

"Joon!!" Yoon holds his brother tight. The man is having a hard time to breath. Byul almost runs toward the alien when Justin grabs her from behind.

"Let me go!!! Jein!!" Byul screams her lung out when she sees Jein pass out on one of the alien's shoulders. They enter the quin jet and take off immediately.

"Joon, stay with me... please..." Yoon grabbed him tight. A few seconds later, he passes out. Justin let Byul go, and she drops down on earth as she cries out loud.

"Why did you stop me just now, you bastard!!" she smacks Justin on his cheek. She hits him over and over again, with tears in her eyes rolling to the cheek.

"You son of...!!"

"I can't just let them take you! If you do, it's the end of us!" Justin screams as he shakes her lifeless body. She screams and sobs hard

"I'm sorry..." says Justin. Yoon stares at them with wet eyes. Jein got kidnapped, and his brother just passed out. And this two fella got into a fight. What a morning!

"Justin, bring Joon inside.." he says. The young man slowly scoops him bridal style and walks into the cabin, leaving Yoon and Byul alone.

Yoon slowly walks toward Byul. He squats down and stares at her who is sobbing hard.

"We'll figure this out.."

"You don't understand. He will die! They gonna kill him, they will torture him.. they will-"

"I know Jein can handle it. For now please let just help me with Joon. Please.." Yoon couldn't hold his tears anymore.

Byul grabs Yoon's hand. They stand up together, hug each other shoulders and walk into the cabin.

***

Night has come. Joon is more stable than before. But his lips still call Jein even in his times of sleep.

"Luckily Jein packed this lavender essence. I didn't know this flower could bring so much benefit.." says Justin. He studies the diffuser next to Joon's bed.

Yoon gazes at his brother. He hopes that both of them survive at least for tonight.

"We can't wait anymore. We need to figure out where they brought him," says Yoon.

"We'll figure this out after Joon recovers a bit.. in this condition we can't be separate," says Justin.

"Justin, can you check on Byul? She hasn't come out of the room since this morning.." asks Yoon. He intentionally asks Justin to check Byul so they can sit down and talk about what happened this morning. They couldn't afford any fight at this current moment. It will affect the group as a whole if they can't fix this misunderstanding now.

Slowly, Justin moves from his chair and walks out of the room, leaving Yoon who keeps eyeing Joon. He silently sobs, looking at how worst his condition is.

***

A knock at the door makes Byul startled. She opens the door only to find Justin standing in front of the room.

"Are you okay?" she just nods.

"I'm sorry, but I hope you will understand. They went after you for so long. If they manage to take you too, let's just assume that it's the end of Cosmos City! You are our only hope now. Without you, all of this is just meaningless," Justin explains with so much sincerity in his heart.

"I'm worried about Jein. I've been in that situation before. It's only a pain that you can feel after that. You're losing yourself," says Byul.

"Don't worry, we'll figure this out as soon as possible.."

"I hope so.." she replies. Before Justin could say anymore, there was a knock on the door. They glance at each other, curious about who will come here in the middle of the night.

Justin slowly grabs his gun from his side waist belt. Byul looks around and finds a long bamboo stick. She grabs it tight.

Byul slowly walks towards the door.

"Password?"

"I'm looking for Jein.."

"Password?" silent.

"Awoooooo....." the person yowls so hard, but what is more impressive is the sound of a wolf.

And that's the correct password.

Byul opens the door. A man stands right in front of her, wearing lots of military equipment.

"Who are you?" eyes looking at the the man.

"Oh, I'm his friend. My name is Sun.."