8 여덟

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐

News spread quickly that Seokbin's dead body was found, and surprisingly, the police did not look into it. The fact that a killer was around Sunoo, he couldn't help but shiver in fear. After school, the driver brought both boys to Chairman Kim's office.

"Don't worry, no one will harm you. Or Niki. Not under my watch." Sunoo was beyond annoyed when his one of a father had assigned bodyguards to him and the younger.

"Isn't he trying to blow my cover? What will the rest think when these people are around them?" Sunoo complains, but can't do a single thing. After all, his life belonged to Chairman Kim.

"I...I can't believe Seokbin is dead, we literally just talk to him yesterday." Niki was still in disbelief, frightened to be in such a mess.

"Seokbin is just a kid. Why would someone want to murder a kid? This is so sus." Arriving at Hybe, both boys carry on with whatever was left of their schedule. I really don't want to get into a blood bath.

Time flies by, training after training, and finally it was time for them to shoot their new episode of EN o'clock. The 7 boys were brought to a secluded place at the outskirts of Seoul, raising concerns and worries.

The two hour long drive was not enough to calm the nerves of Sunoo. Being brought so far away, he couldn't help but worry if they were going to do some high elements or adventurous stuff, that he had never enjoyed.

Thoughts filled in his mind, the boy was a little freaked out still at his classmate's murder, and somehow, Sunoo wanted to get to the bottom of it. Leaning to his left, Sunoo whispers to Niki, that struggled to stay awake on the bus.

"I'm going to get to the bottom of this."

"Bottom of wha- oh."

"You do realize it is very dangerous, right?"

"You wanna help me?"

"Well, I'm always around you, so I don't think I have much of choice, right?"

Chuckling, the older gives a pat on Niki's head, Niki lays closer into his embrace. "Bottom of what?" Startled, Sunoo and Niki sat so straight, slowly turning around, to see the one and only. Yang Jungwon.

"H...huh? What are you talking about, Jungwon ah?" Sunoo tries to cover things up, throwing the most innocent smile.

"You said. You were going to get to the bottom of something. What are you talking about?" Sunoo lies through his teeth, saying that someone in their school got injured, and they want to find out who did it. "Oh, I hope you will find the guy." Smiling so innocently, Sunoo felt so bad that he couldn't be honest with Jungwon, but could only turn away, bowing his head in regret. Without realizing, Sunoo receives a message.

"The hyungs can't know. If they do, we are dead, they will be dead. You know right, hyung. Our lives now belong to Chairman Kim. If the Chairman finds out, we may turn out like Seokbin, hyung." -Niki

Carefully reading Niki's private message to him, Sunoo sighs deeply, grateful to see Niki so mature, although being just a 16 year old kid.

Finally, the boys arrived. They arrive to a park, filled with an obstacle course, including a zipline. The boys, one after another, managed to complete what they needed to do, Sunoo barely got passed it, as expected.

"Sunoo ah, are you okay? You seem... lost," Heeseung walks over to him, gazing at the setting sun. Before the team debuted as seven, each and everyone of them had their own lives. Out of his 19 years of life, he had never once seen a sunset.

"I'm fine. Isn't the sunset pretty?" Sunoo smiles. The two share a hug, Heeseung could tell Sunoo did not want to talk. "I'm not going to force you to say anything, but all I want you to know is that all of us are here for you, ok?" Sunoo nods, thanking the older, before leaving after their schedule.

In the van, Sunoo receives emails from different company staff he recognised, and sighs deeply. The van takes off, bringing them home, as the boys napped along the way.

Reaching home, the boys take their meals, Sunoo rushed through his meal, remembering the work he had to do. Hours passed, and the work finally got done. The boy finally hops into bed, to see Niki by his side. Smiling gratefully, he cuddled Niki, uncontrollably shedding some tears. He felt tired. And drained.