The scarecrow of town and its guardian angel.

"Thank you for dropping me off, You had to leave my sister and her driver Alone in your house, because of me...

Are you sure you can handle them both on your own? I'll come to your house tomorrow to check-up on them." Soo-Min Said as soon as Joel parked near the hospital.

"Trust me, those two aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

Also I'm not alone, I contacted a friend of mine to tend to Their wounds and help me keep those two locked." Joel replied.

"Your friend, sounds like someone reliable." Soo-Min said.

"She is, her name's Lydia...She was apparently looking for a place other than her apartment to crash in anyways, so she's benefiting from helping me." Joel replied.

"Lydia, wasn't she the girl who helped both Flint and Cyrus?" Soo-Min questioned.

Surprised, "You know about her?" Joel asked, "Only a little, whatever Seong-min decided to tell me anyways." Soo-Min replied sighing as she remembered when her daughter told her about Lydia.

...[Tiny flashback]...

It was the night of the day Soo-Min arrived, After Ha-yoon retreated to her studio working on music as usual, Soo-Min and Seong-min sat together in the living room, and Seong-min was filling her mother on some details she wasn't aware of.

Sighing, "Princess...why does it bother you so much that Nikolai's friend killed himself?" Soo-Min asked.

"This boy's death, caused so much pain to the people around him...it's the reason why Cyrus was there when he saved my life." Seong-min replied.

"So He didn't come for you...I figured so." Soo-Min said knowingly.

"Yeah...But please, whatever I'm gonna tell, try to keep it a secret." Seong-min replied.

"Okay? this Sounds serious, what is it?" Soo-Min asked, "The boy who died, connects two more people, you've already met today at the hospital.

Joel and Cyrus." Seong-min replied.

Soo-Min looked at her daughter curiously at the mention of Joel, so Seong-min continued talking, "Those bullies targeted Joel's nephew who was also Cyrus's secret boyfriend at the time."

"You're telling me that dead boy is Joel's nephew, And also Cyrus's boyfriend, like from 7 years ago?

So I was right, Cyrus was seeking revenge? that's why he was there." Soo-Min said.

"Yeah...The boy's name was Julian Baker.

Julian's death is the reason why Cyrus wanted revenge...'we' wanted revenge." Seong-min explained.

"So you two worked together? But Why now? why did Cyrus wait for 7 years?"

"He wanted those bullies to build a life and have some sense of security first..."

"What's the matter?" Soo-Min asked.

"This revenge, I miscalculated so many things...You're right about it being half-assed.

And to be honest I messed-up real bad with the first guy Rudy.

I mean the guy flipped his life around, it was obvious at first that he became a better person, yet I still went after him...i almost took away his life from him.

Then the worst scenario possible happened with Flint, he nearly killed me...if it wasn't for This Lydia girl, I'd be dead but then again, maybe I was in danger because of her in the first place." Seong-min said.

"Lydia? who's that?" Soo-Min asked, "Keep this a secret too and I'll tell you what I know about her." Seong-min replied.

"Okay, I'll try." Soo-Min replied back, "Trying isn't enough but anyways just so you know...I don't hold any grudges against Lydia, she was trying to help Cyrus get revenge." Seong-min said.

"Grudges? what do you mean princess?"

"This girl Lydia, she's an acquaintance of Cyrus from the past, and she's the one who helped him to find me.

if you remember, I told you that he came to rescue me after receiving a tip...the tip was from her.

But because the apartment was hers, the police might be investigating Lydia.

Flint kept talking about Lydia and how she amazed him Because she's a sniper, so I was really surprised when Cyrus told me that it was Lydia who helped him find me.

Later I understood she wanted Cyrus to Get revenge on Flint, that's why I don't hold grudges on her...I probably ruined her plans by involving myself." Seong-min explained.

"Rewind a little!" Soo-Min said surprised, "Did you just say a sniper?"

"Yeah, she's One of Radka's girls, so keep it a secret too.

Btw, Radka was also there to save me from Flint.

She apparently has many girls working for her, like my new friend Minnie.

They're mostly bodyguards but according to Flint and what I've seen myself, I think Radka is some sort of a mob boss...since she has a sniper work for her.

Her girls are Professionals, even in murder." Seong-min replied.

"Not only that you came here for an unorganized Revenge...

You almost ruined somebody's life, got yourself kidnapped and nearly killed, and now you're telling me That Jin's possible mother-in-law is a possible Crime Lord too?" Soo-Min said nearly shouting, "Princess are you insane?!"

...[End of Tiny flashback]...

"Seong-min Said Lydia helped Flint in order to help Cyrus, and my daughter apparently holds no grudges against her...so I don't think I'll involve myself with Lydia about that matter but...there's something that bothers me.

Seong-min mentioned that Lydia is a sniper." Soo-Min said.

"She is...the best in town, and probably among the best in country.

Since you and your daughter know she's a sniper, I can safely assume you know Radka's isn't just an ordinary mom too." Joel replied.

"Yeah, I know Lydia works for her."

"Used to, Radka kicked her out right after the Flint incident."

"Considering everything that happened...can I also assume you're involved with Rakda too? I don't want her to know about my sister."

"Yeah, I am involved." Joel said chuckling nervously, "But don't worry about Radka, As long as you sister has no connection to her, Radka won't know anything." he added.

"Oh!...Thank you." Soo-Min replied nervously.

Suddenly, "About Lydia, she's like both The scarecrow of town and its guardian angel." Joel said sighing, "That girl doesn't deserve Radka's hatred."

"How so?" Soo-Min asked.

...Meanwhile...

While some consider it late at night, some see it as just the beginning of a fun time.

Like Nikolai who sat down in the living room enjoying round two of dinner, after his mother's girls ordered food and convinced him to listen to a true-crime podcast together with them, which he began to enjoy.

"Oh C'mon! how's this unsolved! I tell you the fiance did it! The fact that She was at that specific location where they got engaged, and he was the last to see her alive, should be enough to convince anyone he did it!" Nikolai said Angrily.

"I know right! I don't get the police, why they didn't investigate him carefully!" One girl said, "You heard what the police officer said!

In order to form a strong case against a suspect, you need concrete physical evidence! circumstantial evidence isn't enough! they can't just go and arrest the guy just like that! it won't hold-up in court." another girl explained.

Jin was also in the living room, sitting away from them, he was a little spooked by how the girls were enjoying the crime podcast a little too much.

Raising a hand like a school boy would do, "Umm, just a question...You girls really relax listening to this stuff?" Jin asked worriedly and the girls laughed at him.

Then suddenly, "I just noticed but where's Minnie? this is her favorite podcast!" One girl said surprised.

"She's in the greenhouse." Jin replied, he knew because he took some of the takeout food with him to Minnie earlier, who hasn't eaten a thing since they came back from the hospital.

"She seemed off today, shouldn't we check on her?" Another girl spoke.

"I'll go check on her, you girls and Niko, just continue listening to your podcast." Jin said Before he hurried to the greenhouse.

But as he walked inside, Jin heard how distressed Minnie was while talking on the phone as she screamed, "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" before she slammed her phone on the ground.

Worried, Jin immediately Hurried to her side, "Hey?! what's going on?!"

But instead of answering, Minnie began crying, so Jin made her sit down next to him and started rubbing her back to sooth her.

"Hey Minnie...I noticed you stayed here for a while now, the person calling you must've been annoying you a lot today." Jin said gently.

"Remember that you promised to tell me about the phone calls? you didn't fulfil that promise." he spoke again.

Sobbing, "I'm sorry Jin, it's just I'm tired of her...why she's doing this?...why now?!" Minnie said.

"Who's she? who's bothering you Minnie?" Jin asked.

"My mom...She's in some hospital back in my hometown, she called me few days ago...asking for money to cover her treatment." Minnie said between sobs.

Surprised, "Your mother is in a hospital? is it serious?" Jin asked.

"It is...fuck...I only told Seong-min about it, but...my mom is a drug addict who abandoned me, *Sniffling* so I don't trust her for one bit, especially not with my money." Minnie replied.

"What's making you cry then? you don't wanna help her, do you? so why you're even picking-up on her calls then?" Jin asked.

"It's Fucking guilt man...She's my mom, I feel guilty when I ignore her.

Although We haven't seen each other in years, now all of the sudden...she's fuckin asking me for 50k all at once?!" Minnie said.

"Really? what for?!" Jin asked.

"She said she needs it for a surgery...and she wants me to come to her and give her the money...

She ain't got no insurance that's why it's expensive, and if she doesn't do the surgery, she'll die for sure...she was just begging me for the money, *Sniffling* saying she'll pay me back, not that I care about her paying back.

I don't even know how my mom got my phone number...I bet she got it from my dad, she must've tried to get money out of him too." Minnie explained.

Sighing, "Holy...damn it, I feel bad for saying this, but you're right not to trust her right away.

She may be your mother, but it's obvious she did a number on you, or else you would've jumped to save her." Jin replied.

"I have the money...more than she asked for, I'm not worried about that.

And as crazy as it sounds, I'm willing to pay for her surgery, it's the meeting-her part that I can't do...I have to see it for myself that she's taking my money to save her life, but I can't bring myself to go see her after all these years." Minnie said.

"I suggest you go see her, like you said that'll help you decide whether she's worthy of your kindness or not.

And as the devil's advocate, People change throughout the years, so she may have become a better person, but she may also become worse.

However, It's for you to find out, by meeting her." Jin replied.

"If she became a better person, then why didn't she come to me before? why's the first call she made in years, about money?" Minnie asked.

"I don't know...but When Nikolai and I separated the first time...I worked really hard to change myself, to become a better person.

But I was still afraid of facing Nikolai or contacting him, knowing that even though I changed, it'll be difficult for him to notice it right away or like me again.

He made me kneel and poured a drink on my head when Andrea first assigned me as his bodyguard." Jin replied chuckling.

"Maybe you're right...maybe I should go see her." Minnie said sniffling, "Hey, I'm here for you, Lean on me, ok?" Jin said kindly.

"You really changed for the better...Jin." Minnie replied Smiling with teary eyes.