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ย “I promise it is just for a few days”
Nam-gi tugged on her hand with a force she didn’t know he possessed. His heels dug into the floor, leaning his weight back, he tried to halt his sister in place. He did not want to stay away from his sister, much less in an orphanage where people were sure to talk.
” Nam-gi please” Nari begged, her voice low and pleading, as kids ran past them with bright grins and laughter that echoed through the walls. ” You may enjoy it, make friends other than Jihoon”
“I don’t want to; I want to stay with you.” He whined, continuously tugging at her arm.
“Father will be here” but that was not a decisive excuse though.
That interaction did not go well. After Mr Choi had sent them off with a warning, it was deemed unsafe for Ms Yoon to return to their home which meant the same for Nari’s family. While Ms Yoon agreed willingly, understanding that her safety as well as her kids were a priority she did not protest, unlike Nari’s brother and father.
Nari had returned home that night to break the news to her father. This had resulted in another outburst and a new cut on the side of her neck which she hid behind her turtle neck. She did not need any prying eyes on her. She had enough as is. However, she had managed to place him in a wheelchair and with difficulty, in Hyeon-ju’s car who had offered to drive them to the orphanage. He was in the care of actual caretakers now, who promised to look after him. She couldn’t let Woo-jin nor Geon-woo see him, scared they may look at her differently. She did not have such a caring household, something Woo-jinย would’ve understood had she told him.
The only problem now, was her brother.
He had made his clear distain of the idea from the start. The second she had sat him down to tell him he’d be staying here he all but ran for the exit. He had never been so long away from his sister; he was not about to start now.
”Nam-gi you are making a scene, please. I do not wish for you to get hurt” she said, crouching to her knees to get him to look at her where he sat limp on the floor refusing to move.
” I won’t be there to protect you from the bad guys” he pouted finally. Bad guys. That was she had told him. She had told him bad guys were after them and he had replied with the same bad guys that took mummy away. Nari cried that night. He was too young for this, hell so was she, but Nam-gi did not know the true weight of her words nor the real big threat on their lives. She could not risk losing him, not to Smile Capital. She would rather die.
” You don’t have to worry about the bad guys. Your sister will fight them”
They both turned at the voice.
They both got to their feet, Nam-gi more jittery than Nari who chuckled softly. This was the first time her brother had properly, without interruption, met his idol. One could tell from how awestruck he suddenly looked.
“And she won’t be alone. I promise to fight the bad guys with her. She won’t get hurt” Geon-woo said, his eyes darkening in determination as he glanced down at Nam-gi.
“So why don’t you make your sister’s life a little bit easier and protect this place. In case the bad guys show up” he whispered to the end as if it was their little secret. Nari couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“I’ll knock them out with one punch” Nam-gi said, chuffed as he puffed his chest out before phantom boxing. Nari chuckled and Geon-woo reached for a high five which the boy gladly returned.
“That’s the spirit kid. So, what do you say?” Geon-woo asked, raising his brow and Nam-gi stood straighter.
”I will protect this place with my life” he said firmly before glancing at his sister who nodded and then he was off, past the caretakers who rushed after him and into the garden.
“You didn’t have to do that” Nari said, as she glanced at him, the two gazed out at the window where a couple of kids had approached Nam-gi.
” He just wanted to make sure you’d be okay. I understand” he said before meeting Nari’s soft gaze.
“You’re good with kids” she told him and he flushed, his hands rubbing the nape of his neck sheepishly.
” They’re cute. Your brother is just like you” he said as she chuckled.
“Stubborn” Nari teased as they made their way out the orphanage.
“More like charming” he smiled and then he disappeared into the car.
Nari was left standing with an odd look in her eye and a warm feeling in her chest.
Kim Geon-woo would be her undoing.
They had shared a warm family meal that night, Ms Yoon had made for them all before she was to leave for the orphanage in a day’s time. They had shared many laughs, heartfelt stories as well as embarrassing ones. Nari had felt happy, seeing everyone so carefree and enjoying themselves. Her and Geon-woo had shared many more glances throughout the night, him going as far as to hide the last few rolled omelettes from Woo-jin and placed it in her plate despite his certain love for them. Her heart was full but as usual, they could never have peace without its chaos.
Hyeon-ju had informed them that they were needed that night. A mission from Mr Choi himself. They were to extract the money from the store and return it to the house immediately. A simple but quick job. However, nothing ever went as smoothly as they would like.
” We need to be quick” Hyeon-ju said, unlocking the door and flicking on the switch as Woo-jin and Geon-woo placed the folded-up boxes onto the table.
“You think we’re being tailed?” Nari asked wearily, her sceptic eyes bouncing between the three.
“I don’t know, but I don’t want to find out. So you two assemble the boxes and we’ll get the money” Hyeon-ju said, her words low in an exhale of apprehension but the three firmly nodded and the boys didn’t hesitate while Nari and Hyeon-ju split to gather the money as fast as they could.
As they were constructing the boxes Geon-woo paused in thought, he glanced up at the two girls before eyeing the box in hand. “How are we going to get these to the car?” he asked, and Nari’s fingers paused, hovering over a file at his very real and plausible question.
”Carry them” Hyeon-ju said simply. ” You’re strong enough”
“They’re not supermen” Nari scoffed lightly in jest while Woo-jin looked slightly offended. “Oh please, you’re not” she said seeing his expression.
“Fine, fine. There should be trolleys downstairs in the storage room” Hyeon-ju relented, turning back to gathering the money.
“It’s to your left” Nari clarified. “Be quick”
They nodded and then they were gone.
“I thought you were warming up to them” Nari questioned as she emptied another file and left it on the table.
“That was me being warm” Hyeon-ju said like it was obvious.
”We need to work on your social skills” Nari muttered, brushing past Hyeon-ju to reach the other shelf.
“Maybe another time” Hyeon-ju said before they heard a quiet clatter. Both girls stilled at the sound, glancing at each other wearily, Hyeon-ju waved her over to the monitor room.
“What was that?” Nari asked as Hyeon-ju leaned against the desk, her eyes glued to the screen before them.
“I don’t know” Hyeon-ju said breathlessly, eyes flickering to every angle of the monitor’s screen.
”Are we being paranoid?” Nari frowned, glancing between her and the monitor.
“We could be, but we definitely heard something” the younger woman said before she noticed movement in the basement camera. Nari’s blood rushed cold at the burly figure trudging through the hall and right to where Geon-woo and Woo-jin were.
“Nari” Hyeon-ju called, scared when she too noticed the figure on screen. She turned to her friend who had frozen before the monitor, unable to tear her eyes away from Beom’s massive silhouette.
“Nari, hey, snap out of it” Hyeon-ju said, panicky and fearful as she shook her shoulders. ” We need to warn them. ”
Nari blinked out of her daze, a sudden spike of adrenaline shooting through her veins as she registered her friend’s words. They were in trouble, and they didn’t even know it yet.
”You’re right, shit” Nari swore as she went to lunge for the door, but a sudden thought caused her to abruptly plant her feet on the floor, Hyeon-ju crashing into her back not being able to stop herself in time.
“What is it?” Hyeon-ju questioned while Nari spun in her step.
“You need to stay here” Nari said quick, jittery and needing to get to them before Beom did.
“The hell I will!” Hyeon-ju yelled. “Are you crazy!”
“We won’t have enough time, especially if they are already here to stop us. You need to get the money packed and ready for when we return. Do you understand. We cannot jeopardise this mission. You are the only one who knows where all the money is stored. So let me go, I’ll be back before you know it” Nari told her, her hands resting on her shoulders.
Hyeon-ju couldn’t help but shake her head in denial. ” This is dangerous, you can’t go alone. We can come back and-”
“We do not have time Hyeon-ju. Please, just listen to me okay. I’ll be fine” Nari said sternly, her eyes pleading. Finally, Hyeon-ju relented.
“Okay but take this” she offered, handing the older woman her baton. “Hopefully you don’t need to use it” she said and Nari nodded, squeezing her shoulder in reassurance.
“Keep the door locked” Nari said and then she left her, standing in the middle of the store, worried and alone and in fear for her friends. But Hyeon-ju did not have time to wait. Her first stop was the unfinished bookshelf Nari had left behind.ย
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