Chapter 8: The Mystery Man

"Even those acquainted find it hard to catch a glimpse of him."

...

Everything I knew about this man so far suggested that meeting him was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You needed significant access just to exchange a few words with him. The media wrote about him incessantly, yet every picture portrayed him as a mere sketch, hiding his true identity. It all seemed so intimidating. But then, how could Changbin talk about him so casually, as if they were old friends?

"He said he's inside," I overheard Han speaking softly as he checked his phone, likely receiving a message.

Arriving here didn't take long, though I felt awkward riding on the back of Changbin's motorcycle. I struggled to find a comfortable position, unsure of where to place my hands. Everyone else waited outside while Han, Hyunjin, and Changbin escorted me into the massive building. I felt like I was being dragged along, yet everyone treated me kindly, though I couldn't understand why.

"Let's go." Changbin said as he placed his hand on my back to open the door, I jumped slightly at the unexpected touch, trying to maintain my composure.

Han and Hyunjin waited just outside the door, and my heart began to race again. The large doors creaked open, revealing a dull, dark room. The flickering lights only added to my anxiety.

"I bought her." Changbin declared in a clear, serious tone, the sound echoing in the room.

I looked ahead, seeing only the shadowy figure of a man seated in a chair, his back turned to us. Was Lee Min-ho really expecting me?

The room smelled of a feminine perfume mixed with cigarette smoke, a combination I recognized from past experiences. Lee Min-ho must be quite the ladies' man to leave such a scent lingering in the air.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, the chair began to spin, and as it turned to face us, the lights inexplicably turned on. My eyes widened in surprise. How did that happen?

When I finally looked to the front, I was met with the man I had heard so much about.

He glared at Changbin with an unfriendly expression. Was he not aware of our arrival then?

"You're here." he said in a dark, stern tone.

Changbin and Lee Min-ho engaged in a prolonged stare-off, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere. Changbin glares at him a little too long and I find myself feeling a little uneasy at this sudden tension in the room, staring at both of them back and forth. What is this dark atmosphere between them?

Finally, Changbin broke the tension with a casual chuckle. "Seriously dude, what's with the seriousness?"

Lee Min-ho joined in the laughter. "I was trying something new!" he admitted with a hint of humor. "How was it? Did I sound like my father?"

The intimidating aura suddenly dissipated, leaving behind a cold chill in the air. Lee Min-ho seemed like a normal boy with a charming smile all of a sudden, far from the powerful figure I had just imagined.

"Your dad wouldn't say a word." Changbin corrected with a hint of humor. "That's the difference."

It's surreal to witness the abrupt shift from the dark and horrifying atmosphere to something lighter. I find it unsettling, standing here, observing this transformation.

"Darn it!" Lee Min-ho slumped down in his chair momentarily before quickly straightening up again, without pausing for a break. "What if you come back in, and I give it another shot?"

I hadn't anticipated this mystery man to have such an easygoing demeanor. Was he truly sitting in this dreary, dimly-lit room, patiently awaiting Changbin's arrival, only to crack a joke?

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifts once more as our eyes meet. His smile vanishes completely, replaced by a serious expression, unmistakably genuine this time.

"Changbin, you brought a random girl with you?" he questioned, his gaze fixed on me. "You know how I feel about strangers in my presence, especially strange females."

I'm taken aback by his words. His demeanor aligns perfectly with my expectations. It's evident he harbors a distrust towards strangers, particularly females. I had assumed he might be a ladies' man, but perhaps his interactions are limited to a select few.

I inhale deeply, stepping back as he continues to stare me down, igniting nerves within me. "Oh...um..."

Lee Min-ho abruptly rises from his chair, circles his desk, and strides over to me.

"Who are you? Where did you come from?" He leans in, his posture almost interrogative.

I felt my nerves spike as Lee Min-ho's gaze bore into me. My chest tightens. Changbin quickly intervened, pulling him away. "Relax, man."

Lee Min-ho's glare finally leaves me as he looks back at Changbin, and a sigh of relief escapes me.

"Let go, man!" Lee Min-ho hisses, turning back to me. "Who is this intruder you--"

"She's the girl I mentioned," Changbin cuts him off.

A prolonged silence fills the air, and Lee Min-ho's eyes widen as if Changbin has just revealed something life-changing.

There's so much chatter around me... Why is it all so significant? Nobody truly understands me... I'm just a peculiar girl who happened to escape by luck. I'm bewildered by the attention from those around me and why they're blowing everything out of proportion.

"What?!" Lee Min-ho shouts, whirling around to face Changbin once more. "This is her?!"

The shock in his voice puzzles me. Why is it so astonishing? Why was he so frightening before he knew who I was?

"She looks completely normal!" Lee Min-ho exclaims. "Nothing at all like-"

"Shh," Changbin cuts him off, gripping his arm firmly. "We'll discuss this further over there."

Changbin then glances at me, signaling that their conversation will be held in private.

They enter through another door, that leades from the expansive yet dreary office space.

Certainly:

What was he about to say? What exactly do I not resemble? before, I was so caught up in my thoughts, but now... I need answers, or I'm just going to be walking around all confused.

The tension lingered as they disappeared into another room, leaving me standing there, bewildered and uncertain. Who was I to them, and why did they seem to know more about me than I did?

"Was it a success?" A random voice breaks me out of my thoughts. I slighly jump as I turn. Oh. It's Hyunjin. I must have been so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even hear him come in.

"What?" I asked, still feeling a bit dazed.

"Meeting the chairman's son," Hyunjin explained, his tone tinged with concern. "Hope he wasn't too crazy."

Was that a warning? It certainly sounded like one. I couldn't quite decipher Lee Min-ho's true personality. Just what kind of man was he?

"Oh, it was just-"

Before I could even respond completely, a sudden outburst from Lee Min-ho caught our attention. "Seungmin?!" he exclaimed. "He's alive?!"

Both Hyunjin and I immediately shift our attention toward the door.

I'm shocked by the sudden outburst but then, as I think about what he said, my breath catches for just a second. That name. He said...

I knew I had heard that name before. As distinct as it may be... where have I encountered it? My eyes dart around as I ponder deeply, until I fixate on a point ahead, and a large gasp escapes my lips. A small flashback floods my mind from when I made my escape. That enigmatic figure I collided with... it was... it was...

My eyes widen as the memory resurfaces. The name triggered a distant memory.

The figure was Seungmin.

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