Chapter 10

Chris's POV of that night:

...

Man, this is bullshit. Same old routine every day. I leap from building to building, scanning the alleyways for any sign of criminals... but nothing. As I perch on one of the rooftops, I remove my mask for some fresh air. Pulling out a note I received earlier in the day, my thoughts drift to Seungmin.

"Meet me on top of that building at 9 pm. It's urgent."

I had recently located his whereabouts, considering he had been missing for about two years. I wanted to tell Felix... but I just couldn't. Felix would have wanted Seungmin to return, but even I knew that wasn't possible right now.

For now, knowing he's alive and well is enough. The thought brings a smile to my face. All this time, we thought he might have died... I stumbled upon him by chance when I saw him suspiciously running down an alleyway one night. I immediately jumped from the roof to confront him, and to my surprise, what I found was quite shocking. Seungmin clearly had no intention of letting anyone know about his whereabouts. At least, not yet.

I crumple up the note and toss it behind me as it lands on the rooftop floor.

Putting my mask back on, I narrow my eyes. It's time to meet Seungmin. He rarely asks to meet, and when he does, it's usually for something important. Perhaps one day, the others will learn that he's actually in good shape. The last time they saw him, it was as if something inside him had switched off... and Seungmin knew he wouldn't be coming back for a long time.

I leap from building to building once again, finally landing on the designated meeting spot with Seungmin. He didn't need to specify, but I already knew which building he meant. It's the only one hidden but guarded, devoid of any light compared to the others. It looks like a prison from the outside.

"You've Arrived." Seungmin remarked in a firm tone, striding towards me from the door onto the roof. He appeared relieved.

"Seungmin. What did you need me for?" I grinned with a slight chuckle, turning to face him. "Or should I say, Sky?" I added a teasing remark, knowing he went by Sky in this building. "What was so urgent that you needed to see me?"

Suddenly, I noticed the seriousness in his demeanor. Something must have happened. He glared at me as he stopped right in front of me. The wind was strong that night, the moon casting a bright light on his dark, somber eyes.

"I was going to tell you about this another time..." He began, clearly irritated about something. "But it seems I've run out of time."

His tone sent a shiver down my spine. Seungmin tried to hide it, but I knew him too well. He was nervous, worried about something. His voice remained stern, his eyes locking onto mine in a cold glare. His body barely moved, but I could see his hands were slightly shaking.

"What happened?" I asked, concern evident in my voice. I was ready to do anything and everything for him. I'd even kill an innocent person if he asked. And that's not something I stand for.

There's a sudden hint of sadness in his eyes, but a small, pained smile forms on his face. "I'm about to do something reckless, Chris..."

My eyes widen. I've never seen him like this before, not even on the day we last saw him before his disappearance. Even then, he had a bright smile on his face, though his eyes were completely lifeless. We knew something was wrong, but we pushed those thoughts aside because nothing could ever happen to Seungmin... nothing could touch him...

He said he'd be back, but...

I clench my teeth as the horrible memory of that day resurfaces in my mind.

Turning back to him, I try to understand what he means. "What do you mean... something reckless?" My voice is firm, my eyes narrowing. He was never one to openly show emotions, always the one to help others while pretending he didn't need help himself.

"There's this girl," he finally speaks, his voice laced with pain. "And she doesn't have much time left."

I understand now. He's worried about a girl. A mere female has him acting like this. He's mentioned her vaguely during our rooftop meetings before, but he never went into much detail. I didn't think he was serious.

"A girl?" I tilt my head, wanting more answers. "What does a girl have to do with this?"

He takes a deep breath, the strong wind rushing between us as he stands before me. He wants help, for the first time in his life, but it's not for himself.

"She's about to be framed for something she didn't do."

His breathing pattern is shaky as he admits this. I lower my gaze, sensing the difficulty in his confession. It must have been hard for him to admit something like this, as he's not someone who readily accepts help.

"Don't ask me how I know this," he continues, his chest rising and falling with nervous breaths. "But if I don't do something now, her life may be in danger."

Understanding his words, I immediately offer my support. "Okay. So what do you want me to do?" I ask in agreement, nodding slowly as he speaks.

A faint smile flickers on his lips at my words, but it quickly fades as he restrains any sign of relief. He walks to the end of the roof, peering down from the railing to the ground below. "She'll have a chance to escape," he informs me, his gaze alternating between the ground and me as he explains. "She'll walk down that alleyway. I'm certain of it."

He seems incredibly certain. I've never seen him this serious about anything before. It's my duty to assist him. Just as he's always helped me, just as he's always been there for the rest of us.

"I want you to introduce yourself to her," he explains slowly, as if unraveling a mystery. "But don't be too direct. Make it seem like it happened by chance."

"Okay okay.." I reply, nodding along, absorbing every detail. "So basically, you want me to look out for her?"

He pauses for a moment, half-smiling, confirming my understanding. I have no reason to deny him. I'll do as he asks. He deserves at least that much.

"And..." He hesitates, unsure of whether to continue. He looks away awkwardly, and I lean in to catch his gaze again. "And what? Spit it out."

Turning back to me, he sighs deeply. "I need you to gather help for the next part of my plan..."

I stare at him blankly, then nod. "Sure. I can ask Felix... he'll definitely..."

My voice trails off as I notice his expression, and I narrow my eyes. He doesn't just mean Felix, does he? "By gather help, you mean everyone." My voice laced with annoyance.

He nods nervously, hoping I'll be somewhat understanding of the situation. I want to refuse immediately, but I know I can't.

I let out a sigh, leaning back on the railing. "You know me and the other guys don't get along..."

He frowns, his eyes casting downward. "I know, but..." Looking back up, I can see the determination in his eyes. "Just once... I want you guys to get along... just this once, and then you'll never have to speak to each other again."

This clearly means a lot to him. He's never cared before that we didn't get along. He's always smiled and made jokes about it... but he's never forced a friendship that clearly wasn't there...

And that's how I know.

That's how I know that I have to do this for Seungmin. No matter what, I have to go through with whatever he asks of me. I owe it to him.

"Okay, fine." I respond, trying to be more understanding even though I'm clearly annoyed at the mention of those guys. "I'll try not to kill them."

Seungmin lets out a little chuckle at my words, looking up at the sky. I smile, as it's the first time in a while that he's laughed so casually, so innocently.

"Do you want to tell me what she looks like?" I ask, even though he told me she will most likely be escaping through that alley, so I can't miss her. "At least give me a description."

It doesn't hurt to know just in case.

He looks back over at me, still leaning over the railing. "She's got beautiful brown curly hair..." he says, his voice filled with admiration. "Hair that may be hard for her to manage, but just looking at it is such a beautiful sight..."

I can't help but feel proud of Seungmin. He's talking about something that interests him so easily. This is a new and rare sight.

I lean against the railing, just listening to him ramble on about this mysterious girl who's caught his eye that i'll soon meet.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***