Chapter 11

The silence in the air feels deafening. Chris didn't divulge much in his side of the story, merely mentioning his prior encounter with Seungmin and being tasked with protecting me. I'm still left wondering about Seungmin's motives behind orchestrating the escape and specifically choosing Chris to look after me... but right now, that seems like a lesser concern.

Changbin advances in a fury of extreme anger, seizing Chris by the collar. "So you knew where Seungmin was this entire time?!"

The frustration in his voice is palpable, tinged with a hint of pain and betrayal, as if he feels betrayed not by Chris, but by Seungmin.

"Let go of me." Chris retorts in a cold, stern tone, pushing him away by the shoulder.

I glance around at everyone, noting the expressions of hurt and anger mirrored on their faces. Chris remains outwardly neutral, as if unwilling to show any emotion, as if he's feigning indifference.

"You knew..." Felix interjects, his voice laden with hurt and betrayal. "You knew where he was... and you didn't tell me?"

Stepping forward to confront Chris, I can sense the depth of Felix's betrayal from across the room. Knowing how close Felix and Chris were, it must be excruciating for Felix to discover that Chris kept this secret from him.

"You told me you met him only that day," Felix continues, his voice slightly shaky as he struggles to maintain his composure. "I didn't press for more because I thought it might be too much for you... because at least I knew he was safe."

Chris's eyes lower with guilt. He couldn't even confide in his best friend about Seungmin's whereabouts...

"All those recent times we shared sentimental moments while drinking and reminiscing our memories with Seungmin..." Felix continues, his voice trembling as he holds back tears. "But you knew where he was all this time...?"

Felix inhales deeply, struggling to maintain his composure against the weight of his sorrow. "Just a few days ago... you helped me overcome my panic attack when I thought of Seungmin..."

It's a revelation that hits me hard. When I first encountered Seungmin, he was just a normal boy with a peculiar name, walking in that building. But outside those gates, there were people who prayed to see him again, people who weep at the mere thought of him. Of everyone here, only Chris had the privilege of seeing him again... and it's natural that everyone else feels it's unfair.

Guilt emanates from Chris, evident in his eyes, yet he seems paralyzed, unsure how to respond. He must be torn, not wanting to inflict more pain on Felix.

"Seriously." I.N's voice pierces through the air sharply. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Even though he maintains his tough demeanor, I detect a hint of hurt in his tone. He doesn't reach for his knife, as he typically would, suggesting a genuine desire for answers.

How did Seungmin come to know all these people? They're all so different...

"You don't understand," Chris's voice cuts through with an edge of frustration. "I couldn't say anything."

"And why not?" A stern voice questions from the back. I turn to see Han stepping forward, his anger barely contained, yet his demeanor still remarkably composed. It's unexpected to witness someone as usually soft-spoken as him in such a state.

"You had the chance to say something. But you didn't," Han's voice carries a mix of disappointment and frustration.

Chris looks away, his expression guarded, as if he's bracing for the inevitable backlash.

"Seungmin was just as much our friend as he was yours." Hyunjin interjects, his tone a blend of accusation and disbelief. "You mean to say you were seeing him this entire time and didn't think to let anyone know?"

"We may have differences of opinion," Minho's voice is steady but carries a weight of pain. "But what you did was the ultimate betrayal one can encounter."

I step back, feeling the tension in the air thickening. This conversation has little to do with me, yet I'm drawn into its orbit, a silent observer.

They all stand in front of Chris, a collective wall of disappointment and hurt. In the gap between them, Chris sits against the wall, his posture defeated as he faces the ground.

"Do you think that's what Seungmin would have wanted?" Chris finally speaks, his voice low and heavy with introspection. "Imagine if you were in his position."

"We don't even know where he is. What he's up to," I.N's voice seethes with pure anger, each word laced with frustration. "He just left without a word."

There's a slight tremor in his tone as he utters the last sentence, a crack revealing the pain he's holding back. I notice him restraining himself from reaching for the knife tucked in his back pocket. A psychopath like him barely acknowledges emotions, resorting instead to wielding words like weapons. Perhaps he deems emotions as futile and pathetic.

Chris lifts his gaze to meet I.N's, his eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and sorrow. "What good would telling you guys have done?"

He places his hand over his face in agony, then lowers it, his gaze returning to the ground. "Seungmin knew he couldn't come back just yet... He didn't want his friends to worry or do something stupid."

"But—" Changbin attempts to interject, but Chris silences him with a glare. "Seungmin knows what he's doing."

A heavy silence blankets the air. The sun hovers on the horizon, casting a golden hue across the landscape, while the distant chirping of birds fills the stillness. I gaze up at the sky, absorbing the weight of the conversation, before turning my attention back to the group.

Changbin exhales a long sigh, stepping back and surveying the scene. "We're only here because we heard it was orders from Seungmin."

"I wouldn't be here otherwise," I.N adds, his gaze directed upward in a mix of frustration and determination. "I knew it would bring me closer to finding out what the hell happened to him."

"I feel you" Minho nods, his expression softening with a faint smile as memories of Seungmin surface. "When Seungmin spoke, I was always on board with whatever he had to say."

Felix stepped over beside Chris, who was still seated on the ground. Chris looked up in surprise as Felix extended his hand. "I still don't understand..." Felix said, his smile softening as he helped Chris up. "But I won't hold it against you."

The tension in the air finally dissipated, rather briefly. Everyone felt betrayed that Chris had kept Seungmin's whereabouts a secret. Yet, despite their feelings, they remained steadfast in their loyalty to Seungmin. It was evident in their voices; he must have held a significant place in their hearts.

"The last I heard..." Minho's voice trailed off as memories flashed through his mind. "His father was very strict."

"But Seungmin was always secretive about his family history..." Han added, scanning the faces around him. "When was the last time he ever spoke about himself, despite how long we've known him?"

A solemn silence fell over the group as they contemplated Han's observation, realizing the truth in his words. Not a single memory of Seungmin sharing details about his own life came to mind.

"You're right," Felix murmured, his expression reflecting a sense of sorrow. "He knew everything about us...but we knew so little about him..."

The weight of their words sinks deep into my chest, stirring a melancholic ache within me. Though I don't share the same depth of connection with Seungmin as they do, their reminiscences evoke a sense of profound sadness. To think that Seungmin had been there for each of them, selflessly offering his support without expecting anything in return—it's both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

"All I remember is how his father kept him on such a tight leash..." Han reflects, his gaze fixed on the ground as he sifts through memories. "But that never stopped him from rebelling at every opportunity."

"His hints were always so cryptic." Minho adds, joining Han and offering a comforting hand on his shoulder. "He'd joke about his father's strictness, masking the gravity of his situation with laughter."

A somber silence settles among us as they collectively revisit the fragments of memories, each recalling snippets of Seungmin's life that were never meant to carry such weight.

"What did he leave for that day again?" Minho's voice breaks the silence, his brow furrowed in concentration as he retraces the events. "He was supposed to meet his father, to finally confront him about his decision not to inherit the family business..."

"That day..." Hyunjin's voice is soft, filled with a sorrowful recollection as he revisits the memories of that fateful day. "He had already looked like he's been through hell..."

Han's fists clench involuntarily, his jaw set in determination. "He promised he'd return...but..."

The palpable pain etched on everyone's faces is a stark reminder of that day, a memory they all try to suppress. Seungmin had made a promise—a solemn vow to return. But something, something difficult, prevented him from fulfilling it. What was it? What happened in the time that he left?

"What company was it again?" Changbin's sudden seriousness cuts through the tense atmosphere, his gaze fixed on Chris.

"It was..." Hyunjin begins, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"It's more of a experimental organization." Chris interjects, his voice low, intensifying the gravity of the situation. "Nestled within a building. It should be illegal... but it isn't."

Felix's gasp fills the air, his features contorted in disbelief. "That building..."

"Don't tell me..." I.N's tone is sharp, laced with disbelief.

All eyes immediately converge on me, their scrutiny piercing. I'm the focal point now, caught in a whirlwind of confusion as I struggle to grasp the unfolding revelation.

I scan the faces of everyone, searching for answers amidst their bewildered expressions.

Then it hits me—a wave of realization crashing over me. My heart races, pounding against my chest as the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

Master is...

A sharp intake of breath seizes my throat.

Master is ...

...

Seungmin's father?

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