Chapter 12

Disbelief washes over me in waves—how could this revelation be true? My jaw hangs agape as the truth hits me like a ton of bricks.

"It all makes sense now..." I mutter to myself. I close my eyes, retracing memories in my mind, my gaze scanning the floor for answers. Master's trust in me was unwavering, evident in his leniency when I lingered a little too long on a boy's face. But when it came to Seungmin, his own son... I remember the tension in the air, the unspoken warning in his voice.

No wonder Seungmin was never assigned a number like the rest of us—he went by Sky.

"But if that's true..." I trail off, panic rising in my chest as I meet their eyes. "Isn't Seungmin in danger?"

Master is a formidable presence. Each encounter with him felt like standing before an impending storm, his aura suffocating yet strangely familiar. But now, the thought of him sends shivers down my spine, a chilling reminder of the danger lurking within his grasp. I can't shake the feeling that his wrath will spare no one, not even his own son.

"So where is Seungmin now?" Changbin's voice cuts through the tension, sharp and urgent, his gaze fixed on Chris.

Chris averts his eyes for a moment, gazing skyward before returning his attention to us. "He assured me he has everything under control... He has a plan. We just have to wait for the signal."

His eyes meet mine, a silent acknowledgment passing between us. "But as he said, our priority remains her safety."

The weight of their collective gaze settles heavily on me, a reminder of the burden I've become. I feel like an unwanted obligation, confined by their duty to protect me. I.N's eyes portray a hint of resentment, yet he remains bound by Seungmin's orders, torn between loyalty and frustration.

"Did Seungmin explain why?" Hyunjin's curiosity laces his words as he turns to Chris, arms folded across his chest. "Why gather all of us together, specifically for her?" He directs his gaze back at me.

Chris hesitates, his gaze flickering for a fleeting moment as our eyes lock. He quickly averts his gaze, as if concealing something. There's a depth to his eyes, a hint of an answer to my question... but it remains unspoken. It's clear he's withholding information. "That... he didn't disclose to me," he replies, a hint of evasion in his tone. He was clearly lying...but only I can sense it.

Sensing his reluctance to divulge more, I let the matter drop, though my curiosity gnaws at me. Why me? What connection do I have to Seungmin that warrants such attention?

"Alright then," Changbin interjects, his patience wearing thin. "We'll follow Seungmin's orders."

He casts a glance at everyone before fixing his gaze on Chris for a moment longer, a trace of annoyance tainting his tone. "But that doesn't make us buddies." he asserts firmly.

Chris meets his stare with a blank expression before a sardonic grin spreads across his face. "That's not even the last thing I would want." he quips, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

The silence between them hangs heavy, thick with tension as they shoot angry glares at each other.

I've observed it before. The animosity between those two runs deep. It's evident that Chris doesn't see eye to eye with the gang & I.N...but perhaps it's because they're closer to Changbin. The real person Chris doesn't get along with is him. there's something more personal between those two. I can't help but wonder if there's a history between them, some unresolved conflict simmering beneath the surface. Their mutual hostility is palpable, like a fiery storm waiting to erupt every time they're in each other's presence.

...

Later, Minho leads us to his grand mansion, which he apparently resides in alone. It baffles me that he lives alone in such a huge space because of his carefree and loony demeanor.

For now, this is where we'll be staying, until their obligation to take care of me no longer stands.

As night falls, I emerge from a refreshing shower, drawn to the enchanting strains of a guitar riff. Following the sound, I find myself in a corner room. There, I discover Felix, engrossed in his music, pausing occasionally to jot down notes in a small book. This must be his creative process. Our eyes meet, and he halts his playing.

"Oh, hey!"

I'm startled momentarily, not wanting to disturb him. "Sorry, I just heard some beautiful music and—"

He chuckles at my nervousness. "It's fine." Gesturing to a spot beside him, he signals me to join him.

At first, I hesitate, glancing back out the door before returning my gaze to him, leaning against the doorframe. "Can I?...I don't want to intrude..."

Another light chuckle escapes him, and he shakes his head, sensing my uncertainty. "Come, maybe you could help me."

His words leave me puzzled. "Me? Help?" I approach cautiously, settling beside him. "I don't know much about music..."

Back in the underground mansion, music was rarely discussed, though it wasn't prohibited. Occasionally, Master would play random songs over the cafeteria speakers... There was one song that really resonated with me back then... but I never learned who it was by.

"I don't usually feel like this..." He confesses, his fingers idly strumming the guitar strings. "I've always written all my songs in under two hours... but this one..."

He clenches his teeth, visibly frustrated by his mental block. I suppose songwriting comes easily to him, but nothing seems to be coming together right now.

"I've been stuck on this one part forever." He turns to me, irritation evident in his eyes. "I just..."

Glancing at his notebook, I see that he hasn't made much progress. It's still in the early stages, scattered and unfinished. He probably hasn't figured out how to shape the song yet, so he's jotting down whatever comes to mind.

I meet his gaze again, hoping to offer some assistance despite my lack of expertise in these matters. "What's the song about?"

He stares blankly for a moment, processing my question, then looks away awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head with his hand as a faint blush colors his cheeks. "Well, you're aware that I mostly write rock songs, right?..." He chuckles nervously, and I nod, recalling Chris mentioning that to me.

"Yeah, I do know that."

He glances back at me, still sporting a slight blush. He seems embarrassed about something. Releasing a small breath, he continues. "Well, once in a blue moon... I write heartfelt slow songs."

My eyes widen as I absorb his words. I'm not sure why it surprises me so much... perhaps because his entire rocker persona makes it hard for me to imagine. It's difficult to picture Felix singing a slow song. Leaning in, I express my surprise. "So, you mean like romance songs? Gentle songs?"

He nods slowly, still appearing a bit flustered, though he tries to conceal it with a soft chuckle. "Yeah, something like that..."

My curiosity piqued, I'm eager to hear more about Felix and this genre of music. It's intriguing, but I hope I'm not being too forward about it.

"Can you... play me one of your slow songs?"

His eyes widen at my request, as if he's surprised I'd even want to hear one of his slow songs. He gazes down at his guitar, his fingers twirling around the strings nervously. "Um... I don't know..."

Without thinking, I reach out and grasp his hand, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Please..."

He glances down at our joined hands, but I remain unfazed. This is just normal human interaction, right? I maintain my grip, continuing to give him my earnest gaze. He meets my eyes again and smiles softly. "Why not? I am a musician after all."

I smile brightly as he positions himself, preparing to play one of his songs. Sitting close to me, he rests his guitar against his stomach. Our eyes meet once more, and he chuckles softly at my excitement before focusing on his guitar, starting to play the song.

I listen intently, taking in the instrumental nuances of the guitar, his fingers moving in sync with the beat. My heart starts to race. The melody sounds strangely familiar, but I dismiss the thought. There's no way I've heard it before. I continue smiling as he plays, right up until he begins to sing the song.

I hang onto every word of the first lyric... but as he sings the second, my heart quickens even further, and my joyful expression turns to one of sadness. In a swift motion, a sudden memory flashes through my mind. It's fragmented, just bits and pieces on multiple occasions, but it's unmistakable.

This song...

I've heard it before.

Tears well up in my eyes as the memory replays in my mind. In the cafeteria, chatting with my friend, then a song filtering through the speakers. I wasn't usually a fan of the music that master played, but this one resonated with me. It was beautiful... as if all my emotions were distilled into a melody. I had prayed to hear it again, and again. I wished that specific song would echo in the cafeteria for hours. I knew I'd never tire of it. I heard it a few more times after that, but during the moments I needed it most, unable to hear it, I sang it in my head, the lyrics etched in my memory. That song carried me through tough times...

That song... belonged to Felix.

As he finishes singing, a solitary tear escapes my eye, tracing down my cheek. I never imagined I'd hear that song again. When Felix notices my tear-stained face, his smile fades, and he leans in, gently cupping my face. "Hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

He brushes away a few tears as I sniffle. "I've heard that song before..." I manage to speak, my voice trembling.

His eyes widen at my words, but he continues wiping away my tears, which flow uncontrollably. "Where—" He starts, then pauses, understanding dawning on him as the answer had reached him by itself. He smiles softly, still holding my face. "Would you like to share how that song made you feel?"

His gentle tone soothes my heart, despite my disheveled state in front of him. There's something about the comforting resonance of his deep voice when he speaks softly and calmly.

I recall how that song made me feel when I first heard it. It evoked a multitude of emotions within me. It was the only song that truly resonated. With him still cradling my cheeks, I speak in a voice tinged with sentimentality and softened by tears. "It was like the song itself possessed magic... I felt that everything would be alright... as long as I listened to it..." I pause briefly, reminiscing, before continuing. "I found myself smiling effortlessly, experiencing an emotion I didn't think was possible... It was as if the entire world had come to a standstill, and all that existed before me was a beacon of light. A light I could reach out to, granting me a wish..."

Tears trace paths down my face as Felix regards me with a pure look of sympathy in his eyes. Unconsciously, he brushes his thumb across my cheek, meeting my gaze. A long moment of silence passes between us before a small smile graces his lips. "I think... you just gave me an idea for my new song."

His words catch me off guard. "Huh?" What did I say? Did I unintentionally inspire him? He releases my face and reaches for his small notebook, jotting down ideas sparked by our interaction.

"What do you—" I begin, but our conversation is abruptly interrupted by a loud crash emanating from the kitchen, echoing through the halls. Felix and I quickly exchange looks of confusion and shock before turning toward the source of the noise.

"What was that?" I inquire, recognizing that the sound wasn't just a random glass shattering on the floor. Without hesitation, Felix rushes out of the room, and after a moment of bewilderment, I follow him.

A gasp escapes me as we join the others, all fixated on the same scene unfolding in the kitchen.

Chris and Changbin are engaged in a heated altercation, their voices escalating and gestures growing more aggressive. It's not just a normal argument; it seems like it might escalate into something physical.

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