Chapter 113 - Why...?

Hundreds of reporters lined up outside the hospital. Fans were frenzy with joy as they queued under the harsh sunny weather, trying to enter the premises. The security of the hospital was tightened and over 300 guards were stationed around the area to keep everyone under control.

The newspapers were printing the miraculous recovery of the Nation's Idol. The stock prices of Mystic Entertainment had rocketed upwards as the news of its top star's recovery spread like wildfire. The whole country rejoiced as social media messages poured in from fans all around the world. Even the celebrities of the country posted rejoicing messages.

Firecrackers lit up the night skies in KJ's honor. The music stores had difficulty in restocking EXOTIC's albums as all CD's kept on getting sold out. Online websites crashed as fans continuously streamed EXOTIC's songs and even the group's old singles were topping the charts. Award functions nominated EXOTIC's songs for the top categories and it was widely expected for them to win.

The Nation's Idol has returned from the brink of death.

….

Amidst the celebrations of KJ's jubilant recovery, a man stood by the window of his lavish penthouse, quietly watching a colorful possession below. His grey hair was tied into a sleek ponytail. He observed as the yellow glowsticks of the numerous fans created a light ocean against the pitch black darkness of the night.

A slow smirk was forming on his face.

"So you have returned," Ziko sneered. 

A tall, blond Japanese man came up to him.

"Boss," Teppei called, as he flicked through some documents. "Our shipment is due next month. I have made all the necessary-"

He stopped short as his boss ignored him.

"Boss?" he called out. "Is there something wrong?"

"No," Ziko replied quietly.

Teppei noticed a newspaper, lying on the couch. On it the headline flashed 'The triumphant return of the Nation's Idol.'

"He recovered?" Teppei asked in surprised. "Wasn't he in a coma all this time?"

"Yes," Ziko said, sipping his wine. "Seems like he was born with a golden luck. Slipping away every time…"

His fingers tightened around the glass. 

"We've been trying to kill him for so many years," Teppei sighed. "Lucky bastard always gets away. Even our last assassin got caught."

"That was a childish attempt," Ziko snorted. "Abyss is protecting him. You really think it would be easy to kill him while the CEO of Abyss himself is protecting him?"

"That darned Abyss," Teppei scowled. "They've been obstructing our work for the past six years! We can't even track down the CEO. That scumbag is too clever."

Ziko smashed his glass against the wall. Pieces of glass flew everywhere, one ricochetting towards Teppei. He cried in pain as his cheek was slightly cut and blood drew out of it. 

"Are you here to tell me that the Cartel failed to find one puny person?" Ziko shouted. "The Cartel which is able to track down the most skilled spies. The Cartel which carried our so many assassinations of highly secured VIP's and has the latest technological equipment, could not find one single person?"

"Sir, we tried everything!" Teppei protested, barely controlling his anger. "Clearly-"

"Clearly, you're an idiot!" Ziko replied in frustration. He ran his hand through his hair, thinking hard. He was sure they were missing an important link.

"What about Madam Hong?" he demanded."Did you manage to get in touch with her?"

"She ran away to the Philippines last month," Teppei informed him. "She was last seen boarding a ship. Our agents tried to find her but she changed her identity and has vanished."

Ziko frowned. As far as he knew Madam Hong, even if she changed her identity, she would never let go of her lucrative business. After all, money was the most important thing to her.

"Find her," he demanded. "Trace her last activities before she left the country. And also who she was with."

"Yes, sir," Teppei bowed before leaving the room.

Ziko turned back towards the window. The festival for the nation's beloved idol was still going strong. 

"We'll meet again, Kwon Jiwon," Ziko promised.

….

KJ was trying to bend his hand. It was excruciatingly painful and he cried in agony.

"Slowly," the physiotherapist instructed. "You have to take it slow. Your muscles are stiff from being inactive for a month. It will take some time for the motion in them to return."

"It hurts," he complained.

Ash was standing there, overseeing the progress. Jinhyun and Dasom were there too, snickering as they saw KJ struggling to move his arms.

"It's not like you used your muscles a lot," Dasom joked. "You were a terrible dancer anyway."

KJ scowled at him. Ever since he woke up from the coma, he had been having difficulties with even the simplest movements. His muscles have become stiff over the month and it will take him another two weeks to regain movement in his legs. Meanwhile, he'll have to strut around with walking sticks.

"Just hang in there," Ash advised. "A little practice should do the trick."

"Yeah KJ," Jinhyun chimed in. "Don't be so stubborn."

Suddenly, the door flew open. Entering the room was an innocent eyed beauty with dark, silky hair. It was the Nation's True Love, Somi.

"Oppa!" she exclaimed as she strode over, pushing Jinhyun from the way. For some reason, her 'oppa' reminded KJ of Psycho. He shuddered at the thought.

"I missed you so much oppa!" she said, kissing him on the cheek. Dasom was barely holding his laughter from behind her and Jinhyun made a disgusted face. Only Ash remained poker faced.

"Why are you here, Somi?" KJ asked warily. 

"I brought flowers for you," she said, holding up a bouquet of red roses. Ugh, KJ thought. Not again.

For some reason, Somi had been sticking with him before his coma. She was appearing in all his work schedules and even signed up for one of his solo music videos. 

She sure has a lot of time to spare, he thought.

"Oppa, I really missed you on set," she went on, feigning an annoyingly cutesey voice. "When I heard you were shot...I…I…"

She burst into tears. Mirae better return soon! She thought inwardly.

Acting like a cute, innocent damsel was something she really disliked. If it was not for Mirae's insistence to keep an eye on KJ while she headed to her apartment for some quick work, Somi would not have visited this idiot. After all, he was the one who made her best friend cry.

Feigning a sweet tone, she asked, "Oppa, when are you going to get discharged?"

"After two weeks," KJ groaned, having no interest to talk to her.

"Will we be shooting for another music video?" she asked with a wide smile. Say no you idiot! She winced inwardly.

"Maybe," KJ grimaced. 

"So much fun!" Somi clapped her hands in excitement. Mirae, you better not make me sign up for another work with him! She cursed her best friend. 

Unbeknownst to her, KJ also shared a similar feeling. Ash shook his head while Dasom and Jinhyun were trying not to burst into laughter.

"Somi, can you go and get us some coffee?" KJ demanded. "I need to talk to my members about something confidential."

"Alright!" Somi said, immediately standing up. She would rather keep an eye on KJ from a distance. The farther the better.

She went out of the room, humming to herself as she walked along the corridor. Taking out her phone, she was busy texting Mirae when suddenly, she bumped into someone.

"Hey watch it!" she exclaimed in annoyance but her anger faltered upon seeing who was standing in front of her.

Hyun Jung was startled to see the Nation's True Love, Shin Somi, standing in front of him. 

"Y-you?" Somi stuttered. 

Hyun Jung did not reply to her but stood there flabbergasted. Out of all the people, he did not expect to see her there. Even though KJ worked with many celebrities, Hyun Jung always made up some excuses whenever the former invited him to any high profile gatherings. One of the reasons why he avoided such events was standing right in front of him.

They stood there awkwardly, waiting for the other to speak.

"H-how are you?" Hyun Jung asked, breaking the ice.

"Why should you care?" Somi snapped. Her confusion was not getting replaced by anger. Why was he here?

"Why are you here?" she demanded.

"I'm here to visit KJ," Hyun Jung replied shortly. Her expression was starting to annoy him. 

"How do you know him?"

"We're childhood friends," Hyun Jung replied. 

"Birds of a feather flock together," Somi muttered under her breath. 

"What was that?"

"Nothing," she waved off. "Pretend you didn't hear it. In fact, pretend you don't know me at all. It will be better if you don't talk to me."

"Who the hell wants to talk to you?" Hyun Jung sneered. "I'll not even look at your direction."

"Fine."

"Fine!"

With that, they turned away from each other and continued on their own directions.

Walking out of view, Somi leaned against a wall, clutching her heart. It was beating rapidly as she felt tears falling from her eyes.

"Why…?" she sobbed.

….

As soon as Somi was out of sight, Hyun Jung walked into the men's washroom to catch a breath. He splashed some water on his face as he waited for his heartbeat to slow down. He took out his wallet and opened it to stare at a small picture.

It was the picture from his days at the Police Academy. He was younger and happier with dark hair. His hand was draped over the shoulder of a very beautiful girl with a bright smile. Her dark eyes twinkled with happiness and her long black hair reached up to her waist. A small, golden ring sparkled on her left hand.

Hyun Jung lovingly stroked Somi's smiling face. 

"Why…?" he asked out loud.