Chapter 120 - Coming Clean

Dasom uncorked the wine bottle and poured the drink in everyone's glasses. They had returned to KJ's apartment and were celebrating his homecoming. Ash, Jinhyun and Dasom had arranged the party with the help of Hyun Jung and Mirae. It took them an entire day to decorate KJ's apartment. 

KJ was aghast at the fact that his carefully arranged furniture were dusty and also moved for the party. But the others shot down his protests.

"Stop nitpicking you neat freak!" Hyun Jung said in annoyance. "Just enjoy the party."

"My furniture…" KJ lamented.

"Stop it!"

But despite his urge to make his house spotless, KJ was grateful to his friends for being with him. After his experience during the coma, he had realized how much he wanted to be around his loved ones.

"You look overwhelmed with emotions," Mirae commented as the others chattered away. She simply held the drink in her hand since she did not like alcohol. 

"I'm just enjoying everyone's company," he simply said.

"You really have changed," she said. "In a good way."

He snorted and turned his attention back to the party. Dasom and Jinhyun were gorging on chicken fries while Ash was preparing the salad. Heroine was sitting on the couch with a drink in her hands while Hyun Jung was on the phone.

Somi was glancing at Hyun Jung every once in a while. Even though he did not recognize her, she still felt strange being in such close proximity. After almost eight years, it was strange that she still felt so strongly for him. She studied him closely.

He had ditched those nerdy glasses he used to wear and opted for contact lenses. Over the years he became more muscular and brooding. If he was cute before, he was manly now. Somi subconsciously found herself ogling at him. Hyun Jung, who just hung up the phone, noticed her staring. Caught off guard, she looked away.

He strode over to the couch and took a seat next to her.

"I don't think we've been introduced," he said, extending a hand. "I'm Hyun Jung."

"My codename is Heroine," Somi replied, not taking his hand. She was afraid that he would recognize her her touch.

"You work for Abyss too?" he asked. 

"Obviously."

There was something so familiar about her, Hyun Jung thought. But what? 

He racked his brains but could not find any response. He knew he heard her voice somewhere before but the girl was probably using a voice modifier to slightly raise her pitch. Yet, he could not help but feel as if he knows her…

"Can I have everyone's attention please?" KJ called out. Everyone looked up, listening intently.

KJ raised his glass. "I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me during my coma," he said in gratitude. "I couldn't have made it if it wasn't for all of your love and care. In all these years, I've always thought that I had no emotions left in me. I didn't feel love nor pain."

His remark was met with silence. Ash gave him a small smile, encouraging him to go on.

"But I have come to realize that I was wrong," KJ went on. "In my isolation, I was never able to express how much you guys mean to me. Which is why, I wanna tell you guys that you're my family. And I want to be honest with my family."

Dasom and Jinhyun looked at each other while Hyun Jung frowned. Ash maintained a poker face. Mirae had an inkling what KJ was about to say but she decided not to stop him. After all, it was his choice to tell.

"KJ, is this about the attack on you?" Dasom demanded.

KJ sighed. "I will tell you everything," he replied. "Hear me out."

Taking a deep breath, KJ revealed, "The Cartel had been targeting me from my childhood. I've always known about it. They were responsible for the death of my parents and mentor. And it was one of their members, who shot me."

….

KJ had narrated his whole history with the Cartel. He also told how Ash was forced to work for the Cartel and how they planned to trap Madam Hong only for it to backfire.

By the time he had finished, Jinhyun and Dasom were gaping at him. Ash, Mirae and Hyun Jung already knew most of it and were not surprised. Heroine listened intently but did not show any reaction. 

"Why didn't you tell us?" Dasom demanded. "You were a target for the Cartel for so long and you…"

He turned towards Ash. "You were forced to work as an escort? If this leaks to the media, they'll crucify you!"

"That doesn't matter!" Jinhyun said hotly. "That damn Cartel played with both of you for so long! How come you didn't tell us before?"

"We made mistakes," Ash stepped in. "We should have been open from the beginning. But now we want to amend this."

"And hence, we decided to come clean," KJ added. 

"They also hid all this because they did not want to worry you," Mirae piped in. "Nor did they want to involve you guys into this mess. But they've realized that hiding things will only make everything a lot worse and also make you guys an easy target for the Cartel."

"The attack on you guys at the concert was an example," KJ said. "CEO Ahn was receiving money from the Cartel. He hired an assassin to drop that equipment on you. The Cartel wanted to send a threat."

"How do you know it was the Cartel?" Ash frowned. Even Mirae was perplexed.

"We tracked the transaction to a certain person," Hyun Jung said. "Shim Junhyung."

"Who's that?" Heroine asked.

"He used to study with us at our school," KJ replied. "He was the one who lured me to his party and had me kidnapped by the Cartel."

Mirae froze on the spot. She recalled KJ's story about the night of her parent's murder. So this Junhyung was the boy who betrayed them?

Ash, who was standing next to her, felt Mirae's discomfort. She already told him about what KJ and her parents. He inched closer to her, wrapping his fingers with hers. Fortunately, everyone was preoccupied with KJ so no one noticed them.

"We believe he is still working for the Cartel," Hyun Jung said. "We could not trace his whereabouts."

"Fortunately, Madam Hong had informed us of a possible transaction which will take place in Insa Dong," KJ said. "It's called 'Sunny Daze'."

"Sunny Daze?" Jinhyun asked in shock. "Are you sure?"

"You know about this club?" Hyun Jung frowned.

"You guys don't know?" Heroine spoke up. 

"Know what?" Mirae asked. 

Heroine rolled her eyes in surprise. "Everyone knows about this club! It's an exclusive club. Only certain people can enter it. No matter how rich or powerful you are. One can't go in there without an invitation from one of the inner members. Which is why people have been lining up to get membership. But most have been rejected."

"So the Cartel members have exclusive membership?" Mirae asked.

"Some of them might," Heroine shrugged. "Since they are doing business there. The club is notorious for its customers' privacy. No matter what happens inside, not a single word of it is leaked."

"How do we get in then?" Ash asked.

"Uhh…" Dasom raised his hand. "I can help with that."

The rest of them looked at him in surprise. "One of my ex girlfriends is a member," he said. "I can ask her for an invitation."

They stared at him. "Dasom, I think this is one of the most useful things you have ever done in your life," KJ teased.

"I'm doing this for you!" Dasom pouted. "I also wanna help my friend!"

"I'm more surprised at the fact that you have an ex!" Jinhyun laughed.

"I wonder why she dumped you?" Ash snickered.

"Hey who said I was dumped?" Dasom protested. But his members kept on teasing him while Mirae and Heroine joined in. 

"But seriously," Dasom spoke out in the midst of the constant teasing. "I can ask her if you want."

"Alright," KJ said. "Ask her. But I need to know something."

He had a serious look on his face. Everyone held their breath, wondering what else he will say.

"This ex of yours, how long did it take for her to dump you?" he asked in a serious tone. "Ten minutes?"

"Oi!"

Everyone burst into laughter as Dasom fumed. For the first time in a while, they let go of their apprehensions and simply enjoyed each other's company. Their hearty laughter echoed throughout the house, making them feel at ease.

Finally, the clock struck midnight. It was time for them to leave. Heroine left with Jinhyun since they lived around the same area while Hyun Jung carried a visibly drunk Dasom.

"I'll stay over at his place," Hyun Jung said, supporting Dasom. "It's closer to the station anyway."

"Alright," KJ said waving them goodbye. "Thanks for everything."

Hyun Jung gave him a nod and left. Mirae was snoozing on KJ's couch.

"I'll carry her home," Ash sighed. Even though KJ had decided not to come in between them, he could not help but feel jealous when Ash scooped Mirae up in his arms. 

He watched as Ash carried her to her apartment. "Good night," Ash said, oblivious to his friend's jealousy, as he closed the door.

A hollow feeling made KJ's heart sink but he must endure it. There were bigger things to worry about for now. 

Yet, he could not put out the flames of jealousy in his heart.