Chapter 169 - EXOTIC (I): A Betrayal

KJ was sitting on a chair while Jinhyun and Dasom were seated opposite him. They were at the Mystic Entertainment's head office. The two of them were nervous at KJ's expression. He looked grim.

"I want to tell you two something," he started in a serious tone. There was an underlying pain hidden in his voice.

"What is it, KJ?" Jinhyun asked. "And where is Ash?"

KJ was silent. What could he reply to that?

"KJ, where is Ash?" Dasom also demanded. "If it's a meeting about EXOTIC, then shouldn't he be here?"

"Ash...Ash won't be in EXOTIC anymore," KJ finally managed to say. 

"What do you mean?" Jinhyun questioned. "He left the band? Why would he do that?"

"Yeah, Ash wouldn't just leave us like this!" Dasom exclaimed. "He'd have said something to us! He loved EXOTIC more than anyone. He's been rejecting offers to go solo for many years! He's a core part of EXOTIC. He won't just leave like that-"

"Ash is a member of the Cartel," KJ revealed. "He's not just some ordinary member. He's one of the main leaders there."

An unsettling silence fell upon them. Dasom and Jinhyun looked at him in disbelief.

"Impossible," Dasom denied. "Ash is not like that. We've been together for over a decade. We'd know if he was a part of the Cartel which is trying to kill you!"

"Ash might have been forced to do a lot of things for the Cartel," Jinhyun reasoned. "But a lot of other celebrities were forced to become escorts too! Maybe Ash is just pretending to be their member and-"

"Ash tried to kill me himself," KJ stated. "He was even indirectly responsible for the death of his own unborn child."

"What?" Jinhyun gaped at him. "Unborn…"

"He tricked all of us," KJ snorted. "Including the CEO of Abyss. They were dating. Last night, a few of us tried to corner one of the core members of the Cartel. We managed to nab our target, but just then, Ash revealed himself as the grandson of the Cartel's President. Then he tried to kill me. In the ensuing gunfire, the CEO of Abyss miscarried their child."

He leaned forward and asked them, "Now tell me guys. After all that, am I still mistaken?"

"Why would he…" Jinhyun started to ask but hesitated. It was too much to absorb. The silent but caring Ash. How can he be a leader of the Cartel?

"I still can't believe it," Dasom said furiously. "Were his words a lie? Was he duping us all along? That too for ten years? Did our struggles mean nothing to him?"

"I don't know," KJ admitted. "We were never able to read him anyway."

He gave a sarcastic laugh. "Funny how we were fooled by him. I feel so...stupid."

He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Ash's betrayal did not leave him sad. It made him angry. He was enraged at himself for failing to stop his friend. He was bitter at himself for not being able to protect the woman he loved. He blamed himself for being so naive.

"It all happened because of me," KJ muttered. "I am to be blamed."

"It has nothing to do with you!" Dasom snapped. "Ash betrayed us. He tried to kill you and he wasn't even sorry about it. He killed our friendship! Why in the world should you feel guilty? If there's anyone who should be guilty then it's Ash! Not you!"

KJ reflected on Dasom's words. How could he explain why he really blamed himself? What else can he say? That he changed an entire timeline to run away from a wife who tried to protect him only for her to end up with the wrong person in this revised timeline?

Jinhyun was observing the other two, keeping his silence. It was still too much to wrap his head around it. It was impossible to believe that Ash could have ever betrayed them.

"I'll have to go," he said, standing up.

"Where are you going?" KJ frowned. "We still have to decide what to do now."

"I have a schedule I can't miss," Jinhyun said. "I'll come back afterwards and we'll discuss."

"What schedule?" Dasom asked. "Our schedules were cancelled."

"I promised the children at my orphanage that I'll meet them today," Jinhyun smiled. "Who knows, I might be able to push the incident with Ash out of my mind for a few hours."

Before Dasom could scold him, KJ interjected. "You can go, Jinhyun," KJ encouraged. "Spending time with them might appease your mind a little."

Jinhyun gave him a wide smile. "See you later, Leader," he winked before going out.

As soon as he was gone, Dasom asked, "So when are we going to announce that Ash had left the group? What excuse will we give? Do we have any proof that he is part of the Cartel? Then we can out him and have a good reason to actually kick him out."

"Unfortunately, we have no evidence," KJ said bitterly. "Ash never kept records of his conversations and transactions. Instead, he memorized them in his head and executed the plans. Moreover, all the CCTV footage of that night has been erased. That's how we never had an inkling of his real nature…"

He let out a frustrated sigh and leaned back against the chair. If only he had found out about Ash's true identity earlier he would have let Kang Dongsik release those pictures of Ash and Madam Hong. He cursed himself for his stupidity.

Why were things so complicated? If only he had not changed time. If only that night...if only he had looked back. If only he had not changed time and ended up on his audition day…

Suddenly, he leapt up, startling Dasom. If only he had not changed time...on the audition day…

"What happened?" Dasom frowned.

"I have to go!" KJ said excitedly. 

….

Jinhyun pulled up in front of the gate of a small, semi bas.e.m.e.nt apartment. It was partially underground while the other half was above the ground. In Seoul, these sorts of houses were very common for those who could barely scr.a.p.e by for living.

This semi bas.e.m.e.nt apartment was at one of the poorer segments of the city. Most people on the street were not so well off. Graffiti was sprayed on the walls by delinquents. A group of elders were arguing and haggling with each other on a small bamboo bench. Stench of the dirty  and open gutter lingered in the air. The mix of urine and feces gave out a strong odor, which would make anyone vomit. A few older women were bargaining endlessly with the vegetable vendors.

The roads were broken and muddy. This segment of the city was neglected by the authorities. Only the poorer segment lived there, somehow making their own living. 

The street was very narrow. Parking an expensive car there attracted a lot of attention but he did not care. He wore a mask and sunglasses and got out of the car. The people on the street were staring at him as he walked by in his expensive designer clothes. Some even sneered at him as he walked towards the semi bas.e.m.e.nt. However, as an idol, Jinhyun was used to the taunts and insults of people.

While walking, he accidentally bumped into an old woman.

"Watch where you're going yo brat!" she screamed at him.

"I am sorry grandma," he apologized with a smile. The old woman could not see it beneath the mask. "I will be more careful next time. Can I treat you to some good food as an apology? I know a great soup restaurant here!"

Even though the old woman could not see his face, she could tell he was genuinely being sorry. 

"Just be careful!" she snapped and slowly walked off. Jinhyun smiled and continued to walk towards the semi bas.e.m.e.nt.

He took out a key to open the lock but it was already open. Turning the knob, he entered the house.

It was a dingy little apartment. It had only one bedroom and a bathroom. The remaining place was a small living area which also served as the dining room. The place was a little moist; no doubt it gets occassionally flooded by the rain and sewage. There were no furniture inside it but a small, halfway opened cabinet hung on the wall. 

Jinhyun's eyes scanned the house. "Ten years, huh?" he sighed. It had been ten years since they first held their debut stage. During their trainee days, they were living in this little apartment with little money and almost no food everyday. They laughed, cried, fought and had fun in this place. During their brush with extreme poverty and hunger, this place provided a little comfort to them.

"I haven't been here since we moved out," Jinhyun said out loud. He then turned around.

"What about you, Ash?" he asked as a blonde man stepped out of the shadows.