Chapter 170 - EXOTIC (II): Believing

Jinhyun gave him a small smile before looking around the place, reminiscing about the old days. "This place didn't change at all," he commented. "You remember here?"

He pointed at a corner of the living area. "You and I used to sleep in that corner. We were so poor that we had to share one quilt…"

Ash did not say anything but simply glanced at the place Jinhyun was pointing at. 

"Do you remember when Dasom was graduating middle school?" Jinhyun went on with a wide smile. "We couldn't afford new clothes for him at that time. So we sneaked out some clothes from that designer store I was working as a part timer. He was so happy seeing those clothes. I still have the picture…"

He turned to look at Ash. "You remember when KJ fell deathly ill and the hospitals were closed due to heavy rain? It was chaotic here. We had to keep the windows shut tight so that the rainwater would not flood our house. But KJ was coughing so badly. He could not sleep all night."

His eyes were a little watery. Despite his smile, he was trying to fight back the tears. "He could not sleep all night. Dasom and I were teenagers. We had no idea what to do! So you ventured out into the rain and fought off the heavy flood. There were no buses, so you went on foot all the way to a pharmacy which was a mile away. You braved your way back to give KJ the medicines. He recovered the next day but you fell ill…"

Jinhyun's smile was now frozen on his face. "We used to have breakfast together everyday," he reminisced. "KJ used to cook for all of us. He made sure Dasom and I were well fed so he packed us small tiffin boxes. And you used to work day and night at the convenience store to make sure our school fees were paid. Even though we had rigorous practice sessions at the agency, you two made sure we never lagged behind in our studies…"

He looked straight into Ash's uninterested eyes. "Were those moments a lie?" Jinhyun asked with a smile. "Is the Ash standing before me the friend who raised me or is he a member of the Cartel?"

"Those moments meant nothing to me," Ash replied calmly, crossing his hands on his chest. 

"I don't believe you," Jinhyun refuted. "I believe that you're lying to all of us."

"You want to believe that I'm lying?" Ash scoffed. "Even after I tried to kill KJ."

"Were you?" Jinhyun questioned. His smile never left his face. "Were you really trying to kill him?"

"Yes," Ash replied. "With his death, I can take over the Cartel."

"Is that what you really want?" Jinhyun asked. "Because the Ash I knew only wanted our friendship to last forever."

"The Ash you knew never existed," Ash stated.

"I don't believe that."

"You're so naive," Ash commented, with a hint of annoyance. "You always were. You just want to see the best in people. But guess what, Jinhyun?"

He took a step forward. There was no trace of the gentle and kind Ash whom Jinhyun had known. In his place was a shrewd, manipulative man. "Humans aren't always good," Ash sneered. "Humans are evil as well. There are people like me who can put on a facade of goodness to fool everyone! My aim in life is to take over my grandfather's legacy. And I will kill anyone who gets in my way."

Jinhyun's sad smile turned into an ironic one. "Yeah," he sighed. "You will. After all, you already killed your unborn child."

A flicker of shock passed by Ash's eyes for a brief moment before his eyes turned cold again. Jinhyun did not miss it.

"The CEO of Abyss was pregnant," Jinhyun revealed. "She lost her baby due to the physical and mental pressure she took that day at the club."

"Doesn't matter," Ash gritted. "She didn't matter to me."

Jinhyun raised his eyebrows. "Believe whatever you want," he said. "I'll continue to believe that someday, EXOTIC will reunite as a quadrant again."

"Stop having pipe dreams," Ash advised coldly. 

"Pipe dream, eh?" Jinhyun said. "If it's an impossible goal, then why did you come here of all places?"

"I was just looking for a place to hide from Abyss," Ash said coolly. "They would never guess that I'd be hiding here. But now that you know I'm here, I'll be changing my location."

"To hide, huh?"

"Yes," Ash reiterated. "I was hiding here."

"You believe your words," Jinhyun said cheerfully. "I'll keep on believing in my friend. But you do remember the promise we made when we finally debuted right?"

"You're willing to keep that?" Ash scoffed. "Mystic Entertainment is already facing a loss. You really think keeping that promise will make them any better? If anything, the company will go bankrupt."

"Doesn't matter," Jinhyun said. "I'm going to honor that promise. For your sake, my friend."

"You'll regret it," Ash pointed out.

"Maybe," Jinhyun shrugged. "But I will continue to honor my friendship."

He patted Ash's shoulder. "See you, my friend," he flashed a genuine but sad smile. 

With that, he exited the bas.e.m.e.nt. While walking out, it was starting to rain. People around him were running around, trying to take shelter from the rain. The downpour was getting heavier as Jinhyun was completely drenched. 

But it did not matter to him. His heart was troubled as he absentmindedly roamed the street before finally stopping in front of an electric pole. His knees gave away as he collapsed on the ground, feeling mentally drenched. The water was mixing up with his salty tears, which would not stop.

"Is this it for us?" he wondered out loud. He stayed there, on his knees when suddenly, someone put a large umbrella above his head. He did not notice the person, who passed by, at first but he glanced briefly before looking up again. 

He saw the back of a woman in a red jacket, walking away from him. Staring dumbfoundedly at the umbrella, he slowly gathered his thoughts and put a smile on his face again. 

"Things will get better," he reassured himself cheerfully before walking off towards his car.