Chapter 182 - EXOTIC (XIV): One Last Drink

Outside, the drizzle of rain turned heavier as people ran here and there to take shelter. Shops were crowded with people escaping the sudden downpour while subways and buses were also full of riders trying to get home. Many were chattering away amongst themselves. Topic was the same: EXOTIC's disbandment.

Most people were shocked and even betrayed at how the nation's favorite band had come to such a tragic end.

"Ash really ruined EXOTIC," one student was saying to her friend. "KJ oppa, Jinhyun oppa and Dasom oppa must have taken such a difficult decision because of him."

"Don't be stupid!" another one snapped. "They could've continued with three members. But they chose to disband! I'm telling you, KJ was looking for a way to leave and he got the perfect excuse!"

"It's the bitchy CEO's fault!" an office worker was claiming to her colleagues. "If only I got a hold of her social media accounts. I bet she was the one who told KJ to disband…"

"The girl was too suspicious," another person agreed. "She just appeared out of nowhere and snatched KJ! They're just blaming the miscarriage on Ash!"

"Young people nowadays have no passion," an old woman was complaining on the subway to anyone who would listen. "Those boys at EXOTIC lacked the passion to be together! They didn't even think of their fans…"

"Mama, will EXOTIC really disband," a child asked his mother tearfully. "I don't want them to leave…"

The child started to cry while his mother tried to console him. Everywhere the topic was the same. Many supported the decision while others pointed accusatory fingers. 

Meanwhile in the downtown of the city, stood a tall and posh building. It had heavy security as the whole area was fenced by electric wires. There was only one gate for entry and exit which was guarded by heavily armed guards. The entire neighborhood was covered with CCTV cameras belonging to the owner of the building. No one lived in that neighborhood, which remained largely deserted while the building itself was occupied by one person who lived on the topmost floor. 

Inside that particular unit, stood a lone figure, who was staring outside while another person was sitting on the couch behind him, reading the paper.

"KJ accuses ex-member Ash Park of killing his child…" Junhyung read out loud. "Now that's a stretch."

Ash was sipping vodka while observing the rain.

"Doesn't it bother you?" Junhyung questioned. "Your ex-girlfriend and your ex-bandmate accusing you and getting married? Obviously it's a publicity stunt to save Jiwon's reputation."

Ash turned back, raising his eyebrows. "Why should it bother me?" he asked lazily. "They were mere pawns. I know all their weaknesses. It's only a matter of time for them to fall."

"You're a national disgrace now," Junhyung pointed out. "If you do anything publicly, you'll be crucified. The President won't take it lightly."

"The old man won't strike unless it benefits him," Ash said, sipping his drink. "I already gave him all the information on KJ and Abyss. He knows Jung Mirae's real identity as the CEO of Abyss."

"Why didn't he attack her yet?" Junhyung asked, leaning forward.

"She is too well protected," Ash explained. "Her men are everywhere. Moreover, KJ is by her side almost all the time. The protection extends to him too. Plus, now that Mirae is a public figure, it will be as difficult to kill her as KJ. By placing the blame on me, she ensured her and KJ's safety. If they die, I will be blamed and the public will automatically assume I've used my connections from the Cartel to attack them. They'll give the police a solid reason to come after us. She played her cards well."

"Your ex is quite smart," Junhyung complimented. 

Ash did not reply but kept on sipping from his glass. Indeed she had played her cards well. 

"What really bothers me is how she found out about our plans that day," Junhyung wondered. "We were only planning to kill KJ and that pesky detective and pin it on Teppei. We had disabled all the monitors and it would have taken her hours to find that room beside the bas.e.m.e.nt. By then, we would have executed our plan and you'd have returned to their side to spy on them for longer. But how the hell did she get there on time?"

"I wonder…" Ash muttered, downing his drink. He had thought about it too. How did Mirae find them so quickly? It was the perfect opportunity for them since the security around KJ was lowered in order to lure Teppei. They even leaked the plan to Teppei in advance. Everything was going according to his calculations until Mirae turned up and discovered his betrayal.

"Is there a mole amongst us?" Ash suggested.

"The only ones who knew about our plan were you, me and Nida," Junhyung replied. "Nida wouldn't rat you out. She's crazy for you. And I want KJ dead even more than the Cartel. The CEO got extremely lucky."

"Yeah," Ash gritted. "Lucky…"

But he did not believe in luck. Someone must have led her there. But she had entered alone . Only KJ's cat was there by her side. 

The cat…

Ash quickly dismissed that notion. How can a mere cat lead her there? 

"So what are you going to do now?" Junhyung asked. "Your name is sprawled across every paper. The old man isn't going to like it."

"I don't care," Ash shrugged. "I have bigger things to look out for. For now, my target is to eliminate all my rivals. Starting with...Ziko."

Junhyung's fist clenched at the mention of that name. He had some unfinished business with that man too.

"How will you do it?" he asked quietly.

"Simple," Ash grinned. "I don't have to do anything. Abyss will eliminate him for us."

….

Jinhyun was back at the semi bas.e.m.e.nt apartment he had once shared with the other members of EXOTIC. It was so small that it now felt surreal to him that all of them actually fit in this place. Dasom, who was there with him, looked around. 

"I haven't been here for years," he said. "What about you?"

"I...I visit this place at times," Jinhyun admitted. "I came here a few days ago."

Dasom waited for him to go on but Jinhyun did not say anything more. "Where's KJ?" he asked, checking his watch.

"He said he'd be here," Dasom replied. As soon as he said it, they heard a car pulling up outside. Within seconds, KJ entered through the front door.

"Why did you call me here?" he asked. He hated to visit the old apartment he shared with EXOTIC. It reminded him of Ash. The moments which they shared now turned into a slow poison which was killing him inwardly. Seeing the old place only reminded him of how he failed to protect EXOTIC. He failed as the leader.

"Don't pout!" Jinhyun teased playfully. "We're here to celebrate!"

"Celebrate what?" KJ frowned.

"Nothing," Jinhyun said simply. "Do we really need an excuse to celebrate with friends?"

KJ and Dasom looked at each other. Trust Jinhyun to find a way to celebrate amidst the mess they had created.

"Come on!" Jinhyun ushered them as he took out soju and boxes of fried chicken from the bags he was carrying. "Remember how we used to enjoy cheap soju and fried chicken from that aunty across the street? I can't believe her food stand is still there! She was so happy when I went to buy food from her. She even gave me washed plates! Refused to take money from me."

KJ and Dasom sat on the floor as Jinhyun unpacked the chicken fries and plated them. 

"She used to charge us low for her food," KJ remembered with a smile. "Sometimes even gave us free kimchi."

Jinhyun poured the soju into three glasses and passed them around. 

"Cheers!" He chirped merrily. 

"Cheers!" 

They downed their drinks in one go before refilling the cups.

"Remember when Dasom was caught b=for bunking his class?" Jinhyun snickered. 

"Yeah," KJ said. "We grounded him for a month."

"That was so unfair!" Dasom protested.

"You were bunking classes to meet up with your ex," KJ pointed out. "And she was double timing you with another guy!"

"Well she regretted it later when I turned out to be a famous idol," Dasom said smugly.

All of them burst out laughing. "Remember when Jinhyun had to go through this really intense diet?" KJ recalled. "All he could eat were cuc.u.mbers and boiled chicken?"

"Those were painful times," Jinhyun winced. 

"We had to sneak him food everyday," Dasom sighed. "Poor CEO Ahn couldn't figure out why the diet wasn't working."

"Yeah and later when we got caught, he put all of us on that cuc.u.mber diet," KJ grimaced. 

"And then that one time," Jinhyun went on. "When we dressed up as girls and sneaked into the female dormitory at the agency so that Dasom could meet his girlfriend. The matron of the ward almost caught us and we had to run for it!"

"That woman was scary," KJ shivered. "We had to climb the wall and jump."

"Yeah and Ash broke his…" Dasom started but trailed off. The mention of that name made their smiles freeze. KJ's hand tightened around the glass. 

There was an awkward silence. The other two noticed that KJ's expression darkened.

"So…" Jinhyun said. "You and Ms. Jung. That's a big announcement she made. Are you guys sure about this?"

"It's impossible," KJ said. "We can't go through with this. She's still not healed and jumping into a decision like this will only make things worse."

"She's trying to protect you and your image," Dasom reminded him. "That's the most important thing right now."

"Her health is more important," KJ stated. "She had already suffered enough."

"And you?" Jinhyun asked. "What about you? Aren't you suffering too?"

"What do you mean?" KJ quizzed.

"Don't pretend to be ignorant," Jinhyun scoffed. "It is so obvious KJ."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," KJ feigned ignorance.

"Oh please KJ!" Dasom exclaimed. "All of us saw how you look at her. You're at the hospital almost all the time, taking care of her."

Jinhyun leaned forward, a soft smile formed on his face. "KJ," he said. "All of us can tell. The way you look at her. The way you care for her. It's obvious that you're in love with her."