Chapter 342 - Clash of the Idols-Conclusion

The next few days were a blur. He did not know what happened after he was pulled out of the blazing mansion but the whole ordeal was surreal. KJ was not sure whether he was dreaming or were his nightmares truly over?

But at what cost?

He was not able to think for long because after that, he completely lost consciousness. He only remembered certain hazy images where a tall man was being escorted outside the hospital by the police. The man looked familiar but KJ was too dazed to think.

When he opened his eyes, he was almost blinded by the white lights. He tried to sit up but someone pushed him back.

"Don't."

Mirae's gentle voice fully awakened him and he stared at her beautiful face. The memories of the past few days were coming back to him and he hugged her tightly. Mirae embraced him back as he sought comfort in her arms.

"Dasom…" he began. "Was he…"

He could not bring himself to ask it but Mirae answered him anyway.

"No," she replied. "Today is the last day. They'll take his…coffin to the graveyard today along with Eli's."

Hearing that, KJ let her go.

"I have to go," he said. "Now."

Mirae wanted to protest but his pleading eyes stopped her from opposing him. He was hurt beyond measure and there was nothing in this world which could stop him from leaving that hospital to see hi friend one last time.

"I'll talk to the doctor," she promised. Wiping her eyes, she went out to talk to the doctor. By the time she returned, he had already mustered enough strength to change out of the hospital garb and put on a pair of dark shirt and pants which Mirae had kept nearby in case if he woke up before the funeral.

He turned to face Mirae. "I can't stay here anymore," he admitted. "I can't stay in this place any longer. Not when there are too many memories of the people we have lost linger here."

"Where will we go?" Mirae softly asked.

"Anywhere," he stated. He held her hand and said, "As long as we're together, I can live anywhere."

The words were left unsaid but they knew what was in each other's minds. They had endured a lot in their short lives. From being separated by time to the constant attempts on their lives, their love for each other had brought them together again. In the journey, they lost many loved ones but also came to appreciate the little moments of happiness. 

"I'll go anywhere with you," she whispered. It was all KJ wanted to hear. As long as they were together, nothing could harm them. Their worst enemy was dead but now it was time to face their final nightmare.

"Let's go," he said. He would not let Dasom go to rest alone in that cold grave. They were all going to stick together until the end.

…

Jinhyun was sitting in front of the coffin, unable to think or do anything. The papers had printed the arrest of Ash and also his false confessions. He not only admitted to his connection with the Cartel but also lied that he was involved in the explosion which killed Dasom. No one knew what really happened inside the President's mansion. Jinhyun was briefed by the men of Abyss what really happened and he could not help but find the situation ironic.

The man who sought an identity died a nameless and lonely death.

The workings of fate are strange, he thought. He was devastated at the loss of not one but two friends. Ash was taking up the burden of his grandfather's sins which claimed Dasom's life.

Jinhyun suspected that Ash did hold himself responsible in some way for Dasom's death and that guilt made him falsely confess to the murders. He was not pleased by what Ash did but he understood why he might have taken that step.

He was clutching a letter along with a will which was delivered to him the morning he landed in the country. Taking a deep breath, he opened the letter and read it. It was short and concise. Just the way Ash liked to express his feelings.

"It was either all of us or none of us," Ash wrote. "See you in another life, my brothers. Take care."

The will Ash had sent him dictated that everything he and his family owned would be transferred to Jinhyun. He had once expressed to Ash that he wanted to build his own agency someday and was working hard to save a lot of money. Now that Ash had left him almost infinite amount of money, Jinhyun could not help but bitterly think at what cost did he earn all of it. He slipped the letter into his pocket and continued to stay beside Dasom, not letting him be alone even for a minute.

There was no word to describe how he felt. He never had a family of his own and EXOTIC was his only family. Even though he had left the group, they were still there, waiting for him. The thought that all four of them were alive and well, was enough to give Jinhyun hope for a new future.

But now with Dasom gone and Ash imprisoned, where was the hope? What would he do? Where would he go?

He vaguely heard the shuffling of footsteps. KJ had arrived and quietly sat next to him. They did not speak for a while but kept on accompanying Dasom.

After a while, Jinhyun spoke up. "What now?" he asked. "What are you going to do now?"

KJ took a moment to answer. "Leave," he finally said. "I'll be leaving this country and live the rest of my life in peace. This place had taken too many things from me. I can't bear it if I lose more people."

He was slightly surprised how easily the answer came to him. He no longer cared about being an idol but wanted a quiet life away from the limelight. The people he had lost and the things he had gone through had made him realize that his dreams did not lay in the entertainment industry but with his loved ones.

It was what Dasom would have wanted.

"Will you meet him?" Jinhyun asked. "Ash?"

"No," KJ replied. "You?"

"No."

They did not hate Ash nor were they angry at him. Ash had imposed this exile on himself and it was what he wanted. As his friends, they could fulfill that request of his.

"It's time," KJ said. "To say…"

He could not bring himself to say it. The very thought of letting go of Dasom torment him more than the President ever did. He did not want to do it. He could not do it.

Jinhyun held his arm and helped him to get up. It was the last time they would be with their beloved friend and they were finally breaking down. Both of them wept in silence, hugging each other. The memories of their first debut stage were flashing in their minds and the promises they made to each other.

"It's time to say goodbye," Jinhyun finished for him.

…

Song Tamlin was sitting in his study room, quietly sipping wine. He had sent all his men away after disposing the President and that secretaey's bodies. He was now simply waiting for someone. There was a debt lingering on his head which he must pay. 

He did not know for how long he sat there but after a while, he heard a pair of footsteps approaching his way.

"I knew you'd come," he said. He stood up and turned to face SD, who was smiling at him.

"Of course, I would," SD sighed. "After all, you have to repay the debt you owe me."

Tamlin stared at him for a while before holding out his glass towards SD. "You're going down a dangerous path, Kim San."

SD snorted. "I know," he whispered. He took out a vial of clear liquid and poured it into the glass.

"Drink," he ordered. Tamlin did not argue but drank it whole. 

"You will be dead within an hour," SD said. "But I am curious though. Why are you not fighting? Why are you not resisting? I thought people were afraid of death."

"I am," Tamlin admitted. "I've been diagnosed with cancer. I've already made arrangements for Soyeon to be adopted by her aunt so she would be taken care of. But I'm still scared of a painful death."

"So, you're choosing an easy death," SD said. "Typical of you."

"Will this give you closure?" Tamlin asked. "Or will you hunt them down as well?"

"I'll never get closure," SD admitted. "Although, I have to admit. I was reluctant to kill you."

"You're saving a dying man from a painful death," Tamlin stated. "Nothing wrong in doing that. I did far worse to you."

SD contemplated his words. "You were manipulated into killing them," he finally said. "But yes, you did. You were far worse. Still, I'll give you some leverage. The others…not so much. Anyways, I'll be gone for a while. I have to dig up some skeletons out of someone's closet. So I won't be here for your funeral."

He turned around to leave when Tamlin asked, "What about Sunye? Aren't you going to tell her the truth? One I die, no one will be left who would know your real identity."

SD paused for a while before saying, "There are some things best left unsaid."

With that he left the old man behind to die. There were other things he had to take care of. Tamlin stared at his back until he disappeared for view.

All he had left to do now was to wait for death to get him.