black cloud ¦ lee haechan

ch ; 08

- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒ 08 ༒ ˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -
Strong Bond

As the afternoon sun dipped towards the horizon, bathing the entrance of Daehwon High School in a golden glow, Kory leaned against her car, her nerves dancing with anticipation.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly as she waited, her gaze sweeping over the bustling crowds of students pouring out of the school gates.

Each passing minute heightened her anticipation, her patience waning with every second that ticked by.

Finally, she caught sight of Meiying, the young girl weaving her way through the throng of students with a determined stride. With a sense of purpose, Kory pushed herself off the car and hurried to intercept Meiying, her steps quickening to catch up with the elusive teenager.

"Huang Meiying, wait up!" Kory called out, her voice echoing across the empty parking lot.

Meiying glanced over her shoulder, her expression guarded as she continued walking, seemingly intent on ignoring Kory's presence.

Undeterred, Kory quickened her pace, closing the distance between them with determined strides. "Meiying-ah! I just want to talk," she persisted, her tone gentle but firm.

Meiying stopped in her tracks, her shoulders tense as she turned to face Kory. "I have nothing to say to you," she replied coldly, her gaze unwavering.

Kory sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. She knew Meiying was wary of her, but she couldn't let that deter her from getting the answers she needed. "I understand, Meiying," she said, her voice softening with empathy. "But I'm here to help you. I need to know what happened with those men yesterday."

Meiying's expression softened slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, her voice betraying her nerves.

Kory frowned, sensing Meiying's reluctance to open up. She knew she would have to tread carefully if she wanted to gain the girl's trust. "Meiying-ah, please," she urged, her tone pleading. "I promise I won't let anything happen to you. But I need your help to piece together what happened."

Meiying hesitated, her gaze flickering between Kory and the ground beneath her feet. Finally, she relented, a sigh escaping her lips as she nodded reluctantly. "Okay," she conceded, her voice barely above a whisper.

Relief washed over Kory as Meiying agreed to talk, her determination renewed as she followed the girl towards a secluded corner of the parking lot.

As they reached the secluded corner of the parking lot, Kory's relief was palpable. Finally, she would have the opportunity to unravel the mystery surrounding Meiying's association with the perpetrator.

"Now, I need to know if you have any information about the men who ambushed those thugs yesterday," Kory began, her voice gentle but insistent.

Meiying's expression remained neutral, her gaze steady as she met Kory's eyes. "I already told you, I don't know anything about them," she replied firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

But Kory wasn't so easily deterred. She knew there was more to the story than Meiying was letting on, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Meiying, please," she pleaded, her voice tinged with frustration. "The victims said those guys knew you! Those men could be dangerous, and we need to stop them before they hurt anyone else."

Meiying's resolve wavered slightly at Kory's words, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. But she quickly regained her composure, her expression once again neutral as she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Detective, but I can't help you," she said, her voice firm but tinged with regret. "I wish I could, but I just don't know anything about them."

Kory sighed in frustration, running a hand through her hair as she tried to think of another approach. She knew Meiying was hiding something, but without concrete evidence, there was little she could do to force the truth out of her. With a heavy heart, she realized that she had reached a dead end in her investigation.

"Fine," Kory conceded, her tone resigned. "But if you change your mind, if you remember anything at all, please don't hesitate to reach out to me."

Meiying nodded, her expression softening slightly at Kory's words. "Thank you," she said quietly, "I'll keep that in mind."

With a final nod, Kory turned and made her way back to her car, her mind racing with unanswered questions. Though Meiying had denied any involvement with the mysterious men, Kory couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than meets the eye.

And until she uncovered the truth, she wouldn't rest until justice was served.

-

After watching Kory drive away, Meiying felt a sense of relief wash over her. She quickly ducked into a nearby alleyway, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. Pulling out her phone, she dialed her brother's number, her fingers trembling slightly as she waited for him to pick up.

As soon as the call connected, Rhys's voice came through the line, his tone calm but authoritative. "So, what's the news?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Meiying glanced around nervously before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "That bitch is persistent," she muttered, her frustration evident. "You guys need to hurry up with those men."

Rhys's response was immediate, his voice steady and reassuring. "We're on it," he assured her, his determination evident. "Don't worry, Mei. We'll take care of it."

Meiying let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Those were my friends," she admitted, her voice trembling with emotion.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Rhys spoke again, his voice gentle but firm. "Mei, you'll find better friends," he said, his words filled with conviction. "Ones who will guide you to the right path."

Meiying's eyes welled up with tears at her brother's words, a mixture of gratitude and sadness washing over her. "What about your friends, the NCTECH..." she began, her voice trailing off.

Rhys was hesitant, his silence speaking volumes. Meiying knew she had struck a nerve, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of curiosity about her brother's involvement with the notorious organization.

Before she could dwell on the thought any longer, Rhys spoke up again, his tone serious. "Just know that my choices are for your own good," he said firmly.

"I'll talk to you later, but make sure to delete this number right after, okay? And don't come to our headquarters, we're already moving somewhere."

Meiying nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of their conversation. "When will I get to talk to you again?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rhys hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. "Soon," he promised. "Just be careful out there, okay?"

With a final farewell, Meiying ended the call, her thoughts swirling with conflicting emotions. As she tucked her phone away, she couldn't help but feel a sense of longing for her brother, a longing that had plagued her ever since they were separated six years ago.

But despite the distance between them, she knew that Rhys would always be there for her, guiding her along the right path, even in the darkest of times.

-

Continued.