|| Red Strings ||

22: Code Red

"What the bloody hell, Hoseok? It has been two weeks already and you still hasn't done your deal!"

The angry man behind the phone ranted out at the worned out boy who only sighed.

"Sir, I am sorry but-"

"Don't sorry me! You are the worst person I have ever hired as an employee. You fucking ignored my calls all these days! Is that how you respect your Boss?"

Hoseok chewed his lower lip trying to remain calm while the man kept yelling and shouting at him for his carelessness.

"It would have been better if I gave this project to someone who is more responsible than you. You are such a useless man who couldn't even take care of his sister. Remember how you begged me to lend you sone money for her hospital expenses when she got into an accident. I wonder if your sister is even happy having a worthless brother like you-"

"I quit."

"W-what?" The other side of the phone fumbled in his words at the sudden words that interrupted him.

"I said I am fucking resigning from your shithole company. Now you and your work can go and fuck each other. Goodbye."

Before the baffled man could utter a single word, Hoseok hunged up his phone with rage and tears in his bloodshot eyes.

Those words he said about his sister were quite enough to make his last string of patience break apart. For years, he has been tormented by his Boss's behavior and slavery. He was done with him long ago but beared all the harassment done upon him because his job was the only source of income when Yuna wasn't doing any job. He wanted to keep her work-free and live her life happily under his vision. He wanted to protect her from any form of danger.

Her small injury would make Hoseok's heart torn apart. Her tears and sadness would want to punish himself. Her smile is the only reason he want to live till his last breathe. She is the reason for everything.

And now that reason is missing.
His little sister is missing.

Hoseok shook his head and harshly wiped out his wet cheeks stopping himself to cry more when his eyes laid on the clock hanging on the front wall above the TV as he remembered yesterday's evening incident.

{▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎}

"Mr. Jung."
Hoseok looked up at Haewon who slightly smiled and offered him a cup of water but he refused and muttered with dry voice.

"When Officer Kim is going to arrive? Has he gone to Busan to investigate about my sister?"

The man sighed as he gazed into Hoseok's red swollen eyes. He noticed how the latter was still wearing those same messy clothes when he came to complain about his sister for the first time. His face was completely worned out, filled with stains of dry tears and dullness. But, his eyes were still having some shine of hope. That his sister would return back to him all safe and sound.

And this was eating Haewon from inside because be knows nothing is being done by Namjoon to look those girls. He is just fooling him for God knows what reason.

"Mr Jung, I promise I'll contact you soon when Officer Namjoon will return back. You should really go back home."
Worriedness took over the police man seeing him getting weak hinting he hasn't eaten much.