LUMINESCENCE | K.NJ ✓

XVI - THE THINGS LEFT UNSAID

"I understand, but think about this a bit more, detective," Hiro said. "I was there on the bus the night of the first abduction—my girlfriend was taken, and I was left there. And today; how could I have possibly abducted someone, then shown up less than an hour later out of nowhere? More importantly, why would I show up, especially knowing the place would be swarming with cops?"

Both detectives sighed, as did Yoongi from the other side of the glass. They already knew all of this—they knew how far of a stretch it was to bring Hiro in with so much pointing towards his innocence. It really made no sense at all for him to be associated with this in any way.

But they were desperate.

"As we said—an eyewitness claims that you're the one who took her sister. She went ballistic the moment she laid eyes on you. We can't afford to brush that off as a coincidence," Choi explained.

"But it is a coincidence. It has to be," Hiro said frantically. He was slowly beginning to lose his composure. The hours he had spent lying awake over the last couple of weeks were evident in the dark circles beneath his eyes, the way his body shook, the tired rasp in his voice.

"People don't just coincidentally look like serial kidnappers, Hiro."

"I'm not the kidnapper!" Hiro cried. "I don't know why that girl thinks I am, but she's wrong! And every second that I spend in here trying to convince you guys of that is a second more that Mira is losing. I need to find her, and you're not letting me!"

Choi and the other detective shared a glance. Yoongi shook his head, knowing that they couldn't get any more out of Hiro—not when he was like this.

He also knew that they'd have to let him go. With an alibi as strong as the police department themselves, there was no plausible way that they could continue to hold him for very long.

Their first suspect seemed to be a dead end, leaving them with more questions than they had before.

-

Namjoon was conflicted.

Maybe that was a character trait of his—living in a constant state of confliction. He seemed to be feeling that way more often than not.

Or, perhaps that was just one of the many things that being around Nouri did to him.

When she had taken his hand originally, he felt secure. Things were finally starting to fall into place, even as everything around them began to fall apart. Sure, danger was potentially lurking around every corner, hiding in every alleyway throughout the streets of Seoul, ready strike whenever and wherever it so pleased.

But at least she was still there with him.

At least she took his hand.

But then she had let it go.

And so, he was conflicted. Was he happy that she had taken a step towards him? Or was he distraught that she had taken a step back right after?

He could practically hear his mother's voice scolding him. "Keep your focus, Namjoon. You're in the middle of a serious crime investigation, not a soap opera."

Nouri shivered beside of him, drawing him out of his thoughts. They were seated on the curb just outside of the police station, waiting to hear from Yoongi. He was supposed to give them a vague update on the situation before they left, though he made sure that they knew he couldn't give them much information at all.

Their feet rested on the pavement of the parking lot. The night air had a bite to it, so he scooted closer to her so that their shoulders were touching.