"Aah, how I've missed your voice..."
"Jeon Jungkook."
"Have I ever told you this? You sound hot when you're angry and when your voice goes soo low. Like you want to tear me apart with your bare hands...It's devastating."
"Don't think you can change the subject with your lame pick-up lines, Jungkook," Heiran stated, determined not to let him get away with his tricks anymore. She had far learned her lesson to let him do that again. Jungkook sucked in a breath.
"Hmmm, let's just say I'm on a secret mission to catch the bad guys."
"The what—"
"Shhh. Hear that," Heiran listened carefully but couldn't pick up anything other than creaks of crickets from wherever he was. "It's them. The bad guys."
She sighed, "Jeon Jungkook, don't you dare treat me like a child! Tell me what's going on before I report you missing."
"Okay, okay, jeez." It seemed that the man on the other side didn't yet understand the seriousness of his actions. Heiran clenched her fists. No. It wasn't that he didn't get it. He was pretending. "It's just like I said. I'm on a personal mission to catch a very dangerous organization. I'll be back as soon as I clear things here. It's nothing much."
"Not good enough," Heiran warned.
"Jagiya. I'm fine and alive. Don't you worry about me. Tell me about yourself. Did you eat your meals? Did you sleep well? Did you miss me too much?"
That little **** didn't pick up his phone for the last two and a half weeks and now he wants to know how my day went? Fury bubbled up inside her at his blatant avoidance of the subject, but she calmed herself. One last chance. She would give him one last chance.
"Jungkook, just tell me. Whatever it is, I won't hold you back. You know I wouldn't. I just need to know. We can even do this together."
She bit her lips as silence engulfed the other side. Even the crickets seemed to grow quiet.
"Ran, I... I know that but...It's my battle to fight," Jungkook finally seemed to let go of his act, his voice solemn and a little sad. "I don't want to drag you into my personal issues."
"Your personal issues? Jungkook, what am I to you?" Heiran bristled, a pinprick of hurt poking at her heart.
"No, Ran, that's not what I meant," he seemed to sigh. Heiran could almost envision him dragging his hands over his face. "They're dangerous."
"I can handle it. I'm not weak."
"You know I don't think that you're weak. In fact, I think you're the most powerful woman I've ever met, but I can't have you attracting their attention. They're really, really dangerous."
"Then what are you doing getting yourself involved in something so dangerous, Jungkook?" She bit back, his lack of trust in her only fuelled her suppressed anger.
"Ran, I need to fight this battle. I have to know the answer—"
"Then tell me. I can fight with you or be there for you. Please, just let me help you. I don't want to remain in the dark." Heiran pleaded, hoping to crack his stone-walled defense. Jungkook could always form well-formed defensive walls around him if he put his mind to it. But the person he became when he receded into his shell scared her. It was an entirely different person there. A man who never smiled.
"Ran..." His call was a plea as if it hurt him to reject her request. He drew a deep breath, gathering the last ounce of determination he had left in him, and spoke, "Ran, you're exactly where I need you to be. Just be patient and wait for me. I will manage on my own. I will finish up what I'm doing and be back soon."
There goes the last string of her patient. "You little jerk!" She snapped, "I know what you're up to, you hear me? I know. And I will come find you. Wherever you are!"
Jungkook groaned. "Ah... I should've known. You found the journal."
"Not just the journal. I know about the clinics as well. Guess what? I admitted myself to NightShade," Heiran explained, determined to let him know just how serious she was.
"The clinics? Where'd you get that list? I thought I brought it with me. No. No. NightShade?" Jungkook suddenly sounded frantic.
"A list? So, there's a list now?" She prodded, wanting him to spill everything but he cut her off.
"No. No. Love, just..." he sighed once again. Heiran flinched. "Just don't do anything stupid. You don't want to get involved. You don't understand. I can't let you get involved."
"Well, f*ck that. I'm doing it anyway."
"Ran." Jungkook had never used such a firm tone with her ever before. Well, she guessed everything had a first time.
"That's why... You should tell me what you're doing. I don't care if it's ugly, I can handle it. Just let me in, Jungkook. Why can't you just let me know what's bothering you? Why can't you tell me what's upsetting you? Don't I deserve to know that? Or maybe, don't I at least get an explanation?"
Heiran wasn't sure when she began to sound so pathetic. Maybe she still hadn't sobered up from all the alcohol she drank for Minseo's party. That had to be it.
"Love..." Heiran winced at the word. "I..."
"Tell me. Did you even miss me?" Pathetic. Pathetic. Pathetic.
"Of course, I did, Ran. Like hell."
"You didn't even call," she pointed out, grimacing at how desperate she sounded.
"I...I couldn't, Ran, I couldn't. Not until now... Until I realized that I missed you too much to keep avoiding y—"
"Be honest with me. Do you even want me in your life?" It had to be the alcohol. It had to be.
"What? What does that mean..."
"You can't even tell me the things that matter the most. The things that make you cry..." Heiran bit down on her trembling lips, shaking her head as if to get rid of her tears. It was funny what alcohol could do to you. "If you can't even tell me that, what kind of a girlfriend am I..."
"Ran..." Jungkook sounded hurt. More than she did.
"Jungkook, don't you realize that I—" A lump formed in her throat. One that made it impossible to say the word that she desperately needed to say. Coincidentally, one that she despised the most. She clenched her fist, her knuckles turning white.
"Ran, you— you got it wrong. It's not true. I love—" Jungkook abruptly stopped. A moment seemed to pass. When he returned, his voice was urgent.
"I gotta go. I will call you later. Take care...bye."
A beeping tone indicated the end of the call. Heiran threw it back onto the couch. It was a bad idea to drink. All of her insecurities had tumbled out of her lips at the merest voice of that man. It was incredible what he could do to her.
She stared back out at the empty streets down below, an unwanted thought blooming in her mind. Was it possible that he had intentionally hung up on her to avoid answering her questions? The idea seemed strange but considering what he had been doing for the past two months, it didn't feel impossible. Maybe that was all she was to him—just a girlfriend in the name.
She bit down on her lips hard, tasting the metallic tinge of her blood.
"Fine, Jungkook." She whispered to the night, "Have it your way. Keep your secrets locked and safe. I will find it anyway."
She puffed out a breath, blowing her blonde hair out of her eyes. "But I have secrets too. Secrets that will destroy you. And you'll never find out what they are."
* * *
Ahn Heiran was back again in the NightShade clinic. It hasn't even been a complete week since her last appointment and she was already being summoned to the doctor's office. Something about it didn't feel right. So Heiran had caked up on her makeup, chose an especially large set of shades, and made sure to stuff her blonde hair into the bandanna completely.
Now as she sat in the doctor's office waiting for her, fidgeting in her seat as she absentmindedly traced the fleur-de-lis design on the desk, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. Dohyeok hadn't managed to test the pills and send her the results yet. She had no incriminating inside information. Something to intimidate in case things turned south. The fact made her feel as vulnerable as a naked baby.
"Good morning!"
She whipped around at the doctor's greeting, flashing a smile she hoped didn't appear too nervous. "Hello, doctor."
"I have to admit I am quite surprised," the middle-aged woman skipped up to her desk with the vigor of a five-year-old, "But then again, I should have expected this from you. Shouldn't I?"
Heiran forced a smile, "I don't understand what you mean."
The doctor tilted her head, a triumphant grin on her face, "I didn't know you went by the name 'Park Chaeyoung', Ms. Ahn Heiran."
A tense moment of silence fell in the room. Heiran's fingers faintly twitched.
She had suspected it but it still didn't feel any less like a whiplash. She quickly recovered her composure and slid her shades out of her face. Stretching her lips into the most charming smile she could muster, she replied, "Ah, you caught me, doctor. I was hoping it didn't have to come to this."
"I must admit that I am a bit hurt that you didn't find our clinic trustworthy enough. We do take great care of our patient confidentiality, Ms. Ahn." The doctor plopped down on her seat. She did not look as hurt as much she looked smug. The horn-rimmed glasses made her eyes look extra enlarged. It reminded her of a frog.
"I apologize, doctor," Heiran held a palm to her chest, crossing her legs in one swift move.
The best tactic to win a losing fight was always to create a convincing bluff and never reveal your cards.
Eyes staring right back at the doctor, she placed her hands on either of the hand rests and leaned back in her chair with a look that suggested a knowledge of the doctor's darkest secrets. Dr. Rina's grin dimmed.
"Ever since that scandal broke out, I've been getting harassed by so many fangirls. It's such a hassle every day to avoid them. That's why I disguised myself. Why do you think I came to this clinic, doctor?" She lazily waved her hands to the room as if to say that it was too shabby for her tastes, "It's because of them."
"Oh." Heiran could see it in Doctor Rina's eyes that they both knew her excuse was an ill-constructed lie. But her bluff seemed to be working because the smugness of her look was long gone; instead, it was replaced with scrutiny. Dr. Rina opened her mouth but Heiran didn't give her the chance to start questioning her on anything as she tugged off her bandanna, sending her buttery blonde hair cascading down like a waterfall. Daintly, sweeping the hair out of her face, she faked a bored tone, "So, why did you call me out here today, doctor? I hope it's not to simply confirm my identity." She examined her fingernails, "After all, I do have quite a busy schedule on weekdays, you see?"
Heiran was a prosecutor, trained in the act of intimidation. She knew precisely what personalities to use when dealing with certain kinds of people. Acting like a narcissistic celebrity always shut people like Dr. Lee Rina up. She could feel the confidence dwindling in the doctor as she twirled her hair and turned her attention to her phone. Dr. Rina managed a flustered laugh, "O-oh, of course. I was just trying to see how effective the pills were. Have you been experiencing any more pain?"
"It's remained pretty much the same, no changes. Actually, I'm getting one right now." She replied, airily.
"Oh, could it be a psychological response to stress?" Dr. Rina questioned, trying to analyze her, to see what she was really up to. Heiran easily dodged the bait.
"Hmm-hm," she shook her head, eyes still on the phone as she scrolled aimlessly through her social media feed. "It's a response to annoyance."
Dr. Rina's lips curved in incredulity, blinking at the implication. "Are you saying that I'm annoying you, Ms. Ahn?"
"Oh my gosh, neverrr." Heiran rolled her Rs, aiming an exaggerated pouty look of apology her way before she returned to her phone. "I can't believe this comment on my post," she flashed her phone at the doctor. "Ridiculous. How dare they comment that I look fat in my Winter Puff Jacket? Seriously, they should get their eyes checked. I look cute in it, not fat."
If the doctor had any hopes to figure out why exactly a semi-well-known prosecutor was in her private clinic, they were long extinguished. Heiran was just too good to be an even match.
* * *
Cursing her luck, Heiran drove away from the clinic, commanding her car system to make a call to Dohyeok. Heiran may have handled the doctor but the moment her identity was revealed, her lead had closed. There was no point in going back there again. It was evident that they'd be extra precautious. How did they realize who she was? She thought she was discreet enough. What gave it away?
Voices filled her car as her call was answered, "Heiran, glad you called. I just got back the results."
Heiran stepped down on the brake, almost missing the red light. "Really? That's good. Because my identity was just compromised."
"What?!" Dohyeok yelled in surprise, "Did they try something?"
"No, they aren't that dumb." She reassured a panicked Dohyeok, "They tried to question me and figure out why I was there. I didn't give anything away. Think she bought my act."
Dohyreok released a sigh of relief. "Thank heavens."
"Tell me what you found, Dohyeok. Cuz without that I'm completely lost."
"Oh, Heiran. I'm sorry. They were just pain medications," he replied regretfully.
Heiran's car screeched to a halt at the side of the road. "What did you say?!"
"They're headache pills. Naproxen. They're drugs you don't even need a prescription for."
She slammed her hands on the steering, "Dammit!"
There went her lead. Was she mistaken in thinking that Min Hui was a victim of a drug distribution and organ trafficking chain? Was it all just a coincidence? Something in her gut told her a resounding 'no'. Dr. Lee Rina's behavior was too suspicious.
If so, where had she gone wrong? What did she miss?
Start from the beginning. Heiran told herself.
The old journal had been the one that told her about the clinic scams. Even Jungkook believed it; in fact, he seemed to have a whole list of clinics from what she could tell from their conversation. But if NightShade was one of those clinics, how can she prove that MinHui's death was murder?
The answer struck her mind like a lightning bolt.
There was something she needed to confirm. She dove over to her passenger seat, caught hold of her bag, and took out the old journal. Running her fingers over the book, she found the familiar bumps on the cover. Carefully, she inserted her fingers between the cover and felt around.
There it was. She could feel it. The hard round tablets were hidden in between the covers. The pills stored as evidence by the author of the journal. She pried them out and blew out a breath. Heiran knew they were important when she first discovered them. Finally, she had the chance to use them.
Mr. JJK, let's see if you're right about the pills.
"Heiran, are you still there?"
"Yes, Dohyeok. I'm here. And I have a very important task for you."
A/n: On a scale of 1 to 10, rate how strong Jungkook's distraction game is.
Thought guys might miss Heiran in action. How was Ms. Narcissistic celebrity?