| |
I can’t just leave. Who knows where the strength comes from, but I stand and ignore the throbbing in my foot. I shuffle my way to the door and try the handle, but it’s locked.
“Hello?” I call. I have to get in there. Woon has to know how much I care for him.
I raise my hand and give the glass a rap. “Hello?”
Woon’s face is centered in my brain, swelling until my head might explode with thoughts of him. I bang harder. “Hello!”
A girl with a bun at the top of her head walks by, and I rap on the glass faster. “Hello, hello!”
She gives me one stink-eyed look and hurries away.
“Let me in!” I call, but she’s gone.
I stay at the door, face pressed to the glass for what feels like hours. My fist has found a methodical rhythm, and I pound, pound, pound, only speeding up when people walk through the lobby. Each knock is an apology. I’m such an idiot.
“Miss,” someone says behind me. I turn around to see two police officers.
“Thank goodness,” I say running toward them. “My friend is in there against his will and I need to―”
“Riiiight,” one officer says, talking over me. “I’m sure your friend will get your fan mail. Why don’t you come with us, and we’ll get you home nice and safe.”
Is he saying he doesn’t believe me? “There’s been a misunderstanding,” I say with a laugh. “You see, I really am friends with Woon.”
The cops exchange disbelieving looks. Crap. I already know how this is going to play out. I’ve been kidnapped enough to know when someone’s going to apprehend me before I get a chance to state my case.
I give the officers a bow. “Have a nice day.”
Then I run. I’ve had no food and only a little water. Combine that with a sore ankle and, well, it only takes a few strides before each cop has a tight hold on me. They drag me to their car, but I don’t go easily.
Why couldn’t I have been raised as a ninja instead of a bookworm?
***
“You’re not under arrest,” the officer says. “We just need you to sit here until your guardian arrives.”
They’re still holding me without cause, like I’ve told them a million times since I was first shoved into the back of their car. I wonder how much Chet pays the police commissioner for this kind of service.
When I asked them what my crime was, they said it was stalking. Ha! Chet’s the one who’s been stalking Woon.
At least I know Blain is on the way. I called her with my one call, and luckily, they let me use my cell. She said she was able to avoid CSTAR, though I don’t know how.
“Jenica!” Blain rushes in and hugs me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I lie. I just let Woon sign his life away. I don’t think I’ll be fine again.
Seeing Blain triggers everything I’ve been holding in. She looks as tired and ragged as I feel. She’s been through a lot too. I have no idea how she got away after the guards came, but I’m glad she did or else I’d be alone here forever.
She really is the best, how could I lie to her? I cover my mouth and shake my head, begging the tears not to come.
Blain takes a seat next to me and strokes my hair. “It’s okay,” she says. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
I fall into her arms, and she squeezes me tight. “Why do I have to like him?” I say.
It wasn’t like I was planning on falling so hard so fast. It hasn’t even been enough time to know if it’s real. Yet, we’ve made an impact on each other’s lives. That’s not something you can just wish away.
“I know, hon, but you can’t help it.”
I bury my head in her shoulder. “He recorded a verbal agreement for those people. I don’t know if he’ll ever get out.”
Blain holds me at arm’s length. “He did what?”
I shake my head. “Not here. Let’s get back to the dorm first.” I figure we’ll be safe there. Even if CSTAR knows the location, they got what they wanted, and they’re not coming after me again.
We’re out of money, so we have to take the metro back to the dorm. I keep quiet as we wander the streets to the closest stop. I’m walking blind, half hoping someone tries to rob me so I have an excuse to be injured. All I want is to lie down and let the people trample me. It’s all over. Woon is stuck at CSTAR with that twisted man. I can’t believe I didn’t fight him when I had the chance.
My eyes burn as I try to keep them open on the train. My stomach keeps reminding me I haven’t eaten all day. I let it growl—it’s the best punishment I can give myself.
Blain barely closes the door to our dorm when she pounces on me. “I want to know the whole story.”
“Hang on,” I say, because I need to gather my thoughts. I set down my phone and my wallet, taking a deep breath. “My plan,” I start, voice cracking, “was to find the video showing Woon’s forced signing. But that backfired because I stood there like I was incapable of humanity instead of helping him.”
Blain guides me to the kitchen table. She plops me down in a chair and takes the seat opposite me. “You did nothing wrong. I ran away. I hid. I watched them drag you into that van and I did nothing. I’m your best friend, and I did nothing. It’s normal to be afraid.”
Tears well in my eyes, and I cover my face to sob. “But doing nothing cost Woon his career in Korea. I can never expect him to forgive me. I’m just a fling, but his career is his life. He’ll have to work for that monster forever.”
Blain bangs the table, startling me. “I stayed away because I figured I could do more for you from the outside. Form a plan at the very least. Now that we’re together, we have an even greater chance of saving Woon.”
It makes sense, but I’m not sure we can do anything. That was a live-in-the-moment sort of thing.
“Don’t move,” Blain says, standing. “You need nourishment if we’re going to plan.”
One corner of my mouth lifts even though I don’t want it to. I hate that she can make me smile when I want to sulk.
“It’s not much,” she says, placing our re-heated takeout from the other day in front of me. Now that I think of it, this was the last thing I ate. It’s been over twenty-four hours. I snarl down the noodles even though the oil has leaked out after being microwaved. There are only a few pieces of meat left, and I end up popping them in my mouth one after the other without fully chewing.
“Slow down,” Blain says, her eyes huge.
For the first time I notice she’s still in her conservative get-up. It’s a new set of clothes, but still not Blain.
“Wait a second,” I say, “is G.O.—”
Blain bites her lip, brows arched down. Crap, I know that look. That’s best-friend speak for please-don’t-be-mad-at-me.
“Is he here?” I whisper-yell.
Blain slowly nods, giving me big puppy-dog eyes like she’s afraid I’ll kick her.
“What?” I scream. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Shhh,” she hushes. “He sleeping.”
So what? Woon is in danger.
Blain adjusts in her seat, picking at her fingernails. “There’s one more thing.”
I arch one brow, my patience thin.
“He’s the one who dropped Woon off at CSTAR.”
My jaw drops. Why would he do something so reckless? He had to know Woon would get in trouble. “What? Why?”
“Woon insisted,” Blain says. “He told G.O. he would go by himself if he didn’t do it. There was a fight...”
“Are you serious right now?” I ask, raising my voice. “Why didn’t you tell me right away?”
“Jenica,” Blain says, leveling with me. “You get really hangry. I couldn’t talk about this without getting you some food first.”
I laugh, because it’s so utterly ridiculous but so true. Blain was right to feed me first.
“Anyway,” Blain says, “G.O. was hurt. He has a cut on his arm. He only just got away. I brought him back here because I didn’t know what else to do. Hopefully some rest will help.”
“It’s just a scratch.” Blain and I turn our heads to see G.O. standing in the hallway. He’s dressed in a pressed shirt and tailored slacks. Where on earth did he get those clothes? And his hair is all gelled up out of his face.
I sniff instinctively and notice he’s put on cologne, too.
Blain stands, her hands fumbling. “Hyungsoo, I hope we didn’t wake you.”
“I’ve been awake for a while now.” He smiles. “You actually came home right after I finished showering.”
Blain’s face goes bright pink. Was he trying to make her picture him in a towel?
“I see you found your suitcase,” she says, gesturing to his outfit.
What is with this dynamic? There’s so much tension in the room I feel like I’m being squeezed out of a tube. There’s only enough room in here for Blain and G.O.
I stand as well, walking between the two so they break eye contact. That was an uncomfortably long staring situation.
“I believe we have a friend to save?” I say, because I know both of them have forgotten the real reason we’re all together. I wonder how much they made-out while I was gone.
“Right,” G.O. says, popping on a pair of sunglasses. “Let’s go.”
I scoff. I can’t help it. He’s being such a peacock right now. He didn’t even have to display his bright feathers for Blain to fall. I wonder if he knows that, and he preened anyway. Probably.
“Wait,” I say as Blain and G.O. head for the door. “We’re not going in with a plan?”
G.O. smirks. “I’m the plan.”
***
If I felt like a third wheel before, it’s only compounded by Blain and G.O. squished together in the backseat of the taxi. I’m on the far left side with G.O. on the right and Blain between us.
G.O. offered to pay so he wouldn’t get recognized on the streets. I keep hearing Blain snickering, all her attention on him. I have no idea why she’s snickering, but I don’t want to know.
We pull up to CSTAR headquarters, ready to walk right back into the mouth of the tiger. So far, all I know is G.O. is going to offer himself to get Woon out. Because that worked so well last time.
G.O. hands the cabbie some cash. “Stay here,” he says to the two of us. “We need a getaway car.”
Blain nods like she has no problem with that, but I’m not going to back down so easily. G.O. shuts his door and I open mine.
“Stay here,” I say to Blain who reaches out for me when she sees me leaving.
I don’t turn back to see if she follows. I think she’ll listen to both G.O. and me. At least I hope. I hide behind my side of the cab while G.O. stands in front of the big glass doors without knocking. I hear a buzz, and he pushes open the metal plate to gain entry.
Taking off at a run, I hop up the steps and get my fingers between the open doors just in time. They pinch at my skin, and my ankle protests, but my need to save Woon is stronger than my own physical limitations. I’m sure my body will pay for it later, but the nervousness pumping through my veins dulls the pain.
I can’t believe I made it back inside CSTAR. It’s not winning, but it feels like a victory. G.O. takes the elevator, but there’s no way I could wait calmly. I dash up the stairs to the fourth floor to get my butterflies out. I don’t even know if they’re still in Chet’s office, but that’s where instinct tells me to go.
Having made it to the top of the stairs, I take a second to compose myself before I stride to the door and push it open. It doesn’t even stick. No doubt Chet is expecting me.
I’m panting, out of breath, feeling like I’ve run a marathon to get to this point. So when I see everyone, including G.O., sitting around having a civil conversation, I’m confused.
“Jenica,” Chet says. “My prize. So glad you could join us.”
My skin feels oily from the second he says my name. The setting looks casual, but something’s not right. I can feel it in my bones.
Chet points to an open chair. “Please, have a seat.”
I glance at Woon whose head is hanging. Even though I can’t see his eyes, his head shakes. It’s slight, but I feel like he’s signaling me not to listen.
“No thanks,” I say with a smile. “I’d rather stand.”
My legs are trembling, but standing has its advantages in a fight.
“Have it your way,” Chet says, turning his back on me.
G.O. twists in his seat and starts waving his hands, mouthing the word go.
Yeah, right. I just got here. I’m finally in the same room as Woon, and I’m not giving up that easily. I want to move to Woon’s side, but when he lifts his head, I can tell he wants me to stay where I am. I don’t know why, but I trust him.
There are dark circles under his eyes; he looks worse than I feel. Unless I look that bad too. In which case, we’re even.
“You couldn’t walk away, could you?” Chet says, arranging some papers. His tone of voice frightens me.
What exactly is going on here? The lights are dim, most of the illumination in the room coming from the busy city outside the large window.
Chet steps toward me. “It’s good you’re here,” he continues, nodding. “Now I won’t have to come looking for you.”
I stumble back. Me? He wanted to find me? Why?
“You just thought you’d swoop in here and take Woon away?” Chet stops by a side table, his gaze narrowing.
Well, yes. Maybe he’s under a verbal contract, but we can figure that out when we get out of China. I don’t know when I realized that was the only way, but I’m going with him. Screw school—if Woon was willing to give up his career for me, this is the least I can do for him.
Woon is mouthing to me, begging me to run to the door. I don’t want to abandon him, but the more Chet talks, the more I feel like something bad is about to happen to me. Maybe if I run, Chet will follow, leaving Woon free to escape.
Both G.O. and Woon are signaling to me now. That’s when I notice the broken pen on the table. I’m not sure how that happened, but the verbal agreement is over, which makes me a target again. I take a step back, holding my arm out behind me. My fingers grab the knob just as a buzzing sound emanates from the door. Locked.
“Nice try,” Chet says, a deranged smile on his face.
He’s waving something in his hand. Probably the buzzer that locks the door.
“You can’t leave,” he says, “because I need you.”
Me? What would he need me for? I’m just an average girl who happened to meet someone way out of my league. Someone who likes me too. I can’t say he still will after this moment, but we had our chance.
The elevator dings, and a tall girl wearing a tight, short dress slinks out.
Chet claps his hands, that insane smile plastered on his cracked lips. “Now that we’re all here, the fun can start.”
I turn around and try the knob again. This seems like seriously bad news.
Fingers pinch my shoulders, a guard taking me away from the exit.
“Don’t make me force you,” Chet says. “If I can’t have Woon, he’ll just have to be ruined. Guess who’s going to help with that? You. We might as well ruin his little friend while he’s here too.”
I don’t want to turn around and look again because I can already guess what’s going to happen. This girl is selling her body for money. Creating a scandal big enough for headline material. The headline of the National Enquirer.
I might not know much about foreign pop culture, but I know that Asians are not forgiving of slander. Once a celebrity’s name is ruined, it’s ruined for good.
Video or not, it would be the perfect blackmail for CSTAR to keep Woon in their grip forever. I can’t let it happen.
If I don’t take action, this is the end of Woon’s career, forever.
