jungkook pov.

"FUCKING WOMEN."

I cursed, exiting the bathroom as I disconnected from Byeol. That absolute bitch. SHE'S GOING TO GET US KILLED. I should've said bye to my hyungs. I was already visioning the incoming events, picturing the most negative happenings.

I looked up to try catch a glimpse of Byeol on the 3rd floor, "looking for something?" The leader approached me out of nowhere, I supposed he had invited a lot of the people in the Korean mafia considering he was speaking in my language. "I was just admiring the interior, it's exquisite," I replied, forcing a slight smile.

"It really is quite wonderful isn't it? Only the best for such a celebration, which gang are you part of?" He questioned, "insurgents," I responded, I'd read the invite list and saw the names of mafia groups invited so it wasn't a question that put me on the spot.

"I do admire your group, rebels, I used to be one," he went into deep thought as my eyebrows slightly furrowed at his accent. It's not an overseas one, it sounds almost... North Korean. "Not anymore no?" I tilted my head, attempting to stall more time for Byeol.

"I lost my partner in crime, it's not the same," he shrugged, tone a little bitter. "Anyone in your life?" He asked, right as I was about to answer yes I realised.

I don't.

Not anymore.

"Unfortunately no, it's slightly lonely, my past lover was great though. Quite the woman," I smiled unknowingly. "Well there's something we can relate on, fierce woman mine was," he seemed in his own world, probably reminiscing his ex. "It was great talking to you Mr... Would you look at that, how disrespectful of me, I didn't ask your name," he said. I internally smirked, realising that was his tactic to get out my name without making it obvious he was suspicious of me.

"I didn't ask yours either," I replied making him chuckle. "Fair enough, but really it was nice talking to you," he held out his hand as tension between us built up. I accepted his handshake, shaking his hand firmly.

We didn't break eye-contact, it felt like a competition. A matter of pride.

*sirens*

We were both taken off guard by the suddenness of the fire alarm going off. "I'll go see what this is about," he left me and disappeared amongst the guests who were in a rush to get out. I silently went to the side, finding a rock as I chuckled, glancing towards the 3rd floor. I knew it was one of Byeol's doings, a distraction for those girls to leave.

She's always been a smartass. An annoying one at that.

I exited along with the others, waiting for Byeol at the car. Soon enough she walked out emotionlessly, mask nowhere to be seen making me sigh, "you fucking idiot, have you forgotten where we are..." I paused in my own words seeing her completely ignore my existence, walking past me. "Yah Kim Byeol," I grabbed her wrist to catch her attention, bringing her back into reality. "Oh... hi," she smiled ever so faintly, randomly throwing her arms around me.

"Oh wow I uhm-"

We hadn't hugged in weeks, her actions were so confusing, what on earth had happened to her to make her like this. She seemed so tired, all her weight leaned onto me like all she needed in the world right now was a little bit of love.

My arms that were stiff in confusion earlier now patted her head. "You wanna talk about it?" I asked as she released from the hug, "no."

Was all she said before sitting into the car, the entire car ride home was silent, which should be something we would be used to. But no, same old painful silence that spoke a million words. "Did you not get the trigger words? Is that the reason?" I asked her, causing her to slightly smile, but it wasn't out of happiness.

"We're such idiots. I mean really we're fucking dumb. There's no point in searching for one USB, you'd have to be an absolute moron to not make at least a hundred copies of it JUST IN CASE." She released a breath, I could tell she was taking out her anger on the wrong person but I tolerated it. Something horrible had happened and if she didn't feel comfortable enough to tell me then it's my duty to endure her attitude.

I dropped her off, eyes not leaving her till she entered the house. Just by the way she treaded I could see how heavy her heart was. What had really happened?

next day

"Morning."

"No."

Byeol slammed the door in my face after I turned up without notice. I saw the condition she was in yesterday, I wanted her to feel better but maybe I wasn't the right person to help her do so. She really had taken off my fingerprint like she said she would so I couldn't even get in.

"I DON'T WANT TO DO MISSIONS. FUCK SHADOW FUCK THE USB FUCK THIS FUCK THAT FUCK YOU."

"HEY WHAT DID I DO?"

She was complaining from the other side of the door. I'd caught a slight glimpse of her appearance when she'd opened the door. Hair messy, last night's mascara still smudged under her eyes with my oversized shirt she probably didn't even notice she had on. "Just go away please," she said, as I heard her turn away from the door, footsteps walking away.

"I brought your favourite chocolate."

The complete silence before the return of her footsteps, "is it the big packet?" She asked softly, "yes Byeol, it's the big packet," I sighed, holding in my laughter. She slowly opened the door, letting me in before she grabbed the bag off me.

"Thank you," she said, leaning against the door frame as I sat down in the living room. "My clothes really do suit you."

She awkwardly fixed her buttons, coming to the realisation of what she was wearing. She must've been really tired to have changed into the first thing she saw in her closet.

"Do you want anything to eat? I can order breakfast?" She changed the topic quickly, sitting opposite me. "I'm ok, I just came over to-"

"Talk about Shadow? Let's just stop all these missions to try take them down, it's useless hopeless and overall pointless. The smartest thing to do is to just wait for them to attack, be prepared," she cut me off. I love how she assumed I could only be here to talk about work. I came here to make her feel better.

"Right uhm, yeah let's do that," I said, about to get up to throw away the wrapper of the chocolate that I'd just eaten. "You dropped something," she spoke, holding out the picture of my mother that must've fallen out my pocket. "Where have you gotten with her case?" She asked, "no where, stuck in the same place," I sighed, disappointment in myself showing.

"You know, now that we aren't going on these missions to take down Shadow, I could help you out with your mother's case," she coughed, awkwardly stating she wished to help me. "And why would you do that?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Because. I don't like the feeling of owing someone, you helped me, I help you and then favours even. Then we'll be able to continue the war, this mutual friendship stuff is getting boring," she responded. I don't think she knew I noticed her intentions. She wanted to escape, she wanted a distraction from whatever was bothering her.

"Great, help me then," I had a couple of papers on me, I laid them out on the table. "You told me that your mum was going to a music shop on that day? And you'd visited all music shops in Korea?" She uttered making me nod.

"What if that's the problem? What if you've been looking for something that doesn't exist, anymore?" She spoke, confusing me. "What are you trying to say?" I asked.

"I went over the pictures of your mother's body, her condition after the incident? Although not noticeable at first glance, if you scrutinise it properly, you'll notice specks of debris on her left hand and on her clothes," she continued. "You're saying she was near a bomb blast?"

"I'm saying you've been looking through shops that are still around, maybe that's why you haven't been successful, what if the shop she went to was blown up moments before she got there?"

"Therefore not existing on the maps... GOSH BYEOL YOU'RE A GENIUS, I- I could kiss you right now," I got up in excitement, finally a fucking lead.

"Please don't."

She leaned back on the sofa while chuckling. "She was obviously not effected by the blast though, no burn wounds whatsoever, but catching that little bit of debris could help us out a fair amount. Search for music shops in Busan that aren't around anymore, find the previous owners, and then boom, a lead," she finished.

"You look like you've already done those things, my love have you secretly been continuing the case?"

I teased her, "I promised you I'd bring her justice, although it's near impossible to successfully solve the case, it doesn't hurt to try." She replied, avoiding eye contact.

"Anyways, uh it wasn't hard to find the shop, there's not many music shops that just conveniently blow up on the same day of a murder. I've got the address," she said before getting up to get her keys, I got up in sync with her. "Are you going to leave like that?" I asked, "why? What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" She found nothing wrong with her attire while she was wearing my shirt with absolutely nothing else on. "Right, give me a minute," she hurried up the stairs, coming out moments after, recieving a questionable stare from me.

"If I'm going to kick some ass I wanna look good doing it," she shrugged, skipping down the stairs and to the front door. "Let's go," I quickly trailed behind her, sitting inside her car.

She drove to quite a large house, we both stood there in confusion. "I'm so sure this is the right address," she tilted her head, it was unusual for a person who used to own a little shop for instruments to have such a huge residential state.

"I guess we'll have to find out," I shrugged, stepping out the car first as she followed. "ID?" The security guard stopped us at the gate, ticking off an already annoyed Byeol.

"The queen of fucking England, move out the way," she elbowed him before striking his face with a punch which surprised me, "this is so unlike you, so bad, I like it," I snickered. We headed inside, kicking down the front door instead of knocking.

"Hey I just got that door!" A voice complained making us turn to face it, the person immediately tried to run away but we cornered him in no time.

"A former owner of a music shop he struggled to keep open, his only source of money blown up and many years later owns a mansion, make it make sense please," Byeol stated unenthusiastically.

"I started a business," he replied, "really no way what's it called I'll invest," she spoke sarcastically, aware of his lies. "I inherited from a relative?" He attempted to convince us with another reason.

"All your relatives abandoned you at the age of 21 after you gambled away all their money, if you're going to lie at least know I've done an entire background check, I know the auto biographies of your dogs too," she crossed her arms.

"I won the lottery-"

"Bitch please," I cut him off, tired of him thinking of excuses. "I suppose we've been a little too nice, I'm here to discuss my mother's murder, now you're going to answer every question we have for you." I grabbed his throat pushing him against the wall.

"What happened that day? In detail," I ordered, "I don't know it's been years I can't remember," he shrugged. Right as I was about to punch him in the face in fury, Byeol held my wrist.

"I see, the mansion the clueless act. You've been paid to keep your mouth shut haven't you?" She tilted her head at him making him chuckle and nod.

"By who, who paid you to keep your mouth shut?" She questioned sternly before he leaned closer to her face smiling before he uttered:

"You did."