|Ch.22

"Deoksim, tell us the truth",Yoongi asked calmly.

Deoksim stood infront of her uncles and father.

"What do you know about Sol-ah's disappearing?"

Deoksim understood why red agents were forced to cut ties with their families. The reason is literally infront of her. "Informations are strictly prohibited to be shared. I'm sorry"

Jungkook, "Kim Deoksim!", he stood up in fury.

"Jungkook, calm down!" , Hoseok pulled him to sit down again. He looked at Deoksim. "Deoksim, please,we need to know! Sol-ah might be a missing agent to you but for us,she is our sister. We have the rights to know about what happened to her"

Deoksim, "Uncle, don't make me the bad guy here. She is my aunt too! But I'm a red agent. I have to be professional here. I can't share any information"

Jimin raised his head and spoke, "Then can you make sure to bring her back?", His voice went deep making it more serious.

With this question, Deoksim was sent to the edge. She was taken back with their stares. She opened her mouth to speak buy nothing left from her lips.

"Well,can you?", It was Jongsuk. He also looked at her with a questioning gaze. They needed her word.

"I —I...", she trailed off not knowing how to answer. It was obvious that she can't answer. She was forced into a situation where she cannot escape. Cold sweat appeared on her forehead with the heated stares. She wants nothing but the floor to swallow her up.

Even her father didn't help her this time. He needed an answer too. It was her sister after all. His beloved sister. Their beloved sister. Closing her eyes,she replied. "No,I can't"

"What do you mean you can't?",Yoongi asked.

Deoksim clenched her fists. With gritted teeth,she answered, "I can't promise to bring her back"

Jungkook laughed bitterly. It was a laughter of pure hatred. Deoksim really provoked her uncle Jungkook. She knew that it's not a good sign. Opening her eyes,she saw his red face. He had never given such a look to Deoksim ever before and it pained her. She was like a villain in his eyes. He stood up again.

"You can't? Very well Kim Deoksim. You  lost an uncle today. Do not ever show your face infront of me"

Deoksim's eyes went wide with his words. Her whole body trembled seeing his glare. How did this end up like this way?

Jin stood up with wide eyes. "Jungkook!are you out of your mind?!"

Jungkook, "Well hyung,you should ask it from your beloved daughter! Did you even understand what she meant?!"

Just then Rawon scampered towards Jongsuk out of nowhere taking everyone's attention. Following him,Jihoon was just in the middle of the hallway. It was obvious that he had been eavesdropping with Rawon. And the excited Rawon who had seen his dad,ran away from him.

Jongsuk took him to his hands and stood up. He looked at Deoksim. "Good bye Deoksim", It was obvious that he too doesn't want anything to do with Deoksim anymore. Jungkook shook his head before following Jongsuk to outside.

••••

Deoksim was sobbing,burying her face on the pillow. She couldn't believe that she lost the trust in her family. Her sixth uncle's words hit her so hard.

She felt a hand caressing her hair but she didn't dare to look. She knew from the touch that it was her dad.

"Hey,don't take what uncle Jungkook said to your heart. You know,he loves you"

Deoksim, "Not anymore!", her muffled voice came out.

Jin sighed. "Deoksim, you have to understand him. When it comes to your aunt,he is the most overprotective one"

Deoksim knew how overprotective his sixth uncle towards her aunt. One time when Sol-ah was almost hit by a car,Jungkook lost his mind and almost killed the driver. She saw it from her own eyes,the fear in his eyes.

"Why is uncle like that?"

Jin, "I have told you before,remember? Both Sol-ah and Jungkook were there when Sol-ah was kidnapped. And he ran away leaving her. He was just a kid who knew nothing but fear that time. But as he grew up,he couldn't overcome the guilt. He strongly believed that it was his fault. Until now,not even Sol-ah could help him to overcome that trauma. He still believes it was his fault. And after Sol-ah faked her death,his fear grew up. The thought of his sister's life in danger does nothing good to him. He would do anything to keep her safe"

Deoksim stopped crying and listened to his father attentively. She sighed. If she fail to protect Sol-ah,then that means she'll lose her sixth uncle too. Not only him,but the rest of the family members too. She'll never be able to look into Rawon's eyes ever again.

But when she remembered Mark's words,she doesn't know what to do anymore.

"Deoksim, if you know something, please tell us. We can't lose our sister again. She is much more important to us than you think"

Jin was about to leave but Deoksim spoke.

"Isn't it better to let her go?"

Jin widened his eyes and snapped his head towards her. She wasn't looking at him. She couldn't. She was just staring at the pillow in her hands.

"W –What?"

Deoksim, "she suffered too much. Let her go now. This is nothing but a hell for her"

Jin couldn't what he just heard. "A –Are you for real Deoksim?!"

She nodded and finally looked at him.

"Isn't it better than living in a mental asylum?or worst jail —"

Jin held her by her shoulders and pulled her up. "What do you mean?! Deoksim"

He could only see tears rolling down from Deoksim's eyes. She was lost.

"L –Let her go dad. Please"

Jin stared at his daughter in pure disbelief. It was like a lightening had struck him. Deoksim slowly knelt down infront of him,crying her eyes out.

"I'm sorry",she mumbled.

.

Deoksim pushed her belongings to Haru's car. The night was calm after the storm which had past by. She took a last glance at her childhood home. She knew that this is going to be the last day she's going to see it.

Her time had already come. She is going to fake her death to everybody soon and will never come back. She hiccupped closing her mouth. She couldn't even give them a nice memory before leaving. Her mother was not even at home since she had gone to her parents house few days ago.

At last,she couldn't give them a proper good bye to them.

"Dad, I –I am sorry"

She entered the back seat. Naru looked at her from the passenger seat but didn't say anything. Silence is what she needed now.

They drove off to their base camp. Deoksim looked back one last time.

As they reached the camp,she got off only to see Xiao Zhan outside like he's waiting for someone. When he saw her,he gave a small smile. But his smile faded away seeing her puffy swollen face. He rushed towards her and stood before her carefully examining her face.

He didn't say anything before pulling her into his embrace.

Haru and Naru were startled seeing them. Naru was about to interrupt them but Haru pulled him away. It seems like he understood something.

Maybe right now,what Deoksim needed is him.

Naru nodded and left with Haru leaving the couple.

Xiao Zhan brought her to his cottage in the camp,and let her lie on the bed. It seemed like she had caught a high fever. After helping her with dressing up comfortably, he put a wet cloth on her forehead to reduce her fever.

Stroking her hair,he stayed by her side whole night.

When she woke up,she was in his arms. Snuggling closer to him,she held him tightly as if she's afraid to let go.

Her small movements woke him up too.

She gasped feeling a small chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Sleep a bit more. You still have the fever",his deep husky morning voice muttered.

She shook her head.

"Mn,then stay here. I'll bring porridge"

She nodded and let him go. She heaved a sigh like she was tired. She felt lonely all of a sudden. Getting up,she went to his attached bathroom and brushed her teeth and washed her face. She didn't want him to feel her bad morning breath. She could say that he was already freshened up when he was cuddling on the bed earlier.

Leaving the room,she entered the living room. It was cozy and warm. She had never entered a cottage of a high official and it made her a bit giddy knowing it's his cottage.

As she entered the kitchen,she saw him heating the porridge. She didn't know what took over her but she shrugged off and went to him and back hugged him.

He was a bit startled but relaxed.

"Why did you come here? You should be resting on the bed",he mumbled with a small smile.

She whined a little but didn't say anything. He chuckled before turning to him. Lifting her up,he put her on the kitchen counter. "Then stay here like this. Don't tire yourself"

Like a lifeless corpse,she let her head fall onto his shoulder and let out a soft sigh.

He was worried seeing her unusual behaviour. She seemed a lot tired. He could say that a lot had happened to her before coming to the camp.

He switched off the stove and hugged her back,stroking her back.

"Hey,what happened ,sweet?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

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