P R O T E C T |보호하다

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The sky represented a buff calico, gathering all the clouds at its lower layers. Cars honked, shoes scuffed upon the pavements, the population of citizens busied themselves in their respective errands. From the head to toe, the entire property of John Laurent was utterly disturbed. His scrappy mind was somehow trying to adapt a scrupulously clean way of thoughts, only the notion to rescue his family and retire the nation as soon as granted if fate permitted of course. Under the shadow of his delicate hat, his plain face was illuminated at the thoughts of his beautiful pure children. A light smile conquered his cheeks while he was walking and he mumbled, "Finally, I'll get my family out of that mess. Finally, we will breathe afresh."

A while later, his feet halted at the sight of a huge mansion with a fountain adorning the centre of the front lawn. Nobody could ever imagine that behind the veil of that paradise was situated the land of distressful sins, all dark, sinister and opposite to the definition of beauty.

John engulfed a deep breath before stomping his pair of heels to the interior. As soon as he stepped in, his steadfast gaze was directed towards a sketchy remark, "Mr Laurent, please head to our boss's cabin, now!"

Sweat oozed out of his glands as John went on through the exclusively secured hallway. His rhythm seemed unfamiliar and he was both nervous and enthusiastic as hell. Nervous because he doubted if it was because of some unknown warning also excited since it was the very first time when he was going to have direct eye contact with the unseen so-called 'boss' of the gang. If it was really going to be that exciting or not was still an unexplainable mystery. Arriving at the door to the main office, he was welcomed by a watchman who yanked the door open for him.

John slowly trudged inside, into the absolutely quiet aura which grazed the walls of the room. His hands became sweaty as he raised his etched brows at the person who was smoking while looking outside the window oppositely.

rather than towards the trembling dancing lights inside John's iris. The burning odour of cigar blew to his nostrils that refrained him from keeping his eyes widespread. Blurred oxygen choked his pharynx for which little coughs escaped his parted lips over his fists.

"Welcome back, Mr Laurent. I've been waiting to meet you for so long. I'm glad that you're finally here," an ominous simper lingered at the speaker's edges when he rotated on his chair to face the other.

John bent his spine into a right angle as he spoke, "The pleasure is all mine, sir. I feel lucky that I've got the honour to see you in person unlike most others out here."

"Maybe not so lucky. But you definitely have certain charms for which I've decided to free you from these disgraceful bonds," he said, scraping the lighted end of the cigarette into an ashtray coaster.

Surprise Shook the nervous male's body vigorously as he tactlessly attempted to calculate those puzzling words, also if he was fancying what he saw in this reverie. "What is that supposed to mean, sir? I didn't understand anything, well?"

"From today onwards, in fact right from this very moment, I, Cha Byung-hoon, free you from any other unnecessary tasks."

***

"Ma'am, there's bad news, too bad actually," said a young lad, expressing a sense of sadness in his figure of speech.

The rosy-tinted hair owner jolted straight on her settee. "What is it? What happened now?" She grasped the book which laid on her lap to drop on the side.

"Mr Laurent, he's no more. His body has been detected at the bed of Han river valley a while ago."

"What-what the fuck is wrong with that rotten old humpback? Did he get his heart out via some surgery or what? Doesn't he think even once before snatching somebody's life?"

The guy remained quiet at the pants of the female leader whose inner self was boiling with anger and regret. "Get the cars out," she growled, "We got to leave right now." Finishing the last pair of words in a grumbling sense, she dashed out of the corner.

"V, get your lazy ass out, now!" she said while banging her stiff fists on the wooden barrier to the dedicated person's cubicle. "Yaah! Kim fucking Taehyung, get out of your room right away!" Her anger was shooting the peak point.

"What the fucking fuck!" The said person jerked out of his room. "Why do you sound so restless in the middle of the night? I know you're a night owl who hardly takes a nap but at least let the others get their beauty sleep!"

"Shut your awful pleads and get to the car. We need to get John's family out safe."

"Huh? Why now?" asked the diligent headed boy, being strangled with his own contrasts at musings.

***

"That's-that's ridiculous! I fucking never had faith in that jerk though," added a brunette headed guy, forcing his arms into the sleeves of a leather jacket. "Do you think they would be aliv- I mean alright by now?"

The youthful lady shot her glare at the nonstop chattering stereo. "Can't you be quiet for a moment, you chipmunk! Think positive, they won't kill John's wife and daughter so soon without a few test drives. Do you get that? Those rascals are too much tilted to lust."

The boy settled himself at the back seat, bringing his hood to take over his hairy skull.

Their car sprinted through the bumps and troughs of a road inside a jungle. Dark and grey patches of trees overshadowed the dingy path. The sound of the bustling of the engine was the only audible note in the midst of sheer silence. Bushes deformed their shapes temporarily as the strong currents of wind hit their bodies.

***

Sooner than later, the hoarse vehicle pulled its gear outside a dim mansion standing in the middle of the gloomy forest. The salmon-pink haired lady strolled out on the dampened soil. She flipped her hair while moving forward in an arrogant attitude as her heels squished the little plants covered with mist.

"Taehyung, should I send you a special invitation to come out here?" she spat in a demanding tone mixed with quite a roughness.

The partially somnolent body walked out in a rather clumsy attire. "Yes, where are we..." he asked, yawning as wide as he could.

"Kim Taehyung! You moron! How can you sleep in such a chaotic condition?" Ruby hailed being irritated on high.

Taehyung was on the verge to hit the sack, probably floating stars were the only thing missing around him. He sheepishly remarked, "Look who's talking. You disturbed my whole damn sleep and forced me to come along irrespective of my wills. Now I won't be responsible for whatever happens tonight. Don't blame me if I doze off in between."

"Tae!" Ruby hosted out a gun directed towards the younger male's crown. "Not another fucking lousy word or I'll shoot and bury you right here!" Her breaths were rapidly followed by her strong dark gaze. Her chest vibrated with anger that held the other personality off-guard.

Taehyung smacked, "I was only kidding, yah. Shall we go in? I really want to sleep so bad. Please, let's get over with this as fast as possible." He shove the gun away and advanced to the front door of the house which stood out among its entire surrounding, till miles of distance.

"Ruby was really talking about killing me today. Thank god, but my head is hurting argh!" He shivered at the thoughts of the lady who had never chosen to spend more than five minutes on killing someone pathetically. Cold beads of sweat conquered his temple and palms.

"Yaah! Where the fuck do you think you are going?!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello guys!!! I'm back with the next part! My exams start from tomorrow TT Wish me luck :') Hope you'll enjoy!

안전 유지(Stay safe)

머무르다  금 (Stay gold)

See ya next time!