Yeosang puts his finger to his lip, tilting his head as he studies Byul's face, a pencil tuck at the back of his ear. In his hand is his sketching book, turned to an empty page which has been in that condition since half an hour ago.

Beside him, Hongjoong is flipping through a stack of fashion magazines, looking for nothing in particular. The leader would point something on the pages to Yeosang, but he only shakes his head, closing his eyes like he's facing the biggest crisis of his life.

"I feel like there's nothing I can change on her face or appearance." Yeosang puts down the sketching book, reaching out for a cup of water on the counter.

"So uh, should I take that as a compliment?"

"Oh-ho," he puts up a finger, looking displeased. "In our world, that's not a compliment, that just means you're going to fail miserably because it's hard for you to disguise yourself. You're making me feel challenged as I, Kang Yeosang, is the master of disguises. Not being able to change anything for your outward appearance means that you are insulting me."

As he delves deep into his thoughts, he subconsciously takes his pendant and bites it. In his mind, multiple layouts with Byul as the model is spread out, with different styles and appearances. One thing he knows for sure is that something needs to change.

"Your hair needs to go."

Defensively her hands fly to the top of head, looking at him with a mix of disgust and horror. Accusingly, she says, "You are not going to touch my hair and I am not going bald. I know there's nothing wrong with a woman being bald but I can't pull that off. I'll look like an egg." She frowns then adds grudgingly, "An egg that has gone bad."

Hongjoong snorts but is cut short as she glares at him.

"You think it's funny but your strawberry hair is funnier."

"Do you have a problem with me?" he asks as he puts down a magazine. "Why are you so nice to the others but you treat me differently? You even gave Yeosang your portion of food during breakfast this morning." He tries to appear angry but he ends up sounding and looking like a whiny child.

"Hmm," both Yeosang and Byul verbalize at the same time. They stand side by side, crossing their arms as they turn to look at the leader.

"I don't know," she says sarcastically as she leans against Yeosang, her arm rested against his shoulder. It has only been two days but they are already like the best of friends, clicking right off from the start. "Yeosang, what do you think?"

"That's a tough question," he replies, pretending to think about it so hard that his forehead starts to crease. "Is it because he always looks so grumpy? Or is it because... I don't know... single-handedly ruined your life?"

She huffs. "I think it's the second one."

"Ha-ha, that's funny." He slaps the magazine shut. "That was two days ago, and I apologized to you until I felt like my lips could crack. And I'm trying to be nice while letting you stay at our house. For free."

"Oh boy, here we go again," Yeosang mutters.

"Well excuse me, Mr. Strawberry." She puts one hand on her hip and snaps her fingers with the other. "I should be cursing at you until you are on your deathbed, but here I am, trying to live with the fact that you just simply ruined my life. So don't expect too much."

"Everybody makes mistakes. Just because I'm a straw-" he shakes his head and quickly corrects himself, "-just because I'm the leader doesn't mean that I'm free from any mistakes; I'm not a saint. It's not easy trying to take another person under my wing, but it seems like the rest of the boys are fine with it-"

"So you had to, is that what you're trying to say? While the rest of you wanted to spare my life, your real intention was to kill me off but you couldn't, because it's not the majority decision. Do correct me if I'm wrong."

"She's so salty," Yeosang muses. He puts a hand to his chest, then dramatically wipes a fake tear off. "I love it."

"Stop twisting my words. What I'm saying is-" he puts out a palm to prevent her from interrupting him and she crosses her arms again, defensive. "-it's hard for me to accept someone new in my team, when all I've known since then was 8 of us and Hwayoung. I'm trying. You don't know about it but Alexander used to be a part of our team and he betrayed us. He was our newest recruit in the past, but he was also the first person to leave our team in shambles because he was trying to save himself. I don't want something like that to happen again to my boys."

Yeosang purses his lips as Hongjoong tidies up the magazines. The latter stays in place, his palm on the stack as his shoulders droop.

"Letting someone in, especially one that we can't do a full background check on. For someone who have been through like what we did, what do you think I should feel?"

Yeosang reaches out to pat Hongjoong's arm but the latter flinches and sighs, avoiding his touch. His face remains placid as he stands up.

"Yeosang, make sure she gets a good makeover until we can't recognize her anymore, alright? I'll be down in the studio if you need me."

He walks past the two of them, leaving the stacks of magazines that he and Yeosang like to collect. He gives a slight smile to Byul, never having the intention of making her feel bad about it, but he can't help but get upset as he's reminded of Alexander. He enters the laundry room before lowering himself down behind the washing machine, leaving the two of them in an uncomfortable silence.

She hates the feeling; the fact that some of them - especially Hongjoong and Yunho - are making it as if the whole situation was her fault.

Why does my life always revolve around being accused of something that wasn't my fault in the first place? Just what did I do in my past life to deserve this?

At the same time, she can't help but feel bad for them.

"Don't take whatever Hongjoong said to heart. He has always blamed himself for being the reason Alexander left when really, it never is and never was. He probably never meant to equate you with him, since it's not like you're sent to spy on us or anything, right?" he nudges her playfully.

He made it sounded like he was trying to ask it casually but at the same time being entirely hopeful that she'll not negate his statement. She doesn't want to disappoint him but at the same time she's scared thinking about how they would feel if she reveals who she is. What would their reaction be, and would it change the way they view her?

"Are you offended?" he asks again as she doesn't answer, tilting his head to look at her. "I'm sure he doesn't mean it that way." He pushes a filled cup of water to her, as if it's a gesture to soothe her. But she shakes her head, both to politely refuse the water and to answer his question.

"I understand. Not like, understand what went on with Alexander, but I get where he's coming from. So," she tries to change the subject, "you really think that I should do away with my hair?"

"Okay, we won't completely shave your head." A slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. "But we'll have to cut it until it's shoulder-length, or even shorter. And bangs, you'll need bangs to look somewhat different. What about dyeing your hair bright red? I think Mingi has some red dye; he had always wanted to do it but never did. Ah." He snaps his fingers once, "You can dye your hair red together with him; that'd force him to actually get on with it. Perfect. I've never seen a giraffe with red fur in my whole life."

She chortles. "But doesn't bright red literally screams 'Hey look at me, I'm not supposed to even be here, but who cares?'"

He laces his fingers and nods. "I agree, but you'd be surprised to know that sometimes the best disguises are the ones that are eccentric. Our goal here is to make you not look like a Han Byul, so that even those who recognize you before won't give you a second glance even if you were to pass by them."

"Just get a face tattoo or some extra piercings on your face. That'd be super cool," Wooyoung interrupts, heading for the fridge. He takes out a carton of milk and much to both of their disgust, he chugs down the milk, wipes his mouth with his sleeve and throws the empty carton.

"Ugh, gross. It's no wonder that all the milk spoils so easily," Yeosang grunts. "You don't even bother to be hygienic. I'm telling Seonghwa about this." He jumps from the high chair, but Wooyoung pulls him back by the collar, locking an arm around his neck.

"Talking about tattoos and piercings, Seonghwa's the best."

"At what?" she asks dumbly. "Screaming at people who's gotten them done and chastising how it'll ruin their future prospect in job interviews?"

"He does seem like he'd be like that, doesn't he?" Wooyoung nods his head. He releases Yeosang, who fumbles around to steady himself. "But our eldest has a long list of tattoos and piercings all over his body. He's just smart in not letting them show."

"Seong...hwa... The guy that makes pancakes and waffles with a pink frilly apron?"

"Yeah. Rule number 1 in this house, never judge a book by its cover, even Hwayoung. She looks like a sweet little cupcake but once she opens her mouth, she can make a grown man cry. You can go ask Seonghwa about where to get any tattoos or piercings done, and he'll probably give you a whole book on it. I think he knows every tattoo artist in every district. He used to get a tattoo for every person he killed-" he stops as he feels a presence behind him.

He doesn't even have to guess to know who's behind him because the looming shadow and the looks of pity on the two with him tell enough. Giving in, he says, "Park Seonghwa is behind me, isn't he?"

"Yeap," Yeosang answers simply.

"What is he holding?" Wooyoung asks, one foot already out of line.

"A hanger."

"Well, let me just-" he doesn't finish his sentence as he ducks and bolts under Seonghwa's outstretched arm, conveniently dodging the first attack.

"Woo-" Seonghwa brings the tips of his fingers on the right together, calming himself down. He turns to Yeosang and Byul, "Why did you accuse me of holding a hanger when I don't even have one?"

Yeosang shrugs. "It's fun seeing Wooyoung scared."

The eldest joins them, looking questioningly to the stacks of magazines and Yeosang explains what they're for; he leaves out the part of Hongjoong and Byul's disputation. The former looks extra excited at the thought of her getting a makeover that will probably include tattoos and piercings, that he does a little clap with the tips of his fingers.

He muses, "Where would you like to get your tattoos done? On your face, arms, torso, legs?"

"Wait, wait, wait." She flaps her arms, trying to calm him down. Seonghwa is bouncing in his seat, seemingly too eager to see her getting some done. "I don't get how a tattoo that you can't probably see will help me with the 'new Byul'."

He sniffs, looking disappointed as if someone just stole his ice cream. "It doesn't, but it's pretty. It's art on your body. Piercings too; look at Wooyoung. I recommended him the tattoo parlor and look where he is now. He won't stop piercing his ears."

"I'm not saying it's not pretty or anything," she quickly refutes, a bit baffled by his reaction. "It's just..."

"I'm not forcing you," Seonghwa chuckles. "If you're worried about hygiene then don't worry; I'm one of the most picky guys about hygiene and I won't step into one that isn't hygienic. Plus, I know one that's really good, and the artist is a female."

Yeosang gives him a knowing look before he smirks, and Byul catches it. She narrows her eyes suspiciously at them, but they only shrug.

"So it'll only be me and the artist, right? I'm kind of... shy."

Yeosang snorts. "Do you think we would want to see your body?"

She doesn't answer but smacks him on the back of his head with a magazine.

He rubs it with a sour face but doesn't do anything more. Instead, he asks, "Doesn't this seem more of Seonghwa trying to get you to be inked rather than a stint to make you look 'different'? I swear our team is always so easily sidetracked."

"And what about it?" Seonghwa crosses his arms. "We're going to go shopping, the salon and the tattoo parlor, if you agree, Ms. Han?"

She nods, ultimately giving permission and bringing up Seonghwa's excitement a few notches higher.

"That's great. Then both of you should get ready to go out because we're going on an adventure."

He turns towards the direction of his bedroom, almost looking like he's skipping all the way.

She leans towards Yeosang and whispers, "Am I supposed to be scared? Why does he look so happy at the idea of me getting a tattoo?"

He hits her head softly with his knuckles. "It's not about you, idiot. You'll see why he's so excited when we get there."

At the same time San comes into their dorm through the main entrance, looking serious. She notices that when San and Jongho came back from her flat yesterday, they stayed relatively quiet. They left her belongings in front of her door as she was sleeping, and she opened the bag with a simple note inside.

Sorry for doubting you, was what was written.

They barely spoke to her, and she didn't know whether it was because they found out something about her. But why were they the ones apologizing? She didn't get a chance to ask because it seemed that both of them were trying their best to avoid her, during breakfast and until now, because they only hung out at the cafe - the place where it is strictly forbidden for her.

"San!" Yeosang calls him out. "Do you want to join us? Seonghwa is so happy because Byul is getting a tattoo."

"Ah, you guys are going to that place, aren't you? His favourite tattoo parlor," he replies flatly. "But I can't, I have a job to do."

"Job?" He throws his gaze to the small handheld device beside the television. "I don't think we received any requests recently."

"It's not; it's something personal. Have to go now."

San doesn't acknowledge her that much as he steps into the laundry room, but before he lowers himself down behind the washing machine, he catches Byul's gaze. The look in his eyes fire multiple shots down her system, and she doesn't know what exactly to perceive of it.

Based on her wild guess, it seems that he is about to do something dangerous, but he's not going to regret it one bit.