The plan was not to show even a single trace of fear, of discomfort, of anger, of any emotion at all when she stood outside of the Koos' residence. Yet, when Junhoe's mother opened the door and greeted her, Chaeyoung wasn't able to hold herself from looking uncomfortable and being very cautious of everything.

"We did not expect a visit from you," the woman said, her eyes twinkling but it wasn't a welcoming type. Her face held a smile that seemed so far from sincerity, leaving Chaeyoung feeling more uncomfortable as seconds passed. "Junhoe is just about to head over to your house."

Not even a couple seconds passed, Junhoe appeared behind his mother and his usual calm or sometimes unbothered look wasn't with him. His face grim and when their eyes met, she felt terror sliding up her spine. Her eyes traveled to his lips and a sense of relief washed over her briefly upon noticing how his lips were not cracked.

Junhoe excused himself and once his mother closed the door with a click, he turned to her and looked in her eyes. "What do you want?"

Chaeyoung's throat tightened at the coldness in his voice, her fear of him began to bubble excessively inside of her that she was convinced that at any time, she would probably puke. She felt herself sweating. The determination to confront him confidently when she woke up that morning had disappeared, like it never even existed.

Junhoe eyed her for a long time, his frown deepened as something passed over his features. His jaw tightened when he grabbed her elbow painfully and dragged her farther from his house.

"If you so much as think of handing me over to the village leader," he spoke and Chaeyoung's eyes widened in surprise, "I will make sure that your family will be dragged as well."

Chaeyoung's heartbeat quickened, her mind was crowded with the thoughts and wonders of how he managed to figure out her exact plan until a realization fell onto her.

A Dual would have two abilities. Healing was Junhoe's primary ability. If he was able to guess correctly or knew something that was kept a secret or a thought that was locked in a person's head, Chaeyoung could only think of a community that could do all that. Those who reside in the sector filled with golden buildings, the finest people of all sectors.

The Suppliers.

Suppliers were not only wealthy with tangible things. They had wealthy minds, filled with supplies of information whether known or unknown to everyone. Some gifted Suppliers would even have the ability to read minds. As a Dual, undoubtedly, Junhoe was both a Healer and a Supplier.

Chaeyoung forced herself to gulp down the lump of anxiousness in her throat. His threat involving her family burned into her mind. She could never risk her family for something that she would have to bear alone. "My family has nothing to do with this."

The grim look he had was dropped immediately, replaced with something close to an amused expression. He scoffed loudly before giving her a lift of his eyebrow and a smirk. "Oh, are you sure of that?" He let out a mocking laughter, causing Chaeyoung to knit her brows.

"Well, your brother might not be involved in any of this," he said. "But are you quite sure that your parents are not at all involved?"

She felt the air leave her lungs in a rush. "What -what are you talking about?" Did her parents know all along? That he was in fact, a Dual?

"Oh, Park Chaeyoung," he chuckled. "You are not only a useless Healer, but you are also quite naïve, I see. Do you really think your father wants to marry you off with me just because you are a weak, useless Healer?" His smirk appeared bigger, his gaze piercing her eyes.

If it was another time, she would feel deeply hurt at the terms he used on her. Weak. Useless. Two terms that she heard almost every day, spoken by the people of the village in loud whispers and giggles. But on that moment, none of the two terms affected her as much as any other day. All she had lingering in her mind was his accusation, his statement of her parents' involvement in this.

Certainly, based on how Junhoe made it sound, her parents knew what he really was. But she couldn't understand why. She couldn't figure out why. Why would they do that if they knew he was a Dual? Why would do they be willing to leave their only daughter to the hands of a monster?

Creep tingling at the back of her neck when Junhoe let out another scoff and said, "I see that you want to know why." He circled around her with his hands clasped behind his back. His steps were slow and intimidating. "I still have my respect for my future father-in-law. As much as I want to reveal to you why, as a respectful future son-in-law of his, I will not take the chance of telling you the reason."

Chaeyoung wanted to spit at those terms. Father-in-law and son-in-law. Disgust surfaced on her face. She didn't want to be united to this monster. She certainly didn't want to be involved in helping him. She didn't want to be labeled as a traitor.

She would rather have her life sucked out of her for going against this monster, the race that had caused huge loss to her community, the race that would stop at nothing to achieve what they wanted.

"Why are you so against the idea of us being united?" Junhoe stopped in front of her. "What will we lose? Nothing. If you keep your mouth shut, we will lose nothing. And, have I not said it before that I have nothing against you loving another man? You can still have fun with your Defender friend all you want. While I can still have fun with whoever I want. All we have to do is get married and have children."

Chaeyoung's eyes began to shake. She couldn't believe her ears. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. Her fingers dug into her own palms as she clenched her fists. They shook on her sides as she bit her lips hard. She felt disgusted. What did he think of her? A woman with no pride and shame?

He leaned down until their faces were only inches away. "Is that a difficult thing to do?"

A tear rolled down her cheek and she wasn't thinking when her hand rose so quick, swung so fast and only realized that she had slapped him hard on his cheek when his face was turned to the side. Her palm stung as she breathed heavily. Junhoe's own hand lifted to feel his cheek, red began to rise on it. He scoffed before he stood up straight, walking slowly, circling her once again.

The smug on his face made the fear in her body dissipated, replaced with rage. She didn't regret slapping him, a Dual, a monster who could, anytime, take away her life. In fact, it wasn't even enough for her. In her head, if he was to change into his final form as a Dual a second after that and get his revenge on her for slapping him hard, if he was to even murder her on the spot, it would be a lot better than having to put herself in the mess. It was better than to betray the trust of those who had trusted her. It was better than betraying the village.

How was marrying her to a Dual would make her a dutiful Healer to the village? Wasn't it an act of betraying the village instead? Why in the bleeding skies would her parents want her to marry a Dual? All these questions floated in her mind constantly.

Junhoe stopped walking when he was behind her. She held back her gasp when he spoke to her ear. "Why don't you head home now, hm? Ask them why."

She turned abruptly when he began to chuckle into her ear, pushing his chest roughly with a strength she didn't know she had. Junhoe stumbled a few steps but his wicked grin stayed on his face. Her fists were still shaking when she walked away from him.

"Remember this Chaeyoung," he said aloud, causing her to stop midway. "I will drag your family along if you say a word."

*

"What exactly do you want to do to him?"

Hanbin stared into a distance, his wishes, his plans and imaginations played in his head.

"A lot of things," he said after a while. The corners of his lips curved into a small smirk, his mind provided him vivid images of how Jungkook's future would be like. "Unlike last time, I want him to suffer slowly."

What he did back then was too fast. He'd lashed out, stabbed, slashed, beat his opponent too quickly that when the latter fell, gasping for the tiniest hope of life while he was dragged away, Hanbin did not feel the slightest bit of satisfaction. He didn't feel enough. He wanted to do more.

The times he spent locked away from the eyes of others let him absorb patience, made it a part of him. While others might feel like when they leave the cell it would be great, it would feel fantastic to use up the energy all at once, Hanbin did not feel the same way.

His alone time provided him lessons that he knew would benefit him in the long run. He learned to be patient as he waited for his time to feel the biggest ray of sunshine on his skin. He learned that doing things slowly would give him the best result.

It made him realize that a slow death would be a thousand times better than a quick one.

He expected his friends to object with him. Yet, they all seemed to be satisfied with his choice, smiling wickedly and laughing boisterously. Each one of them seemed to be more eager than him.

Jiwon leaned forward, his smug grin hanging off his face permanently ever since Hanbin entered that room.

"You probably have a thousand ways to torture him slowly," Jiwon said, grin only widened on his face. "But we also know one way that you might not have thought of before."

Hanbin studied the exchanged looks on his friends' faces. They only had to look into one another's eyes, and everyone seemed to understand the hidden message. Hanbin chuckled.

"I must have missed something big."

"Indeed," Jinhwan who was sitting beside Jiwon confirmed with a small smile.

"I do hope it is fun," Hanbin said to his friends, slightly unable to contain his excitement to know what they have in mind.

"Oh, trust me," Jiwon laughed. "It is fun."

Jinhwan cleared his throat, his own form of smirk began to creep up his face. "You see, while you are away, Jeon Jungkook gained a new skill. If I have to be honest, I am impressed."

Hanbin raised his brow, unsure if that had any relation at all on how he would have fun with torturing Jungkook. His vengeful heart burned even more upon obtaining the new information despite his calm composure.

"Might I warn you, Hanbin, he might use it on you," Jinhwan continued. "But you have exactly nothing to worry about. As long as you are aware of his weakness, none of his skills will matter."

Hanbin's eyes sparked interest, the light of excitement danced in his eyes. Weakness and Jungkook were two of his favorite words. The corner of his mouth lifted into a small smirk. "And his weakness is...?"

He had never been this certain in his life before, but seeing his friends shared knowing glances once again, smirking to each other wickedly, Hanbin knew that the next time Jungkook and he would meet, it would be the best moment of his life.