Season two, chapter fifty-one

"As long as we stay together
there's a place to call Home"

THEA FINDS herself seated on a humble wooden chair, in front of a mother and child whose lives she and Mun have recently rescued. Amid the bittersweet reflection, she feels a pang of disappointment for forfeited the having luxurious dinner reservation Mun had meticulously at one of the nation most's esteemed restaurants. Their commitment to duty has consumed their time, leaving little room for personal connection.

That's why their shared free time becomes an idyllic sanctuary where affections intertwine, whether it's indulging in cozy cuddles as they immerse themselves in captivating TV narratives, savoring delectable cuisine at fine eateries, or embarking on picturesque strolls through nature's embrace, hand in hand.

Thea and Mun yearned for a moment stolen of togetherness — a chance to reignite the spark that had brought them closer than ever before. they yearn for more than just being a team; they crave meaningful moments as a couple. But as fate would have it, today was not meant to be their day, forcing them to change their carefully laid-out plans for the greater good.

"Eat up before it gets cold" Ms. Chu encouraged, placing a bowl of noodles in front of the woman and the child

"Thank you" The woman thanked lowering her head, not being able to make eye contact with any of the Counters

"Oh, it's nothing" Ms. Chu exclaimed softly "We sell noodles, so that's what you got. It's Jun-hui, right? I hope you like the noodles. Do you like rolled eggs? How about a pork cutlet?" But the little boy didn't respond and instead started eating the noodles in his bowl

Thea would say that he's a little rude for not answering what his elders asked him but on the other hand she understood why he did it. He probably lived his entire life with an abusive father as a role model and never had the love from his father like he should have had. And so silence became his shield, shielding him from a life tainted by his abusive father.

"He seems to like it" Mun commented watching the little boy eat his noodles. Thea's face lit up with excitement when the bell above the glass door chimed "Mo-tak, how did it go?" Mun asked almost as soon as the aforementioned entered the restaurant

"Well, obviously, I took care of it" Mo-tak boasted proudly

"We had hard evidence" Thea added with a smile of relief drawn on her reddish lips

"It turns out he committed more than just domestic violence. He won't be out for a while" Mo-tak explained with both of his hands placed on his hips letting out a big sigh of relief

"It seems everything went the way you wanted. But one day, he may show up again. Is that okay with you?" Ms. Chu questioned, looking at the woman sitting in front of her with a sympathetic expression

"Well, we can't live like this forever" The woman responded, her eyes falling on her young son who probably suffered the most from experiencing all of this at a very young age

"Right. You can come by anytime you want. To eat noodles or to chitchat with us" Ms. Chu suggested, giving her one of her best smiles to let her know that they were all on her side

"Of course. We'll chitchat away" Mo-tak agreed, approaching the table where half of the team remained

"If you want, we'll always be by your side" Ms. Chu exclaimed, gently taking one of the woman's hands "Jun-hui, you can have free noodles forever"

"Thank you" The woman thanked, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, continuing to eat the noodles in her bowl

- -

Her heart throbbed like a wild drumbeat, undefeatable rage coursed through her veins, as she gripped her hands into steadfast fists, her knuckles gleaming white, poised to unleash a storm of unstoppable power. Boundless fury consumed her very essence, transforming a mere touch into a force capable of shattering mountains.

"Damn it. Those scoundrels" Mo-tak cursed loudly, shattering the tranquility. Brimming with raw emotions, Mo-tak slams the table, seeking solace in the stark white wooden seat

"I can't believe this" Ms. Chu murmured under her breath "Papa and Ms. So... I still vividly remember their kind faces. I keep losing my friends. I guess I'm getting old now" Ms. Chu commented, tilting her head to the side as she began to cry

"Whats very unfortunate is the evil spirits have the Counters' powers" Wi-gen explained in depth with a serious face

"They have the Counters' powers?" Mun's face contorted with a mix of surprise and fear as he braced for the unknown

"If a level three evil spirit absorbs a Counter's soul, it absorbs the Counter's powers, too" SuHo found the courage to speak up, his tender voice reflecting the depths of his distraught

"Wait. Does that mean they've become like us now? They can read and erase memories? And heal people?" Thea's eyes widened with intrigue. Her delicate hands, bathed in a soft pale glow, gravitated towards the pristine white table, searching for reassurance. Across from her, Hyun-ki, her enigmatic partner in crime, nodded ever so truthfully

"Those damn evil spirits. Have we located them yet?" Mo-tak asked with a frown, determined to confront the evil spirits wreaking havoc at every turn

"Not yet" Gi-ran shook her head

"Jeez. What about our new Counter? We need a new Counter to deal with a situation like this" Mo-tak began to say, raising his voice with each passing second

"Jong-guk is preparing for the interview. Please wait a little longer" Gi-ran asked, once again lengthening the wait. For three arduous years, the phrase has echoed through their ears, building up anticipation and testing their fortitude

"You always say that!" Mo-tak responded losing his patience. How can one keep their patience intact in this type of desperate situations?

"In any case, it'll be a battle unlike anything before" Hana delivered her chilling comment, her face a mask of solemnity

- -

"They shouldn't be so different. Ji Cheong-sin used psychokinesis. Baek Hyang-hui could read memories, Park Ye-jun had super strength" Mo-tak explained, remembering his enemies from three years ago

Thea's hair electrifies with memories of her notorious uncle, an enigmatic figure whose dark past haunts her every thought. Behind prison bars, he languishes, a fallen kingpin entwined in a web of deceit and treachery.

"What's important is we have less Counters and more evil spirits using our powers" Hana explained, her eyes falling on each of the team members "If evil spirits like these multiply, the world could fall into chaos"

"Hana is right" Ms. Chu agreed with the black-haired girl "Papa said he'd recently finished psychokinesis training"

"I can do It!" Mun's unexpected outburst shatters the tranquil atmosphere, sending shivers down everyone's spines

"Goodness," Thea murmured underneath her breath, shaking her head firmly in disbelief

"Right now?"

"I can do It" Mun began to recite, standing up from his chair with a determined expression on his face

"We can do It" Everyone else repeated in a low voice as if they weren't in the mood for this

"Repeat after me" Mun ordered as if he was teaching a bunch of students "I can do It!"

"We can do It!" The others repeated with a little more enthusiasm and inspiration. Thea stands out as a beacon of hope, questioning the constant routine that surrounds her

"Repeat after me one more time! Haven't you eaten or what? I can do It!" Mun exclaimed once again raising both of his arms in the air

"We can do It!"

"I can do It!"

"We can do It!

"I can!"

"That's right. That's the spirit. You can do it" Mun stands tall, looking proudly at his team who were now more determined to move forward

"We can!"

"You can do it"

"You're right. We must keep our heads up" Ms. Chu resolutely agreed "We have to succeed"

"That's right" Mo-tak hit the table before getting up from his chair "Let's wipe out all the evil spirits in the world!" He high-fived Mun "That's our job. And after we crush them, we'll retire and enjoy some refreshing..." A contagious wave of laughter erupted as he raised a metaphorical toast, skillfully mimicking the iconic act of savoring a crisp, cold beer "That sounds so good. We'll enjoy beer like this! You evil spirits, bring it on!"

"It set foot" Hana ignites an unexpected declaration that leaves everyone in awe. And while Thea can't help but cringe at the unforeseen announcement, it only adds to the charm of Mo-tak, whose ability to bring jinxes upon every situation is oddly captivating

"Oh, come on"

"Seriously?"

"That was quick"

"Hana, what's up?" Ms. Chu asked curiously as Hana extended one of her hands in the air asking the group to remain silent

"Jun-hui and his mom. They're in danger" Hana's exclamation shatters the stillness around her, propelling her to rise with an infectious fervor

"He's in danger? What do you mean?"

"That little boy?"

"He's father shouldn't be out already. He wasn't even an evil spirit" Ms. Chu protested with a frown

"There's no time for this! Let's go!" Jangmul exclaimed, hurrying the group out of the restaurant

"Okay let's go"

"I..."

"Watch your mouth, okay?" Ms. Chu interrupted him before he could say any words that could jinx everything as usual

"Hurry! Let's go!"

- -

Thea tosses her hair back, a subtle movement that sets the stage for what lies ahead. As the doors inch open before her, anticipation fills the air, revealing the remarkable Counters team poised for action. Their distinctive poses, perfectly choreographed, are bathed in the luminous glow of their truck's piercing white light, transforming the scene into an electrifying catwalk of courage and determination.

"Who are those punks?" The evil spirit asked, tension hanging thick in the air as its ethereal hand lingers, frozen in the midst of a ghastly act

"Hana was right" Ms. Chu commented, her attention commands with unwavering professionalism "One evil spirit and some garbage..."

"Two, four, seven..." Mo-tak stood at the edge of the dimly lit room, his gaze scanning the diverse assembly of bold and enigmatic figures before him. As his eyes darted from one mysterious face to another, an electrifying tension hung in the air, holding him captive in this gripping tableau

"You're confusing me. Why are there so many?" Ms. Chu asked with a frown as Jangmul let out an amused laugh

"They look like they're no match for us" Jangmul explained superiorly, adjusting his elegant gray suit

"Look at these pathetic idiots. How dare you barge into our lab?" Unbeknownst to them, their laughter concealed the ignorance of the formidable power they were taunting

A mischievous smirk plays upon her lips as she casually plunges her hands into the pockets of her red fiery sweatshirt. As her eyes sparkle with anticipation, the stage is set for an exhilarating spectacle about to unfold. In the midst of this captivating scene, a sudden commotion erupts when a man clumsily drops his mop, his hasty footsteps resonating towards Hana.

"Oh, sorry" The short man commented, although Hana agilely bent his arm making him scream in pain. One cannot help but feel a twinge of empathy as Thea contemplates the impending fall of this remarkably diminutive man

"Let's begin" Hana inquired stretching her hands out. Suddenly, Thea's playful snap of her fingers hinted at the excitement that lay ahead

"Don't beat them too much. Ms. Chu will get tired" Jangmul warned the team, certainly taking care of the elder he was not-so-secretly enamored of

"It's okay to beat them too much" Ms. Chu assured confidently

"Is it?"

"Yeah. I'll only heal them a little" Ms. Chu responded with amusement

"Okay. Class registered" Mo-tak exclaimed, snapping his fingers with ease

"Life lesson 101 begins now" Mun added starting to walk towards the group of men with superiority

"First period. Do not mess with good people!" Ms. Chu screamed. In a breathtaking moment that defies gravity, she springs into action, delivering a resounding strike against the cheek of her assailant

With a mischievous smile on her face, she becomes the embodiment of grace and agility, leaving a trail of stunned adversaries in her wake. Her opponents have never witnessed a force quite like her before. Thea effortlessly evades their futile advances, teasingly asserting her dominance with a swift, elegant dodge. A swift calculated kick, that seems to appear out of thin air, sends her opponents sprawling in disbelief, their overconfidence shattered.

Her next move is just as stunning; a gentle yet forceful strike to the gut leaves her adversary gasping for air, unable to comprehend how a woman could possess such immense power.

Thea's unyielding gaze swept across her surroundings, a beautiful storm of determination and fearlessness. Unfazed by the fallen thugs that littered the ground, she embodied a mesmerizing blend of strength and unspoken untold tales.

"Whats going on?" One of them asked when Mun lifted him high into the air

"Hey, mister. Where are you going?" Mun asked with amusement, leaving him hanging from the metal of the ceiling "Just wait there for a while, okay?  Is the air fresh up there? I'll put you down if you repent"

"Help! I'm scared of heights! Hey!"

Thea finds herself gasping in laughter one moment, only to witness the deadly knife hurtled towards Jun-hui, Thea's amusement turns into a desperate race against time. Her eyes widen in terror, and with trembling hands, she and Mun reach out with their trembling hands to stop the blade but before they could do so it stopped centimeters away from the boy's head.

"What..." Mun and Thea stopped in place when they noticed that Mo-tak had been the one who had stopped the knife from reaching the boy

"Mo-tak..." Thea murmured under her breath in surprise yet proud of the man

"Did you see that?" Mo-tak questioned both adolescents with his eyes wide open "I... without even a nosebleed. I finally..." He stumbled over his own words

"Good job," Mun congratulated, yet, his attention remains glued to the young boy, eyes closed in profound concentration, as he tenderly clings to his unconscious mother's hand on a cold, lifeless metal table

"I did great! I did it!" Mo-tak exclaimed happily, an ear-to-ear smile forming on his lips

"Yes you did" Thea confirmed patting his shoulder gently as she watched Ms. Chu hurriedly run towards the woman on the metal table

As he counts the seconds, his whispered words hold an unwavering hope, an ardent plea to open his eyes and find his mother by his side. And when he finally reaches one hundred, Mun removed the headphones from the little boy's ears, who opened his small teary eyes.

"Jun-hui" The woman's voice quivered as she whispered his name, relieved by the sight of her son unharmed

"Mom..." Jun-hui clings to his mother, haunted by the fear that she might vanish into thin air

"See? I told you she'd wake up after 100" With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, Mun can't help but chuckle as he restores his headphones to their to rightful place

"Well done" Mun congratulated Mo-tak who was still surprised by his great psychotic abilities

"You little..." Thea's voice was abruptly silenced as her gaze fixated on a figure in a pristine white coat, desperately scrabbling across the sordid floor, yearning for freedom. Unbeknownst to him, his meticulously laid-out scheme was mercilessly shattered when Thea's fierce determination propelled her leg forward, swiftly rendering the man unconscious

"How do we clean all this up?" Ms. Chu asked, her eyes surveying the dumpsite of men around her

"Goodness. It'll be a lot of work to erase all their memories" Jangmul stood tall, observing the the dump of individuals around him

"We can make it seem like they beat each other up" Hana suggested, turning her head towards Mun who nodded in acknowledgement

"I don't see why not" Mun fearlessly takes charge, a beacon of unwavering resolve. With a subtle gesture, he commands an invisible power to lift men effortlessly from the ground

"What are you doing?"

"I didn't do it"

Mun's hands sparked with electrifying energy as the men clashed before him. An indulgent smile painted across Thea's beguiling crimson lips, her arms crossed in anticipation playful. As she watched her beloved embody the thrill of the moment, she couldn help't but be drawn into the exhilarating spectacle, discovering a newfound delight in the spectacle unfolding before her eyes.

"He's enjoying this" Thea pointed out, shaking her head in disbelief as Ms. Chu lightly slapped the black-haired boy on the back "Leave me some fun, will you?" Thea murmured, positioning herself next to her boyfriend who turned his head to look at her in amusement, shaking his head refusing to give her the open pass "How about I give you a wish?" At the mention of wishes, Mun's eyes lit up with excitement

"A wish?" Mun repeated, tilting his head to the side as if he was reconsidering his choice "I'll take the wish." He chose, giving up, anyway, how could he possibly turn away from an opportunity that presented itself so rarely?

"You got it" Thea nodded excitedly as she spread her hands in the air, taking the place that once belonged to her boyfriend. With an entrancing pull, she effortlessly commands a group of men who become mere puppets to her whims

Unbeknownst to them, Thea becomes the undeniable weakness of the ace amongst them all.

Author's note;

I'm very sorry it took me a while to update but lately I've been having a big back pain that
makes me not want to get out of bed 🥲 anyway I hope it's nothing serious.

Question of the day: Favorite celebrity? ✨

My favorite celebrity is definitely Jimin from BTS because we actually have a lot of things in common 🤩 See y'all in the next chapter! 💕