Season two, chapter fifty-three

"Reckless"

THEA FINDS HERSELF trapped in a riveting deja vu experience, reminiscent of the tumultuous days when Mun first became a part of the team. As history eerily repeats itself, tensions escalate when Hana boldly challenges Jeok-bong, a seemingly feeble opponent who struggles to even defeat a helpless fly.

"Okay, come at me" As Hana extended her bandaged hand towards Jeok-bong, her unwavering determination shone through her expressionless face

"Okay, I hope we get along" Jeok-bong reciprocated her action and extended his hand to shake Hana's. Though in a split second, Hana effortlessly outwits Jeok-bong, sending him crashing to the ground with a lightning-fast maneuver. Even Thea, with her keen eye, couldn't anticipate Hana's incredible display of skill

Thea couldn't help but cringe as Jeok-bong clumsily tumbled, overpowered time and time again by Hana's unwavering skill. In each defeat, a familiar memory stirred within about a certain black-haired boy sitting next to her.

"First period's over" Hana announced, removing the bandages wrapped around her hands

"Don't be so hard on him" With Thea's gentle voice echoing in his ears, Mun felt a little sorry for Jeok-bong who was really trying his best

"Goodness. This is making me nostalgic" Mun exclaimed, scrunching his nose up as he approached the boy lying on the boxing blanket. Inspired by the heartfelt words of his adoring girlfriend, "Jeok-bong. You need to get up" Mun took him by the hand helping him stand up on his feet

"Holy... do I look like I'm okay?" Jeok-bong's voice barely escaped his lips, stumbling over his own feet

"I thought he was swearing" As she clings to a simple plastic cup brimming with refreshing water, Thea filled it with water for her

"You're dead meat" Jeok-bong commented through clenched teeth, holding Mun weakly by the waist

"That's good!" Mun exclaimed with excitement, effortlessly and exuberantly flipping his opponent to the ground. Amidst the intensity of the moment, Hana's exasperated sigh lingered, laden with the weight of frustration and disappointment "Back then, Mo-tak did something and knocked me out. How did he do it?" Mun questioned, lying on the ground beside Jeok-bong, clinging to Jeok-bong's neck "Man, this grip feels nice"

"Tap!" Jeok-bong desperately tried to break free, battling against the iron grip exerted by relentless Mun

"Hey, you can't tap out in real fights. Go it?" As he tightens his grip around Jeok-bong's neck, he suddenly grunts in pain when Jeok-bong tightly grabbed his hair "Let go!"

"Hey! That's enough!" In a moment of distress, Thea's protective instincts kick in as she races to the aid of her boyfriend, whose irresistible features now wear a tortured expression

- -

Thea finds herself caught in a vortex of conflicting emotions as she witnesses the turbulent dynamics within her close-knit group. Her arms crossed, a sigh escapes her lips as she challenges her boyfriend's stern treatment of their newest member.

"How could you do this to him?" Ms. Chu asked putting an ice pack on Jeok-bong's neck who now had bruises all over his face, he could barely even keep his eyes open

"Tell me about it" Mo-tak added with both of his hands on his hips, looking at the duo with disapproval "Remember how hard it was to recruit?"

"I just did what I was taught" Mun pointed out defending himself with a small pout on his lips, he battles for understanding, desperately seeking Thea's support

"I told them not to be so hard on him," The's bold act of closeness unsettles the very core of Jeok-bong. As Mun silently observes, his hands clenched into fists

"I know, our sweet angel always does that" Ms. Chu's gentle response is punctuated by a nod, as she lovingly caresses Thea's head

"He can't be a Counter" Hana suddenly spat, roughly putting a plastic cup on the wooden table

"Why not?" Mo-tak asked with a frown

"What do you think? He's too stupid, slow, and weak to be a Counter" Hana shamelessly weighed each reason why Jeok-bong could never belong to their team

"Right" Mun agreed with Hana, yearning more than ever, to see Jeok-bong's swift dismissal from the team, a transformation that could finally grant him the freedom to release his grip on an intoxicated flame

"Come on" Ms. Chu frowned, looking at the duo disapprovingly

"And you didn't start like that?" Thea questioned, a little disappointed at the childish way her boyfriend was acting "Even I defeated you in our first fight, what's so different about this?" With conviction in her voice and defiance in her eyes, she stood up for Jeok-bong - pointing at Mun, whose confidence wavered under the weight of his girlfriend's scolding gaze

"Honey..." Mun's heart raced as he reached out to the captivating brown-haired girl across the table. But to his astonishment, she turned her back on him, leaving him bewildered. Had Jeok-bong truly caused such distress between them?

"He's just placid, thoughtful, and humble" Mo-tak defended unexpectedly making Mun laugh who quickly covered his mouth once Mo-tak's eyes landed on him "Did you just laugh? People like him tend to be a bit slow. A mentor should be patient" Mo-tak scolded Hana who didn't seem to be in the mood for all this

"Then, you do it" Hana claimed, crossing her arms with a serious countenance

"What?" Mo-tak approached Hana threateningly without believing what was coming out of the black-haired girl's mouth

"You can teach him since you like him. I can't waste my time teaching him" Intrigue beckons as Hana takes a purposeful towards the kitchen, unwilling to linger for idle conversation

"Look at how she talks. No wonder she's called obnoxious Do" Mo-tak exclaimed pointing at Hana who stopped her tracks, turning to look at him menacingly "She only says things that are right. Right?" Mo-tak corrected, swallowing hard with fear

"Yes"

"Right. Jeok-bong, are you okay? Hey, stand up" Thea asked reaching out to take the aforementioned by the arms, although her intentions were unexpectedly stopped when Mun agilely hugged her small figure from behind with enough force to prevent her from touching Jeok-bong "Hey, don't be so jealous..."

"It set foot" Hana announced halfway, interrupting Thea's sentence

"What?"

"What?"

"A level three spirit. We should go" Hana explained, turning around quickly, her sudden revelation caused Mun to release his grip on Thea

"An evil spirit?" Jeok-bong questioned, hastily getting up from the chair

"Stay seated" Mo-tak forced him to sit

"Jeok-bong, you stay here" Ms. Chu ordered  before everyone else ran out of the restaurant

- -

"He's wearing a yellow hoodie. I think he can see the territory" Hana explained, tilting her head to the side "He keeps stepping in and out of it"

"So he's at least as strong as Ji Cheong-sin" Mo-tak exclaimed with a serious face but with his eyes glued on the road

"I hope the victim can hold out" Ms. Chu exclaimed in dismay

"If he can see the territory... he couldn't be one of those evil spirits from China, right?" Mun asked with exaltation, thinking of the worst

"Sit tight" Mo-tak asked, stepping on the accelerator as hard as he could

Eagerly, they hastened to their final destination and eagerly surveyed their new surroundings. To their bewilderment, they discovered a desolate wasteland, a place long forsaken by time itself. Every ounce of energy within them shivered with an indescribable unease as Thea herself couldn't deny the bone-chilling sensation that sent shivers cascading down her spine.

"This is it?" Mun questioned in confusion

"Wasn't Min-ji scammed into buying an apartment here?" As Ms. Chu furrows her brow, Thea's eyes light up with recognition of the place long forgotten

"Mun, summon the territory" Hana's commanding personality calls attention to the enigmatic figure standing before her

"Okay," Mun's outstretched hand unleashes the territory that materializes before their very eyes

"It's a pretty large complex. Your territory may be powerful but it's too narrow. Are you sure this is it?" Mo-tak asked with both of his hands inside the pockets of his red hoodie

"Yes. But there are too many apartments" Hana responded, jogging back towards the trio who remained in their place

"We need to hurry. Let's spread out" Ms. Chu ordered before running off in a direction

"Mo-tak, don't strain yourself" Mun asked the aforementioned "Be alert"

"All right"

As Thea's heart pounded in her chest, she darted through the labyrinthine hallways, her desperate pursuit of the malevolent spirit fueling her every step. Yet, a haunting silence hung in the air, for she couldn't spot a single soul amid the desolate corridors.

"I found the victim" Ms. Chu announced over the earpiece "We came in the nick of time"

"What's wrong, Ms. Chu?" Mun asked in dismay when Ms. Chu let out a horrified gasp

"He broke the bones and them mended them. He did it numerous times. I think the evil spirit healed him" Ms. Chu's chilling revelation, fear hangs heavy in the air as her trembling voice delivers a message of dire importance

"I found him" Hana commented almost seconds after Ms. Chu "He's at a nearby abandoned parking lot. You little bastard..."

Thea swiftly leaps from the peril height of a dilapidated building, her determined gaze fixed on her destination. Guided by Hana's cryptic instructions, she navigates through the intricate labyrinth of this concealed hideout. Yet, her heart pounds with unease as the space unexpectedly engulfs her, leaving her disoriented and adrift in the unknown.

In the midst of a desperate search, her heart sank as she realized none of her companions were to be found. With trembling fingers, she reached for the receiver nestled in her ear. Just as she was about to press the concealed button, a bone-chilling scream pierced the silence, shaking her to her core.

"Hana!" Mo-tak's thunderous shout reverberated through the air, piercing Thea's heart with urgency. With bated breath, she followed the sound, though her eyes widened in dismay when they landed on what was happening

In a split second, Thea's instinct kicked in as she fearlessly reached out, defying gravity itself to shield her sister. With her hands raised high, an ethereal power emerged, halting Hana's collision with the unforgiving car window.

"Are you okay?" Thea asked worriedly, gently dropping Hana onto the windshield of the car

"I'm okay so go," Hana said, grunting in pain as she hurried Thea to help their other teammate in danger

"Wait here until Ms. Chu comes" With her nose scrunching in uncertainty, she went after Mo-tak who was too angry and determined to end all of this once and for all

"You bastard! Come out! Come out, you bastard! Come out! Come out!" Mo-tak said over and over, his eyes scanning the place for a certain man in a yellow hoodie

In a quick movement, the man in the yellow hoodie appeared behind both Counters, Thea, caught off guard and defenseless, valiantly attempts to shield herself from the impending danger, hurtling through the air before colliding with a nearby car. As the bone-chilling sound of fractures pierces the air and blood stains her lips, Thea let out a loud groan of pain.

"Thea!" Mo-tak and Hana's panicked cries fill the air as Thea fights to regain clarity. But as a shattering ring echoes through her mind, her world crumbles with an unexpected strike

"Mo-tak!" Hana's piercing scream reverberates through the air as the evil spirit launches Mo-tak across the scene. If not for Thea's lightning-fast psychokinesis, he would have met a perilous fate, teetering dangerously close to the edge of a treacherous cliff

With one hand extended towards Mo-tak, as an invisible force stopped him from falling over the railing, Thea extended her other hand, effortlessly halting the evil spirit's advance with a force so potent it leaves him gasping in agony.

In a moment of intense pain, Thea musters all her strength to rise from the ground. Unwavering in her determination to protect Mo-tak, she extends her hand, unleashing a surge of power that propels the yellow hoodie man through the air, his body colliding with a white truck. This extraordinary display leaves onlookers astounded, for Thea has never before unleashed the true extent of her abilities.

Although from one moment to the next the man disappeared from sight, only to reappear behind her in a chilling act of perfect stealth. With weak resolve, she turns around, only to face the menacing fist of an evil spirit hurtling towards her. Quick-thinking and fueled by desperation, Thea bravely raises her arms as a shield, prepared for impact. But to her surprise, the blow is intercepted by an unexpected guardian—Hana, who selflessly embraces Thea, their bodies colliding with bone-shattering force against a nearby bus.

"Damn it! Those who go out of their way to help others meet the same fate" The boy in the yellow hoodie began to mutter "Just like the ones in China." He fearlessly decimates a car with a single kick, gripping the twisted remnants in his powerful hands "You just don't learn, do you!?"

Hana clings on to Thea, anticipating the boy's imminent strike. But just as danger looms, a mysterious force shields them, halting the assailant in his tracks. And in this electrifying moment, Mun emerges, descending upon the rooftop of a car, ready to unleash his extraordinary powers.

"Are you okay?" Mun hastily asked, approaching Thea who was leaning against the bus behind her, blood dripping from her lips

"Mun," Thea murmured with relief, her chest heaving exaggeratedly "I'm okay, don't worry too much" Thea confidently wiped the fresh blood coming out of her mouth with the sleeve of her red hoodie

"That lunatic," Mun's voice trembled with a righteous fury, his piercing gaze ablaze with a seething rage fixed upon the man in the yellow hoodie. How could anyone dare harm his beloved? How could he even lay a finger upon her? Meanwhile, Thea's eyes shut tight, her senses enveloped in the spine-chilling wails of the malevolent spirit, its tortured cries echoing as Mun ruthlessly shattered its very existence "Enough playing around you goddam evil spirit!" With a single kick he sent him crashing into a truck, with so much force that the metal managed to bend

"Hana, Thea!" Ms. Chu shouted worriedly, running towards both sisters who were leaning on the bus behind them

Though Thea widened her eyes in horror when the evil spirit hurls a tire at Mun, but with lightning-fast reflexes, he skillfully evades the attack. However, fate has a different plan in store as the tire collides with Mo-tak, sending him hurtling towards a perilous cliff edge.

"Mo-tak!" Mun's heart pounded against backdrop of a harrowing abyss. With a gasp escaping his lips, he raced towards the precipice

Thea, Hana and Ms. Chu admired the scene between the two men with their mouths open. Gasping in astonishment, they watch as Mo-tak defies gravity, gracefully descending into the protective embrace of Mun, like a true fairytale princess.

"Mo-tak, are you okay?" Mun asked in dismay as Ms. Chu snorted in amusement

"Mun, why did you dodge it?" Mo-tak questioned in disbelief, still not moving any of his muscles

"I thought you'd do the same" Mun remarked with a frown, but clearly feeling guilty for not reacting sooner

"Put me down. I'm mortified" Mo-tak asked stiffly in Mun's arms

"Pretend you didn't see that" Ms. Chu posed a question that sent both girls into fits of laughter and excruciating joy. Thea, desperately clinging to her trembling lips to stifle the contagious explosion bound to ripple through her very being, wrestled with the challenge of expressing her amusement without succumbing to the physical agony it brought along

"Okay"

"No one saw you" Mun assured, shooting a fleeting glance at the three women, who picked up the signal almost instantly

"No? They better not..." Mo-tak exclaimed, too embarrassed to even look at the three women that were standing a few meters away from him

"Pretend that I'm treating you" Ms. Chu whispered, Thea nodded in recognition before she began to moan in pain, which seemed like a bad idea because as soon as Mun heard her, unable to ignore her distress, abandoned everything in a heartbeat to rush to her aid

Thea finds solace in her boyfriend's persistent devotion, as he relentlessly seeks reassurance about her well-being. Despite her constant reassurances, his anxiety persists, etching lines of worry across his face.

Author's note;

Guys, I would really like to have a relationship as healthy as Thea and Mun's, unfortunately in these times it's difficult to find someone with good intentions 🥲

Question of the day: Do you believe in shifting realities? 🌌

Don't judge me but I do believe in shifting realities, also I'm very sorry for the late update, 😭 Anyway, see y'all in the next chapter! 💕