Season two, chapter sixty-two

"Something's made your eyes
go cold"

THEA WAS FEELING extremely anxious, and it wasn't just her but also everyone else felt the same level of uneasiness as her. It was Mr. Ma's trial, and the outcome of the entire situation would most likely be determined there, which naturally caused them to feel a certain level of nervousness about the eventual conclusion. In particular, Mo-tak, who would be summoned to the stand to provide answers related to Mr. Ma's case, was particularly apprehensive.

Despite Thea's ongoing struggle to accept the recent events, such as the passings of Min-ji and the Chinese Counters, as well as the emergence of the evil spirits, she experienced overwhelming frustration. However, she was determined not to let this frustration overpower her and was resolute in not revealing her vulnerable state to her teammates.

She shared the same level of confusion as everyone else, and she experienced the same sense of powerlessness since she was unable to take any action to safeguard her loved ones.

Thea sighed and fixed her black coat while examining her tired reflection in the mirror directly in front of her. Her exhausted appearance, with dark circles under her eyes, reminded her of the countless nights she spent restlessly sitting on her bed, unable to find any sleep. Each time she closed her eyes, the images of her parents, Jun-seo and Min-ji, would haunt her.

Despite the belief of everyone that Thea had finally conquered the grief of losing her family, which she had been unable to do for many years, in reality, the agonizing memory still haunted her relentlessly, causing her distress day and night. Although she had adapted to living with the anguish, it did not imply that the recollection itself did not cause her emotional pain.

Exactly seven years had passed since her family departed, but their presence still remained strong, making her feel as if they were still with her. The absence of her family continues to weigh heavily on her, causing a constant pain that affects both her heart and mind. No respite could be found from this torment, which plagued her relentlessly day and night.

Thea observed her own smile, realizing its insincere appearance. She inhaled deeply, admiring the striking contrast her makeup had made as the dark circles under her eyes vanished and any sign of her previous tears faded completely. She appeared perfectly composed.

Nevertheless, reality revealed that the demons were slowly overpowering her. Her battle remained hidden beneath a cloak of silence, as she made the decision to conceal her suffering. However, within the midst of the burdensome storm of concerns and obligations that consumed her mind, her inner conflict yearned for acknowledgement, on the verge of being set free.

"There are more important things than your mental state right now" was the encouraging phrase she repeated to herself day and night before forcing herself to stop crying.

She took her handbag from the table and hung it on her shoulder as she glanced at the screen of her phone. Observing a message from her boyfriend in their conversation, informing her that he would be fetching Mr. Ma's mother first before heading over. Thea released another breath of frustration, closed the conversation, and put her phone back in her handbag.

She stood in front of the white door, appearing calm and composed. It was a moment of great significance, requiring her to skillfully hide the emerging truths she felt within. However, her relationship with this facade was turbulent, as it clashed with her true self.

The moment Thea emerged from her room, she wore a smile on her face. Her teammates, who had been anxiously waiting, immediately rose from their seats upon seeing her, as if anticipating her arrival.

"Shall we go?" Hana asked with a faint smile on her face, her hands holding a jacket. However, she couldn't help but observe Thea's hair and the subtle alteration in its appearance

"Right now?"

"Okay"

"Mun is going to pick up Mr. Ma's mother before heading over" Thea explained, delicately adjusting her bangs, which had suddenly appeared overnight. Nobody questioned her about it, even though they were curious about the sudden change in her hairstyle. However, everyone agreed that the bangs suited her and made her look great

"All right"

"Are you sure you two don't have to come?" Mo-tak inquired, and Thea could discern his nervousness and eagerness. Everyone could perceive it from the way he stumbled over his words while speaking

"I'll only end up crying. You can go" Ms. Chu frowned, refusing to go as she knew it would make her feel emotional. Thea believed that Ms. Chu would undoubtedly leave the room within the initial 5 minutes

"Okay"

"Jeok-bong will be arriving today. So we'll look for the evil spirits once you return" Ms. Chu encouraged the trio in a certain way, as Thea had briefly considered turning around and going back to her room

"Okay"

"We'll be back"

"Be calm"

"I'm so nervous"Mo-tak admitted, and if it weren't for being in front of the team, he would be biting his nails out of nervousness

"Come on"

"I'll do my best"

"Bye"

"Mo-tak"

"Yes?"

"Relax"

Thea chuckled softly and lightly patted Mo-tak's shoulder, silently appreciative of her encouragement. Yet, inexplicably, Thea couldn't shake off a negative intuition, a sensation she preferred to remain oblivious to.

She simply wishes that this situation is unrelated to Mr. Ma, as he has already endured sufficient suffering and does not require any additional issues on top of those he currently faces.

Hana provided reassurance to Mr. Ma's mother as she gently held her hand and uttered, "Don't worry ma'am" She attentively gazed at the two girls, who wore reassuring smiles indicating that everything would be alright

The woman conveyed her appreciation with the words "Thank you" but her worries and sorrow remained unaffected and soon as Mr. Ma walked into the room, she immediately got up from her chair

Thea sadly gazes into the depths of sorrow reflected in the woman's eyes upon seeing her son. Thea struggled to comprehend the thoughts occupying the woman's mind as she had never experienced a similar situation, yet she could empathize with her suffering. Similar to others, Thea also bore her own burdens of pain.

Shortly after, Mun rose from his chair, urging the woman to resume her seat.

"The trial for case number 2025-347 will now begin"

"He was looking at the victim and crying" Mo-tak firmly explained, his face devoid of any expression yet his narration conveyed those long-awaited emotions

"He was crying. Did he look dangerous?"

"No. It didn't look like he was going to kill him at all" Mo-tak responded, shaking his head, and for a moment, his gaze fell upon Mr. Ma, who seemed lost in thought

Thea glanced in the direction that Mo-tak was looking, fixating on Mr. Ma. She observed that his eyes seemed devoid of emotion, evoking a sense of emptiness, which served as a poignant reminder that he was most likely experiencing immense sorrow from the demise of his wife and child. The joyful smile that used to grace his countenance had vanished entirely, leaving no indication of its existence. At present, his face bore no expression, while his eyes unveiled the profound agony that he was concealing within himself.

His eyes had lost their sparkle.

"Why do you think so?"

"Because he asked, 'how could someone kill another person?' He asked how someone could do that. He didn't resist his arrest, and he kept asking the same question. 'How could they kill another human being?'" Mo-tak fixed his deep gaze on Mr. Ma as he added this remark

"Would the defendant like to address the court?" the judge asked. Mr. Ma, devoid of any emotion or intention, rose from his chair attracting everyone's attention

"Right now, I regret everything. Also, I'm full of remorse. If only I could turn back time... and go back to that same moment... then I'd kill him. No matter what" Mr. Ma's response was delivered in a cold manner, causing a flurry of astonished whispers to fill the room

Thea wrinkled her forehead, finding it hard to accept the words spoken by the individual she previously respected. Did she hear accurately, or was her mind deceiving her with a cruel illusion?

"Your honor, my client only said that because he's still mentally unfit from the loss of his wife. I'd like to withdraw his words" the lawyer quickly explained, while Mr. Ma gradually directed his gaze towards the Counters' team

When Thea made eye contact with Mr. Ma, she sensed a chilling sensation crawl down her back. However, she quickly corrected herself and recognized him not as Mr. Ma, but as the embodiment of malevolence. It was evident that he was no longer the person they once knew, having undergone a ghastly transformation into an evil spirit.

Thea arose from her chair, wearing a horrified expression on her face. Mr. Ma's eyes revealed a clear yearning and intention to take lives. He possessed a great urge and longing to eliminate those responsible for everything that had occurred. Thea was all too familiar with that chilling expression that was brimming with various emotions. The man she had formerly held in high regard had transformed into an evil spirit driven by a desire for blood. The eyes that had once radiated with hope, kindness, and joy had now disappeared entirely.

It had been replaced with a glimmer of obscurity, bitterness, distress, and malice.

"The defendant's statement and his attorney's opinion seem to differ. Could the defendant discuss with his attorney and give his statement again?"

Thea's breath hitched, and although her fellow teammates were puzzled by Mr. Ma's words, she understood the situation perfectly. Nevertheless, she resisted accepting it and chose to believe that Mr. Ma was simply confused, attributing his hurtful remarks to his own pain and resentment.

Mr. Ma lacks the ability to engage in such horrific acts; he would never take someone's life, nor would he transform into an evil spirit simply to satisfy his desire for vengeance. He would never... never... become a detestable entity.

Thea reclined in her chair, her mouth slightly open as if she had just been given horrifying information. Essentially, she denied accepting that the events taking place were the horrifying reality.

She cannot accept it.

She simply cannot.

She finds it difficult to come to terms with the fact that the man she once held in high regard has transformed into a repulsive individual. However, overwhelmed by her emotions, she inexplicably shifted her gaze towards the opposite end of the room. The sight of Pil-gwang and Gelly with satisfied expressions only reinforced her suspicions. It seemed as though they had eagerly awaited that particular moment.

When Thea locked eyes with the man in the black suit, she couldn't resist the urge to tighten her hands into fists. The man seemed to find amusement in being caught by the girl, as indicated by the slight raising of his eyebrows. This girl had enraptured his interest since the first time he saw her, and for some inexplicable reason, she drew him in. She gave off an aura of immense power, yet decided to keep it concealed.

The most striking thing that grabbed his attention was Thea's intense desire to seek vengeance against those who had deprived her of what mattered most. Like Mr. Ma, she also harbored a powerful thirst for revenge, only requiring a slight nudge to take action.

Why did she refrain from taking action?

Why did she not acknowledge her desire to spill blood?

He became even more intrigued by Thea's potential. Being with her would undoubtedly grant him great influence and strength.

Author's note;

I deeply apologize for the delay, but I have been very busy chatting with my cousin and watching K-dramas with my mom, which completely slipped my mind to update here 😭

Question of the day: Have you already received your Christmas gifts or will you receive them on the actual day? 🎄🎅

I was given my gift ahead of time, I received Jungkook's new album "Golden" and I couldn't be happier 😀 See y'all in the next chapter! 💕