Season two, chapter eighty-two

"It's only temporary.
All of it"

THEA MAINTAINED A focused gaze on the bus ahead, determined not to lose track of it as it navigated through various turns and intersections. The individual they had been assigned to surveil was aboard that bus, and despite the seeming injustice of the situation, they were obligated to safeguard him from the grasp of Ma Ju-seok. They were aware that Ma Ju-seok would inevitably target Lee Chung-jae, and they could not permit him to further devastate the lives of the con artists, as this would only empower him and render him invincible.

Similarly, Thea felt a sense of unease as Mun stood alone outside the prison, waiting to ensure Lee Chung-jae's safe arrival. She was concerned that Ma Ju-seok may pose a threat to him once again. Despite trying to convince herself that Mr. Ma was a former friend who would not harm them, the incident at the hotel revealed a different reality. His willingness to harm and potentially kill them left her feeling even more apprehensive about the situation.

"Nothing?" Mrs. Chu asked Jeok-bong, who had his head out of the car window, inhaling the scent of the air with his hair tousled by the wind, while wearing transparent glasses on his nose to shield his eyes from the wind

"My nose is telling me that everything is fine so far" Jeok-bong replied with eyes shut, he took a deep breath, causing his nostrils to expand

"All right. I hope your nose works" Mrs. Chu responded with a look of concern, her attention focused on the bus ahead of them. Jeok-bong's recent history of unreliable judgment and inconsistent instincts caused doubt among those who listened to him, leading to a lack of genuine trust in his words

Thea released a sigh, reaching for the petite button on her earpiece "Mun, how's everything there?" she asked Mun over the earpiece as he stood outside Jungjin Penitentiary, awaiting the arrival of Lee Chung-jae with patience

Mun's eyes brightened involuntarily upon hearing Thea's voice emanating from the earpiece, a unique response elicited solely by Thea. At that instant, he completely disregarded the purpose of his presence outside the prison.

"It's quiet so far, Thea" Mun replied, his voice tranquil and his expression hinting at a smile, coming through the earpiece. Even though Thea was unable to visually perceive his smile, she was able to intuitively detect it, prompting her to reciprocate with a smile of her own

The atmosphere seemed serene, devoid of any danger or sign of Ma Ju-seok, instilling hope in Thea and her companions that the peaceful state would persist. As Thea slid open the car window to her side, she indulged in the invigorating freshness of the air while the sun's rays bathed her face, prompting her to momentarily shut her eyes and bask in the comforting warmth. Nevertheless, a repugnant odor swiftly assailed her senses, compelling her to pinch her nose and furrow her brow in an effort to block out the offensive smell.

"I believe there is an evil spirit nearby, I can smell it," Thea promptly shut the car window, the lingering scent lingering in her olfactory senses. She detested the involuntary manifestation of her abilities, such as in the present moment when they operated without forewarning, instead reacting on their own accord

"I can smell it too. Im sure of it. I smell Ma Ju-seok" Jeok-bong affirmed, nodding in agreement as he took in the air without displaying any reaction to the offensive odor, convinced that he had become desensitized to such noxious smells

Thea exhaled deeply, displaying palpable frustration, almost as if she had inadvertently invited trouble, as Ma Ju-seok promptly emerged within twenty minutes to seek retribution against Lee Chung-jae. The irony of the situation was remarkable - safeguarding the adversary and obstructing the potential for their demise, lest everything come to a premature conclusion.

"What? Ma Ju-seok?" Mun inquired with astonishment upon hearing Thea's complaint about the foul odor in the air that seemed to be discernible only to her and Jeok-bong "Where are you?"

Thea found herself unable to answer Mun's inquiry, even as she detected the sound of his footsteps quickening, observing an unprecedented occurrence unfolding with the bus they were tasked with monitoring. Thea was rendered utterly speechless, witnessing the bus appearing to lose control and exhibit autonomous movements.

Ms. Chu expressed her confusion by asking, "What's wrong?" She showed her clear concern for the situation, despite not fully grasping it. Leaning forward in her seat, she focused intently with a hint of suspicion in her narrowed eyes

"It can't be"

"Mo-tak, what's going on?"asked Ms. Chu with a sense of worry in her voice "Mo-tak..." Despite her repeated attempts to get a response, there was only silence coming from the other end

Thea's eyes expanded in apprehension as she detected the nearby proximity of Ma Ju-seok, aligned with the bus during a leftward turn which brought him into view. Thea intensified her hold on the seatbelt, inwardly grappling with trepidation upon encountering the impassive countenance of Ma Ju-seok situated at the junction of the road, emanating an aura of icy detachment and hostility through his gaze.

"Ma Ju-seok..." Hana uttered with bewilderment, her voice laced with fear, as she struggled with the unyielding steering wheel, her efforts to steer it to safety proving fruitless. "Hold on," she declared through clenched teeth, exerting all her strength in an attempt to maneuver the wheel, yet it remained immovable; in fact, it started to turn on its own accord, leading to a loss of control over the vehicle

Jeok-bong expressed concern by asking, "What's the matter?" He held onto the nearest object tightly, exclaiming in horror, "Oh, no!" He tightly grasped Thea's hand, who made a muffled scream as the car swerved off the road, fearing an imminent crash. The experience brought back memories of a close call with Shin Myeong-hwi's henchmen in a comparable situation, the vivid recollection replaying in Thea's mind. Nonetheless, this time they were simply trapped in a hole filled with mud and grass

Thea's body shifted forward and backward in response to the sudden stop of the car, caused by hitting the pothole. She expressed her annoyance by clicking her tongue disapprovingly at Jeok-bong's firm grip on her hand, subsequently pushing his hand away with a furrowed brow. This action led to Jeok-bong clearing his throat in embarrassment.

"Ma Ju-seok..."

Abruptly, the seat belts in the car constricted around their necks, causing them to feel strangled. The unexpected tightening of the seatbelt left Thea gasping for air and unable to react promptly, prompting her to suppress a scream of shock. Frustrated, she let out a quiet growl while her hands frantically searched for a means of freeing herself from the suffocating grip of the seatbelt, only to find it stubbornly tightened around her neck with no give. Despite her efforts, Thea felt the seatbelt pressing against her windpipe, provoking her to clench her jaw in determination as she scanned the surroundings for a possible escape route from this troubling situation.

"Mo-tak. Is everyone okay? Thea. Are you okay?" Mun asked anxiously through the earpiece, his breaths strained and his heartbeat quickening with dread as he waited in vain for a reply from his companions

Thea tightly shut her eyes and gritted her teeth before releasing a surge of psychokinetic energy that freed the seat belts constricting the necks of Hana, Ms. Chu, Jeok-bong, and herself, enabling them to finally breathe. After taking a deep breath, Thea received immediate expressions of gratitude and acknowledgement for her successful intervention, leading Thea to reciprocate by giving a thumbs-up gesture.

Thea observed the mark on her neck where the seatbelt had left her skin inflamed and with minor lacerations. The fair complexion of her neck now bore a resemblance to a tomato, aggravated by the tightness of the seatbelt.

"Ma Ju-seok took the bus" Mo-tak declared with a sense of urgency, causing a stir among them. Thea muttered a curse quietly upon realizing that the bus was conspicuously absent

"What?"

Hana promptly applied pressure to the car's accelerator to initiate a reverse movement, yet found that the vehicle was immobile. Despite the spinning of the tires, they failed to gain traction and propel the car backwards. In a moment of exasperation, Thea emitted a sigh and skillfully released her seatbelt without delay.

"The tires..."

"Mun!"

"Mo-tak!"

"Thea!"

Ms. Chu, Hana, and Jeok-bong exclaimed fervently, as if their only salvation depended on successfully extricating the car from its predicament. Their gaze fixed on Mo-tak and Thea, the latter had emerged from the vehicle with the purpose of freeing it from the ditch. Thea signaled to Mo-tak, who proceeded to place his hands on the car's front grille. Emulating his actions, Thea exerted force alongside him, pushing the car forward as Hana stepped on the gas pedal to assist them. With a quiet grunt, Thea summoned all her might, and at last, the car managed to dislodge itself from its entrapment, regaining its position on the road.

Upon the vehicle's reentry onto the road, Thea and Mo-tak promptly embarked inside, the latter occupying the position of co-pilot while Ms. Chu settled in the back between Thea and Jeok-bong. They proceeded on their journey once more, determined to reclaim the stolen bus, with a sense of optimism that Ma Ju-seok had not taken any actions he might later repent.

Thea anxiously observed as Jeok-bong peered out of the car window once more, his unkempt hair ruffled further by the breeze. She noted the widening of his nostrils as he inhaled deeply, attempting to catch the distinctive aroma of Ma Ju-seok. Thea abstained from emulating him, unable to tolerate the unpleasant odors, a demonstration of her admiration for Jeok-bong.

"Over there" Jeok-bong indicated with a pointed finger "Turn left here" he reiterated, guiding Hana to comply with his instructions and veer the vehicle to the left, ultimately reaching the memorial park where the ashes of Min-ji were interred in memory

"Wait, this is the way to... the memorial park?" Ms. Chu asked in confusion, her eyes filled with sadness and nostalgia as she observed the small green traffic sign

"He's near Ms. Lee's columbarium. He's taking Lee Chung-jae there" Mun announced urgently over the earpiece, his voice resounding with agitation and reaching the ears of the other team members through their own devices

Upon the arrival of the vehicle at the entrance of Memorial Park, Lee Chung-Jae made an effort to escape. Despite being restrained by handcuffs, he sprinted towards the vehicle only to be overcome with a look of dread on his face upon seeing it. In a swift motion, he pivoted and headed towards the adjacent grove of trees.

Upon observing the situation, each member of the team promptly disembarked from the vehicle. Not even Hana took the time to find a more suitable parking spot; rather, she left it unattended in the middle of the entrance to the memorial park. Due to the urgency of the situation, there was a lack of concern among the team members regarding any potential obstruction to the passage for other vehicles attempting to enter the area.

"Lee Chung-jae!"

"Come here!"

"Go away!" Lee yelled as he hurried away without glancing back, quietly uttering imprecations as he delved further into the woods, filled with apprehension of being apprehended

"Jeok-bong! Where is he?" asked Mun in a tone of urgency, entering with anticipation evident in his breathless demeanor. His eyes eagerly searched the vicinity for the specific individual

"Over there!" Jeok-bong urgently gestured in the direction of the interior of the memorial park, then swiftly turned towards the direction in which Lee was attempting to escape

As Mun sprinted in the direction indicated by Jeok-bong, Ms. Chu, Hana, and Thea gave chase to Lee Chung-jae as he tried to elude them among the trees. Thea deftly maneuvered to evade a collision with a towering tree before continuing the pursuit, observing how Lee cast glances over his shoulder, seemingly verifying their pursuit. In due course, Hana successfully delivered a forceful kick to his back, causing him to collapse on the ground. Subsequently, she knelt beside him, firmly grasping his hair and raising his head to meet her gaze.

"Aren't you tired of running?" asked Thea, with a grave and resolute tone, taking deep breaths as she placed her hands on her knees, while Lee grimaced in pain under Hana's grasp, causing her to tighten her hold on his hair

"Don't be such a baby" Ms. Chu exclaimed with frustration as she observed him writhing on the floor as though he were genuinely in great pain

"It really hurts" Lee admitted with clenched teeth as he watched Mo-tak manifest before him with a stoic expression, Lee's expression rapidly shifted to one of dread

"Where's Ma Ju-seok?" Mo-tak inquired with authority. His penetrating gaze, brimming with gravity, made Lee acutely aware that compliance was non-negotiable if he wished to avoid a fate similar to the consequences of his previous defiance

"Over there" Lee gestured towards a direction without expressing any criticism, his hands restrained in handcuffs, rendering him unable to act. Recognizing the need to participate, Hana decisively pushed his head downwards, freeing him as Mo-tak hurried towards the location indicated by Lee, in an effort to aid Mun and Jeok-bong

Thea let out a sigh, wishing for the team's success, but she was aware of their competence in handling themselves and emerging victorious in battles. Despite these capabilities, a lingering fear persisted that things could go awry and someone could sustain an injury. As soon as these apprehensions surfaced in Thea's mind, the communication device in her ear, facilitating long-distance conversations with her team, buzzed, prompting her to pay attention to their message and alerts.

"Ms. Chu, Thea! Ma Ju-seok's mother is hurt! Hurry up!" Jeok-bong urgently informed over the earpiece, prompting a startled reaction from Thea owing to the palpable sense of distress and urgency in his tone of voice

Thea and Ms. Chu instinctively looked at each other, understanding the task at hand. They were quick to come to the aid of Ma Ju-seok's mother, leaving Hana to monitor Lee and prevent any potential escape. The situation had once again veered unexpectedly.

Thea leaned her elbows on the table, resting her chin on her hands, with her gaze fixed firmly on the white surface of the large table before her. Reflecting on the recent events, Ma Ju-seok had evaded capture once more and was descending into chaos, having now turned violent towards his own mother, almost strangling her to death. Had Thea and Ms. Chu not arrived promptly, the mother would have met her end at the hands of her own son, a reality that Thea struggled to comprehend. It was challenging for her to accept that the formerly gentle man had been completely overtaken by malice fueled by a thirst for revenge.

"Didn't you say only a complete evil spirit could absorb the territory's power?" Mo-tak asked, his eyes focused on the pristine table at which they were gathered in Yung. "That's why we had to stop Hwang Pil-gwang and Ma Ju-seok from joining forces"

"The fact he could read the territory was already inexplainable" noted Gi-ran as she watched her partner with a poker face, though clearly perturbed by the unfolding events "He had that power"

"What does this mean?" Ms. Chu voiced her concerns with a tinge of apprehension, her eyes filled with fear as Mr. Ma's influence continued to grow "Does it mean Ma Ju-seok gets stronger whenever Mun summons the territory?"

"Yes" SuHo responded from the opposite side of the table, sharing the same level of astonishment and fear as the rest

"The territory no longer belongs to just the Counters. Summoning the territory recklessly could make the evil spirit stronger" Hyun-ki remarked calmly, his impeccably groomed hair swept to the side

"A bigger problem is as it absorbs the territory's power, the evil spirit within Ma Ju-seok takes more control over him" Wi-gen commenced his explanation with a focused gaze on the table, making it challenging to grasp the intricate nature of this revelation

"He didn't hesitate to harm innocent people. Even his mother, of all people" stated Ji-Hye, placing her delicate hands gently on the table, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment. Mun briefly glanced at Thea's parents, realizing he had not yet formally introduced himself to them and hoping to rectify that later in the day

"Will Ma Ju-seok eventually be consumed by the evil spirit?" Hana inquired with tact, clinging to the possibility that the response would assuage her worries regarding an individual who had undergone a drastic change from the admirable figure she once knew, a truth she was reluctant to acknowledge.

"He wanted to stop"Mun revealed with a solemn countenance, surprising everyone by siding with the person responsible for his injuries, leading to his subsequent entry into a state of unconsciousness. Nevertheless, he found himself advocating for the same individual "it's true that the evil spirit had a tighter grip on him, but he did want to stop. He knew something was wrong and hurt himself to stop it. He regretted what he did"

Jeok-bong expressed a glimmer of hope by asserting,"That means we still have a chance," while resting his hands on the pristine table and displaying optimism in his eyes. "It means he still has the will to resist. Right?"

"Mun, you shouldn't have let him go like that today" Mo-tak declared with gravity, observing Mun's reaction with a mix of disappointment and disbelief. The revelation left those present stunned and perplexed "He shouldn't have gotten away. Before he goes completely out of control, we should've caught him today"

"What do you mean?" Ms. Chu sought clarification from Mo-tak, expressing confusion in response to his statement and struggling to accept its veracity

"Did you deliberately let him go?" Thea asked in confusion, furrowing her brow as she looked towards Mun. She leaned closer to him, attempting to see his expression after he instinctively retreated in his chair, resembling a young child under the intense scrutiny he was now facing

"He wasn't an evil spirit..." Mun vigorously shook his head, attempting to persuade everyone of Mr. Ma's actions, emphasizing that he did not harm him, but rather inflicted harm upon himself to prevent further harm to others. "...in that moment" he added

"No. He has always been... an evil spirit" Mo-tak reprimanded, expressing frustration as he observed Mun exhale deeply and massage his forehead, indicating uncertainty in defending his actions further

Thea sighed, it was evident that everyone was taken aback by the turn of events. Mun had not only allowed Ma Ju-seok to escape, but he was also now defending him against accusations of wrongdoing. Thea grasped the situation - Mun still saw Mr. Ma as family, but he had yet to realize that he had transformed into a malevolent force, no longer the benevolent individual who had once saved his grandmother. Placing her hand on her boyfriend's back, Thea gently comforted him, reassuring him that he was not at fault. In contrast, Mun leaned in closer to Thea, seeking solace in her embrace after the chaotic events.

As everyone began to stand up and tend to their responsibilities, Thea's parents approached them. Mun promptly rose from his seat upon noticing their approach, exhibiting a demeanor reminiscent of soldiers responding to their superior. Thea suppressed a laugh by covering her mouth at this sight, while Ji-Hye offered a warm smile and Hyeon-Jun tenderly embraced his wife by wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Thea noticed Mun's uneasy demeanor as he nervously swallowed and fidgeted with his hands, deliberately averting his gaze from Thea's enthusiastic parents. Jun-seo, who observed the scene with a lighthearted grin, confidently approached Mun and casually nudged Thea aside. Feigning offense at being pushed by Jun-seo, Thea watched as he affectionately draped his arm around Mun's shoulders and warmly brought him closer to her parents with a smile.

"Mom, Dad, meet So Mun, my brother-in-law," Jun-seo proudly declared with a grin, gesturing approval to Thea who suppressed a chuckle at the sight of Mun nervously wiping his palms on his tracksuit before tentatively offering his hand to Ji-Hye with a sheepish smile

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you," Mun expressed with a warm smile, extending his hand to Ji-Hye, who reciprocated with a smile in appreciation of his cordiality

"The pleasure is mine," Ji-Hye expressed graciously, her eyebrows raised as she gestured towards Thea, who bashfully sought refuge behind Jun-seo upon realizing Mun's attention on her "Thea spoke highly of you," she added

"From what I have heard and seen, you are such a nice young man," noted Hyeon-jun, Thea's father, as he reached out his hand towards Mun, who responded by nodding and delicately shaking the man's hand. "You are exactly Thea's type," he added with a lighthearted tone

"Appa!" Thea whispered softly, her cheeks tinged with a blush of embarrassment, reminiscent of the first meeting with Mun's parents

"And she is exactly my type," Mun replied with a flirtatious smile on his face as he turned towards Thea, who huffed with embarrassment. It was truly so embarrassing that she just wanted to run away from there.

Ji-Hye, Hyeon-Jun, and Jun-seo burst into laughter after Mun's remark, causing Mun to raise his eyebrows in amusement at Thea's adorable response of puffing out her cheeks to ease the embarrassment.

Ji-Hye remarked, "You are quite attractive as well," as she scrutinized Mun's face, encouraging him to reciprocate by closely studying the features of Thea's mother. It was evident that the two bore a striking resemblance, with their eyes, smiles, noses, and cheeks harmoniously mirroring each other. "My daughter has impeccable taste," she commented

Mun experienced a sense of embarrassment, causing him to avert his gaze towards the ground and emit a subdued chuckle.

"She has the same exquisite taste as you do" observed Hyeon-Jun with a smile directed towards his wife, who affirmed his statement with a nod

Jun-seo chuckled mischievously as he declared, "Undoubtedly, my brother-in-law possesses the most striking features," while casually wrapping an arm around Mun, who responded with a snort and a playful shove in return. "However, I must assert that I am equally as handsome as him, if not more so," Jun-seo added with a charming pose that elicited amused laughter from everyone

"Hey, my boyfriend is more handsome than you," Thea remarked, gently tapping her brother on the shoulder, who reacted with a pout reminiscent of a child. "Furthermore, he exudes strength, kindness, and gentleness," she continued while affectionately patting Mun's shoulder, causing him to be captivated by her. Her words were delivered with unwavering confidence and immense pride, evoking a sense of fluttering anticipation within him

"Alright, I understand that you prefer him over me," Jun-seo remarked dismissively, massaging the area where Thea had struck him. Mun's lips tightened into a thin line as he attempted to restrain a wide smile, feeling a sense of joy similar to being a mother's favorite, but in this case, his girlfriend's favorite

"I—"

"It is quite evident that she would prioritize him, wouldn't you agree?" Ji-Hye interjected, diffusing a potential argument between the two siblings "After all, he's her boyfriend," she noted with a smile directed at Mun, who discreetly acknowledged her observation by clearing his throat and nodding in agreement

"But I'm her older brother—"

"It was a pleasure to meet you," Hyeon-Jun interjected, once again drawing Mun's focus "Take good care and love my daughter dearly, or I will be the one to punish you when you arrive here,"he conveyed in a grave and authoritative manner that instilled fear in Mun

"Do not worry, your daughter is in excellent care," Mun reassured, gently holding Thea's hand as he sought to provide comfort

"I am," Thea remarked with a smile, glancing at her significant other, who, upon meeting her gaze, was overcome with affection, as his devotion to her remained steadfast and unshakeable

The magnitude of affection I hold for you is so vast that even you yourself would struggle to comprehend it.

Thea let out a deep sigh, realizing she had no remaining friends and was now solely accountable for her team's well-being. Despite yearning to spend time with SooJin, SooAh, SuHo, Taehoon, or even SeoJun on occasion, she understood this was no longer feasible. Her former companions had seemingly moved on and would likely not even recognize her if they crossed paths again.

Nevertheless, Thea still possessed their contact information and often battled against the temptation to reach out to one of them in moments of distress, particularly SooJin, as their bond resembled that of siblings. The camaraderie they shared with SuHo from childhood was deeply missed by Thea, yet she acknowledged they were now safe and thriving without her presence.

"Okay" Jangmul politely handed a cup of tea to Ms. Chu, breaking Thea's reverie. Taking a seat beside Ms. Chu with a somber demeanor, he asked"So, did Mo-tak go straight to the police station?"

"Yes"

"I see"

"Will Ma Ju-seok's mother be okay?" asked Ms. Chu with a sense of concern. Jangmul promptly nodded in agreement to ease the woman's anxieties "I hope the memories I erased today won't haunt her in her dreams"

"Of course not" Jangmul comforted Ms. Chu with a reassuring pat on her shoulder, conveying that all would be well and there was no need for concern "You and Thea took good care of her. She left without a single wound. Mun is going to look after her tonight"

"I'm worried about him" Thea lamented, solemnly shaking her head with a look of utter worry on her face as she thought about her boyfriend, who is probably at the hospital looking after Ma Ju-Seok's mother. "So much has happened right after he woke up"

"My god. I know" Jangmul expressed his understanding, leaning back in his chair with a heavy sigh, acknowledging "But I agree with Mo-tak. The evil spirits keep getting stronger. We can't be soft on them"

"Can't we just try fighting him without the territory?" Jeok-bong asked with a sense of curiosity, leaning closer to the table with a discerning look "We did a great job last time at the hotel. And this time, Mun will join us. And the evil spirits are split"

"You're right" Jun-seo agreed solemnly, his hands crossed over his chest, and his untidy, long, curly hair falling around his face"He wouldn't just sit still like this"

"What?"

"If Mr. Hwang failed to kill Ma Ju-seok just because of the territory,  he wouldn't give up on taking his power. He'd try to get it one way or another. So why hasn't he made a move yet?" Hana elucidated to Jun-seo, causing confusion among the others present. They shared a meaningful glance, a silent communication understood only by them, which did not go unnoticed by Thea.

"You're right" Jangmul nodded in agreement, crossing his arms to signal his assent

Thea sat back in her chair, watching Hana and Jun-seo closely; their minds appeared to be in sync, displaying intelligence but also a hint of unawareness. This observation made her believe that they were destined to be together, as fate had brought them back into each other's lives once more. From Thea's understanding, Hana and Jun-seo had been acquainted since their high school days, harboring feelings for one another since then. However, following Hana's accident, Jun-seo slipped into a coma a few days later, causing them to drift apart and lose contact over time, until their paths crossed again recently.

The way in which destiny influences our lives is truly fascinating. SuHo had been a close friend of Thea's from a young age, as well as being lifelong friends with Mun. Despite this, their paths never crossed until many years later, shortly before SuHo's return from the United States. It felt as though fate had orchestrated their meeting, a strangely comforting and fulfilling experience for Thea, ultimately leading her to discover her true love.

Author's note;

I apologize for the delay, but recently I have been very busy and somewhat unmotivated to write, but I am back. I also wanted to inform you that I will soon be publishing the first chapter of the new fan fiction I am writing for "Lovely Runner" so I hope you enjoy it and give it a lot of support! 💗

Question of the day: If you could select an animal to be your adventuring companion, what would it be and what name would you give it? 🐈

I would opt for a kitten as they are truly endearing, and I believe having one by my side would bring me great joy and amusement. I will name them "Mochi" because of Jimin LMAO. See y'all in the next chapter! Thank you for reading! 💗