Hongjoong couldn't stand to look around and check if anyone was still gawking at him. He didn't mean to be so late. He hadn't even meant to come.

"Joooooongie?"

Hongjoong's heart sank.

The one person he couldn't face right now.

The reason he wasn't going to come.

The reason he was even here.

Park Seonghwa. Son of KQ's CEO.

...

Hongjoong woke with a start as his phone buzzed violently on his nightstand, threatening to fall off. He jumped up and grabbed it, realizing it could be from his boss.

"Hello?"

"Hongjoong—we've just received big news."

"What is it?" Hongjoong answered, his knee starting to bounce in anticipation.

"We have his name. His real name. The identity of the son."

Hongjoong's heart skipped a beat.

"Wha—really?! How!?"

"Our mole has gotten pretty close to a member of his staff and he was able to get it out of him."

Hongjoong's knee was bouncing like crazy.

"Well—tell me then!!"

"Unfortunately—he's not on the staff. So we'll have to reassign you in order to find more information."

Hongjoong released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. He was relieved. It wouldn't be anyone he had befriended. It wouldn't be Seonghwa. His suspicions were unfounded.

"That's great," Hongjoong smiled.

"Great? I though you liked your current position?"

"I do! I'm just relieved it isn't any of them. I've made a few friends, if I'm being honest."

"That's great. I'm sorry to take you away from those connections but we're so close."

"I understand. What is the name of the CEO's son?"

"Park Seonghwa."

Hongjoong dropped the phone.

No.

No.

This couldn't be happening.

This couldn't be right.

They were testing him.

They had to be testing him.

It was all wrong.

Seonghwa was Hwaseong's real name. If he'd lied about his first name, he probably lied about his last name.

It was him.

But it couldn't be.

Hongjoong's ears slowly stopped ringing and he heard his name coming from the phone that sat on the floor.

Realizing what this meant, his first instinct was to protect him. He couldn't tell them.

Not yet.

He needed to make sure first.

"—Hongjoong? Are you there?"

"Yes!! Sorry, I must have lost signal for a moment. So. We finally have his name."

"Yes. We do."

"We'll take him down."

"It all hinges on you. Next week you'll start at the cafe across the street from corporate. That way we have eyes on the building overnight as you're scheduled to only work late hours. We've found that spying on the offices during the day reveals nothing, so his son must come in only at night. He has a scheduled international phone conference at 3 am next Monday but we've checked the number listed and it has no actual phone registered to it. Therefore we believe—it's a time set aside to meet with his son."

Hongjoong hardly processed the information but he responded saying he understood.

He couldn't stop worrying. What would he do if it really was Seonghwa? If he saw him enter the building at 3? He couldn't protect him.

But did he really want to?

The CEO had done such horrible things to his family. So whoever his son was, it clearly ran in his blood.

No matter who it was, he'd have to bring him down. No matter what it takes.

But he would have to verify it first.

He could keep watch on the trip this weekend. That is—if he could actually face Seonghwa.

The idea that he was that man's son repulsed him. It couldn't be right. He couldn't look him in the eye knowing what horrible things his family committed.

"—As for this weekend—you reported that you were traveling for work?"

"Yes," Hongjoong responded, almost missing the question in his thoughts.

"You will still attend but you must slowly let everyone know you have plans to leave the company. That way your absence won't be suspicious. Perhaps tell them—you need to move back home as your parents are ill—or something believable. It's up to you. Ad-lib is your specialty so I trust you'll perform well."

"Yes sir."

"That's all then. We're going to get him, Hongjoong. We'll take revenge for your mom."

Hongjoong felt his eyes water at the mention of his mother but quickly wiped a tear away.

"Yes sir. Thank you."

"No Hongjoong, thank you."

...

"Hongjoong? What's wrong?"

Hongjoong knew it wasn't normal to ignore his 'best friend' but he couldn't look at him. Seeing his adorable eyes would make him forget the monster hiding inside of him.

"Sorry Hwaseong, I'm just—not in a great mood."

He hoped this would drive him away but Seonghwa only got closer and sat next to him, placing a cautious arm around his shoulder.

"That's what a best friend is for. Making you feel better."

Hongjoong could feel his radiant smile but looked the other way.

"Really, I don't want to talk right now."

"Too bad," Seonghwa huffed and gave Hongjoong a tight squeeze, igniting his butterflies.

He felt a tear of confusion and anger slip down his cheek and shoved Seonghwa off of him.

"I said I don't want to talk!"

Hongjoong curled his knees into his suitcase and continued to face the window. He couldn't look at Seonghwa on the ground, probably feeling hurt by his curt dismissal. His sad eyes.

He slowly heard Seonghwa stand and walk back to the front of the bus and finally he braved a peek, seeing him at least ten rows ahead of him.

He sighed and hit himself in the forehead.

He needed to confirm his theory before completely dismissing him. But it was pretty clear he was right. But if he kept acting sullen, he would never get a chance. He'd drive him away.

He had to view him as someone to investigate. A villain. Not his friend.

Then he could do it. He decided he'd ruined any chance of talking on the bus but promised himself he would try to mend things later so he could get more intel.