The Phoenix Headquarters

"Its very noble of you to finally claw Taehyung-ssi into successfully getting into the labs, Ms Seductress. You and our raven here, Jungkook ㅡ have vested a lot of patience and efforts to finally achieve this, and I'm proud of your work with us. You never fail to impress us, despite the shortcomings you've faced throughout the mission."

"I'm gratified to hear these words from you, Mr Oh. So what's the future lead in Tokyo?" I tried to cut him off, because the smirk and the glint of victory in his eyes was absurd.

"Oh yes ㅡ I've planned everything. So when Mr Kim shows you around the labs, you make sure to keep a watch on all the lock systems, pathways and tunnels as usual. The same night you get into the labs and disable the security systems and cameras, guards and get the drug sample to me. That will mark the last day of you two working with us. Our team will perform several tests on it and if we find the drug fatal, we will biochemically degrade it."

"And what if it's not faulty?" Guk asked.

"We'll hand it back to him." Sehun folded his arms over his chest.

"And you're promising that, aren't you? That you will return it?" I was unsure of his words but I had to show in just some more faith.

"I promise. If you still don't trust me then have my word; you can yourself deliver it to him. Only if you aren't afraid of your secret getting exposed."

"If I go in front of him, he wouldn't surely forgive me and have me escorted out of his life. But I want to give it a try, a risk by going back to him even if he never would want to see me again." I sighed heavily and Jungkook could notice the pain in my eyes.

"I see you've grown close to him, a lot Lisa-ssi." Sehun raised a brow questioning his doubt.

"No-no...he's just my target, like everyone else." I lied, biting the insides of my cheek. I wish I could say yes, yes because he's very dear to me.

"Very well. Move you get us the drug, we get to decide if it's a weapon or not."

"Sure sir." Guk and I said in unison.

━

A week later
Taehyung's private jet

When I entered the jet, I found that Taehyung was already inside, talking over someone over the phone. He was dressed in a navy blue waistcoat over his arm length white shirt, with fashioned pants and boots that made him look a plus riche high class businessman.

He took off his aviator sunglasses as he turned to face me, adjusting my seat. He sat beside.

"Who were you talking to?"

"Just making sure if the arrangements were done. You know, the extra guards and some monitoring?"

"Extra security because of me?" I asked, feeling a little underwhelmed.

"Don't worry about it Lisa. It's just a precautionary protocol that's all. But promise me, you'll stay quiet about us going too."

"Sure enough, I can't wait to see the labs!"

"The joke's on you, what an irony!"

Ugh Guk...

━

Tokyo, Japan

Taehyung booked us a suite each in a lavish hotel in the heart of the city, to not raise suspicion about his labs. He said his labs were located in the outskirts and so for safety measures he couldn't possibly disclose about the secretive property.

Leaving me in my room, he left downstairs to attend some business with a few of his Japanese colleagues. I had to be in my best guard for now, for I knew I (and Taehyung who lived in the adjacent suite) were being closely monitored by Jungkook and Yeri under the orders of Sehun.

Sehun said he was around the Phoenix base in Tokyo, allotting a group of his spies who would help us escape the labs once we got hold of the drug.

The plan was simple; it would start tomorrow night when we infiltrate the labs without getting caught. Jungkook would disable the guards for around five minutes by spraying a paralyzing agent which would buy us only five minutes to carry out the entire heist. Yeri would disable the security network around the entrances while I get inside to get the drug. After we successfully secure it, we leave the place in Sehun's helicopter, off to his secret base.

Just when I was heading to sleep, I heard a knock on my window and Jungkook jumped in.

"Jungk-"

"Shh..." he cupped my mouth and pushed us into the walk-in wardrobe, where perhaps the cameras weren't looking.

"What are you doing here? You scared me." I held my chest in shock.

"I came here to hand in this to you." He fished out two black shirt buttons from his pocket.

"What are these?"

"Lisa, I'm pretty sure Taehyung might've planned extreme security procedures so it might be highly risky for you to wear the earpiece when you go there tomorrow. So I designed these buttons. Do you perhaps have a black shirt where you could fit them?"

"Yeah...I do." I said, removing one from my valise.

"Great. These are nano-cameras designed to look like buttons, so we can have a look into the lock and security codes which might be useful when we plan an intrusion."

"Hmm...okay." I stitched the button within a matter of a few minutes as Jungkook connected it and tested around.

"Works good. Ensure that it doesn't fall off, okay?" I nodded at his words.

"I guess it is then." I sighed as Jungkook looked at me in a worrisome manner.

"Nervous?"

"A bit, yes. There's no way to hack into the systems so it's all based on expectations and judgements which'll drive me crazy for sure."

My hand was placed at Jungkook's chest as I could feel his heart beat intensively.

"Hey, relax. We've been through this before, haven't we? It will be fine, trust me. Look into my eyes Lisa."

He grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him and despite the dim lighting of the wardrobe area I could easily stare back into the eyes, who only aimed to stare at me.

"Why did you bring us here though? We could've easily talked in the room."

"Yeri. I don't want her to hear or look at us. She's been getting on my head seriously and she's very annoying, to tell you." Jungkook sighed, facepalming himself as I snickered at his actions which I found adorable.

"I sometimes don't understand why Sehun has to drag her into this, I don't think he does trust our credibility." Jungkook affirmed my thoughts.

"We can't be bitching about him, can we? He's our so called boss after all."

Jungkook pretended to mimic Sehun grumpily making me laugh.

"So...do you feel a little confident now?" Jungkook asked as I nodded.

"Thank you for making me feel better Guk. Let's get it."

"Uh....before I leave, can you just spare some minutes more if you aren't sleepy now? I...I wished to say something..." Jungkook was hesitant, rubbing his sleeves in nervousness.

"Sure Guk."

He inhaled deeply, before pulling himself together as he let out.

"This experience of working with you has been one hell of a joyride. In this almost one year of working with you, I've seen a new me spark within myself. With tons of shortcomings, ups and downs, times I've felt like giving up, times I've felt like theres a hope. I've hurt people, broken their hearts, killed them...

When Sehun came up with this job to me, I wasn't interested at first; I thought it would be very mundane and trivial like any other mission. But I put aside my reluctance when he said I would be working with you, the infamous Miss Seductress. From what I had heard a lot about you from the gossips and whispers of the other spies, I was sure I was going to learn a lot from you. I did expect some small exchange about us to be shared, but I never imagined I would get this closely attached to any of my partners.

Because Lali, you...from you I learnt what it was to be in love, again. You reminded me that love and affection do exist and sometimes just a little care from that special person is all you might ever need."

"Jungkook..." I said, reaching my hand out to him but he stopped it midway.

"I suffered from immense regret when I lost Jieun, I didn't even have the chance to let my feelings out to her. I gave up on my heart, sealed it and eventually gave up the thought that I was ever going to love again. But you Lali, you gave me a hope to my life. You made me realize somethings I've wanted for too long, yet I never had an idea of it."

"And what is that?"

"Love. Care. A family. A need to settle down. I never did think another girl would initiate these feelings again but you did. I know this whole journey has been crazy. We've argued, dropped out of trust, you aren't clear about what you feel for me....but for one thing, I know you care for me a lot more than you want to admit. You're broken in so many ways, the pain you've been suffering is so hard to even imagine. No, I wouldn't try to change you or fix the scars in your heart, because...

I love you, Ms Lalisa Manoban. I love you for who you are."

Am I dreaming, did I hear it right? Did Jungkook just confess to me right now?

Looking at my stunned face and crease lines forming on my forehead, he took my hand in his placing it over his heart.

"Yes, I said it. I love you, I understand through what you've been through and I wouldn't blame you either. I know fixing these wounds is worthless because they'll never heal but, I want to be there for you. When times are smooth, when times are rough. With you, I see a stronger and more happier version of myself, something I've never seen in a long time. I don't really care of what your past was, how many people you killed, you hurt...abd I don't know who you would choose after this mission is over. If you want to live a life with Taehyung, if he does turn out to be a good guy, I won't stop you. I just want you to know that I love you so much, thank you for everything you've done for me."

As Jungkook breathed out, I raised my chin to meet his eyes, he was certainly holding back a lot of emotions and his confession...I felt overwhelmed yet torn the same time.

I didn't want us to fall vulnerable; I didn't want to lose this mission like the last one, I knew I what I had to do: lie to him. Yes, I had to act cold, ignore the strong feelings I had for him too. It does sound brutal and harsh, but I couldn't help it either. We were in this crucial stage and looking back was an option long gone. I had to let him down, hurt him. And that's what I excatly did.

"Jungkook, I wish I could say that I love you too....unfortunately I can't. You know, how much this is important to us. Aren't we being selfish by sidelining the world at a risk? This isn't the right time and place for showcasing ourselves. After this mission is over, I can't assure you if I'd be back or not. For the only thing that's running on my mind is to disappear away right after I finish this mission."

"From me too?" He asked hopelessly.

"Yes...from you, from Taehyung, from everyone. I want sometime alone. I....don't....I don't love you." I turned away, hiding my tears as the lie left my mouth. He whispered a sorrowful goodnight as he left the room.

I hate it, I feel so terrible of lying to him, when he had just carved his heart out to me. But I knew of the uninvited risks we might fall into if we kept our minds on each other. But all I wanted at this point, was Jungkook and I being at our utmost professionalism we had before we met each other.

Just this once, I had to let go of my heart, in hopes of what waited in store for me.

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Uhm so...

Anybody up for double update?
ㅡAuthornim.