𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄. ghosts of things to come

JIEUN SAT AT THE GRAND MAHOGANY TABLE, HER delicate fingers tracing the intricate patterns etched into its surface. She glanced up from her tracing to find Ben engrossed in the morning newspaper, his eyes scanning the headlines with a furrowed brow. The sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over the opulent dining room of Ben's estate.

The room was adorned with lavish furnishings, each piece a testament to his wealth and status. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting shimmering reflections across the polished marble floor. The walls were adorned with priceless paintings, each one meticulously chosen to enhance the room's elegant ambiance.

As Jieun observed Ben, she couldn't help but admire the way he looked in his posh suit and tie, the epitome of sophistication and refinement. His hair was impeccably styled, and his sharp features were softened by the gentle morning light.

Clearing her throat, Jieun set aside her thoughts and focused on the matter at hand. "Hey," she began, her voice soft yet determined, "have you seen the latest updates on Cobra Kai?"

Ben lowered the newspaper, his gaze meeting hers with a curious expression. "Yes, money-hungry bastards," he replied, folding the paper neatly and setting it aside. "Do they know there's not enough kids in the valley?"

She hesitated for a moment, her mind drifting. "Don't think so," she said, forcing a smile. "But with Cobra Kai gaining momentum in the karate world, maybe it's time we start thinking about expanding Scorpion's Eye. We could recruit new members, train together, build something stronger."

His brows furrowed, a hint of hesitation clouding his features. "I never had any intention of expanding," he admitted, his tone apologetic. "You're more than capable on your own. You've proven that time and time again."

Her heart sank at his words, a wave of frustration washing over her. "What's the point then?" she challenged, her voice tinged with a hint of defiance. "I'm not going to win any more tournaments on my own, Ben. I need allies, teammates."

He met her gaze, his expression thoughtful as he considered her words. "Maybe you're right," he conceded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Maybe it's time for a change."

"There's something else I wanted to talk to you about." She paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "I think it's time for me to let go of this obsession with finding my father's killer."

She paused, her voice trembling with emotion as she fought to keep her composure. "I just want to be a normal teenager now," she admitted, her gaze pleading with him to understand. "I want to focus on my future, on the things that truly matter."

"Jieun," Ben began, his voice low and serious, "I understand your desire to move on, to find some semblance of normalcy in your life. But you can't just abandon this search. By giving up now, you're sending a message to whoever killed your father ― that they've won, that they've gotten away with it."

She felt a chill run down her spine at his words, the gravity of his warning sinking in. "But," she protested, her voice trembling with uncertainty, "what if continuing this search puts me in danger?"

Jieun sat back in her chair, her mind swirling with a whirlwind of emotions. She knew that Ben's words held truth, that her quest for vengeance had consumed her for far too long. But the thought of letting go, of moving forward without answers, filled her with a sense of unease she couldn't shake. "I'm scared," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "Scared of what comes next, of what I might find ― or what might find me."

"No," He interrupted, his tone firm and unwavering. "You need to understand the gravity of what you're proposing here. This isn't just about you anymore. This is about justice ― for your father, for your family, for everyone who's been affected by this tragedy."

She sat back in her chair, her hands trembling slightly as she listened to his response. His words were like a punch to the gut, each one landing with a force that left her breathless.

"I," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "I know you mean well, but ―"

His expression shifted, his brows furrowing deeper, a mixture of disbelief and disappointment coloring his features. "After all this time?" he echoed, his voice tinged with incredulity. "After all the practice, the sacrifices?"

She bit her lip, feeling the weight of Ben's disapproval settle heavily on her shoulders. "I know it's hard to understand," she began, her voice wavering slightly. "I've spent months chasing shadows, and it's time to focus on the present, on me."

His jaw tensed, his frustration evident as he struggled to find the right words. "But what about justice?" he pressed, his tone tinged with urgency. "Your father deserves closure. You deserve closure."

She shook her head, her resolve unwavering despite the turmoil in her heart. "Maybe closure isn't about finding his killer," she said quietly, her gaze meeting his with unwavering determination. "Maybe it's about letting go of the pain and moving forward." Jieun felt a surge of frustration welling up inside her, a fierce determination to make him see things from her perspective. "I'm so tired," she argued, her voice tinged with desperation, "what good is justice if it comes at the cost of my happiness? My sanity?"

"Tired?" His laugh was bitter and mocking. "You don't know the first thing about exhaustion." Ben's expression didn't soften like she had hoped, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and frustration. "You're even weaker than I thought," he said, his voice laced with disdain, each word hitting her like a slap in the face. "Letting go... Do you think you can just wash your hands of this and walk away? That's not how it works. You don't get to pick and choose when to fight."

"This isn't weakness, Ben. It's self-preservation." She felt her anger flare at him, but she forced herself to stay composed. A bitter irony washed over her as she remembered Ben's previous words of support. "You taught me that not all battles are mine to fight. I'm choosing myself, and I won't let you or anyone else make me feel guilty for it," she whispered, her voice barely above a hoarse whisper. "I'm not weak," she shot back, her voice trembling with indignation. "I can't keep going like this, Ben. It's destroying me and my relationships."

"More like self-delusion. You think you can just walk away from your father's murder and pretend it never happened?" His laugh was sharp and cruel. "Destroying you?" He scoffed. "You haven't even scratched the surface. You're just too weak to see it." He shook his head. "You're nothing but a coward. Running away."

"I'm not pretending anything," She shot back, her voice trembling with fury. The tears welled in her eyes, a lump forming in her throat but she didn't let them fall. "I can't do this anymore," she whispered, her voice barely above a hoarse whisper. "I've tried, but I just can't keep living like this, like some sort of avenging angel."

As Ben's harsh words echoed in her ears, her thoughts drifted back to simpler times. She longed for the carefree days of her childhood when the biggest worry was winning the next soccer game or sharing laughs with Yasmine and Moon.

Tears blurred her vision as memories flooded her mind ― the exhilarating rush of scoring a goal, the infectious laughter of her friends, the sense of belonging that seemed so distant now.

She yearned to feel that sense of company again, to lose herself in the joy of the game, even just for a moment. But the weight of her father's absence and the burden of seeking justice held her captive, trapping her in a cycle of pain and despair.

With that, Ben opened his newspaper, leaving Jieun alone with her shattered resolve. His jaw tensed once more, his frustration evident as he fought to keep his emotions in check. "Jieun, listen to me," he said, his voice low and urgent. "If you give up now, if you turn your back on this, you're letting him win. You're letting the bastard who took your father from you get away with it."

Silence hung heavy in the air between them, the weight of their unspoken thoughts filling the room with tension. She took a deep breath, steeling herself as she continued to lay bare her inner turmoil.

She felt a sense of loss so profound it threatened to swallow her whole. She had thought that their bond was unbreakable, that nothing could tear them apart, but now it seemed as though they were on opposite sides of a chasm that could never be bridged.

Her mind reeled with a whirlwind of emotions. She couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal that gnawed at her insides, the realization sinking in like a heavy stone in the pit of her stomach.

Yujin's words echoed in her mind, the warnings he had given her ringing all too true now. He had seen through Ben's facade from the beginning and had tried to warn her time and time again. But she had brushed off his concerns, convinced that she knew better, that she was smarter than to fall for Ben's manipulations.

How wrong she had been.

Tears blurred her vision as she replayed the moments in her mind, the subtle manipulations, the veiled threats, the careful crafting of her into a weapon to be wielded at his command. She had prided herself on her intelligence, on her ability to see through people's intentions, but it had taken her this long to realize the truth about Ben's game.

She couldn't shake the memory of their last conversation, "I was Ben's favorite once, too." At the time, she had brushed off his words, convinced that he was just trying to manipulate her, to undermine her victory in the fight to join the organization.

But now, as she reflected on his warnings, she couldn't help but wonder if there had been some truth to them after all. Had Yujin seen through Ben's mask from the beginning? Had he tried to warn her because he genuinely cared about her well-being?

The weight of her realization bore down on her like a crushing weight, filling her with a sense of regret and guilt.

She had been the one blinded by her own pride and arrogance, unable to see the truth that had been staring her in the face all along.

She thought back to the day Yujin had been kicked out of the organization, the day she had won the fight to join their ranks. She had felt a sense of triumph then, a sense of pride in her own abilities, but now it felt hollow, meaningless in the face of the truth she had uncovered.

"How could I have been so blind?" She thought to herself, her voice tinged with self-loathing.

The weight of her realization bore down on her like a crushing weight, threatening to suffocate her with its enormity. She had thought that Ben was different, that he was someone she could trust, someone she could rely on. But now it seemed as though he had been playing her all along, using her for his own selfish purposes.

And as she leaned forward, her heart heavy with sorrow and regret, she knew that she had to face the truth, no matter how painful it may be. She had to accept that Ben was not the person she had believed him to be, that he had never truly cared about her and that he had only ever seen her as a means to an end.

As she sat at the table, her mind raced with a million thoughts, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination. She knew that she was playing a dangerous game now, that one wrong move could spell disaster for her.

She glanced sidelong at Ben, who remained engrossed in his newspaper, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil raging inside her. But Jieun knew better than to underestimate him. He was clever, cunning, and ruthless when it came to getting what he wanted.

Had he figured out that she knew his true intentions? Had he sensed her growing distrust, her newfound resolve to break free from his grasp? Or was he simply biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike?

Jieun's heart raced with apprehension as she considered the possibilities. She couldn't afford to let her guard down now, not when her very life hung in the balance. She had to tread carefully, to play the role of the obedient disciple until she could find a way to escape his clutches for good.

But even as she masked her emotions behind a facade of calm and composure, a sense of unease gnawed at her insides. She couldn't shake the feeling that Ben was watching her, waiting for her to slip up, to reveal her true intentions.

And as she sat there, locked in a silent battle of wills with the man she had once trusted implicitly, she knew that she was in for the fight of her life. But she refused to back down, refused to let fear dictate her actions any longer.

For Jieun knew that she was stronger than she had ever realized, that she had the power within her to break free from the chains that bound her, to forge her own path, no matter the cost. And as she stared down her adversary with steely determination, she vowed to never stop fighting, to never stop until she had reclaimed her freedom and her dignity, once and for all.

So, her expression softened, a flicker of understanding crossing her features. "I hear you," she said softly, with a calm determination, she met his gaze. "You're right, Ben," she said, her voice steady and measured. "I won't stop. I'll keep fighting for justice, just like you want."

His expression softened slightly, a hint of satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "Good," he said, his voice tinged with relief. "I was worried you were losing sight of what's important."

She nodded, hiding her true intentions behind a facade of agreement.

Ben's mood seemed to lighten at her words, his demeanor shifting from anger to cautious optimism. "I'm glad to hear that, Jieun. We'll make a formidable team, I'm sure of it.".

She knew she was playing a dangerous game, but she also knew that sometimes, to outmaneuver your opponent, you had to play by their rules. And so, Jieun made a silent vow to herself. She would continue to play the part of the obedient ally.

"Thank you, Ben," she whispered, manipulating her voice to choke with emotion. "For always being there for me, for believing in me when I couldn't believe in myself."

Ben smiled, his eyes sparkling with affection as he leaned forward putting the newspaper down, again. "You don't have to thank me," he said softly. "You're like family to me, and family sticks together, no matter what."

Tears welled in her eyes at his words, a lump forming in her throat as she struggled to find the right response. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Ben," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "You've been my rock, my anchor through all of this."

Ben's smile widened, his heart swelling with a sense of pride and gratitude. "And you've been mine," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity.

And as she nodded, her heart heavy with sorrow and regret, she vowed to never let her pride cloud her judgment again, to always listen to the warnings of those who cared about her, no matter how painful they may be. From now on, she would trust her instincts, rely on her own judgment, and never again let anyone else dictate her fate.

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

not me updating twice in one week woahhhhh !!

just a filler ch. because as im watching s5 its mostly the adults getting more screentime lol

how do we feel about jiji realizing ben's true intentions???? was it too rushed?? or just right idk pls tell me !!

much love,