ANOTHER ZINNIA ㅡ chapter 03

"INSEONG?"

rowoon's soft voice made inseong flutter his eyes open.

bright light and a strong smell of medicine greeted his two senses.

his body felt weak and tired.

"what happened?" he asked in a scratchy and hoarse voice, slowly sitting up with the help of his fellow ranger.

"you were unconscious for three days.
how are you feeling?" rowoon asked.

inseong noticed the dark aura around the fellow. his expression so calm yet so solemn.

maybe he's just tired?

"i don't know.." inseong said, trying to recollect the memories that happened three days ago before he blacked out.

waitㅡ

"what happened to - to mr.ㅡ"

"he was dead an hour before we arrived. the assassin escaped and left a zinnia with the letter 'c'." rowoon responded with a mellow voice, speaking softly.

it was dark outside, night has fallen yet rowoon is here in the hospital with inseong. not dressed in his usual ranger uniform but his casual t-shirt and jeans.

"the assassin was quick. we couldn't really figure anything out since it was you who was face to face with him."

"him?"

"yeah.. him."

"it was a lady, rowoon." inseong stated, remembering exactly how expressionless she looked through his very eyes and soul.

"a-a lady?" rowoon asked, pretty surprised to hear his fellow ranger's statement.

"but she wasn't alone."

"what?"

inseong rolled his eyes at rowoon's timid reactions. "i said she wasn't alone, rowoon. she had someone else. a guy. i shot him in the leg so it's impossible for him to sprint when i chased after him."

a short silence wrapped the atmosphere as rowoon tried to connect the dots, but couldn't.

"inseong-ah," rowoon called, making the older guy to turn to him. "..how did you know that the killer was there? we saw no signs outside. the lights were off and no car was parked."

"outside.. there was a motorbike in the hedge so i figured mr. hyungeuk didn't use his car. the door wasn't locked.
inside, the kitchen smelled of coffee and the bathroom was used." inseong replied, suddenly smelling a scent of coffee from the vivid memory.

rowoon didn't say more.

inseong was the newest addition to the ranging squad after the ranger named juho left. dawon and him were never told what he was capable of other than that he's the head commissioner's nephew. but that didn't do the justice as to why he was added to the department's best ranging team.

the ranging units' purposes are to chase off fatal criminals - especially assassins. rather than being a group of 10 to 15 mediocre police officers, ranging teams consists of 3 to 4 members that excel in a lot of things that regular cops don't.

rowoon excels in strength and durability. he can take on seven men alone.

dawoon excels in speed and shooting precision. he can shoot people that are running and moving - without missing.

now he knows why inseong was added.

not because he's the head commissioner's nephew, but because he's highly observant, intelligent, strategic and quick-witted.
a perfect addition to the team.

"they were waiting." rowoon looked up at inseong once again. "they were waiting for our arrival. the gunshot you heard before i called was the guy i shot in the leg. it was as if he did it on purpose."

"they came first and they knew we were coming." inseong concluded his theory.

rowoon's eyes widen at how much sense it made to him now.

"but we failed the mission so that information won't help." inseong mumbled, resting his head backwards, leaning on the wall behind him. he exhaled in exhaustion. "where's dawon?"

"arranging some papers." rowoon replied. "he told me to tell you that he's worried and he hopes that you'll get better soon."

inseong's lips curved to a smile. "give him my thanks. without him i wouldn't be here."

"that sounded cheesy - but i'll try to remember." rowoon added. he smiled at the older but it suddenly fell down.

"hey, what's wrong?" worry filled inseong when he saw the younger, but taller guy, suddenly hang his head low and start sobbing.

"hyung.. i just.. broke up with my girlfriend." rowoon stammered.

'no wonder his aura was so dark.'

inseong reached to caress rowoon's back, just like how he caressed his three days ago. rowoon started to sob even more and inseong let him.

"we've been in a relationship for four years.. was it so easy for her to just leave?.."

rowoon then started to tell him his memories of her. the great memories he'd never forget.  he described her and inseong thought that she sounded pretty nice.

"hey, let's get out of here and go have fun in the club." inseong told him.

"to the club?.. but you just woke up.."

"who cares? to the club! and get dawon too!"

rowoon chuckled amidst his sobbing.

"thanks hyung."

EDITED.

[ A/N: ]
i'm sorry, i just had to publish a chapter.
why? it's my the love of my life's birthday❣
next chapters will be updated every saturdays
from now on.

happy birthday inseongie🥳💫