Sunoo walked down the stairs leading to the rooftop, then glanced to the side of the stairwell, which looked deserted. He leaned against the wall and quickly pressed his phone to his ear.
Not long after, a voice answered from the other end.
"We just met earlier and now you're already calling me again. Miss me that much?"
"Not like that. I just want to tell you something I accidentally overheard," Sunoo said.
"What did you hear?" Heeseung asked.
"Arkha and Hesa mentioned Sakala," Sunoo replied.
"Oh, so they got information about that kid," Heeseung said.
"No. Hesa said Sakala visited his boarding house yesterday," Sunoo answered.
"Sakala is dead. Let me find out who's bold enough to mess with us," Heeseung said.
"I don't think it's a disguise. Maybe they just have the same name," Setta said.
"Why do you sound like you're trying to cover this up?" Heeseung replied.
"I'm just too lazy to think about it right now. We can deal with it later," Sunoo said.
"So what do you want to do now?" Heeseung asked.
"Play with fire," Sunoo answered.
"Wow. Who's the target?" Heeseung asked.
"Not people yet. I want to burn the park—like what the 8x gang used to do to our orphanage," Sunoo said.
"I wish that I heard heartbreak time machine~" Heeseung sang.
"Idiot, you're singing—and the lyrics are wrong," Sunoo said, annoyed.
"Which part?" Heeseung asked.
"It's I wished, not I wish," Sunoo replied.
"I said it like that on purpose to mock someone," Heeseung said.
"Yeah, I know," Sunoo answered.
"Hahaha. Oh right, I just remembered—you vented a bit to Sunghoon yesterday. He said they canceled the camping plan and want to go to an amusement park instead," Heeseung said.
"That's Arkha and Joan's doing. They managed to divert it, and I have to ruin their plan," Sunoo replied.
"You don't need to dirty your hands like that," Heeseung said.
"You got a plan?" Sunoo asked.
"A plan? I think it'd be better if we just finish it tonight," Heeseung said.
"You want to kill them?" Sunoo asked.
Only laughter was heard from the other end in response.
~~~~~~~
The break bell rang, and as usual the Thirteen gang gathered in the cafeteria.
"You're already healthy again," Niki said.
"Looks like it," Hesa replied.
"I heard you ended up in the hospital after chasing the car that kidnapped me. I feel really guilty," Setta said.
"It's the kidnapper's fault, not yours. Don't think like that," Hesa said with a (fake) smile.
"I still feel bad," Setta replied.
"Just forget it. How about we start planning the vlog?" Hesa said.
"Relax, I already prepared the recording equipment," Jio said.
"Oh right, we're not going camping," Niki added.
"Then where are we vlogging?" Hesa asked, pretending to be surprised.
"An abandoned amusement park," Satya said.
Hesa nodded in understanding. He noticed Setta looked completely normal, casually eating his food.
What is he planning?
Hesa sighed briefly. Whatever the guy was planning, it definitely wasn't something good.
But Hesa remembered—this wasn't the only problem right now. He turned to Joan.
"Jo, how's your head? You slipped while waiting for me, right?" he asked.
Joan nodded. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
"Jo, didn't you say you heard Hesa talking that time?" Satya asked.
"Talking?" Hesa repeated.
"No. I was already really dizzy back then and didn't know anything. So maybe what I told you before was just a dream," Joan said.
"What did you hear me talking about?" Hesa asked.
"Random stuff. I don't really remember anymore. No need to think about it," Joan replied.
Hesa only nodded, even though he knew Joan wouldn't just accept the strange incident that easily.
~~~~~~~~
Hesa walked back to his boarding house deep in thought. He was actually relieved that the camping trip was canceled, but he kept thinking about what the copies were planning.
"Babe, what's wrong? Are you hurting somewhere?"
So lost in his thoughts, Hesa forgot he was walking home with his girlfriend.
"No, I'm fine," Hesa said with a reassuring smile.
"But you're so quiet," Winter said.
"It's nothing," Hesa replied.
"I'll stop by your place first, okay?" Winter said.
"For what?" Hesa asked.
"I want to cook. Maybe you're tired, that's why you're so quiet," Winter answered.
"I'd just be troubling you," Hesa said.
"You're overthinking again," Winter pouted, making Hesa reflexively pat her head affectionately.
When they arrived at the boarding house—
"Please come in first, my princess," Hesa said, letting Winter enter.
Winter just smiled. "Babe, go take a shower. I'll prepare the food."
"Mm, okay," Hesa replied.
"Oh right, it's time for your medicine," Winter said.
"It's not medicine, just vitamins after meals," Hesa answered.
"Where do you keep them?" Winter asked.
"In the medical box, under the TV table," Hesa replied.
"I'll prepare it later," Winter said.
"Thanks, babe," Hesa said.
"You're welcome," Winter smiled.
Winter went to the kitchen while Hesa headed to the bathroom. Several minutes later, Hesa walked to the dining room while drying his hair with a towel.
"Babe?"
He felt something was off because he didn't see Winter in the kitchen or at the dining table. The food wasn't even finished yet.
Suddenly he grew worried. "Babe?"
Hesa searched every corner of the room but still couldn't find her.
Did she go out to buy something? Oh right, the food's not done—maybe we're missing ingredients.
Ding dong. The doorbell rang.
"There she is. She must be back from the shop," Hesa hurried to open the door.
Click.
The door opened—and revealed a face Hesa didn't want to see.
"Setta."
"Hesa. I came to check on you too. They said you just got back from the hospital, right?" Setta said kindly.
"Y-yeah, I just got back," Hesa forced a smile.
Setta tilted his head, peeking inside. "There's another pair of shoes. You have a guest too?"
"My girlfriend's here," Hesa said, glancing at the shoe rack.
"Oh, I'll just drop by for a bit," Setta said, stepping inside before Hesa could even turn back. In short, he barged in.
"I brought you some juice. You should drink it now before the ice melts and it loses its sweetness," Setta said, sitting on the sofa and placing the drink on the table.
"Setta, sorry, maybe we can talk another time. Thanks for the juice," Hesa said, subtly trying to send him away.
"Why? I still want to talk with you here," Setta pleaded.
Hesa grew more irritated, even though he had been trying to stay patient.
"Sorry, but—"
"Please give me some time to talk," Setta said, standing and approaching Hesa, who had remained standing the whole time to avoid him.
"Why don't you want to talk to your own friend?"
Hesa grabbed the collar of the person in front of him. "I don't have any time left for you."
"Oh? Then how about I give you that time?" Setta smiled at the angry senior.
"I—" Hesa's words were cut off when he saw Setta slowly pulling something out of his blazer pocket. Hesa swiftly snatched it.
A syringe filled with clear liquid.
Hesa became even more furious, realizing Setta was about to do something to him. Without hesitation, he punched Setta until he fell to the floor.
"You're not my friend! Stop acting like him!"
He kept hitting Setta, but the one being beaten only laughed. With blood already on his lips, he still smiled.
"You can hit me all you want. It won't change anything. You're still coming with me."
"No. I refuse to go with you!" Hesa shouted.
"Oh really?"
"Argh!"
Hesa was too focused on Setta that he didn't notice his copy already standing behind him and stabbing his neck with the syringe.
"Well, did I come at a bad time?" the copy glanced dismissively at the battered Setta.
"Damn you, Heeseung. What kind of look is that?" Setta pushed Hesa's falling body off him.
"I was just thinking—if I really didn't come, would you have died?"
"You think I'd die again? Don't be ridiculous," Setta said.
Hesa's copy extended a hand to help Setta up. The two of them looked at Hesa, who was already lying unconscious from the drug.
"Yeah. You just take him away, and I'll play my role as Hesa."