Arthur was standing there, face tense as he picked up his phone from the side and dialed Si-Hun's number.
His fingers were stiff as he called him.
Si-Hun picked up and answered.
"Hey! Arthur, what's up?"
"Si-Hun…"
"Yes?"
"Are you involved in the police?"
"Si-Hun stopped for a second, then replied.
"I'm not sure. There have been cops around me recently."
Arthur looked down.
"Why'd you ask that?" Si-Hun asked.
"I heard the news. You lived near the area…so I thought I'd ask. Anyway…you should be alert. These motherfu*kers can snoop to any level."
Si-Hun furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Okay…"
"Yeah…over and out, young man."
"…Over and out," Si-Hun replied as Arthur hung up.
"He doesn't have that spirit in his voice; he usually does," Si-Hun muttered to himself.
[Arthur's POV]
"I've distracted Minjun for now…I can't tell Si-Hun that I lied…he's not gonna take it well." Arthur whispered, voice hoarse.
[Minjun's POV]
Minjun arrived at the police station and saw Baek Hyeon near the reception.
"Hey…" Minjun approached Baek Hyeon as he put his hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, man…where had you been?" Baek Hyeon replied, looking at him.
"Just for the same business."
"You've been grinding day and night. Take a break, man."
"Wanna grab some drinks at the bar tonight?"
"Bet!"
"Haha, knew you would say that!" Minjun said, chuckling – a rare gesture from him.
The day passed like that.
It was late at night.
Minjun and Baek Hyeon were walking on the street, on their way to the bar.
"It's been a long time since we had drinks together," Minjun said.
"Yeah…I miss these times," Baek Hyeon said, smiling weakly.
Minjun's eyes relaxed for the first time in months.
He was always calculating, staying alert, and never gave himself time to feel human.
"I do too," He replied, voice softer than intended.
His steps were slow and deliberate, as if giving his body the freedom he never allowed himself.
They reached the bar in some time and ordered drinks.
The bar was not very crowded.
Their drinks arrived almost immediately.
"Your service has gotten faster since the last time we came," Mijnun said as he took the drinks from the waiter's hands.
"Only for you, officer." The waiter replied, chuckling.
Minjun let out a low chuckle as well.
"Thanks for the drinks, anyway," He said.
"Always." The waiter said and left.
"Aishh…been a long time since we had time to have drinks together! I've been wanting to see you drunk!" Baek Hyeon said, extending his bottle for a bump.
"Cheers!" They both said at the same time and took a shot, then another.
"I still can't forget the last time we came here…that image of your torn pants is still in my mind!" Minjun said, half-drunk, half-conscious.
'Oh, come on man! Forget about it already!" Baek Hyeon said, a little embarrassed.
"I think we drank too much…"
"Chill about it!" Baek Hyeon replied.
"Yeah…Chill out, so we're sleeping on the streets tonight!" Minjun said, his voice slightly tipsy.
"Whatever!" Baek Hyeon said as he took another shot.
"SHH STOP DRINKING NOW!" Minjun said as he took the cup from his hands and put it on the table.
"Ahh! What are you doing!?" Baek Hyeon blurted.
"Let's leave now," Minjun said as he got up.
"Fine! Pick me up then!" Baek Hyeon said, leaning back.
"Aishh…you can't get up yourself!?" Minjun said as he extended his hand for him to hold.
He held on to his arm and got up.
Minjun was still less drunk than Baek Hyeon.
Baek Hyeon was a heavy drinker, and Minjun always drank less so he could carry him out.
They paid and walked out.
"It's so cold, Mijun-shee!"
"Do not call me that!" Minjun said, annoyed.
"~Don't mind!"
"Of course I will!"
"Yeah, yeah! You're obviously that guy who always had his brows furrowed for no reason!" Baek Hyeon responded, voice husky.
Minjun gave him an annoyed look, let go of his arm, and walked ahead.
"Fine, suit yourself!" Minjun said.
"~Ahh, what are you doing!" Baek Hyeon shouted as he stumbled, losing balance.
Minjun was two steps ahead of him but stopped, knowing this guy was out of his mind right now.
He was about to fall when Minjun held him from the waist.
"Whoa!"
Baek Hyeon stared into his eyes and said.
"~Wahh…you're actually so handsome up close…"
Minjun instantly let go of his waist, dropping him to the ground as he pressed his lips and walked over.
He got flustered over a silly thing.
Baek Hyeon fell on his butt with a thud.
"Ahh! It hurt!" He said as he squinted his eyes and got up quickly.
"You're really leaving?" Baek Hyeon said as he saw him not turning back.
He instantly ran to reach him, stumbling slightly.
"Okay, okay! I'll be less annoying…" Baek Hyeon said to Minjun.
"YOU LITERALLY GOONED OVER ME AND EXPECT ME TO BE UNBOTHERED!" Minjun said, flusteration still visible on his face.
"I just said because it was true…"
Minjun's lips parted, but he didn't crash out as he knew he was dealing with a DUCK with no brain.
"Hehe…"
Minjun walked Baek Hyeon to his home, as it was closer than Baek Hyeon's.
"You'll stay at my place tonight. I don't want you stumbling over the streets and sleeping there with wild dogs," Minjun said as he opened the door of his house and let him in.
He took off his upper and hung it on the hanger.
Baek Hyeon immediately lay on the couch, mouth half open, eyes closed.
"He's already sleeping like a dog," Minjun muttered.
"I'm hitting the sack as well. Can't work with this alcohol's effect on me."
"I also have to find that guy Arthur was talking about…"
Minjun hadn't forgotten about it; he just gave it time.
Si-Hun had also come home from raids.
Arthur told him not come today by saying he was "busy."
Si-Hun was so busy the whole day that he didn't even get time to check his mobile all day.
He only opened it once he was in his living room, leaning on the couch.
Si-Hun checked Su-Yeon's message.
She had replied not long ago.
"Guess she's busy as well," Si-Hun whispered to himself.
Su-Yeon: You're going out? To where?
Si-Hun: No idea yet. We can decide…
Su-Yeon: You planned it, you should decide.
Si-Hun: I'll go anywhere you all want.
Su-Yeon: It's winters… we can go to the mountains. I heard there are good resorts up there. It'll still take another month to snow here in Seoul.
Si-Hun: Perfcet!
Si-Hun loved the idea of snow… he smiled as he typed.
Kuro was right there, standing and quietly observing the way he smiled whenever she texted back.
"He's…falling without even realizig it…" Kuro whispered, voice barely audible.
"Unusual for a cold man like him," He muttered.
Su-Yeon: Okay…tell me whatever you decide. But I have to ask about one thing.
Si-Hun: yeah?
Su-Yeon: My winter breaks are starting one and a half weeks later…I'm not sure if I can totally agree.
Si-Hun: That's actually not a problem at all. I have plenty of time since it's not even confirmed yet.
Su-Yeon: Thanks, then, for waiting.
Si-Hun: No worries. Talk to you later :)
Su-Yeon: Bye!
Si-Hun: Bye.
Su-Yeon: Can't you add any life into your words!?
Si-Hun raised his eyebrows before typing.
Si-Hun: Haha, it takes too much effort.
Su-Yeon: You're so lazy.
Si-Hun: Not always.
Su-Yeon: Bye! You're so uninteractive right now!
Si-Hun: Aish…sorry!
Su-Yeon's lips parted as she saw him putting an exclamation mark before the sorry.
Su-Yeon: Bye…
Si-Hun closed his phone and rested his head on the couch.
His mind wasn't calm.
He was still thinking about Arthur's sudden coldness.
All of it was giving him more reasons to be alert.
"Kuro…I think I need to be more careful about this whole police thing."
Kuro sat next to him.
"Master, everything is too oblivious for us to find a reason, yet it still seems to bother us. There's probably a reason for that."
"You're right. I want to avoid trouble for now."
Kuro nodded.