CHAPTER 8: Other People

"And most importantly, don't ever meddle in other people's businesses." The seventeen year-old Jeongguk had heard Namjoon say that for the nth time. The boy had lost count on how many times he had heard those words whenever they sat in Seokjin's old dusty basement. Their team was only up for small crimes that time – small crimes like the Koh Hodong crime, not the waiter who would steal your gems crime – since the team had just started, there was no Min Yoongi yet. Namjoon was discussing their next mission. "No matter what happens to them, don't interfere. Focus on your target, because distractions won't help. A lot of things can happen in a second, let alone some minutes." Namjoon discusses.

"But what if the other person is innocent and dying?" Jeongguk had to ask that.

It was a sincere question, but Namjoon let out a muffled laugh.

"Then let them be, it's their fate. You're no God." He says, nudging his nose as he chortled a bit more. "You were dying too, but did the other people help you?"

"Seokjin hyung did." Jeongguk looked to his side, sparing a glance at Seokjin who only shrugged. The older was busy shining his shoes.

"Exactly, and that's why you're here." Namjoon explains what on his mind further. "You're here because Seokjin helped you live. You're here to help us do these missions because you're in debt. Basically, you must only help those people who helped you because helping people for free won't give you justice. Seokjin took you here because you have the potential to do missions. Give and take­– wait, no. It's more like take and give, I guess."

Take and give, Jeongguk repeats it to himself.

"And one more thing, no one is innocent in this world, Jeongguk-ah. So, just take and give."

Take and give.

Jeongguk wanted to reason out against that, because Seokjin himself helped him without knowing who he was at the start. What did Seokjin take from Jeongguk to give him his help? Jeongguk doesn't know. But still, he ended up not fighting Namjoon's idea because truthfully the younger thinks Namjoon has a point.

So, take and give it is.

Perhaps that's why six years later, Jeongguk is standing between two girls he barely knows– not that he knows Jisun as much, but at least Jisun is useful. He kept his hands around their wrists, preventing them from walking away. He spun them around so that they face him.

Jisun helped him as far as he knows, and she still continues doing so. With that, he must help her too, right?

It's not that he's being affectionate. He's not!

Nari tries to yank her arm away, but Jeongguk only tightens his hold. The short haired girl ended up suppressing a laugh, scoffing at the end. "What if I don't apologize, cutie one?" She smugs. "Are you going to turn into a giant green guy?" Hearing her finish her words, Jeongguk glanced down at his torso. He rolls his eyes. The hoodie doesn't belong to him for goodness sake!

"Apologize." He just repeats. Only few people stopped by to watch them for a second because thankfully mothers are not interested in youngers' quarrel and other vendors are busy with their own businesses.

"You're being such a jerk, you know?" Says Sena hypocritically. Jeongguk hopes that Sena knows that she's only a sidekick of her friend because she's looking dumb for acting like one.

Jeongguk pokes his cheek with his tongue. They're really trying to get on his nerves, huh?

To his surprise, a hand suddenly touches his shoulder from his behind. A calm voice comes after. "JK-ssi." Jisun calls his name. Jeongguk can't deny that although it feels weird to call him like that, he would like to hear it again, especially with a tired but soft tone like that. "Stop that, just let them go."

Let them go? That's only cowardice–

"JK. Stop." Jisun sighs. They've only known each other for a day, but Jeongguk didn't cease to notice the slight crack in Jisun's voice. She really wants him to stop.

And wait, did she just drop the honorifics? Well, Jeongguk doesn't mind, they look like they're in the same age. Or was she rushed to say that?

"So, you got yourself a knight shining armor, huh? No wonder you think you're strong." Nari suddenly spats at her.

"Hey, I said apologize, not—"

Jeongguk wasn't able to finish his sentence because Jisun pulled Nari's forearm from his grasp, turning the short haired girl's torso once more, making her face Jisun instead.

Soon, Jisun lifted her hand and reaches for the latter's head.

Nari scrunched her face as she winced. They all thought Nari would take a hit from her (Jisun did say she used to do martial arts), but to Jeongguk's surprise, it never came.

Instead, Jisun combs her hair, smoothing it down with her palm.

"Dear Nari," Jisun speaks softly. Too soft that it's uncomfortable. "Leave us alone while I'm asking nicely." Jisun smiles and Nari gulps. "Both of you have a nice nose, it would be such a waste if something happens, right?"

Sena forcefully jerks Jeongguk's hand, and this time she succeeds to free her wrist. She tugs her friend. "Come on, Nari. Don't waste your time anymore." She voices, dragging her friend's arm. What a bunch of stupid hypocrites, Jeongguk must say.

Nari who still keeps her feet in place, glares daggers at Jisun. Jisun just smirks as she stepped backwards, towards Jeongguk. Then she linked arms with him. "Let's go." Jisun tells the brunette, before she turns them around and walk to the opposite direction, back to their vending station. Jeongguk could feel the other two seething behind them, but Jeongguk doesn't mind that anymore, because all of his attention is now on Jisun's face.

"I didn't know you have a very sharp tongue." Jisun remarks.

She's smiling, and it's the first time today.

"I didn't know that too." A conman would lie obviously. "It's a breaking nose." News. Jeongguk knows she'll get the joke.

And then she laughs, and it's the first time for Jeongguk to know that a lady's laughter can be this beautiful.

"Who are they?"

"Just proud people who successfully got their teaching license."

"That's all? You seemed like you had a past with these people."

"They're my ex-classmates."

"What about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Where's your teaching–"

"JK, can we just sell these fishes quietly?"

"Okay then, Jisun."

And just like that, they dropped the honorifics, made Jeongguk smile a bit after noticing it.

Truth be told, Jeongguk has many more questions regarding what happened at the marketplace– or regarding Jisun in general, he's not quite sure. He wished to ask Jisun why it became two versus one match. Why the girls hate each other? What's the role of Park Jimin between them? Why she gotten so sensitive in the mention of him? Where is he?

But after thirty minutes, they didn't talk about it anymore. They don't talk about it few hours later either, even when they're already closed stall and went home. The day went by, and Jeongguk hadn't got his chance to ask the questions in his mind. He tried to set the mood for it multiple times, it's just that Jisun keeps changing the topic.

Hence, he gave up.

"JK, tell me, is Jisun giving you a hard time?" Taehyung questions as he shoved the shovel deep into the ground. He stuck it in place and props his elbow on it, averting his gaze from the soil to Jeongguk. He dropped the honorifics too, since he heard Jeongguk and Jisun call each other by just names. He has the same age with Jisun, Taehyung told him. "Jisun looks like a cold person since she was a child, but she's really a sweet person. Ah!" Taehyung clasps his hands, enthusiastically. "Have you seen her smile around her grandma? She can be like that to other people." He chuckled.

Jeongguk also stopped at shoveling as well, following what Taehyung did. He then wipes the sweat that tickles down his face with his long sleeve. The sun is scorching hot, and that's when Jeongguk realizes that he regrets everything. He regrets coming with Jisun to help at Taehyung's farm. He regrets asking Jisun what he can do to repay his debt. He regrets coming to the small woody hut and ripping off its door. He regrets requesting a vacation. Jeongguk regrets buying Baby.

But it's too late now. He wishes to leave this place and hide somewhere else as soon as possible, but he needs money for that. That's why he has to put up with farming and being a fish vendor for now. He will find a way to take the money that Jisun is saving for Jeongguk's hospital expense later on. Jeongguk doesn't need to see a doctor anyway, so why not take the money for something . . . real? Jisun doesn't need to know that. Jeongguk will flee nice and peacefully by pretending to go to a hospital on his own.

Maybe a week or two, the money would be enough.

So, for today, he will farm.

"Then who would be those other people?" Jeongguk asked Taehyung, eyes squinting because he is not used to the brightness and the heat.

"Hm. . ." Taehyung pretends to think, tapping his chin. "Her grandma?"

"That's not people then." Jeongguk kids back, and they both chuckled.

The laughter didn't last long as they heard a loud cough from a distance. They turn to look where it come from.

An old man hikes towards their direction. "This is a farm, not a café. You can chat elsewhere, but here you will work." He lectures, walking past Taehyung, as if they're in a library. He gave the younger a stink eye. "Be useful for once, Kim Taehyung."

Then silence. They work again, moving dirt from one spot to wagon because they will be transferring it later on.

"That's my father." Taehyung voices out quietly after a minute of quietness. "Don't mind him and be used to that. My parents hate me because I'm not as smart and manly as my older brother is. They hate my friends too, so . . . I'm sorry. But they would not refuse extra help in the farm." He laughs, but the beam doesn't reach his eyes. "And oh by the way, I think you're from Seoul."

Jeongguk stills, his grip stiffens around the tool's handle.

How did he know?

"My brother is currently working as an accountant in Seoul right now, he had adopted their accent." Taehyung explains, and Jeongguk relaxes, letting out the breath he's been holding. "I could hear the same accent from you, although you rarely speak– why won't you speak though? You can ask me anything."

Anything?

Well, this could be his chance to know about the thing he's been always curious about since he slept in that house. Jeongguk finds it hard to approach Jisun because the latter may fend him off anytime, especially if he ticks her off. But Taehyung . . . he's talkative, and Jeongguk is sure he can get answers from him.

So, he asked him. "What do you know about Park Jimin?"

Taehyung stops. He became quiet and still. Jeongguk can't understand what's happening, he couldn't read Taehyung face as Taehyung kept his head down.

"Why are you asking about him?" Taehyung's voice becomes lower than the usual, and something is weird about that. What wrong did Jeongguk say?

"Well, he's the owner of the bedroom I'm using." Jeongguk answers, pausing his deed for the second time. "Shouldn't I know something about him? I mean, I haven't met him yet. He never went home since I came."

Taehyung flicks his gaze to him. It's not something dreadful, but Jeongguk can tell he's getting serious. It's like it wasn't Taehyung he is now talking to. He's not bubbly anymore. "I don't think I'm the one who you should be asking about him." Taehyung utters.

Slowly, Taehyung retraced the path of his eyes somewhere else, and Jeongguk followed. There, they see Jisun ploughing the soil with a horse.

Jeongguk looks back at Taehyung.

And he sighed, his mind forming another question.

Jisun and Jeongguk went home to Park's place after lunch, and Jeongguk has learned that Taehyung's parents are petty. Jisun had to choose between money or lunch meal, but he's glad she chose money. Jisun said she will cook right away once they get home– her home.

As they trek, Jeongguk can't seem to get rid of the questions in his mind. He finds it annoying now.

He knows he should relief it somehow, even just once.

So, he quickly chooses the easiest one– he wishes he's right.

"Are you dating Taehyung?"

"Woah. Hold on. What?" Jisun almost chokes in her fit of laughter, she had to stop walking. Jeongguk halted his footsteps as well. "Are you okay? Why would I date my childhood best friend?" She's looking at him again like Jeongguk is a Flat Earther or something.

"It's a one-sided love then." Jeongguk concludes.

"One-sided love?" Jisun tilts her eyebrows, and then laughs again. "Pfft. No! He's not even interested in a girl like me."

"Well, Taehyung might hate me for this, but I think he likes you." Jeongguk can't believe he's being a wingman right now. What else can he do? "I'm a man too, and whenever he looks at you I see that there is adoration– l-love." The last word tasted gross for Jeongguk.

Jisun's chortling dies down and she let out a hum. "Ah. I think I'm getting where you at."

"So, you believe that he likes you?"

"No. He looks at me like that because of my face."

"Because of your face?"

Jisun smiles weakly.

"I'm a photocopy of my brother."

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"Did we lost them?" He checks the rear-view mirror while he drives.

"I think so– hyung! Eyes on the road!"

Seokjin chuckles, returning his gaze back on the road again. "Don't worry, we're on the dead spot of the city."

"But that doesn't mean we have to hit a tree!" Namjoon exclaims, waving his hands all over the places.

Seokjin shakes his head as he laughed again before he took a deep sigh. "Did you really destroy the phone?" Seokjin asks as he took a glance at him, ignoring the younger's words while stirring on his wheel. He heard Namjoon sighs a 'yeah'. "And the money?"

"The briefcase is in the back. Fifteen million." Namjoon points it with his thumb without looking back.

Seokjin rolls his eyes, seething, mentally complaining how little the amount is. "We should find Jeongguk as soon as possible then." He then huffs out, hardening his grasp on the stirring wheel. "That boy–"

"–is going to be killed."

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A/N another update!

i love to read your comments guys, so no worries about spamming this book

and if you're reading this, thank you for still joining me on chapter 8