New Mask
"Hello!!!"
Seojin smiled cheerfully, greeting his fans through the camera. He was still an idol in the public's eyes after all. He had to keep his image as an Idol member.
"Welcome to my live!! It's been so long since I could greet you all ! "
He began talking about various topics, replying comments as he ate the food he had prepared for the livestream.
"Woah, it is delicious, you guys should also totally try this! "
Giving a thumps up, he had another bite of his food when the door behind opened.
"Ah, it seems someone is at the door, shall we see who it is? "
He turned around in his swivel chair only to see Yeon peeking his head through the door, a small smile on his face.
"Ah, everyone it is Yeon,
Yeon-ah, why don't you join as well?"
He spoke as he opened the door, a warm smile on his face.
It had been quiet a while since Yeon had heard him call that. Even before two months in the hospital, Seojin hadn't been exactly in a good place emotionally with everything that had happened. It was rare to even see him feel good once the cameras of their Idol life were off .
'If it makes you smile like this, then I guess it's better you never remember those six months again hyung.'
Yeon thought as he followed, seating himself on the adjacent chair as he waved to their fans on the camera.
"Hyung, I wanted to join early, but I ended up getting some work, that's why I was late "
He said, smiling apologetically .
"That's fine Yeon, try this, it's delicious! "
Seojin shared the plate, reading some of the comments their viewers were posting.
"Oh, where was I the last two months? "
Seojin read out one of the many comments that were appearing on the screen as he chewed on his bite of food.
He glanced at Yeon before answering,
"Hmm I was spending it with my family, it had been long since our group took a break. That's why I could not spend time with you guys. Ha Ha
And guys, do you know what's the new hobby Yeon has picked up during this break?
Yeon! Why don't you tell them? "
Seojin smoothly steered the conversation from him to the younger as he looked at the other.
"Ah.. Me? Right, yeah, I have been into painting these days, and I have also begun an online course for psychology. "
Yeon hadn't even realized when the topic had come to him.
"Oh that's great ! "
Seojin commented.
"When is the next comeback? "
He read another comment, continuing the conversation.
"Ani, I'm not allowed to say that, it's a spoiler guys "
He chuckled as he took the last bite,
"why do you guys keep asking for spoilers haha I got scolded by the manager last time "
Yeon chuckled seeing the other act cute for the fans.
That was when the ring of notification was heard.
He looked down at the table to see that it wasn't his, but Seojin's that was buzzing. And then the screen lit up with a familiar black and green header.
Switching it off quick, Seojin turned to the camera.
"Yeon-ah, how was the food then? " Clasping his hands together, he turned his chair to face the younger who had just kept his empty plate down.
"Yeah, the food was delicious hyung, I liked it a lot "
He smiled back as he then looked at the camera.
"Okay guys, let's meet soon!! Bye bye!!! "
He waved once more, smiling, before shutting the live.
Seojin's loudness went down volumes as soon as the camera was off. His wide laugh was now replaced with a small smile as he checked the notification.
"Hyung that notific-"
Before Yeon could ask anything further, he interrupted.
"Yeon..! I had planned to meet an old friend today, I have to go, I sent the message on our group chat but still could you tell to the others ? Okay? "
And before he could ask any further, Seojin strode out of the room in a hurry.
* * *
Mission.
Scale: D10
[Accept] Decline.
There it was, his first mission.
'That's a pretty low level one he sent me...well it's better not to hurry I guess...'
Seokjin thought, opening his closet as he read the details provided.
Document retrieval: file no. 032***
Address : XXXX Police Station, Guxxam-gu
Completion by: 48 hours.
"
'Is this supposed to be easy or hard?..'
He thought, confused.
It would be easy to retrieve the file, but at the same time getting inside would be tricky.
He opened his phone, searching for the easiest route to the province,
'No.'
He suddenly stopped himself.
'If I take the bike, others will surely know. Can't do that.'
Shaking his head, he searched again for the next bus to the place.
That was when he saw Yeon's near the door. He quickly switched off his phone as he called out,
"Oh, Yeon why are you standing at the door ?"
"Ah... H-hyung. .. I.... I.. I was here, I wasn't sure if the door was locked or not, so you know... I was just seeing, but it was not locked so.. So.."
He was just blurting out the first thing that came to his mind. The way Seojin had called him out suddenly had startled him.
"Ah okay. "
Seojin smiled as he began putting his things in the mini bag.
"Hyung, you going somewhere? "
Yeon asked, looking the black bag.
"Ah this, yeah, remember the friend I said I was meeting?.... He - he needed some extra clothes. "
Seojin tried to sound convincing.
He had taken out the bag since he couldn't go out in the usual mission attire, the members wouldn't even need a glance then.
That was why he had packed his uniform and emergency kit in the bag, while he was himself only wearing his casuals.
"He needs clothes? Why? "
Yeon's curiosity brought Seokjin back to the reality as heard it.
"He... He actually got food on it. he ordered something and ended up spilling it all,
so he asked me for something to wear ha ha.."
Seojin quickly walked out through the door, holding his bag, ending the conversation as he did.
Yeon walked over to his side of the room. It was their shared room after all.
Their sides had always been the opposites. And still, looking at the other's side of the room would often calm him. The pink wallpapers, figurines, fuzzy comforters and pillows that were a matching baby pink. And the soft carpeting.
It was always comforting. Just like the eldest' presence.
The room exactly reflected Seokjin. The fuzziness, the ever running humidifier with the constant rose scent. The pink shades and peach drapes on the window, perfectly arranged shelves...
But now as he looked at the eldest side, it didn't make him feel anything at all.
The warmth it used to exude, had vanished..
The room, how it was now, could never reflect his hyung. At least not the Seojin he knew.
Pink wallpapers now blue, the fuzzy blankets were now comforters of a dark shade of blue, the pillows white and the carpet a plain grey. The drapes were now white and the shades, black. the shelves were now empty other than some fan given gifts and a black clock.
The room now reminded him of when Seojin had been first introduced as a team member, when he was still a stranger. Because the room too was now as cold as a stranger..
That was when Yeon suddenly realized something.
He quickly called someone.
"Yah, Ry, where are you right now?"
"Me? HQ, why? "
Ryan answered. Now this was new..
"Remember the cover we had put in Jin hyung's Pager? Is it still active? "
"Yeah, It should be, why"
Ryan, getting an inkling of what the other meant, assured the elder.
"Hyung, the cover hasn't been found, I would have been notified otherwise. Plus the boss did say two weeks right, so don't worry."
Yeon ended the call, putting his suspicions to rest.
* * *
It didn't take him much time to reach the bus stand.
With what he was wearing, no one would have guessed he was a popular idol. His face was barely visible as he sat on the last seat of the bus, his bag on his lap.
It was a Tuesday and it seemed not much people were travelling there during the week.
'Hmm... To retrieve files from the police department.... are they protecting someone....'
His thoughts wandered as he got off the bus.
It was already past four and the sun was now setting. He was walking around near the Police station, he had decided it would be better to scout the place before he entered.
He was near one of the side alleys near the station when he heard a voice call out from behind.
"YO! Grey Jacket?? Who are you here for ???"
* * *