Chapter 7: Back Again

"Alright pay attention," Ivy looked over both her shoulders with a narrowed gaze, surveying the busy area around the bus shelter they stood under. Cars sped passed on the road in front of them, with the occasional honk or curse word shouted in the midst of road rage disrupting her train of thought. People chatted on their phones while walking past, most dressed in work attire or high school uniform. None of them seemed suspicious, thankfully.

"Uh, I don't think anyone cares about our conversation." Cilian dryly said, snapping Ivy out of her thoughts. "You were saying?"

The girl cleared her throat while straightening up. "Hey- we still need to be cautious."

Ivy closed the distance between her and Cilian before taking a deep breath. "Okay, the first thing you need to do is get close to a guy named Hyun Kim. He's one of the 4 guys that laid the groundwork of the gang, before Yuri took over. A founder, I guess."

Cilian tilted his head, his eyebrows lowered and knitted together. "Never heard of the guy."

"That's because he died in a random bar fight way before you joined the gang. From what Yuri said, the guy's a psychopath who only cares about fighting people. Yuri only managed to rub elbows with him at one of his house parties. So, you need to get close to him."

Thank goodness Ivy had paid attention to all the times her brother ranted about brilliant schemes that would get them out of the slums. Back then, she really believed in his vision..

"Hmm," Cilian pursed his lips while raising a brow, "What about the 3 other ones you mentioned?" Oh, this guy was smart.

"I can't tell you everything I know. Otherwise you wouldn't need me anymore." She shrugged, fanning a hand at him.

"...Fair enough." He snorted in return, turning his attention to the oncoming transit.

"This plan of yours sounds tricky, little fox. What if it fails?"

Ivy also looked at the bus, peering through the windows to find it squished with people, like sardines. She grimaced.

"Well, you and I will either end up dead, or living miserable lives." Ivy could sense Cilian's body tense.

"Guess we've no choice."

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The journey to school was a long one- which included cramped bus rides and 20 minute walks in the autumn weather. But by 9' o clock, the pair finally stood in front of the doors to their school. Ivy sucked in a deep breath. She then glanced over to Cilian, who stood just beside her.

"Ya know, I never realised we went to the same high school." She said, unable to hide the curiosity in her voice. Cilian seemed to pick up on it.

"I doubt we would've hung out in the same crowds. Plus, I dropped out senior year." He shrugged.

Ivy blinked while her voice caught in her throat.

"Same as me.." She was surprised to learn they came from such similar backgrounds. Though to be fair, it wasn't like they talked much in the past. Or was it the future? Whatever it was.

"Well, let's get this over with." Cilian gripped the strap of his backpack that hung over his shoulder. It looked as if his feet struggled to move from their place for a moment, but he eventually made it to the glass front doors. "Wait up!" Ivy followed after and walked through the door he held open. When they walked in, a wave of nostalgia washed over the girl.

"Whoa…"

The front foyer was filled with students rushing to their morning classes. Personal space was nonexistent as bodies pressed against each other, pushing to increase the slow pace. Amalgamated conversations bounced off the beige coloured walls, ricocheting into Ivy's ears. She winced a bit from the loudness, but held a smile on her face. "I missed this," She hummed, feeling her shoulders relax. Ah yes, high school, the last good time in Ivy's life. Here, she could escape the clutches of her brother, the worry of where her next check came from, if only for 6 hours a day. She inhaled the potent scent of sweat and perfume, chuckling in response. Nothing really changed a bit.

There were three halls in total that the front foyer divided off into. One to the left, one to the right, and one right down the centre.

Cilian mumbled something before turning to head to the left, Ivy furrowed her brows in confusion. "Hey, what did you say?" She reached out to grab his tall shoulder, having to squeeze through the traffic of peers.

"Hey! You're the bastard who stepped on my shoe, aren't you?" A voice shouted, like a herd of startled cats, everyone froze, their heads whipping around to where the voice came from.

"I'm sorry man, it was an accident."

A circle began to form in the centre of the foyer, just a few metres behind Ivy. Whatever was going on sounded interesting. "Cmon," she grabbed Cilian's wrist and pulled him a few steps back. She ignored his audible groan and pushed her way through the dense crowd, managing to get to the front ring. It was there she caught sight of a tall male, dressed in a white shirt and baggy jeans that hung low on his hips, glaring down at another male whose gaze was glued to the marble floors. "These are new shoes, bastard. I bet you did it on purpose."

"No no, I swear! I didn't even know you were behind me-"

"Oh, you think I'm some kind of mouse?" The taller male leaned down with an icy stare- one that sent shivers down Ivy's spine. He was clearly the aggressor, yet no one seemed interested in stepping in to stop this altercation. To be fair, Ivy had no intentions either. After all, the male who brutally kneed the other in the gut, kicked him to the ground, then pressed the sole of his shoe against his cheek was none other than Hyun Kim. The man they somehow had to get close to.