THE DECOY

** Episode 9 **

The driver ordered them to place their hands behind their heads and remain silent, threatening to pull the trigger if they dared to speak.

"Two little rich spoiled brats, fighting even inside a taxi," he chuckled, a twisted satisfaction in his voice. He'd been observing them through the mirror and he believed they were strangers, definitely loaded.

"Sir, I'm neither rich nor spoiled. This dumbass sissy is the real spoiled brat here." She shot back, her defiance bubbling over.

"What?" Min-Jun exclaimed, his hands dropping from his head and turning to the girl "Did you just call me a dumbass? Do you think i don't understand Chinese? You don't even know your way around here either, you little liar."

"Little? Call me that one more time," she challenged, turning to Min-Jun and dropping her hands as well.

"Little liar, little liar, little liar. So what now, huh?" he taunted. For a minute, they forget the situation they were in and argued almost turning into a flight until the driver voice roared in.

"Shut up!" The driver roared and they freeze at once returning their hands back to their heads. The driver was clearly taken aback by their bickering even in such a dire situation.

"What part of danger do you not understand?" He asked.

"Sir, you can take whatever you want, even him, but please spare my life. I'm too young to die." she cried, obviously faking it.

"I said shut up! One more word from you again, and I swear I'll pull the trigger right into your mouth." The driver warned, his patience wearing thin. If they continue being a nuisance, he might get himself into trouble, he thought.

"What do you want anyway?" Min-Jun asked, trying to sound brave despite the fear gnawing at him.

"Just shut up, dumbass! Don't get us killed!" she yelled back, her eyes darting nervously. She was calculating on how to take on the driver but couldn't get the chance.

"Take off your bag," the driver ordered, but Min-Jun hesitated. That bag contained everything he needed to survive here. What would he do without it?

"Give him the bag," she urged, her voice shaking as she noticed the driver's grip on the gun tightening.

Min-Jun shook his head defiantly, clutching the bag tighter against his chest. "No way."

"Please, just give it to him!" she insisted. In a moment of desperation, she snatched the bag from him and tossed it to the driver. "Now open the door and get out quietly." The driver ordered.

Reluctantly, they obeyed and stepped out of the taxi, which sped away in an instant. They tried to chase after it, but it was no use.

"Shit!" she screamed in frustration, turning to see Min-Jun, hands on his hips, panting heavily and looking utterly defeated. She shook her head in pity and began to walk away.

"Hey, little liar, why did you give my bag to him? Do you have any idea what was in that backpack?" he called after her, exasperated.

"Did the backpack matter more than your life? Would you really choose a bag over your safety?" She shot back, disappointment lacing her words. "It's true, the rich can be so greedy, valuing possessions over their own lives," she added, continuing on her way.

"Is that supposed to be an apology? She's so rude." He muttered to himself, feeling foolish for letting her get to him. Now his belongings are gone and he's left with nothing, most importantly, he couldn't even get to look at what was in the envelope Ha-Ri snatched into his bag. "

What do I do now? Where do I go from here?" He exhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

***

The funeral for Kim Min-Jun was held, and all the members of the Nova X group gathered to pay their last respects, including Ha-ri. She wore dark sunglasses to shield her beautiful eyes, which already turned red from crying. Manager Ma and Director Chow were also in attendance.

She couldn't believe it when she heard about Min-Jun's death. At a time, he was okay and all of the sudden, he's dead.

Si-woon noticed Ha-ri sitting alone, tears streaming down her face. He approached her, offering his handkerchief to help wipe her tears before sitting down beside her. It pained him to see her so upset, especially knowing that she was mourning for someone who was very much alive.

Kim Min-Jun sudden death was not so convincing for him to believe. He died in a different cloth from the one he left with that night. Manager Ma who happens to drive in out that day came back very much fine. Everything seems so sudden and strange to si Woon that he find it so difficult to believe until he saw the body for the last time.

Ha-ri was definitely the last person he could want to tell that the person they're all mourning is nothing but just a decoy. It's better this way, now he can get Ha-ri to like him back and then be the new leader of Nova X.

"Don't worry Ha-ri, I won't let you miss him too much. I'm here for you. I'll keep you company and make sure you're never bored," Si Woon finally said after the long silent sitting together, trying to lighten the mood.

She looked at him and managed a faint smile on. If only he knew he's the most hated person in her heart right now and forever, if only he knew she felt like leaving a knife on his chest the same way he made her did it to park A-yeong. If only he knew in her heart, he killed his only true best friend. Sitting close to him alone was making her sick as hell.

She forced another smile on as Si Woon kept staring at her. She wanted to just stand up and walked away but she hold herself on, wanting to pass her last message to her.

"The truth is, Min-Jun was the only reason I stayed back in Korea. Now that he's gone, I have no reason to be here anymore."

Si Woon wasn't sure what she meant but his felt his heart sinking at her words.

"I've decided to go back to my mom in Canada," she said softly.

"What?" Si-woon exclaimed, disappointment washing over him as he felt his heart sank. For a moment, he got lost.

"Take care of yourself while I'm away, and focus on your dreams instead of doing anymore stupid stuff." Ha-ri's voice broke through his thoughts, bringing him back to the moment.

He kept staring with a dropped jaw and a moving mouth without a single word. Now that he thought he might have a chance to win Ha-ri's heart but now this.