The atmosphere inside the van was one of exhaustion and heaviness. After hours of driving, all they could see outside the windows were trees and shadows cast by the darkness. Sitting at the front, Jae Heon leaned so close to the windshield that it appeared as though he was attempting to drag the road in his direction.
"Where are we even heading? At last, Ms. Gael broke the silence by saying, "It's already midnight." Her voice was low and irritated as she pulled her cardigan tighter. "This road doesn't look familiar anymore, and we've been searching nonstop."
Jae Heon didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on the map on his phone,and he kept refreshing it every few seconds as if it would instantly show the way. His fingers were trembling, but he kept up the facade that they weren't.
"Jae Heon," Ms. Gael softened her tone and tried once more, "we can't just keep driving like this without seeing anything. We might be going in circles."
He didn't look at her as he let out a breath through his nose. "We're heading there if there's anything left to do."
She muttered, "That's not an answer."
The people in the back seats looked at each other. They were both reluctant to speak. They didn't want to be the ones to tell Jae Heon to stop and relax. His expression had remained the same throughout the journey cold and sharp but underneath it was something brittle, as if a single incorrect word could break him.
"Are you sure he's here?" one of the assistants asked quietly from behind them.
The shoulders of Jae Heon tensed. "He must be."
Ms. Gael rested her head on the chair. "All you're running on is nerves. You sound exhausted even when you breathe.
"I'm alright."
"You're not."
He didn't argue, but he also didn't soften. His fingertips were still tapping frantically on his phone, but his eyes remained fixed on the window as he watched the deserted highway go by.
"Do you know how many abandoned facilities there are in this district?" Ms. Gael said. "We ought to have checked the coordinates back at the place."
"We didn't have the time back there."
"We still don't have the right place," she said, with her hands up in the air. "You're only forcing this route because you want it to be the right one."
Jae Heon eventually looked at her. "Stopping means giving up. I don't give up."
That was the end of their conversation in the van. Silence enveloped them all. No one was willing to speak back to him. The monotonous sound of the engine and the continual clicking of Jae Heon's phone were the only things that could be heard.
Ms. Gael was staring at him again, and her voice was as fatigued as she was. "We will find him. But you can't break yourself before that, you know?"
He did not respond. His demeanor was unchanged. But he did, however, increase the pressure of his grip on the phone as if that was the very last hope he was holding onto.
And the van kept going until late at night, through an empty road, not knowing that the road they so desperately wanted to follow was not leading to Han Kyum.
(OUCH jae-heon try hard nextime :D)
The headlights were cutting through the rapidly forming fog as the van continued to travel slowly down the uneven dirt road. Only Jae Heon was creating a circus in his seat, while everyone else in the van was miserable due to the heavy air. His voice was full of frustration as he brought his body forward once more.
"Driver. So you still haven't located it?"
With a sigh, the driver focused more intently on the road. "I'm doing everything I can, sir. The coordinates won't load because the map keeps freezing and is requesting a very weak signal.
"Then we have only been driving around for the last few hours?" Jae Heon looked as if he was about to explode.
"No, sir. It is not for nothing," the driver said in a polite tone, "the system is genuinely unable to find the area."
Jae Heon snorted and to resist the temptation of saying more, he leaned back and his fingers were tapping his knee restlessly. "One job, unbelievable."
Ms. Gael sighed and rubbed her temples before sitting up straighter. "Stop it, Jae Heon. We need to stop today."
Glaring at her, he said, "Stop? And doing what?... Pretending everything is fine when he is still missing?"
"This is not what I said," her voice was calm though, "I said that for now, we should return. Next day early in the morning we can come if the signal is good and the road is clear. At this moment, we are blind."
"It is not blind," Jae Heon contended, "we are near, and I can sense it."
"We have no idea," she answered. "The road is not safe – the driver cannot even see half of the way. If he takes a wrong turn, we will be stuck. Or worse."
The driver, on the other hand, speaking in a very light tone, "Ma'am, the truth is the road ahead is very steep and prone to landslides, the terrain is rocky, and it would be very risky to go on."
"I am not inquiring about the terrain," Jae Heon rebuked. "I wanted to know the reason for your inability to find the place."
After which he was quiet.
Ms. Gael took the offensive, her face lined with anger. "He should not be treated like that. He doesn't have the control over the signal. He has no control over the cliffs. He's simply following his routine."
"He isn't leading us anywhere," Jae Heon said under his breath.
"The road is not safe for you to be here," she said. "You are really quite angry but the thing is that anger will not get the mountain off the road for you. It would be better if we stayed alive and sane to carry on with the search tomorrow."
He was grinding his teeth. His frustration was so intense that it was reflected in each of his breaths. "I don't care if it's dangerous."
"That is the exact reason I'm stopping you," she said. "Fear is what you are letting decide."
Just for a brief moment, Jae Heon's eyes showed the truth before he quickly covered it up again. "I am not scared."
"Then go ahead," she said softly. "I dare you to make a rational decision."
The van was quiet again. There was only the sound of the engine's work.
The irritation did not go away from his face, however. He looked out of the window and his voice was low and bitter.
"We are just throwing our time down the drain. Why are we coming back when we don't even know the way?"
Ms. Gael disagreed. "That is on you. Without having a clear direction, you pulled all of us out here."
Although Jae Heon was clenching his fists, he was aware that she was correct. Yet, he still couldn't get his mind off of it
I don't care whose fault it is. Han Kyum is the one I'm finding.
The van was totally surrounded with alarm sounds from all phones and tablets that were inside the van. The entire vehicle was lit up by red flashing lights coming from the dashboard, and the very light vibration that was felt made it look like the van was shaking internally.
It was only Jaeheon who looked unaffected, if not very much, he was even seen clutching the steering wheel with more strength. "What next?" he uttered disgruntled and his tone of voice reflected that he was still quite a bit nervous but nevertheless calm.
After being taken aback for a moment, Ms. Gael then put her neck out and said with her eyes emphasizing her words, "The detectors are signaling the presence of something in the air. Jaeheon, you are requested to quit driving. This is not a place to be."
He replied with an indifferent tone, "That doesn't matter to me." Not a single glance was diverted from the woods that were pitch black. "We are just a stone's throw from the tunnels. Han Kyum could be in any place. I am not in a position to stop right now."
Her hands on the back of the chair and voice raising, she said, "You're really not listening to me! It's extremely risky! The virus this area is what makes it even more potent. I tell you that you are risking the lives of the whole world, not only that of your own!"
"As I have already told you, I am not interested!" shouted the distraught Jaeheon. "That's how we're rolling going. We'll be able to track him down. That's the only thing that counts!"
One of the members of staff from the rear was visibly nervous and I quote, "Sir... wouldn't it be better if we obeyed the warnings? The sensors indicate very high levels of contamination even though the windows are closed."
Jaeheon abruptly turned around to face them, and his eyes were like coals, "I get it. I am not affected. Han Kyum... maybe he is out there in the wilderness, all by himself. I can't just abandon him."
The tone of Ms. Gael's words softened but remained unfaltering, "Your fixation is like a ticking bomb, which will go off sooner or later, and then we will be in real danger. Why don't we at least drop back to the main road? We could then come here another day to see if it's safe and then continue."
Jae heon's grip on the steering wheel became even more forceful. "The thing is we are just throwing our time down a drain. What's the point of coming back if we don't even know the way? I couldn't care less about tomorrow or the roads. Just get me there,"
she yelled turning her whole body to face him, "And that's your problem! You are the one who brought us here!"
He did not say a word to her. His eyes were still intently looking at the darkness of the forest. In his mind, every single alarm, every single warning, every single red light flickering on the dashboard was of no consequence compared to the thought of Han Kyum.
The van was moving on the bumpy road of gravel, alarms were sounding unceasingly, employees in the back were looking at each other nervously. Ms. Gael slapped a Friday to her forehead and then let out a big sigh, "We can't take the risk of it happening tonight. It's time to go back. Just... come back tomorrow."
Jaeheon spoke in a very low voice and his words almost sounded like a growl, "No. Not until I find him."
It was dead quiet inside the van apart from the annoying sound of the buzzing alarms, the wind that was touching the windows and the distant noises of trees in the woods. Mrs. Jana was still not there as well, but to Jaeheon, she was the second, Han Kyum was the only one who counted.
(Mrs jana was left outed T-T)
Gazing at the dark forest road ahead, Jaeheon ran a hand through his hair. "All right, tomorrow. We'll carry on tomorrow," he muttered in a tight voice as if he were trying to swallow all of his frustration at once.
Ms. Gael gave him a sharp look. "At last! I've only been requesting that! Tonight, let's stop endangering everyone's lives.
At first, he remained silent, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on the road. He muttered, more to himself than to anyone else, "It's... useless." "It feels like a waste every minute we spend not finding him."
"Youdon'treally deny it that, do you?"Grabbing the moment by her piercing gaze, she uttered those words. "Han Kyum is right there in your thoughts all the time. But presently, we won't get any further if you insist on dead-ends."
Jaeheon was reacting with some delay. He finally let out a breath that was long and dragging and wiped his face with his hand. "The day after, first thing. Absolutely no mistakes. No hold-ups. We'll locate him. Han Kyum… " His voice softened a little as he was saying the last word.
Gael agreed with him and, after that,sheallowed herself to relax just a bit. "That's right. Sleep well. Energize. Have a proper plan. We definitely can't make it worse."
The people in the back o fthe van were speaking in low tones and showing their support to what had just been said. Some were leaning backward in their chairs, relieving their tiredness with some stretching, and the rest were just gazing outside at the dark, towering trees. A few mobiles were giving off virus alerts and notices, but at least they are moving away from the area of the threat.
After the short confrontation, Jaeheon wasstilland didn't answer. He was looking at the dark woods. His torso was still very tight, every muscle was tensed, and all in all, he had only one thing on his mind—Han Kyum. He just couldn't stop thinking about him, even for a second.
The van shook as it went over the bumpy forest road, the engine made a deep sound that was against the silence of the night. Around, the air was filled with the sound of the wind passing through the trees and it also brought the smell of fresh earth. Inside, it was a scene of tension and quietness, everyone was thinking if tomorrow would bring them closer to finding Han Kyum and Mrs. Jana.
"You don't really deny it that, do you?" Grabbing the moment by her piercing gaze, she uttered those words. "Han Kyum is right there in your thoughts all the time. But presently, we won't get any further if you insist on dead-ends."
Jaeheon was reacting with some delay. He finally let out a breath that was long and dragging and wiped his face with his hand. "The day after, first thing. Absolutely no mistakes. No hold-ups. We'll locate him. Han Kyum… " His voice softened a little as he was saying the last word.
Gael agreed with him and, after that, she allowed herself to relax just a bit. "That's right. Sleep well. Energize. Have a proper plan. We definitely can't make it worse."
The people in the back of the van were speaking in low tones and showing their support to what had just been said. Some were leaning backward in their chairs, relieving their tiredness with some stretching, and the rest were just gazing outside at the dark, towering trees. A few mobiles were giving off virus alerts and notices, but at least they are moving away from the area of the threat.
After the short confrontation, Jaeheon was still and didn't answer. He was looking at the dark woods. His torso was still very tight, every muscle was tensed, and all in all, he had only one thing on his mind Han Kyum. He just couldn't stop thinking about him, even for a second.
The van shook as it went over the bumpy forest road, the engine made a deep sound that was against the silence of the night. Around, the air was filled with the sound of the wind passing through the trees and it also brought the smell of fresh earth. Inside, it was a scene of tension and quietness, everyone was thinking if tomorrow would bring them closer to finding Han Kyum and Mrs. Jana.
....(Jae-heon is such an naughty boy T-T)
_________
Meanwhile Han Kyum and Jin were measuring the next batch of solution, casting uneven shadows on the table.
The smell in the air was sharp with metal and chemicals, but their concentration was unbroken. For a brief moment, it seemed as if the lab was their only world and it had shrunk around them.
After that, a voice came, very confident and deliberate, and went through the silence.
"Ah, there you are," Elijah said from the doorway, his voice seeming to be of no particular concern, but the atmosphere becoming immediately different with his being there.
Han Kyum somewhat re-adjusted his posture and continued not to look up."what do you want again" he said under his breath, his voice being of a kind that is normally used in nervous situations.
Elijah's mouth twitched as if he was playing the clown and enjoying this sort of thing. "Don't get worked up. I am just here to get a thing... and to let you meet a person."
Han Kyum looked quite perplexed as he stopped in the middle of his work. "Introduce...someone? Now?"
Jin followed Han Kyum's look to Elijah and raised his eyebrows. "Who is it?"
Pointing to the door, Elijah invited us to look there. A woman walked in. Her eyes caught the light and they shone very brightly. Also, her body language was very confident and, I dare say, she was a bit of a hunter-type. The kind of a person who can make you feel extremely uncomfortable even if she stays completely silent.
"This is Hanrae," said Elijah, very smooth. "She will be our new member."
Han rae's eyes passing around the room quickly, fixed on Han Kyum a bit longer than the rest of the group and then on Jin. There was an icy quality in her smile and the shape of her mouth did not at all help to reduce the intensity of the eyes. She looked like a potential threat and her thoughts were probably the ones calculating everything in the room even before she spoke.
Han Kyum's hand shook with the stirring rod in it. "Hanrae..." he uttered, as if trying the name out, cautious.
"Yes," she answered, voice dry and evenly, almost a purr. "I come with the help... or maybe I am here to keep the watch. It won't be long before you see."
Jin moved a little bit as if to ease his discomfort. "Watch? By which you mean?"
Hanrae merely turned her head and an extremely slight smile was under the corner of her mouth. "All in due time," she replied. Approaching the table, she kept her eyes on Han Kyum all the time. The lab got smaller and more cramped due to the weight of her presence which was quite close to him.
Han Kyum put down the stirring rod and looked at Jin. He did not like her, not one bit. Something about her manner of moving and staring at them sent a shiver down his spine.
Elijah saw it but said nothing. Only leaning back against the door, arms folded, as if this were exactly the reaction he had been waiting for, he did not interfere. "Get it together. She has nothing but the project," he uttered, as graceful as ever.
Han Kyum was still doubtful, jaw clenched, but he went on with the work at hand. Jin, on the other hand, was totally distracted by Hanrae and couldn't stop looking at her with a mixture of curiosity and discomfort.
The three of them were carrying on with their work in a very uncomfortable silence which was only broken by the lab sounds like the clinking of glass and the hum of the machines. Every single one of Hanrae's eyes was fixed on every little move made by the others, reckoning, scrutinizing, and ensuring that she was already a part of their music whether they let her in or not.
Han Kyum was mumbling something under his breathing and directing it mainly to himself, "This one... She's the source of the problem."
Jin heard the words and looked at him. "Yeah...I think you're right."
And just like that, the atmosphere in the lab changed, it was now quite heavy with the things that are not spoken but can be understood, as well as the quiet assurance that Hanrae is not someone who should be taken lightly.
Elijah took them to the meeting room, closing the door gently behind them. The place was tiny, just a long table and four chairs. Without thinking, Han Kyum took the chair next to Elijah, Jin sitting beside him. Hanrae was standing near the door, her body stiff, arms crossed, and her dark eyes looking around the room as if it was hers.
Han Kyum moved a bit closer to Elijah. The slight movement was almost subconscious, a little support in the unfamiliar presence of Hanrae. Elijah noticed it, grinning very slightly, and giving him a quiet nod. Han Kyum could feel some of the stress going away although he still kept his hands tightly clenched in his lap.
Hanrae moved up. Her eyes briefly went over Jin and then stayed on Han Kyum. She moved her hand out without any effort. "I'm Hanrae," she said. Her voice was quiet but she had a biting edge to it. "From now on, I'll be working with you."
Han Kyum was in two minds. He looked at the table, his fingers lightly touching the smooth surface. To shake her hand was out of the question, almost instinctively he felt it was wrong. He tried not to look at her, and a very slight frown appeared on his face.
Elijah brought his body a little closer to him and gave him a look. Han Kyum got it right away. Reluctantly, he lifted his hand and stretched it out. Hanrae held the hand tightly and accurately. There was no warmth, no hesitation. Han Kyum experienced a very slight feeling of discomfort passing through him, but he kept his face impassive.
Hanrae was not smiling. She even held his stare for a while to let him feel its weight, and then letting go of his hand she said, "I am going to be the one seeing how things go here." Her tone was very calm. "I hope you are good enough to keep up."
Han Kyum moved in his chair. He was about to talk but he changed his mind. He looked at Elijah instead. Elijah was relaxed, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth, and his arms were crossed over his chest.
Elijah took a step forward and with a slightly mocking tone said, "So, are you the one people have been talking about? The one they say is good at making chemicals?"
Han Kyum was caught off guard. The question was too direct for his liking. He gulped and mumbled very quietly and uncomfortably, "I'm not sure."
Elijah immediately turned his attention to Han Kyum and said, "Don't worry, if you want, I can be his voice."
Han Kyum's face turned red with irritation. He didn't need someone to speak for him, and he especially didn't need it from Elijah, even if it was well-meaning. Trying to calm himself he clenched his fists on the table. "I'm capable of doing that," he said quietly.
Hanrae's eyes became a slit. "Then do it," she said. Her voice was very calm but sounded like a challenge.
Han Kyum inhaled deeply. "I am familiar with my work and what I am doing. I have been trained and I have also done my best to get better with each passing day. I am not quite sure if that makes me the best one but I am quite competent," he admitted.
Hanrae looked at him like a detective, pondering. "Competent can be used to mean a lot of different things. Are you able to handle the pressure? The errors? The unforeseen?"
Han Kyum was in two minds. The questions were very direct. Without backing down he still remained silent for a little while. Elijah changed his position in the chair, he must have noticed Han Kyum's discomfort. "He is up to the task," Elijah said in a calm tone, "Han Kyum is really competent. The sooner you realize that, the better."
Han Kyum looked at Elijah briefly with an expression of irritation. He was not fond of being talked over but still, he didn't say a word in return. He simply breathed out slowly and rested his eyes on the table again.
Jin, who had been watching the scene silently, suddenly spoke, turning his head towards Han Kyum. "She looks… rather extreme," he said very quietly, with a slight smile on his face.
Han Kyum kept silence. He just looked at her once and then back at the table. His hands were clenched tightly as he was telling himself to keep his focus.
Hanrae moved one step closer to the table and her hands, were touching the surface, very gently. "I will be very close to you in my work. Errors are… not allowed. So, let me tell you, I hope that you can keep up with me."
Han Kyum gave a nod, short and to the point. "Got it."
Elijah was really into it, as he was watching the scene, eyes narrowing and leaning back in his chair. There was a small smile, which was almost invisible, on his lips. Han Kyum saw it and expressed his displeasure by a very quiet and short groan. He didn't like that Elijah seemed to derive pleasure from his predicament.
Hanrae's eyes were like a searchlight, moving from one to the other of the group and she didn't miss their faces. "We shall see. I will be the judge." Moving away from the table, she was leaning against the wall, upright and composed though her body was not relaxed.
Han Kyum let out a breath quietly, and rubbed his face with his hand. He was talking to himself, "I really don't know if I like her."
Jin laughed softly and gave Han Kyum a friendly nudge with his elbow. "On second thought, you're right, welcome."
Han Kyum looked at him and answered with his eyes only. He turned his eyes away from Han and back at the table. He tightened his hands slightly, and told himself to be more diligent.
Hanrae moved a step closer to the table and lightly placed her hands on it. "I will be working very closely with you. As I have mentioned, errors will not be tolerated. So, I do hope that you will be able to keep up with me."
Han Kyum gave a short nod. "I understand."
Elijah was really into it as he was watching the scene, his eyes narrowing and leaning back in the chair. He was almost smiling, but the smile was very small and hard to notice. Han Kyum noticed it and was very frustrated. He let out a small, silent groan of frustration. He didn't like that Elijah seemed entertained by the situation.
Hanrae's eyes were like a searchlight, moving from one to the other of the group and she didn't miss their faces. "We shall see. I will be the judge." Moving away from the table, she was leaning against the wall, upright and composed though her body was not relaxed.
Han Kyum quietly rubbed his face with his hand, and let out a breath. He said under his breath, "I really can't say that I like her."
Jin was laughing quietly and nudging Han Kyum with his elbow. "On second thought, you're right, welcome."
Han Kyum gave him a look and answered with his eyes only. He turned his eyes away from Han and back at the table. He tightened his hands slightly, and told himself to be more diligent.
Hanrae moved a step closer to the table and lightly placed her hands on it. "I will be working very closely with you. As I have mentioned, errors will not be tolerated. So, I do hope that you will be able to keep up with me."
Han Kyum gave a short nod. "I understand."
Elijah was really into it, as he was watching the scene, eyes narrowing and leaning back in his chair. There was a small smile, which was almost invisible, on his lips. Han Kyum saw it and let out a small, silent groan of frustration. He didn't like that Elijah seemed entertained by the situation.
Hanrae's gaze went all over the place before stopping on each one of them. "We will see how it goes. I am saying this though that I will be watching every move of yours, actions, not words." After this, she closed the door with her back, still rigid but calm and collected.
Han Kyum let out a quiet sigh and rubbed his forehead with his hand. Talking to himself he said "I really can't say that I like her."
Jin laughed softly and gave Han Kyum a friendly nudge with his elbow. "Now, as a member of this team, I welcome you."
Han Kyum looked at him and answered with his eyes only. He turned his eyes away from Han and back at the table. He tightened his hands slightly, and told himself to be more diligent.
Even though Hanrae was there and Elijah was watching, Han Kyum was determined to get on with his work, and that was all that mattered for the time being.
Elijah once looked to han kyum and smirked he likes han kyum getting pissed by him..
but he still remember the name han kyum mentioned jae-heon, he is pissed hearing that name all over in his mind
(SOMEONE IS JEALOUS EVERYONE)