Step: Chapter 9
Step: Chapter
chi-eng translated, 3609 words, luhan centric, all members involved, various pairings
"With each step, 15 years of your lives will deplete"
The police bureau is in a state of chaos; beneath the commotion of the telephones and fax machines lay stacks of paper that has fully buried the desk, in the hallway, people come and go. A young policeman brisk walks past and taps Jin on the shoulders, “I’ve left those 3 rooms vacant for you, case 322’s investigation report session will commence in 10 minutes in the small meeting room on the 2nd level.”
“Thanks,” Jin smiles before instructing a female officer behind, “you can bring the both of them to the pantry for some water, we’ll go upstairs together later.” He points to Kris and Luhan, and then turns to tap on the three others, “three of you, please come with me.”
Across the hallway and into another wing, the amount of people has evidently decreased. Opening the doors to the rooms along the hallway, “you can stay here” Jin says to Chanyeol who has been observing the surroundings. The person in the room who was flipping through the case files lifts his head smile, “hello,” he says, welcoming Chanyeol into the room. He then shuts the door.
Jin turns behind and glances at the two following him, “before recording your statement, may I please have your fingerprints.” Speaking as he points at the last fingerprint machine located at the end of both rooms, “both hands, starting with your thumbs and then the other fingers.”
Jongin frowns, “why is that not required of Chanyeol?”
Jin ponders for a second, “it isn’t required.......... for now.”
Drooping his eyelids, Baekhyun eyes Jongin, the both of them leave their fingerprints as the respective doors behind them shuts.
Luhan rests in the lounge, only to feel slightly uncomfortable under the watchful gaze from a strange man across the room. He turns his head momentarily to hide from the man’s line of sight.
“Why does that person keep looking at us?” Luhan asks Kris in Chinese. About 30 years old and quite good looking, wearing a weird glove on his right hand, Luhan summarizes silently in his heart.
“He is?” Kris turns to glance, “do you know him?”
Luhan shakes his head, “but he seems to recognise us.”
Kris turns again to look, “isn’t that rather normal?”
Without speaking, Luhan looks at that person and takes out a broken string jade pendant from his pocket and after a moment, places it back in.
Opening the door, a woman instructs Kris and Luhan, “it’s almost time, you may go upstairs.” Then, she turns to the person at the side, “please wait a little longer, he is almost done with his matters.”
“His concussion hasn’t fully healed, it can’t take too long.............” As the person speaks, he is interrupted again by the woman at the door, “soon, soon.”
Walking into the meeting room, there are approximately 7 to 8 people gathered at the long desk, each of them having information files of different sizes and photos. On one side of the long desk is a projector depicting the desktop as Jin stands in a corner, glancing through the files in the rather short period of time he has.
“All are present?” Jin lifts his head to look before shutting the door and dimming the lights right above the projector.
“It’s been hard on all of you working on case 322 these past few weeks, and today, we will do a little closure and organization. We’ve invited 2 very special guests today, both of which you must all be very familiar with,” pointing to Kris and Luhan as he speaks, “the victims of case 322, who are also the survivors, Kris and Luhan.”
Everyone nods at Kris and Luhan with friendliness while the two respond, though a little lost.
“Korean of this standard shouldn’t be a problem right?” Jin questions carefully.
“......No.” Luhan says, while Kris nods in agreement.
“Great.” Jin lowers his head, “then let us begin by examining the original evidences of this case.” As he speaks, he pulls out a photograph which pictures a deformed taxi which has been sent flying towards some trees and in the distance is a truck with a passenger's door left ajar.
“On the night of March 22nd at 11:25PM, we received an urgent call from the owners of the Volkswagen that had been passing by. He said there had been a car accident near the outskirts of the city, heading towards south between a taxi and a truck. The owner of the truck seems to have escaped.” Jin pointed at the photograph on the projector, “the phone call was directed to our emergency response unit. The results, as you all know, one dead and two injured in the taxi. Not only that, but the deceased and the injured members are all SM Entertainment's Chinese idols.”
“This particular truck is from the PINT supermarket chain’s exclusive freight car. On the eve of March 22nd at approximately 10:45PM, the truck driver went inside the supermarket for a leisure talk with the employees, just after parking by a PINT franchise located near the scene of the incident. He left sometime after 11PM only to realise that his truck had been stolen. He immediately called the police and at 11:15PM we received the call.” As he speaks, Jin points at the picture projected onto the screen of the outside of the PINT supermarket and the neighboring restaurant Happy Time. Jin passes the photos for Kris and Luhan to observe.
“Vehicles are generally not seen after 11PM on the southern roads heading towards the edge of the city.The reason as to why we have discarded the idea that this is a normal theft is due to the fact that employees from the nearby automobile repair shop and passersby have stated that the truck stopped at the roadside by the scene of the accident for a rather long time.” Jin hands out several sheets of paper, “the witnesses include a car maintenance worker and an elementary school teacher. We have confirmed that prior to this, they have not known each other.”
Staring at the downcast Luhan and Kris reading the witness report, Jin voices calmly, “that’s right, he was waiting for your arrival.”
“Let us take a closer look at the other set of information provided in association with this supermarket.” Jin plays a short video clip. Luhan inadvertently watches with his head down, unconsciously furrowing his brows.
“On the night of March 22nd at 10:53PM, we found a familiar figure through the supermarket’s surveillance cameras,” Jin looked at Kris and Luhan, “your good friend Kim Jongin.”
“Him, at a supermarket which takes over 10 minutes to drive to from your dorm, just to buy three items: a pack of gum, one magazine, and two cans of beer.”
Kris looks at the video, “one of our other members told me that he was originally planning on staying home but ended up going out later.”
“That’s right.” Jin looks at Kris, “at 10:41PM, he received a text message from another one of your members, Byun Baekhyun, and immediately left for the supermarket. The taxi driver recognized him and later contacted us after the incident.”
“The problem resides with this, these three items can be easily purchased at the supermarket near your dorm, it wasn’t entirely necessary for him to travel that far? Jin looks at everyone present, “the only reason would be that he had another motive for going there, and that the items was just a second thought.”
“This conjecture was quickly verified, as soon as he left the supermarket, he had found an unconscious man on the ground in the back alley of a neighbouring restaurant, Happy Time. At 10:55PM he called the police.” Jin opens another photograph.
Luhan looks up and widens his eyes. And in that moment, his racing heart stops., his racing heart in that moment had stopped.
“Sung, the man Kim Jongin had spotted, collapsed in the back alley was an SM field world personnel, at around 10.15PM, he was there at Happy Time restaurant for a meetup with a few partners. According to his testimony, the moment he walked out restaurant, a man in the alley had asked to borrow his lighter and afterwards, his was punched, held against the wall and hit a few times, he then lost consciousness.” Jin says.
“Do you know this man?” Jin looks at the two while Kris shakes his head and Luhan plays dumb with his eyes open wide.
“At around 11PM, the ambulance had come and go, Sung was diagnosed with a concussion and subsequently, his partner, a fellow field worker, Yun, had come to foot his medical bills, I believe you met him at the pantry just now.” Jin continues.
Kris inhales a deep breath before turning to look at the blanked out Luhan.
“This partner of his is a little abnormal, he seems to have many questions but refuses to ask them,” someone adds from below.
“According to the medical workers, when the ambulance had left the scene, Kim Jongin had yet to leave. Holding onto an umbrella, he paced near the street lamp by the alleyway.” Jin says, “as for your other bandmate, Byun Baekhyun’s location that night is also an interesting question.”
“In addition to the whereabouts of those two, who attacked Sung, who stole the truck, and whether or not the SM Entertainment workers had anything to do with the people who took you two to those wooden huts had any relations,” Jin looks around, “these are the questions we need answers to.”
“The two black Buicks were using fake license plates, we have yet to locate their cars,” the man sitting next to Kris says, “we have mass searched all the nearby auto repair shops. I estimate that the car has already been modified and painted over.”
“Is Happy Time a restaurant you frequent?” Jin suddenly asks Kris, “you seem to have a lot of interest in this picture.” He looks at Kris who has his head bowed, staring at the picture in all earnesty and then back at the photo taken outside the supermarket with the restaurant in view.
“Yes,” Kris says, “this is a restaurant run by an extremely popular senior from our company, so we would often dine here when given the chance.”
“This is consistent with what Sung has told us at the hospital,” Jin says, “he states the only reason they frequent that restaurant is because it is opened by one of his buddies.” Lowering his head, Jin reminisces on what occurred in the hospital room a few days back.
“Are you sure you are buddies?” Jin wrestles with his wording, “I mean....”
“Haha, I know what you mean,” Sung looks at the sheets.
“Forgive me for what I am about to say, but even someone like me who is not in the entertainment circle knows him,” Jin says, “despite his age, he was once a big hit.”
Sung laughs a little and looks to the wall, “you’re completely right, we are indeed older now.”
--
Interrogation room A:
“On the night after the dinner, where was Byun Baekhyun?” the testimony officer asks Park Chanyeol.
“He came home with me,” Park Chanyeol answers.
“You’re lying,” the officer looks him in the eye, “your driver already confessed that he was dropped off.”
Park Chanyeol looks down at the table, unable to find the right words.
“What time did him and Kim Jongin return to the dormitory?” the officer asks again.
“At night,” Chanyeol said, “I don’t remember the exact time.”
“You are lying again,” the officer looked at him, “they did not return that night, the following morning when they returned they were spotted by two fans. After autographing and taking photos, they were uploaded onto the internet.”
“Why are you questioning me if you already know everything?” Chanyeol crooks his head.
“Then why are you lying?” the officer questions again.
--
Interrogation room B:
“That night after the dinner has ended, did you or did you not send Kim Jongin a text message,” the officer questions Byun Baekhyun.
“Yes, I told him everything was over and I asked him to meet me at the usual place,” Baekhyun answers.
“Where is the ‘usual’ place?”
“The alley next to Happy Time restaurant,” chimes Baekhyun..
“What were you planning to do meeting there?” the officer asks.
“To meet and go somewhere else together,” Baekhyun replies.
“Why must you meet there?” The officer looks up at Baekhyun, “where did you go after?”
Baekhyun glances over to one side, he doesn’t speak.
--
Interrogation room C:
“Why did Byun Baekhyun ask you to meet him at the alley beside the Happy Time restaurant?” the officer looks over at Kim Jongin.
“We like it there,” Kim Jongin replies, shaking his legs.
“Where did you go after? What did you do?” the officer continues.
Kim Jongin smirks at him, “what is it to you?”
--
Interrogation room A:
Park Chanyeol shakes his head, “you’ve got it all wrong, what they did that night had nothing to do with this case.”
“It is your duty to inform us of their whereabouts that night,” the officer stared at Park Chanyeol, “it is also the best way to clear them of all suspicions.”
After a pause, “they left for a nearby rented house.” Chanyeol says, “go ahead and investigate. I know the address, it’s at the dorms.”
“Why would you know the address of the house?” the officer interrogates.
“Because the house is rented under my name,” replies Chanyeol.
“Why do you know they went to the house that night?” the officer asks.
Chanyeol shuts his eyes reluctantly, “why would Lay know where Kris and Luhan was that night?”
--
With all statements recorded, Jongin and Baekhyun All statements recorded, Kim Jongin and Byun Baekhyun puts on similar jackets and hats under the instructions of officers. Clad in the same jacket as 3 other strangers, they wait outside a room., was asked to wait outside a room.
“Ready,” a female worker pokes her head out the door next to them. The police next to her nods before switching the order of the queue, placing Jongin 2nd in line and Baekhyun 4th.
“In a moment, enter in sequence. Each person will stand in front of their own glass door, do not speak, once you see the red light you will leave,” the person says as he struts over to Baekhyun and Jongin, straightening their hoods.
The five of them walk inside. Sung looks at the 5 people under the light so strong they cannot even see themselves, and began to identify the members.
“Do you see anyone familiar?” the female worker asks him from the side.
“I recognize the two of them,” Sung points at number 2 and 4, “why did you bring them here?”
“Is it one of them?” the worked looked at him closely.
Sung shakes his head before closing up on the other three. The female worker from the side seems to have lost all interest.
“None of them,” Sung finally says.
“Do you still remember his appearance?” the female worker asks.
Sung’s eyes hold a degree of confusion as he looks across, “I suppose....around the same height as me, roughly the same build as well, the rest....I can’t remember”
A beat of silence later, the female worker nods her head before pressing the switch on the wall. The red light opposite them flickers on and the people walk out.
With the meeting on the 2nd floor adjourned, a pale-faced Luhan approaches Jin, “I want to meet with Sung.” Kris looks confusedly as he stands by Luhan’s side, the boy has looked stricken since the end of the meeting.
“He should still be here, I’ll go ask,” he says as he ushers Kris and Luhan downstairs. Jin asks a fellow worker, “he and his partner just left.” Before the words even leave his mouth, Luhan rushes outside.
The familiar silhouette was getting closer, Sung seems to be helping Yun put something around his neck. Luhan rushes forward immediately and grabs his shoulder, startling him and causing the jade to fall. In a hurry, Sung tries to pick up the jade that has fallen into Yun’s grasp but unexpectedly pulls of Yun’s gloves revealing burn marks on the latter’s right hand and wrist.
The jade falls onto the ground.
“What are you doing?” Sung bends to pick up the jade and helps Yun put on his gloves, at the same time furrowing his eyebrows at Luhan.
“I’m sorry,” Luhan looks at the jade on the ground, before hesitantly looking up at Sung, “do you recognize me?”
“The famous Luhan, of course I recognize you,” he says before looking over at Kris standing towards the side, “if there is nothing else we’re taking our leave.” And as he speaks, he grabs onto Yun, pushing him ahead.
“Please wait!” Luhan desperately grabs his sleeve, using his mouth to form the words.
Sung looks at Luhan, perplexed, “What?”
“Luhan, what’s going on?” Kris glances at him.
“Time is relative,” Luhan looks into Sung’s eyes as if searching for the answer within, “also,” Luhan recalls, “our time does not depend on... door....” Luhan continues to stare into those eyes, now filled with confusion.
Kris silently stares at Luhan, he drops his head and ponders. Turning to Luhan with a sudden urge to voice something, he witnesses those expressions of uncertainty, those with a resemblance to someone he sees in the mirror.
“What are you muttering about?” Sung asks.
“I...” At a loss for words, Luhan trudges a step back all of suddenly.
After a moment, he looks to the ground absentmindedly, “Nevermind.... please excuse me.”
Sung glances at the pale Luhan and then at Kris, “then we will leave first.” As the two of them take their leave,, a burst of unknown perfume sweeps past their noses.
“What’s wrong?” As the two watch the other pair inch further away, Kris notices Yun who turns to look at them one more time.
Luhan squats slowly on the ground, running his hands through his hair in a silent daze.
“Those comments about time, it came from Clown didn’t it?” Kris squats down beside him.
Silence ensues as Luhan blinks his eyes slowly.
“You’re right, he is indeed Clown.” Luhan turns expressionlessly towards the ground, “but his eyes weren’t lying, he really doesn’t know anything.”
Startled, he stares at Luhan, Kris immediately stands to look at the silhouettes of the two. With no expression written on his face, Luhan stands and strolls past Kris, passing the main gates and in the opposing direction.
“That was no accident, it was a trap.” Luhan looks at the ground as he trudges, “they werepeople just like the truck driver, waiting for us to jump right in.”
“Why?” Kris doesn’t understand as he follows Luhan, “who exactly is Clown?”
“I don’t know.” Luhan shakes his head taking a deep breath and then stopping. “It doesn’t matter anymore...... This thing, let’s stop.”
Kris swivels his head to look at Luhan without speaking.
“So what about the 60 years we’ve already wasted?” Kris asks.
Luhan’s bows his head, he doesn’t respond.
“Isn’t it a little too late to say you quit now?” Kris stares at him.
Luhan shakes his head, “not at all.”
“You only have 30 years in your life?” Kris questioned.
“Even if Yixing returns, those 30 years won’t come back!” Luhan cries, looking up.
Kris looks at him and turns around, “I can’t accept this.”
“You’re like a desperate gambler right now, you know,” Luhan says from behind.
“Who was the one that brought me to the table?!” Kris turns and roars.
Luhan falls silent, he turns and looks in the opposite direction.
“Me.” He whispers softly, “I said I couldn't see it to the end.”
Kris returns the gaze and after a short pause, he grabs Luhan’s shoulder, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”
Luhan raises both hands as if surrendering, a sign indicating that he didn’t require any comfort.
“This is of my own accord,” Kris pulls Luhan back roughly, “no matter how many years I’ve lost, it was all attributed to my own actions. Same for you.”
“I’m not angry because of this,” Kris grabs both of his shoulders and looks to him, “continuing or stopping is up to you, but you’ve never shared your thoughts with me.”
Luhan looks to the ground, “I’ve told you everything related to the case.”
Kris returns the gaze, losing all the energy and dropping his head.
He is fully aware that he has no right to command Luhan; because afterall, he himself has a mask on, the one mask providing them all the security they can get.
“It is right to stop now,” Luhan looks at him, “you know best, deep in your heart.”
Kris clutches his thighs, “yes, all that you’ve said is right.”
“You can curse me in your heart, I’m fine with that,” Luhan’s eyes no longer seem focus, “but I’m making a decision for the both of us right now.”
Kris lifts his head to look at him, forcing a smile, “and you sure are informal to me.”
Luhan looks into the distance and speaks vaguely, “when have you started being so formal to me?” When you kissed me, or when you beat me up, he laughs at himself, but doesn’t say it out.
Kris observes as cars drive in both directions on the roads, he doesn’t utter a sound.
“Let’s just settle at that,” Luhan taps his shoulder and strolls across the road, “just listen to me.”
Original fic
Translated by illuminere and heecups
Please seek permission before reposting!
And sorry for the late update and horrible grammar/phrasing :c
chi-eng translated, 3609 words, luhan centric, all members involved, various pairings
"With each step, 15 years of your lives will deplete"
The police bureau is in a state of chaos; beneath the commotion of the telephones and fax machines lay stacks of paper that has fully buried the desk, in the hallway, people come and go. A young policeman brisk walks past and taps Jin on the shoulders, “I’ve left those 3 rooms vacant for you, case 322’s investigation report session will commence in 10 minutes in the small meeting room on the 2nd level.”
“Thanks,” Jin smiles before instructing a female officer behind, “you can bring the both of them to the pantry for some water, we’ll go upstairs together later.” He points to Kris and Luhan, and then turns to tap on the three others, “three of you, please come with me.”
Across the hallway and into another wing, the amount of people has evidently decreased. Opening the doors to the rooms along the hallway, “you can stay here” Jin says to Chanyeol who has been observing the surroundings. The person in the room who was flipping through the case files lifts his head smile, “hello,” he says, welcoming Chanyeol into the room. He then shuts the door.
Jin turns behind and glances at the two following him, “before recording your statement, may I please have your fingerprints.” Speaking as he points at the last fingerprint machine located at the end of both rooms, “both hands, starting with your thumbs and then the other fingers.”
Jongin frowns, “why is that not required of Chanyeol?”
Jin ponders for a second, “it isn’t required.......... for now.”
Drooping his eyelids, Baekhyun eyes Jongin, the both of them leave their fingerprints as the respective doors behind them shuts.
Luhan rests in the lounge, only to feel slightly uncomfortable under the watchful gaze from a strange man across the room. He turns his head momentarily to hide from the man’s line of sight.
“Why does that person keep looking at us?” Luhan asks Kris in Chinese. About 30 years old and quite good looking, wearing a weird glove on his right hand, Luhan summarizes silently in his heart.
“He is?” Kris turns to glance, “do you know him?”
Luhan shakes his head, “but he seems to recognise us.”
Kris turns again to look, “isn’t that rather normal?”
Without speaking, Luhan looks at that person and takes out a broken string jade pendant from his pocket and after a moment, places it back in.
Opening the door, a woman instructs Kris and Luhan, “it’s almost time, you may go upstairs.” Then, she turns to the person at the side, “please wait a little longer, he is almost done with his matters.”
“His concussion hasn’t fully healed, it can’t take too long.............” As the person speaks, he is interrupted again by the woman at the door, “soon, soon.”
Walking into the meeting room, there are approximately 7 to 8 people gathered at the long desk, each of them having information files of different sizes and photos. On one side of the long desk is a projector depicting the desktop as Jin stands in a corner, glancing through the files in the rather short period of time he has.
“All are present?” Jin lifts his head to look before shutting the door and dimming the lights right above the projector.
“It’s been hard on all of you working on case 322 these past few weeks, and today, we will do a little closure and organization. We’ve invited 2 very special guests today, both of which you must all be very familiar with,” pointing to Kris and Luhan as he speaks, “the victims of case 322, who are also the survivors, Kris and Luhan.”
Everyone nods at Kris and Luhan with friendliness while the two respond, though a little lost.
“Korean of this standard shouldn’t be a problem right?” Jin questions carefully.
“......No.” Luhan says, while Kris nods in agreement.
“Great.” Jin lowers his head, “then let us begin by examining the original evidences of this case.” As he speaks, he pulls out a photograph which pictures a deformed taxi which has been sent flying towards some trees and in the distance is a truck with a passenger's door left ajar.
“On the night of March 22nd at 11:25PM, we received an urgent call from the owners of the Volkswagen that had been passing by. He said there had been a car accident near the outskirts of the city, heading towards south between a taxi and a truck. The owner of the truck seems to have escaped.” Jin pointed at the photograph on the projector, “the phone call was directed to our emergency response unit. The results, as you all know, one dead and two injured in the taxi. Not only that, but the deceased and the injured members are all SM Entertainment's Chinese idols.”
“This particular truck is from the PINT supermarket chain’s exclusive freight car. On the eve of March 22nd at approximately 10:45PM, the truck driver went inside the supermarket for a leisure talk with the employees, just after parking by a PINT franchise located near the scene of the incident. He left sometime after 11PM only to realise that his truck had been stolen. He immediately called the police and at 11:15PM we received the call.” As he speaks, Jin points at the picture projected onto the screen of the outside of the PINT supermarket and the neighboring restaurant Happy Time. Jin passes the photos for Kris and Luhan to observe.
“Vehicles are generally not seen after 11PM on the southern roads heading towards the edge of the city.The reason as to why we have discarded the idea that this is a normal theft is due to the fact that employees from the nearby automobile repair shop and passersby have stated that the truck stopped at the roadside by the scene of the accident for a rather long time.” Jin hands out several sheets of paper, “the witnesses include a car maintenance worker and an elementary school teacher. We have confirmed that prior to this, they have not known each other.”
Staring at the downcast Luhan and Kris reading the witness report, Jin voices calmly, “that’s right, he was waiting for your arrival.”
“Let us take a closer look at the other set of information provided in association with this supermarket.” Jin plays a short video clip. Luhan inadvertently watches with his head down, unconsciously furrowing his brows.
“On the night of March 22nd at 10:53PM, we found a familiar figure through the supermarket’s surveillance cameras,” Jin looked at Kris and Luhan, “your good friend Kim Jongin.”
“Him, at a supermarket which takes over 10 minutes to drive to from your dorm, just to buy three items: a pack of gum, one magazine, and two cans of beer.”
Kris looks at the video, “one of our other members told me that he was originally planning on staying home but ended up going out later.”
“That’s right.” Jin looks at Kris, “at 10:41PM, he received a text message from another one of your members, Byun Baekhyun, and immediately left for the supermarket. The taxi driver recognized him and later contacted us after the incident.”
“The problem resides with this, these three items can be easily purchased at the supermarket near your dorm, it wasn’t entirely necessary for him to travel that far? Jin looks at everyone present, “the only reason would be that he had another motive for going there, and that the items was just a second thought.”
“This conjecture was quickly verified, as soon as he left the supermarket, he had found an unconscious man on the ground in the back alley of a neighbouring restaurant, Happy Time. At 10:55PM he called the police.” Jin opens another photograph.
Luhan looks up and widens his eyes. And in that moment, his racing heart stops., his racing heart in that moment had stopped.
“Sung, the man Kim Jongin had spotted, collapsed in the back alley was an SM field world personnel, at around 10.15PM, he was there at Happy Time restaurant for a meetup with a few partners. According to his testimony, the moment he walked out restaurant, a man in the alley had asked to borrow his lighter and afterwards, his was punched, held against the wall and hit a few times, he then lost consciousness.” Jin says.
“Do you know this man?” Jin looks at the two while Kris shakes his head and Luhan plays dumb with his eyes open wide.
“At around 11PM, the ambulance had come and go, Sung was diagnosed with a concussion and subsequently, his partner, a fellow field worker, Yun, had come to foot his medical bills, I believe you met him at the pantry just now.” Jin continues.
Kris inhales a deep breath before turning to look at the blanked out Luhan.
“This partner of his is a little abnormal, he seems to have many questions but refuses to ask them,” someone adds from below.
“According to the medical workers, when the ambulance had left the scene, Kim Jongin had yet to leave. Holding onto an umbrella, he paced near the street lamp by the alleyway.” Jin says, “as for your other bandmate, Byun Baekhyun’s location that night is also an interesting question.”
“In addition to the whereabouts of those two, who attacked Sung, who stole the truck, and whether or not the SM Entertainment workers had anything to do with the people who took you two to those wooden huts had any relations,” Jin looks around, “these are the questions we need answers to.”
“The two black Buicks were using fake license plates, we have yet to locate their cars,” the man sitting next to Kris says, “we have mass searched all the nearby auto repair shops. I estimate that the car has already been modified and painted over.”
“Is Happy Time a restaurant you frequent?” Jin suddenly asks Kris, “you seem to have a lot of interest in this picture.” He looks at Kris who has his head bowed, staring at the picture in all earnesty and then back at the photo taken outside the supermarket with the restaurant in view.
“Yes,” Kris says, “this is a restaurant run by an extremely popular senior from our company, so we would often dine here when given the chance.”
“This is consistent with what Sung has told us at the hospital,” Jin says, “he states the only reason they frequent that restaurant is because it is opened by one of his buddies.” Lowering his head, Jin reminisces on what occurred in the hospital room a few days back.
“Are you sure you are buddies?” Jin wrestles with his wording, “I mean....”
“Haha, I know what you mean,” Sung looks at the sheets.
“Forgive me for what I am about to say, but even someone like me who is not in the entertainment circle knows him,” Jin says, “despite his age, he was once a big hit.”
Sung laughs a little and looks to the wall, “you’re completely right, we are indeed older now.”
--
Interrogation room A:
“On the night after the dinner, where was Byun Baekhyun?” the testimony officer asks Park Chanyeol.
“He came home with me,” Park Chanyeol answers.
“You’re lying,” the officer looks him in the eye, “your driver already confessed that he was dropped off.”
Park Chanyeol looks down at the table, unable to find the right words.
“What time did him and Kim Jongin return to the dormitory?” the officer asks again.
“At night,” Chanyeol said, “I don’t remember the exact time.”
“You are lying again,” the officer looked at him, “they did not return that night, the following morning when they returned they were spotted by two fans. After autographing and taking photos, they were uploaded onto the internet.”
“Why are you questioning me if you already know everything?” Chanyeol crooks his head.
“Then why are you lying?” the officer questions again.
--
Interrogation room B:
“That night after the dinner has ended, did you or did you not send Kim Jongin a text message,” the officer questions Byun Baekhyun.
“Yes, I told him everything was over and I asked him to meet me at the usual place,” Baekhyun answers.
“Where is the ‘usual’ place?”
“The alley next to Happy Time restaurant,” chimes Baekhyun..
“What were you planning to do meeting there?” the officer asks.
“To meet and go somewhere else together,” Baekhyun replies.
“Why must you meet there?” The officer looks up at Baekhyun, “where did you go after?”
Baekhyun glances over to one side, he doesn’t speak.
--
Interrogation room C:
“Why did Byun Baekhyun ask you to meet him at the alley beside the Happy Time restaurant?” the officer looks over at Kim Jongin.
“We like it there,” Kim Jongin replies, shaking his legs.
“Where did you go after? What did you do?” the officer continues.
Kim Jongin smirks at him, “what is it to you?”
--
Interrogation room A:
Park Chanyeol shakes his head, “you’ve got it all wrong, what they did that night had nothing to do with this case.”
“It is your duty to inform us of their whereabouts that night,” the officer stared at Park Chanyeol, “it is also the best way to clear them of all suspicions.”
After a pause, “they left for a nearby rented house.” Chanyeol says, “go ahead and investigate. I know the address, it’s at the dorms.”
“Why would you know the address of the house?” the officer interrogates.
“Because the house is rented under my name,” replies Chanyeol.
“Why do you know they went to the house that night?” the officer asks.
Chanyeol shuts his eyes reluctantly, “why would Lay know where Kris and Luhan was that night?”
--
With all statements recorded, Jongin and Baekhyun All statements recorded, Kim Jongin and Byun Baekhyun puts on similar jackets and hats under the instructions of officers. Clad in the same jacket as 3 other strangers, they wait outside a room., was asked to wait outside a room.
“Ready,” a female worker pokes her head out the door next to them. The police next to her nods before switching the order of the queue, placing Jongin 2nd in line and Baekhyun 4th.
“In a moment, enter in sequence. Each person will stand in front of their own glass door, do not speak, once you see the red light you will leave,” the person says as he struts over to Baekhyun and Jongin, straightening their hoods.
The five of them walk inside. Sung looks at the 5 people under the light so strong they cannot even see themselves, and began to identify the members.
“Do you see anyone familiar?” the female worker asks him from the side.
“I recognize the two of them,” Sung points at number 2 and 4, “why did you bring them here?”
“Is it one of them?” the worked looked at him closely.
Sung shakes his head before closing up on the other three. The female worker from the side seems to have lost all interest.
“None of them,” Sung finally says.
“Do you still remember his appearance?” the female worker asks.
Sung’s eyes hold a degree of confusion as he looks across, “I suppose....around the same height as me, roughly the same build as well, the rest....I can’t remember”
A beat of silence later, the female worker nods her head before pressing the switch on the wall. The red light opposite them flickers on and the people walk out.
With the meeting on the 2nd floor adjourned, a pale-faced Luhan approaches Jin, “I want to meet with Sung.” Kris looks confusedly as he stands by Luhan’s side, the boy has looked stricken since the end of the meeting.
“He should still be here, I’ll go ask,” he says as he ushers Kris and Luhan downstairs. Jin asks a fellow worker, “he and his partner just left.” Before the words even leave his mouth, Luhan rushes outside.
The familiar silhouette was getting closer, Sung seems to be helping Yun put something around his neck. Luhan rushes forward immediately and grabs his shoulder, startling him and causing the jade to fall. In a hurry, Sung tries to pick up the jade that has fallen into Yun’s grasp but unexpectedly pulls of Yun’s gloves revealing burn marks on the latter’s right hand and wrist.
The jade falls onto the ground.
“What are you doing?” Sung bends to pick up the jade and helps Yun put on his gloves, at the same time furrowing his eyebrows at Luhan.
“I’m sorry,” Luhan looks at the jade on the ground, before hesitantly looking up at Sung, “do you recognize me?”
“The famous Luhan, of course I recognize you,” he says before looking over at Kris standing towards the side, “if there is nothing else we’re taking our leave.” And as he speaks, he grabs onto Yun, pushing him ahead.
“Please wait!” Luhan desperately grabs his sleeve, using his mouth to form the words.
Sung looks at Luhan, perplexed, “What?”
“Luhan, what’s going on?” Kris glances at him.
“Time is relative,” Luhan looks into Sung’s eyes as if searching for the answer within, “also,” Luhan recalls, “our time does not depend on... door....” Luhan continues to stare into those eyes, now filled with confusion.
Kris silently stares at Luhan, he drops his head and ponders. Turning to Luhan with a sudden urge to voice something, he witnesses those expressions of uncertainty, those with a resemblance to someone he sees in the mirror.
“What are you muttering about?” Sung asks.
“I...” At a loss for words, Luhan trudges a step back all of suddenly.
After a moment, he looks to the ground absentmindedly, “Nevermind.... please excuse me.”
Sung glances at the pale Luhan and then at Kris, “then we will leave first.” As the two of them take their leave,, a burst of unknown perfume sweeps past their noses.
“What’s wrong?” As the two watch the other pair inch further away, Kris notices Yun who turns to look at them one more time.
Luhan squats slowly on the ground, running his hands through his hair in a silent daze.
“Those comments about time, it came from Clown didn’t it?” Kris squats down beside him.
Silence ensues as Luhan blinks his eyes slowly.
“You’re right, he is indeed Clown.” Luhan turns expressionlessly towards the ground, “but his eyes weren’t lying, he really doesn’t know anything.”
Startled, he stares at Luhan, Kris immediately stands to look at the silhouettes of the two. With no expression written on his face, Luhan stands and strolls past Kris, passing the main gates and in the opposing direction.
“That was no accident, it was a trap.” Luhan looks at the ground as he trudges, “they werepeople just like the truck driver, waiting for us to jump right in.”
“Why?” Kris doesn’t understand as he follows Luhan, “who exactly is Clown?”
“I don’t know.” Luhan shakes his head taking a deep breath and then stopping. “It doesn’t matter anymore...... This thing, let’s stop.”
Kris swivels his head to look at Luhan without speaking.
“So what about the 60 years we’ve already wasted?” Kris asks.
Luhan’s bows his head, he doesn’t respond.
“Isn’t it a little too late to say you quit now?” Kris stares at him.
Luhan shakes his head, “not at all.”
“You only have 30 years in your life?” Kris questioned.
“Even if Yixing returns, those 30 years won’t come back!” Luhan cries, looking up.
Kris looks at him and turns around, “I can’t accept this.”
“You’re like a desperate gambler right now, you know,” Luhan says from behind.
“Who was the one that brought me to the table?!” Kris turns and roars.
Luhan falls silent, he turns and looks in the opposite direction.
“Me.” He whispers softly, “I said I couldn't see it to the end.”
Kris returns the gaze and after a short pause, he grabs Luhan’s shoulder, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”
Luhan raises both hands as if surrendering, a sign indicating that he didn’t require any comfort.
“This is of my own accord,” Kris pulls Luhan back roughly, “no matter how many years I’ve lost, it was all attributed to my own actions. Same for you.”
“I’m not angry because of this,” Kris grabs both of his shoulders and looks to him, “continuing or stopping is up to you, but you’ve never shared your thoughts with me.”
Luhan looks to the ground, “I’ve told you everything related to the case.”
Kris returns the gaze, losing all the energy and dropping his head.
He is fully aware that he has no right to command Luhan; because afterall, he himself has a mask on, the one mask providing them all the security they can get.
“It is right to stop now,” Luhan looks at him, “you know best, deep in your heart.”
Kris clutches his thighs, “yes, all that you’ve said is right.”
“You can curse me in your heart, I’m fine with that,” Luhan’s eyes no longer seem focus, “but I’m making a decision for the both of us right now.”
Kris lifts his head to look at him, forcing a smile, “and you sure are informal to me.”
Luhan looks into the distance and speaks vaguely, “when have you started being so formal to me?” When you kissed me, or when you beat me up, he laughs at himself, but doesn’t say it out.
Kris observes as cars drive in both directions on the roads, he doesn’t utter a sound.
“Let’s just settle at that,” Luhan taps his shoulder and strolls across the road, “just listen to me.”
Original fic
Translated by illuminere and heecups
Please seek permission before reposting!
And sorry for the late update and horrible grammar/phrasing :c