under the surface ch03
CHAPTER 3
“I love you. Death couldn’t stop me.”
Those were the words Sunye told Wooyoung every time before the gang went on a dangerous trip somewhere. Tonight it was to kick some other gang off their turf. In her mind, Sunye played out the fight. It would end in a victory for the 2PM boys of course. She could see bodies, maybe some blood strewn everywhere on a lonely street lit by a single streetlight.
She knew how much Wooyoung wanted her to stay at home, for safety. But how could she?
Wooyoung brushed a light kiss over her lips, giving his silent permission, then took her hand and led her to the front door where the other boys were putting on black leather jackets and stuffing knives into their belts.
“Remember guys, no blood tonight if you can help it. The weapons are only a threat. And absolutely no deaths.” Jaebum, already dressed, stood by the door to give directions. “We won’t take the car today ‘cause it’s close.” He usually didn’t like drawing blood to get what he wanted, but if push came to shove, he would do it. He saw Sunye and he strode over, concern in his eyes.
“You’re coming with us again?”
Sunye nodded. “Definitely.”
Wooyoung looked at Jaebum desperately. “She always insists on it.” His eyes pleaded for help but Sunye had made it clear many times that she would never ever stay behind. She never had been content to just guard the house.
Jaebum obviously figured too. “Alright, but stay out of trouble. Don’t get yourself hurt or Wooyoung will have a fit.”
“I’m gonna kill you Jay,” Wooyoung muttered. Jaebum ignored his comment and waved everyone out the door.
---&---
The gang had never been real good at staying silent. Two minutes into their walk, Sunye could already hear jokes being cracked, followed by snorts of laughter and some occasional half-hearted shushing from Jaebum. She always wondered how they could keep their territory and reputation and still be such a bunch of idiots at times. But then she had to wonder why she was so drawn to them.
Maybe it was because they were both abnormal. She never fit in at the local high school, where girls wore short pink skirts with bright leggings and flipped their long silky hair flirtatiously in front of boys. No, her own chin-length hair and overly casual sense of fashion kept her out of that group.
Or maybe she loved it because she loved the thrill, the feeling she was forbidden to feel.
As the gang turned a corner in the street, she caught sight of a foot disappearing around the next corner and Jaebum let out a shout. That was all they needed. Everyone quickened their pace and set off at a run, adrenaline pumping into their veins with every step they took.
After a few moments of running, Sunye could hear the heavy, panicky breathing of the spy. His footsteps fell heavily on the uneven stone covered ground. Another minute later they caught up to the spy who was desperately trying to escape from them. Junho, being the nearest to him, jumped on his back, grabbed his arm and twisted it viciously so that he fell to the ground in what he’d already realized as defeat. Jaebum marched up to the victim, who lay squirming on the ground under Junho’s vice grip. Sunye, having moved closer, could tell he was fairly young, perhaps around sixteen. Jaebum leaned close to the boy’s face.
“Is your leader here tonight?”
The boy’s mouth trembled, the confession fighting to slip out through his pale lips. He shook his head defiantly, and Junho responded with a quick twist of his arm. The boy gave a small cry of pain.
“Well?” Junho said. “You heard him.”
“Yes,” whispered the boy. Sunye didn’t think he had much experience. Maybe he just joined up.
“Where?” Jaebum asked.
The boy grimaced, obviously thinking about the punishment he would later on face. A punishment worse than this apparently, because he didn’t talk.
“Oi kid,” Junho growled, growing impatient. “You don’t wanna see what we do to get confessions outta people, alright? So you better talk.”
In a whisper lower than his last answer, the boy said, “He’s a few blocks down from the garbage dumps over there.” He nodded his head to the right. Then he paused, as if contemplating whether his next words would be appropriate. “Could you…let me go?”
Junho looked up at Jaebum for his word. Jaebum gave a short, curt nod and Junho let go of the boy. He jumped up immediately, keeping a distance and a weary eye fixed on the gang. Then his face fell, and underneath, he was the vulnerable boy Sunye had seen. He paled. “Will I have to…” His voice died down. “Go back?”
Sunye stepped forward. “Guys, I think we ought to keep him for some time. At least help him get away.”
The gang stared at her. It was not really her business to mess with other gangs. She sighed. “Look, just tell them that we killed him or something.”
Wooyoung smiled. “Always the nice girl eh? Maybe that’s why I love you so much.” He made to move toward her.
“Aw jeez you two. Do we really gotta go through this out here?” Chansung asked, but he was grinning.
Wooyoung stopped mid-step and reddened. Sunye was the only one that could see it though, under the dim light. “Well, anyways, I was gonna say,” he began, shooting a death glare toward Chansung, “That I think we ought to let him go. He’s only a kid.” The boy was shuddering.
Slowly, one by one, the other guys nodded, muttering their agreements. Finally, Jaebum spoke. “Well, you better get far away from this town.”
The boy looked up, shoulders hunched, trying to make himself as small as possible. “But-but what about my family?”
Jaebum looked incredulous at his question. “Are you serious? Do you want to live or not? Cause if you do, get outta here. Take your family and get out if you want.” He waved his hand in dismissal and the boy scurried away, not bothering to glance over his shoulder because he knew there was nothing there for him. His clattering footsteps faded.
The rest of the gang was silent for a while and then Sunye spoke. “Well.”
“I guess we better get going. They’re gonna be wondering what took us so long.” Jaebum sighed. He wasn’t really in the spirit to do this anymore, and from the way the rest of the gang trudged after him, nobody really was.
Minutes later, the gang was standing face-to-face with another sneering, bloodthirsty gang.
Jaebum broke the silence. “It was unwise to send a boy out to us, Ilsung” he murmured softly, as if with regret. “You knew what would happen to him.”
Ilsung, the other leader, sneered. “Well well. Who knew cowards like you would have the guts to kill him,” he spat. “Besides, he was expendable. It was a test to join us. And obviously, he failed.”
Junho made a noise, apparently angered by Ilsung’s insult to the gang. He twitched, and Jaebum held his hand up. Ilsung sneered at them again.
“Need your daddy’s help to stay calm, Junho?”
Junho clenched his fists, grinding his teeth in anger. But he didn’t move after that.
Suddenly, Ilsung’s eyes flickered toward Sunye, and a disgusting grin crossed his unshaven face. “So you brought your girl out tonight huh?” Wooyoung went to step in front of Sunye, glaring at him.
“Leave her out of it, you bastard.”
Ilsung laughed, a deep husky sound, and began circling. Jaebum followed, trying to stay between him and the gang. “Get out of here, Ilsung,” he warned, his face becoming dark. “Get out and don’t come back. We don’t want to shed anymore blood tonight.”
“You think it’ll be that easy? You think that after my hard work to take this spot will go to waste that easily?” Ilsung let out a maniacal laugh, and then pulled a knife out of his sleeve. “It won’t be. Be prepared to shed some more blood, Jaebum. I’m not getting out without a fight.”
Jaebum stared warily at the knife. He hated so much to have bloodshed. But he took out his own as well. As soon as he did so, both gangs converged upon their leaders, hands hovering above their own weapons in case they should need them. Sunye drew in a quick breath. She wondered if she had made the right decision to come.
One of the other guys stepped forward, grunting something to Ilsung. Ilsung looked reluctant, angry even, but leaned toward him while keeping an eye on Jaebum. The man whispered something in Ilsung’s ear, and a dangerous gleam leapt into his eyes. He nodded, patting the man on the back.
Sunye couldn’t figure out what happened next. Ilsung was leaping toward her, knife raised, ready to bite into her flesh. She must have screamed; maybe stepped back in fright and alarm. And suddenly he wasn’t there. Instead, Wooyoung was standing in front of her, and the hilt of his knife stuck out of Ilsung’s chest, just below his heart. He was staring down at it in horror, at the blood now running in rivers down his leather jacket. Nobody moved.
As the pain hit him, Ilsung gave a screeching howl of agony, dropping onto the ground, gasping for breath. A few of his gang rushed forward, trying to staunch the blood that had already drenched his shirt and covered his hands. But Sunye knew it was too late; he was going to die. Indeed, a few moments later, Ilsung gave a last shuddering breath, his pained dark eyes fixed on Wooyoung’s as he went limp, the life leaving him.
Sunye was hardly aware of the other gang scampering away, off into the safety of darkness, or the pool of blood that had spread across the concrete, and surrounded Wooyoung’s boots. She stepped toward him. “Woo-Wooyoung?”
But Wooyoung was still silent. He was staring down at his hands. They were clean, but Sunye knew he was seeing the blood there, blood that was not his, blood that would never wash off but instead, scar him for the rest of his life. And suddenly, she hated herself for what she had done to him. If it weren’t for her, he never would have needed to do this. He wouldn’t be worrying. She was a burden to him. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
Taecyeon glanced between the two of them uncertainly. He shuffled over to Wooyoung, looking at the rest of the gang. “Um, shall we go back now?” Wooyoung slowly turned back and the gang followed silently, unwilling to speak.
Back at the house, the boys all sat on the couches, attempting to relax, but were obviously uncomfortable and stiff. Charlene was sitting alone at the kitchen table, hands clasped together. Finally, she stood and headed down the hallway to the room Wooyoung shared with her and Taec. She opened the door a crack and saw Wooyoung sitting on the edge of the bed, still staring at his hands.
“Can I…come in?” Wooyoung didn’t answer. She walked inside slowly, shutting the door behind her.
They were both silent, each waiting for the other to speak. Sunye grimaced when he looked up. There was such a pain in his eyes, and it covered his features. “Sunye…I’m so sorry. I….It was my job to protect you. I shouldn’t be acting…like this.” He stood up.
Sunye shook her head. “No. It’s my fault. If I didn’t exist, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Wooyoung looked horrified. “Stop. I couldn’t live without you if you didn’t exist, Sunye. You know that. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He moved toward her, pulling her into his arms. He leaned his head down and tried to kiss her, but she tore himself from him, backing toward the door. Wooyoung looked bewildered. “Sunye-wha-what?”
She was shaking her head, her hand on the doorknob. “Sorry Wooyoung. I love you…and that’s why…goodbye.” She ripped open the door, running down the hall, toward the front of the house with her head down. As she passed the boys in the living room, they all turned, but she was too fast for them. She was out the door, past their block, almost at the edge of town. It was then that she realized she was sobbing, her tears that she had hidden her whole life pouring out. She wondered if it was her own choice that could break her inside.