Chapter Text
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The grandfather clock stood proudly with all its golden accents, premium wood carving, and delicate gear pieces put in place to make it the showpiece of the room. In perfect accordance to the decor, the other aspects of the room were pleasant to the eyes of any newcomer.
Except no newcomer was allowed to come in.
The large room which held all sorts of fine curtains from the luxurious stores of China, exquisite chandeliers from the fanciest shops of Italy, perfectly sewn Persian carpets from the renowned streets of Turkey, and the teak wood for the furniture straight from the forests of Burma, was heavily guarded by bulky men who held rifles by their sides. Black suits and earpieces in, they were hired to make sure that the place was secure. It was protected for a reason and access was gained only by the most prestigious.
All verified by the man himself.
The man in question was a man in his mind 50's, burkly looking with a gold wrist watch and a cigarette on his darkened lips from the constant usage of smoky bliss. He had the fine-threaded, double-breasted navy blue suit on and a look at the clock, as everyone else held their breaths. Eerie silence filled in, except for the clock that struck for another minute gone by.
"Where is he?"
Choi Lang asked, eyes now focussed on the one woman in the room, his secretary, Ms. Areum.
"We aren't able to reach him, it seems like his mission got delayed."
She mentioned, as she looked through her Ipad.
Lang walked over to the main window, where the view was that of the entirety of Seoul, blinking back with yellow lights as night fell over with each passing second. He really wanted to get on with the meeting soon, for his daughter waited back home after having postponed their family dinner for the better half of the past month. He may be capable of many things, but disappointing his daughter wasn't one he would like to add to that list.
With a sigh, he waited for the other to appear by the door.
Meanwhile, fifteen minutes away from the building was the awaited man in his get-up of black body suit, sunglasses and a high-range sniper gun by his side. The alleyways were dark as he got into the car removing his mask and gloves.
"Done with the job?"
The designated driver, Minho spoke as he started the engine.
"Got a little too bloody for my liking, but yeah done."
The man spoke as he grabbed a few wet wipes to clean his hands and neck that had splattered red all over.
His hand strained with effort as he removed all the extra accessories and gadgets to flop back on the seat with his head low. The day had been exhausting, though it only did start at 3 pm in the afternoon. It was a clean in and out, one-man job with no witnesses and casualties, and given he had the experience for it, he was appointed to complete the task.
The negotiations with the now deceased had occurred earlier and it hadn't been quite fruitful with too many close calls to guns being pulled out for strike outs. But after much working through and no definitive result, the best course of action was to eliminate the person in question.
And that was carried out by the man in the car.
"Boss called by the way. He's waiting for you and is getting agitated apparently."
Minho muttered, eyes on the road with a hand on the gear to speed through.
"Well, if the job was easier, I would've been sipping whiskey with him right now. Not my fault that bastard tried hitting me with the broken tile."
The man in the backseat said, rolling his eyes.
He refused to name his "victims" for it meant that they were human too, despite all their own wrongdoings. It was a habit since long after his first and last failure at doing his assigned job.
But that was a tale for another time.
"Put on the suit before meeting the boss."
Minho ordered, pointing to the freshly-pressed suit in the back.
And with some struggling, the man was in the suit, styling his hair and putting on a cologne to put off any smell of blood that clung on him. He still needed medical attention to that cut against his side. But that could wait.
After all Choi Lang was waiting for his most trusted right hand man, Kim Taehyung.
Taehyung was a man in his late 20's with a stride rivalling that of a calculative cheetah waiting for its prey, with piercings lining against his ear and eyebrows and a singular tattoo of an ace card on his right bicep. His head lifted high, confidence in each step and a smile that could allure the most disdained of hearts. His eyes were sharp, looking with intent, always on alert for any possible threat or call for work— one that was usually tasked for completion under the shadows of the moonlight above.
He was a man of his word, a true charmer on the run, and more importantly a highly feared assassin under the biggest crime syndicate of East Asia.
"Do I look okay?"
Taehyung asked as he pulled his blazer right, after having stepped out of the car.
"Yeah, except for this."
Minho muttered, leaning forward to set one strand of his unruly hair right.
"Thanks hyung."
And with that said, he walked into the building, confident steps against each other and a slight smirk as he greeted the staff. A lift ride up and he was standing in front of the very same men who guarded the room. One deep breath in and he opened the door to face his boss.
"Kim Taehyung, how wonderful of you to grace us...thirty minutes late than what was discussed."
"I apologise, boss. The job has some difficulties that required extra effort from me."
"Just let us know before hand."
Lang gruffly muttered, sitting back on his chair.
"Now, onto important matters, I need you to help conduct this operation."
"The details of which have already been finalised by my end and you'll have the copy of it by tonight. I'll ask Areum to send it to you. From my end, it's the same rules. Clean cut work, no spills, no witnesses. There's no room for discussion on this as the Kwons aren't keen on settlements and refuse to give up on that transaction. For now, we will have to give them a piece of their own medicine. They need to know their last week's antics aren't entertained by us."
"Okay boss. I'll go through it and let you know my further plans."
Taehyung said, standing in front of Lang.
Yang sat there, signing a few forms, correcting a few eyesore of mistakes and then looked at Taehyung with the same eyes that had fist struck fear in him when he was 17. It was so precisely present just like when Lang had put his hand forward for a handshake and the rest was history.
"Good, now I'll take leave. I know this conversation could've been done on the phone, but I personally needed to talk to you about this, conveying my seriousness."
"Understood boss."
With that done, everyone filed out getting the signal of the meeting ending, given their parts were discussed before Taehyung got there.
"Have a good night, Taehyung."
"You too, boss."
Lang turned back to Taehyung and with one hand on the knob of the door, he muttered,
"You can call me Yang-nim. After all, you are taking the lead next."
"I would much rather not. At least not till then."
"Whatever pleases you."
Choi Lang had been Taehyung's father figure through the peak transistion from being a teeanger to an adult. His own dad had died before he was born and with his mother deteriorating after a stage 3 blood cancer when he was 15, the need for money and upholding the roof above their head was on his shoulders. That was the reason he had sought help from loan sharks innocently except it ended up with him dangerously close to death. With debts piling up and his mother's imminent demise approaching after all the treatments had failed her, Taehyung had no opportunity to turn to petty violence and slowly climb the ladder until Choi Lang came along.
Taehyung was and will forever be indebted to him, but the older wasn't as keen on it. He much rather preferred talking to him like they were respected equals. Especially having seen Taehyung's perfected skill in striking the target without a single smidge of mess up.
Taehyung was a sleuth leopard on loose trying to lure the prey without expending his own energy. And that very trait was his ticket to being Choi's most trusted, right hand man.
"One to go, please."
Taehyung asked as he stood outside the small, hole-in-the-wall type of taken shop.
The old man inside smiled warmly having been acquainted with Taehyung and his almost-daily order of meals.
Taehyung quietly stood there, waiting for his meal to be packed as he took out a cigarette for a smoke. It was a ritual at this point, standing outside the curtained place, awaiting for his name to be called to pick up his order of hot ramen and meat, watching the traffic move seamlessly like it was any other day, while his lungs expanded to accommodate the ugly smoke of his cigarette.
He had seen so many advertisements, posters, reminders and more preaching about everything wrong with smoking. A cancer so alike his mother's, would ensue, they said. But he couldn't care less.
Taehyung just couldn't.
It didn't matter. After all, his will to live had been constantly tried and tested; his persistence was remarkable but tiring. And if that test came out negative as he waited for the Earth to consume him whole, he would graciously allow the ritual to be completed. He wasn't actively trying to put himself in danger's way— the Satan's calling for him. He wasn't reckless or cruel to his own living body that had always worked to his accord. But if it came to head with his "dangerous" habits, then so be it.
It was all so confusing, for there were days where the very thought of death was nauseating— falling to his knees and puking his guts out. But on other days, he found it comforting in a way his mother hugged his frail body after the sickness had run him through to the ground. Sick and twisted were the ways of life. He wished it wasn't so draining to tackle this issue of his.
Especially in regards to his line of work, one that gave him the decision to take someone's life; as if playing the role of God himself— to give or take based on the deeds done.
But how could he make that decision when he was just as flawed as every other human on this cursed planet, maybe much more damaged with all the blood that had bled through the crevices of his hands.
"Done, take your meal, son."
The old man's voice called out and Taehyung was pulled out of his weekly existential crisis.
As he thanked the man and walked back home to little, shabby apartment, he was reminded as to why he never got a solution to the web of tangled thoughts in his head. It was because he never had time in between all the meetings, all the runs, and all the kills. Above all, if he gave more importance to any of those problems regarding morality and mortality, it would become all too real and that would mean he must acknowledge them.
Something that scared the feared assassin, Kim Taehyung.
Shook him to the core, but when the next day would arrive, he would once again relive his day of slashes and threats. A cycle so mechanical and draining, one that sucked on his soul like a boodthirsty vampire of the past, one that was to be lived over and over until there was respite in the form of his own death.
Sure, he could have the riches of this world, largely encouraged by Lang himself. Yet, he couldn't find it in himself to give that joy of being human. A human with money to spend, a human whose happiness was a step away if taken the chances, a human who was envied by many. Yet, over and over again he chose to live a life that was marked by none of that glamourous things he had once dreamed of in his youngling years.
This was the life he had chosen, circumstances be done with.
And this was the life he would lead till the end, for any alternative to this is unknown to him.
"Is this a close contact or in range attack?"
"Would opt for in range any day. But the chances for one is difficult this time, just go with close contact."
Hyojin muttered in response to Taehyung, as he flipped through the printed documents.
Taehyung had taken his time studying the patterns of Kwons and with how erratic their days were, simply choosing to spend money and time inefficiently. To say he was pissed at their lack of discipline apart from the deal was an understatement. And so the need for close contact, where he's acquanited with the man was evident as such.
He eventually agreed with Hyojin and went on to arm himself with his trusty weapons that included a secret belt knife, dagger in his boots, a revolver in his suit, spare magazine in his secret pocket and finally his necklace that was gifted for his first mission accomplishment which served for a great vessel for poison to be injected.
"Tie check, boots check, glasses check. Yeah, you are good to go."
Minho said, as he looked over from his driver's seat.
The three of them were currently behind the dumpster alley of the mansion. Hyojin had checked for a route to enter without the security check in front. Taehyung had followed through the plac, enter with a polite smile, own up to it, strike a conversation with Kwon Dohyeon, slip something in his drink or look for stab point work, get out and be free.
Taehyung looked different, his lenses in, wigged hair in perfection, a heeled boot to throw off the height perception by anyone making note, glasses on which covered half his face stylishly and nothing too note-worthy for anyone to pinpoint his presence in the party. If anyone asked he was Kim Sanwook, an established businessman in Vietnam. No one had to know more than that.
"You'll do well."
Minho's words ringed in encouragement, just like usual.
Except they weren't met with the noted response of 'I know' from Taehyung, something he had said every single time since his first formal kill. He was confident of his skills to kill, a license to do so with practice, expertise and wit that had drilled through the years. And yet, this time the words didn't make it to his tongue.
Instead, he walked out without a whisper of goodbye.
He was dressed to his nines, everything in order as he entered the venue of the party after having squeezed through the vents. A feat in itself, but Taehyung's training had kicked in. After that was just socialising with people unknown who simply bought his lies.
"Oh, haven't seen you around?"
"Ah, Mr. Jeong we just met during golf the other day."
Taehyung lied, a chuckle on his lips as the older man's puzzled expression transformed to one of recognition.
Except they hadn't met and the other simply took it in.
"Right! How's the business going?"
"It's well, sailing through for now. Hopefully, we'll see some exponential growth in the next quadrant given how demand is picking up abroad."
Taehyung lied, swirling the champagne flute before sipping it like a gentleman.
A made believe business he owned which had better success than the world could imagine.
And just like that, he talked to a selected few, smiling charmingly until he met with the man himself, a short statured, aged down, greying man in his mid 50's.
Kwon Dohyeon.
"Hello, how are you enjoying the party?"
Dohyeon was first to strike the conversation.
Taehyung bowed slightly out of respect and tried to block the incoming voice of reason.
A nasty little thing in his field of work where nothing of compassion was entertained for more than five seconds. And yet, without fail, before every kill made that voice which sounded awfully like a fictionalised version of whatever he remembered of his dad from videos when his mom was pregnant with him, yelled louder than ever.
And like every other time, he would build his mental block even higher. Even for that voice to fade into nothing as the screams of how immoral it was to kill, despite the other's morality, how it was not the cheery seven year-old Taehyung's dream to kill and rather fly a plane, how all of this would haunt his soul when he reached hell.
But, who would wait for that soul-sucking fieryy place made by religion when he had his own personal hell each night as he laid to sleep?
His nightmares never ceased, it haunted him and drained his life by little bit each day. Never too much, never too little. Just enough for him to notice and no one else. Drained until he was nothing but a shell of his former body, breathing to exist and never more.
In his own strange ways, he wished for those nightmares to come. Even prayed for them.
Taehyung felt redeemed by that torture as if he was paying the price for the blood on his hands. He felt crucified for those vicious sins he had committed, bone breaking and crunching under his knees. He felt the weight of those undone lift for mere minutes before it was thrusted back on his shoulders, making him double down further.
"Yeah, it's wonderful. Love the appetizers!"
Taehyung replied, lifting the tootpick which had a fried ball on the other side of it.
He couldn't dissect his thoughts now, especially when he had a role to play. The last performance of Dohyeon's lifetime.
"I'm glad, Kim-ssi. The new opening deserves its celebrations and what better way than to host it for my beloved friends."
Dohyeon muttered, his smile widening until the crooked teeth came into view.
Taehyung bit his tongue, to exercise the restraint of not giving up the position of many here who wished for the Kwons' downfall, including him. It was no surprise given the multiple ways in which Dohyeon had lived, prominently one in which he cheated, bamboozled and devoured without loyalty to the bonds sealed on paper and blood.
"I believe you haven't met my daughter. Miyeon-ah, come here!"
Dohyeon called out as a younger girl in her 20's walked over, all dressed in pearls and midnight blue silk.
Taehyung smiled, biting into his food, as he looked for an opening, It was getting scarce since, the longer he stayed, the longer they would remember him and the whole point of it was secrecy sworn for his own safety. As the Kwon leader hugged his daughter, back to Taehyung, he wondered if the injection would work better or the poison.
The poison was a hit or miss, but an injection always did wonders and perhaps a nick if it gets a little tricky.
"Hello, nice to meet you."
The girl spoke, eyes intently focussed on Taehyung's form.
He felt slightly unnerved by the way she looked at him, something laid beyond those eyes and he wasn't keen on knowing more. It was like she was scanning his movements, ready to pounce on any mistake of his, though it could just be his paranoia given that he hadn't done field work this close to target. Most of his kills were as an assassin with a long-range rifle, 100 feet away. There was danger lurking at the edges of this dance to kill and his opportunity window was closing in.
And so, Taehyung entertained the conversation, a little longer. People acting as if they knew him when they had never seen him in their lives, everyone too self-obsessed with themselves and the achievements they had in their bag. There was a strategic spill of wine when no one was looking as he laughed at one of their shitty jokes, pulling everyone's gaze to his face than hands.
Kwon Dohyeon was perfectly in his element, slightly drunk but enough to know what was happening.
A spill at first and a slip next.
Taehyung called out to get a refill, one step ahead and suddenly the floor was slipping beneath his feet, his glass shattering against the table and floor. The pieces flying across, people stunned to silence and Taehyung's falling figure against Dohyeon's right calf, a glass piece in hand.
"Oh my god, I'm so very sorry. I didn't see the puddle and now this. I'm so very sorry for the mess. Are you hurt?"
Three steps in and the fourth was faux innocence, sincere apologies floating into the space in between. Taehyungwas mastering the act and it was paying off as he glanced at the glass pieces on the floor and one discrete look at the spot of action.
"I'm okay, son. Are you?"
Dohyeon said, much too kindly as he helped Taehyung up.
And Taehyung hissed, showing his slightly nicked hand. He tried picking the glass against his suit as the yell for waiters from Dohyeon came instantly.
"What is this? One of our guests are hurt. This carelessness is not why I pay all of you."
Taehyung looked at the others with a smile to pacify the abrupt tension in the air. He subtly shifted his cuffs to hid the device at hand.
"I'm alright. I think I'll just take my leave. Perhaps, this is my cue to reach home."
Taehyung said, laughing softly.
Dohyeon nodded, eyes glazed with concern. It was weirdly present as he insisted on someone helping Taehyung wrap his wound and perhaps, some medical attention. But of course, Taehyung refused it, even when Miyeon offered to help softly. Instead he walked away after bidding them goodbye.
The conversations restarted with more vigour, chatters and laughs. And Taehyung could only smirk as he walked out of the main exit. He hoped that it would take its course. It wasn't just one now.
The point to be made couldn't just be valid with one kill, right?
There were going to be signs, most marked with poisoning, a tiny drop in the glass perhaps, or maybe five more in the bottle. Perhaps another vicious pin breaking their skin. Anything to get it across, anything to complete his boss's work.
"Wait!"
Miyeon's voice came about from behind him.
Taehyung turned around, schooling his expression instantly. He racked his brain if there was anything that was left awry in the midst of the chaos he created.
"You are a hard man to catch. Anyways, I just wanted to give you my number. Call me whenever you feel like you need a spark to ignite or perhaps a fling or better yet, just a chat. I like you, so you must know my number isn't given away just like that."
Miyeon said, eyes glittering like the pearls strung on her neck.
"I'm honoured, thank you for the offer. Looking forward to the day of business soon."
Taehyung said, a mischievous grin on his lips.
An elaborate act in its last stages, he would definitely throw away this paper after he was out of everyone's sight. Until then, it would stay in his pocket as he shook hands with her after having successfully diverted the attempt for a hug.
Mayhem would eventually unravel and Taehyung was its spectator.
Two hours later when the party ceased to exist and everyone who had come dispersed slowly, Kwon Dohyeon would collapse on the floor. Instant with no time for any of his assistants or family to take him to the hospital. And before that was taken in account, a few more would have frothed and choked on their vomit.
The news would hit the papers, outrage would spark over and the police would be involved.
But Taehyung would then choose to make himself a chocolate milkshake and sit by the window, laying low till next week when another bigger news would make it to the headlines, making everyone forget it over time.
The cycle continues and he would be no witness, given there wasn't a fingerprint as he had his fancy sheer glove on as part of that costume.
Except that wasn't the case, as the shrill ringtone of his burner broke through the silence of his dreamless sleep, far too late unless it was an emergency.
"Hello?"
Choi Lang's gruffy voice came in rushed and Taehyung stood up as the urgency shook through.
"Taehyung, I need you to immediately and effectively pack to leave. 10 minutes, there will be a car at your disposal and a key in the glove box, take the road towards Yeongsang and you know where to go. Don't contact anyone, until I do. For now, treat it as an emergency and just follow instructions."
"Got it."
And Taehyung's feet moved on their own accord, pulling out the luggage bag he kept for emergencies. His training kicked in as he dumped everything needed, including the weaponry of his choice and essential cash to cover any tracks made by credit cards and so on. His eyes were laser focused on what next as his ears will still on alert for the next instructions.
"Your safety will come first. Don't make me repeat it."
Taehyung knew what the older man meant.
There had been far too many incidents where he wasn't playing by the cards, risking himself for the assigned task. Of course, none of them had resulted in a casualty, he was careful, just not enough according to Lang. There might have been a little adoration for him given the added reminders among the many other things done before.
It usually included staying beyond the time deemed safe, getting a closer shot, essentially exposing himself to them further, altercations with people who were under the radar of Lang's business and those usually meant he was threatening his own safety by making himself noticeable. It also came in the rarer forms of doing extra duties beyond his job—
"Can I get you anything?"
Taehyung asked as he entered the room in which Choi Lang's wife, Choi Areum was resting, with daisies in his hand.
"Oh Tae-yah. It's been long since I saw you. Come over more often yeah?"
Areum's softer voice came through.
"I surely will to come eat your kimchi! And you need to get well for that, okay?"
"Ah, a worrybug like always."
"Can't help it, sorry."
Areum had an appendicitis, nothing quite major or painful given it was a quick procedure, but Taehyung had made a point to visit her in the hospital. A gesture to respect the woman who had fed him during the first few weeks of losing his mother. She had taken care of him like he was her own, something in between an older sister and a mother.
"Uh-huh. Now those flowers are—"
"For you!"
Taehyung exclaimed, giving it to her as he took the bouquet to admire it up close.
He sat on the opposite bed, as she spoke of her honeymoon trip to Switzerland where she had seen daisies grown beautifully along the plains below the huge mountains. He listened on with intent about the many things, adding his own experiences making it a wonderful conversation.
But it was a safety issue at the end of the day!
People kept track of her, given she was the wife of a man who had many enemies and of him,for being an assassin whose identity though, unknown to all was very much one click away for disclosure. Lang was rightfully angry the following evening, only coming to senses after hearing his wife admit that she needed normalcy brought by Taehyung that morning.
Still the man was worried and who could really blame him?
Taehyung bid hiis goodbye before securing his home with locks and getting to the basement where the car was already awaiting, Minho standing against the bonet with keys in his hand.
"Be safe."
Those were the only words spoken before the other walked away, hands in his pockets as the early morning fog at 4 am clouded the sight beyond a few feet. Taehyung started off his journey just like that, packed bag in the passenger seat and nothing more, for the route was etched in his mind.
He had been there a few times for important reporting to his boss who was vacationing, or some business deals to be done. To have it be assigned as his safe house by Choi lang, a burly man with a permanent frown between his eyebrows was definitely an honour and Taehyung was going to follow through as expected.
The next call came as expected.
It was a few hours later by Choi Lang on his burner yet again, excpt this time with updates and instructions.
"There's been some complications with the Kwon's killing, it's a mess at the moment and suspicions towards us are at an high. I'm not willing to risk it right now, but a CCTV took a glimpse of you specifically and yeah, I'm clearing up tracks."
Taehyung didn't reply, instead wondered back to what could have possibly given up his position that night. It was difficult to point it to one person when he had talked to quite a few people, who could've raised hackles. It could've been the bodyguards, the family, the other affluent people and more importantly, Kwon Miyeon— whose phone number still inked on paper was present in his wallet.
Maybe he was stupid, call it his intution, his weird vibe check, but he had removed that paper from his back pocket of his tux trousers and put it in his wallet on the day he returned back home.
Perhaps, that was the culprit all along.
"Okay, few instructions. Ditch this phone elsewhere, buy one more and message me a good morning. I'll know it's you. Next, keep interactions to a bare minimum, I don't want you risking your disguise. Just lay low, don't engage and perhaps enjoy your impromptu vacation— one due for years now."
Choi's voice through the phone speakers was clipped and short.
"Okay, will do. Thanks boss."
Taehyung had already surveyed the beach house. Plenty of rooms for one man, pantry was bare except some non perishables in the fridge, enough clothes that were a size too big on Taehyung and a view directly to the ocean. Of course, he would have to buy new clothes for himself ad=nd settle in for quite some time.
Taehyung had lived the better half of his life, chasing and surviving; hard-wired to be on the edge, on the job, on his feet. He was always there to complete the tasks, kill a man or two, coverup the tracks, confront another few and exist in a limbo of nothingness.
Vacations didn't mean much to him, especially when he was so focussed on his work, like a horse with blinders tied on to help with its focus on the racing track. He didn't have distractions, just a few drinks and cigarettes on real bad days of wanting to fill that emptiness within him. He had tried it all, never clinging on one, for he knew he would eventually disappoint everyone unless it was his work at play.
And so for this time, be in a week or a month, felt out of the ordinary to him.
But, he would try to relax, doing his best at nothing.
And that would start with a coffee to keep himself awake after having woken up so suddenly at 4 and now with a dull headache, concentrated behind his eyes.
The little ding from the bells as he opened the door had the cashier of the cafe looking at his with a soft smile.
"Welcome! What can I help you with today?"
Taehyung hadn't been on a coffee run personally, having Minho buy his coffee almost everyday— the order engraved on the other's tongue. Minho was his assistant, driver, eyes on the street and a friend in this unlikely tango of life.
Taehyung shook his head and stared trying to figure out what to order. He was sure that having an iced americano now would be disaster to his already bursting head, but he hadn't really tried new flavours, not keen on changing the hardest routine he had found the easiest to follow. Complicated drink orders meant time and energy spent in figuring that out aka distractions.
Yeah, Taehyung might be slightly weird and uptight about his job, but he was serious and clean about it making him a good choice.
Yet, in all of this, the truth of him never giving himself small pleasures of life, the little things that make it better, had lingered uncomfortably. If anyone randomly saw his life as part of a show, they would call him miserable. Perhaps that was also part of the truth, but he had no time for that. He had no time for anything beyond his scheduled day's activities, keeping himself busy even on days he was forced to stay home for a break. Anything out of that line, be it a random walk in the park, a chocolate-covered donut with sprinkles, was frowned upon by himself. A restriction set in stone and so he stared at the menu, clearly lost.
"Do you need help?"
The soft voice spoke again.
"I'm not sure."
Taehyung replied, unsure of what was the appropriate response to that.
Yeah, if anyone hadn't caught on, Taehyung also had difficulty accepting help.
His mindset being too hard-wired on being independent and perfect, not wanting to lose on chances by appearing as someone who didn't know stuff. The best example for the extent of his behaviour was how he had stayed up till 1 at night, trying to memorise all the roads leasing to the big corporate building uptown,which was his fourth assignment on the job. He was clearly a newbie at this and yet the thought of disappointing the boss was immense for him to forgo his sleep for that.
So, it was difficult for Taehyung.
"Okay, how about this? I'll tell you our best sellers and maybe even let you in on my favourite and you can make a decision then."
Taehyung nodded slowly.
"Usually people go with a simple vanilla frappuccino or oat milk with honey macchiato or another one is a strawberry matcha latte. You can't go wrong with that honestly, that's my co-workers favourite drink. There's iced americano, but basic stuff and usually by those workaholic people travelling from Seoul."
Taehyung didn't try to correct this pretty barista that he too fell in that category, instead he listened intently.
"My favourite has to be peppermint mocha. It's comforting especially on stormy days here."
Taehyung wondered if this beautiful man with plush lips and blond hair knew that he was the embodiment of his favourite drink, said in a very respectful way.
"I need something decaf so um, maybe a decaf iced shaken expresso with toffee and vanilla shots please."
Taehyung said, after looking at the menu for a few more seconds.
He thought about how it might have been rude not consider the choices that was laid out loud, but he really needed something a little on the sweeter side, out of the usual to get into normal behavious of sorts.
"Oh! Great choice. Anything to eat?"
"I'll have one of that please."
Taehyung said, pointing to the chicken sandwich on display.
"I'll heat it up for you in a minute, meanwhile you can pay using the scanner. The total is right there."
The other said, ringing it up on the tiny monitor.
"Can I do cash instead?"
"Oh okay sure."
A little surprised, but the man took the cash and gave back the change, except Taehyung refused it muttering, 'Take it for your tips.'
As he sat back in one of the corners of the cafe, slowly taking in the surroundings, he looked around for customers. There were two old ladies chatting up and a man working on his laptop. He looked on to see how different this small beach side town was to the ever-bustling, noisy Seoul where he grew up.
This was calming- the waves gentle sound echoing through the distance, the smell of fresh salt mixing in with the scents of cakes and coffees, people who moved about slowly and cautiously, and overall a soothing atmosphere, enough to lower the raised hackles of being alert and perfect. Taehyung waited, as he tried to make the next of his plan.
He would have to ask for the nearest phone store, and then maybe use that for GPS and find a clothes store, groceries too. He had a lot planned for the day as it would seem. Before, he could think of what after that, the same barista entered his field of vision with a plate of chicken sandwich and his drink.
"Enjoy your meal!"
The other said, bowing slightly.
"Thank you."
The smell of perfectly heated and seasoned chicken invaded his senses before he could even take the sandwich in his hands. Taking eager bites of the food, he felt his stomach's queasy feeling from being hungry for so long cease quietly. One sip of the coffee and his body cooled down instantly with a blas of sweet on his tongue.
After his meal was done, he decided to ask the barista who was the only one he interacted with since he entered Yeongsang. Fortunately, the man was kind enough to entertain his questions without intruding.
"There's one main phone store, just go straight from here, one right and again straight. Then when you see 'Barnacles and books' which has a big kuromii sticker on the front glass, take a left and you'll reach it. Just say that Jimin sent you and she'll strike you a good deal."
"Jimin?"
"Right, I didn't introduce myself. Park Jimin, at your service."
And for some reason, Taehyung just thought of perfectly that name fit the other. There was something unique about this man, a little magical, perhaps the blond hair that reminded him of tinkerbell for god knows what reason or the mannerisms that just fit.
"Klimt here, nice too meet you."
Taehyung introduced himself, saying the first name that came to his head. He had already used Sanwook earlier and he just didn't want to ty his luck again. Using his real name with a complete stranger felt too careless and the only option available was this.
To his grace, Jimin didn't question the unusal name for a man who looked korean enough to have a better suited name, and the shorter just smiled brightly.
"You'll get your things there, and if you need some entertainment in this small town, be sure to get some books. They're plenty good ones!"
"Thank you again."
Taehyung said, a tiny smile of gratitude on his face.
"Hopefully see you again, Klimt-ssi."
Taehyung didn't know what but he had already filed to come back again next week. Not to meet the barista, but rather for the food. It was delicious and if seeing the barista was a perk then, so be it.
He had left the car back at the beach house, seeing how people might mistake him with the association to that vehicle, especially with the affluency it came with. And right now, he really needed to blend in, be one with the crowd to avoid suspicion. And so he had walked to this cafe he saw while entering the town, as the closest public space to food and people.
Taehyung followed the directions to the phone store which had a girl, typing away on her laptop behind the register.
"Hi, I would like to buy a phone."
Taehyung said, looking around at the models on display.
"Of course, that's why you came here."
The girl said, rolling her eyes as she got off from her place to face him.
"A basic model, cheaper end, just calls and messages with 3G internet connection at best."
She stared at him with suspicious eyes as 3G wasn't really in production since 5 or 6 years, but there were a few in the back. Fortunately, she found one that fit the description and so bringing it up front to him.
"This is the best one I've got."
"Yeah, I'll take it."
Taehyung said, pulling out his wallet.
"You aren't going to check? What a strange man!"
The girl said, entering the digits in for processing. She hadn't seen many customers not inspect their purchase with careful hands. Well, she hadn't seen any.
"I've been told."
Taehyung chuckled, looking at the girl with a tilted smile.
"Anyways, I do need a SIM as well. And I'm assuming this comes with charger and earphones?"
"Yeah, it does. And I'll get that one too."
Taehyung had half the mind to just leave from there, phone be damned. Maybe it was the decaf kicking in or the change in his routine, but he really needed to sleep, despite the plans he had made.
"You aren't from here, are you?"
The girl asked, curiously as she took out a SIM from the drawer.
"No, Jimin from the cafe near the beach sent me here actually."
When Taehyung mentioned that man's name, there was a flicker of recognition and more in the girl's eyes, something that stuck with Taehyung as he waited for her to ask for his personal details and more to get it activated.
But that never came, instead came a simple question of which english alphabet he preferred most.
"Huh? How is that—"
"Either give me one or I'm giving it as an F."
She muttered, glaring at him with a frown.
"Fine, V I guess?"
And within seconds, the card was activated and put in the phone. Before he could even ask what had happened and how come she didn't take his details— though, admittedly it was the false identity card with a name he had no clue of after having just stuffed in his pocket during one of his missions— she just mentioned the price.
Taehyung just stared for a few seconds trying to assimilate the situation.
"You aren't going to answer any questions, are you?"
Scrutinising gaze directed to the girl who looked more annoyed by each passing minute.
"Do you want a functioning phone or not? If yes, then it's done and you just have to pay for it. I literally took the effort to get it done, so you get on with the payment now."
Taehyung quietly paid the amount and got out of there, hoping to unpack and learn more about his phone back in the beach house. The groceries could wait for now, maybe till tomorrow if he pushed it. There was just no way he could haul his groceries in this sudden state of drowsiness. And with the chicken sandwich settling wonderfully, his yawns increased by frequency. Right when the sun hit from above him, all he could feel was the exhaustion catching up to him rather than feeling sweaty and heated.
So, the best thing he could was perhaps get to bed, despite his eyes calling to the cute bookstore that had quite a few number of customers as opposed to what he had assumed of this small town.
(He would come back to the bookstore tomorrow after grabbing the essential groceries for sure! And maybe take a few mangas for entertainment through his days here. He had a personalised list from Hyojin after an off handed comment during one of their missions. Taehyung didn't mean for it to be taken seriously, except he was made to sit through a lecture of how good one of those series was, courtesy Hyojin .
And so buying them would finally help him connect with the other's avid self. Hanging out with older men at work had made him forget that he was still 29.)
For now though, he needed sleep preferably in an air-conditioned room with the view of the beautiful sea. The early morning drive and the stress from past week had totally worn him out and coming here, to this serene place was that trigger to let go. His eyes were near dead as he made his way back miraculously. Locking the doors, he fell to a dreamless sleep instantly.
And the last thought in his mind was how the town had been slightly strange, especially how the phone store girl has reacted to the cafe barista's name.