I don't like family gatherings. It's uncomfortable to meet your relatives.
"My nephew." Nico called.
"Ew."
Nico looked around and saw Minghao, not even sweating, and Vernon, who's covered in bruises.
"Good job, Hansol. You kept majority of your men alive."
"While yours are almost wiped out."
"Oh, they are but I'll not be walking around dead on my feet, like you."
I wheezed.
"Are you amused, my nephew?"
"It's funny how you did none of the work and bragged it in front of your enemy who actually worked hard."
"Well, you see, the one leaving this building alive will get the power. I will make sure it's going to be me."
"You're so pathetic, I can't believe it." I don't want to talk to Nico anymore but I just want to buy time so Vernon and others can rest even just for a couple of minutes.
"Where's Jas?" Joshuji asked.
"Oh yes, you haven't met your mom. What a great timing, you can introduce your lover to her."
"So, where is she?"
"Where else? To her rightful place. The mafia boss."
"Mafia boss.. Mingyu." I suddenly realized. He already rejected the position but he's still the active candidate.
"Tsk." Vernon clicked his tongue.
"Do you think Taehyung is with Mingyu?" Joshua turned to me.
"I think so. I heard gun shots when we last talked."
"They're good for now."
"Hey, it's going to be all right."
"Yeah."
Joshua smiled at me. But I didn't sense any emotions, again.
It's bothering me so much. When we were in Jun's restaurant, I got to read the sincerity in his words. But when we arrived here, it suddenly disappeared.
He promised to survive this, but I sensed nothing. When he told me he loves me, I felt nothing. It's the worst kind of feeling.
I hate it. I can't even focus right now. I thought I lost my ability. But I tried it with others a while ago but I sensed Jun is faking his hype while Hoshi is truly paranoid.
BANG
Vernon suddenly aimed at Nico but the other hurriedly grabbed his men to use as a shield. The man he grabbed fell on the floor and clasped at his gunshot wound.
"You're sick." Vernon said.
"You're the one who pulled the trigger, though."
He is indeed sick. I can't stand his presence. Looking at all his men laying on the floor while bringing another herd to fight us. He throws people's lives like used tissue.
"Now."
Nico raised his hand and his men brought out the machine guns and started blasting.
"Hide!!!" Jun shouted.
All of us sat behind the lockers. Good, everyone's here.. Oh wait. I peeked and on the other side of the room is Seungkwan, sitting on the floor while covering his head from all the bullets, other than that, he's very much vulnerable.
"It's Seungkwan." I pointed.
"What?" Vernon went near me and gasped when he saw the scene.
"Shit." He prepared to run but I stopped him.
"So you're just gonna catch all the bullets and die?"
"What do you want me to do?"
"You wait."
"Until??"
"Vernon." Joshua called.
"You know how important Seungkwan is to me, Joshua."
"I know. I also know you have your men."
He pointed at Vernon's troops laying flat on the floor. The Nico team doesn't seem to pay them much attention.
"They're already at great risk. I also have to save them."
"No, Vernon. Use them."
"What?"
"I see what you're saying." I said.
"Or you can use me." Minghao volunteered.
"We need you for later. We still have Jas." I said.
"Wow. Great plan, Jeonghan. Use my lover to kill the most wanted. How about we use your lover to kill your uncle, huh." Jun said.
"What on earth? All I'm saying is, we have a bigger threat ahead. We want to keep ourselves alive. All of us."
"Okay guys. We need to get Seungkwan-"
Then the shots stopped. Is that it? We all peeked behind and saw Vernon's team crawling faster to the sides then the Nico team raised their guns again and started firing.
What's annoying is that Nico stood in the center with a wide smile. Such an asshole.
"As I was saying," Joshua continued "we need to get Seungkwan. Your men, Vernon, we can ask them to get him and bring him to the left side, where we have barricaded the stairs."
"As I was saying, Nico will notice them and may use them as a hostage."
"Uhm guys." Jun pointed at the opposite side.
Vernon's men are already beside Seungkwan. One of them grabbed him by his shoulder and dragged him towards the direction Joshua was talking about.
"Well, I guess they know the plan." I said.
I caught a glimpse of relieved sigh from Vernon.
"Oh, what a lovely sight." I heard Nico.
We all peeked again and the men at his left pointed their guns to Seungkwan's direction.
"NO!" Vernon ran towards Seungkwan and prepared his gun.
"Time to get going!" Minghao ran to Nico's direction.
"Joshua, stay!"
"Am I a dog?"
I grabbed Hoshi's arm and dragged him to where Minghao is going. We really have a good dynamics especially during dangerous times.
Vernon shielded his group using a locker door I didn't know when did he disassemble.
Though it was very small. Vernon then gave it to Seungkwan and commanded them to walk away.
"How about you?" Seungkwan asked.
No time. I grabbed the closest gun men and punched him in the face. He tried to punch back but I kneed him right away.
Another man pulled my hair but Hoshi hit his arm with the back of his gun.
At least the shots lessened. Seungkwan, Vernon and the group have more time to crawl. We still need to stop two more men with their machine guns.
I snuck behind one and pulled his feet, making him fall face flat. While Hoshi wrestled the other to snatch his gun.
"Go go Minghao go go!"
We all turned and saw Jun, with a new plank, jumping and simping over his boyfriend.
I then shifted my vision to Minghao, who's battling with Nico's men in order to get to him. I swear where did this asshole get all these people to risk their lives for him?
I saw another man, from Vernon's group, slowly approaching the current battle. He readied his gun and fired. But Nico pulled one of his men again and used his body to shield his.
Nico threw the lifeless body but was surprised by a door locker hitting his face. He threw it away and shook his head, only to be surprised again by Vernon's punch.
Nico winced in pain and held his face like a baby. Vernon grabbed his collar but Nico's men stampede over him.
Then Nico crawled out.
"That bastard's running away!" Minghao broadcasted.
"No shit, flower-boy." I said, then followed him.
