Playing with Fire: A BLACKPINK Story

Chapter 30: Stepping into the Future

 2019.

We couldn't enjoy our moment of peace and reconciliation forever though. I suppose it shouldn't have been a surprise. That was always how things seemed to go for us. It was disappointing, as always, but something needed to be done about Hyun-suk. He was defeated but still standing there.

It was just... I didn't feel strong enough to be the one to do something about it. I felt like I was on the verge of unconsciousness or... maybe even death. My legs wobbled and I realized that I was leaning my weight on Jisoo just to keep myself standing.

She must have realized it too because she shifted her body to make it less obvious that I was having trouble standing. Then she turned to face and confront Hyun-suk.

<You!> she cried out. <This was all you. We're going to talk this one last time and then that. Is. It. Do you understand?>

Hyun-suk opened his mouth to speak, but Jisoo cut him off. <No! Forget it, I don't want to hear you talk until I'm done. Nod if you understand.>

He nodded, his mouth hanging open dumbly. I was once again impressed by Jisoo's acting ability. I could feel her body trembling against mine and I couldn't even imagine the fear that she was feeling. Despite that, she was still doing everything she could to make sure that this nightmare ended—not just for her, but for me too.

<You could be dead right now,> Jisoo continued. <Maybe you should be dead right now. You would be dead if it wasn't for me.>

I felt a twinge of guilt, but she squeezed my hand, and I knew that she was only saying it to wind him up.

<And if you ever come back to us for any reason, even if I just think that it's you... I won't bother stopping him this time. You'll be dead and no one will care. Your plans are over. Your scheming is over. So here's what you're going to do.> She paused and gave him a hard look. <Are you listening?>

Hyun-suk nodded violently.

<You're going to resign. I don't know when you were planning on doing it, but you're going to do it sooner than that. You're going to tell us who the new CEO is going to be. And after you resign, you're not going to get involved with us anymore. We're free from you. This is over. Forever.>

<You can't just—>

Jisoo took a step forward. Hyun-suk stepped back and shut his mouth.

<Do you understand?> Jisoo demanded.

Hyun-suk didn't answer, staring wildly. There was hate in his eyes.

<I asked you a question!>

Hyun-suk nodded, his gaze going to the ground. <I understand.>

Jisoo nodded. <We'll expect to hear from you about the new CEO soon. You're done. This is all done.>

Hyun-suk had nothing left to say. And for once, I thought those words were true. It was finally over. There were no cards left to play.

<Get out of here,> I growled at him. <I don't want to see your face ever again.>

He took two shaky steps backwards, then turned and sprinted across the parking deck, heading for the exit to where he no doubt had a car waiting. The floor was littered with the bodies of the men who had once worked for him.

I stood there only a second longer and then I felt my legs finally give out. My full weight was too much for Jisoo and I slipped off her shoulder and onto the ground. Yoongi ran over to me to try to catch me but wasn't fast enough. I hit the ground hard, and my vision blurred.