NEFARIOUS ○ ZHONG CHENLE

○ 24

Shaken. Her oscillating limbs rhythmically moved like a tremor. It was as if her whole life had come to an end. However, this was all in her head. Her mind, communicating. Either she survives and saves Eun tak by returning this guy to his Boss or she will be taken into custody for breaching against the law by not following the oath. Nonetheless, her previous life has left her grasp. Everything has changed by just a mere night out.

"What happened?"

Nothing by numbness infiltrated her hearing. She was completely taken into custody by her plagued mind of unrealistic concepts with no judgement behind them. The simple question of what happened had not entered the realm of her lost mind.

However, something else did.

A gentle radiation embedded onto her trembling shoulder transferring her attention to her surroundings. Slowly turning to the side she found Chenle staring at her with a blank expression. Yet the slight annoyance was not hidden well from her attentive sight.

Joo ri was clueless as to how he was capable of calming her distraught body. However, at that exact moment in time she did not care much as the problem she faced mere moments ago was at most important.

"Leave"

Furrowing his brows, Chenle retreated his palm away and sat back with an alarmed expression. Specifically because of her tone. A tinge of raw strength under the monotone voice she placed on was evident. However, he could not miss the slight vulnerability and wariness that came through as well.

Cocking his brow and narrowing his sight at her in pure caution, Chenle found himself wanting to question her reasoning behind her demand. Yet he silently acted on her order and made a move. Only because of the look she sent him.

The panic in her eyes was visible.

○

"You have to believe me! I don't know how they know. I didn't tell them anything. You have to trust me" exhaling out, Chenle signalled right and took a small pit stop in a street far away from the base where the police were flocking around.

Twisting his body towards her, he sent a small nod. "Ok I do" he responded. From her current behaviour he acknowledged that he had to first calm her down. She clearly felt troubled. "Just tell me what you saw"

Gulped down, Joo ri eyed him momentarily by his unforeseen attitude. Fumbling with her fingers and she bit her bottom lip. "I overheard a few of the officers talking." she began and stared at him blankly. Clearly Chenle was not impressed by the long pause like some cliff hanger. He just wanted her to get to the point.

"Umm-" scratching her head she continued. "They said that the place was empty and something about them escaping. And then another was talking about how frustrating it was that they fell for it."

"Fell for what?" sighing she ran her hand over her face, tension rising up again. "Fell for the act of some girl who helped a criminal escape" gritting his teeth, Chenle tightened his grasp on the steering wheel. "So they found out"

"I swear I didn't tell the-"

"How?" he seethed out. Gulping Joo ri took a deep inhale and slowly breathed out to build up some courage. "At the car park, they saw me talking to you. So they got onto us. Apparently they were already planning to raid this building beforehand but now they know that you were also part of last night's chaos. And . . . they think I am an accomplice" she downheartedly spoke out. Eyeing him carefully, Joo ri hoped that he wasn't mad or anything. She wanted to be careful with him. She knew what him and his people were capable of. And it's not pretty.

"I'm not mad," he reassured. But he didn't seem at all impressed. Joo ri was shocked as to how he knew what she was thinking. With no notice, Chenle grabbed her phone and stepped out of the car.

As soon as he did, she physically felt her heart beat drop naturally. Joo ri wasn't even aware that his presence affected her that much until this exact point. It was pounding throughout the whole car drive from the beginning.

She needed to calm down. Pulling out the storage compartment at the passenger seat, she grabbed a packet of chewing gum and threw it into her mouth. Just at that moment, Chenle sat back inside and placed the phone down. He eyed her hand that held the chewing gum and then her face.

She felt awkward. It wasn't like she was hiding it from him. It's only gum. Then again, she used to treasure them when in school. After all, as soon as you give one to a friend, a que behind forms faster then in a shopping market where a sale is held. "Umm . . . do you want some?" she fumbled out. Facing away, the guy started the engine and drove off. Taking it as a no, Joo ri placed it back in the compartment.

He was busily dealing with the traffic. But Joo ri was solely focused on what he did with her phone outside. "The address you were sent is our second hideout. The reason why this place was empty was because none of them were there in the first place."

How does he do that?

"Then why did we go there?" racking his hand through his hair, Chenle leaned back into the seat. "That's none of your business" pressing her lips into a thin line, Joo ri looked away. "It'll take us a while to get there by road."

She solemnly nodded. "There are a few things we need to do before we hit the road." slowing the car down at the traffic light, Chenle looked over to her with a death glare. "And you need to follow as I say with no complaint"

○

She found it unacceptable. Even if he had a valid reason she wasn't a big fan of this plan.

"Is it necessary? You won't be able to contact your boss" she reasoned hoping he'd let it go. "I know his number. On top of that the police are after you. They have your details and can track you."

How could she forget? Shutting her eyes, Joo ri began to worry about her brother. She won't be able to contact him and the last thing she wants is to concern him.

"Your phone will be fine. I'm only changing the sim. And if you want to call anyone just use the telephone booth"

How does he keep on doing that? She began to find it awfully creepy. It's like he was reading her mind. However, she couldn't fight back because everything he was doing and saying was for the best.

However, she thought too soon. At first she thought buying a new phone was too reckless. That was until he said he'd only change the sim. But what he was up to now was extremely ridiculous.

Preposterous.

She couldn't stay silent any longer. She can't allow it. All her hard work. Blood sweat and tears that she put through to buy such an expensive delicacy.

There she was standing in front of a garage. An illegal one at that. Because this guy whose name she still didn't know was planning to sell her car.