Chapter 5

TARGET #1

Name: Mina Yoo

Age: 15

Home Address: #27 Road 2, Yilsan Residences 

School: HANN Exclusive Girls High School

- She lives with her grandfather, Alex Yoo (Chairman of ALXY Group)

- Her brother, JP, currently lives and studies in New York

- Her class starts from 9 AM to 4 PM

- She commutes every day

- She seldom goes out on weekends

Kian stopped reading Mina's personal information and threw the folder on the table. His anger and frustration instantly flared and built up in him.

'This monster will destroy you.' Kian clenched his jaw. 

He got The Flowery Road and opened the book on page 67. A blueprint was inside it. He took it out and carefully laid it on the table.

It was a blueprint of a mansion in the isolated town of Sunwan. A three-hour drive from Hannan.

He seriously studied the blueprint, from the main entry points to the secret underground passage leading to a small lake a few kilometers from the mansion.

The phone beeped. SCAN FINISHED.

After disconnecting the phone from the computer, he inserted a flash drive and copied the scanned photo.

He folded the blueprint and put it back inside the book. As he closed it, the book cover made him intently stare at it. Colorful flower petals were scattered on a long and narrow road. 

Mina's beautiful smile suddenly flashed in his mind. He leaned his back on the chair and looked up. He closed his eyes.

'No, Kian. You can't.' He reminded himself.

A vibrating alarm from his phone broke his thoughts on Mina. He opened his eyes and checked his phone.

TRACKED!!!!

Location: The Reed Bookshop, Bliss Road.

A big red dot kept blinking.

His unwanted annoyance made Kian grit his teeth. He immediately got his backpack and hustled out. 

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"What are you doing here?" 

That familiar voice made Mina glance behind her.

"Teacher!" Her face could not hide the excitement as she saw her tutor.

They were standing between the novel and history book sections. Kian took his steps to get to her closely.

"Why are you here?" Kian asked her again, piercing her with his attacking look.

'Isn't it obvious? I am here to look for a book.' Mina wanted to say but she was sure it would annoy her tutor.

As she thought that to herself, a smile was unknowingly plastered on her face. Kian saw it and was sure Mina was saying something in her head. 

"Just hanging out.. umm alone. By myself." Mina made a cute face.

But Kian seemed uninterested in whatever look she would try to display on her face.

"Does your grandfather know you're here?" Kian asked her straightforwardly.

"I'm free today so I am outside." Mina did not want to lie. She worded her excuse nicely to avoid suspicion.

"Should I call Mr. Yoo to hear a clear answer?" Kian started to look annoyed.

Mina cleared her throat. "But Ms. Kim knows. She let me go out. I just have to get home first before my grandfather does."

Kian gave her a serious stare. "You better go home. You shouldn't be outside alone."

"Teacher, I'm not a kid anymore. Besides, my grandfather seldom goes out on weekends. This is a very rare opportunity for me to go out. I always stay home. I mean.. he always makes me stay home. If you were me, wouldn't you feel suffocated?" Mina's voice almost cracked.

Silence.

Mina avoided her eyes from Kian's. She just noticed she talked that way. She lowered her head and apologized to her tutor.

Kian got the book she was holding and put it back in the shelf.

He softened his voice. "Follow me."

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Kian took his hand off Mina's wrist as soon as they reached Bliss Road bus stop. 

"Teacher?" Her face could not hide her disappointment. 

Her tutor stood quietly beside her. Mina closed her eyes and took a deep breath. 

She spoke as she opened her eyes. "You were at Hannan Street when I got harassed. Also, you applied for a teaching position in our school. Why? So you can keep an eye on me? And just now, you appeared in that book shop. Of all the places at Bliss Road, why were you in that same exact place where I was? I guess my grandfather hired you not only to teach me but to tail me." Mina blurted out her annoyance.

Kian showed no reaction, but he faced Mina. "I and an old friend met unexpectedly in Hungary years ago. What more when both of us live in Hannan? Isn't just normal to run into each other?"

Mina's lips suddenly went dry. She felt stupid for accusing her tutor. She wished to get swallowed by the ground at the moment.

"Sorry for talking to you rudely, teacher.  When I saw you earlier, I expected that you would be happy to see me enjoying my Saturday. But I was wrong. You're like my grandfather. I can't understand why I need to bury myself in the house all the time. I am not a troublemaker, I just want to.." Mina stopped.

She looked up. She was on the verge of her tears. The clear blue sky suddenly got blurry.

There was a tight squeeze in Kian's heart. But his mind refused to offer Mina a consoling presence.

A taxi just pulled over.

He rushed to open the door. Mina did not look at him and got inside the taxi.

"Wipe your tears." Kian was handing her a white handkerchief.

Mina didn't get it.

She looked at him. "I don't need that. I didn't cry."

Kian lowered his body and reached for her hand.

He made her hold the handkerchief. "In case you cry on your way home."

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As soon as the taxi drove away, Kian rushed back to the bookshop.

He went straight to the novel section where he had seen Mina. His steps could tell that he clearly remembered where he had put the book back.

Different teen novels were neatly arranged in the long shelf. Kian scanned them and immediately spotted what he was looking for.

He pulled the book out from the shelf.

My First Love that Blooms in Spring. Kian shook his head as he read the title on the cover. 

"I already found him. Oliver Sung." A voice echoed in the bookshop.

"Proceed with our plan." Kian replied.

Pil stood beside him, holding a book. "Yes, boss."

Kian faced him, showing a troubled look on his face. "Mina saw me meet you at Gangsil."

Pil didn't look surprised and worried. "You're the greatest GK member. Don't tell me you're--"

"Did you do it?" Kian avoided to get asked and cut him in. 

Pil extended his hand, flashing a proud smile. "Here."

What was handed to Kian was a book. 

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Monday, SA Arts High School. 

"Read this." Kian handed Jessie a teen novel.

Jessie's eyes flashed confusion. "F..For me?"

He just nodded and started eating his lunch.

Kian shared a table with Jessie in the school canteen. The girl student had been seeing colorful butterflies around her, feeling extremely good. On the first day Kian showed up in their class, she instantly got head over heels for him. 

All eyes were secretly giving them suspicious stares. A handsome student teacher was eating with a female student. Jessie wasn't only a female student but a popular girl among the boys in SA because of her stunning beauty and body figure. But the harsh effect of her fame was the fact that she had no girl friends in school. Every girl was jealous of her and didn't want to befriend Jessie especially that she was signed under BL Entertainment Agency and had been training while attending school.

"T..Thank you." Jessie said, her face blushed. 

Kian didn't respond.

"W..Why did you get me a book? And.. why are you s..sharing table with me?"

"Instead of hanging out with people you don't really know, read that book." Kian answered.

Jessie got moved by the thoughtful gesture of her student teacher. "I will read this. Promise."

Kian stopped eating. As he lifted his head, his eyes targeted Jay and his friends who were sitting at a table a few steps from them. "How's your training?"

"It's tiring but I enjoy it." Jessie smiled at him.

Kian's stare could send shivers to whoever would look at him, and he's still fiercely looking at Jay. "What time do you usually finish training?"

"Umm.. it depends, teacher. But nowadays I finish late." 

Not taking his eyes off Jay, Kian spoke. "Be careful."

She gulped, getting tensed and swooned at the same time. "Y..Yes. Thank you, teacher."

Kian rose up and held the tray. He lowered his body and whispered at Jessie. "Promise me one thing."

Though she got startled, she tried to compose herself and was waiting for Kian to speak again.

The girl swallowed her food in rush and drank some water. 

Kian's eyes were still on Jay, he continued. "Make sure you always carry that book." 

Jessie displayed a sweet smile on her face. And that smile irritated Jay who didn't take his eyes off Kian, exchanging glare with him. 

Jessie was left alone.

She got confused as she read the title of the book. "The Lion's Den?"