CASE 20 - Born to Lie, Born to be Deceived

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There was an exit up ahead. Light emitted brightly from it and lighting up the darkness that surrounded it. But it was far and out of reach. Hakyeon stood there, staring at the light, wishing to reach it but it felt too far. He was nervous to approach the light but he knew he had to leave. All these years, drowning himself in darkness, he needed an escape.

"Don't worry, hyung. I'm here," suddenly Jaehwan appears next to him and smiled at him warmly.

"Jaehwan-ah..." Hakyeon felt like he hasn't seen that smile in so long. Somehow, just looking at the younger's smile erased all of his anxiety. "Thank you for being here."

The younger held tightly onto his hand and led Hakyeon to take the first step forward. The two approached the light together, without worry as they were together. However, as the light got closer, darkness also grew. Hakyeon felt as if the darkness was shrouding him from behind, he had to pick up his pace. He needs to escape before he was completely swallowed up by the darkness.

"Hurry, Jaehwan-ah. We have to-"

Hakyeon turned around, finally realizing that the hand he held to was suddenly gone. He looked around him, frantically, but the younger was nowhere to be found.

"Jaehwan? Jaehwan-ah?!" Hakyeon shouted.

He took a step back into the darkness, searching for the younger. There was no way he'd leave without Jaehwan. As he squinted his eyes, he saw a silhouette standing there on the other side of the light, still without a single movement.

It was Jaehwan. But a little younger?

"What are you doing over there? Come here," Hakyeon shouted.

The younger Jaehwan shook his head, refusing to take a step forward.

"Why? What's wrong?" Hakyeon tried to walk back into the darkness to take the younger away. But the distance between them just felt farther and farther. He couldn't reach Jaehwan no matter how far he stretched out his arms. "It's dangerous, Jaehwan-ah. Come to me, please."

"No."

"Please," Hakyeon felt like crying as he pleaded the younger.

"Why'd you leave me behind, hyung? You were the only one left," the younger vanished in a whisper and his voice echoed within the darkness.

Beep. Beep.

The alarm went off.

Hakyeon found himself waking up, soaked in his sweat and his heart pounding uncontrollably from the nightmare.

Why did I have that dream... Hakyeon found it hard to breathe just thinking about how real that dream felt. He's never had such a nightmare before. What did it mean?

It was all because of his ill-encounter with Lee Minhyuk.

If you can't set him free, I'll do it instead.

Those words continued to run through Hakyeon's head. After his encounter with Minhyuk, he couldn't help shake off the uneasy feeling he felt. Minhyuk's strange attachment to Jaehwan, even Hakyeon knows it's not simply something an upper classmate should feel for a freshman, especially when they don't even belong in the same faculty. But Hakyeon also couldn't find himself to ask what is really going on. The last time he tried to intervene between the two and questioned Jaehwan about everything, he accidentally hurt the younger's feelings. He didn't want to see Jaehwan look so sad again especially not when it feels like the younger is currently going through something himself. Hakyeon knows it's not something simple, or else, Jaehwan would tell him what it is.

"Does it have something to do with his mom again?"

Despite being legally a part of the Lee family, Hakyeon never called Mrs. Lee, his mother. Never. That woman was no better than his own.

"Minhyuk said he's going to do something about Jaehwan's situation... what is he up to?" Hakyeon felt nervous just thinking about it. "Does Jaehwan know? What is it that the two of you are up to that you can't come to me about and go to Minhyuk instead for?"

Hakyeon didn't like it. The feelings he felt - uneasiness, anxiousness, and jealousy.

It seems that it wasn't only Hakyeon with a secret but Jaehwan had one as well.



Hakyeon looked at his clock, it was still too early for anything. But he was already wide awake and too scared to go back to bed. He didn't want to have that nightmare again. He didn't want to see the younger disappear before his very eyes. He leaned over to grab his phone - 5:40 in the morning. He scrunched his eyes to fix his vision and scrolled down his messages to find the younger's name. He felt uneasy that even his hands were trembling as he held onto his phone. He didn't think that a single dream would shake him up so much.

[What are you doing today?] Hakyeon sent a message so early in the morning that he didn't expect any replies until noon.

But as soon as he sent the message, a reply came through.

[Hyung? What are you doing waking up so early?] Jaehwan asks back.

It was rare for both of them to wake up at this time. Did he not sleep? Hakyeon wondered.

Without a minute delay, Hakyeon called Jaehwan instead. He needed to hear the younger's voice.

"Hello? Hyung?" Jaehwan asks. The younger sounded as if he barely woke up. His voice was still hoarse and nasally.

"Did I wake you up?" Hakyeon asks but somehow, hearing the younger's voice stopped his trembling and his heartbeat finally calmed down. He's still here.

"No. I went out yesterday so I ended up sleeping really early. I was just about to play some games. But what about you hyung? Aren't you too early?" Jaehwan thought it was strange since it was quite early even for the older.

"You went out?"

"Y-yeah? Just some cafe in Gangnam."

"What were you doing there?" Somehow Hakyeon found himself asking or almost interrogating the younger. Is it because he's becoming too worried about the younger that he wants to know everything that's happening? He hated the feeling that it seems like someone else knew Jaehwan more than him. It was irritating just thinking about it.

"I just felt like going out. That's all."

"You didn't ask me?"

The younger used to always invite Hakyeon to nearby or far away cafes. They had similar tastes and Jaehwan would always make sure that he tells the older wherever he went. So, did the younger invite someone else this time?

"N-no! That's because I was trying to finish up with my thesis," Jaehwan felt scared just listening to the older's stern questioning through the phone.

"Then, did you finish?"

"Almost."

"... I see," Hakyeon calmed down a little. "Sorry, about what I said last time."

"Huh? Don't worry, hyung. It's okay now," Jaehwan let out a sigh of relief. "Anyways, why were you up so early, hyung?"

"I couldn't sleep."

"Is something wrong?"

"I had a nightmare."

"What? Was it scary? Did a ghost come out or something? I hate ghosts," Jaehwan felt the chills thinking about it.

"No," Hakyeon said. "It was much scarier than that."

"What? What was it about?"

Hakyeon hesitated for a moment, thinking about whether or not to tell the younger about his scary yet a little ridiculous dream. Even he thought that it was stupid to be so shaken up about it. It was only a nightmare. It's probably much scarier if it was real.

"Jaehwan-ah."

"Hmm?"

"Let's go to the beach."

"What?" Jaehwan thought it was so random that the invitation came out from the older. "Why so suddenly? When?"

"Now."

"W-what? Do you know how cold it is right now? It's almost winter!" Jaehwan looked at the weather report on his phone and it was clear to see a minus five degrees on it. The beach would be even colder at this point.

"You were the one who kept on insisting we go to the beach even if it's winter. Did you forget already?"

"No, I didn't forget. But that was just something I said half-jokingly. I don't want you to catch a cold or anything."

"It's okay. I want to go to the beach with you. You don't want to?"

"Huh? Of course not! Okay. Let's go to the beach!"

Soon, after they hung up, Hakyeon hurried to his closet to get changed and stuff some things in his backpack to meet up with the younger. It was kind of crazy even when he thought about it again. Such a random invitation and to such a place at this time of year. But he really wanted to see Jaehwan, even if he's going to freeze like crazy later.

Jaehwan waited at his apartment for Hakyeon since the older said he'd come to pick him up but when he went downstairs to meet up with the older, he saw a black car behind the older.

"When did you start driving, hyung?" Jaehwan was confused. "Is this yours?"

"No. I'm just looking after it for a friend," Hakyeon opened the doors for the younger. "Get in."

"Do I know this friend?" Jaehwan was slightly nervous to get inside some car he's never seen before.

"I don't think you've met him before. He's an upper classmate from one of my classes."

"Oh," Jaehwan said and somehow couldn't help but feel a little wary about an unknown classmate.

"Don't worry, we're not close at all," Hakyeon said as if he had to explain himself or explain anything at all.

"N-no, it's not what I mean... it's okay, really," Jaehwan bit his tongue as he tried to make sure he didn't sound like he was prying into the older's business.

The two of them went far out of the city and drove to the nearest beach for the morning sun. On their way to the beach, the two chatted about various things such as school and even talking about their childhood. They listened to the morning radio that they both liked because it had all their favorite songs and time went by just like that.

"Woah! There's no one here!" Jaehwan said as he snuggled into his jacket and ran onto the beach excitedly.

"Calm down. You'll trip," Hakyeon said as he ran after the younger.

"I'm okay, hyung," Jaehwan said with a smile. "But why did you want to come to the beach all of a sudden? Is it because of that nightmare you had this morning?"

Anywhere could've been fine. Even if it wasn't the beach, anywhere would have been fine as long as you're here with me, Hakyeon thought as he was mesmerized by the younger's smile. Suddenly all the anxiety he felt inside disappeared.

"Jaehwan-ah, are you hiding something from me?" Hakyeon grabbed the younger to sit down together.

"W-what? What makes you say that?" Jaehwan stuttered.

"I saw Lee Minhyuk."

"What? What did he say to you?" Jaehwan wasn't happy about hearing the name.

"He said that you've been working to try and set things right. What did he mean by that? What are you doing?"

I want to hear it from you. No one else. What are you doing, Jaehwan-ah? What are you doing that you can't tell me about? Hakyeon tightened his grasp.

"That's- it's nothing, hyung. He's just talking crazy like usual. Just ignore him."

"Are you not going to tell me? Even if it's me?" Hakyeon felt as if he was obligated to know the truth at this time. He stared straight into the younger's eyes, making it harder for the younger to escape his gaze. When Hakyeon is annoyed or angry, he could also be very scary and it was obvious that the older was both. "Did something happen with your mother again? Minhyuk told me that she called you. What did she say? Has she been bothering you all this time? I thought that after what happened last time, she'd leave you alone."

"You know she's never going to leave me alone, hyung. That woman..." referring to his mother, "she's crazy! But I've already gotten used to it already. I can handle her so don't worry about it."

"Whether you can handle her or not, that's not what I'm worried about. I'm worried that you might get hurt because of her or ... Lee Minhyuk. I told you before, I don't like him. He gives me bad vibes and I know that the two of you are doing something behind my back. You can tell him everything but not me?"

"That's not it, hyung. Please, believe me. I promise I'm not doing anything with Minhyuk-hyung. He's just... there. It's just a coincidence."

"What do you mean?"

"It's nothing. Whatever we're doing right now, it'll be over soon and I won't have any ties with him anymore. So please, don't worry about it anymore, hyung."

"Lee Jaehwan," Hakyeon hated not knowing after all. "Are you doing something dangerous? What if you get hurt? What if something happens to you? What if Minhyuk hurts you?"

"He won't. It's the last thing he'll do."

"What do you mean?"

"... He won't," Jaehwan seemed really confident about his reply. It seemed as if there was no doubt about Lee Minhyuk's character.

However loyal Minhyuk is to Jaehwan, it was more like an obsession rather than rational thinking. Hakyeon felt uneasy.

"And what about you, hyung?" Jaehwan suddenly decided to shift the topic back to the older. "Are you sure you're not keeping anything from me as well?"

"I-"

As if Jaehwan's words stabbed his conscience, making Hakyeon realize that he really is keeping something from the younger and doing something even far more dangerous. He's kept just as many secrets from Jaehwan as Jaehwan has kept secrets from him. They were the same.

"I know that there are many things you're not telling me too, hyung. If we talk about secrets, you probably have more than me, don't you think? Even you can't trust me enough to tell me about them. I'm not stupid, hyung. How long have we known each other?" Jaehwan kept asking him. "All this time, I thought that you might eventually tell me everything and I've waited patiently enough to not ask you. But, how can I? I hate it when I don't know what's going on with you either. So, aren't we the same? If you have secrets you can't tell me, why can't I do the same?"

The younger looked as if he was going to break down and cry suddenly. It was obvious that Jaehwan was letting out his frustrations all at once with his questionings. It broke Hakyeon's heart to see the younger lose his smile again. He couldn't bear it.

Does he know? About me? But how? Hakyeon started to think. Does he know about the White Rose after all?

Hakyeon wanted to tell the younger. He was on the verge of coming out to the younger and telling Jaehwan the truth. But at this point, just when he's about to wrap everything up and stop, is there really a need to tell Jaehwan everything? Isn't it too late already?

"And if you know the truth, when you find out everything, how will you look at me then? Will you still look at me, follow me and understand me as you have always? You told me that you saw me as your 'hero', but I'm not a hero, Lee Jaehwan. I never was and never will be. I don't want you to become scared of me and end up running away. I don't want you to get hurt because of me and the things I've done either. I don't want you to get caught up in something that I started. It's not because I don't trust you, Jaehwan-ah. It's because I don't want you to get hurt, that's why I can't drag you in. I wanted you to continue seeing me as the 'hero' you've always looked up to. I didn't want to ruin it."

"Hyung..."

"You're special, Jaehwan-ah. I don't think you realize that. Ever since I was young, when I thought no one cared about me, when I was only a hindrance to others, lost hope for even my own family, you were the only who stayed by my side and kept me going. If you weren't special to me, why would I have let you in my life time after time? I'm not good with words, but you are special, Lee Jaehwan. That's why I don't want you to get hurt," Hakyeon confessed.

Hakyeon held onto the younger's hands tightly, leaning in and kissing away the younger's tears before they fell.

"I'm sorry, Jaehwan-ah. I promise you, after this, there won't be a next time. Everything will be over soon."



Deception.

Wonshik wrote the words down on his notebook and flipped over the postcard with the Raven on it. He stared at the Latin phrase that was written on the postcard and the sketchbook screenshot on his phone, everything was still very strange to him. He tapped his pen next to each word that was in front of him as if it would help him think.

"Still thinking about it?" Hongbin asked as he came into the living room and placed dinner in front of Wonshik.

"What do you think? What is the world being lied about that such an organization has to exist?" Wonshik couldn't understand after all.

"Well, it's not that hard. I mean, we're cops, right? Our job is to find the truth and put people to justice for doing something wrong. But we sometimes have to lie just to find the truth or lie even more to cover up another lie. Not just us, but there is not a single person in this world who's never told a single lie. It could be big or small, little or a lot. It comes in so many different forms that it's hard to detect what is a lie or what is the truth. Aside from criminals, even people in high positions or the government is always caught lying. In fact, their lies are even bigger than the criminals we catch. Just look at what's on TV every day, politics and government, corruption and more. It's like humans were born to lie," Hongbin thought it was quite ironic as he turned on the television.

"You're right..." Wonshik had to admit it. His partner had a point. And thinking about it now, it was almost too unsettling about the lies he uncovered throughout his time as a police officer. "Have you ever told a lie?"

"If I say no, would you believe me?" Hongbin asked back.

"No."

"Exactly," Hongbin said. "How about you? Have you lied before?"

"... Yeah, many."

"There's no way we don't lie. That's how we survive. We lie to protect ourselves because if in the end, the truth is what hurts people. It makes people vulnerable, susceptible to others using the truth to hurt us."

"Then, do you think... the Apostles are trying to do the same thing? Correcting what they think is wrong and revealing the truth to hurt someone?"

"I don't know. But whoever they're trying to reveal must be very big. Or else, why would they go through so many ups and downs just to expose the possible truth? I don't know what their aim is and we will still need to catch them, there's no doubt about that. Unless you want them to escape?"

"Of course not," Wonshik denied it right away.

"That's the Kim Wonshik I know," Hongbin patted him on the back. "Anyways, don't rack your brains out on this one. Just thinking about this won't help us get anywhere. First, eat, and tomorrow, we'll look for more evidence about the organization. I've asked Taekwoon to see if he caught wind of anything as well since it seems that he's got a few interesting informants of his own."

"Taekwoon, huh?"



Taekwoon looked at the images he got from Wonshik about the secret case they were working on. After realizing that the Apostles' purpose is more than just drug dealings, they had to be careful with their investigation. He skimmed through the images one by one carefully, without missing a single detail. However, as much as he looked through them, there seems to be nothing that can prove his theory of the organization's true purpose. After many years of going investigating on his own of various cases even before joining the Homicides Department, Taekwoon have never heard of the organization before which only led to one mystery after another. However, the organization

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