For the first time in weeks, they finally felt safe with people they honestly could call family. Mingyu’s whole family was so accommodating, even the staff would laugh at how noisy they are together while playing the default games of the nintendo switch in their game lounge, or when they’re all screaming when they had a horror marathon the whole day in their mini theater. They never had to worry much because Hyungshik assured to them every once in awhile they he will manage everything alongside the other heads of the family.

All the youth they lost from running away, from healing their injuries, from the stress of everything, was fully retrieved back throughout the days they were together. The only worry Wonwoo had is how Mingyu is every night.

Hyungshik assured Wonwoo that Jaehyung's tactic on giving a sign of a dead captor is to send a limb or a picture to those involved, which he hasn’t done, and for some reason, that made Wonwoo’s nerves calmer.

Some days they would swim at the pool when the sun is out, and if it rains, Seungcheol would teach Jeonghan and Wonwoo how to play PUBG for the whole day; and for some reason, they could never get to the top ten. In other days, the cousins would offer to have a cooking contest in their big kitchen and see who has the best seafood dish out of all of them.

It was a shame they couldn’t go out in the fear of being caught by Jaehyung’s minions. Wonwoo wanted to skate in the local ice rink with the baby cousin who is apparently a very good ice skater. Seungcheol wanted to go out on a date with Jeonghan since their two-year anniversary passed. They wanted to go out, but in their circumstance, maybe going out means a funeral.

__

It was a Saturday, and despite having the sun out, bright and blinding, they the three boys alongside some of the cousins played PUBG, having a winning streak of four times. They were scattered around the lounge, Wonwoo borrowing one of their laptops, sitting on the floor with the laptop on top of a coffee table. Seungcheol was on a high chair that was placed on the wall opposite him. Jeonghan is by the couch, eyes squinting at the screen. They were shouting, laughing, friendly banter between them about how Wonwoo sucked at aiming and teasing Jeonghan about how he’s always the first one to die out of the five of them.

They were at their fifth game when Gyuri comes in, a stern face showing. She looked stressed, dark circles around her eyes. They all turn to her with a curious look.

She sighs. “Come down to dad’s office. We have bad news.” She says as she leaves the room.

Wonwoo’s heart races out of his chest. He could feel their stares at him, maybe thinking the worst, and worrying about Wonwoo’s later reaction over the news.

Wonwoo is the first one to rise from where he was seated, closing the laptop before he walks away. The others follow, and Wonwoo tries to calm his nerves with every step he takes.

When they arrive at Hyungshik’s office, it was quiet, the ticking of the clock echoing through the walls. Hyungshik has his thumb and index finger on his temple, messaging what seemed like stress. When they make their presence known, Hyungshik sighs before he raises his head to look at them.

“We have bad news.” Hyungshik says as he retrieves a tablet from his side drawer. “I have two bad news, actually.” They don’t speak, waiting for the bomb to drop, for the end of the world, or for when the universe finally collapses on itself. “First: We still don’t know Mingyu’s locations. All we know from out sources it that he has twelve safe houses and headquarters around the world and satellites can only go that far.” They nod along but Wonwoo has a mix of anxiety in his system, frantic heart trying to escape from its chambers. “Second…” Hyungshik swallows a breath. “One of our safe houses by the pier has been sabotaged and destroyed, and there was a rat among us. Regarding the rat, he has been captured and I slit his throat myself; he should be thankful. Jaehyung also left a note on one of my staff’s bodies.” He opens his tablet and showed it to the three men. It was a photograph of a shirtless man, head bashed with brain matter everywhere, blood still gushing out from his body, and deep cuts on his chest saying ‘Mess with me, and he dies.’ Hyungshik then swiped to another photograph and now it’s at the back of the man, and says ‘I know what you’re doing.’

It sent Wonwoo into a frenzy of thoughts, fidgeting. He feels a warm hand at the small of his back and it calms him down a little. “But this isn’t the only warning I receive. My best men handling private information and technology received a message saying ‘found you’ in code, and I’m afraid we need to act fast.” Hyungshik turn to Gyuri who was standing at the side. “Please call all the staff and family to the conference room at basement four. Be there in ten minutes.” Hyungshik turns back to the three men with a sorrowful look. “Pack up, even the clothes I gifted you. At Wonwoo’s bedside table, there is a card with money enough to get you going for your future travels.” Hyungshik circles his desk to stand on front of Wonwoo, placing a firm hand on his shoulder, something a father would do to his son. “I will do everything with me power to make everything right.” He reaches for his own pocket and brings out the same hard drive with all the information needed, and gives it to Wonwoo. “There are instructions on how to open it. Seungcheol can figure it out. My men figured out the system software used and what it needs is some meddling, and I think Seungcheol is capable enough to do that.” Hyungshik looks at Seungcheol and they both nod at each other. “C’mon. Fix your bags then be at the conference room in seven minutes.”

Hyungshik leaves them, bewildered and confused. Seungcheol sighs while Wonwoo massages his temples, trying to calm the racing heart in his chest.

“I guess it’s a never-ending race of trying to kill us.” Jeonghan says, sitting on the couch with his hands on his head. “I’m so tired.” Wonwoo could hear the tremble on Jeonghan’s voice, and it aches him seeing the person who has been so strong for them break down, stress and fear pressing down on them like an avalanche.

Jeonghan starts to break down, tears freely dropping to the floor. Seungcheol quickly kneels between his lover’s legs, removing Jeonghan’s hands from his face, revealing bloodshot eyes and tears-streaked cheeks. Seungcheol hushes him, wiping away the tears that’s building up on his plush cheeks, and eventually embracing him, fully catching Jeonghan’s weight in his chest.

Wonwoo tries not to cry at the scene and just sighs, shaking his head and clearing his eyes with whatever worry. “I’ll leave you guys to have some alone time. Leave the fixing to me, okay?”

Jeonghan emerges from Seungcheol’s shoulder and looks at him with a sad smile. “Thank you, Wonwoo.” He was hiccuping in between words.

“I’ll see you guys in the conference room.” And Jeonghan nods before going back to tightening his hold on Seungcheol’s back and burying his face on the firm shoulder of his lover.

__

“This is code number 349, everyone.” Hyungshik announces with a stern face, obvious leadership reigning on them. Everyone gasps in fear and shock, and the staff starts to talk amongst themselves. Hyungshik raises a hand to silence them and continues. “You all know what code number 349 is? It means we have to be in complete lockdown. Seal all files and bury them on the ground; destroy everything that can be destroyed; burn every papered files till what’s left is ashes; run, go back to your homes and say nothing. I don’t want my people to be in danger. If you are willing to fight if ever that bastard ever comes, then follow me to the ground floor and prepare for whatever that piece of shit throws at us.” Hyungshik then looks at Hyungmin and Hyesoo. “As for my beloved family; I am assigning you to protect these boys.” He looks at the three boy with a protective gaze. “If they are family to our Mingyu, then they are our family, too. And so, it is important that the three of them be united with Mingyu in the end of this war. This is about saving him and our family, everyone.”

Hyungmin salutes, a determined smile on his face. “Leave it to us!” He says.

“Thank you. You may use any of the cars, okay? Just keep them safe. Now…” Hyungshik stands firm in his spot. “Get to work.” He shouts and everyone gets to work, rushing out of the room, and a few barking orders.

Hyesoo comes forward towards them, a smile on her face. “You trust us, right?” She says.

“Of course.” Wonwoo quickly answers.

“Okay.” Her smile widens. “Just checking. Now, c’mon! We have to pack some guns.” She starts walking out with Hyungmin follows beside her. The three boys follows, trying to conceal all evidence of fear and anxiety.

They pack three duffel bags of various guns and boxes of bullets, and it makes Wonwoo question how they will hide all if it when they travel. They also get to pack up some snacks, which was hard for Hyungmin to convince Hyesoo to pack some for the travel.

They were already walking towards the garage where all the cars are parked when a loud noise resonates from north of the house. Then it followed with a rumble of the floor and the ceiling lights vibrating. With another crash, the lights go dark and the emergency lights turn on with other lights going red. Suddenly, the PA system, which Wonwoo never knew the house had, turned on and a static sound came.

“They have broken down our north gate and is quickly advancing.” The voice says. “To all who are brave, be ready to fight. As for the rest, flee and keep yourself safe.” And the static ends.

At the end of the hall was Gyuri running, a smudge of dirt on her cheek and blood streaks on her what used to be an immaculate white shirt. She stops to look at the group and runs towards them. “Hurry and leave.” Wonwoo felt his hand on his shoulder. “Be safe, boys. We’ll see you at the rendezvous.” She says before running pass them.

When they enter the garage, there are various men suiting up for a fight, packing extra guns at their back, knives within reach. It really looked like something you would see in a rated action movie, but it wasn’t a movie, it was real life, and Wonwoo is in danger, having chances of them dying in the most violent way possible. It scares him; the fact that a single bullet can bring him to his knees, begging for his life, scared him.

They run to the nearest car that is big enough for all five of them, quickly throwing in their belongings and shoving themselves inside. Hyungmin sat at the driver’s seat, checking all mirrors before anything else. He turns to the boys sitting at the back, nodding when he sees that they’re all settled. Suddenly, with a loud explosion, the wall opposite them where the tunnel is going out of the safe house came down in crumbling rocks. A flurry of men come in with their gun holstered and ready. When their own men spot them, bullets start to fly around them, loud and painful to the ears. The boys at the back duck in fear, hiding just below the windows. Hyesoo slaps Hyungmin’s shoulder loudly.

“Fucking drive, Hyungmin!” She shouts, and he follows, turning on the engine in haste. When the other men notice the car trying to drive away, they point their guns towards them, firing all of their bullets towards them. Hyesoo turns to their scared figures, and Wonwoo notices the bullets ricocheting from the car, flying away like a pebble. “Don’t worry. This car could last through an apocalypse. But to be safe, keep your head low.” Hyesoo assures them, going back to looking forward as Hyungmin hits the gas with a force, pushing them forward. Hyungmin does not hesitate to run some of the men over, focusing on escaping in one piece. Some fly off sideways, while others fly on the windshield, up to the car’s roof. When they were out of the building, Wonwoo looks out the window to see the garden looking like a war zone. It was filled with men fighting each other, shooting bullets at all directions, staff running away at the side of the fences.

When they’re out in the highway, Hyesoo’s phone rings in her pocket, and she answers it. “Dad? Yeah… Okay. Our probable arrival will be four days from now. Okay, dad… We love you, too.” She says with a smile and ends the call. She then turns to the boys. “We’re safe for now. We’ll be meeting dad at the rendezvous in hopefully four days.” The three of them sighs in relief, and Hyesoo laughs softly. “You can relax now, boys. Go sleep. We’ll wake you up when we have a place to eat, yeah?” She says comfortably, and they nod in response.

Wonwoo wanted to watch the scenery change and the sun go down, but fatigue quickly runs through him, and he leans his head on Seungcheol’s firm shoulders as he feels Seungcheol’s head lean on his. Before he could close his eyes, he sees Jeonghan intertwine his fingers with Seungcheol’s, and it makes Wonwoo’s heart full despite of the fear he had just moments ago.

When he wakes up, the sky was nearing to its end, a gradiante golden sky turning to a midnight blue. The car was already parked on front of a diner and Hyungmin is leaning his forearms on the steering while, his hands tapping away on his phone, playing what looked like PUBG mobile. Wonwoo laughs at that, that even if they were running away, he still had the time to play. Hyesoo was reading something on her tablet when she glances at the rearview mirror to lock eyes with Wonwoo. She turns to face him. “Oh, Wonwoo, you’re awake.” She says with a smile. “Wake the two up. Let’s eat.” Hyesoo closes her tablet and steps out of the car, stretching her limbs with a moan.

Wonwoo taps on Seungcheol’s thigh to wake him up and he opens his eyes in a jolt, resulting to Jeonghan waking up the same way. “C’mon, guys. It’s dinner time.” Wonwoo says as he steps out of the car. Jeonghan and Seungcheol steps out of the car, too, but Hyungmin stays put, eyes wide and fingers frantically tapping away. Hyesoo walks towards the his door and opens it.

“Wait! I’m so close to chicken dinner!” He says, shouting, his eyebrows furrowing.

“We could get chicken dinner in the restaurant, you dipshit.” Hyesoo reaches up to grab the phone from Hyungmin’s hands, but he dodges it, twisting his body.

“No! I’m so close. Fuck off, Hyesoo!” He says and Wonwoo laughs at the banter.

When Hyesoo successfully grabs the phone away, Hyungmin looks at her, dumbfounded and mouth agape. “Now, let’s get real chicken dinner.”

He stays there, betrayal obvious in his eyes. “I don’t know you anymore, Soo. You’re not my sister anymore.” He pouts at her, but she walks away, pocketing his phone.

“I don’t care, Min!” She says, and the three boys follow her.

Hyungmin steps out of the car with a pout, locking the car behind him and grudgingly follows.

They sit at the table at the corner of the restaurant and a waitress approaches them with the menu. After ordering what seemed like a feast, they start talking comfortably.

“So…” Hyesoo looks at Seungcheol, who was drinking water. “When are you planning on proposing to Jeonghan?” Seungcheol chokes at the question, and Jeonghan turns read.

“I-i… I uh… I d-don’t-”

Hyesoo laughs. “I’m kidding. You’re too young to think about this, anyway.”

“Actually… yeah... I’ve been thinking about it, and I guess…” Seungcheol looks at Jeonghan. “When we’re both settled.”

Hyesoo leans her chin on her palms. “Aw! That’s cute.” She says, then turning to Wonwoo. “So…”

“Please, no.” Wonwoo quickly stops her.

“C’mon! This is Mingyu we’re talking about, Wonie.” She says.

“Yeah, tell us.” Hyungmin intervenes, obviously curious now.

They look at him with curiosity and Wonwoo glances at everyone at the table. “Uh… I guess when we’re both settled, too… With proper jobs and all that jazz.” He says shyly.

“Lame.” Hyesoo says. “But I guess if it makes you happy, then I accept.”

The food arrives then, and they start eating. Hyungmin still complains about Hyesoo stealing his phone when he was about to win while eating chicken with his bare hands. Wonwoo happily eats the pizza he has been craving for weeks, munching at the crust until it's gone. Seungcheol shares a milkshake with Jeonghan, two straws in one glass, like a cliche romantic date you see in movies.

Wonwoo suddenly feels his phone vibrate in his pocket, and he licks his fingers clean and wipes it with a tissue before he reaches for it. He looks at the screen in shock when he sees the name of who texted.

It was Mingyu.

He looks at the rest of the people in the table, and they notice his shocked face. “What’s up, Wonwoo?” Hyesoo says, mouth full.

“Mingyu… He just texted me.” He says, and everyone in the table either chockes or swallos their food.

“What?” Seungcheol says. “What does it say?”

Minnie baby
Safe. Pier west f 18 st col d

He reads is outloud, and Seungcheol looks at him with confusion. “Do you think…”

“I think it’s his location.” Hyungmin says, wiping his fingers on a piece of tissue. “May I?” He gestures for the phone and Wonwoo lends it to him. He reads through it again. “I think what he’s saying is that he’s safe. And that he is located in a pier west of something. I don’t know about the eighteen s and t, and also the col and d.”

“I think the st is street and col and d is cold.” Hyesoo interrupts.

“We have to find him then! We can go by ourselves!”

Hyungmin gives the phone back and Hyesoo looks at him. “We can’t, Wonwoo!”

“Why not?! We have the guns and-”

“Can you even aim?” She says and Wonwoo goes silent. “I guess not. Wonwoo, we can’t do a rescue mission with just the five of us versus a hundred of them.”

“But-”

“No, Wonwoo. We also want him back asap, but we can’t face them alone.”

Wonwoo sighs, leaning back on his seat. “Okay.”

“What we have to do now is meet dad and tell him about it. We have to plan this out until the smallest detail.” She says. “We don’t even know his exact location. Him texting you is a miracle itself.”

“Okay.” He says, defeated. “I guess you’re right.”

“Good.” Hyungmin says. “Now, let’s finish our food and start driving again. Wonwoo, you have your license?”

“We brought ours.” Seungcheol says.

“Good. If we want to arrive at the rendezvous quicker, we have to drive in rounds.” They all nod.

Hyesoo looks at Wonwoo and he knows that he could see the worry in his eyes, reaching out to hold his hand. “We’ll get him, okay?”

Wonwoo just nods.