47. Hard Talk

I remember Namjoon as the guy who was cackling at the sight of Yoongi being chased around their apartment by a slipper-yielding Jin.

Now, he's about ten times more mature.

When he sits down at our table after greeting us, I take a good look at him: black framed glasses give him an highly educated look, and his gray-purple hair is styled to perfection away from his forehead (though the couple of strands that got loose give him a cuter look). He looks like one of those uni professors that girls would go crazy over, the mature, sexy man.

"Kyung Mi, I hope you know that Jimin hasn't been telling us anything, saying it's for your protection. So you can sleep knowing that your secrets and privacy are safe."

I nod. "I never doubted him." Jimin turns to me with a smile before directing his attention to Namjoon.

"Hyung, it's getting out of control. I don't know what to do anymore. I thought I understood their motivations-"

"Calm down, Jiminie." It's so cute when he says it. He lowers his voice. "I know Kathleen and her family are difficult, but it's for the sake of the deal." Jimin's behavior shifts as he assumes the role of the story Namjoon created, wary of the people around us. My life is now top-secret always, and I don't like that.

"I just wish I knew her intentions, you know? I thought the fact that we used to date would've helped, but it's almost like she's changed tactics knowing that."

Namjoon nodded and so did I. It's not unlikely that the Sparked Mafia are trying to mess with Jimin's head because he has intel from working for them before.

"I need you to tell me everything about her that you know."

Jimin sighs. "Her fiancée Ian is still in jail and isn't resisting, which is questionable."

Namjoon nods. "Mmm, the fact that she's not trying to get him out says something. She could easily do so with her power."

"Exactly. After Ian came to our apartment," Jimin pauses and I try to hide my shudder, "it was a total shock when we found out he was connected to her."

Namjoon nods, allowing Jimin to continue. "Besides that, Kyung Mi's father has been acting aloof as of recent. We believe Kathleen's family have done something to his mind, perhaps drugged him to a breaking point. He is their point of interest being their business rival, after all."

Jimin nods. "What confuses me is why they chose him specifically. They have plenty of business rivals. Why him?"

Namjoon leans back and sighs, inhaling the information both literally and metaphorically. "We should consider what makes him different from all other rivals." I force myself to translate that as other targets. "Maybe his status, his abilities, his connections, his...history?"

He turns to me. "Kyung Mi, has your father made inclinations that he dealt with Kathleen in the past?"

I don't even have to think about it. "He seemed pretty nonchalant about Jimin coming into my life way back when. As if it wasn't a surprise that I would've needed him."

Something lights up in Namjoon's eyes before dimming out. "It's not like he's a reliable source of information anymore, considering what you told me."

Jimin shakes his head. "But he's a lead for sure. I mean, if they messed with his brain like they did mine, he must have information, right?"

Namjoon nods. "That information, though maybe no longer present in his mind, could very well be hidden in a bookshelf, a desk drawer..."

Catching on, I lean forward with a pounding heart. "Wai--you're not saying you want to-" I lower my voice, "break into my father's house are you?"

Namjoon and Jimin look at me as if that's exactly what they want to do. "But that's his private home! What if we just talked to him-"

"From what it looks like, he's not mentally well enough to talk. He himself can't tell us anything reliable."

My eyes start watering up at the thought. Appa, what have they done to you?  "Maybe not..." I mumble. 

Jimin puts a hand on my arm. "Look, in the long run we're doing this for you. And to avenge your father. We need to put the Sp--ahem--Kathleen's family in their place, and we need as much information as we can get. Will you consent to us doing this?"

This is to make them pay. For making me go through two years of anxiousness and for both Jimin and I getting harmed. For the psychological damage done to Appa. For their next victims. For the greater good.

I heave a sigh. "Yeah. Let's do this."