Chapter 50

161019

***

A day passed and the drama is still on. Star is yet to be found and is still on the hands of Jinhee. When Jinhee is about to meet Ten, Ten was prohibited by Sejoon.

Now, Ten is finally meeting Jinhee. He will try to fix the problem with her.

He's on his way out of SM's building when he saw a crowd of fans outside. They all looked at him. They are familiar, they are NCT fans. But the others are new faces.

"I'm so tired of this." He said in his mind and sighed. He inserted his hands in the pocket of his hoodie and continued walking. He stopped when they blocked his way.

"Oppa..." one of them called him. He looked at her and she's frowning.

"Excuse me. I need to go." He said plainly.

"Oppa!" Someone from the back part of the crowd raised her hand, "I am a fan of Spade especially Star. I am with my co-fans and we are searching for her."

"She's hidden. You can't just see her on the streets." He replied emotionless.

"But we already have a lead." Someone from the left said. Ten looked at her with furrowed brows.

"A lead?" He asked to confirm.

"Yes." The girl in her front said. She's an NCT fan. She has bruises on her face. "I am one of the kidnappers."

"What?" Ten asked, furious. He held her shoulders and shook her, "What did you do unto her? Where is she?"

"Oppa, my shoulder hurts. Let go please." She cried.

Another fan is slightly pushing Ten away, "Oppa, she's hurt." She cried too. She also has bruises on her face. They look like they're beaten.

"Who did that to you?" Ten asked.

Everyone went silent. No one dares to answer. The two continued crying and remained silent.

"Why are you not answering?"

"It's us." One girl from the crowd said? "We beat them as soon as we found out who they are." She said.

"We deserve it." One of the beaten girls, Jinhyun, said while crying, "But we're making things right! Oppa, we're very sorry for what we caused."

"We are sorry for the words we said against the both of you." Another one said. Ten slowly felt relief just by hearing their apologies personally.

"There's no more time to prolong this because Star is suffering too much there!" Eunah said, "She haven't eaten three meals and was beaten time by time whenever Jinhee wants."

"Gosh. I knew Jinhee. I never thought she can do it." Someone commented.

"Oppa, let's save Star." A fan of Star said, "I can't stand knowing that she's in pain."

"We are willing to help." The NCT fans said and the rest agreed.

"I can't believe this. Everything went upside down."he said in his mind and just felt thankful.

He heaved a sigh of determination and smiled faintly, "I appreciate all your efforts. You," he said then pointed to Eunah, "Can you go with some of them to the police and report everything you know?

"Yes, I can." She answered abruptly.

"And you," he pointed to Jinhyun, "Show me the way to where Star is."

"I will come with you, oppa!" Said someone.

"Me too. I wanna see Star." Said by another one.

"Fine. Shall we go?" And they all agreed.

**

If SM's crowded with fans, Blue Ent is crowded with media. Sara and their manager went out to answer their questions.

"Do you have any suspect for the kidnapping?"

"We still have no one." Sara answered.

"What are your plans for this problem?"

"Spade's promotion will be postponed and we will continue the investigation. We won't stop until the kidnappers pay." The manager said.

"There are rumors that an anti-fan did the abduction. How true is it?"

"After the outbreak of the issue," Sara answered, "Star received threats and disturbing comments mostly from the antis. We can't say that one of them may have done the abduction but it is also possible."

"How is Star doing after the issue?"

"Well what do you expect? Do you think she's enjoying it? Please try putting your feet on her shoes and answer your question alone." The manager said then walked out. He's so done with the stresses that he can't stop himself from being rude.

"That's all that we can say for now. Just wait for the next happenings. Thank you."

When she followed their manager, her phone rang. It's a call from Ten.

"Yoboseyo?"

"We already have a lead."

"A lead?" She looked at their manager. She caught his attention.

Ten explained it to her and so they rode their car to follow Ten.

"Follow them! I heard there's already a lead!" Some of the media followed their car.

**

Ten and the fans are gathered one block away from Star's location. They are planning what to do.

"Let's just wait for the cops to make everyone safe." Someone said.

"I can't stand it." Ten said while looking at the way. He looks furious and worried at the same time.

"Oppa, calm down." Jinhyun said. Ten inhaled and exhaled to calm his self.

"Oppa, I'm Jeon Miyeon. I have a question." One of them said. Ten just nodded, "Are you really dating Star?"

Everyone became silent. One of them tapped Miyeon, telling her that she's asking something off.

"We dated, but we're not currently dating." Ten answered without looking at her.

"You dated before? When? Why did you break up?"

"You're asking too much!" Jinhyun nagged.

"Yes, before our debut. We kept it as a secret. But she broke up with me because she's scared that this might happen to us." Ten frowned, "We are not dating now yet this happened. People criticized us and made different conclusions. We are not given a chance to speak and explain ourselves. We are already pressured by our agency then this was added. I did not know it will reach this point. Now, I understand what Star did and protected before."

"You are well played by destiny." Someone commented.

"You must be having a very hard time."

"We are sorry, oppa. Just a surge of emotions."

"We should have known. Sorry."

Everyone is apologizing that made Ten lose quite of his burdens. At least some of them now understand.

"Apologies accepted. By the way, can you all keep our relationship before as a secret too? I'm trusting you."

They looked in awe by what Ten just asked. Just imagine Ten of NCT asking you to keep a secret with him. They all nodded with their eyes sparkling.

"Thanks! Just help me with this now." He added, "They are taking too long. I can't help it anymore."

"I think I can go there." Jinhyun said.

"Can I come with you?" Ten asked. Jinhyun was hesitant at first but she soon nodded.

**

"Yah! Jinhee!" Haekyo shouted while browsing the net, "They are now raging against us. They're already in favor of Ten and Star!" She said in worry.

"What?" Jinhee asked.

"They're asking us to reveal ourselves and let go of Star!" She added.

"We're giving them a favor! What are they saying?" Jinhee raged. She looked at Star and threw death glares to her.

Star's blouse has already blood stains coming from her cuts. She's unconscious by this time.

"I told you, this is already wrong! We should stop this." Haekyo exclaimed.

"And what? We surrender?" Harin said, "I don't want this pretty face be rotten in the jail."

"I still have to marry Yuta." Cheonhwa said while polishing her nails.

"Shut up! No one will surrender!" Jinhee said.

"We're screwed." Haekyo whispered.

The door creaked and they saw Jinhyun coming inside the dark room.

"Where have you been?" Jinhee asked.

"Are those bruises?" Cheonhwa asked while pointing at Jinhyun's face.

"Where's Eunah?" Harin asked.

Jinhyun remained shut and just looked at Star. She winced when she saw her breathing heavily while asleep.

"Jinhee eonnie," she kneeled while crying, "Stop this. It will only get worse."

"What the heck are you doing? Get up! That won't work." Jinhee said while shaking her head.

"You're heartless!" She shouted.

"Look who's kind." Cheonhwa hissed. "Do you want to be tied beside Star?"

"Such psychos." Haekyo whispered and ran towards Jinhyun, "Get up. That has no use to them." She said while wiping Jinhyun's tears.

"Where's Eunah?" Harin asked once again.

"She's calling the police." She said directly.

"Oh my god!" Cheonhwa exclaimed.

Jinhee grabbed the plastic pipe on the table beside her and gripped it in anger. She ran towards Jinhyun and was about to hit her when someone entered the room.

"T-Ten oppa?" She whispered.

Ten, wearing his emotionless face, walked towards them. Jinhee smiled brightly and ran towards him. She hugged him but Ten just pushed her that made her stumble to the ground. He looked around and saw Star unconscious while tied up high.

"Star!" He was about to ran to her when Jinhee blocked her with her arms spread.

"Oops! You can't. Date me first!" She said cutely and cheerfully.

"Piss off." He whispered while looking intently to her eyes. Jinhee is not intimidated and she just shook her head.

"Ten oppa!" Cheonhwa and Harin went near him with their eyes sparkling in awe.

While they are being mesmerized by Ten, Jinhyun and Haekyo silently walked towards Star. They untangled the knot tying her wrists and feet. When they successfully untangled it, Ten refrained from talking to the girls.

"Now, I have to say goodbye." Ten said then flashed a fake smile to them. He rapidly ran towards Star and carried her in his arms.

"What the?" Jinhee said. "Get them!" The three girls immediately ran towards them. Haekyo and Jinhyun blocked their way.

Ten hurried out of the abandoned building and he was shocked to see media flashing their cameras to them. He also saw police mobiles that just came together with Eunah and the others.

The shutters of the cameras roared in the area like rainsounds. He looked at them despised.

"Look at these people. They only know how to root for a news. They don't know how to at least pay respect."

He held Star tightly andlooked at the police. They gathered in front of the building and pointed their guns to the door.

"The kidnappers are ladies. They can't fight against guns." He said to them.

"Noted. Put off your guns!" The police officer commanded.

"AAAAAAAAAH!" Someone from inside screamed.

"Omo!" Eunah exclaimed while covering her mouth. She's worrying about her friends, all of those who are left inside.

The cops are about to enter when Jinhee went out of the building. She was shocked by the amount of people outside the building. She's shaking and panting, and she looks strange with her widened, shaky eyes and nessy hair.

"Hands up!" The police commanded.

The cameras captured a photo of Jinhee while raising her hand. The four girls went out next and are asked to put their hands up too.

"Park Jinhee, Jung Cheonhwa and Ahn Harin, you are all under arrest for the cases kidnapping, physical injuries and libel filed by Blue Entertainment and the victim's family." The police said as he read the warrant of arrest he's holding. "Kim Jinhyun, Bae Haekyo and Cha Eunah are all invited to the precint." He added. The three latter girls are can't be arrested as they are only minors and are protected by the law.

While they are busy, Ten slowly walked towards the coming ambulance while looking at Star. He cried seeing her with severe cuts and bruises.

"Hold on, Star. I know you're strong enough to overcome this." He said as tears streamed down his face.

While they are walking away, Jinhee noticed them.

"No. I won't let you be happy unless it's because of me!" She said in her mind. She snatched the gun from the police's holster and pointed it to Ten's direction. She aimed it to Star's head.

"TEN!" The fans screamed. Ten looked at them and saw Jinhee pointing a gun to their direction.

"No!" He screamed and turned his back, covering Star.

The fans, including Eunah, ran towards Ten and covered them through forming a crowd.

"What are you doing? You'll get hurt!" Ten shouted at them.

"Stop that craziness, Jinhee eonnie!" Jinhyun shouted.

"You people! I'll kill you all if you won't make way!" Jinhee shouted to the fans.

"You don't have to do that." Ten said to the fans.

"You won't go?" Jinhee asked and then pulled the trigger. The gunshot roared that made most of them scream out of fear. It only hit the ground near the fans.

Everyone became breathless, even the media staffs. Ten is about to walk towards her, leaving Star with the medical team, when someone quickly snatched the gun from Jinhee. It was Cheonhwa.

"Stop it already, Jinhee." She said in a shaky voice and wide eyes, "There's nothing that we can do anymore." She stated.

Jinhee shook her head. The cops handcuffed her hands and pushed her to the police mobile. She gave her last look to Ten with death glares.

**

While everyone is busy watching Ten and Star's situation, Sejoon is inside SM Entertainment's CEO's office discussing Ten's faults, unaware of what's happening outside. He is standing in front of Mr. Kim Youngmin who is busy reading articles, questions from the media, reports, and figures of how their stocks are going after the issue.

"Sir, I can see that Ten is causing a lot of trouble to our company nowadays. I'm thinking of what we can do to solve the issue. I was thinking of possibly kicking Ten out of the group for he also did not abide the contract. He can also be given disciplinary actions. I just need your confirmation or opinion. That's all, Mr. Kim." Sejoon said. He based his decisions to what is systematic in their company eventhough he hates to.

"I see." Mr. Kim said, "He did not follow your instructions, he dated, and he just pulled our stocks 3.1 percent down. I can't let what happened years ago happen again." Youngmin stated while scanning the papers on his hand. "Kick him out of the group."

"You can't." They looked at the person who just entered the office.

"Annyeonghaseyo, seonsaengnim." Sejoon greeted to Lee Sooman.

"Hyung," Youngmin stood and greeted him.

"We can't do that." Mr. Lee continued, "Ten has many contributions to our company. He and that Star already said that they are not dating but confessed their feelings. The one who posted the pictures and kidnapped Star is already caught too. Star is in the hospital. If you'll kick Ten out, the stocks will just drop even more. In addition to that, fans are now on the couple's side after what happened. They're even asking us to take action in SNS."

"Since when did we care about what the fans say?" Youngmin asked.

"Without them, our efforts will be wasted. If we will go against what they wished at this crucial point, will it result to a better outcome? We already took legal actions against those who are posting foul contents against our artists before. What that Park Jinhee did is already libel. The fans, even the media are expecting us to take legal actions. Perhaps, that's what we used to do."

"Then what will we do?"

"We will file a case against Jinhee, like what Blue did. Ten must take a leave first for six months. No company-related activities, no promotions, no salaries. He's not a member of NCT for that span of time. Discipline will follow so that would be enough. Please take charge of it, Sejoon. That's all. I gotta go." Then he bowed and walked out of the room.

The two were left standing and quiet. Youngmin sighed and spoke, "You heard him. Nevermind what I said and do what he asked."

***