Pre-Session 4 [Part 2]

Caged. Why was it that it felt suffocating to be in the same car as them from one 20 minutes?

Each door closed with its usual click, a few louder sounds than others.

As the police officers examined the sign, Y/N stared at the flowers. Beautiful colors that blended in with each other thanks to the delicacy of a simple petal. Her eyes remained on focus until the neutral color scheme of Detective Park's clothing passed her by.

Her gaze landed on the blonde for a second before following him inside.

The smell of rose tint and watered soil reached her nostrils in no time. The small store was outlined with vases containing beautiful arrangement Y/N only ever got to see during graduation season.

A young redhead sat by the counter, reading. Her elegant frame and movement were noticeable from afar. A certain air of danger seemed to fill her lungs as Y/N tried to memorize the woman's face.

"Good afternoon" Detective Park said as they all neared the counter.

Y/N felt another shiver go down her spine at his switch. His demeanor, mannerisms and even word articulation had changed along with his stance and gaze.

The redhead looked up and Y/N could feel the air be pushed out of her lungs. Her big eyes seemed to drown the world in their light color as her small face and frame could fool anyone away. Tiny freckles adorned her nose and cheeks.

"Welcome" Y/N paused. An accent. "What can I do for you?"

Y/N blinked a few extra times as she tried to pinpoint the accent. She knew it.

"We are looking for a few of the male worker in the stores around the area" The lie went through his lips like if it was air.

She noticed his frame growing slightly tense, but he was always on guard, his muscles probably knotted in permanently.

"We are looking for someone specific" He said, a charming smile there soon after.

Y/N swallowed. The pit of her stomach and her throat grew sour.

"Of course!" She said enthusiastically. "Give me a second please"

The three nodded as the lady disappeared into another section of the shop. The detective turned around, his expression completely different as he looked at Jongho.

"Name?" He asked.

"Laura" Jongho answered in a hushed tone. "Nothing much thereafter"

"Yes?" A soft male voice called. Their head turned to yet another blonde young man who seemed quite strong. Y/N furrowed her eyebrows for a moment before focusing on the conversation.

"Good afternoon." The detective said pulling out a badge. "We have a few questions about a recently opened case"

Y/N's eyes widened. No. No. This is not how you approach the entire questioning.

Complete confusion and almost fear covered his features. His eyes were an open book. The wrong guy by a long shot.

She sighed, not following the three men into the storage room.

The lady came back to the counter, her own eyes landing on Y/N.

"Hi" Y/N said shyly, vulnerable under her gaze. "I'm Y/N"

She said extending her hand forward. The redhead smiled sweetly before shaking it.

"Laura"

Y/N nodded.

"How long have you been working here?" She asked.

"Not long, only a few months" Laura answered.

The woman was relaxed and calm. She was an open book as well. It was quite a nice change from what she has dealt with lately.

"Sorry to have come out of nowhere by the way" Y/N said. "The case happened out of nowhere as well"

"I understand" She said back.

Y/N looked outside and spotted a small sign with the flower shop logo and a bakery logo. Her eyes went wide.

"Thank you for receiving us. But I need a favor" She said as she straightened up. "I will be across the street so please tell the officers I'll be back in no time"

The redhead nodded as Y/N rushed out. Her eyes landed directly on the bakery before she crossed the street, her stomach filling with nervous butterflies.

The pleasant smell of baked bread seemed to fill her chest with glee, going back to her childhood.

"Oh! Welcome!" Someone called out. "I will serve you in a moment Miss!"

Cheerful woman. That's all she received.

The small shop was decorated in soft pinks. The metal tables somehow fitting in.

Her legs took her to the counter. She inspected the small pamphlet with a menu of sort.

Her eyes snapped up and she saw movement in the corner of her eye.

A beautiful young man was carrying a tray full of sweets towards the other side of the counter. He was similar to a doll. Delicate and almost perfect.

Y/N snapped herself out of it to check the nametag, which bless whatever luck she had as she caught a name before he left. Yeosang.

A very quick lady appeared from under the counter with a small yelp. Y/N smiled at her as she dusted off her hands on the pink matching apron.

"I'm so sorry for the delay" She said.

"No problem" Y/N answered. "Is it okay to order?"

"Sure!" She said.

"I just want the breakfast special and two small coffees"

"Coming right up!" She said before telling one of the other workers her order.

As the payment went through, Y/N sighed.

"Does Yeosang work here?" She asked, rather smoothly.

The lady looked up before nodding.

"Is there a chance I could talk to him? I'm here on Mr. Choi's behalf" She said.

Once the receipt was out the lady handed it over and moved to the back, her voice still clear even from afar. She knew that depending on what Choi they were talking about, she had a 50/50 chance of talking to him.

"Your order will be up soon" The lady said, poking her head out.

Y/N nodded as she sat down. She looked by only to see that the officers were still inside.

Her heart began to rise as she tried to piece the entire conversation together. She was not sure if this was the right person but she could sure as hell try to find out.

A small brown bag and two coffee were placed in front of her, taking her by complete surprise. Her gaze shot up and there he was.

She smiled at him.

"Thank you" She answered softly.

"How's Jongho?" He asked as he sat down.

Something clicked in her head as she cleared her throat.

"He's doing fine" She answered. "He's inside the flower shop with Detective Park"

Yeosang nodded.

"But he is not the Choi I was referring to," She said, a certain thing pulling at her words, but she had to get it done with. There had to be a good goddamn reason for Mr. Choi to send her there.

"Oh.. well.." He mumbled for a second.

"I'm referring to San" She said in a much quieter tone.

His body grew even more rigid than it already had. He was probably shy in most cases. His eyes seemed to fill with panic only for them to blend back to normal.

She found him.

"I have no real idea of why a stranger would ask for me" He said, his tone much fuller, much more secured.

Y/N sighed.

"I.. I have been working with Mr. Choi, Detective Park and everyone else for a while" She explained. "I can spot things just like you can"

Yeosang's chest heaved slightly before going back to normal.

"I know he sent me here because no one else apart from his closest friends can do what you just did" She said. "At least not in the same way he and..."

She trailed off. She really needed to think her cards at the moment. She closed her eyes, a sigh leaving her lips.

"Hongjoong did it like that too" She said, opening them.

Anger, frustration, confusion, all showed through his eyes. He looked away.

"I know I was sent here for a reason I had no idea of." She explained as the nerves settled in. This could go bad in so many ways, Y/N could only hope it went the least fucked up one. "But I do know that he cares about you still"

Yeosang's gaze snapped up, wide-eyed.

"He didn't give away the fact that he told me about you. He kept it a secret. Sent the police one way and me the other way. Mr. Choi is careful and I know him enough to understand why he may have done it" Y/N's train of thought was stopped as she spotted the two officer walking out of the shop.

"I have no idea if I convinced you" She said quickly standing up. "But I do need some answers"

She pulled out a napkin from the bag and a pen, writing down her own phone number. She passed it to him.

"I want to tie every loose end, I really do. I just need some help" She sighed as she picked everything up. "If anything, you and I never met and you can throw that away"

She gave him a small smile before standing up.

"How much?" He asked suddenly.

Y/N paused, her eyebrows furrowed.

"How much are you willing to do for this case?" He said, his eyes full of sadness.

"Everything in my power" She answered.

She cleared her throat before lifting everything.

"Thank you for the food," She said before rushing out and towards the men entering the car.

The detective paused before grabbing the coffee from her hands.

"What did you get?" She asked as she opened her own door.

"He just moved here" Jongho answered. "What about you?"

"The lady in the front has been working there for just a few months and I got you two coffee, if you want of course" She answered closing the door.

"Did Wooyoung find anything?" Detective Park asked as he passed over the coffee.

"Not yet" Jongho said as the car roared to life.

"What about the special unit?" He said.

Y/N frowned. Special unit?

"He is still working on it" Jongho said. "The evidence room is still a mess after our last case"

The detective only nodded.

The caged and bitter feeling were back in her system as time began to tick by.

"We're on our way to the station." The detective said. "There is still a few details we need to discuss"

Y/N hummed as a response.

She blinked away the confusion as she stared at the city passing by.

The car suddenly turned the other way. Her heartbeat began to go up as the current memory matched the past. As she stared forward, her mind sent her back to where she was.

There were two people in the front. Two people.

She took a few deep breaths before replaying the conversation she had with Yeosang. Or the half, one way talk with him.

She looked up to Jongho suddenly.

"Did any of you figure out her accent?" She asked suddenly.

"What accent?" The detective asked.

"The lady had a very distinct accent" If she was going to solve this, she needed a plan. And this was it. "Somewhere up in Northern Europe"

The officers shared a look and Y/N noticed the detective's shoulders loose rigidity. Bingo.

"What are you thinking?" The detective said, his tone turning somewhat informal.

"We have a way to fool Mr. Choi" She said.

Y/N walked down the hall and out of school. The air smelled humid as the grass was probably watered a few minutes ago.

The sky was still rather dull as the sun was barely rising and the clouds were making a blanket of sorts, blocking as much light as possible.

The music on her earphone suddenly went dead as he ringtone went through. She frowned as she stopped on her tracks.

"Hello?" She said as she resumed her way back to the apartment.

"It's Yeosang" He answered after a few seconds.

Y/N's heart shot up in speed as her feet picked up their pace.

"Yes?" She said as she pushed the door open.

Irene sat up quickly as Y/N never came into the apartment so quickly after class.

"I thought it over" He said. "And I may be able to help you"

Her eyes went wide as she just froze.

"Are you sure?" She muttered.

He sighed. "There is a reason why San sent you to me. Might as well live up to it"

Y/N frowned. Something was off.

"Where and when are you free?" She asked.

"Sunday"

Y/N sighed.

"Okay" She said. "See you then"

She hanged up the phone as her mind began to weave the new information in.

"Y/N?" Irene asked. "Are you okay?"

"No"

Even with the question, her pacing did not stop.

"Take a break. This is taking too much out of you" Irene offered as she stood up, stopping her friend.

Y/N paused. Her eyes pooled over in tears.

"This game of who cracks who is taking its toll" She said hugging her friend. "You have to let it go from time to time"

Y/N nodded against her shoulder.

"Your mom called my phone" She said after a few seconds. "May have found a way for you to talk to her more discreetly."

Y/N smiled sadly as she allowed herself to crumble.

"I need a favor Irene" She said as she parted the hug. "I need you to keep an eye on Mingi"

Irene frowned. "Why?"

"I may have noticed something" She said.

"And that is?" Irene asked as her eyes grew with worry.

Y/N could feel her chest filling up with acid as the words felt wrong. This was one of her closest friends.

"There may be a connection to him and all of this mess"

"How do you know?"

Y/N sighed.

"He is the only person between us that went to special unit training."